Scribbles and Horrors

This is Level EPSILON. It is the first map in my underworld that is completely drawn. Level Epsilon is also a “first level” in the sense that it is one of the levels accessible from the surface, and is a likely place for first level adventurers to explore. There are plenty other entrances to the underworld which could serve this function as well, though.

Before sitting down and actually drawing the map I worked out a outline of the different areas, and choke points between them. I had some idea of what this level needed to do:

1. Connect to levels NU, PI, and ZETA below and to level ALPHA-EPSILON above
2. Serve as an introduction to OD&D and my campaign
3. Have plenty of space for getting lost in and exploring
4. Harbor a couple of big secrets for the party to accidentally uncover

I also had a couple of concepts I knew I wanted to include:

1. Stuff all around–rooms and hallways are crowded, full to the brim with junk
2. “The Players” a theatre-themed monster group
3. Skeletons, because I like skeletons
4. animal-men of some kind
5. “The Winding Way”, a distinct architectural feature that is mysterious, but also helpful for navigation

With these in mind, I divided the sections up more or less arbitrarily. I made sure that every section connected to “The Winding Way” at least once, and made other connections as seemed necessary.

I then went to work on the actual maps themselves. It took about 3 hours for each map, over the course of a couple weeks. I sketched in pencil the outlines of the sections as described in the outline, and more or less let myself go. The result was dungeon sections that were very separated from one another–almost like little islands. While choke points are good, I might experiment with smaller sections and more choke points closer together in the future.

The architectural styles of each of the sections turned out to be very distinct from one another. I didn’t exactly intend this at the beginning, but it’s nice. Each section has a different wandering monster table, so it makes sense that it has a different “feel” as well.

All in all, I’m pleased with the way this map turned out. I am excited to begin keying it, and to have people adventure within.