I have to applaud the efforts of the organizers of the One Page Dungeon Contest. Nothing gets people thinking outside the box quite like being forced into a “box”. The one page limitation really forced me to look at adventure design in a way that regular adventure writing does not.
Imagine the scene: A long stone corridor lit only by your sputtering torch, as your hasty foot steps echo off the hard cold walls. Behind you, some unimaginable evil chases you, bent on your demise. And then you turn a corner, into a dead end. You can hear claws clattering on the tunnel floor now, gaining ground every second. Then, in a moment of clarity, you remember the ancient stone key in your pocket. You draw it out and hold it aloft, and with all the air in your lungs you shout “laloona”. The wall before you creaks, sending dust billowing out as the wall grinds past, revealing a new corridor. You run forward, shouting the magical word behind you, as you flee. Turning back to where you came, only a stone wall remains, you can hear the frustrated clawing on the other side of the wall, and know you have escaped death this time. But what mysteries and terrors lie ahead of you in this labyrinth.
The Lunatic Labyrinth is more than just a dungeon, it’s a shifting maze of monster filled corridors that gives the delvers a new take on the good old dungeon and gives the Game Master a new tool for their gaming kit. But I’ll let you be the judge. Download the latest version here.
I would love to hear your comments, especially if you have used the Lunatic Labyrinth in your own game. Happy delving.