Zylarthen Test Dungeon: 2nd Level

This is the second and probably last of the Test Dungeon levels, as I've learned a few things I want to incorporate in a larger randomly generated megadungeon. I was partly inspired by Barrowmaze, which was, according to the author, in large part generated randomly.

I think random generation is great. The apparent patterns as well as odd results act as 'imagination engines' to help fill things out. And obviously things would need to be filled out, not only to add tricks and traps but also the architectural and other details that would make the setting really come alive. I hope the Boars make a reappearance in the megadungeon, as well as of course the Sea Horses, but we'll just have to see.

Here are the rooms:

1. Monster: Pixie (1) AC 9, HD 1+2, hp 8, AT 1-6 plus various magical attacks and defenses MV 9/18, AL Neutrality LN Pixie, Common, Kobold (fluent), Hobgoblin, Leprechaun.
2. Empty
3. Empty
4. Empty
5. Empty
6. Treasure: 6,000 cp, Magic Shield, map to 1 unguarded gem (10 sp value), 64 miles away.
7. Treasure: 2000 cp, 2 jewelry (500, 30 sp value), Magic Shield.
8. Empty
9. Monster: Sea Horses, Medium (7) AC 7, HD 2+1, hp 8,8,6,11,10,13,6, AT 1-6, MV 0/18 Treasure: 11,000 cp.
10. Empty
11. Empty
12. Empty
13. Monster & Treasure: Orcs (2) AC 6, HD 1, hp 5,2, AT 1-6, MV 9, AL Chaotic LN Orcish, 400 gp, 3 jewelry (120, 70, 80 sp value).
14. Empty
15. Empty
16. Empty
17. Empty
18. Treasure: 200 gp, 6 jewelry (130, 850, 700, 40, 350, 90 sp value).
19. Empty
20. Empty
21. Empty
22. Empty
23. Monster: Cyborgs (2) AC 9, HD 3, hp 16,10, AT 1-6 plus assimilation, MV 12, AL Neutrality LN simple Common plus long range ESP.
24. Empty
25. Empty
26. Empty
27. Empty
28. Empty
29. Monster: Boars (5) AC 7, HD 3, hp 13,10,14,12,12, AT 1-6, MV 15.
30. Empty
31. Monster & Treasure: Poisonous Snakes (17) AC 9, HD 1 hp, AT 1 hp plus poison, MV 3, 400 gp, 8 gems (10 sp value each), 8 jewelry (5 sp value each).
32. Empty
33. Empty
34. Monster: Giant Ants (4) AC 3, HD 1/2, hp 1,2,3,3 AT 1-6 plus paralyze, MV 18.
35. Empty
36. Treasure: 350 gp, 2 gems (50, 5 sp value).
37. Treasure: 1 gem (10 sp value).
38. Monster: Ogre (1) AC 5, HD 4+1, hp 17, AT 3-8, MV 9, AL Neutrality LN Ogre, Merman.
39. Empty
40. Treasure: Cursed Sword -2, Map to 500 gp and 18 gems (10 sp value each), 3 miles away, unguarded.
41. Empty
42. Empty
43. Monster & Treasure: Giant Ants (8) AC 3, HD 1/2, hp 1,3,3,2,1,1,3,3 AT 1-6 plus paralyze, MV 18, 70 gems (10 sp value each).
44. Monster: Lizard Men (3) AC 5, HD 2+1, hp 9,10,4 AT 1-6, MV 6/12, AL Neutrality LN Lizard Man.
45. Empty
46. Empty
47. Empty
48. Monster: Boars (2) AC 7, HD 3, hp 17,8 AT 1-6, MV 15.
49. Empty
50. Empty

Notes:

1. I used the random generation guidelines from the four Seven Voyages of Zylarthen booklets as summarized in this post, covering the 1st level of Zylarthen's First Dungeon.
2. I wanted to create a random number of rooms--41-60--but I rolled a 10, giving me exactly 50 again.
3. This time I included the monster stats, using the format of B1: In Search of the Unknown. For the intelligent monsters, I randomly generated languages for them (LN), using the procedure described in Zylarthen, Vol. 4, pp. 32-36. If I rolled the same language twice, I assumed that meant fluency.
4. For monsters, on any roll of 1-2 out of 6, I randomly picked a previously generated monster. Presumably monster types would cluster.
5. Of course I rolled Boars again. Twice.
6. We now also have Sea Horses.
7. Does that have anything to do with the fact that the Ogre speaks Merman?
8. Treasure hordes were adjusted to reflect the guidelines in Vol. 4, p. 4. Basically I multiplied all results except those for cp's and magic items by 20%. There's still almost certainly too much.
9. This level makes it clear that if you use the treasure assignment scheme as given or close to as given--1 in 4 rooms have monsters, 50% of monsters have treasure and 1 in 6 unoccupied rooms have treasure (which roughly tracks the OD&D recommendations), then you may very well end up with more treasure not guarded by monsters than guarded by them. Even though much if not most of the unguarded treasure will be by assumption trapped or hidden, this still may not be a desirable ration for some.
10. I love the map to that one 10 sp value gem, 64 miles away (unguarded of course).
11. Also, getting a magic shield twice was interesting. I initially thought the number and power of magic items would have to be adjusted downward if using the random generation scheme previously outlined. Now I'm wondering whether they might need to be adjusted upward.
12. Overall, the 2nd level perhaps looks easy. But I think this is deceptive. Remember, the world of Zylarthen can be quite harsh. If you go down to zero hit points you're probably dead, maimed or very hurt.
13. I made the Snakes poisonous (you don't have to), but that turns these C level creatures into potentially the most deadly encounter on the level.
14. It is true that the 2nd level is lonely compared with the 1st. Instead of the teaming low-level humanoid melting pot of Bandits, Vikings, Martians, Half-Elves and all the rest, you get only 1 Pixie, 2 Orcs and 3 Lizard Men. Presumably however the Wandering Monster Table for the 2nd Level would feature many of the 1st Level humanoids.
15. And yes, all of them are wearing clothes. Don't even start with that.
16. Okay, maybe not the Lizard Men.

Randomly Generated Dungeon for Seven Voyages of Zylarthen

Or rather, the 1st level of one. There are 50 rooms:

1. Empty
2. Empty
3. Empty
4. Empty
5. Monster: 4 Bats
6. Empty
7. Monster: 2 Black Knights
8. Empty
9. Empty
10. Empty
11. Monster: 4 Skeletons
12. Empty
13. Empty
14. Empty
15. Empty
16. Empty
17. Empty
18. Empty
19. Empty
20. Monster & Treasure: 3 Elves, 4000 SP, 100 GP, 1 Gem (10 SP value)
21. Monster & Treasure: 2 Snatchers, Dagger +1, +2 vs. Goblins and Kobolds, Scroll of 1 Spell: Pass-Wall, Mail +4 (carried)
22. Treasure: 9000 CP, 1 Gem (10 SP value)
23. Monster: 3 Crocodiles
24. Empty
25. Empty
26. Empty
27. Empty
28. Empty
29. Empty
30. Monster: 6 Bandits, 60 CP (carried)
31. Empty
32. Empty
33. Treasure: 1 Jewelry (600 SP value)
34. Empty
35. Empty
36. Empty
37. Empty
38. Empty
39. Monster: 2 Giant Dragonflies
40. Monster & Treasure: 6 Vikings, 36 SP (carried), 1100 SP
41. Monster: 2 Gargoyles
42. Monster: 9 Red Martians, 90 pi coins (carried)
43. Treasure: 500 SP
44. Treasure: Scroll of 7 Spells: Animate Objects, Contact Higher Plane, Magic Jar, Telekinesis, Wall of Stone (2), Animate Dead, 1 Map to treasure horde of 1300 GP (97 miles away)
45. Empty
46. Empty
47. Monster & Treasure: 1 Boar, 800 CP
48. Monster: 2 Berserkers, 8 SP (carried)
49. Empty
50. Monster: 3 Half-Elves

Notes:
1. I used the guidelines on p. 4 of Vol. 4, The Campaign, figuring that 1 in 4 rooms would contain monsters, 50% of monsters would have treasure and 1 in 6 unoccupied rooms would have treasure.
2. Monsters were generated from the tables on pp. 9-10.
3. Magic Items and spells were generated from the tables in Vol. 3, Book of Magic.
4. For treasure hordes, I used the treasure class tables on p. 38 of Vol. 4. But I multiplied the results by 10% (11000 SP became 1100 SP, and so on) on any roll of 1-5 out of 6. Perhaps I should have let the CP numbers stand just to give the player-characters more to carry. 
5. For unguarded treasure or monsters without a treasure class, I randomly chose from treasure classes 1-3.
6. Amazingly, the total treasure value (if you include the horde referenced by that map) comes out to approximately 15,000 SP--well within the guidelines on p. 4.
7. I didn't cheat (not once). I suppose the scroll of 7 5th level spells in Room 44 might be adjusted, as well as (maybe) the Mail +4. Then again, the party might need some of those spells for a few of the monsters (1 magic dagger against 2 Gargoyles is tough).
8. Many of the monsters seem easy for 1st level characters, but obviously a few of the monsters are very powerful with serious TPK potential. This is a good dungeon level to teach players how to pick their battles (if they can) and when to hide or run away. Similarly, making friends (there are obviously a number of potential allies) or at the least not making enemies will also be paramount. You don't want those 9 Red Martians (all presumably armed with Radium Pistols) to have a problem with you.
9. I have no idea how the Boar got in there.