The Hypogeum is a world which consists of an underground complex (though whether there is any ground for it to be under is a matter of some debate). It can be thought of as a series of linked, immense, cathedral-like caverns, honeycombed with room-like divisions, and rooms below and in the walls of this "central" structure. Sort of like a hedge maze with basements in a roofed courtyard of an circular apartment building. If you make it to the wall, there's probably a door which can take you about three rooms deep in the wall, maybe more or less, maybe connecting to another "courtyard". These courtyards are miles across, and contain both many structures and lots of empty space.
Exploring the "overworld" traditionally (room by room) is both tedious and unnecessary. Traps are rare, and most of it is just empty space, as said before, and it is very possible (though somewhat risky) to just go above obstacles by climbing the walls (aerial predators exist and going above the walls makes you more visible to monsters in the rooms around you). Generally, its dangerous monotony dividing settlements, ruins, and other important structures, with encounters and weather. Which means it can be modeled as a wilderness!
The above is the working hexflower for the Hypogeum. I am dissatisfied with it currently, but what can you do?
Normal (non-weighted) hexflower rules. You can backtrack to places you've been before, and you can't always explore further in a certain location.
[Might add examples, or change things around here, but I'm a bit behind right now.]
I've never seen an exploration hexflower before, but it makes a lot of sense. Yours is also really well-organized; everything next to the Gate makes sense, etc.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder how connected it is to real, physical space - if I go to the village on the right side of the hexflower, then leave, I'm moving from that hex (I assume). If I happened to randomly hit that hex again, is that the same town, or do I have to backtrack to get there?
for the example you provided, you would find a different town, and would have to backtrack to get to the first (though, you or your DM might decide differently). Exploring always brings you to a new landmark, assuming there is room for one (one couldn't find 15+ new dungeons around one town, for example). If there isn't room for one, it loops back around I think. This is mostly an oracle or a spark table, to be used as is useful, to be interpreted as is fun, and to be disregarded if neither can be done.
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