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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7274365" data-attributes="member: 20323">Hi dpkress2 <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Empty areas serve a purpose in a sandbox megadungeon, giving PCs places to rest, set traps, realize that the indentations above that  one archway once housed the Gems of  Nezhak that they discovered in lower levels  &  might  actually be  a portal,  etc.However, when it comes to overland travel, an empty area doesn't merit much attention, doesn't deserve much more than a travel montage "soundbyte" from the DM, and can easily lead to  frustrated players if several empty areas are "explored" in a row.Currently I'm DMing an Al-Qadim game involving the PCs traveling through a hostile desert known as the Badu al-Kabir. It's not a true sandbox, but it's close, more of "bounded sandbox" with a clear overarching quest. There are a few sites of interest scattered about the Badu al-Kabir, but mostly it's crags, windswept wastes, and various sand dunes. In the event of the players exploring empty desert, I have 3 moves as a DM which I've prepped:1. A 2d10 Random Encounter Table for the Badu al-Kabir. Even the bleakest desert is occupied by some creatures in our real world, and doubly so in a fantasy world. In fact, because I have multiple deserts – each with a distinct character – I've created an encounter table for each. Generally, they have about 9-10 entries in common and 9-10 unique entries. For example, The Weeping Desert is haunted at night, full of undead, black rains, burned tribal camps, and eerie winds that make the sand hiss like it's alive. Whereas the Badu al-Kabir features hidden water features that often have an element of mystery or danger, jann (genies), corpses of travelers, a unique legendary monster called Zu'l Janah, merchants & bandits, and more.2. I've established three clues which I can place anywhere in the desert regardless of what my map says. This is a  pacing technique that should be in every DM's toolbox IMHO. So, if the players are getting antsy for a fight, I can draw on my "Stray Sleepwalker Golems" clue which has a fight and a clue once the PCs resolve it. Or if they take a long rest and seem to lack direction I can draw on my "Mummy Lord's Dreams" to entice them toward adventure. Or I might draw on my "Desiccated Corpses" clue to show to the PCs where the villains dispose of unwanted bodies...giving them an opportunity  to learn more or even stage an ambush! Taking time to prep good clues leading toward various adventure hooks is well worth it.3. There are a few rival groups out there that may track down the PCs within the  Badu al-Kabir. There are their enemies the Brotherhood of True Flame. There is also the potential for the hired/"tamed" werehyena rogues to betray them or take foolish action in pursuit of fortune. And there are two warring tribes of genies who might seek to entice the PCs to their side (or learn what the PCs know of their enemies).</blockquote>

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