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Message: <blockquote data-quote="LostSoul" data-source="post: 5283971" data-attributes="member: 386">I am running a sandbox game in 4E now.  It's going well, but the PCs are still low-level - no one has hit 3rd level yet.  Problems may rise in the future.I've made a number of changes, some mechanical, some DM-advice type.<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Metagaming is allowed; PCs know what players know.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PCs begin with two Quests: a Goal, "retirement level" one that can trigger often (I need to do some work on this), and a specific Quest that the player selects based on the setting.  The Quest's level is based on the level of the hex where the Quest takes place.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">New PCs begin at 1st level.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Treasure is distributed semi-randomly (randomly for individual monsters, fixed by level for lairs).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PCs may hire a number of henchmen based on their Charisma modifier.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PCs only refresh 1 Healing Surge per extended rest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PCs don't refresh Daily Powers through resting; what they have to do depends on their power source and is more of a social activity.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PCs don't get XP until they rest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The DM creates the setting before the game begins, giving a level to each hex (breaking the setting down into geographic areas or regions).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The DM does not alter the level of the challenges (monster encounters and DCs) based on the party; it's based on the hex's or monster's level.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The DM rolls for wandering monsters every 4 (or 6, I forget) hours in the wilderness.  In dungeons it's different; I forget what the frequency is.  Wandering monsters have no treasure.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At the start of each encounter, the DM makes a reaction roll for NPCs and monsters unless he already knows what the monster's disposition is.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">There's a system used to set DCs, whether a Defence or a DC from the table on page 42 of the DMG.  Moderate DC = marginal success, Easy DC = marginal failure, Hard DC = good success, < Easy DC = bad failure.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When the PCs rest/head back to town, the DM reveals/plays up the consequences of their actions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At the beginning of combat, the players decide if they want to use the standard/default 4E combat system or a variant made for quicker resolution that I wrote.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I gave the players a list of rumours about the setting; this also contains the Level for each region, so the players can judge the risk they're willing to undertake.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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