Brinewall Dungeon construction (for map nerds like me).

[Askren]

This is just a random question that probably has no answer because it's slightly off-script, but it kind of came up when I was building a map for Brinewall Castle for my games.

I'm just a little confused as to the basic concept of the basement/dungeon, and want to make sure I get the representation right.

So you have the whole basement area, obviously set up like a normal castle construction, with kitchens and wash areas and stuff. And then you what appears to be a natural cave path linking the kitchen to the crypt area. Is that normal, to just have an unworked cave linking parts of a constructed basement? Is that path floored the rest or is it stone and dirt?

And then there's the crypt where it opens up into the big cave. Now, when I look at that map, I picture the crypt area as having collapsed down into the cave, but maybe it was opened when the crypt was dug and it's constructed around that?

Like I said, this is stupid stuff, but when you're spending like, multiple days on the same map and reading and re-reading the book, you kind of over think the details.

The map is here if you wanna give an opinion. It's nowhere near done, so probably not worth swiping. Like the rest though, it'll be around for free when I'm done.

[Sissyl]

It seems like a pre-existing cave would make for a good pantry, at least if it's dry. Castles also sometimes come with extra equipment in the form of secret passages out in the case of siege.

[Askren]

I'm aware of that, but this cave obviously isn't a pantry, as it's a 40-foot descent at the back of the crypt into a natural cave. I don't think anyone would put a pantry where they have to walk through a crypt to get to it.

[Matthew Downie]

It's hard to dig a hole in the ground (let alone a basement dungeon) in Golarion without stumbling upon a natural cavern full of ancient subterranean horrors. Good architects learn to work around these and incorporate them into the final design.

[James Jacobs]

The cave areas were put in there to give the map some variety from a gameplay stance.

From an in-world stance, when you see caves in dungeons like that, it's usually because the construction dug into the caves and then took advantage of pre-existing rooms. In some cases, they evened out the tunnels to make worked stone rooms, but in others they didn't bother.

[Askren]

First, I think it's kind of awesome that you took the time to respond to something so obscure, JJ.

So, going off that note, would you say my interpretation was a bit off? Since all my versions of AP maps attempt to emulate the room descriptions and feel as closely as I can, would I be better off changing it so the room's floor and walls are more designed to end naturally at the edge, rather than having collapsed floors and walls over there?

If that's the case, I may have to re-do the whole cliff. But, I strive for perfection, so as long as I get it right.