How to Make a Fantasy Sandbox vs. Sandbox Generator

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Does anyone have experience with each of these books? How do they compare? Are they generic or do they tend to create specific setting types?

DriveThruRPG

preview.drivethrurpg.com

DriveThruRPG

preview.drivethrurpg.com

 

[Reynard]

Does anyone have experience with each of these books? How do they compare? Are they generic or do they tend to create specific setting types?

DriveThruRPG

preview.drivethrurpg.com

DriveThruRPG

preview.drivethrurpg.com

Sadly, I do not. My impression based on the previews suggests that both do what's on the tin. "How to" feels less professional and more "see what i did!" while "Generator" feels pretty dry, but functional for its purpose. Again, this is just based on the previews, so I could be off.

Are you looking for a set of tools to generate a sandbox, having done it before, or are you trying it for the first time (which seems unlikely but I figured I would ask, for clarity).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I haven't done a structured sandbox setting like this in years, decades, really. My main campaign has been more of a "theater of the mind" equivalent, with things just created and arranged narratively.

For my Shadowdark game, I'd like to create something with hexes and structures and I'd like to use whatever the best tool available is for that.

 

[Reynard]

Honestly, the Shadowdark book provides all the tools you need IMO. if you want an example, look at Cursed Scroll #1.

Besides that, I still legitimately believe that the best sandbox ever made was Isle of Dread. You could do much worse than to just use that.

 

[overgeeked]

I haven't done a structured sandbox setting like this in years, decades, really. My main campaign has been more of a "theater of the mind" equivalent, with things just created and arranged narratively.

For my Shadowdark game, I'd like to create something with hexes and structures and I'd like to use whatever the best tool available is for that.

Might I suggest what I think is the best tool for the job?

DriveThruRPG

preview.drivethrurpg.com

There’s also an art-free version that’s free to download.

If you need a continent-level map generator, I’d suggest Azgaar’s.

Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator

Free web app that helps fantasy writers, game masters, and cartographers create and edit fantasy maps

azgaar.github.io

 

[Reynard]

Might I suggest what I think is the best tool for the job?

DriveThruRPG

preview.drivethrurpg.com

There’s also an art-free version that’s free to download.

^^^This is a great answer.

 

[overgeeked]

Useful link / resources dump. Hope they help.

Watabou's Procgen Arcana

Collection of free map generators for tabletop role-playing games and worldbuilding.

watabou.github.io

Hexcrawl Resources

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Hex-based Campaign Design (Part 1) | The Welsh Piper

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welshpiper.com

How to make a Fantasy Sandbox

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Distance to the Horizon Calculator

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Just Three Hexes - Campaign Starters

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chgowiz-games.blogspot.com

 

[kenada]

Might I suggest what I think is the best tool for the job?

DriveThruRPG

preview.drivethrurpg.com

There’s also an art-free version that’s free to download.

I was also going to suggest WWN with the caveat that the tools don’t fill out every hex on the map. The generated points of interest (with tags, etc) will occur less frequently than that. Here’s a post by Kevin Crawford on reddit about using the generators.

Edit: I accidentally replaced my post in an edit instead of making a new one, but I think I restored the gist of it.

 

[kenada]

I also want to add that WWN’s process relies on you to do a lot of decision-making. There are generators for your civilizations, but you’ll still be doing most of the map design yourself. I went through the process and have been using the map in my current campaign (running my homebrew system). I posted a copy of the map in the WWN thread here in post #27. Posts #12 and #16 have some of my thoughts on using the procedure.

 

[stormwriter]

How to make a Fantasy Sandbox

Unlike a Traveller Sandbox making a Fantasy Sandbox is less straightforward. This is because Traveller at the stellar level has a uniform g...

batintheattic.blogspot.com

One of the books mentioned by OP is actually these blog posts reformatted with art in a book form. The blog author did a Kickstarter for it last year. It’s a very good resource.