The Ruined Tower - Haunted Tower and Abandon Mage Tower Adventure Ideas - 5-page guide

Oct 6, 2026

A short adventure and encounter idea guide for the “Ruined Tower” map, designed to be dropped into many campaign settings. The included 5-page guide offers suggested monsters, combat tactics, and environmental challenges for low-, mid-, and high-level play. The tower begins in a large urban haunted context, but placement is flexible: outposts, hilltops, manor outskirts, or deep woodland ruins. Sections propose multiple encounters, including Specter, Shadows, and Allip, plus abandon-mage constructs such as Animated Knives, Brooms, Armor, and Helmed Horror.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time14 min

AccessFree to download

Haunted Tower Concept (low level)

Haunted Tower Concept (mid-level)

Haunted Tower Concept (high level)

Abandon Mage Tower Concept (low level)

Abandon Mage Tower Concept (mid-level)

The Ruined Tower – a collection of short adventure ideas, by DMGeezerjim (Map is presented with and without 5’ grid) Presenting “The Ruined Tower”, an attractive but generic tower map, easily placeable in any campaign environment and setting, ready to populate for a short adventure. In addition to the map, the 5-page guide contains suggested monster encounters, combat tactics and environmental challenges suitable for all levels of play. The map is saved with and without grid, ready for use in your VTT of choice; the map can be printed for tabletop use as well. The Ruined Tower A map and adventure guide provided by DMGeezerjim This short guide will provide adventure and encounter ideas for use with the included Ruined Tower map. While these are not “complete” encounters, they should provide you with ideas for short “one shot” adventures, as well as tactics and considerations for running the encounters you decide upon. The initial placement for the Ruined Tower is in a large urban environment; the owner passed away or abandoned the place, and rumors in the neighborhood paint the tower as haunted. However, you can place the Ruined Tower wherever it is needed – a small outpost on the edge of a city wall, a lone tower atop a hill, a forgotten and neglected tower on the outskirts of a noble manor, or even a ruined tower buried deep in the woods. The list below contains encounter and monster ideas to help populate the map and inspire your adventures. 1) Haunted Tower Concept (low level) Due to the smaller map size, you might be limited on the volume of monsters that you can use within the map. Use caution with zombies, skeletons, ghouls and the like. Due to the vertical space and small stairways, Incorporeal Undead are ideal for this map. a. For a low-level party (1st or 2nd) a single Specter using “Incorporeal Movement” will provide a mobile threat and jump scares for a low-level group. Use the tower’s vertical nature and the Specter’s speed (50 feet) to coordinate hit and run attacks. b. Keep in mind the Specter has several resistances; don’t worry as the Hit Point total are low – the party should be able to dispatch the Specter once they directly engage the monster. c. Should you wish to add a scary or gross monster, consider adding a Boneless undead to the tower, buried under rubbish or hiding under furniture. d. NOTE – describe the tower windows as boarded up – Specters have sunlight sensitivity. Alternately, leave one window open on each floor to allow for the party to have a “safe spot”. e. NOTE – a Specter will deal significant damage to targets. Be sure to mitigate this damage for a party that is resource challenged. 2) Haunted Tower Concept ( mid-level) Using action economy against a more prepared group, one could use weaker, but more numerous opponents to accomplish the same goal. Consider using 2-3 Shadows to roam through the structure, harassing the party. a. Keep the Shadows hidden and “holding actions” – this will alleviate any concerns about surprise rounds, “Weapons of Warning”, etc. b. Note that the damage to Strength stats can be very dangerous to certain classes and builds – try to avoid stacking Strength drains on a single Player. c. Shadows have stealth advantage in shadows and Sunlight Sensitivity. Plan for the environment; accordingly, use the same tools as the Specter encounter to increase or decrease difficulty with access to sunlight. d. Shadows do NOT have flight or incorporeal movement, so make sure to place the enemies in optimal positions prior to initiative. 3) Haunted Tower Concept (high level) For a higher-level challenge, have the party face an Allip; a poor soul driven to undeath by maddening arcane secrets. a. Play the Allip in the same fashion as a specter – move through the ceilings and floors and harass and scare the party. b. Use the skill, “Whispers of Compulsion” repeatedly as you move to harass the party. Use “Howling Babble” to break a party’s po

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Ruined Tower guide?

It provides adventure and encounter ideas to use with the included Ruined Tower map, along with tactics and considerations for running those encounters.

How can the Ruined Tower map be used in different play settings?

The map is saved with and without a grid for VTT use and can also be printed for tabletop play.

What kinds of creatures are suggested for the haunted version of the tower?

Suggested ideas include a Specter for low level, Shadows for mid-level, and an Allip for a high-level challenge.

Oct 6, 2026

Upload by Jordan Avery