Cubicle 7 Goes Deep With New “Uncharted Dungeons” Kickstarter

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Cubicle 7 is about to take on one of the most iconic parts of fantasy roleplaying: the dungeon crawl. The TTRPG publisher has just launched a new Kickstarter for Vault 5e: Uncharted Dungeons, a hardcover supplement for use with the D&D 5e rules that introduces new mechanics, player roles and environments, covering everything from crumbling catacombs and lightless labyrinths to ravaged ruins and trap-filled temples.

The project was funded just 1 hour after launch, proving that despite the countless dungeon delving books on the market, there’s still plenty of new areas to explore. You can back the project from now until December 12th on Kickstarter.

So is this latest descent into the dungeon worth taking? Below, we map out all the details.

What’s the “Uncharted Dungeons” Kickstarter about?

Uncharted Dungeons is a new 256-page book from Cubicle 7 that reimagines dungeon exploration as a tactical, story-driven and team-oriented experience. Built specifically for the D&D 2024 rules, the book includes:

• Structured Delving Rules: Provide a framework for dungeon expeditions that’s divided into three phases: Research the Dungeon, Prepare the Delve and Enter the Depths. Each phase has unique mechanical elements as well as providing a narrative structure to a dungeon crawl.
• New Player Roles: The Breacher, Trapseeker, Mapkeeper and Treasure Hunter create cooperative responsibilities within the party, giving every character a unique contribution during the delve. Conceptually, these are similar to the exploration roles from Cubicle 7’s Uncharted Journeys, in that they provide both rules and a structure for building more immersive gameplay experiences.
• New rules for dungeon creation: The book offers a variety of tools and tables to help Game Masters create a living dungeon ecosystem. This covers everything from who built the dungeon and what factions operate inside to how active the site is and its overall history. The goal here is to go beyond the cliched dungeon and create more realistic and believable environments.
• Hundreds of encounters: This includes traps, puzzles, combat, social interactions, hazards, treasures and atmospheric moments, all of which are designed to make navigating dungeons feel more immersive and unique.

Notably, as part of the Kickstarter Cubicle 7 has released a free Quickstart via DriveThruRPG that offers a sample of how the system works, guiding you through the creation of an underground Draconic Temple.

What are the “Uncharted Dungeons” backer options?

The primary focus of the Uncharted Dungeons Kickstarter is on the book itself, with add-ons being previously published Cubicle 7 books from their “Vault 5e” line. The specific backer tiers are:

• Digital Adventure ($30 USD): Includes the full PDF and all digital Stretch Goals.
• Dungeon Delver ($60 USD): Includes the hardcover and PDF.
• Digital Collector’s Bundle ($144 USD): Includes the PDF of Uncharted Dungeons, plus PDFs of five previously published Cubicle 7 books from their Vault 5e line (Uncharted Journeys, A Life Well Lives, Broken Weave, Hammer & Anvil and Mortar & Pestle)
• Explorer’s Bundle ($249 USD): Included physical and PDF versions of Uncharted Dungeons, plus physical and PDF versions of the five books listed above.
• Retailer Pledge ($900 USD): Includes six physical and PDF copies of Uncharted Dungeons, plus six physical and PDF copies of all of the five books listed above.

Fulfillment is expected in late 2026, with Cubicle 7 coordinating all of the printing and global distribution.

What is Cubicle 7’s “Vault 5e” product line?

Vault 5e is Cubicle 7’s ongoing line of supplements that use the open game license of the current Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules. Rather than replacing existing rules, the series instead builds focused, modular systems that are designed deepen parts of 5e that are often overlooked (for example, exloration, downtime and crafting). Books in the line include:

• Uncharted Journeys introduces travel and exploration rules that give long-distance journeys meaningful roles and narrative beats.
• A Life Well Lived develops the downtime pillar, offering systems for training, personal goals and activities between adventures.
• Mortar & Pestle adds a full alchemy and potion-crafting system, including harvesting components and brewing concoctions.
• Hammer & Anvil expands item creation and equipment customization through blacksmithing, forging techniques and upgrading.
• Broken Weave is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy campaign setting that introduces a range of new survival mechanics.

Why is “Uncharted Dungeons” worth backing?

• A fresh take on an old concept: Dungeon crawling has been central to D&D for 50 years, but few supplements attempt to meaningfully expand the concept into a mechanically and narratively rich system of its own.
• The power of roles: Cubicle 7’s Uncharted Journeys is an incredible product that essentially reimagined exploration and travel in D&D through the use of rules and journey phases. This new book looks to do the same thing for dungeons.
• A way to create living dungeons: While there are no shortage of books that offer random monster and treasure tables for dungeons, Cubicle 7 promises a novel approach that goes beyond the cliches to help GMs create dungeons that feel like real places.
• Builds on an established product line: Cubicle 7’s previous “Vault 5e” books have been widely praised for their art, design and unique thematic content. While the bar is high, if Uncharted Dungeons can clear it, it will be joining some of the best third-party D&D 5e books ever published.

Final Thoughts

Dungeons are nothing new when it comes to TTRPGs. And while it might seem like well trod territory, in recent years we’ve seen some fantastic products (including Bob the Worldbuilder’s upcoming Delve sourcebook). Cubicle 7, however, seems to also be offering a fresh take, by reframing dungeon crawls as a structured and cooperative undertaking. In addition, the book promises to offer GMs a complete toolbox for creating living, breathing dungeons that are more than just a place for heroes to battle monsters and gather loot. It’s an ambitious concept, but whether the book will be a TTRPG treasure or a dungeon dead end remains to be seen.

We’ll be following this campaign closely in the coming weeks and will update this page with new information as it becomes available. In the meantime, you can back Vault 5e: Uncharted Dungeons now on Kickstarter.