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<blockquote data-quote="robconley" data-source="post: 4889271" data-attributes="member: 5636"><p>The big issue of running a sandbox style campaign is generating the detail to handle the unexpected direction the PCs go.</p><p></p><p>Based on the work I did on the Wilderlands, Wild North, and both Points of Light the following steps could get you enough detail with two weeks worth of evenings at 2 hours per. Or 24 hours however you divide it up. This includes maps.</p><p></p><p>Points of Ligh</p><p><a href="http://www.goodman-games.com/4380preview.html" target="_blank">Goodman Games</a></p><p><a href="http://www.goodman-games.com/4381preview.html" target="_blank">Goodman Games</a></p><p></p><p><a href="http://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-make-fantasy-sandbox.html" target="_blank">Bat in the Attic: How to make a Fantasy Sandbox</a></p><p></p><p></p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Using one page sketch a world or continent map</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Label important regions</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Write one page of background giving no more than a handful of sentences to each region.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Pick an area roughly 200 miles by 150 miles</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Grab a 8.5 by 11 sheet of hex paper.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> The scale should be so that it represents a 200 by 150 mile region</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Draw in mountains</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Draw in rivers</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Draw in hills using them to divide the region into distinct river valley</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Draw in vegetation (swamps, forests, desert, etc)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Decide to place Population Locales note their race this includes social monsters</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Decide to place Lairs (locales tht revolves around a home of monsters)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Decide to place Ruins (locales that revolves around a site)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Decide to place miscellaneous locales. (anything that doesn't fit a above.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Name your geography (don't forget islands)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Write a Half Page background describing the region and it's history.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Write a paragraph describing each named geography</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Write a paragraph describing each Population Locale</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Write a paragraph describing each Lair (you could get away with a stat block)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Write a paragraph describing each Ruin</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Look at your notes and come up with two to four plots that ties one or more locales together. Write a paragraph or two on each.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> For each population locale come up with three to five encounters. They should be a sentence each.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Come up with 6 to 12 general encounter for the region as a whole. Should usable in any area of the region. They are a sentence or two each.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Pick the 4 or 6 most important Population locales and draw a quarter page sketch map of the settlement.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Pick the starting population locale and draw a full page map of the settlement. This is the "Home Base"</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Use Medieval Demographics to get an a idea of how many shops are in the town.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Pick or create 6 or 12 important buildings. Write a paragraph each.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Scan your descriptions for NPCs or noted monsters. Write a two sentence about each. The first a one line with minimal stats the second one sentence. This is your roster.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Pick the 12 most important NPC or Monsters</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Write a paragraph describing each and fully stat them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Pick the most six common encounter type. (City Guard, Border Warders, Bloody Hand, Orcs) Write a paragraph and fully stat them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Scan your description for any regional organization and write a paragraph on them. Fully stat the most common encounters involved with them.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Make up a rumor chart with 10 to 20 items that feeds the players into the encounter and plots you created in above.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> 34. Identify major regions and create a random encounter chart for each (monsters, wildlife and NPCs)</li> </ol></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="robconley, post: 4889271, member: 5636"] The big issue of running a sandbox style campaign is generating the detail to handle the unexpected direction the PCs go. Based on the work I did on the Wilderlands, Wild North, and both Points of Light the following steps could get you enough detail with two weeks worth of evenings at 2 hours per. Or 24 hours however you divide it up. This includes maps. Points of Ligh [url=http://www.goodman-games.com/4380preview.html]Goodman Games[/url] [url=http://www.goodman-games.com/4381preview.html]Goodman Games[/url] [url=http://batintheattic.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-make-fantasy-sandbox.html]Bat in the Attic: How to make a Fantasy Sandbox[/url] [LIST=1] [*] Using one page sketch a world or continent map [*] Label important regions [*] Write one page of background giving no more than a handful of sentences to each region. [*] Pick an area roughly 200 miles by 150 miles [*] Grab a 8.5 by 11 sheet of hex paper. [*] The scale should be so that it represents a 200 by 150 mile region [*] Draw in mountains [*] Draw in rivers [*] Draw in hills using them to divide the region into distinct river valley [*] Draw in vegetation (swamps, forests, desert, etc) [*] Decide to place Population Locales note their race this includes social monsters [*] Decide to place Lairs (locales tht revolves around a home of monsters) [*] Decide to place Ruins (locales that revolves around a site) [*] Decide to place miscellaneous locales. (anything that doesn't fit a above. [*] Name your geography (don't forget islands) [*] Write a Half Page background describing the region and it's history. [*] Write a paragraph describing each named geography [*] Write a paragraph describing each Population Locale [*] Write a paragraph describing each Lair (you could get away with a stat block) [*] Write a paragraph describing each Ruin [*] Look at your notes and come up with two to four plots that ties one or more locales together. Write a paragraph or two on each. [*] For each population locale come up with three to five encounters. They should be a sentence each. [*] Come up with 6 to 12 general encounter for the region as a whole. Should usable in any area of the region. They are a sentence or two each. [*] Pick the 4 or 6 most important Population locales and draw a quarter page sketch map of the settlement. [*] Pick the starting population locale and draw a full page map of the settlement. This is the "Home Base" [*] Use Medieval Demographics to get an a idea of how many shops are in the town. [*] Pick or create 6 or 12 important buildings. Write a paragraph each. [*] Scan your descriptions for NPCs or noted monsters. Write a two sentence about each. The first a one line with minimal stats the second one sentence. This is your roster. [*] Pick the 12 most important NPC or Monsters [*] Write a paragraph describing each and fully stat them. [*] Pick the most six common encounter type. (City Guard, Border Warders, Bloody Hand, Orcs) Write a paragraph and fully stat them. [*] Scan your description for any regional organization and write a paragraph on them. Fully stat the most common encounters involved with them. [*] Make up a rumor chart with 10 to 20 items that feeds the players into the encounter and plots you created in above. [*] 34. Identify major regions and create a random encounter chart for each (monsters, wildlife and NPCs) [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
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