D&D General What's your favorite starter sandbox region?

[R_J_K75]

Underrated, imo. Shadowdale and the Dalelands don't get a ton of love because it is quintessential Realms and thus attracts a certain amount of grognard hate and young 'un indifference. But you really get a lot within the extended region you describe - plus Anauroch not far off.

I almost said Anauroch and the Stonelands. Sembia too was always meant to be minimally detailed so the DM could expand it. Always wanted to see Sembia expanded on. The Stormweather novels were good.

 

[Tyler Do'Urden]

Of course, if you're looking for cities... I'm partial to Zobeck, and the Zobeck Gazeteer and Streets of Zobeck books give plenty of adventure ideas (and several complete adventures).

(Think Greyhawk or Lankhmar... only given a clockpunk and vaguely Czech makeover.)

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I’ve been partial to Karameikos, Shadowdale, and Highfolk/Vesve Forest. I’ve ran campaigns in them each. They all seem to even have a lot of similarities, now that I think about them.

A frontier feel.
Nearby mountains.
Vast forests.
Connection to a lawful kingdom’s seat of power.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Karameikos is a very good choice. A very different but equally interesting choice is Sharn, in Eberron.

 

[Matrix Sorcica]

I like Daggerford a lot, too, and I've got extensive notes on how to mash up Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle with Scourge of the Sword Coast, both from D&D Next. Together, they'd make a great starter sandbox.

I'd like to see those notes!

 

[Tonguez]

The tavern in an unusally well equipped small village near a ruined crypt

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

The tavern in an unusally well equipped small village near a ruined crypt

Or the comfortable inn of a fortified hamlet near a dark forest.
The marketplace in a charming fishing town near a haunted island.
The lecture hall of a university near an entrance to Hell.
The knights room in a forlorn castle near a doomed city.
The agora of a lush city-state near the ruins of an evil nation.
The trophy room of a thieves guild's headquarter near an underground maze.

 

[Helldritch]

Greyhawk city, Hommlet, and Furyondy. If I am in the FR, then I'd go with Shadowdale and my little village of Blackfeather Bridge. Otherwise, just about any place can work.

 

[R_J_K75]

(Think Greyhawk or Lankhmar... only given a clockpunk and vaguely Czech makeover.)

Im not trying to sound like a jerk but what is clockpunk? Ive never heard of it.

 

[Tonguez]

Im not trying to sound like a jerk but what is clockpunk? Ive never heard of it.

Its a subgenre of Steampunk but using clockwork technology (gears and turnkeys) rather than steam. Its often set in a Baroque-type era