D&D 5E - Maze of the Minotaur - Interest Check

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OpenDungeons & Dragons 5thPublic1 / dayDiogenes
I've been putting together a tournament scenario for D&D, and now I'm ready to run it. This is the 5E version of the original scenario.

In this scenario, you'll begin play as unfortunate prisoners, who are being thrown down into a dungeon as a sacrifice to a terrible monster. Due to this game's very restricted scope (the dungeon), coupled with a concrete goal (escape alive), I aim to avoid many of the usual pitfalls of a play-by-post game, where the game can meander and lose pace as time goes on. This game will very much be a "sprint, not a marathon", and I expect there to be a high degree of lethality. Since this is a tournament scenario, there is a competitive element to this game. Escaping the dungeon alive is a victory in itself, but there will also be the possibility of acquiring treasure during the escape. The character who successfully escapes the dungeon with the most treasure will be considered the overall winner of this tournament.

If you want to play this game, then you will start off with two first-level 5E characters. Given that your characters are prisoners, you'll be starting with no weapons, no adventuring equipment, and no spells memorised. All you'll have are your wits, and what you can find in the dungeon itself. If your character is killed, there will be no opportunity to bring in a new character, and if both your characters are killed, then you're effectively "eliminated" from the tournament.

In terms of inspirational material for this game, I would say that the major touchstones include the TSR module "A4: In the Dungeons of The Slave Lords", Arnold Kemp's introductory dungeon "Lair of the Lamb", and the video game, "Legend of Grimrock". I'll be running this game at fast pace, with one post per day. I'll be handling all dice rolling on my end, so as players, all you need to do is interact with the game world, and let me know what you want to do.

If reading this has caught your interest, and you're wanting to play, put your name down below, and I'll kick off the game shortly.


Apr 22, 2025 12:18 pm
I've been putting together a tournament scenario for D&D, and now I'm ready to run it. This is the 5E version of the original scenario.

In this scenario, you'll begin play as unfortunate prisoners, who are being thrown down into a dungeon as a sacrifice to a terrible monster. Due to this game's very restricted scope (the dungeon), coupled with a concrete goal (escape alive), I aim to avoid many of the usual pitfalls of a play-by-post game, where the game can meander and lose pace as time goes on. This game will very much be a "sprint, not a marathon", and I expect there to be a high degree of lethality. Since this is a tournament scenario, there is a competitive element to this game. Escaping the dungeon alive is a victory in itself, but there will also be the possibility of acquiring treasure during the escape. The character who successfully escapes the dungeon with the most treasure will be considered the overall winner of this tournament.

If you want to play this game, then you will start off with two first-level 5E characters. Given that your characters are prisoners, you'll be starting with no weapons, no adventuring equipment, and no spells memorised. All you'll have are your wits, and what you can find in the dungeon itself. If your character is killed, there will be no opportunity to bring in a new character, and if both your characters are killed, then you're effectively "eliminated" from the tournament.

In terms of inspirational material for this game, I would say that the major touchstones include the TSR module "A4: In the Dungeons of The Slave Lords", Arnold Kemp's introductory dungeon "Lair of the Lamb", and the video game, "Legend of Grimrock". I'll be running this game at fast pace, with one post per day. I'll be handling all dice rolling on my end, so as players, all you need to do is interact with the game world, and let me know what you want to do.

If reading this has caught your interest, and you're wanting to play, put your name down below, and I'll kick off the game shortly.
Apr 22, 2025 12:38 pm
I'm definitely interested.
Apr 22, 2025 1:08 pm
Never tried anything like this before. I'd be interested to give it a try
Apr 22, 2025 1:19 pm
Also, is this intended as 5e 2014, 5e 2024, or a blend of the two?
Apr 22, 2025 1:46 pm
It sounds like an interesting premise so I'll join the line with everyone else. Also interested in which version of 5e.
Apr 22, 2025 2:20 pm
Questions: would players interact with each other or is it planned as a collection of single-player-games? Would the two of my PCs interact with each other in any way? Could you confirm my understanding: wizards, druids, clerics will have no access to no spells, including cantrips?
Apr 22, 2025 2:48 pm
If you're wanting to play, just roll up two 5E characters, and whether you use the 2014 rules or 2024 rules is up to you. I don't mind if your characters know each other, don't know each other, or however you want to have it.

I'm honestly not too fussed when it comes to how you put your characters together, the way I tend to run my games, success depends more about how you engage with the fictional game world as a player, as opposed to how you can leverage the abilities on your character sheet. I'm a very fiction-first type of referee, I'll always consider the "fictional reality" of the game world, and that'll drive my interpretation of how the world interacts with the players, with the mechanical rules being more like a skeletal framework that holds up the rest of the body.

My plan is for all the players who sign up for the game to be thrown in to the pit together, and then see what happens from there.
Apr 22, 2025 3:57 pm
This is an interesting premise. I'm intrigued. I can toss my hat in the ring, I always have spare character ideas to try.
Apr 22, 2025 4:17 pm
Alright, well if you want to play, you're all more than welcome to. I've put the first gameplay post in the game channel, I'm not sure how to link it here, but if you look up "D&D 5E - Maze of the Minotaur", I'm sure it'll come up. If anyone knows how to put a link to the game here, let me know.

There's also the character channel, so just drop your characters in there, feel free to roll them up at home with your physical dice if you want, I like to keep things pretty simple and low-tech on my end.
Apr 22, 2025 4:22 pm
I found the forum, but it is closed for applications. That means you have to send out invitations to prospective players.

Alternatively you can open it for applications and each of us can apply.

But until we're part of the game, we can't post.
Apr 22, 2025 4:25 pm
How do I open the game for applications?

EDIT: I think I've figured it out, let me know if you have any trouble accessing it.
Last edited April 22, 2025 4:28 pm
Apr 22, 2025 4:31 pm
Go to the game forum, then choose the "Game Details" page.

At the top, it should say Game Status.
Immediately underneath that, it should say:

Closed for game applications [ Open to applications ]

On that screen, the red "Open to applications" is a clickable button. Press it, the game should then be open for applications.
Apr 22, 2025 4:52 pm
Hello! If you have any spots left I would like to join!
Apr 22, 2025 4:56 pm
I think if you would like to connect this thread to your game, edit the game and at the bottom is how to connect this thread. I think you would edit to have 36834 in that blank spot.

Looks like the game is open for recruitment so it worked! MaJunior is the best!
Apr 22, 2025 6:34 pm
I’ll give this a go! Will apply in-game. Looking forward to playing with y’all! :)
Apr 22, 2025 7:14 pm
Will there be a place(es) to purchase specific magic items, or will all items be randomly generated and/or determined?
Apr 23, 2025 8:12 am
When you're ready, feel free to start posting in the gameplay thread. As for purchasing or finding magic items, that'll be up to you to find in the dungeon. In terms of cantrips and first-level spells, you'll be starting unable to cast anything, and will have to find a way to recover that ability as you progress in the dungeon.
Apr 23, 2025 10:02 am
Alrighty It looks like the players were picked and the game is full. Have fun! :]
Last edited April 23, 2025 10:02 am
Apr 23, 2025 11:14 am
The game isn't full Bubbles, you can play. Same goes for anyone else reading this thread just now. I'm not sure if there's a way to reply directly to someone on here, but all of you are good to play, just start posting in the game chat when you're ready.
Last edited April 23, 2025 11:15 am
Apr 23, 2025 11:21 am
@Diogenes it shows me that the game is full and I cannot apply.

Can someone help please?
[ +- ] The image
Last edited April 24, 2025 7:53 am
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