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Let's Talk About How to "Fix" D&D
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<blockquote data-quote="fearsomepirate" data-source="post: 8198927" data-attributes="member: 7021420"><p>Yeah, I mean the term's been around for a while, I just get why some people don't like it. The main difference between a sandbox and a path is there are no "waypoints" or "branches" in the sandbox. I think you could hybridize the two, but thus far, attempts have looked more like "you can complete the waypoints in any order!" which is really not the same thing.</p><p></p><p>What I am picturing is something more like having One Big Thing the party needs to do (e.g., slay a Big Bad, discover what is at the bottom of the mine, etc), and, rather than providing the DM with the list of things to do first, the DM is given a map of the surrounding area, with some things filled in, other things only sketched out, some guidelines for filling in blank spots a few hooks, and no real "gate" to the endpoint other than them getting their butts handed to them if they're underleveled or their plan is stupid. The DM might also be given <em>suggestions</em> of what players might do in the sandbox to facilitate their access to the One Big Thing, rather than the typical, "Once the players have secured the alliance of at least three cities, Little Lord Fauntleroy announces that the assault on the Giant King's Keep will commence." This would by necessity be an advanced adventure that a novice DM would have some difficulty running, the purpose of suggestions being largely to introduce newbies to the wonderful world of just wingin' it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="fearsomepirate, post: 8198927, member: 7021420"] Yeah, I mean the term's been around for a while, I just get why some people don't like it. The main difference between a sandbox and a path is there are no "waypoints" or "branches" in the sandbox. I think you could hybridize the two, but thus far, attempts have looked more like "you can complete the waypoints in any order!" which is really not the same thing. What I am picturing is something more like having One Big Thing the party needs to do (e.g., slay a Big Bad, discover what is at the bottom of the mine, etc), and, rather than providing the DM with the list of things to do first, the DM is given a map of the surrounding area, with some things filled in, other things only sketched out, some guidelines for filling in blank spots a few hooks, and no real "gate" to the endpoint other than them getting their butts handed to them if they're underleveled or their plan is stupid. The DM might also be given [I]suggestions[/I] of what players might do in the sandbox to facilitate their access to the One Big Thing, rather than the typical, "Once the players have secured the alliance of at least three cities, Little Lord Fauntleroy announces that the assault on the Giant King's Keep will commence." This would by necessity be an advanced adventure that a novice DM would have some difficulty running, the purpose of suggestions being largely to introduce newbies to the wonderful world of just wingin' it. [/QUOTE]
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