Hazards for Low Level Dungeons

The PCs run through the corridors of your latest dungeon, fleeing the wrath of a large rust monster dead-set on eating their gear for lunch. They slam the door, pause to catch their breath, and congratulate themselves on avoiding your encounter... then they turn around. "What the hell is this"? they cry.

What's stopping the PCs?

It's easy to get caught up in believing that everything needs to be a complicated trap, a confusing puzzle, or a pile of monsters. But there are many basic ways to ruin your player's day and make them hate you just that little bit more.

Basic Hazards and Features

Roll Hazard 1 Collapsed roof 2 Collapsed floor 3 Chasm with no bridge 4 Cliff or very high wall 5 Door locked on the other side 6 Door blocked by debris 7 Door with key broken off in the lock 8 Door has been bricked over and is hidden 9 Area is totally flooded with water 10 Area is on fire 11 Area is overgrown with large plants 12 Area is full of flammable, toxic gas 13 Area is full of stalactites and stalagmites 14 Area is full of unused or broken dungeon features 15 Area is an abandoned monster den full of rotten food and dung 16 Area is full of corpses 17 Area is blocked by a half-built structure 18 Area is being used as a storeroom by something 19 Area is full of choking smoke or dust 20 Area is full of a large boulder

But wait, it gets worse.

The PCs laugh. "Really, you expect that to trip us up? Hah, we've faced down worse than that, you silly DM. How about you throw something really challenging our way for a change?"

Complications

Roll Threat 1 A swarm of tiny insects has infested the area 2 Mud and broken stone creates difficult terrain 3 A foul smell makes everyone nauseated 4 The area is magically dark 5 Something is banging on the door or wall 6 An old, broken trap is still around 7 A loud noise muffles all sound 8 A permanent thunderstorm is going off in the area 9 The floor is unstable and holes keep appearing 10 The roof is unstable and everyone has to dodge debris 11 The floor is so slick with algae you can't stand up 12 The walls are dangerous and deal damage when touched 13 Acidic runoff drips from the ceiling 14 Volcanic tremors keep shaking the area 15 Everything in the area is disease-ridden 16 Gravity isn't right in the area 17 Everything in the area is charged with electricity 18 The air is full of scalding steam 19 A very strong wind is blowing out of nowhere 20 Any sound in the room is massively magnified