Dungeons

Dungeons in Stoneshard are the lair of the enemy. Containing various monsters, these areas are the most dangerous (and also most interesting) places to explore.

Dungeon Basics

There are two types of Dungeons:

• Contract Dungeons
• Distant Dungeons

Contract Dungeons

Example of a Dungeon description on the Global Map

Contract Dungeons are always tied to Contracts. Each Contract Dungeon should always be connected to their respective town via a road. Their position on the map is randomly generated in every playthrough, although they should always generate in the vicinity of their respective town (ie. Mannshire dungeon won't be closer to Osbrook than to Mannshire). All Dungeons have fixed names and the dialogue about a Contract will always mention the Dungeon's name.

Contract Dungeons can be found near:

• Osbrook
• Mannshire
• Rotten Willow Tavern
• Denbrie

Distant Dungeons

Distant Dungeons are optional Dungeons, typically of higher difficulty than the Contract Dungeons. This type of Dungeon doesn't come with a Contract and is not connected by a road. Their position on the map is also randomly generated and their names are also fixed.

Distant Dungeons can be found by:

• Exploring the map
• Using Maps
• Scouting
• Hearing about them in random Rumours
• Asking about Abandoned Forts and Dungeons at Skinflint Homs

Difficulty Tiers

Example of Dungeon Tiers in a dialogue

Each dungeon has a Difficulty Tier ranging from 1 to 5, this is displayed as the amount of skulls next to a Dungeon's name. Tier dictates what kinds of Enemies and what kind of Loot can spawn in the dungeon. You can check the Tier when you hover a Dungeon on the Global Map, and the skulls are also shown in the dialogue window when selecting a Contract. The Tier of a Dungeon can change after it respawns.

Currently, the possible Dungeon Tiers are:

• - Tier 1
• - Tier 2
• - Tier 3
• - Tier 4
• - Tier 5

Dungeon Tier doesn't take your level or your gear into account. Contract Dungeons' Tier follows the current game progression: Osbrook -> Mannshire -> Rotten Willow Tavern -> Denbrie. Distant Dungeons don't follow this rule - a Dungeon without road near Osbrook can be a Tier 5 Dungeon. There are no level restrictions for entering high Tier dungeons, so confident Mercenaries can enter at their own peril.

Dungeon Respawn

Contract Dungeons will close after you complete or fail their corresponding Contract (and leave the dungeon entrance tile - if you are currently there or inside the Dungeon). Upon closing, any Loot or Enemies left inside will be lost forever. Distant Dungeons will remain open until you open the chest in the boss room. Opening the boss room chest will trigger their closure and respawn timer.

• Contract Dungeons will re-open after a new Contract generates, this typically takes 3-4 days.
• Distant Dungeons will re-open depending on their difficulty, Tier 4 typically takes a week to respawn, Tier 5 typically takes two weeks to respawn.

If you didn't accept a Contract, cleared its associated Dungeon, then sold (or otherwise disposed of) the Quest Items, the Dungeon will currently NOT respawn. You will have to accept the Contract and finish it (or wait until the timer runs out and incur the penalty for failing) in order to have the Dungeon respawn.

Dungeon Types

The Dungeon Type is decided at the start of Adventure Mode. There are three main dungeon types.

• Bastion
• Crypt
• Catacombs

Dungeon's entrance tile, tileset, structure, inhabitants, contents, modifiers are strictly tied to the selected Dungeon Type. You won't find Bandits and Food in a Crypt, similarly you won't find Skeletons in a Bastion.

Dungeon Layout

Dungeons in Stoneshard use pre-made tilesets to construct each floor, but their configuration is randomly generated the first time you enter the Dungeon. After respawning, the Dungeon is generated again using the same rule. Therefore if you cleared a Bastion once, the same Bastion in the same spot on the Global Map will look different next respawn.

• Tier 1 and Tier 2 Dungeons always spawn with one floor.
• Tier 3 and higher Tier Dungeons spawn with two floors, this is the current maximum amount of floors.

The mechanics of layout generation are currently unknown.

Dungeon Modifiers

Example of a Dungeon Modifier as seen on the Global Map

Dungeons can generate with certain negative effects that raise the Difficulty Tier of a Dungeon and apply a special condition, typically making the Dungeon more deadly. Each Dungeon Type has its own set of possible Dungeon Modifiers. Dungeon Modifiers have a chance to appear in Contract Dungeons upon Contract respawn. If the player fails a Contract, the next Contract Dungeon of the same Type as the failed Contract Dungeon is guaranteed to spawn with a Modifier. All Distant Dungeons always spawn with a Dungeon Modifier.

List of possible Dungeon Modifiers:

• Trapped Entrance (Bastion)
• Miasma (Crypt)
• Blasphemous Ritual (Catacombs)

Secret Rooms

Each Dungeon has a chance that a Secret Room will generate in the Dungeon. Secret Rooms are special loot rooms that are not connected to other dungeon tilesets by usual means, instead the player must either passively detect the Secret Room by walking near it or by using the Examine Surroundings skill in the right place. Secret Rooms can spawn with various contents - freely placed items, corpses with loot, a treasure chest, etc.

Not all dungeons generate with a Secret Room. Currently chance is fixed at 5%, therefore finding a Secret Room is quite rare. This chance is calculated per Dungeon, so two floor Dungeons have the same chance for having a Secret Room as one floor Dungeons.

Detecting a Secret Room is indicated by:

• The player character comments about it.
• A Combat Log message "X has found a Secret Room" will be displayed.
• A crack will appear in one of the Dungeon walls, allowing passage inside the Secret Room.

TODO - update screenshots to new layouts

(1) Secret room in the Bastion

(2) Secret room in the Catacombs

The Bastion

The reliable stronghold of the past is now slowly decaying, decrepit in in the calloused hands of irresponsible owners-brigands.

“

This bastion once provided protection to the surrounding settlements, but now it's just a den of brigands and deserters, who use it as a base for their raids.

„

Bastions are old fortifications or broken down towers from the war period, abandoned by the factions who had to divert their resources elsewhere. When deserted, these forts became the ideal hideout for bandits and rebels, who use them both as their bases of operations as well as the place to store their valuables and their captives. Humans (and their guard dogs) are the usual inhabitants. The places are commonly filled with beds, cupboards, shelves and storage boxes. Usually there's at least one kitchen with a nearby storage room. You can expect to find supplies like Water, Food, Beverages and some Medicine.

Bastions usually have several Brigands guarding the entrance, but in rare cases you can find the entrance unguarded.

Bastion is most likely the first dungeon type that you'll enter in the Adventure mode.

The Catacombs

“

The many ruins of monasteries, abbeys, and chapels is what remains of the time when Aldor was ruled by hierophants rather than kings, Over the last few years, most of these places became the center of troubling rumors - locals do their best to avoid them.

„

Catacombs are usually basements or underground rooms of abandoned buildings or destroyed churches during the war. Proselytes of the Crimson Covenant often seek them out and turn them into slaughterhouses where they hold unwilling human captives and perform their bloody rituals. If you dare to enter these places, expect to find lots of blood, some torturing machines and a bunch of very angry vampires.

The Crypt

“

During its pinnacle, the Triple Hand Order built numerous crypts across the entire Aldor to help the souls of the departed join with the Host. Although the crypts used to be heavily guarded, they were completely abandoned after the war -something which malicious cults quickly took advantage of...

„

Crypts are underground graveyards and tunnels that once perhaps served a different purpose, but now only the restless dead and their masters roam these cold corridors. However, daring adventurers might seek the riches buried in the coffins of wealthy deceased. Crypts are usually filled with sarcophagi and vases with belongings of the dead. However, with the rise of Necromantic magic in Aldor, these Unholy practitioners have entered the Crypts to test their magic powers, raising Skeletons, Zombies, Ghouls and the like to do their bidding. Expect foul stench, battle-ready corpses and perhaps some incorporeal beings if you decide to enter.

Page last edited during patch: 0.9.1.0