A brief recap for any first-time readers out there. We’re building a mini dungeon for D&D Beyond’s Acquisitions Incorporated free module and thought y’all might like to follow along. We’re mixing our 3DRPG homebrewed content with this excellent 5e module and hope we inspire you for your campaigns.

To this point, we’ve 3D-printed and finalized all our bad guy miniatures for the upcoming battle. We’ve got our Wasp Queen, her Swarm of Insects bodyguards, and then a slew of Flea minion soldiers by her side. DM Ben scoured our DnD library for the appropriate terrain for the corresponding gameboard, so let’s see where we netted out there.

We’ll start with a high-level view and then highlight the shining scatter terrain stars. This TTRPG setup breaks out into three core areas: (1) Party Entry Point, (2) The Pit, and (3) The Boss side. Our floor tiles are Hirst Arts casts, with the darker tile representing the typical stone and the lighter tiles representing a more natural cavern segment.

We’re using numerous legacy collection pieces to save some hobby time and to warm our nostalgic hearts. Our wooden bridges are also from Hirst Arts casts (with a couple of dowels). The earthy walls are foam pieces with paper mache applied over the top. This is what we went through before 3D printers blessed our lives.

We wanted the room to convey severe natural damage (like a mini earthquake), environmental aging, and incomplete abandoned work.

Here’s the module’s room description: “The smell of death is strong in what was probably once a large and ornate hall, long since fallen into ruin. Not only are the walls and supports crumbling, but a ten-foot-deep rift has opened up in the floor. Two wooden bridges span the rift, whose floor is littered with skeletal corpses.”

This room is totally in our wheelhouse, especially the pit. We start by placing down one of our fog of war black cloths (for extra spookiness) and then place some cavernous floor tiles over the top. From there, we added a few fallen adventurer bodies (e.g., the bugs’ dinner), a picked clean animal carcass, and our non-flight fleas. DM Ben isn’t quite sure yet where his bug swarm will start the encounter.

The room description above describes this area as a great hall that has fallen into grim disrepair, so we grabbed a couple of these Hirst Arts gothic columns from Mold 42 to hint at the area’s original grandeur.

Lastly, DM Ben added a few oversized boulders here and there to provide some interesting combat tactical options. The module’s authors had this mindset, too, because their map even includes a couple of oversized rocks.

This is one of the bigger battles inside the Tresendar Manor mini-dungeon, so it needed to be memorable for the players. Even better, this gameboard has levels to it, and we looooove those types of layouts.

Regarding the room loot, the module doesn’t call out anything (boooooo), so we’ll certainly do some coins since bugs couldn’t care less about money and don’t even have pockets. Depending on the final post-battle investigation roll results, DM Ben will let the players draw a card or two from Nord Games’ nifty Treasure Trove and Underground Objects of Intrigue card decks.

Until next time!

The post Bug Crossing appeared first on 3DRPG.

At this point, the players will have completed their rescue attempts and mission intelligence gathering below in the cavern. The Acquisitions Incorporated free 5e Module on D&D Beyond is excellent, but for this chapter, it instructs the players to simply retrace their steps to exit the fissure. Snooze city.

Besides being a bit of a storytelling dud, retracing one’s steps is pretty unlikely as the players aren’t walking through the mall. They’re in a dangerous and unstable place. More probable is that an earthquake or monster is blocking the return path. Let’s homebrew some content and make our epic exit encounter.

DM Ben lovvvvves a good random roll table and letting the dice decide the party’s fate. Thus, he decided that he would do a mixed bag table like so:

• Six Monster events
• Four Trap events
• One Way Out
• One Magic Item
• One Treasure Item
• Five Non-combat events

We’ll break this post into two parts as there’s much to cover – music to your Dungeons and Dragons’ ears, right?!

So, here are the first ten random encounters for the group to attempt to safely exit the Fissure.

• Cave-dig 1: Umber Hulk.
• Cave-dig 2: Trapped Gas Trap.
• Cave-dig 3: Empty. Solid wall.
• Cave-dig 4: Large Scorpion.
• Cave-dig 5: Empty/Fallen Adventurer.
• Cave-dig 6: Hook Horror.
• Cave-dig 7: Empty/Fallen Adventurer.
• Cave-dig 8: Amber Lotus Flower Trap.
• Cave-dig 9: Dead End.
• Cave-dig 10: Rust monsters.

Again, there will ultimately be twenty total entry rows to match our d20 dice.

Next, let’s discuss how the table will work. DM Ben will ask someone to roll an initial d20, and then he’ll share what encounter occurs. The players must keep rolling until someone hits the “Way Out” row.

We’ve played this table out once, and it took the office campaign group nine encounters before they located an exit. To keep things simple, after the first roll/encounter, a player rolls a d20 – 1. Then, if 12 rows remain, roll a d12 and so on.

Side note: DM Ben has tailored this table around six adventurers, currently at level five.

Cave-dig 1: Umber Hulk. As the players explore and attempt to dig their way out, it’s only natural for the group to bump into this large monstrosity. After all, this terrain is his kinda jam, and he won’t be pleased to see them. We like its 5E monster stats: AC 18, 93 HP, Confusing Gaze (Charisma, DC 15), Claws x2 (+8 att, 1d8+5 damage), Mandibles (+8 att, 2d8+5 damage).

We’re using a WizKids pre-painted Umber Hulk Delver miniature from their Desert of Desolation set.

Cave-dig 2: Trapped Gas Trap. Untouched caverns can naturally form deadly gas pockets, and that’s certainly not good news for the players. As they continue to dig, they hit a soft patch of wall that quickly collapses. They see nothing but darkness but quickly smell an obnoxious odor. After everyone gets done looking at the Barbarian, they must make a DC 15 Constitution Save or take 1d10+2 poison damage (save for half).

DM Ben grabbed a homemade dark sphere off his shelf and thought this would nicely represent the invisible gas cloud. It definitely should get a chuckle.

Cave-dig 3: Empty/Solid Wall. Sometimes, you hit some mighty solid rock and can’t go further. Instead, you have to pick up your bootstraps and press on. Everyone has to make a DC 12 Survival check or suffer one level of exhaustion after expending so much energy with a spirit-crushing outcome.

We’re using some Milestone Heroes 3D-printed Cavern tiles here.

Cave-dig 4: Scorpion. No one wants to bump into a stinger, but that’s precisely what happens as the group’s path takes another unfortunate turn. This large beast immediately attacks the first thing it sees. Tough 5e stats here: AC 15, 52 HP, Sting (Constitution, DC 12), Claws x2 (+4 att, 1d10+2 damage), Sting (+4 att, 1d10+2 damage).

We’re using a WizKids pre-painted Hellstinger Scorpion miniature from their Dangerous Delves set.

Cave-dig 5: Empty/Fallen Adventurer. Thankfully, the players draw a non-combat encounter this time and uncover a deceased adventurer who succumbed to a cave-in. DM Ben will give a vivid description (or ask a player to do so) and allow someone to do an Investigation DC 12 check. DM Ben will draw a loot card from Nord Games’ Treasure Trove or Objects of Intrigue decks if successful. Certainly, this dead dude won’t need those valuables, right?

Cave-dig 6: Hook Horror. They’ve found another large monstrosity that simply isn’t in the mood to see them. He’s a mean one: AC 15, HP 75, Hooks x2 (+6 att, 2d6+4 damage). Its Keen Hearing ability means the monster will hear the players coming, and anyone who fails a DC 14 Perception check will suffer a surprise round (random, up to two targets).

We’re using a WizKids pre-painted Hook Horror miniature from their Aberrations set.

Cave-dig 7: Empty/Fallen Adventurer. Sadly, the players come across another victim. DM Ben will use different 3D-printed pieces to represent a fallen adventurer. Same as above regarding DM Ben allowing someone to do an Investigation DC 12 check. DM Ben will draw a loot card from Nord Games’ Treasure Trove or Objects of Intrigue decks if successful.

This Long Dead Adventurer scatter terrain piece is a free download on Things from Curufin.

Cave-dig 8: Amber Lotus Flower Trap. This time, they find a beautiful flower twisted within a bunch of roots. It has a defense mechanism that sprays super bright and sticky yellow pollen in a 40-foot cone. Each creature in that area must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or fall unconscious (for one encounter).

The stunned victim also sustains 1d8+2 damage. If you save, you don’t take damage, but your armor is contaminated and is too itchy to wear. Affected players must remove their armor immediately and clean it during their next long rest. Other cures include Prestidigitation or Lesser Restoration.

This miniature is by Loot Studios and their Faewood Haven set.

Cave-dig 9: Dead End. No matter how hard you dig, there’s just no way to press through this path. Once again, everyone has to make a DC 12 Survival check or suffer one level of exhaustion after this disappointing exploration setback.

We’re utilizing Dwarven Forge for the hallway and rock rubble pile here to block off a passageway.

Cave-dig 10: Rust monsters. We featured these little buggers in a previous DnD blog post. The 5e stats (AC 14, HP 27, Att +3/1d8+1 damage) don’t zing as much as the Rust Metal Antennae ability will.

We’re using a WizKids pre-painted Rust Monster miniature from their Sand and Stone set.

Remember, the challenge rating per encounter isn’t meant to be hard or even medium in nature. They must continue their rolls until their d20 lands on a way out. DM Ben will give them just one long rest to start the table, but then that’s it until they exit the Fissure.

Next time, we’ll do part two of our Cavern Escape d20 random table!

The post P1: DnD Dig Dug, Anyone? appeared first on 3DRPG.

Infinite Dimensions typically releases a cool building and a fantastic scatter terrain set each month. So us-printer-folk really get the best of both worlds. Today we’re sharing our completed messy bed but we’re excited to eventually feature the entire super seven-piece collection.

Let’s start by taking a deeper look at all the subtle touches in this piece! We likened this 3D print to our teenage daughters’ rooms with the socks being our favorite touch. Open books, haphazard blankets, a long cape, a strewn cane, wrinkled clothes, a wine bottle…and on and on!

There’s even a black kitty cat tucked away in there. There’s just so much to search through but that’s where the adrenaline burst around the table comes in! Is there a hidden treasure or two buried within all the junk? Players gotta roll!

That’s where a good ol’ D&D 5e Investigation check comes into play. Plenty of DM options here but this is how we do settle a search in our games. Up to two players can roll an Investigation check. The quality of the random finds, beyond any specific preset treasure selections by the module or DM, depends on the player dice rolls.

On a 15+, the party will get something decent like a scroll, potion, an extra mission clue, etc. On 10-14 result, you’re probably looking at some loose gem or an odd, one-off use like a lucky rabbit’s foot. On 9 or lower, you snag some gold (with a follow-up d20 to determine the specific monetary amount). And then natural 20, the party will get a combo of the list above or even better, a Nord Games Treasure Trove deck card pull.

Lastly, a roll of 1 gets you a card from their Dungeon Discoveries Fumbled Searches deck. Why not add a little more flavor by utilizing any of Nord Games card decks? Not sure if you noticed but we loooooove card decks here at 3DRPG.

We have several favs from this marvelous creator including:

• Treasure Troves (by CR)
• Magic Compendiums (by type)
• Objects of Intrigue (by environment)
• Dungeon Discoveries (by type)

So we think this article is a great reminder to the DMs that while miniatures and terrain feed our insatiable 3D appetite, don’t forget what a terrain piece can mean to an encounter. Avoid skimping on the Investigation checks! That’s like going to a Billy Joel concert and he doesn’t play, “Piano Man!” Give those (greedy) players what they want – a fun, intriguing Investigation experience!

The post Terrain Tuesday! Messing with the Best appeared first on 3DRPG.

And if you’re looking for some fun investigation checks by the party for what is specifically on this ol’ shelf, our own D&D campaigns have really enjoyed utilizing these Objects of Intrigue Decks by Nord Games. They actually have decks for any environment: Dungeon, Wilderlands, Underground, and Waterways. We couple these with their Magic Item compendium deck series (based on the investigation rolls)…roll average and it’s an Intrigue deck card verse rolling rather high (then it could be a juicy magic item card).

The deck cards are really smooth: you roll a d12 and take the result roll. If something is really wacky or overpowered, our game group understands the DM has the right to veto and request a re-roll (in the name of game balancing) or have them draw a new card.

So now you’ve got the shelf, you’ve got the treasure but did anyone actually remember to completely clear the room?!

The post 3D Thursday! A Place to Keep Your Tings appeared first on 3DRPG.