Why not try this simple idea to help you (which is incidentally part of the method I use for building holds):
In Microsoft Excel, or some other table producing program, or even by hand, generate a grid where each column and row has a monster or element header (title), and each element and monster has one row and column to itself, a bit like this:
Roach Queen Eye Wraithwing ...
Roach |
Queen |
Eye |
Wraithwing |
...
If you order them so that the elements and monsters are listed in the same order in both the row and the column, you can cross out or fill in all the squares below the diagonal line where the column and row both have the same element or monster in them, since those are just repeats.
Now just choose a combination of two monsters or elements, and build a room. Later, you can tick it off on your chart, and then choose something else. Obviously trying to build one room to tick off each square might be a bit silly, but you can get a general idea about what sort of rooms you've already made, and so what sort of rooms you haven't, and could make.
If you want to be adventurous, you could make an expanded version where you could introduce three elements at a time (this is quite time consuming, however), or even abandon the table and turn it into a full-blown list (this is also
very time consuming as well).
My overall advice is that the more effort you put into your hold, generally, the better your results will be. Try to find the style of hold planning that suits you best. I tend to analyse, so I go for approaches that I can analyse at any time, and will give me the opportunity to analyse things later.
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Resident Medic/Mycologist