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<blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 5027448" data-attributes="member: 177">The word &quot;sandbox&quot; includes in it the word &quot;box&quot;.In the archetypal sandbox/status-quo game, the GM presents the players with a pre-populated world, and tells the players they can go anywhere within it, and do what they want.&nbsp; There is no predetermined plot they are intended to follow.&nbsp; That is the operational heart and essence of the sandbox, as far as I am concerned.&quot;World&quot; is an arbitrary thing.&nbsp; There is no particular reason why it must be an entire spherical planetary body.&nbsp; Or a whole continent.&nbsp; Or a whole nation.&nbsp; Or a single plane of existence.&nbsp; As a practical matter, a particular GM can only come up with a finite amount of material with which to pre-populate his world. That material has to be spread over some particular area.&nbsp; Even if the GM intends to allow the players to leave that area later, the initial map ought to contain that area that is pre-populated - the area the GM intends them to work in initially.There is nothing wrong with a GM saying, &quot;My sandbox is this one city - please come and play in it.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Umbran, post: 5027448, member: 177"] The word "sandbox" includes in it the word "box". In the archetypal sandbox/status-quo game, the GM presents the players with a pre-populated world, and tells the players they can go anywhere within it, and do what they want. There is no predetermined plot they are intended to follow. That is the operational heart and essence of the sandbox, as far as I am concerned. "World" is an arbitrary thing. There is no particular reason why it must be an entire spherical planetary body. Or a whole continent. Or a whole nation. Or a single plane of existence. As a practical matter, a particular GM can only come up with a finite amount of material with which to pre-populate his world. That material has to be spread over some particular area. Even if the GM intends to allow the players to leave that area later, the initial map ought to contain that area that is pre-populated - the area the GM intends them to work in initially. There is nothing wrong with a GM saying, "My sandbox is this one city - please come and play in it." [/QUOTE]

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