This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Author Topic: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs  (Read 2384 times)

Headless

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1890
Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« on: June 22, 2022, 11:42:10 PM »
Hi.

I am dreaming of a new game.  It's going to be player driven, fly by the seat of my pants.   I hope to be just out of sight laying the road barely in front of them.  Bizarrely I think it is going to take a lot of preparation to do so little planing.


I am looking for two books.  I don't know if either of them exist. 

First I want a book of 100 simple dungeons.  If I mention a lonely tower off in the distance and the PCs decide to investigate (next session). I want to be able to flip through my book find an "abandoned tower" and spend 1 hour familiarizing my self and fitting the canned adventure in to my game, instead of 5 or 6 hours building one from scratch.


The second book I want is a simple book of 100 NPCs.  If Pot and Dor to random guards that were barely in the story suddenly become important, I don't want to do any work on their stats.  Or if I need a 5th level half Orc ranger to help the PCs track a band of Ogers I would like to be able to look one up instead of make one.  Suggested Names possible tribal loyalties 'other stuff'.   I can ignore what I don't need, but it would help to have an index to draw from.

I'm planning on running D&D 5th ed.  But I could run 3rd.  The book of dungeons doesn't half to be the same system I'm running but a book of NPCs with stat blocks kind of needs to be.  And they don't have to be exactly what I am describing here.  Maybe there is an adventure or two that I could pull apart and get the pieces I need. 


I appreciate your suggestions.


Edit.  To sum up; I'm looking for books full of nuggets of generic nondenominational crunch I can paint with my fluff and slot into my game.  Or something I can tear apart and
File the serial numbers off of.  I'm looking to run the roleplaying equivalent of a chop shop.
« Last Edit: June 23, 2022, 12:27:22 AM by Headless »

oggsmash

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4007
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2022, 07:59:38 AM »
   I have a book (Dungeons) that has 51 dungeons in it, with detailed maps and an overview of the treasure/creatures in the dungeon.   it seems geared around PF/5e but it is generic.  I use Savage Worlds for fantasy so it only takes me minutes to get one ready to go for players to enter.  Most of the dungeons are pretty well themed and short and to the point.  I dont know if this fits the bill for you or not. 

  I found it easier to put what I wanted into an already themed and suggested dungeon than familiarizing myself with dungeons already fully populated.  I have not tried using any of these for 5e, but I think if you are familiar with 5e getting one ready to rumble in an hour is doable. 

THE_Leopold

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 598
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2022, 08:30:20 AM »


NPCS:
https://nordgamesllc.com/product-category/ultimate-npcs/

Book of Dungeons:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/mv44f6/5e_book_of_premade_dungeons/

Nord games book is solid and that reddit link has several options for you to choose from.
NKL4Lyfe

moonsweeper

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 944
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2022, 12:40:17 PM »
Here is a freebie of one page dungeons from DTRPG.

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/80569/The-One-Page-Dungeon-Codex-2009-Deluxe

There are other similar collections there as well.
"I have a very hard time taking seriously someone who has the time and resources to protest capitalism, while walking around in Nike shoes and drinking Starbucks, while filming it on their iPhone."  --  Alderaan Crumbs

"Just, can you make it The Ramones at least? I only listen to Abba when I want to fuck a stripper." -- Jeff37923

"Government is the only entity that relies on its failures to justify the expansion of its powers." -- David Freiheit (Viva Frei)

Headless

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1890
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2022, 03:14:30 PM »
thank you all.

I think I am going to get a couple books of NPCs from Nord. 

Oggsmash do you have a publisher for your book? "Dungeons" is too generaic for me to google search the title.

I also bopped over to drivethrurpg and grabbed a few things, but I really want a book I can hold I my hand.  I like to do my gaming analog.

other suggestions still welcom.

oggsmash

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4007
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2022, 03:27:25 PM »
  Sorry about that.  Dicegeeks.com.  On their site they have another dungeon book that looks much bigger, dont have it, so i can only speak to the one i mentioned. 

oggsmash

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4007
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2022, 03:30:08 PM »
I snagged it off amazon on a whim, probably one of the better bang for buck products (for my needs) I picked up in a long while.

Shawn Driscoll

  • Role-Play Purist
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2928
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2022, 07:52:44 PM »
Hi.

I am dreaming of a new game.  It's going to be player driven, fly by the seat of my pants.   I hope to be just out of sight laying the road barely in front of them.  Bizarrely I think it is going to take a lot of preparation to do so little planing.


I am looking for two books.  I don't know if either of them exist. 

First I want a book of 100 simple dungeons.  If I mention a lonely tower off in the distance and the PCs decide to investigate (next session). I want to be able to flip through my book find an "abandoned tower" and spend 1 hour familiarizing my self and fitting the canned adventure in to my game, instead of 5 or 6 hours building one from scratch.


The second book I want is a simple book of 100 NPCs.  If Pot and Dor to random guards that were barely in the story suddenly become important, I don't want to do any work on their stats.  Or if I need a 5th level half Orc ranger to help the PCs track a band of Ogers I would like to be able to look one up instead of make one.  Suggested Names possible tribal loyalties 'other stuff'.   I can ignore what I don't need, but it would help to have an index to draw from.

I'm planning on running D&D 5th ed.  But I could run 3rd.  The book of dungeons doesn't half to be the same system I'm running but a book of NPCs with stat blocks kind of needs to be.  And they don't have to be exactly what I am describing here.  Maybe there is an adventure or two that I could pull apart and get the pieces I need. 


I appreciate your suggestions.


Edit.  To sum up; I'm looking for books full of nuggets of generic nondenominational crunch I can paint with my fluff and slot into my game.  Or something I can tear apart and
File the serial numbers off of.  I'm looking to run the roleplaying equivalent of a chop shop.

In other words, you have no clue how to run a sandbox without help. Why even bother then.

oggsmash

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4007
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2022, 07:55:06 PM »
Hi.

I am dreaming of a new game.  It's going to be player driven, fly by the seat of my pants.   I hope to be just out of sight laying the road barely in front of them.  Bizarrely I think it is going to take a lot of preparation to do so little planing.


I am looking for two books.  I don't know if either of them exist. 

First I want a book of 100 simple dungeons.  If I mention a lonely tower off in the distance and the PCs decide to investigate (next session). I want to be able to flip through my book find an "abandoned tower" and spend 1 hour familiarizing my self and fitting the canned adventure in to my game, instead of 5 or 6 hours building one from scratch.


The second book I want is a simple book of 100 NPCs.  If Pot and Dor to random guards that were barely in the story suddenly become important, I don't want to do any work on their stats.  Or if I need a 5th level half Orc ranger to help the PCs track a band of Ogers I would like to be able to look one up instead of make one.  Suggested Names possible tribal loyalties 'other stuff'.   I can ignore what I don't need, but it would help to have an index to draw from.

I'm planning on running D&D 5th ed.  But I could run 3rd.  The book of dungeons doesn't half to be the same system I'm running but a book of NPCs with stat blocks kind of needs to be.  And they don't have to be exactly what I am describing here.  Maybe there is an adventure or two that I could pull apart and get the pieces I need. 


I appreciate your suggestions.


Edit.  To sum up; I'm looking for books full of nuggets of generic nondenominational crunch I can paint with my fluff and slot into my game.  Or something I can tear apart and
File the serial numbers off of.  I'm looking to run the roleplaying equivalent of a chop shop.

In other words, you have no clue how to run a sandbox without help. Why even bother then.

   Because help is nice to have?  Because time is a limited resource that not everyone has enough of, especially with dedication towards hobbies? 

jeff37923

  • Knight of Common Sense
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18318
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2022, 08:12:29 PM »
Hi.

I am dreaming of a new game.  It's going to be player driven, fly by the seat of my pants.   I hope to be just out of sight laying the road barely in front of them.  Bizarrely I think it is going to take a lot of preparation to do so little planing.


I am looking for two books.  I don't know if either of them exist. 

First I want a book of 100 simple dungeons.  If I mention a lonely tower off in the distance and the PCs decide to investigate (next session). I want to be able to flip through my book find an "abandoned tower" and spend 1 hour familiarizing my self and fitting the canned adventure in to my game, instead of 5 or 6 hours building one from scratch.


The second book I want is a simple book of 100 NPCs.  If Pot and Dor to random guards that were barely in the story suddenly become important, I don't want to do any work on their stats.  Or if I need a 5th level half Orc ranger to help the PCs track a band of Ogers I would like to be able to look one up instead of make one.  Suggested Names possible tribal loyalties 'other stuff'.   I can ignore what I don't need, but it would help to have an index to draw from.

I'm planning on running D&D 5th ed.  But I could run 3rd.  The book of dungeons doesn't half to be the same system I'm running but a book of NPCs with stat blocks kind of needs to be.  And they don't have to be exactly what I am describing here.  Maybe there is an adventure or two that I could pull apart and get the pieces I need. 


I appreciate your suggestions.


Edit.  To sum up; I'm looking for books full of nuggets of generic nondenominational crunch I can paint with my fluff and slot into my game.  Or something I can tear apart and
File the serial numbers off of.  I'm looking to run the roleplaying equivalent of a chop shop.

In other words, you have no clue how to run a sandbox without help. Why even bother then.

Awwww, did someone leave another bad review on your boring-as-fuck videoblog, bitch boy?
"Meh."

Headless

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1890
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #10 on: June 23, 2022, 11:39:27 PM »
Shawn.  Do I know you?  Why the hostility? 

As for asking for help, isn't that the point of forums like this? 

Pat
BANNED

  • BANNED
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • ?
  • Posts: 5252
  • Rats do 0 damage
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2022, 02:12:39 AM »
Shawn.  Do I know you?  Why the hostility? 

As for asking for help, isn't that the point of forums like this?
Driscoll randomly attacked me in the OSR w/o D&D foundation thread. No idea why, no history that I know of.

Moonsweeper linked to one of the One Page Dungeon compilations, which is good. But if you want more, there's more than a decade worth of submissions, here:
https://www.dungeoncontest.com/

Effete

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 666
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2022, 03:47:37 AM »
Dyson Logos has hundreds of free-to-use dungeon maps you can just download. They're just maps; no details to go with them, but populating a premade dungeon is easier than creating one from scratch. The DMG has a list of adventure ideas. Just pick one that looks like it would fit one of the maps, then make the rest of the stuff up as you go along. Luckily, players often stick their thumbs up their asses when it comes to making decisions, giving you plenty of time to think about what's behind the next door.

Good luck.

jeff37923

  • Knight of Common Sense
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18318
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2022, 04:25:55 AM »
Hi.

I am dreaming of a new game.  It's going to be player driven, fly by the seat of my pants.   I hope to be just out of sight laying the road barely in front of them.  Bizarrely I think it is going to take a lot of preparation to do so little planing.


I am looking for two books.  I don't know if either of them exist. 

First I want a book of 100 simple dungeons.  If I mention a lonely tower off in the distance and the PCs decide to investigate (next session). I want to be able to flip through my book find an "abandoned tower" and spend 1 hour familiarizing my self and fitting the canned adventure in to my game, instead of 5 or 6 hours building one from scratch.


The second book I want is a simple book of 100 NPCs.  If Pot and Dor to random guards that were barely in the story suddenly become important, I don't want to do any work on their stats.  Or if I need a 5th level half Orc ranger to help the PCs track a band of Ogers I would like to be able to look one up instead of make one.  Suggested Names possible tribal loyalties 'other stuff'.   I can ignore what I don't need, but it would help to have an index to draw from.

I'm planning on running D&D 5th ed.  But I could run 3rd.  The book of dungeons doesn't half to be the same system I'm running but a book of NPCs with stat blocks kind of needs to be.  And they don't have to be exactly what I am describing here.  Maybe there is an adventure or two that I could pull apart and get the pieces I need. 


I appreciate your suggestions.


Edit.  To sum up; I'm looking for books full of nuggets of generic nondenominational crunch I can paint with my fluff and slot into my game.  Or something I can tear apart and
File the serial numbers off of.  I'm looking to run the roleplaying equivalent of a chop shop.

It is an OSR system, but everything on the site is free to download and it is a damn good game, Basic Fantasy.

https://www.basicfantasy.org/
"Meh."

SHARK

  • The Great Shark Hope
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5039
Re: Looking for dungeons. And NPCs
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2022, 07:24:43 AM »
Shawn.  Do I know you?  Why the hostility? 

As for asking for help, isn't that the point of forums like this?

Greetings!

Headless, I don't have any specific resources that you seek to offer. Generally, I typically create everything that I need or want myself. However, I certainly do appreciate well-crafted and cool products that create stuff that save me time and effort, as well as to inspire creativity or looking at something from a different angle or approach.

Oh, and please, don't listen to the smug, self-satisfied and rude trolls.

Yes, this forum is for questions and discussion o all kinds of game stuff. Who gives a damn if "sandboxing" isn't your strong suit, or you prefer lots of pre-made supplements. That's fine! Some supplements are outstanding! Busy DM's can use all the help they can get!

Great topic Headless!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK
"It is the Marine Corps that will strip away the façade so easily confused with self. It is the Corps that will offer the pain needed to buy the truth. And at last, each will own the privilege of looking inside himself  to discover what truly resides there. Comfort is an illusion. A false security b