D&D (2024) DMG 2024: Is The Sandbox Campaign Dead?

[NN]

its not The One Way but it is A Significant Way and a shame to abandon it .

 

[Paul Farquhar]

its not The One Way but it is A Significant Way and a shame to abandon it .

No one is abandoning anything. If it had been in previous DMGs, you could claim it was being abandoned, but it wasn't so it isn't. False claim is false. In fact the 2024 DMG has more on worldbuilding, the central part of sandbox play, than previous editions.

 

[TiQuinn]

This is thread is really about OneTrueWayism. The OP thinks sandbox should be presented as the CORRECT way to play D&D.

I don’t think that’s a fair assessment of Reynard’s overall point. Nothing has been an attack on other methods of play.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I don’t think that’s a fair assessment of Reynard’s overall point. Nothing has been an attack on other methods of play.

It hasn't attacked them, no. But it's hasn't objected to the non-inclusion of any other playstyle. Which implies they think player driven sandbox should be presented as the preferred official style for all new players.

 

[TiQuinn]

It hasn't attacked them, no. But it's hasn't objected to the non-inclusion of any other playstyle. Which implies they think player driven sandbox should be presented as the preferred official style for all new players.

That’s quite a leap.

 

[DragonLancer]

Personally, as both Dungeon Master and player, I've never been a fan of sandbox campaigns. Given the choice, I'd always go for a standard fleshed out campaign, in the same way that Paizo do their adventure paths for Pathfinder. Players get their agency but both sides of the screen know there is a story to tell in their own fashion.

I don't think sandbox games are dead just because they aren't given space in the new books. Sandboxes require an ability to improvise a lot more than a regular D&D game might require of a Dungeon Master. Some are good at that and some are not. As a means to draw new role-players into D&D with 2024 edition, I can understand why it might be left out.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That’s quite a leap.

Why? The DMG does not go into detail in describing any of the many potential playstyles. Why object to the non-incision of one, that has never previously been presented as the official style? My conclusion is inevitable, no leaping required.

 

[TiQuinn]

Why? The DMG does not go into detail in describing any of the many potential playstyles. Why object to one, that has never previously been presented as the official style? My conclusion is inevitable, no leaping required.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Sandboxes require an ability to improvise

Not necessarily. Wide preparation produces better results, but requires considerably more effort, much of which is likely going to be wasted.

I mean, improvisation is always useful, but just as much so if the party chooses a different direction whilst playing an Adventure Path.

 

[Reynard]

. If a sandbox was your intended goal, there's still useful advice in the new DMG that would help someone run a game like that.

Which advice, specifically?