Dungeon Module

The template’s metadata:

---
# Template metadata
id: module_dungeon
title: Dungeon Module
type: module_dungeon
level: module
purpose: Exploration and combat-focused adventure with room-by-room content
author: Mimir Team

# Module-specific metadata
module_number: 1
theme: "[Theme]"
tone: "Adventure"
estimated_hours: 8

# Catalog references (machine-readable)
monsters:
  # Dungeon modules are combat-heavy - organize by area/encounter
  - encounter: entrance_guards
    name: "[Guardian Type]"
    source: MM
    quantity: 2
    notes: "First line of defense"
  - encounter: patrol
    name: "[Patrol Creature]"
    source: MM
    quantity: 4
    notes: "Roaming encounters"
  - encounter: miniboss
    name: "[Mini-boss]"
    source: MM
    quantity: 1
    notes: "Guards key area"
  - encounter: boss_fight
    name: "[Boss Monster]"
    source: MM
    quantity: 1
    notes: "Final guardian"
  - encounter: boss_fight
    name: "[Minion Type]"
    source: MM
    quantity: 3
    notes: "Boss support"

npcs:
  # Dungeons typically have fewer NPCs
  - role: prisoner
    name: "[Captive]"
    source: campaign
    location: "Cells/Prison Area"
    notes: "Can provide information or need rescue"
  - role: informant
    name: "[Survivor/Ghost]"
    source: campaign
    location: "Hidden area"
    notes: "Knows dungeon secrets"

items:
  # Treasure distribution through the dungeon
  - location: hidden_cache
    name: "[Minor Magic Item]"
    source: DMG
    quantity: 1
    notes: "Reward for exploration"
  - location: miniboss_treasure
    name: "[Medium Magic Item]"
    source: DMG
    quantity: 1
    notes: "Mini-boss reward"
  - location: boss_hoard
    name: "[Major Magic Item]"
    source: DMG
    quantity: 1
    notes: "Primary treasure"
  - location: boss_hoard
    name: "[Gold/Gems]"
    source: DMG
    quantity: 1
    notes: "Monetary treasure"

variables:
  - name: dungeon_name
    type: string
    description: Name of the dungeon
    default: "[Dungeon Name]"
    required: true
  - name: module_number
    type: number
    description: Module number in campaign sequence
    default: 1
    required: true
---

Module {{module_number}}: {{dungeon_name}}

Exploration and combat adventure

1. Overview

Pitch: [One sentence describing the dungeon adventure]

Dungeon Name: [What locals call this place]

Core Question: [What mystery does the dungeon hold?]

Threat Level: [Low / Medium / High / Extreme]

Estimated Play Time: [X hours]

The Hook

How PCs Learn About It: [Rumor, treasure map, plea for help, etc.]

What They’re Told: [The public story about this place]

The Real Danger: [What they don’t know]

Time Pressure: [Why go now? What happens if they wait?]

Dungeon Structure

[ENTRANCE] → [LEVEL 1] → [LEVEL 2] → [BOSS CHAMBER]
  (guards)    (explore)   (challenges)    (climax)

[Brief description - linear, branching, hub-and-spoke, etc.]

2. Dungeon Background

History

Original Purpose: [Why was it built?]

The Catastrophe: [What went wrong?]

Current State: [What is it now?]

Local Knowledge: [What people think they know]

Theme and Atmosphere

Visual Theme: [Architecture style, decay state]

Mood: [Oppressive, mysterious, ancient, corrupted]

Unique Features: [What makes this dungeon special]

Environmental Challenges: [Light, air, temperature, water]

3. Faction Overview

Primary Inhabitants: [Who lives here now - their goal]

Secondary Group: [Rivals, prisoners, or opportunists]

Ancient Guardians: [What still protects the original purpose]

Wild Cards: [Neutral parties players might ally with or fight]

4. Dungeon Map & Key Areas

Level 1: [Entry Level Name]

Theme: [First impression]

Difficulty: Easy-Medium

Key Rooms: 5-8

#	Room Name	Contents	Exits
1	[Entrance]	[What’s here]	[Where it leads]
2	[Room Name]	[What’s here]	[Where it leads]
3	[Room Name]	[What’s here]	[Where it leads]

Level 2: [Deeper Level Name]

Theme: [How it changes from Level 1]

Difficulty: Medium-Hard

Key Rooms: 6-10

#	Room Name	Contents	Exits
1	[Room Name]	[What’s here]	[Where it leads]
2	[Room Name]	[What’s here]	[Where it leads]

Level 3: [Final Level / Boss Area]

Theme: [Core dungeon purpose revealed]

Difficulty: Hard-Deadly

Key Rooms: 4-6

#	Room Name	Contents	Exits
1	[Antechamber]	[What’s here]	[Where it leads]
2	[Boss Chamber]	[What’s here]	[Escape routes]

5. Treasure Distribution

By Location

Location	Treasure	Value	Notes
[Room #]	[Item/coins]	[GP value]	[How hidden]
[Room #]	[Item/coins]	[GP value]	[How hidden]
[Boss Chamber]	[Major items]	[GP value]	[Primary reward]

Magic Items

Minor Items: [Consumables, common items - locations]
Uncommon Items: [+1 weapons, useful items - locations]
Major Item: [Signature piece - boss reward]

6. Adventure Content

Part 1: Approach & Entrance

Setup: [How players arrive at the dungeon]

Read Aloud: “[Description of the dungeon exterior - the entrance looms before them. What do they see? What sounds or smells? What hints at the danger within?]”

Features:

[Visible defenses or warnings]
[Environmental details that set the mood]
[Signs of previous adventurers]

Encounter: entrance_guards

Tactics: [How the guards defend the entrance]
Terrain: [Cover, elevation, hazards]
Alert: [What happens if guards sound alarm]

Outcomes:

Stealth Entry: Guards bypassed, interior unaware
Quick Victory: Guards defeated before alarm
Alarm Raised: Dungeon inhabitants prepare
Transition: Into the dungeon proper

Room: [Room Name] (Room #)

Purpose: [Original and current function]

Read Aloud: “[Description of what players see when they enter - architecture, lighting, occupants, notable features]”

Features:

[Interactive element or searchable area]
[Environmental hazard or benefit]
[Clue to dungeon’s history or layout]

Encounter/Challenge: [Combat, trap, puzzle, or empty]

[Details appropriate to the challenge type]

Treasure: [If any - reference items from front matter]

Exits: [Where doors/passages lead, any locked or hidden]

Room: [Hub Room Name] (Room #)

Purpose: [Central junction with multiple paths]

Read Aloud: “[Description emphasizing the choices players have]”

Features:

[Each exit has distinctive hints about what lies beyond]
[Possible rest spot if secured]

Branching Paths:

Exit	Hints	Leads To
North	[What players notice]	[Destination]
East	[What players notice]	[Destination]
Down	[What players notice]	[Destination]

Part 2: The Mini-Boss

Setup: [This guardian protects something valuable or blocks progress]

Read Aloud: “[Description of the mini-boss’s lair - show their power through the environment]”

Features:

[Tactical terrain elements]
[Environmental hazards or benefits]
[Evidence of the mini-boss’s nature]

Encounter: miniboss

Tactics: [How the mini-boss fights - phases, abilities]
Terrain: [How the room affects combat]
Retreat: [When/if the mini-boss flees]

Treasure: [Mini-boss reward - reference items from front matter]

Outcomes:

Victory: [What they gain access to]
Defeat: [Consequences - capture? Death? Escape?]
Transition: [Path to deeper levels or boss]

Part 3: The Boss Chamber

Setup: [The climax of the dungeon - what the boss guards]

Read Aloud: “[Dramatic description of the final chamber - this should feel climactic. The architecture, the boss, any minions, the treasure they protect]”

Features:

[Lair features that affect combat]
[The prize that makes this worthwhile]
[Escape routes if things go badly]

Encounter: boss_fight

Phase 1: [Initial tactics and abilities]
Phase 2: [When bloodied - what changes]
Legendary Actions: [If applicable]
Lair Actions: [Environmental effects each round]
Minions: [Support creatures and their role]

Victory:

[How the boss can be defeated]
[What happens when they fall]
[Access to treasure hoard]

Defeat:

[What happens if party falls]
[Escape or rescue possibilities]

7. Traps & Puzzles

Trap: [Trap Name]

Location: [Room #]

Trigger: [What sets it off]

Effect: [Damage and effects]

Detection: Perception DC [X]

Disarm: [Thieves’ tools DC X, or alternative methods]

Clues: [What hints at its presence]

Puzzle: [Puzzle Name]

Location: [Room #]

Presentation: [What players see]

Read Aloud: “[Description of the puzzle elements]”

Solution: [How to solve it]

Hints:

[Subtle hint - DC 15 Investigation]
[Medium hint - found elsewhere in dungeon]
[Direct hint - if stuck, NPC or inscription]

Reward: [What solving grants - access, treasure, shortcut]

Failure: [Consequences of wrong answer - damage, alarm, reset]

8. Random Encounters (d12)

Roll every 30 minutes of in-game exploration:

Roll	Encounter
1-3	No encounter
4-5	Evidence of creatures (tracks, sounds, smells)
6-7	[Common inhabitant - patrol]
8-9	[Uncommon inhabitant - hunting]
10	[Environmental hazard - ceiling collapse, gas pocket]
11	[Hostile patrol - searching for intruders]
12	[Special encounter - prisoner, rival adventurers, unique creature]

9. DM Notes

Pacing

First level should move quickly, establish danger
Middle levels allow for exploration and discovery
Build tension as they approach the boss
Boss fight should feel like a true climax

Resource Management

Track light sources, rations, spell slots
Short rests only in secured areas
Long rests extremely difficult in hostile dungeon
Tension from dwindling resources

Common Pitfalls

Party retreats to rest: Dungeon resets partially, enemies fortify
Party gets lost: Use sound, air flow, tracks as navigation aids
TPK imminent: Capture scenario, rescue mission follows

Scaling

Easier: Reduce enemy numbers, lower HP, add helpful NPC
Harder: Add enemies, use tactics, enforce resource scarcity

10. Connections

From Previous Module

[What leads them here - map found, NPC request, rumor followed]

To Next Module

[What they discover - hooks, items, information leading forward]

Campaign Themes

[How this dungeon reinforces larger narrative themes]

11. Post-Module Notes

What Happened

Which path did they take through the dungeon?
Did they find the secret areas?
How did the boss fight go?
What treasure did they claim?

Continuity Notes

[Enemies escaped, allies made, secrets learned]

Dungeon Status

[Cleared? Partially explored? New inhabitants moving in?]

Status: [Planning / Ready / Active / Complete] Started: [Date] Completed: [Date]