Constructing a Megadungeon, a Task for the Next Generation

A Megadungeon is an endeavour that will almost surely not be completed through normal means in the lifetime of the peole who ordered it.

It is one of the kinds of structures that are just so monolithic in scale that it's almost impossible to finish in an average human lifetime.

A Megadungeon is a monolithic underground structure known for their incredible modularity. They are not known for any one particular use, and many that have been built and utilized have been adapted into less than favorable domains.

History aside, they are almost always used to migrate civilization underground.

A great example is the stereotypical Dwarfs living in a complex network of caves and cities built into the rock of mountains extending deep underground.

Those sprawling, intense and winding caverns are exactly what to expect from a hastily built dungeon. Larger, more carefully built structures contain smooth rick walls and floors, usually containing even buildings and immensely high ceilings to almost simulate constant night sky while underground.

They are never comfortable, but families who have grown used to the darkness and lifestyle of living in the dungeon tend to prefer its safety vs the Overworld, where animal attacks and antural disasters are far more dangerous and frequent.

Plots of a Megadungeon

To pick and choose the plots to build in a sprawling Megadungeon, use the final table in this guide that includes all of the plots for building a town or city, a s a Megadungeon is essentially the same thing but rather underground.

Dungeon life, is not without its perks. it's safer, it's secluded, it's private. and communities come together much more closely than a normal Overworld civilazation would.

Due to the natural exclusion of the Overworld in a Megadungeon society, its rare that newcomers venture in and end up staying indefinitely, this can deeply impact the health and population of the civilization, and ultimately end up in unforeseen consequences for the Ruling body. In some cases, the Ruling body themselves are behind the problem.

it's not uncommon for people to want to leave the seclusion of the dungeon and move on from it. Darkness isn't for everybody, and it's important that the ruling body account for the population initially diminishing when society is moved from the Overworld to underground.

The Importance of Threat Control

Lack of proper security in a Megadungeon is especially dangerous, and certain precautions must be made to avoid outbreaks of undead or creature infestations that cannot be managed.

Things that thrive in the darkness are drawn to Megadungeons, giant bats breeed extremely quickly for example, and undead outbeaks leave citizens very little place to run if things get out of control.

Lack of management of such things can easily lead to a brand new Megadungeon turning into a ghost town. A ghost town, that now has to be dealt with.

DMs Please Note:

The plots available in a Megadungeon mirror and grow as the town or city does, essentially doubling the total amount of plots the players have to build with. It's important you let them know that costs grow too and that empty Megadungeon plots can breed trouble quickly.