Overview#
Roguelike Dungeons (often referred to as Ultimate Dungeons) is a procedural structure generation mod inspired by classic dungeon crawlers and the '404 Challenge.' It replaces the standard, single-room vanilla dungeons with sprawling, five-level subterranean fortresses. Each dungeon is unique, featuring a randomized layout of corridors, rooms, traps, and secret passages.
The mod is designed to provide an alternative progression path. Players can enter a dungeon with basic gear and, by fighting through the levels, obtain the equipment and resources necessary to tackle the deeper, more dangerous floors. The mod is entirely server-side compatible, meaning clients do not necessarily need it installed to join a server hosting these dungeons.
Surface Structures#
Every dungeon is marked on the surface by a specific entrance building. The type of building that generates is determined by the biome it inhabits. Each entrance contains a spiral staircase that leads directly into the first level of the dungeon.
| Structure Type | Biome | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Brick House | Forest / Plains | A two-story house made of bricks. Often contains a bed, furnace, and basic supplies. |
| Wizard Tower | Mountains / Hills | A tall stone tower with multiple floors, often containing bookshelves and brewing equipment. |
| Wooden Outpost | Swamps / Jungles | A rustic wooden structure, sometimes overgrown with vines. |
| Sandstone Temple | Desert | A pyramid-like structure made of sandstone and smooth stone. |
| Castle Tower | Plains | A fortified stone brick tower, the most common 'default' entrance. |
Dungeon Levels#
A standard Roguelike Dungeon consists of five distinct levels, each increasing in difficulty and depth. Each level has a 'decay' value that determines how many blocks are missing or replaced with rubble, giving the dungeon an ancient, weathered feel.
Level 1: The Entrance
- Theme: Matches the surface structure (Stone Brick, Wood, or Sandstone).
- Difficulty: Easy. Mobs usually wear leather or no armor.
- Loot: Basic survival items, iron nuggets, and food.
Level 2: The Corridors
- Theme: Reinforced stone and iron bars.
- Difficulty: Moderate. Mobs begin appearing with chainmail armor and stone weapons.
- Loot: Iron equipment, gold ingots, and basic enchantments.
Level 3: The Crypt
- Theme: Quartz, obsidian, and mossy stone. This level often feels like a tomb or sewer.
- Difficulty: Hard. Mobs frequently spawn with iron armor and enchanted bows.
- Loot: Diamonds, brewing stands, and mid-tier enchanted books.
Level 4: The Overgrown Temple
- Theme: Mossy cobblestone, vines, and silverfish-infested blocks.
- Difficulty: Very Hard. High density of spawners and traps (tripwires, TNT, and lava).
- Loot: Emeralds, diamond gear, and rare golden apples.
Level 5: The Nether Core
- Theme: Netherrack, soul sand, obsidian, and glowstone.
- Difficulty: Extreme. Mobs are equipped with full diamond or netherite-tier gear. Wither skeletons and blazes may spawn here.
- Loot: The 'Endgame' room is located here, containing multiple chests with the highest-tier loot in the mod.
Mobs and Scaling#
Roguelike Dungeons does not add new mob entities; instead, it utilizes vanilla Minecraft mobs (Zombies, Skeletons, Spiders, Creepers) and enhances them using a custom equipment system.
- Equipment Tiers: As players descend, the 'level' of the mob equipment increases. A skeleton on Level 1 might have a wooden bow, while a skeleton on Level 5 could have a Power V, Punch II Flame bow and full Protection IV Diamond armor.
- Custom Spawners: Rooms are filled with spawners that are often hidden behind walls or under floors. Some spawners are 'armored,' meaning they are encased in obsidian to prevent easy destruction.
- Behavior: Mobs spawned by this mod are more likely to spawn with the ability to pick up items or break doors, making them more persistent threats.
Special and Secret Rooms#
Beyond standard corridors, dungeons generate unique rooms that offer specific challenges or rewards:
- The Blacksmith: Contains anvils, furnaces, and chests filled with ores and tools.
- The Library: Filled with bookshelves and often contains an Enchanting Table (rare).
- The Treasure Vault: A heavily guarded room on Level 5 with 8+ chests arranged in alcoves.
- Secret Rooms: Often hidden behind paintings or breakable walls (like gravel or cracked stone bricks). These rooms contain the rarest loot, such as Brewing Stands and Notch Apples.
- The Cake Room: A rare, non-hostile room containing a single cake on a table, providing a brief respite for hungry explorers.
Configuration and JSON Settings#
As of version 1.8.0, the mod uses a powerful JSON-based settings system located in the config/roguelike_dungeons/settings/ directory. This allows for total customization of dungeon generation.
Core JSON Files
- main.json: The master file that defines which settings are active and the criteria for their application.
- loot.json: Defines loot tables, item weights, and enchantments for chests.
- segments.json: Controls the architectural pieces (rooms and corridors) used during generation.
- themes.json: Defines the block palettes (e.g., using Sandstone for deserts).
Key Configuration Options
| Option | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
spawnFrequency |
Float (0.0 - 1.0) | The probability that a dungeon will attempt to generate in a new chunk. |
doNaturalSpawn |
Boolean | If false, dungeons will only generate via command. |
rooms_per_level |
Integer | The target number of rooms to generate for each of the 5 floors. |
below_sea_level |
Boolean | If true, the first floor starts below Y=62. |
preciousBlock |
Boolean | If true, rare blocks like Diamond or Gold blocks may generate in walls. |
Commands#
The mod provides several administrative commands for testing and manual generation. Note that the prefix may vary between roguelike and rd depending on the specific port version.
/roguelike dungeon here: Generates a dungeon at the player's current X and Z coordinates./roguelike dungeon <x> <z> [name]: Generates a dungeon at the specified coordinates using an optional specific theme name./roguelike settings reload: Reloads all JSON configuration files from the config folder without restarting the server./roguelike settings list: Displays all currently loaded dungeon themes and settings profiles./gamerule roguelikeDungeonsGenerate <true/false>: Toggles whether dungeons generate naturally during world exploration.
