I'm starting a new campaign set on a custom setting based off the Forgotten Realms that I want to finish with a crawl through a massive, sci-fi, Zelda-style dungeon set underneath the main antagonist's haunted mansion. Think of a modernized Expedition To The Barrier Peaks with a dash of Tomb of Horrors, plus a ton of puzzles that rely on spatial awareness - that's what I want to do.
I would like some puzzle and encounter ideas for it, plus tips on how to build a massive, moving "puzzle box" dungeon a la Eagle's Tower (Link's Awakening) or Water Temple (Ocarina of Time) in a tabletop format. Could you guys help me out?
I would suggest keeping things a little more simple than OoT's Water Temple. I still have trouble getting through that one quickly.
For real though, a set up for this kind of dungeon is tough. For the most part, the mapping is gonna be a project in and of itself. It's complex, but doable. However, the real problem is having this work on the table in a way that doesn't feel slow or halting to the players while still keeping the labyrinth vast.
I would suggest something like the Stone Tower from Majora's Mask. Have the ceiling be it's own floor with it's own traps and hazards, then flip the gravity. That way, even when they have to revisit rooms, it doesn't feel like the same room. For example, they may find deep pits filled with gelatinous cubes that they leave alone, only to have those cubes freed after they flip the temple. To keep them from pot-shotting them from atop the pit before they flip everything, have some other low level monsters to fight around the pits to goad them to using them as floor traps to throw them into. When they think you put it there just to chuck some goblins into, they'll set the cubes more as set pieces then eventual enemies.
I might be able to help you out with some puzzle ideas. My YouTube channel has over 3 dozen puzzle ideas for D&D. Each video provides a demonstration on how to run the puzzle, options, and links to downloadable content if needed.
One of them, in particular, is based off the "Maze in the Forest" in the original Legend of Zelda game
I'm starting a new campaign set on a custom setting based off the Forgotten Realms that I want to finish with a crawl through a massive, sci-fi, Zelda-style dungeon set underneath the main antagonist's haunted mansion. Think of a modernized Expedition To The Barrier Peaks with a dash of Tomb of Horrors, plus a ton of puzzles that rely on spatial awareness - that's what I want to do.
I would like some puzzle and encounter ideas for it, plus tips on how to build a massive, moving "puzzle box" dungeon a la Eagle's Tower (Link's Awakening) or Water Temple (Ocarina of Time) in a tabletop format. Could you guys help me out?
I would suggest keeping things a little more simple than OoT's Water Temple. I still have trouble getting through that one quickly.
For real though, a set up for this kind of dungeon is tough. For the most part, the mapping is gonna be a project in and of itself. It's complex, but doable. However, the real problem is having this work on the table in a way that doesn't feel slow or halting to the players while still keeping the labyrinth vast.
I would suggest something like the Stone Tower from Majora's Mask. Have the ceiling be it's own floor with it's own traps and hazards, then flip the gravity. That way, even when they have to revisit rooms, it doesn't feel like the same room. For example, they may find deep pits filled with gelatinous cubes that they leave alone, only to have those cubes freed after they flip the temple. To keep them from pot-shotting them from atop the pit before they flip everything, have some other low level monsters to fight around the pits to goad them to using them as floor traps to throw them into. When they think you put it there just to chuck some goblins into, they'll set the cubes more as set pieces then eventual enemies.
#OpenDnD. #DnDBegone
Check old dnd book "book of chalanges". I had version for 3.5. There were nice ideas that you could use.
Go to Mark Brown’s YouTube channel (Game Maker’s Toolkit) and watch the Boss Keys series.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc38fcMFcV_ul4D6OChdWhsNsYY3NA5B2
It looks at the design and flow of the dungeons from every Zelda game, and will be really helpful.
Also, make sure you know how the knock and arcane lock spells work. Locks and keys are a big part of the flow of a Zelda dungeon.
I might be able to help you out with some puzzle ideas. My YouTube channel has over 3 dozen puzzle ideas for D&D. Each video provides a demonstration on how to run the puzzle, options, and links to downloadable content if needed.
One of them, in particular, is based off the "Maze in the Forest" in the original Legend of Zelda game
Puzzle #25 - Maze of the Elements
Hope this puzzle idea helps and good luck with your dungeon crawl! :)
I have a YouTube channel with 5th Edition D&D Puzzles, Character Creations, DM Tips and Quests ideas. Check it out!
Wally DM on YouTube