8 ms·

Simple Dungeon Map Generation

121 points by kris-s 5y ago

10x_contrarian 5y ago
This article really doesn't provide any insights into map generation or explain any interesting implementation details.
omoikane 5y ago
For a different article on dungeon map generation that's a bit more detailed: http://journal.stuffwithstuff.com/2014/12/21/rooms-and-mazes/ http://journal.stuffwithstuff.com/2014/12/21/rooms-and-mazes... Found via this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/godot/comments/m6mmka/finished_my_traditional_roguelike_play_it_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/godot/comments/m6mmka/finished_my_t...
- kris-s 5y ago
  That's an awesome article, I'll add a link to it.
  - munificent 5y ago
    The classic source for dungeon generators is RogueBasin, with this being a good starting point: http://roguebasin.com/index.php/Articles#Map http://roguebasin.com/index.php/Articles#Map
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- dole 5y ago
  That Bob Nyquist has a pretty cool roguelike on github called Hauberk written in Dart, amongst a number of other good related dev articles and best practices on his blog. https://github.com/munificent/hauberk https://github.com/munificent/hauberk Edit: I realized the link to Hauberk is at the top of his article, but it's worth checking out; mostly complete, good ideas, cool use of color.
dexwiz 5y ago
If you want some actual info on Procedural Generation, then watch the talks from Roguelike Celebration. It's a convention focusing on roguelikes, which seem to attract those more interested in the programmatic side of game development. Its got a ton of great technical talks. I haven't watched the remote sessions, but the older in persons are great. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKv_QzXft4mD6TXmQBZtzIA/featured https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKv_QzXft4mD6TXmQBZtzIA/fea...
- kruffin 5y ago
  My favorite from that collection on map generation is by Herbert Wolverson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLIOgWYVpI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLIOgWYVpI He goes over 5 or 6 different techniques that are easy to implement.
  - kris-s 5y ago
    He's the Rusty roguelike king, I worked through this awesome book when I was learning Rust. https://bfnightly.bracketproductions.com https://bfnightly.bracketproductions.com
    - kruffin 5y ago
      Neat, there is a whole section on dungeon generation in there too!
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  If you are more of a text than video person, this survey paper might be interesting as a starting point: https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/3144605.3144638 https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/3144605.3144638
- fho 5y ago
  In addition there is the Roguelike Radio Podcast that has a ton of good content. Sadly it seems to be on hiatus for a while now. But the last episode is on the Roguelike Celebration event: http://www.roguelikeradio.com/2020/09/episode-156-roguelike-celebration-event.html http://www.roguelikeradio.com/2020/09/episode-156-roguelike-...
Andrew_nenakhov 5y ago
Made me want to play ADOM again... Just not this GUI nonsense, the real ADOM.
adamc 5y ago
The problem with most of these generators is that you end up with insane looking dungeons. I wonder whether a different approach which took into account the kind of dungeon it was supposed to be, and what features should be located in it, could lead to better results.
- setr 5y ago
  I think the usual method is to do a few things: 1. Different generators for different "environments" -- e.g. cellular automata for more open areas / caves, BSP for rooms, etc 2. Smash them together to create the map, with the different algorithms for different sections (or even applied on top of each other) 3. Add "templates" to have some more intelligently designed areas -- rooms designed by hand, possibly multiple variants for the same location. Use this for special rooms, boss areas, etc. DCSS has tons of these, both for important areas, treasure trove gimmick things and also just for flavor. 4. Change algorithm/template choices per topical area, to make them more distinct. DCSS uses different strategies per branch, giving them each a very distinct feel
jdkee 5y ago
Fantasy city generator: https://watabou.itch.io/medieval-fantasy-city-generator https://watabou.itch.io/medieval-fantasy-city-generator
mattowen_uk 5y ago
The dungeon generation shown is the same as Brian Sawyer's 'Dungeon' game from 1979: http://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2013/02/game-85-dungeon-1979.html http://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2013/02/game-85-dungeon-1979.... Not sure if Brian Sawyer is the original designer of this approach though?
besnn00 5y ago
Reminds me of Guild of Dungeoneering

121 points by kris-s 5y ago

This article really doesn't provide any insights into map generation or explain any interesting implementation details.

For a different article on dungeon map generation that's a bit more detailed: http://journal.stuffwithstuff.com/2014/12/21/rooms-and-mazes/ http://journal.stuffwithstuff.com/2014/12/21/rooms-and-mazes... Found via this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/godot/comments/m6mmka/finished_my_traditional_roguelike_play_it_and/ https://www.reddit.com/r/godot/comments/m6mmka/finished_my_t...

kris-s 5y ago
That's an awesome article, I'll add a link to it.
- munificent 5y ago
  The classic source for dungeon generators is RogueBasin, with this being a good starting point: http://roguebasin.com/index.php/Articles#Map http://roguebasin.com/index.php/Articles#Map
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
dole 5y ago
That Bob Nyquist has a pretty cool roguelike on github called Hauberk written in Dart, amongst a number of other good related dev articles and best practices on his blog. https://github.com/munificent/hauberk https://github.com/munificent/hauberk Edit: I realized the link to Hauberk is at the top of his article, but it's worth checking out; mostly complete, good ideas, cool use of color.

dexwiz 5y ago

If you want some actual info on Procedural Generation, then watch the talks from Roguelike Celebration. It's a convention focusing on roguelikes, which seem to attract those more interested in the programmatic side of game development. Its got a ton of great technical talks. I haven't watched the remote sessions, but the older in persons are great. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKv_QzXft4mD6TXmQBZtzIA/featured https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKv_QzXft4mD6TXmQBZtzIA/fea...

kruffin 5y ago
My favorite from that collection on map generation is by Herbert Wolverson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLIOgWYVpI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLIOgWYVpI He goes over 5 or 6 different techniques that are easy to implement.
- kris-s 5y ago
  He's the Rusty roguelike king, I worked through this awesome book when I was learning Rust. https://bfnightly.bracketproductions.com https://bfnightly.bracketproductions.com
  - kruffin 5y ago
    Neat, there is a whole section on dungeon generation in there too!
dragonwriter 5y ago
If you are more of a text than video person, this survey paper might be interesting as a starting point: https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/3144605.3144638 https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.5555/3144605.3144638
fho 5y ago
In addition there is the Roguelike Radio Podcast that has a ton of good content. Sadly it seems to be on hiatus for a while now. But the last episode is on the Roguelike Celebration event: http://www.roguelikeradio.com/2020/09/episode-156-roguelike-celebration-event.html http://www.roguelikeradio.com/2020/09/episode-156-roguelike-...

Andrew_nenakhov 5y ago

Made me want to play ADOM again... Just not this GUI nonsense, the real ADOM.

adamc 5y ago

The problem with most of these generators is that you end up with insane looking dungeons. I wonder whether a different approach which took into account the kind of dungeon it was supposed to be, and what features should be located in it, could lead to better results.

setr 5y ago
I think the usual method is to do a few things: 1. Different generators for different "environments" -- e.g. cellular automata for more open areas / caves, BSP for rooms, etc 2. Smash them together to create the map, with the different algorithms for different sections (or even applied on top of each other) 3. Add "templates" to have some more intelligently designed areas -- rooms designed by hand, possibly multiple variants for the same location. Use this for special rooms, boss areas, etc. DCSS has tons of these, both for important areas, treasure trove gimmick things and also just for flavor. 4. Change algorithm/template choices per topical area, to make them more distinct. DCSS uses different strategies per branch, giving them each a very distinct feel

jdkee 5y ago

Fantasy city generator: https://watabou.itch.io/medieval-fantasy-city-generator https://watabou.itch.io/medieval-fantasy-city-generator

mattowen_uk 5y ago

The dungeon generation shown is the same as Brian Sawyer's 'Dungeon' game from 1979: http://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2013/02/game-85-dungeon-1979.html http://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2013/02/game-85-dungeon-1979.... Not sure if Brian Sawyer is the original designer of this approach though?

besnn00 5y ago

Reminds me of Guild of Dungeoneering