How to Build a Better Dungeon

In this tutorial, I show you how to design a location based adventure by drawing a top down dungeon map! This method can work with DnD 5e or your favorite Old School TTRPGs! I share my DM tips to help you prep your next game session with an urgent, distinct, telegraphed, evocative, and situation dungeon!

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0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Step 0: Pick Your Game
1:51 - Step 1: Starting Notes
6:35 - Step 2: Dungeon Layout
12:39 - Step 3: Encounter Design
23:37 - Step 4: Just Run It

--- Awesome Old School Style Games ---

--- My Videos about Dungeon Design ---

--- Great GM Prep and Encounter Design Videos! ---

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[mapcrow]

Howdy folks! I added some chapter headings on the timeline for this video to help you navigate the video if you need to reference it again later! Cheers!!

[draugdae]

A good video is never long, nor is it short. It ends precisely when it needs to.

[BlairBlackart]

After not posting for awhile we got a 9 minute video which was excellent. THE GOD MAP CROW HAS BLESSED US WITH A 30 minutes video I’m getting a good breakfast today

[thecrackedgasmask]

I was literally thinking "man id be cool if the party could help the skeletons" not two minutes later my mans brings that up. Love the video!

[lordofgraphite]

yes to longer videos. would love more creature redesigns, would also be cool to see old topics revisted to bring the production value up. adore your work.

[gastonmarian]

I love the idea to fill the dungeon with primarily good secrets in order to encourage exploration!

[stephen]

would love to see more 'making the dungeon' or 'preparing the session' videos

[keithosborne]

These are not only maps; they are works of art! Thank you for the inspiration!

[tagg]

Tiktok and twitter and doom scrolling and endless flipping between media is ruining our brains and attention. Thanks for the longer, quality video!

[TekilaCocktailSuRi]

"Curiosity should not always kill the cat" is such a good advice.
My own DM has a tendency to put in traps or other negative consequences and while I happen to RP a character in our DnD-Game, that is very much "no risk no fun",
I also find it rather disappointing because curiosity doesn't only kill the cat, it isn't rewarded.

Also I dunno if you do longer campaigns, but what I struggle with is connecting the dots (kinda like you did for this dungeon. Got a start, got a boss, not too sure about the inbetweens).
Basically struggling with the sub-adventures for the campaign. (I'm a somewhat new DM so also lackin experience there), so if you feel like that could be something you could make a video about or something, that would be appreciated. :)

[baghouse]

I love the voice you go into when describing the scenes and such! the passion really translates.

[beaunannie]

No other creator inspires me to create stories and everything else for TTRPGs quite like you! Another excellent video!

[CJLloyd]

Some topics really do merit longer treatment. I really enjoy longform videos. It comes with a downside, that I can only watch them when I have time, which can lead to me not seeing them for weeks after they are uploaded, but when I do sit down to watch them, I love them. This one was great, and I think you could do really well with more like this.

[e-tier_hippo]

I like this longer format, it’s full length without being repetitive. I also enjoy the smaller videos because I can watch on a break from work or between tasks.

[DysonLogos]

Thanks for the shout-out! Love the map and energy!

[lynnspitz]

I love this approach. It's holistic, and gives a more coherent feel and a sense of living history to a dungeon.

[GabrielRicardoFreeman-Gabe]

Revisiting old video topics feels like a great idea, showing how your own ideas are in flux and that its ok to to change your mind (also logistically i assume it will be easier to respond to your own content than come up with something out of whole cloth)

[patrick]

Bro do not apologize for excellence. Your videos could be an hour and i would like them. Your knowledge, skill, and passion about something i am very interested in has won my follow. 👍🏻

[GabrielRicardoFreeman-Gabe]

Re: vid length --
Agreeing with most of the comments i see here!

I really like this longer format for your deliberate and thoughtful style.

It feels like you have a little room to breath and for us to see more of your art process, which is always fun.

I feel the shorter ones (10 min or less) often feel like such a tease, while the 15-30 min range is enough time to explore a topic while still leaving me wanting more (but in the good way)

[himesightcreativestudios]

I am starting to really like your videos. They take me back. More importantly, you communicate concisely and directly. I enjoy a lot of what you show and talk about. Thank you.