If there was ever a book written by a gamer, this is it. This is an in-depth tutorial on how to be and grow a dungeon. Complete with helpful glowing orb! (“Hey, listen!) I don’t really mind it, but I can see how the style would annoy some people, either those who know nothing about gaming or who already know waaay too much about gaming. Our helpful will-o-the-wisp is our guide in how to grow a dungeon core into a bigger and badder dungeon. We also have levels (at one point, we are trying to grow into a F9 level) and I have no idea what those letters mean. In order to grow, Cal, our Dungeon Heart, has to “eat” the essence that is in all things. Living things tend to have more essence than stone, though, so killing people is the fastest way to grow.
We have two storylines happening that often converge. We have Cal trying to grow and be the best he can be with the help and advice of Dani, his wisp. We see how monsters respawn and where the loot comes from once an enemy is slain, which is kind of cool. The other storyline focuses on Dale, who is our secondary main character. He starts off as one of the shepherds who first discovers the new dungeon. Not being stupid, after he survives the discovery he proceeds to buy the entire mountain it is on. Dale strikes a bargain with Frank, the Guild Master, for certain rights, and so Dale starts training with the adventurers who enter the dungeon regularly.
We see both of these characters, Cal and Dale, grow and develop. They both realize they can’t grow on their own, so they learn to ask for help and advice. Cal is a bit childish at times and Dale is a bit naive, but Dale will probably gain knowledge faster than Cal will gain maturity. The stakes are also higher for Dale. He is trying to make his way through the dungeon, not destroy it, but Cal is constantly trying to kill him. Cal also doesn’t really have a sense of morality, but he doesn’t really need one. They are both kind of isolated to the mountain. Cal can’t travel, being a dungeon, so he can only grow and alter himself slowly. Dale is focused on the dungeon, on the mountain that is his home, although he has the option to expand his horizons if he wishes. They both experience breakthroughs and make mistakes that they have to deal with. And they’ll deal with them in Book 2, Dungeon Madness!
This fulfills the CBR10 Bingo square of “And So It Begins”
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