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Introduction

I have been creating some multi-floor dungeons. It took awhile, but with time I found software, a notation format, and fidelity level that suited my needs. The one thing I'm still not satisfied with is my method for numbering dungeon rooms. I have tried to use third party material as a guide, but all of the published adventure modules that I own use relatively small dungeons, and therefor a room numbering system that is too simple for my needs.

Context

My dungeons typically have the following properties:

  1. 5 or more stories tall.
  2. Floors below ground level, i.e. basements, cellars, lower levels.
  3. Multiple points of entry.

Currently, the rooms on the ground floor are "A1","A2", etc., and then the second floor "B1", "B2", etc. Basement rooms are "LL1", "LL2", etc.

What trips me up:

  1. How to number lower basement floors
  2. The order that floors should be listed in GM notes. Do I start with the ground floor, from the lowest floor up, or from the most probable point of entry?
  3. How to deal with double-high rooms that intersect with two different floors.

These dungeons are mostly for my own use, with my own group. That said, I usually have to prep far, far in advance for our games, so it is very important to organize my notes in the most intuitive way possible, as if a complete stranger will be using them. In the past, I have left out critical information because of bad note organization and formatting. Making things look professional is helpful and important to me. I do have some interest in sharing this material with a broader audience one day.

Question

Of course I am not looking for the best room numbering system — that wouldn't be SE appropriate. Instead, I am soliciting examples of different RPG room numbering systems that have become the most popular over the years. A top 3 list of the most commonly used systems, for example. In addition, please provide an explanation of how these different systems meet or do not meet the aforementioned criteria?

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    \$\begingroup\$ What's the best room-numbering system? will, for some, garner their close vote as it sounds like an opinion question. I'd argue that anyone with a degree of similar experience can offer evidence and practical reasons why a particular numbering system is superior to others, therefore backing up that opinion (the bar an answer must clear). However, I fear that asking for answers to list the Top 3 Room Numbering Systems is a (ew!) shopping question, and those are a no-go. Have you considered posing this question on a discussion forum? \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 18, 2019 at 17:17
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    \$\begingroup\$ I think you overestimate the editorial division of even major RPG publishers. Map consistency between products, I suspect, is an extremely low priority. :-) You could specify a system, but I'm not sure it would help. The kind of assistance you need is just as valuable if it comes from a Shadowrun product detailing a skyscraper or a Traveller product detailing a generation ship. You can try to limit it further by system, but you need big maps with big keys, and I think a system tag'll shrink your sample size to useless. <- Totally opinion, by the way. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 18, 2019 at 18:06
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    \$\begingroup\$ (That said, a handful of megadungeons were published for Dungeons & Dragons generally. Asking for a summary of the room numbering systems of Undermountain, World's Largest Dungeon, or Rappan Athuk might be a thing.) \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 18, 2019 at 18:09
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    \$\begingroup\$ Just to state it clearly: surveys are categorically off topic for RPG.se. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 18, 2019 at 21:14
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    \$\begingroup\$ For this kind of question, a discussion forum would be suitable. That way you don’t need to change it at all and people can just tell you about however many systems are out there. Discussion forums are a great source of ideas to harvest from. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Feb 19, 2019 at 7:34

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