07/17/2023

Here is another random encounter from Chat GPT:

Description: Deep within an ancient dungeon lies a treacherous labyrinth, home to a fearsome minotaur. The party must navigate the twisting corridors, solve puzzles, and face deadly traps to confront the minotaur and survive.

Unique Creatures: Minotaur

Treasure: If the party successfully defeats the minotaur and escapes the labyrinth, they discover a hidden chamber with a chest containing a powerful weapon, a suit of magical armor, and a sack of valuable gemstones.

Sounds like a good start, but we need to expand on it.

What are the trap and the riddle? We ask Chat GPT to give us more details.

Pendulum Gauntlet: In a long corridor, the party encounters a series of pendulums swinging back and forth at different heights. The pendulums move in a synchronized pattern, and the party must carefully time their movements to pass through unscathed. A misty haze obscures the floor, making it harder to see the swinging pendulums, adding an additional layer of challenge.

The Enchanted Key: The party discovers a chamber with a large stone pedestal in the center. Resting upon it is a glowing key, seemingly suspended in mid-air. However, there is an invisible barrier preventing direct access to the key. The party must search the room for hidden clues or use detect magic spells to reveal the invisible paths that lead to the key. Stepping outside the paths triggers magical barriers, adding an extra layer of difficulty.

That is better. Instead of mapping out the labyrinth, I think I will use the technique from Dungeoncraft. I would use Professor Dungeonmaster’s idea of toxic spores in the air that can make the PCs disoriented (DC 15 Con Save. If they pass, they can choose to stick with another PC. I will have the players roll a D6 to see where they end up.

1. Entrance
2. Pendulum Trap
3. The Enchanted Key (Used to open the treasure chest)
4. Treasure Chest
5. Dead End
6. Minotaur

The trap will be set by the PC level and difficulty decided on beforehand.

Trap Danger	Save DC	Attack Bonus
Setback	10–11	+3 to +5
Dangerous	12–15	+6 to +8
Deadly	16–20	+9 to +12

Character Level	Setback	Dangerous	Deadly
1st–4th	1d10	2d10	4d10
5th–10th	2d10	4d10	10d10
11th–16th	4d10	10d10	18d10
17th–20th	10d10	18d10	24d10

The puzzle could be a series of hard DC investigation checks. On a failure, the PC has to leave and come back. The puzzle could be solved with 5 successes.

The treasure chest is magically locked and can only be opened with the key from the puzzle.

The minotaur will attack one of 2 PCs and then leave the following round, hunting and playing with the party. If 3 or more PCs are present, it is a fight to the death.

This is a simple setup. We start with the large dungeon UDT and place 3 doorways and some wall sections up near the middle of the UDT. We place the minotaur and the PCs in the room.

Apparently, I have the same minotaur miniature as PDM (although I like my paint job better, just don’t tell him).

So, how did I do? Would you want to experience The Minotaur’s Labyrinth? Let me know in the comments!

Keep on gaming!