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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 4591848" data-attributes="member: 18280">The easiest solution to this problem is to present situations that, within the sandbox, demand action within a certain timeframe, or there will be consequences.Examples from my own games:  1)  A villian begins creating a power base.  Only the PCs know that he is a villain (they saw him in his true form).  The longer the party does nothing, the stronger he becomes, and the more he infringes upon their ability to operate within the area.2)  Evil undead druids incite orcs to attack locals and merchants.  A bounty is places on orc ears, and hostile orc encounters increase until something is done about it.3)  A villian the PCs thwarted (but did not kill) begins sending summoned creatures to assassinate the PCs.4)  A rival adventuring group begins to vie for the prize....he who hesitates has lost.5)  Aboleths are mining underneath a lakeside town.  Unless they are stopped, parts of the town collapse.  This has already happened once (the townsfolk think a wizard did it).Basically, whatever you main "world events" arcs are, just decide how bad you are willing to let things get before the NPCs deal with it, craft a timetable, and then stick to the timetable.  Nothing down about the aboleths?  After a year, part of the town collapses and there is a cholera outbreak.  Nothing done about the orcs?  Raids increase over several years, as more and larger orc nests appear in the area.  Finally, the King conscripts the able-bodied to fight them.  Content to let that villian consolidate his power?  He begins charging tolls in his area, and eventually becomes an Evil Overlord.  The PCs are made outlaw in his lands.  Ignoring those first fumbling attempts to assassinate you?  The summoned creatures get tougher.  Eventually -- just considering the odds here -- they succeed.In real life, you could just not go to work, but the odds are that there would be consequences that you would rather avoid.  Do the same with the game, so that the players have some sense of urgency about at least a few plot threads, and your sandbox will kick-start back into life.RC</blockquote>

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