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<blockquote data-quote="RFisher" data-source="post: 3677950" data-attributes="member: 3608">I'm probably not going to say anything that hasn't already been said, but here goes anyway. (^_^)The DM assigns &quot;threat ratings&quot; to areas. (You could call them &quot;levels&quot;.) I'll call it &quot;TR&quot;. Generally, the threat rating doesn't spike but only changes a step or two between adjacent areas. (Like adjacent levels of a dungeon.) The TR determines the range of EL that are found therein.The PCs may hear rumors that give them an idea of an area's TR. &quot;That's the land of the giants!&quot; They can usually assume that the deeper underground, the higher into the heavens, or the deeper into the wilderness they venture can mean an increase in TR. They can't really know until they go there themselves, though.Plus, events may cause TR to shift so that an area that the PCs once thought of as safe might be so no longer.In the sandbox game the DM really should go easy on the PCs when it comes to retreating. That's not to say that the PCs shouldn't adequately plan for retreat. But the DM should give them the benefit of the doubt.The DM may still adjust the encounters slightly for the party. A little fine-tuning just to keep things running smoothly.Of course, there's room for the occasional anamolies to spice things up a bit.&amp; when the PCs steal the giant's goose &amp; harp, that giant isn't going to stop persuing them when he get's to a TR boarder. (^_^)That's how I try to do it.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="RFisher, post: 3677950, member: 3608"] I'm probably not going to say anything that hasn't already been said, but here goes anyway. (^_^) The DM assigns "threat ratings" to areas. (You could call them "levels".) I'll call it "TR". Generally, the threat rating doesn't spike but only changes a step or two between adjacent areas. (Like adjacent levels of a dungeon.) The TR determines the range of EL that are found therein. The PCs may hear rumors that give them an idea of an area's TR. "That's the land of the giants!" They can usually assume that the deeper underground, the higher into the heavens, or the deeper into the wilderness they venture can mean an increase in TR. They can't really know until they go there themselves, though. Plus, events may cause TR to shift so that an area that the PCs once thought of as safe might be so no longer. In the sandbox game the DM really should go easy on the PCs when it comes to retreating. That's not to say that the PCs shouldn't adequately plan for retreat. But the DM should give them the benefit of the doubt. The DM may still adjust the encounters slightly for the party. A little fine-tuning just to keep things running smoothly. Of course, there's room for the occasional anamolies to spice things up a bit. & when the PCs steal the giant's goose & harp, that giant isn't going to stop persuing them when he get's to a TR boarder. (^_^) That's how I try to do it. [/QUOTE]

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