Shard Forge Map Pack! (Patreon)

I am excited to release a fun and mobile dungeon known as the Shard Forge.

I must give credit for the idea to fellow Patron, clerkberserker, who suggested the map and provided some of the details related to its layout, design and contents.

The Shard Forge is set in the world of Eberron, and it is a gargantuan vehicle trundling about upon massive tracks, searching for jewels of the precious earth -- most specifically, Dragonshards.

We have a great illustrated scene of the Shard Forge, by Ha Art:

Dragonshards are translucent stones with pulsating veins of color, which can be found in various parts of Eberron. They come in three distinct varieties, each varying in color, location and potential. These shards are used to enhance the powers of a dragonmark or in the creation of magical items, artifacts or constructs. They are important to many of the magic technologies used throughout the world.

Even if your campaign is not set in Eberron, this vehicle could certainly be used as a resource of powerful, magical crystals that have their own properties and may be highly sought after by royalty, wizards or more nefarious creatures.

To download the Map Pack, please click on your Tier link below and the download URL will be listed there in map release order.

Tier 1 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/tier-1-dungeon-81146477

Tier 2 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/tier-2-world-map-81312503

Tier 3 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/tier-3-master-87793681

Tier 4 - https://www.patreon.com/posts/tier-4-master-87797001

The Shard Forge has [3] levels:

The First Level contains the main processing floor, where rubble broken apart by the massive drill are funneled into the central chamber and conveyed through a series of mashers, pulverizing the stones and exposing any potential minerals, jewels or crystal within. Those components are then brought via carts up a large elevator to the 2nd floor.

This floor also contains a control room, research chamber, guard barracks, overseer barracks, mundane forge and a pair of incinerators that feed a pair of large engines like coal, helping to propel the large craft through Eberron or a location in your world, such as the Underdark.

The Second Level contains the smelting chamber and Shard Forge, where the impure crystals are brought from the lower level and fed into the large kilns. In the intense heat, the impurities within the crystals are burned away, leaving only a pure crystal ready to be forged into an empty Dragonshard by the Forgemaster.

This floor also contains more guard barracks, a mess hall, the Forgemaster's quarters, priest's quarters, water supply, privy and a chamber used to house the Ashborn, zombie-like creatures in service to the priests and their light. A magical light keeps them hypnotized within the chamber, until it is extinguished and they are called to action.

The Third Level contains the Arcane Enchantment hall, where the commander uses his Arcane gifts to funnel magical energy into the empty shards and empower them. These crystals become full Dragonshards that can then be used to power the forge, the vehicle, weapons, armor or many other constructs within the world.

This level also contains the personal quarters of the commander, who deals with several other factions in supply of the dragonshards the forge produces.

The Map Pack contains both a map containing all [3] levels in one space, as well as transparent PNG tiles intended to be placed upon other maps and stacked atop one another as tiles within VTT environments like Foundry.

As always, we have a great sprite included in this Map Pack from Katsudon Art of the Forgemaster - a heavily scarred and burned entity whose left arm has been replaced by machinery and whose very body connects to the forge in the process of refining and preparing the crystals to receive arcane energy.

How can I use this Shard Forge?

Resource - The Shard Forge could be a very important supplier of magical components and energies for your world and its many factions. Depending on your PC's affiliations, they may wish to see it destroyed or protected, or perhaps to seek out its valuable cargo themselves.

Dungeon - If the Shard Forge stands in opposition of your PC's or their allies, then the mobile fortress would make a formidable mobile dungeon to conquer. Slaves, constructs, guards, overseers, priests, the Forgemaster and the Commander himself would provide quite a challenge to a group of adventurers wishing to infiltrate and disable the forge.

Headquarters - The mobile nature of the shard forge makes it a great location for your BBEG and they're minions. Never quite able to predict where it might show up, the fortress could feature in your narrative in several different locations and show up when least expected to challenge the PC's and their efforts.

I hope you guys enjoy the map and the idea, and can use it to create some fun adventures and memories at your table!