#zenopus

It can be run as a simple room-by-room dungeon crawl, but there are a number of good design ideas for inspiration like one entrance leading to multiple hidden exits.  It includes many potential hooks for new adventures, which makes it a great first session to start a sandbox campaign if the party follows one or more of those leads.

Who are the NPCs who were turned to stone?  Who built the previous ancient city with some enormous dungeon rooms, and are there more hidden levels below?  Who are the pirates and what else are they up to?  The pirates have abducted at least one person from town, so I’ve had them be part of the slavers network from the A1-4 series of modules.

I also use this dungeon as a benchmark for trying new editions of the game, comparing how the rules handle different types of encounters.  The thaumaturgist can die quickly in 5th ed if he faces a party alone, but a handful of goblins might be a problem if they outnumber the party.

Room G: Gloomy.  The party turns over some broken furniture and giant rats swarm out of their hidden nest.  These vermin play a little differently in 5th ed with the “pack tactics” rule giving them advantage when other rats are near.

Room S2: The Thaumaturgist who fled a different room is cornered in the ruined tower with his caged ape.  He almost slew the first person up the stairs with his magic missile, but the rest of the party kept climbing out of the trap door and took him down quickly.  Even being 4th level, it’s not good to be outnumbered 5-1 in 5th ed.