This felt really good to complete!
Many years ago, I had created my first round of maps to support the Lost Mine of Phandelver campaign module from WOTC, which included all of the buildings in Phandalin, the included maps and several of the non-included maps (i.e. Wyvern Tor, Old Owl Well, the Goblin Ambush, etc...)
Over the last few years, I have recreated nearly every map in an updated style that features my more current approach to shading, coloring, textures and lighting -- partly to keep consistent with all of the other maps, and partly to ensure we have the best and most immersive experience possible for your players.
And, so, today I bring you the cherry atop the LMoP sundae - Wave Echo Cave.
We have a great illustrated scene by Ha Art to set the stage:
Wave Echo Cave features a return to the lost mines, and a final encounter with the Black Spider, a mysterious antagonist that plagues the party from a distance nearly the entire module. One of the great features of the secretive nature of the character is that many DM's make alternative choices, having a character in town be the Black Spider vs. the character that the module suggests.
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 cavern features a combination of finished dwarven halls with rugged caverns and mineshafts, offering a lot of opportunities for interesting encounters and a spooky overall atmosphere as the PC's creep across the remnants of what was once a long-abandoned mine...until recently!
Here is an example of the map itself (available as an attachment at the bottom of this post):
One of the other primary features of Wave Echo Cave is a chamber known as the Forge of Spells, where dwarves, gnomes, and humans once combined minerals and magic to craft enchanted items like weapons and armor. The area is now protected by a deranged specter, however, I've also adjusted the Forge of Spells to be more useful and interesting to the party, should they find it.
The forge itself is comprised of two large stone platforms, each inscribed with [4] arcane symbols. These platforms can be made to rotate with the proper key, causing the combination of arcane runes to align differently and result in different spells, enchantments and effects. I actually had such a key for the Forge of Spells illustrated by Steven Bell.
As usual, I also have a great Sprite by Katsudon Art of the Mormesk the Wraith, the last defending mage of the caverns who perished at the hands of the raiding mountain orcs. He now haunts the caverns and the Forge of Spells, creating an interesting and mournful challenge to recovering the forge's magic:
How can I use this map?
This map provides everything you need to run the location as per the WOTC module, the Lost Mine of Phandelver, however, it would certainly be a great dungeon in your own homebrew world for a long-abandoned dwarven mine.
The party may have come here to recover the lost halls of a dwarven ancestor or to uncover the secrets of the Forge of Spells or perhaps to locate a relic whose last known whereabouts disappeared in wake of the mountain orc raids.
This is a really fun map, and I was glad to give it a final face lift to align with all of the other maps and create a great and immersive experience for the players.
I hope you guys enjoy this map and can create some awesome adventures!
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Wave Echo Cave is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.