In this episode, the RPGBOT.Podcast crew bravely (and foolishly) opens the first rusted gate into Tomb of Horrors, one of the deadliest and most legendary modules in tabletop RPG history. Originally written by Gary Gygax to humble overconfident players and their min-maxed murderhobos, the Tomb has become a rite of passage for generations of adventurers who thought they were smart. They weren’t.

The hosts dive into the legacy, design philosophy, and gameplay experience of Tomb of Horrors, from its origins in early tournament play to the sadistic joy it brings DMs and the crushing despair it brings players. They analyze why this deathtrap dungeon still matters today, how to survive it (hint: you won’t), and what modern lessons GMs can learn from its brutal design.

Spoiler alert: There are puzzles. There are traps. There is no mercy.

The Origins of the Tomb

• Written by Gary Gygax in 1975 for tournament play at Origins I.
• Designed specifically to kill off characters run by smug powergamers.
• Later published in 1978 as S1: Tomb of Horrors, and updated across editions including 3E, 4E, 5E (Tales from the Yawning Portal), and even in Ready Player One.

The Philosophy of Pain

• Tomb of Horrors isn't about combat—it's about punishing overconfidence.
• Encourages player skill over character sheet. You can’t punch your way through this dungeon.
• A brutal mix of riddles, false doors, lethal traps, and one very smug demilich.

Theater of Brutality

• Gygax’s use of boxed text and riddles set a template for narrative traps.
• The party isn’t just punished physically, but psychologically. “Congratulations, you poked the wrong wall and died instantly.”
• Puzzle Madness
• The module requires deep logic puzzles and metagame thinking.
• Hosts discuss how this creates a blend of escape room and psychological horror more than traditional dungeon crawling.

Modern Takeaways

• How GMs can use elements of the Tomb to design clever traps and tests without just steamrolling players.
• Emphasizing consequence and caution in modern storytelling.
• How to prep your players for a game that isn't fair—and was never meant to be.

Warning for Players

• If you're playing in a Tomb of Horrors game and haven’t read it: TURN BACK NOW.
• The spoilers are real, the traps are real, and the deaths are personal.

Spoiler Warning:

This episode contains full spoilers for Tomb of Horrors. Listener discretion is advised unless you're the kind of player who thinks 10-foot poles are optional. They're not.

If you enjoy the show, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It’s a quick, free way to support the podcast, and helps us reach new listeners.

If you love the show, consider joining us on Patreon, where backers at the $5 and above tiers get ad free access to RPGBOT.net and the RPGBOT.Podcast, can chat directly to members of the RPGBOT team and community on the RPGBOT.Discord, and can join us for live-streamed recordings.

Support us on Amazon.com when you purchase products recommended in the show at the following link: https://amzn.to/3NwElxQ

How to Find Us:

In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net

Tyler Kamstra

• BlueSky: @rpgbot.net
• TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET

Ash Ely

• Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
• BlueSky: @GravenAshes
• YouTube: @ashravenmedia

Randall James

• BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG
• Amateurjack.com
• Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link)

Producer Dan

• @Lzr_illuminati