It’s december 1st, so the AdventUre Calendar has started!
This year, I’m going to do things a bit differently. My 2024 has been remarkably creative, and I don’t have a lot of unfinished ideas laying around. So, I’m going to focus on making a full Block, Dodge, Parry starting adventure region, instead.
A few base rules:
- I will use the guideline below, that I’ve prepared beforehand.
- It is a guideline – if along the way I get completely other ideas, I’ll follow them. It’s an organic process. Who knows where I’ll end up!
- I’ll try not to ‘get ahead’ – each day I’ll focus purely on what I have to write that day, in context of what I’ve written before.
- I’ll blog about my progress each day, or close to it.
The Guideline
Village and Social (Days 1-9)
Day 1: Village Foundation
- Core Themes & Keywords
- General character of people living here
- General ambition of people living here
- Location: Climate, General Terrain
- Village name
Day 2: Leadership and Commerce
- Village leader, founding, history
- Economy & Trade:
- Which resources are mined and/or refined here
- What is imported & exported, and by who
- What is the abundance & scarcity
Day 3: Religious, Knowledge, Customs
- History & Traditions
- Local priest or wise person
- Healers and mystics
- Keepers of local lore
- Festivals and ceremonies
- Superstitions
- Daily routines and practices
Day 4: Notable Factions
- 3 factions within the village
- 3 factions surrounding the village (wilderness, nearby settlements etc.). To be fleshed out on day 14.
- Each faction is at odds with at least 2 other factions in some way
- Each faction has
- Advantage: assets that reflect a faction’s influence, material, wealth and other unique features.
- Agendas: What they are trying to achieve.
- Obstacles: Why they haven’t achieved their goal yet
- See Faction Types, Faction Traits, Faction Advantages
- Name a few Agents for each faction, to be fleshed out tomorrow.
Day 5: Notable Characters
- Unique or eccentric villagers
- Traveling merchants or regular visitors
- Local heroes or troublemakers
- Notable relations, tensions, secrets between these characters
Day 6: Village Layout
- Detailed map
- Key building descriptions
- Points of interest within village
Day 7: Current Issues in the Village
- Ongoing problems within the village
- Political tensions between village factions & other settlements
- Recent troubles in the wilderness
Day 8: Rumors and Secrets
- Local legends
- Hidden truths
- False rumors that everyone believes
Day 9: Quest Hooks
- Village-based quests
- Connection points to wilderness
- Potential adventure seeds
Wilderness (Days 10-14)
Day 10: Wilderness Overview
- Geography and key features
- Climate and general conditions
- Notable landmarks & major nearby areas
Day 11: Environmental Challenges
- Natural hazards
- Weather patterns
- Survival challenges
- Ingredients for alchemy & meals
Day 12: Wilderness Inhabitants
- Local wildlife
- Monster populations
- Intelligent beings
Day 13: Random Encounters
- Encounter tables for notable areas
- Time and weather tables
Day 14: Factions and Politics
- Competing groups
- Territory claims
- Inter-faction relationships
Points of Interest (Days 15-17)
Day 15: Minor Locations (2-3)
- Standing stones
- Abandoned shelters
- Natural phenomena
Day 16: Medium Locations (1-2)
- Ruined watchtower
- Ancient shrine
- Bandit camp
Day 17: Major Location
- Significant ruins
- Complex natural feature
- Detailed description and purpose
The Dungeon (Days 18-24)
Day 18: Dungeon Concept
- History and purpose
- Theme and atmosphere
- Major factions present
Day 19: Dungeon Layout
- Map of level 1
- Key areas identified
- Connection points
Day 20: Level 1 Details (Part 1)
- Entrance area
- First few chambers
- Initial challenges
Day 21: Level 1 Details (Part 2)
- Remaining chambers
- Connecting areas
- Environmental features
Day 22: Dungeon Denizens
- Monster placement
- NPC inhabitants
- Faction territories
Day 23: Special Elements
- Unique rooms
- Major encounters
- Puzzles and traps
Day 24: Treasures and Secrets
- Major treasure placement
- Hidden areas
- Special rewards
- Final mysteries