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Because that's how many the research showed would maximise profits? Hell, I buy them even though I'll never run them. I just buy them for posterity's sake and maybe to mine them for inspiration or useful crunch. But WotC's research definitely showed that most people create their own fluff and...

ZOMG!!!! "badwrongsandbox"

True but isn't this really just semantics? The assumed agreement is that we all sit around the table so that the PCs can star in an epic story. That's their wish fulfilled; it's why we're there. The wish fulfillment I was talking about was specific character wishes - find this exact sword...

I've always seen the term 'sandbox' as a quantitative descriptor, so when I see posters using it qualitatively, to exclude others (e.g. Ariosto's most recent post where he carefully scoffs at another poster's definition of the term 'sandbox') then I'm compelled to find out where the line is...

I see levels as an abstraction.. kind of like hit points. In the same way I'd narrate the 15th level fighter being overpowered by 100 villagers, I'd also narrate the same 15th level fighter slaughtering 10 of them (without rolling any dice because it's pointless). I think the 4e combat system...

And if the deadly thing has a strong interest in the PCs not finding out its intentions or capabilities? Ah. "This is the party's new hire... another Dwarf fighter. Say Hi to Bob 2." I guess I can see the appeal. However although I'm not a fan of wish fulfillment, I do like my epic stories.

What's stopping more powerful predators from moving into areas full of weaker prey (including the PCs) and hunting them through superior use of stealth and violence?

Ah, the ol' Book of Unlimited Pages eh? I remember it well...

I'm sure you wouldn't treat your PCs unfairly.

Yeah well, it must be my psychic skills that tell me your PCs sit around the table with you while your NPCs don't.

Could this not lead to the situation where characters try to out-do each other in the risk-taking department, chasing individual rewards, rather than working as a team?

Except PCs always wear the PC-Halo, no matter how sandbox a DM claims his game to be. I think the point is being made that there is no true 'sandbox' in the sense that one game is a sandbox and another is a railroad; in fact the term 'sandbox' is merely an indulgence used by avid...

I agree totally. These fluff heavy APs really do need to be run as-is, which is no criticism; the Paizo APs look awesome and I've tried cannibalising them for my homebrew (but they require far too much work to pull out of Golarion and insert into World-of-Snoweel). Likewise WotBS looks great...

I think, given the comparison of normal men to Brock Lesnar, a more realistic question would be how many short, skinny men (130-lbs) would it take to drag me (185-lbs) to the ground. I think 3 or 4 would be able to do it pretty easily if they were committed and knew the basics of how. The real...

Why not come from the other direction then? Tie the AP to your characters' backstories. It's bare-bones enough that it's extremely easy to do. I did it in my last campaign.

It depends on how much the PCs care. If they're not bothered by every little rumour of Evil-over-the-next-hill then you can throw more rumours at them in the knowledge that what doesn't stick just becomes background events. But if they feel they have to sally forth and right every wrong then...

I always assumed losing hit points did include the jarring felt by blocking a big strike on your sword or shield. The DM should just narrate that kind of thing: DM: Roll d20. Player: 16 DM: You kill 16 peasants but eventualy they drag you down and pummel you into unconsciousness... Hint...

I dunno man, I've seen the difference just a week of MSD training can make to some guy who's got no idea. Add to that a focus on specific 4-guys-vs-Brock-Lesnar tactics; I've seen 3 MPs (one fat, one skinny and one female) take down an absolute ferocious monster (admittedly drunk and probably...

I know it's become somewhat cliche with modules, but I think you should number the pages sequentially.

I know it's only a tangential point for you but I do want to point out the official WotC line on this: ---Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters p.13 I think if anything, experience points should be renamed to something else, because in a game where PCs can become literally superhumanly...