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The "logical" explanation for why there are wandering monsters is separate from their game function, which is inherent in the rules for XP, time, and exploration. The default assumption of the original rules is that your characters are after "fortune and glory," with a big emphasis on the...

If you look at the earliest material, it's pretty clear that the game was "more than the dungeon" right from the beginning. The dungeon was important, but it wasn't all there was. Arneson's First Fantasy Campaign, which includes his Blackmoor dungeons, is full of material on the terrain...

Islands (or even a single large island) can put a cool spin on a sandbox, since it gives the "player choice" aspect something like a turbo-boost. You can even set it up so that the PCs choose their "starting point" if you begin the campaign with them in a ship, making landfall where they choose...

The easier it is to create a "flowchart" of the possible routes the PCs can take, the less like a "sandbox" it is.

I use "points of light" in a different manner. To me, it means little islands of relative civilization and safety amidst the unknowns and danger of wilderness. This is pretty much the default setup of the "wilderness" in the original D&D books. For example, a typical domain might include a...

If your players are trekking through the wilderness, this formula might come in handy as a sighting guideline: square root (1.5 * height in ft.) = horizon distance in miles

Here's Rob Conley's rendition of the original Outdoor Survival map. Here's what Gygax says in original D&D vol. III, The Underworld & Wilderness Adventures: Of course, nothing says that you have to use the Outdoor Survival map, or even one of similar scope. But something on that scale does...

But now, cattoy, by publicly calling it out as a bullgrit thread (heh), you have fallen foul of another classic trap (not the never get into a land war in Asia one), and may trigger the "I am wronged!" result.

Do more rules to cover more situations ease the learning curve?

Yeah, definitely. I see 10th level as the high end of the scale, for AD&D. You could go beyond that, certainly, but most mortals did not. If you were around 10th level, you were "name" level -- the top of the pyramid. (See my level musing.)

The module sets up a situation. The PCs explore the situation and react to it. The PCs might act noble and pure throughout. On the other hand, they might approach it as a pack of murderous thugs out for filthy lucre, willing to cut down anyone to get it. Or maybe their actions fall somewhere...

Sure; lots of systems have taken this approach. RuneQuest, for example. Rolemaster also let anyone gain magical abilities, it just cost some professions more development points to do so.

Out, out, brief candle! 'Tis but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. ;) The Bard rocks. (Even with slight modification…)

Yeah, definitely. If it was 3e, I'd have gone for "Meh." The inclusion of the OGL made me go for "mixed bag," because there are OGL games and systems that I like and that diverge significantly from 3e/d20.

My percentage varied throughout the years. In the beginning, it was lots of house rules and ignored rules. Later, I made an effort to play by the book, and I'd guess I was in the 90%+ range, then. After playing in that range for a while, it dropped back down, again (but probably still around...

From the sound of it, you're nowhere near my lawn. So no worries. ;)

Robert E. Howard Fritz Leiber Edgar Rice Burroughs H.P. Lovecraft A. Merritt Robert Adams Poul Anderson

As a player, I've definitely thought of asking that question, but I restrain myself out of politeness (I know it isn't easy to be a DM). As a DM, it's been a long time since anyone has said anything, and hopefully they're not thinking it, either. I try to guard against it several ways: I run...

Stormbringer (or Basic Roleplaying with a swords-n-sorcery theme) is a little bit different without being "way different." Skills focused. Magic of the "sorcerer in league with demons" variety, rather than the "wizard throwing around fireballs" variety. Power points rather than memorized...

Tomb of the Iron God (or pdf) is a solid introductory adventure. Or how about Pod Caverns of the Sinister Shroom (or pdf) with level 3 PCs?