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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 3895430" data-attributes="member: 18280">I would argue that &quot;sandbox&quot; is a spectrum, rather than a discrete point, in the same way that &quot;railroad&quot; is (but on the other end! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> ).&nbsp; Your beach analogy, to me, describes a sandbox.&nbsp; For example, if I was to run the WLD, but didn't try to force the PCs to follow a path of my choosing, then the WLD could be a sandbox.&nbsp; A sandbox is defined by your capacity to make choices, to have open-ended narrative threads, and to follow your own agenda, IMHO.This is pretty normal.&nbsp; If Frodo was in a sandbox, the Nazgul searching for him etc. would still cause him problems.&nbsp; A sandbox means that the PCs dictate their goals; it doesn't eliminate the goals of others.A good sandbox DM is likely to have some prepared &quot;wandering lairs&quot; that he can plunk down where they are needed.&nbsp; Once a lair is located, though, its location doesn't change.&nbsp; Moreover, if the PCs do their utmost to avoid that lair, they are not forced into it.It is fair play for the creatures in the world to act, and it is fair to the DM to entice the players, but it is unfair for the DM to have the creatures act as though they know everything about the PCs (unless, somehow, they do) in order to force the PCs to a particular course.Normal for a sandbox.&nbsp; &quot;Sandbox&quot; doesn't mean &quot;choices are without context or consequences&quot;.&nbsp; If the PCs don't do X, then Y happens is legitimate (and normal) sandbox fare.&nbsp; But, since the PCs might not do X, Y should always be something that the DM is willing to have happen.&nbsp; Let's say that you wanted to start a sandbox using the Savage Tide AP as part of the backdrop.&nbsp; Well, the DM either needs to be comfortable with running the world after the BBEG succeeds, or he needs to reconsider using the entire AP as part of the backdrop.Agreed.&nbsp; That's why I said &quot;Most sandboxes start with something obvious, and then explodes into options.&quot;Again, that still seems consistent with a sandbox to me.&nbsp; &nbsp; I suggest creating areas in outline form, and flesh them out based upon player interest.RC</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 3895430, member: 18280"] I would argue that "sandbox" is a spectrum, rather than a discrete point, in the same way that "railroad" is (but on the other end! :) ). Your beach analogy, to me, describes a sandbox. For example, if I was to run the WLD, but didn't try to force the PCs to follow a path of my choosing, then the WLD could be a sandbox. A sandbox is defined by your capacity to make choices, to have open-ended narrative threads, and to follow your own agenda, IMHO. This is pretty normal. If Frodo was in a sandbox, the Nazgul searching for him etc. would still cause him problems. A sandbox means that the PCs dictate their goals; it doesn't eliminate the goals of others. A good sandbox DM is likely to have some prepared "wandering lairs" that he can plunk down where they are needed. Once a lair is located, though, its location doesn't change. Moreover, if the PCs do their utmost to avoid that lair, they are not forced into it. It is fair play for the [i]creatures in the world[/i] to act, and it is fair to the DM to entice the players, but it is unfair for the DM to have the creatures act as though they know everything about the PCs (unless, somehow, they do) in order to force the PCs to a particular course. Normal for a sandbox. "Sandbox" doesn't mean "choices are without context or consequences". If the PCs don't do X, then Y happens is legitimate (and normal) sandbox fare. But, since the PCs [i]might not[/i] do X, Y should always be something that the DM is willing to have happen. Let's say that you wanted to start a sandbox using the Savage Tide AP as part of the backdrop. Well, the DM either needs to be comfortable with running the world after the BBEG succeeds, or he needs to reconsider using the entire AP as part of the backdrop. Agreed. That's why I said "Most sandboxes start with something obvious, and then explodes into options." Again, that still seems consistent with a sandbox to me. I suggest creating areas in outline form, and flesh them out based upon player interest. RC [/QUOTE]

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