Chris Holmes has sent me some photos of the 3x6' dungeon he constructed for the "D&D For Beginners" scenario that he and his dad ran at Gen Con XII in 1979. Above is a preview of the entrance.
Antoine Belle If you look at a lot of real constructions, mixed materials are the norm. Unless the whole thing was built in a short amount of time with plentiful supplies (like modern construction) you see the work of different builders every time a place was expanded or renovated.
That's awesome.. pretty elaborate for back in the day, too! If ten year old me had seen that set up back in 1979, I'd just about have lost my sh*t.. always loved dioramas and that'd have been right up my alley : )
Interesting that it looks like there were few/no corridors (presumably to maximize the number of rooms you could fit in the 3'x6' space), which is the direct opposite design approach used for the sample dungeon in Holmes Basic (which had many corridors, presumably to exercise the party mapper). The difference between a physical dungeon model intended for visual effect and under table space constraints had clearly already diverged from the more open approach possible using just graph paper and imagination.
I wonder if the "Temple of the Bloodstained God" on page 163 of Holmes' 1981 book is located somewhere in this dungeon. It is credited, "Dungeon decor by Chris Holmes."
Wow, wow!
ReplyDeleteThis could be a thing. Dungeon crafting.
ReplyDeleteIf you look closely at the photos in Holmes' 1981 book, you'll recognize this same archway in at least two of the photos.
ReplyDeletePage 49, used to illustrate the minotaur in the sample dungeon (Eye of Arzaz) and on page 171.
ReplyDeleteDungeon crafting is a thing. Check out the DM's Craft & TheDMGinfo videos on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteI find interesting how the walls are different from room to room: some are rough stone, others cut stone, and others are brick.
ReplyDeleteAnd that one behind the arch is clearly concrete blockwork! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAntoine Belle If you look at a lot of real constructions, mixed materials are the norm. Unless the whole thing was built in a short amount of time with plentiful supplies (like modern construction) you see the work of different builders every time a place was expanded or renovated.
ReplyDeleteThe brick wall is a recent addition in an attempt by the owner to make more rent out of sub-divided units. Against dungeon regs, of course.
ReplyDeleteThat's about what a dungeon should look like... :)
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome.. pretty elaborate for back in the day, too! If ten year old me had seen that set up back in 1979, I'd just about have lost my sh*t.. always loved dioramas and that'd have been right up my alley : )
ReplyDeleteWere there lids on the rooms that were removed as the dungeon was explored?
ReplyDeleteInteresting that it looks like there were few/no corridors (presumably to maximize the number of rooms you could fit in the 3'x6' space), which is the direct opposite design approach used for the sample dungeon in Holmes Basic (which had many corridors, presumably to exercise the party mapper). The difference between a physical dungeon model intended for visual effect and under table space constraints had clearly already diverged from the more open approach possible using just graph paper and imagination.
ReplyDeleteStefan Poag Yes, that's what Chris told me. I haven't seen any pictures of the lids. I'll ask him if they were decorated.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the corridors were narrative only...
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the "Temple of the Bloodstained God" on page 163 of Holmes' 1981 book is located somewhere in this dungeon. It is credited, "Dungeon decor by Chris Holmes."
ReplyDeleteTony Rowe Good guess!
ReplyDelete