I am a new DM and I am trying to get my party into a dungeon. I’ve already started designing the dungeon, but I don’t really know how to fit it in. What has everyone else done?
I have used the players being hired guns to clear out darkness/evil/etc. from ancient ruins/temple/etc. in exchange for which they will get paid (I might also add in a magic ring, weapon, etc. that is mentioned as being located somewhere in the dungeon). You could have a small nearby town where people have disappeared, and in searching they discover the dungeon. You could have an evil magic wielder teleport them there, or perhaps a corrupt official banishes them to the dungeon.
That’s a cooperative effort. You put out a huge, gleaming plot hook and the players bite on it because they want to play.
In addition to the two suggestions that you’ve already been given, rumors are a great one and so is stumbling across a hole in the side of a cave when they’re traveling. A plot hook that I’ve read in a lot of books is taking shelter from the rain and discovering that the cave or building they’re using to escape the rain is the entrance to something mysterious that the hero’s explore.
It depends on the type of dungeon it is, if its in a forest it will be as easy as saying the local priest sense great evil in the forest, But sometimes it can be harder...especially if it's a main part of your story. What i usually do is make it underground slightly and if you dont have a answer to the "Why is the dungeon here?" Question you can simply say that a beholder dreamed it into exsistance since this is a main construct of beholders, if you have low level PC's make it a zombie beholder because they are much much weaker. this is only an example, but i hope it gives some creative insight.
"My child has been kidnapped, the culprits are in that dungeon over there!"
"A group of locals went into that dungeon to deal with a threat, they've been missing for a long while. Can you help save them and clear out the danger?"
"Rumor has it that there is an ancient item of power, stash of riches, collection of interesting baubles, mcguffin for bbeg later on, in that dungeon."
"I don't want creatures in that dungeon, here's money, go kill them"
"There's a legend that who so ever makes it to the center of that dungeon will become rich, powerful, enchanted!"
"Rocks fall, you enter a dungeon"
"Magical teleportation happens, you're in a dungeon"
I am a new DM and I am trying to get my party into a dungeon. I’ve already started designing the dungeon, but I don’t really know how to fit it in. What has everyone else done?
Storms have recently caused mudslides in an area, unearthing an entrance to a long forgotten tomb/dungeon.
I once had a party fall through the roof, landing a few levels down and to one side with the collapse having blocked their exit.
I have used the players being hired guns to clear out darkness/evil/etc. from ancient ruins/temple/etc. in exchange for which they will get paid (I might also add in a magic ring, weapon, etc. that is mentioned as being located somewhere in the dungeon). You could have a small nearby town where people have disappeared, and in searching they discover the dungeon. You could have an evil magic wielder teleport them there, or perhaps a corrupt official banishes them to the dungeon.
That’s a cooperative effort. You put out a huge, gleaming plot hook and the players bite on it because they want to play.
In addition to the two suggestions that you’ve already been given, rumors are a great one and so is stumbling across a hole in the side of a cave when they’re traveling. A plot hook that I’ve read in a lot of books is taking shelter from the rain and discovering that the cave or building they’re using to escape the rain is the entrance to something mysterious that the hero’s explore.
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The players are hired to take care of goblins, who happen to be using the entrance to a dungeon as their base.
It will usually fall out of the answer to the question: “why is this dungeon here?”
It depends on the type of dungeon it is, if its in a forest it will be as easy as saying the local priest sense great evil in the forest, But sometimes it can be harder...especially if it's a main part of your story. What i usually do is make it underground slightly and if you dont have a answer to the "Why is the dungeon here?" Question you can simply say that a beholder dreamed it into exsistance since this is a main construct of beholders, if you have low level PC's make it a zombie beholder because they are much much weaker. this is only an example, but i hope it gives some creative insight.
"My child has been kidnapped, the culprits are in that dungeon over there!"
"A group of locals went into that dungeon to deal with a threat, they've been missing for a long while. Can you help save them and clear out the danger?"
"Rumor has it that there is an ancient item of power, stash of riches, collection of interesting baubles, mcguffin for bbeg later on, in that dungeon."
"I don't want creatures in that dungeon, here's money, go kill them"
"There's a legend that who so ever makes it to the center of that dungeon will become rich, powerful, enchanted!"
"Rocks fall, you enter a dungeon"
"Magical teleportation happens, you're in a dungeon"
"Omen/Prophetic dream leads you to the dungeon"