I use portable workman's trays designed to hold nuts & bolts etc, they have lots of little compartments each ideal for holding a bunch of orcs, or goblins, or elves, or xvarts.
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Sandbox Toys
- Thread starter Aldarron
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I use portable workman's trays designed to hold nuts & bolts etc, they have lots of little compartments each ideal for holding a bunch of orcs, or goblins, or elves, or xvarts.
Crazy Jerome
First Post
Anything that you can't improv easily, but not things that you can. Seriously.
Say that you make up names easily, but have trouble with motivations. Then you need something like, "Town Mayor -- wants to stay out of trouble, not have confrontations." Or even more details.
Yet, if it is the other way around, you might prefer, "Felipe de Diggerson, Town Mayor".
If you have trouble with both, you might combine the above listings. If you have trouble with neither, you might prefer, "Town Mayor" followed by a statblock.
Not having things you really need will slow you down and/or lead to laughable improv. Having a whole bunch of things you don't need will get in your way. This is one reason why there haven't been as many great sandbox products as you might think. Everyone has slightly different needs. It is tougher than it seems to organize such a product to keep from overwhelming people with a lot of stuff they don't need while they are looking for the parts they do need.
Say that you make up names easily, but have trouble with motivations. Then you need something like, "Town Mayor -- wants to stay out of trouble, not have confrontations." Or even more details.
Yet, if it is the other way around, you might prefer, "Felipe de Diggerson, Town Mayor".
If you have trouble with both, you might combine the above listings. If you have trouble with neither, you might prefer, "Town Mayor" followed by a statblock.
Not having things you really need will slow you down and/or lead to laughable improv. Having a whole bunch of things you don't need will get in your way. This is one reason why there haven't been as many great sandbox products as you might think. Everyone has slightly different needs. It is tougher than it seems to organize such a product to keep from overwhelming people with a lot of stuff they don't need while they are looking for the parts they do need.
Fleshed-out NPCs. Dungeon inhabitants should have relationships, goals and occupations, just like other beings. Alignment is one potential source of factions, but there should be other issues as well.
When you've got a lot of players, their undertakings tend to "take on a life of their own". With only a few, stirring up things with NPCs is even more important.
The great thing about well conceived NPCs is that their responses to events pretty well suggest themselves.
When you've got a lot of players, their undertakings tend to "take on a life of their own". With only a few, stirring up things with NPCs is even more important.
The great thing about well conceived NPCs is that their responses to events pretty well suggest themselves.
Quickleaf
Legend
The Ultimate Toolbox. It rocks. Ultimate Toolbox
Need a name for that pirate ship? You're covered. Need island geomorphs? Check. Side quest while stranded on the island? Yep. Awesome.
Need a name for that pirate ship? You're covered. Need island geomorphs? Check. Side quest while stranded on the island? Yep. Awesome.
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