Dungeon Builder's Guidebook (AD&D Accessory) [Paperback]

Bruce R. Cordell (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (May 19, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786912073
• ISBN-13: 978-0786912070
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #779,184 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A little disappointed, July 13, 2001

By 

"-ld" (Hempstead, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dungeon Builder's Guidebook (AD&D Accessory) (Paperback)

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting when I bought this book. Whatever it was I was a little disappointed. Many of the ideas in the book seem obvious, and not very useful to roleplay veterans. However I did find some use in the random roll chart for traps, gave me a few ideas to use in my campaign, though I'd recomend not leaving traps up to pure chance, take what you like and makes sense and incorporate it. Also as I find myself to be a horrible cartographer I found some map pieces (little bits of a dungeon layout that can be fit together like a puzzle) to be of use when designing dungeons.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not much depth for veterans, but still has potential, July 7, 2000

By 

Judas (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dungeon Builder's Guidebook (AD&D Accessory) (Paperback)

When I bought this thing, I couldn't wait to open it and learn all the cool secrets I thought I'd find.

I didn't find much.

This guide has a few cool benefits, especially for novice DM's and DM's who need to throw together a semi-believable dungeon hack in a hurry. However, it serves no other rewarding purpose. The concept of tracing and piecing together the different geomorphs is a great starter if you suffer occasional imagination block, but don't use it as a crutch. It's not comprehensive enough for that.

The suggested traps are absolutely ludicrous. If you're the kind of DM who likes to torment your players with lots of "instant death" situations and completely absurd concepts, then this is your kind of book.

Also, the common-sense explanations and insights into the logic of a dungeon are worthless to all but the most inexperienced DM's. Experience and forethought will teach you more effectively than the guide could hope to do.

So, if you're a rookie DM or even a veteran who can't get the thoughts flowing once in a while, this thing might be worth your while. Other than that, though, save your cash.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars My comments, May 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dungeon Builder's Guidebook (AD&D Accessory) (Paperback)

I got this book at the same time as I got the World Builder's Guide Book, and I was expecting lots of good things from this book, but (and not to put it down) it didn't hold my attention as the WBGB did. I've had little use for it as I haven't done much dungeon building, but it does provide some useful info and items such as traps, as well as discussion about why a monster would be down in the dungeon rather than just something for the PCs to kill. My rating is only because it's not been as useful as it could have been for myself. For others, this could be the best darn book, and it probably is.