Free Interactive Blank Dungeon
The "Abandoned Pirate Cave" is presented as an example of an interactive RPG module but with a twist.
This is a new design category of RPG modules that I call a Blank Dungeon.
A Blank Dungeon would exist somewhere between a plain map and a One Shot.
You have probably seen some very artistic dungeon maps and map packs for sale that are nothing more than a basic map and it is up to the GM to design a dungeon around the map, saving the GM plenty of life hours not having to create a map.
You have probably also seen a One Shot dungeon adventure design that is typically a limited information adventure with a brief story setup, hook and a few rooms or encounters outlined and a conclusion where the villain is bested, treasure is found or the mystery is solved.
Blank Dungeons, in my mind, occupy the space in-between to give the GM a really great shortcut to a dungeon that the GM still has complete agency in creating. Because Blank Dungeons are maps with fully realized background settings.
The GM takes this active setting and overlays their own campaign or adventure setting on top of the Blank Dungeon.
Blank Dungeons are not populated with an adventure story, hooks to get characters drawn in, or conclusion. I will admit though, that it is possible a GM might run a Blank Dungeon without their own adventure overlaid on top and treat it much like a One Shot or One Page dungeon.
"Abandoned Pirate Cave" is also designed using my Emergent Adventure System (EAS) methodology so the GM also gets all the convenience of having all information quickly available at their fingertips.
One other big design change I made in the Blank Dungeon, "Abandoned Pirate Cave", is it was designed in a widescreen horizontal format as opposed to the complete dungeon adventure. "Writhing Depths", that is designed in a vertical book-like format.
So, if you are wondering what this looks like, here is the interactive Blank Dungeon that GM's can play for free.
Of course, members of the Doorkeepers Guild newsletter get access to the downloadable version and various associated downloadable material.
