Month: August 2025

Sometimes, you only have an hour to run a game session. Other times, you’re designing a one-shot and need a structure to keep things tight and engaging. Enter the 5 Room Dungeon—a simple but powerful framework that’s stood the test of time, perfect for both new and experienced Dungeon Masters looking to craft quick, satisfying adventures. Whether you’re building a fantasy heist, or a sci-fi jailbreak, the 5 Room Dungeon can help you do it all.

What is the 5 Room Dungeon?

The 5 Room Dungeon is a classic RPG design tool created by Johnn Four, a long-time RPG writer and editor of the newsletter Roleplaying Tips. It provides a repeatable format for building compact, memorable adventures that can be played in a single session.

Obscurely, despite the name, it’s not just for literal dungeons. Each “room” represents a beat in the story or an encounter in the adventure. The beauty of the format lies in its flexibility—it works for fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and even real-world or workplace-themed roleplaying.

I “discovered” it a few years ago and it was a game changer for my D&D prep. I made some truly memorable and unique dungeons for my Salkire campaign.

The 5 Room Structure

Here’s the basic breakdown of the 5 Room Dungeons framework:

1. Room 1: Entrance and Guardian
   The players are tested before they enter the main part of the adventure. This could be a fight, a puzzle, or a social encounter. It’s the hook.
2. Room 2: Puzzle or Roleplaying Challenge
   Slow things down and give players a chance to think. This could be a riddle, a moral choice, or an NPC interaction.
3. Room 3: Trick or Setback
   Something unexpected happens. It’s a twist or complication—maybe the villain was expecting them, or the artifact is cursed.
4. Room 4: Climax / Big Battle
   The final conflict. This is often a combat encounter, but it could also be a tense negotiation or race-against-the-clock event.
5. Room 5: Reward, Revelation, or Plot Twist
   Wrap things up. The party gains treasure, new knowledge, or a narrative twist that sets up future adventures.

Why It Works

There are at least four benefits to using this framework including:

• Compact: You can prep a full session in an hour or less.
• Flexible: Use it for any genre or system.
• Engaging: Each room has a purpose and keeps the story moving.
• Replayable: Change the theme or setting, and you’ve got a brand-new adventure.

Adapting the 5 Room Dungeon to Different Genres

As mentioned above the 5 Room Dungeon is adaptable across pretty much every genre. Here are some simple examples of how you might use it.

Fantasy:

• Theme: “The Cursed Tomb”
• R1: Guardian skeletons
• R2: Mural puzzle
• R3: Hallway collapses
• R4: Fight the tomb guardian
• R5: Relic grants visions of a new threat

Sci-Fi:

• Theme: “Derelict Space Station”
• R1: Airlock breach
• R2: Interact with the station AI
• R3: Rogue drones attack
• R4: Shut down the reactor
• R5: Discover the station was sabotaged by their own faction

Horror:

• Theme: “The House That Whispers”
• R1: Locked front door—must find the key
• R2: Possessed mirror asks questions
• R3: “Friendly” ghost leads them into a trap
• R4: Exorcise the spirit
• R5: Learn the house was a prison for something much worse

I used this framework recently in my Star Wars inspired adventure. You can read more here. My adventure had the following frame:

• Theme: Star Wars – Steal the Phantom TIE Fighter
• R1: Crash on to planet and avoid Scout Trooper Patrols
• R2: Try and find and win over the Imperial defector
• R3: It’s a trap – ambushed by Main villain – Agent Ixil
• R4: Big battle, escape with the TIE
• R5: Investigations show Phantom TIE is powered by Sith technology

The 5 Room Dungeon Framework helped me shape what turned out to be a really fun adventure. Obviously, there’s nothing worse than staring at a blank page. Of course, having the bare bones set out already lets you then hang the really interesting stuff onto it. NPCs, environments, twists and dangers all come to mind much more easily when the space is already partially built like this.

Final Thoughts

The 5 Room Dungeon is more than just a dungeon—it’s a storytelling engine. Whether you’re running a fantasy adventure, a modern mystery, or a Star Wars extravaganza, this simple five-beat structure helps you stay focused and deliver a memorable experience. Try it out the next time you’re short on prep time or want to design an adventure with a clear, satisfying arc.

Of course, a big thanks to Johnn Four, the creator of this magnificent DMing tool.

If you are looking for some amazing maps to support your 5 Room Dungeons check out Dyson Logos. You can see his wonderful work in the image at the top of this article. An incredible resource!

Dungeons & Dragons is well known for their monsters, deadly dungeons, dice, and epic quests. But beneath the fantasy façade and gameplay lies a much more grounded and essential skill: communication. It is a core component of the game that often gets forgotten. Every great session—whether it ends in victory, tragedy, or total chaos—relies on how well players talk to each other.

Whether you’re trying to convince a goblin to let you pass, hatching a heist plan with your party, or simply deciding which door to open, communication is the beating heart of the game. And the best part? The skills you sharpen at the table can make you a better communicator in real life.

What Does Communication in Dungeons and Dragons Look Like?

When immersed in a roleplaying game, you’re constantly navigating a web of spoken and unspoken cues. Here are a few key types of communication that show up regularly:

• In-character (IC) Communication: Talking as your character to persuade, joke, threaten, or connect with others in the story. This includes the monsters NPCs and other players characters.
• Out-of-character (OOC) Communication: Clarifying rules, strategizing, or checking in with other players and the GM.
• Nonverbal Communication: Tone, facial expression, and body language play a big role in reading the room and guiding the story.
• Table Etiquette: Knowing when to speak, when to listen, and how to support others’ ideas without steamrolling the game.

Every player brings a unique communication style to the table. Some are assertive, diving in with bold ideas and fast talk. Others are more reflective, choosing their words carefully or letting their actions speak. There’s no single “correct” style—but learning to recognize and adapt to different styles is a game-changing skill.

Communication Styles at the Table

As alluded to above, everyone has a different communication style. As such it’s important to remember that your own preferences may not be the same as the others playing the game with you. Here are some of the styles that you might find at your table:

• The Storyteller: Brings emotional depth and vivid description, but may sometimes need help making space for others.
• The Strategist: Great at planning and analysis, but might benefit from checking in with quieter players.
• The Diplomat: Mediates conflicts and reads the room well, though they may hesitate to take strong stances.
• The Improviser: Thrives on spontaneity and creativity, and can bring a lot of energy—sometimes at the cost of clarity.

Understanding your own communication style—and those of your fellow players—helps the whole table work better as a team.

As an aside, I’ve got all the above in the groups I currently play in. And on a personal note, I suspect I lean towards the Diplomat.

How to Practice and Improve Communication in Dungeons and Dragons

It’s important to improve your communication and D&D is the perfect mechanism to do that. Here are a few ways to build stronger communication skills through play:

1. Practice Active Listening
   Don’t just wait for your turn to speak—show you’re engaged by responding to what others say, asking clarifying questions, and riffing off their ideas.
2. Share the Spotlight
   If you tend to lead, look for chances to pass the mic. Invite others to speak or build off their contributions to encourage group storytelling.
3. Use “Yes, and…” Thinking
   Adapted from improv theatre, this technique involves accepting what another player says and building on it. It helps create momentum and collaboration. For some improvisation tips check out my post.
4. Check In Out-of-Character
   If a scene gets intense, or if you’re unsure how your actions are being received, take a moment to check in. A simple “Is this okay?” goes a long way.
5. Be Clear About Your Intentions
   Especially in complex scenarios, stating what you want to do and why (both IC and OOC) can prevent miscommunication and keep everyone aligned.
6. Reflect After Sessions
   Take five minutes to ask what went well, what felt awkward, and what could be improved. Honest, low-stakes feedback strengthens the group over time.

What This Means for Real Life

Of course, the communication skills you develop playing D&D are incredibly transferable. Think about your communication styles in the following:

• Workplace: Collaborative storytelling hones your ability to lead discussions, listen actively, and negotiate competing ideas—a daily reality in most teams.
• Friendships and Relationships: Roleplaying helps you practice empathy, read emotional cues, and express yourself more clearly.
• Public Speaking: If you’ve ever narrated a dramatic monologue in front of your party, you’ve already started building stage presence and confidence.
• Conflict Resolution: Navigating disagreements at the table (about rules, decisions, or character choices) builds skills for resolving tension without drama.

Talk More, Play Better

Communication in Dungeons and Dragons turns a merely good session into a fantastic one. By paying attention to how we speak, listen, and collaborate, we create richer stories and stronger teams. And when the dice are packed away and the character sheets closed, those same skills come with us—into the workplace, the home, and everywhere else life takes us.

So next time you sit down to play, remember: the most powerful tool in your inventory might just be your voice.

Having a quick break this week to rest and recharge. We’ll be back with a new article next week. So stay tuned!