20 Pieces of Statue Dressing

Statues come in many shapes and sizes and are a staple of most dungeons. Statues are a great way of adding depth and verisimilitude to a dungeon. (But remember, paranoid players may assume a lavishly described statue is important or that it may animate and attack them!)

Use this list, to generate interesting features for your statues. 

1. Several skulls or decomposing heads are positioned on the statue; they fall off, if touched.

2. The statue is crudely painted in garish colours.

3. One of the statue’s hands is shaped to hold a staff or spear but is empty.

4. The statue has a hollow mouth; a map, scroll or other small object may be hidden within.

5. The statue stands on a pedestal which contains a (dusty and empty) secret compartment1.

6. The statue is incredibly detailed—paranoid adventurers may suspect a medusa or basilisk lurks nearby.

7. The statue is the work of a medusa that once laired nearby. Subsequent inhabitants set the statue here, unaware of its true nature.

8. The statue stands on a hollow plinth1. To access the hollow the statue must be tipped over2.

9. The statue holds a mouldy leather book. The book may contain a clue to what lies beyond or might release poisonous spores when opened.

10. The statue has a deformed right hand.

11. The statue is dressed in a bizarre mishmash of clothes. Some are bloodstained and tattered while others are in pristine condition.

12. The statue is missing a leg (its shattered remains lie 20-foot away).

13. The statue has been decapitated. The head lies nearby and is damaged; its nose has broken off.

14. The statue points to a secret door or compartment in the room.

15. The statue points to an exit with its hand or weapon.

16. The statue has obviously been moved. Drag marks on the floor indicate its original position.

17. The statue holds an object which can be removed by a strong individual.

18. The statue is looking upwards as if studying the sky.

19. The statue bears the signs of being battered with a heavy bludgeoning weapon.

20. The statue holds an iron bowl. The bowl contains a few copper and silver pieces.

Want More?

This article is an extract from Dungeon Dressing: Statues by Creighton Broadhurst.

If you like 20 Things lists—and use them to add depth and flavour to your games or to spark your own creativity—check out theThingonomicon’s 180 pages crammed full with lists designed to make your GMing life easier!