D&D 4E Hints on Sandboxing with 4e?

[S'mon]

Thanks everyone. much useful advice!

 

[Solvarn]

Started in 1e

Previous editions of D&D depended a great deal more on the DM to create a decent, playable game than 4E does. Each group would have a set of houserules, some longer than others, in 1E. I see a lot less of this in 4E, but that doesn't mean we don't see it.

I don't agree with the notion that with everything else being equal, a 1E game is going to be a great deal better than a 4E game. Overall, 4E is a much more solid game mathematically and is much easier to get started in than previous editions of the game. A truly great DM that sees the weaknesses in 4E and can overcome them makes a really great game. This is exactly the same as 4E.

When I DM, except for an RGPA event, rules are modified to provide a better gaming experience.

 

[S'mon]

Overall, 4E.... ...is much easier to get started in than previous editions of the game.

I can't agree with that as a general rule; I found 4e much harder to get into than prior editions, and I know players who feel the same way or worse, while some others seemed to have no trouble with it.

 

[Neonchameleon]

I can't agree with that as a general rule; I found 4e much harder to get into than prior editions, and I know players who feel the same way or worse, while some others seemed to have no trouble with it.

In my experience, D&D players find 4e harder to get into than previous editions because 4e is a very different game from older editions of D&D. On the other hand, 4e's easier for general roleplayers to get in - the lightly narrativist underpinnings aren't a problem for people with breadth. And it's easier for outsiders to get into if taught - the core mechanics are exception based, and the exceptions are written on the card. It just makes prior D&D experience a lot less relevant.

 

[Jhaelen]

In my experience, D&D players find 4e harder to get into than previous editions because 4e is a very different game from older editions of D&D. On the other hand, 4e's easier for general roleplayers to get in - the lightly narrativist underpinnings aren't a problem for people with breadth. And it's easier for outsiders to get into if taught - the core mechanics are exception based, and the exceptions are written on the card. It just makes prior D&D experience a lot less relevant.

That mirrors my experience.

Some of the 'grognards' had the most difficult time while the newbies grasped it immediately (and actually, two of them rejected the idea of ever playing 4e in the beginning).

One of them adapted quite well, however, maybe because he has played a wider variety of different rpg systems than the others?

The player who was completely new to rpgs when she joined my game group surprised me with an amount of tactical acumen I wouldn't have thought was in her. She played her warlord as if she was born for that role. She never seemed to enjoy combat very much in 3e!

Then again one player who was struggling with the 3e rules was also struggling with the 4e rules. There goes my pretty theory!

 

[corwyn77]

We remove the half level bonuses to everything, and adjust the monsters accordingly, as I believe many people do. We do this largely to simple character leveling, but it can also help to bring monsters to a more common level. Higher level monsters still have a lot of hp and hit hard, but it is at least possible to hit them (and be missed). This broadens the range of monster levels making a good challenge. Since everyone learns new powers and feats at most levels, the PCs still feel like they are improving each level.

I'm curious as to how you handle minions? Do you modify them at all, or do you allow 1st level PCs kill level 30 minions easily (assuming they can survive getting to them)?

 

[vagabundo]

I think I could work with limiting the availability of extended rests, not totally banning resting but maybe say that a typical wilderness rest only restores 1/3 your healing surges, less in bad weather etc, while you get the full rest benefits from a good bed in a warm inn.

I'm also thinking that a PC below 0 hp with 0 healing surges is critical-but-stable and can't take an extended rest for some period, maybe several days even to represent slow recovery from terrible wounds. Normally another PC like a Cleric will be able to heal them, of course.

I'm thinking of implementing a 1d4 healing surge recovery on an extended rest for a STAP campaign. My player always love to roll dice...

 

[Kerranin]

I'm curious as to how you handle minions? Do you modify them at all, or do you allow 1st level PCs kill level 30 minions easily (assuming they can survive getting to them)?

Well, level 1 players would struggle to hit level 30 minions tbh.

I would argue for some damage resistance for higher level minions. That way you still don't have to track HP, but players cant just throw a stone at a minion and kill it.

 

[keterys]

As a general rule, you should convert any minion >=5 levels above the party level into a standard monster.

Ex: Level 26 Lich Vestige Minion (2250xp) could be much better represented to a level 10 party as a Level 12 Lich Human Wizard (2000xp).

 

[Horatio]

I'm currently running a 4e sanbox game and there's really no problem at all. Mostly due to the fact that I have the benefit and pleasure to have very good players who can (and do) play they characters well and play them as characters, not a puppets.

The characters understand that their proffesion is a dangerous one and that they should conserve their resources in case a bigger danger appears. Not once they took the "easy" way out by blowing all dailies, because they could have regret it later. (Granted, not every DM have are lucky enough to have players like that)

If they venture somewhere where danger is higher than usually / deadly to them (and they usually know it beforehand, because they are used to gather every information available about almost every place they are about to visit, their survival instinct is really high*), they prepare contingency plans for quick retreats (or let the smart characters figure it out and follow the instructions). Those could consist of pre-planned escape routes, magic items used to temporary boost speed or traps laid beforehand should they find themselves pursued. Regardless of their classes, somehow every one of them finds a way to contribute in situations like that and I support them in this in every way I can.

*this is not a natural approach to the game by most players as far as I can tell, and it didn't fit for me well at first, but my players argued that there is only 2 ways how an adventuring character can survive to higher levels. Luck or preparation. And you can't depend on luck all the time. After a short discussion I had to agree with them


Unbalanced encounters them selves could be bad / unfun / whatelse, but they could also be made entertaing and/ or memorable. These are only a few examples of many.

Low level encounters in "unusual" circumstances
- villagers attacked by goblins
It's not hard for level 10 adventurers to kill 8 level 1 ro 3 goblins. However, it gets challenging when you try to lower the "civilian" causalities to zero. You need to identify which villagers are in immediate danger, prevent goblins to reach them (and not every time it is doable by killing said goblin), notice that there are 2 more goblins with torches preparing some arsony, a helpless child on a carriage that's already aflame, and a maiden hanging from the foor of a nearby barn by 1 hand with another goblin stopmping on it. Bonus: saving the day is more heroic than killing a beholder, even though the goblins were low level "losers". (There were some really creative moments of unusual farm equipment and adventuring gear usage involved that made me do the "jaw drop". Twice. )

- "bandits" (in this case more like local teenagers bored and "entertaining" themselves, lead by local baron's younger son) attacking a traveling merchant (in this case an alchemist too)
So, protect the merchant, protect the wares? Upon recognising the masked attackers as teenagers, decide to make the final blows non lethal? It's not that simple, of course. They were after the merchandise for a specific purpose and started to "test" in in the middle of fight! So there you are, saving the day again by pacifying the halucinating and berserking ones, while trying to revive and/or heal the poisoned and heavily drugged ones. Of course, some guards sent by the baron (because he susspected his son is up to something and sent them after him) arrive shortly and here we go again, baron's son is laying on the ground with some "suspicious" characters around. Diplomacy in the middle of the fray? Yes please! Did I mentioned the contents of some of the broken merchandise got now mixed a bit and are about to explode? The alchemist should be pursued to find a solution to neutralise it quickly (or some of the heroes can, if they understand alchemy, of course).

- rampaging mutated ogre
Oh yes, our heroes quickly realised this one is too tough for them (as they suspected), so they just retreated to a nearby walled outpost, pursued by the ogre, only let it be killed by 40 or 50 archers, safely from the walls.

- a very old dragon resides in nearby gold mine, preventing the mining to continue. Rich reward is offered for its defeat.
This, of course, lures adventuring parties from across the country. Our group is no exception, but they suspect (yet again) this might be slightly out of their league. So, they decided to wait for other parties to show up and devise a sinister plan: One group approaches and challenges the dragon. Immediately, another one does the same. They start argue which one of those will have the opportunity to be the heroes here (while amusing the dragon who haven't had such a good entertainment for years). Now, 3rd group enters, joining the debate (the dragon still don't suspect anything fishy going on, due to continual successes in the skill challenge to keep him off track), finally escalating to asking the dragon a permission to battle each other and the winner would challenge him! (Now, which dragon - still without suspicion - wouln't agree, right?) Of course, all 3 cought him completly off-guarg and dealt with him quickly. While frontal assaoult by all 3 would be wellcomed by a dragon breath resulting in multiple causalities.