A Handbook on Dungeon making

[Blackhawk748]

A cursory google search nets me nothing, so does anyone know of a guide on Dungeon making or something similar?

[OldTrees1]

I don't think such a handbook exists (or at least I have not encountered one in my searches). Most of the written information is scattered around in various snippets and then there is a lot that is experience based.

Dungeonscape(D&D) and Dungeoncraft(d20) have some good material.

There is the topic of "What makes a trap bad, and thus how to not make bad traps?" for which I found this article bad-trap-syndrome/.

Also the Three Clue Rule is a good rule to remember although for puzzles you might want to use a 3 solutions known rule (aka the puzzle has at least 3 solutions and might have more).

Some pieces are larger: For example, you can map out your dungeon as a flowchart. This will make it much easier to see how many options you are allowing the PCs to have (linear, linear-branching, looping ...)

Other pieces are smaller: For example, dungeon ceilings should be vaulted/arched or otherwise reinforced to hold up the weight above them.

Eventually you get to the parts where it is more of an art than a science. Choice of shape, size, & edging can imply what kind of denizens live in that area (or at least what creatures built it).

[Fizban]

Funnily enough the "guide" making community is more focused on char-op lists than guiding advice most of the time. For that you want blogs and youtubes. The Alexandrian has a series of articles, not all of which I've read but those of which I have were great. Mat Colville's youtube about teaching people how to run the game, though I'm not sure he has a video so direct as "how to make a dungeon."

The simplest method is to find something that already exists which you like the looks of, then modify it as needed.

[Coidzor]

Most of the ones I've seen on DMing are either a fairly lengthy series of posts, such as by the Angry GM or are incomplete like this one from these very forums.

As for actual dungeon construction itself... Practically nothing, except for a few blog posts on the subject, such as part of a series like the Angry GM's.

[pupaeted]

Seconding the Angry GM. I've recently been doing a similar search, and ended up hitting posts like this. There's also the Chris Perkins Dungeon Master's Experience Archive that might be of interest. It's very broad, not just about adventure design, but touches on it a lot.

[DarkSoul]

See if you can track down the Dungeon Builder's Guidebook from 2e.

[BarbieTheRPG]

The 1st edition AD&D DMG has simple rules for building dungeons.

[Telonius]

Maybe the Stronghold Builder's Guidebook? As I remember it was a bit of a mess for editing, but it has some decent ideas in there.