Exploring Dungeons

Fellow explorers, Flik Silverpen’s Guide to Exploring Dungeons is a series of questions, random
er the years. tables, and advice designed to spark your imagination and help you create your
ir sh ar e of dungeons ov
I’ve se en my fa ownie burrows very own dungeon. If you can answer all 15 questions in this guide, you’ll have
om th e cr am pe d passages of br strongholds, clear concept for an exciting dungeon adventure. Add in a few more details with
a
Fr t
halls of sun gian
to the grandiose l. Mo st vi sits ha ve been purely help from the advice on page 11 and you’ll have a thrilling dungeon ready to run
re d th em al ve been the at the table in no time!
I’ve explo tu re, some stays ha
l in na
anthro po lo gi ca and a few might
mi sunderstandings, The following pages contain random tables to roll on in case you get stuck
re su lt of sim ple way, this guide
stopovers. Either answering any of the questions. The results are intentionally simple and vague
have been deserved ss audacious explorers.
e le so you can fill in the blanks with your own imaginative ideas.
is my gift to thos
features from
any memorable
I’ve notated m in this gu id e - a complete
de lv in g
my du ng eo n uts, denizens
endi um of lo cations and layo y it closely
comp Stud
s and treasures.
and defenses, trap you find yourself exploring a
s du ng eo
, if
and with any luck you’ll be able to find a sizable
n,
Now, let’s create a dungeon!
danger ou
if t ex it. paper, and a pen to keep track of your
trov e an d a sw You’ll need two six-sided dice (2d6), a sheet of
dungeon’s details.
– Flik Silverpen result indicates the column on the table.
Roll 2d6 on the random tables. The first dice
n.
The second dice indicates the result in the colum
tion, think about how they relate to each
As you write down the answers to each ques
times it’s more fun if you don’t use the
other. Make unexpected connections. Some
random results literally.
eon is like, who lives there, and what
Construct a mental picture of what this dung
down relevant details as you go.
secrets are hidden within. If it helps, write

Find more helpful guide
s at patreon.com/jpcoover
Flik Silverpen’s Guide to Exploring
t • You don’t have to use the random tables if you alrea
Dungeons (FSG 12)
by JP Coovert © 2022
First Printing July 2022
Thank You
Jacie. Scott. Brandon, Chris, Chris, and
And all the patrons that helped mak Bryce.
e these Exploring Dungeons real.
Explore videos at youtube.com/jpcoo
vert and artwork at jpcoovert.com
the 15 questions:
Some things to keep in mind while answering
dy know the answer.
ring, just reroll the dice!
• If the random result doesn’t fit, or isn’t inspi
There are no rules here!
Combine two creature results to
• You can roll several times on each table. iple rooms to fill up your dungeon
generate a unique monster. Or roll for mult
with interesting places.
whether the adventurers
• Remember, you’re building a dungeon that exists,
visit it or not.
• Have fun!
 What type of dungeon is it?
Where is the dungeon located? Castle
Grassland Factory
Borderland Crater Cavern Inn / Tavern
Hill Fair / Carnival
Canyon Creature Colosseum Lair
Inside Fog Fort
City / Capital Desert Crypt / Tomb Marketplace
Island Garden / Park
Cliff Dream Docks Maze / Labyrinth
Jungle Hive
Clouds Farmland / Field Estate Menagerie
Lake Illusory
Coast Forest Mine

Road Monastery Ruin

Other Plane Stronghold
Magical Dome Swamp Museum School
Outer Space Temple
Marsh Town / Village Outpost Sewer
Outskirts Tower
Mind Tundra / Glacier Prison Ship
Portal Warehouse
Mountain Underground Quarry Slum
Reef Warren / Burrow
Nexus Underwater Roost Spire
River Workshop
Oasis

What condition is the dungeon in?

Dead
Abandoned Cleansed
Divided
Advanced Corrupted
Flooded
Alive Crumbling
For Sale
Blessed Crystalline
Forgotten
Bright Cursed / Forsaken
Fortified
Burnt Dark

Overgrown
Frozen Levitating
Petrified
Giant Lost
Repurposed
Guarded Miniature
Shifting
Haunted Moldy
Squatters
Infected / Blighted Moving
Under Siege
Inverted New

2 3
 What kind of people live in the du What kinds of creatures
ngeon? inhabit the dungeon?
Acolyte / Monk
Cultist
Hermit Dragon
Apprentice
Entertainer Aberration Construct
Bandit / Thief Infected Elemental
Explorer Alien Cryptid
Civilian Laborer Fey
Folk Amphibian Demon
Collector Master Fish
Guard Ancients Devil
Crafter Mercenary Flower
Healer Bird Dinosaur
Merchant Fungus
Celestial Doppelganger
Mutant Rebel
Pirate Telepath Summon
Royalty Ghost Mammal
Poacher / Hunter Traitor Tree
Sage / Prophet Giant Mimic
Prisoner Vagrant Undead
Scholar Horror Monstrosity
Quarantined Warlock Unknown
Simulacrum Insect Parasite
Ranger Wizard / Witch Vermin / Swarm
Soldier Lycanthrope Reptile
Zealot Vine
Machine Slime / Ooze

How do they feel

y? about adventurers?
What ancestry are theDwarf 1. Hostile
Changeling
Bearfolk Elephantkin 2. Unfriendly
Clockwork
Birdfolk

(Roll 1d6)
Elf 3. Wary
Colossai
Bugfolk Fairy 4. Indifferent
Dogkin
Catfolk Fishfolk 5. Curious
Dragonkin
Celestial Froglin 6. Helpful
Dryad
Centaur

Shroomkin
Infernal
Gnome Slimekin
Kobold
Goatlin Treant
Merfolk
Goblinoid Troll
Minotaur
Halfling Turtlefolk
Orc
Human Undead
Reptilian
Hybrid

4 5
 se
What motivadteusngtheoon? What is happening inside
the dungeon?
living in the Cavalcade
Debate
Fight
Favor Change
Conspire Defend
Assassinate Food Chase Gambling
Convert Discussion
Build Insanity Construction Hibernation
Cover Up Excavate
Chaos Knowledge Contest Hoard
Create Experimentation
Compelled Land Craft Interrogation
Destroy Feast
Conceal Manipulate Meeting
Exile
Conquest
Mine
Pray
Shelter Mutiny Ritual
Recruit Protest
Message Smuggle Natural Disaster Sacrifice
Revenge Rampage
Nullify Summon Negotiation Sorcery
Rob / Steal Recruit
Object Travel Party Summon
Sabotage Research
Partner Undermine Performance Theft
Scam Riot
Power Wealth Train
Secret
Protect

Why are the inhabitants

the dungeon in conflict?of
Accident / Mishap
Fame
Birthright Knowledge
Fear
Cooperation Loot
Fortune
Cure Love
Hideout
Curse Mind Control
Hunger
Debt Minion
Hunt
Mischief

Misunderstanding
Prisoner
Murder Thirst
Prophecy
Obligation Tradition
Rival
Ownership Tribute
Safety
Parasite Truce
Short Cut
Position Vandalize
Stolen
Worship

7
What kind rooms are found in the dungeon? How is the dungeon de
A Question
fe nded?
Courtyard Caged Creature
Altar Bedroom Acid Dead End
Crypt Capturing Trap
Armory Brig Alarm Door Opens
Dining Chute
Aviary Chapel / Temple Ambush Electrified
Gallery Curse
Banquet Hall Checkpoint Animated Object Fire
Gate Darkness
Barracks Cistern / Well Boulder Force Field
Guard Room Darts
Bath Commissary Gargoyles
Gravity
Moat
Hallway Lounge Stable Illusion Spikes
Patrolling Guards
Infirmary Observatory Storage Locked Door Stationed Guards
Pendulum
Kennel Portal Study / Office Magic Teleporter / Portal
Pit
Kitchen Prison / Cell Throne Maze Terror
Plants
Latrine Ritual Chamber Vault Mimic Water
Poison Gas
Library Smithy Workshop Wind

Even more rooms:

Barricade Camp Den
What makes the dungeon weird?
Grotto Fleshy Heavy
Basin Cave Backward
Grove /Glade Float Howl
Bones Cellar Berry
Gutter Game Joke
Borehole Chasm / Crevasse Black and White
Hideaway Glass Luck
Bridge Clearing Echo
Hovel Glow Minute
Caldera Cluster Eye
Grow Perpetual
Familiar
Incubator Quagmire Terrarium
Shrink Symmetrical
Mine / Quarry Reservoir Thicket Preserve
Smell Taxidermy
Nest Shelter Tunnel Puff
Sneeze Teeth
Nursery Slope Underpass Reflect
Song Vibrate
Pen Spring Waterfall Repeat
Splinter Void
Pond Sty Web / Cocoon Rhythm
String Wheel
Rune

8 9
 What do the adventurers hope What next?
find inside the dungeon? to Add details to your answers!
• Be specific by giving characters names and listing their personality traits.
Ally Door Gold • If you expect combat to happen, write down some stats and abilities
Ancient for each
Drink creature inside the dungeon.
Holy
Armor / Clothes Enchantment • Make a list of each room in the dungeon. Describe what the adventurers
Hope will see
Artifact when entering and also what’s hidden inside.
Favor Ingredient
Boon • Combine characters with rooms. Detail some exciting problems the advent
Food might want to solve while exploring. urers
Instrument
Cure Futuristic Key Need to make a simple, one-shot dungeon? If you’ve answered
these questions, you can
easily plug them into John Four’s 5-Room Dungeons template:
Lore http://www.roleplayingtips.com/5-room-dungeons/
Resource Spell Book
Magic For more random tables, check out Maze Rats by Ben Milton and
Rest Tool The Tome of Adventure
Map Design by Matt Finch.
Reunion Trinket
Property
Schematic Vision
Prophecy Draw the map!
Secret
Redemption
Weapon • Your map doesn’t need to be fancy, just enough to remember how the
Ship / Vehicle connect to each other! rooms
Wisdom
• Draw some circles or squares to represent the rooms. Connect the rooms
lines that indicate hallways. with

• Be sure to add multiple entrances and exits to each room. Adventurers should
What unexpected set backdudongthe
eon? able to explore the dungeon. It’s no fun being led in a straight line. be

adventurers face inside the • Label each room with a number that corresponds to the rooms and encoun
ters
you detailed earlier.
Broken Debt
Age
Distraction Want to make a more detailed map? You don’t have to be an expert
Archaic Broken artist! Check out these
video tutorials for some helpful tips: https://tinyurl.com/4p9pf89
Chaos Doom 6
Ash Print your own grid paper: https://gridzzly.com/
Complication Egg
Awaken Quick and easy online dungeon drawing software: https://dunge
Curse Enemy onscrawl.com/
Bane
Death Fear
Blood Last step, name your dungeon!
Some helpful formulas:
Portal Trial • The (Adjective) (Noun) - “The Putrid Tomb”
Interrogation
Pursuit Unknown Adversary • The (Verb) (Noun) - “The Fallen Fortress”
Lie
Remains Vex • (Character) (Noun) - “Shatterstone Manor”
Misfortune
Riddle Wound
Mystery Or add the answer from “What condition is the dungeon in?” to
Swap Wrath “What type of dungeon is
Nothing it?” for a simple name - “The Dead Tower” OR “The Moldy Hive”
Trap The End
Poison Please share your dungeons with me! @jpcoovert

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 n
Example Dungeo

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