“The rightful owner has returned”

Lucky number 13, perhaps that’s why it took so long for it to come out.
Today we continue our series of before the game blogs™; talking ‘bout what goes into preparing a game rather than what happened at the table. It’ll be neat to occasionally follow up these blogs with a post mortem to see how prep survived contact with the players.

That’s enough preamble, let's get to the reamble.
There comes a time in every DM's life where they must return the source, making dungeons that feature actual dragons within them. 

A catacomb wreathed in flame.

Please excuse the incomprehensible hand writing and appreciate the sneak peak into my actual note book.

It’s here I find myself quite impartial to a good old fashioned grid, providing a similar blank set up for the players to explore as they go. As it is our duty to steal what from what we love, I took some inspiration from Slay the Spire in placing little symbols that inform the players of what is ahead. We populate the dungeon by using level appropriate easy, medium and hard combats from the Dungeon Master’s Guide and let the players choose the pace of encounters.

At this point, I imagine you’ll have some questions.
1. Can they long rest before every encounter?
2. What if they choose to avoid all of the combat?
Both very valid approaches for the players to take. The answer to the former is adding a clock. Or stealing one from blades in the dark. How many short rests do you want your players to take? Make that many segments. Each time they short rest, fill in a section and explain how the situation intensifies. If they take a long rest, you can fill in the entire clock or, if you are feeling kind, mark a couple of segments instead. Create a goal your enemies will succeed at if your players don’t intervene and a way to let them know each time it intensifies. Your players should know the threat before it happens.

Example for this dungeon;
The situation: A Dragon’s hoard rests at the bottom of the catacombs which is now infested with flame totting loyalists and seared undead legions.
The consequence of the timer running out: The Dragon will return to its hoard, the party will lose their chance to steal without confrontation.

First timer: Chanting fills these cursed halls, players will know the words, soon he will return.
Second timer: An earth shattering force unsettles the dirt from the ceiling, he has landed.
Third and final timer: A gout of flame, a tremendous heat. The rightful owner has returned.

I’lll answer the 2nd question next time.