Tyler Do'Urden
Soap Maker
Pathfinder's Thornkeep is another good one. Manageable village/forest setting with lots of adventure hooks and small dungeons; very Bone Hill-esque.
D&D General What's your favorite starter sandbox region?
Having started two 5E campaigns in Phandalin, I can conclusively state for myself that I don't like Phandalin. That's not to say I don't like the Starter Set or Essentials Kit adventures. I like them a lot! But Phandalin itself is dull as dishwater to me. I think every starter town needs some sort of defining feature or quality and I just don't see that with Phandalin. So, next time I kick off a new game with D&D noobs, I'll be swapping out Phandalin for 4E's Fallcrest. Fallcrest has a lovely, evocative map that's a delight to look at and fill with adventure hooks. So I think Fallcrest + Starter Set + Essentials Kit would make for a strong starter sandbox.
I'd also vote for the ruins of Neverwinter from 4E -- a great combination of dungeon crawl and urban adventure that is highly customizable.
And looking at Rime of the Frost Maiden, it also seems to be a very strong starter sandbox.
I'd also vote for the ruins of Neverwinter from 4E -- a great combination of dungeon crawl and urban adventure that is highly customizable.
And looking at Rime of the Frost Maiden, it also seems to be a very strong starter sandbox.
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.
CleverNickName
Limit Break Dancing
Specifically the town of Threshold. It's right there in the name, even.
Orius
Legend
I prefer homebrew stuff myself, I tend to find working with published material harder. I've used Haranshire from Night Below, but it's not a great starting point; the whole area is out in the boonies, is somewhat limited by its tiny population and is at least twice as large as it really needs to be.
No room for Hommlet?
No room for Hommlet?
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Mercurius
Legend
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.
Mercurius
Legend
I agree with this. Phandalin has a nice setup on paper, but just lacks...soul, I guess.
Charlaquin
Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
Nentir Vale.
Bitbrain
Lost in Dark Sun
Not sure if it was intended to be a starting area or not, but my old DM always seemed to start off his Golarion games in this one city ruled by this absolute £¥@$# of a queen.
By all the gods of Pathfinder RPG, I hated that place.
EDIT
Just checked online. The city was Korvosa, the queen was Ileosa.
By all the gods of Pathfinder RPG, I hated that place.
EDIT
Just checked online. The city was Korvosa, the queen was Ileosa.
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