paizo.com - 0one's Blueprints: Caverns of Chaos PDF

Return to the most famous cave complex in RPG history!

Caverns of Chaos is an expanded version of the dungeon where many of us cut our teeth in the early days of Dungeons & Dragons. The Caverns of Chaos contain 19 different dungeons divided into six sheets. These maps can be used individually, or assembled to form a huge 25.5x22-inch map. Each sheet contains one or more dungeons which can extend to other dungeons and to other sheets (secret doors divide the dungeons, so it’s up to you to decide if these doors exist in your world or not).

Some hints for adventuring in the dungeon follow:

A. Den of Kobolds: A dangerous tribe of kobolds is said to dwell in these caves. It is rumored that the kobolds worship some sort of monster hiding in a pool of murky water within their caves.
B. Abandoned Tomb: This is an undead-infested old tomb. It is said that a strange water-driven mechanism is the sole way to open the ancient sarcophagus in the tomb.
C. Troll’s Lair: A fierce couple of trolls dwell in this dungeon. Adventurers report that the trolls have found some magical item that made them smarter than usual. Other magical items might be found in the dangerous caves.
D. Ogre’s Lair: A single old-looking ogre lives in this small dungeon. People report he’s not hostile, and will provide helpful information about the caverns.
E. Goblin’s Lair: Dangerous goblins calling themselves “the cracked skull tribe” dwell in these caverns. They are well-organized and always on guard.
F. Hobgoblin’s Caves: This large complex houses a powerful hobgoblin clan. It’s rumored that their leader, a muscled white-haired hobgoblin, draws his power from a mysterious giant statue found in their caverns.
G. Stalactites Caves: These caves are mostly empty, but an old adventurer swore to have seen a stalactite encrusted by precious gemstones protected by a huge serpent with a woman’s head.
H. Lair of the Summoner: It is said that these caves are home of Umanus, an old wizard who turned to evil and found refuge in the caverns when the people of the keep banished him. Rumors report that the evil mage has gathered (or summoned) many monsters that now dwell with him.
The product contains the complete list from A to U!

The Blueprints product line offers you old-fashioned blueprint-style maps for your adventures and campaigns. Each map includes a blueprint version and a standard black-and-white version. The maps are all vector-based for maximum print resolution. Despite their old-fashioned appearance, each map offers a degree of customization by taking full advantage of pdf technology. A small control bar (which will not be printed) on each map allows you to turn the grid on and off, eliminate the room numbers, fill the walls, or hide doors and furniture.

"Rule the Dungeon" feature implemented
Enhanced customization (now doors and furniture are separate, for example)
Alternative hexagonal grid now available
"North" mark now available and orientable
Master control panel allows you to control all the maps at once
Buttons for printing only blue maps or black and white maps
NOTE: You must use Adobe Acrobat 6+ in order to use all the features of this product

Each 0one's Blueprints product features a classic fantasy adventure location: a dungeon, a keep, a temple complex, a thieves' guild and so on. You can use these maps as reference to build your own adventures or simply have them at hand in case your players go in an unexpected direction during the campaign.

While offering you the best quality, these products are really inexpensive.

Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at webmaster@paizo.com.

An RPG Resource review
Reviewer: Megan Robertson
Thu, Jul 20, 2006, 07:09 AM

Hauntingly familiar to an ageing role-player, this set of maps is an inspired tribute and homage to an early AD&D adventure, Descent into the Depths of the Earth. A long valley with interesting nooks and crannies to stick your nose into, provided you are prepared to do battle with whoever happens to live there, this version is expanded into an area which your players will come back to again and again given half a chance, and filled with the creative uses of PDF technology that regular users of 0one Games maps have come to expect.

There are a total of 19 separate areas to play in, distributed over 6 pages of map. In usual Blueprint style, they are available to print in blue or in black, with a nice touch being a new control which enables you to select 'Print the blue ones' or 'Print the black ones' rather than having to go through the document choosing each page that you want. The 'Rule the Dungeon' control gives you the choice of grid lines, levels, doors, text and much more, and there's an option to add a compass rose (North pointer) to the pages if you wish.

The maps are detailed, with plenty of furniture and such like scattered around (if you chose that option when you Rule your Dungeon); and there are ready reference sheets at the back where you can jot down short descriptions of each individual chamber shown - although you need to print these out and then write on them, it's not a case of text boxes.

There is huge scope here for adventure, be it a straight dungeon crawl - perhaps with your characters returning several times - or an interlinked complex, a mountain fastness of evil that needs to be cleared out. It's different from the original inspiration and yet evocative - so those with long memories will not have an advantage, yet can wax nostalgic about their earlier adventures. Overall, a fine piece of work, maintaining the traditions of the classic dungeon crawl into the 21st century!