Theme and origin is important for deciding what is in a dungeon.

Example:
a dungeon that is a tomb for a powerful demigod, and has powerful divine magic infused within it.
Difficulty: Hard
Monsters:
Enemies who opposed the demigod have returned to life, and will not let the adventurers past. These could include:
  • an ancient and evil wizard who is now a lich, who was a sworn enemy of the demigod.
  • an ancient and evil dragon who was slain by the demigod.
  • an ancent and evil demon bound in the tomb.

Traps and Puzzles:
  • An invisible bridge that can only be crossed by those who have faith that it is there.
  • a room where you must identify out of many items which one belonged to the demigod.
  • a room which forces you to relive a battle with a foe that the demigod fought in life (see Monsters)

Treasure:
Powerful weapons of legacy that the demigod wielded, thought to be lost to time.
  • an ancient holy sword.
  • a cloak worn by the demigod that bestows the wearer with a vestige of the demigod's power.

Decor:
  • Ancient runes adorn walls.
  • Massive statues.
  • titanic bas reliefs that tell long epics with great insight and knowledeg to those who are willing to read them.
  • Holy symbols, and shrines.


Example 2
A crashed alien spacecraft from a powerful civilization.
Difficulty: Medium
Monsters:
the beings that reside in this "dungeon" are not of this world, and will likely be misinterpreted by the adventurers.
  • a powerful golem that can hurt the party with the power of the sun. In actuality, this is a robot, from the ship's security, who identifies the party as invaders. It can fire lasers, and its armor seems impervious to attack.
  • a small green man, the man speaks in an unintelligible toung. If threatened, it will fire a strange device in it's hand, which will harm the party. In actuality, this is one of the few alien survivors.

Traps and Puzzles:
  • A glowing wall that must have the right identifying badge to open a door. The party must find whoever has or had the bedge to proceed.
  • a trash compacter. The party must find a way to turn it offf before being crushed, perhaps they are bein attacked by a neo-otyugh.

Treasure:
  • alien weapons, such as a laser pistol, or a plasma cannon.

Decor:
  • Wires and sparks from a bad crash.
  • glowing walls, that can beinteracted with.
  • strange technology with seemingly maical effects.
  • sleek modern architecture.



With dungeons, you should find a theme, and base the dungeon around it.
Dungeons can have multiple intersecting themes.