How to rp a dungeon you have been in.

[Possibly Ten]

Okay folks, as this might be our first official discussion about how to handle something rp wise, and I am glad we can have one. Let em rip.
What techniques do you use to make dungeons seem "new" even though you have been in them before?


I for one, even though pcs I have might have been in a dungeon before, like to rp that perhaps the forces have regrouped, and since the last visit have begun threatening the local area once again. Therefore gives a chance, and a reason to go into a dungeon again.

Another thing about Kal's response of not buffing before the last room, and other things that can be rped, can really play a role if a party does have a scout. This server is rich in things that a party needs a scout. Can always send a scout in, and let them come back with a "Oh crap..there is one mean looking SOB in there!" Gives you a chance to do your buffs before any big battles. The main reason I say this, is with a cleric, sometimes you have spells that are very short in duration, but can greatly help you at the time of a big battle.

Going into the same places over and over again, can get old, but with new rp or reasons to go there involved, it does tend to make the adventure abit more exciting.

Heck, can always say that your character saw something of interest in there, a book, possible ore vein, or anything you can think of for your pc.

I will post more here as I think of them. Please do the same. Talking about such things helps everyone's rp, not saying that anyone needs the help, just saying we all learn something from each other.

[slothfulcat]

I use more or less the same reasoning.... I may have been there before... but I haven't fought that particular band of monsters before... and in the cases of a few of my PCs.... they aren't going to finish off defenseless opponents... so its very easy to picture that some survivors have regrouped... and since monsters have shaman too.. easy to say that alot of those that were cut down have been restored to life or healed. That said... if I've been to a dungeon before I don't share the "big suprises" with others... unfortunately this means that the damn rust monster that is somewhere I wont mention... has shanked a couple of my PCs and their friends in a bad way.

So I guess... I more or less RP it as first time in if I can feasibly do it... say i'm with a PC that hasn't been to such destination before and it is their trip... or I simply go of the in game cues that just 1 battle wont win the war with any particular band in a dungeon... and on occasion its just because that PC wants to go to the same location for a certian reason ((intriguing portals and the possibility of an epic single-combat duel for example)).

[DavrosMandrake]

My golden rules for this are:

If I have completed a dungeon then I RP it like its a new experience, especialy if there are people in the party that have never done that dungeon before. (I am realy getting bored of dieing at the end of the goblin caves watching someone with activate all the spawns in one go...but its a lesson that has to be learnt)

If I have started a dungeon and been turned around (either by having to run of having died and re-spawning) then I will RP previous knowledge of a dungeon up to the point I was turned around (or a couple of encounters short of when I died)

If I have never done a dungeon before then I dont have too much trouble RP'ing that I have never been there.

All RP depends on the party I am with (Jani and Soraya have done some dungeons a couple of time but its different each time basicaly due to the fact they are gossiping about different people)

Some dungeons offer ambushes, where spawns come up being you...second time around any char will be wary of them, especialy if they got done over by them before.

Hardest thing for players like me that have a stable of characters is remember which dungeons any given character has done (and with who) in my case...so I try and take everything as a fresh day