Sandboxing! (Episode

(Episode #181) Professor DungeonMaster gives concrete tips on running a sandbox campaign.
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[@CraftDD]

Can't wait for the Caves of Carnage revisit. It's why I started watching to begin with.

[@HereticKage]

I am with you.

[@augustoluis6888]

If he thinks his delivery was lacking in those videos, I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Cool. There will only be one more “remake.” Then it’s on to the NEW campaign, being played now. It will air in May or June over four consecutive episodes.

[@TheMrMantequilla]

Did he ever make that video?

[@CrazyCrethon]

@@TheMrMantequilla Yes he did: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oobanoOAndeBgZo

[@christophersievers2518]

We went through the Caves of Chaos and they are now shipwrecked on the Isle of Dread, a much bigger sandbox!

[@locksand45]

Dont talk to me about the isle of dread, ok....i WROTE the isle of dread. I was there with Gygax in the 70s...its all ME.

[@jonathanduplantis1403]

​@locksand45 that's a stupid thing to say

[@brettsvendsen4023]

"Prolonged exposure to moonstone causes mutation." "...primary ingredient in all magical potions." I do believe your Warhammer is showing

[@drewneedsmoresleep6680]

My regular group is pretty blended from an original D&D player, to some like me, my first was AD&D2nd. Many of my players learned on 3rd, and two just discovered the game at 5e. Incorporating these tips has really created an almost visible sign above each players head as to what editions they learned on. My old school players love the GrimDark setting, love earning every little secret, and opening up their world. The newer ones are super impatient and hate me for locking things like spellcaster classes until they meet, and win the trust of a teacher. One day at the end of the campaign I plan to tell them, and where I got all these ideas. I really hope that you’re wearing the vest of protection that day.

[@SimonAshworthWood]

Sign in the Keep: "Top bounties paid for brigands”. Beavis & Butthead the brigands: “sweet, finally they give us brigands the treatment we deserve…. Mr Castellan, sir, we’re here to collect our brigand bounty.” Castellan: “where are the brigand bodies?” Beavis & Butthead the Brigands: “right here. We’re the brigands 😎😎” ….

[@Motavian]

Aw man, I love me some sandboxin'. Setting up my current B/X games to be a "Westmarches" style game, gathering a roster of players. Here's what I like to do: 1 day passed = 1 campaign day passed, this helps give the world a chance to breathe and respond to the actions of the players, lets their characters heal (1 hp per day when upkeep is paid), etc. Dungeon maps are drawn and details native to the site are spelled out on the map where I actually stock them (monster, treasure, trap, trick, special) on 3x5 cards when they are taken over by factions/creatures, this means if the players drive out the bandits that have taken their operations in the Cairn Hill ruins, I roll a restock after a months time it might be occupied again by another nearby creature/faction. The player that mapped out a dungeon keeps their map to themselves, has the freedom to share it or share it for a price. Create quest-chains with 1-2 new hooks at the end. Even if an adventure is a "sandbox", leads/hooks create a really important sense of impetus and most players are completely lost when you put on your hotpants, give them 5 bucks each and simply tell them you're going "out" (even if your world is chock full of cool stuff and you want to impart "world-impartiality" I'm sorry but players are a different kind of breed these days). Quest-chains are like little dungeons, don't plan for every contingency but make a string of encounters that make sense. Again you can plan them out on 3x5 cards and have them go through sites you've already mapped out. An example: "Arvil the thief has stolen the jewel of the carnifex from the tower of Zot and is now in hiding, she was seen last in the Black Pearl." So this quest-chain might be, Black pearl brothel and/or tower of zot clerics->roadside shrine->campside ambush->prison breakout/heist on the barrow glyphs. Give them the information needed to get through to the next sequence in the chain when it is an investigation encounter, but hide useful tidbits that will help them make decisions/reveal what they're actually facing through roleplay clues that will prompt smart players to peel under the apparent layer of information or skill checks if you're one of THOSE kinds of people (jokes).

[@thelawrenceshow]

You’ve really helped me, professor! My games now run smoothly and are FUN! Wow! Your input has changed my games from slow paced “waiting-for-players to take a turn” style games to fast-paced, exciting adventures. Thank you!

[@gluehandsluke8477]

I remember when I first ran Keep on the Borderlands, I must have been around 11 years old, one of the PCs immediately tried to rob a homeless man, failed, ran up the side of a building, shot at a guard, and got killed.

[@taragnor]

My PCs tried to burn down the tavern, and got murdered by guards.

[@JeremyMacDonald1973]

Man my players where so boring - they went to the Caves of Chaos.

[@Severene42]

My PCs tried to rob the blacksmith and just take the items they needed to get started. The blacksmith killed each and every one of them.

[@4Hisglory68]

🤣

[@plaidpvcpipe3792]

The message board is GENIUS! I'm starting a campaign with a new group soon, and even if I don't end up running a total sandbox, I'll be using that. Thanks Professor!

[@ingjaldsleikestove]

I have seen this excellent video before, but since this is the type of content I really like, I want to see it again and comment on it. I hope this will feed the algorithm so that more people can see the best the professor has to offer.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks. I appreciate you watching it again.

[@erikmartin4996]

The way you design your own modules is probably the best concept I’ve ever seen online. Great adventure with ultimate simplicity

[@Zirbip]

I just started rewatching the Caves of Carnage videos again the other day. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with them now. Keep up the great work!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Cool!

[@gommechops]

I love the Caves of Carnage vids, there is a great deal to take away from them.

[@animalchandler]

How did you write this comment a week ago?

[@mandodelorian4668]

@@animalchandler probably a Patreon supporter or wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey... stuff.

[@groglorb8980]

@@animalchandler sorcery!

[@jeremywalsh5666]

Love the postboard idea. I've used it and the players really enjoyed it.

[@MatthewFenn1517]

If anyone is running the Keep on the Borderlands there is a canonical location. A sequel, Return to the Keep on the Borderlands, placed the Keep in the Yeomanry, making it a canonical Greyhawk location as well. The novelization (1999) was also set in the World of Greyhawk.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Was the novel any good?

[@MatthewFenn1517]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 it’s decent pulp fantasy style writing. Lots of action little character development. If that’s your cup of tea it’s worth a shot.

[@fallenevangelion]

Can’t wait for the next video. Really glad I found this channel

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

I'm really glad too!

[@EdensukoV]

Somehow I'm ever more surprised by your clean notes. I've only DM one full campaign, not that long, but I've yet to be able to condense all the information into a single page spread with the map included. Keep the great content coming!

[@carpma11]

I love the idea of the sandbox. My struggle is limiting my inclination to build too much too fast, beyond what the players will see in the near future.

[@DeGreyChristensen]

Love it. I find that the secret to sandbox games is random roll tables. I use them to generate locations and I have one that I use to generate several potential quests before each session. If they don’t go for these quests then I keep them in a notebook for later. I’ve got about 5 ready to use at any time and they are just vague enough to apply to almost any location. I don’t use roll tables at the table, but I use them ahead of time to prep for the table. They are inspiration for generating fun and dynamic adventures with little personal mental strain. My quest table requires 7 d20 rolls. Each roll applies to a different aspect of a quest: the giver, the problem, the perpetrator(s), the location, the twist, the McGuffin, and the reward. Each with 20 options. I also roll for a couple random encounters beforehand so that if something happens to provoke a random encounter, I’ve got a few to choose from based on location and situation. I don’t need to really ever plan out intricate dungeons or craft stories from nothing, I just roll and use a little creative glue to connect the dots of any quests or events I like from my rolls. All in all it takes me about an hour to plan out a session with multiple possible outcomes.

[@mtnbiker78]

This sounds awesome. Do you have a blog? I want to know and see more of your tables because that's exactly what I need and have been looking for!

[@DeGreyChristensen]

@@mtnbiker78 no blog but send me an email to [e-mail] and I’ll send you the PDFs.

[@Hellnikko]

Amazing video. This is exactly what my buddy and I needed for a new campaign we're creating using Microscope. Corkboard bulletin board is god dang genius.

[@coronal2207]

I see a dungeon craft video, I click it.

[@arthurmee]

I know, you're a simple man . . . ;-)

[@chrisbammer8679]

8:40 "Moon stone is refined into a drug called 'Moon snow' which is the primary ingredient of potions" Potions are made from space cocaine, lol

[@JayRutley]

I've always been a big fan of the Hackmaster versions Little Keep on the Borderlands and Frandor's Keep. Was great seeing the notice board like that!

[@JustAnotherGuy309]

Hey Professor, I'm going through some of your older videos. What amazing content, relevant then and now!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thank you. The Caves of Carnage Ultimate Supercut is coming this summer.

[@JustAnotherGuy309]

@@DUNGEONCRAFT1 Looking forward to it!

[@irishthump73]

Loved your version of the Caves so much that I stole it for my own game! Can’t wait for the updated videos.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

On the way!

[@gommechops]

I have 'borrowed heavily' too...

[@irishthump73]

@@gommechops yeah I blatantly stole, which is the same as “borrowed heavily”!

[@gommechops]

@@irishthump73 It is exactly the same lol :D I've also lifted the Black Angus and Rowena adventure too so far. Although to be fair my players haven't quite got entangled in the caves yet, they have barely survived the journey from the Bandit camp to the town I'm using as the base. Lots of fun so far and I cant wait to bring back Rowena and Black Angus later too.

[@irishthump73]

@@gommechops yes I did that too. They encountered the bandits on their way to The Keep. I've even included a wanted poster of Black Angus on the Keep notice board just to emphasise the fact that he's still at large. I just wanted to rub it in a bit!

[@AccessAccess]

One thing I have always tried to model in my sandbox campaigns is the passage of time. Windows for tasks or quests will open and close as times goes on, players aren't the only set of adventurers out there. Likewise some problems may become worse over time if ignored, and others may present limited time opportunities or simply solve themselves if the players wait too long. If the players are truly "in the know" and tuned in to all the goings on in the world, there is enough going on that they will have to pick and choose what to follow and what to pass over or ignore.

[@rhettburgess8753]

I have combined Hommlett with The Keep on the Borderlands. They fit very nicely together. They are the current destination of my current campaign. Of course I've changed the name of the Keep and some of its occupants (Lord Verminaard of Daggard Keep for example). I'm also just about finished building/painting all the buildings and castle parts for the Keep as well.

[@ballisticus1]

Early-written term paper in college? Guess that's why I'll always be a player, never a DM

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Lol. Thanks for watching my DM-themes channel anyway!

[@BScalise97]

If you're not a DM, you really shouldn't be watching DM stuff like this. Knowing too much about the how the game is run will spoil the fun your DM is trying to present to you. Send your DM to these videos.

[@benvoliothefirst]

@@BScalise97 Counterpoint: watching these will help you realize being a DM isn't as hard as people imagine, and you might just become a great one yourself!

[@charles_pensamentocritico]

@@BScalise97 so learning cinematography spoils movies? Quite the contrary, I think... But it does make you expect better DMing.

[@BScalise97]

@@charles_pensamentocritico If the cinematography class uses a movie you haven't seen as the primary example, then yes that movie is spoiled for you. This video, like a lot of DM lessons, just shared details of modules that players should not know. If your DM was prepping to run this adventure for your group, you just spoiled their fun and your fun.

[@ArtJeremiah]

Amazing! Look at those notes! Looks like one of those handwritten Medieval Manuscripts.

[@hexadecimil]

Yeah. He should have tea stained the pages first, lol!

[@zan917]

Right? I aspire to make physical notes like that.

[@micheledefazio672]

It reminds me of A Beautiful Mind!

[@theCoolLew]

He said in the video we could buy a copy of those notes, how do we do that?

[@brianv7581]

Your campaign short series are the best, thank you.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks, Brian.

[@detectivelizard9532]

That corkboard message board is such a cool idea.

[@Tible_Tabletop]

Adding to the algorithm for one of my favorite videos, rewatched this so many times.

[@OddTitan]

Perfect timing! I rewrote Danger at Dunwater and I can use some help developing more of a sandbox.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

That's a lot of fun, that module.

[@sirguy6678]

Fun video and lecture! There is Lots of fantastic information and game advice for both new and experienced GMs !

[@AuthorTomWood]

Love the Caves of Carnage series and have watched it through several times. It's an absolute treasure trove of insight and inspiration, as well as being highly entertaining. I've been patiently waiting for another such campaign series ever since I came across this channel. Looking forward to the updated episodes and the new campaign!

[@jamesmontney865]

I usually use a version of Hackmaster's Little Keep on the Borderlands when I start a new group! I'm so happy you mentioned it. Thanks for the videos.

[@justanothercaptain6566]

Loved the video, Professor. That was my first ever D&D adventure. Have to be honest with you, your Caves of Carnage videos are my most favourite. I think they are perfect. I’m excited to see more like them. Cheers!

[@benvoliothefirst]

I love the Goodman Games classic modules, I've bought 'em all so far. Thanks for the tip Professor!

[@tean03]

It's incredibly the level of detail in your notebook.

[@lasgunsroses949]

Just putting the finishing touches to my initial sandbox that combines the Keep, Quasqueton, Hommlet, the Temple of Existential Evil, Orlane, and Restenford. Should keep them busy for a while...

[@fredranzalot4849]

I quite like the Moonstone concept. I can imagine a villain or particularly brutal PC shooting arrowheads of knapped Moonstone (with the heads fitted using friction and bee's wax like medieval war arrows) so that regardless of what happens, their target is doomed to become some kind of mutant monster.

[@vincejester7558]

This is what I'm talking about! This is my kind of gaming. Let's explore!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thanks!

[@jimmybrook7119]

Happy news! I’m 5 sessions into your caves of carnage campaign and the wizard just rolled a 2 trying to satisfy the Witch’s mortal needs.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Lol. A failed attempt would result in at least another year or miserable servitude.

[@blazeesq2000]

I love the idea of making the bulletin board. It is hard to narrate a bunch of possibilities and announcements. I run an a sandbox campaign as was discussed, but I feel like I railroad the party into one thing or another.

[@slpcorner]

Prof. this video was fantastic ... very helpful and inspiring - thank you.

[@notreallydavid]

Impressive notebook, and terrifically realised noticeboard - applause from Nottingham UK (listen very hard).

[@williammeek7218]

I want that book of yours so bad. This is amazing work. That bulletin board is great.

[@erinlane1769]

All my campaigns are sandbox adventures! I'm glad to see someone talking about this playstyle.

[@justinc5967]

Wow. This sounds really fun. The amount of information provided to the players is great. Makes a nice little sandbox with plenty to do. I'm going to have to revisit this and make some purchases to run this game.

[@artblockonthefrontlawn6701]

I just got the Isle of Dread remade for 5e today. You have excellent timing.

[@joshbecka6110]

I found I own a copy of the original Keep on the Borderlands earlier this week and have been reading through this adventure lately.

[@brentnorton1602]

I love all Dungeoncraft videos.

[@boxcarsbilly]

Excellent video. I too, much prefer the sandbox model of running adventures for all of the reasons you mention in this video. Also, I am very excited to see the new presentation on the Caves of Carnage, even though I loved the older videos too and watched them more than once.

[@bronsongorham]

I loved the Keep on the Borderlands back when I started playing D&D in the 80's. Lots of great memories! When running this adventure today I would spread out the humanoid settlements in the caves a bit more to make the situation more plausible. Having that many warring tribes in such close proximity means they would destroy themselves by the time the PCs got there!

[@SimonAshworthWood]

Deadbeat Dirk with his 4 kids. Seems Dirk the Daring and his princess didn’t live happily ever after.

[@Zenthewanderer]

I love your advice, Dungeon Professor. ^ ^ You've improved my DMing so much! Sandbox style is how I run my games- and these insights were super helpful. I joined your Patreon last month and always look forward to your videos!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Thank you for your support!

[@zombietotseater3894]

Omg! 😆 Brilliant! Simple Brilliant, my good man. I will be pilfering all those ideas for my intro game. Bwahahaha

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Have fun!

[@SimonAshworthWood]

Thanks for these inspiring ideas, Professor Dungeon Master.

[@JeremyMacDonald1973]

I feel like we need some kind expanded semantics. This is pretty solid sandbox but in my mind it is one kind of a sandbox - a more basic more directed version if you will. The DM has done a lot of work to provide excellent detail to a small slice of a fantasy world (well in this case much of the work has been done by tweaking the Caves of Chaos but same deal). However there is another type of sandbox - the version I usually think of when some one says Sandbox campaigning. That usually starts with a fairly detailed home base (though often something much bigger like the City of Waterdeep) and usually involves reasonably experienced players. This is pretty much the true open world sandbox where the players, based primarily on their backgrounds, can literally do anything and go anywhere. In this case the DM uses a variety of techniques to essentially write the story just in front of the Players. Some of this is improvisation, some is having set, apparently random, encounters prepared ahead of time and some is stalling the players on their journey to the Warrens of Ultimate Doom long enough to end the session so the DM can go home and design the Warrens of Ultimate Doom (or at least enough of it to get through the next session). This type of game usually involves a group that more or less agrees to explore each others backgrounds and help fulfill each others personal goals. I mention a dungeon in this example but dungeons do tend to be less common in this type of campaign because, most of the time, a PCs goals are not found inside of one. In fact, and I hesitate to say this because I really respect Dungeoncraft, but the more I think about it the more I don't really think this is a sandbox adventure (but here we have a problem with Semantics - my terminology may just be different). I think of this as more like a "Dungeon of the Week". The players are going to meet a merchant who sends them to the Caves of Chaos more or less in the first session. There might be a few other things they can do but at the end of the day this campaign is about the Caves of Chaos. When I think sandbox I think of player-centric gaming. They drive the story and that is not what is happening here. Here they are going to the Caves of Chaos. As a side note if your players are ultimately progress through the story and throw the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom or some other large overarching story I would call that an Adventure Path (like what Paizo makes but you could make your own and the Dragonlance Modules where (arguably) the first example).

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

I get your point. To me the Caves are conflict in the same way the Death Star is one big ball of conflict. Player goals and meeting them are created by the players.I'll talk about this concept in a series of upcoming videos. One is called "The DM is NOT a Storyteller" and it will drop in May or June. Stay tuned!

[@zelbarnap]

I love that you detailed more on the caves of carnage! I look forward to all campaign details!

[@Meeeeeeeestery]

Professor Dungeon Master delivered gold, again

[@stefansimic9083]

I am preparing a Numenera sandbox campaing and this video solve all my problems ¡Thanks!

[@jamesmontney865]

Oh, and your notes on the Caves are epic!

[@GalliadII]

I am running an irregular group that was designed just as you described it. But I used a rumor system like you presented in the first episode of your CoC campaign. I let them roll and give them a rumor based on a d20 + bonus based on the role (dark eye system) and then tell them the rumor. The lower rumors are useless junk like a report about their own last adventure, then come the useful hints about merchants and trainers, next are side quests like "kill the bear in the cave" or "there is this strange heretical sect" plus a contact NPC who will help them out if they want to persue this problem. And the top of the list are the main story quests, things that will further the plot. since I roll the d20 in secret, the players themselves do not know if their rumor was useful or not. the highest rumor triggers a quest that will lead them to the BBEG lair, which they will have to enter at the end of the adventure and which will trigger a point of no return. But that they do not know. After they did 2 of the 4 possible story quests, the BBEG noticed them and burned down their safe haven, taking their patron hostage and challange them to find hin before the next full moon, about 3 weeks time, before the patron is executed. And since they had a chance to bond to him emotionally, they are now personally invested. I have to say, I think this is the best version of sandboxing I have come up with unitl now. Yes, I had to prep a lot, but since my players have really gotten invested into the town, the patron and really hate the BBEG now, it is actually a lot of fun to run. Another sandbox I run, turned out be pretty railroady, I gave them a ship to sail the seas but they seam not to like being pirates or even privateers. Well, I got that group locked up in a dungeon, the villain runs for them in a plot to turn them into his minions, by breaking their spirit and gifting them a powerful artifact that is too shitty to use...but if you offer your soul...there might be a way. ;) Anyway this video was great, thank you. I would love if you could eleborate more on "how you do quests" in a sandbox setting. and how to make them more proactive.

[@biffstrong1079]

I do like the way you plan out just what you need. I tend to get stuck designing a myriad set of villages, people, caves, etc that I never use. I enjoy it but it's not useful. I've spent the last Month fleshing out a Temple of Tsothoggus a frog deity who has recently put up a NE Temple near Tegel Manor. I've enjoyed it and always wanted to do it, but I've run three groups through the Tegel Manor module. They barely spend time in town , sometimes interacting with the Cleric of Thor -Arnthora and have never visited the Temple, the old temple, the monastery, the light house or even the swamp that all figure prominently on local maps. The OCD in me wants to have everything in some sort of finished state though now I have the surface layer of the monastery figured out, a big bad or two and I'll wait for someone to go to the monastery before I finish it. I've also put a couple threads in Tegel manor that lead back to the monastery and the Temple Of Tsothoggus specifically, so if I can convince someone to go to Tegel Manor they may end up at the intricately crafted Temple. I like the idea of keeping it open the way you do so you can personalize it for your group and for what they have done or encountered already. I stole your message board idea for my Traveller campaign. Though it's on line. The Traveller's Aid society bulletin board has actually been vetted for scams. The free one out in the world less so.

[@GRIMGORIRONHIDEROCKS]

Just rewatched the whole campaign diary over the last couple of days. I’m so excited to see them revisited! If you’re going to redo some of them, I’d like to see them all receive a coat of paint, just for consistency, if at all possible.

[@simonthehobo]

My memories of both Keep on the Borderlands and Village of Hommlet are a bit hazy, but I do recall having fun with both. Oddly enough, though there have been plenty of opportunities, I haven't revisited either module since the 80s. I'll have to check out Into the Borderlands. Thanks for the suggestion, Prof!

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

You hooked me once and taught me so much since then. Let’s do it again!

[@lorenzohot5234]

We are finishing a mega dungeon soon and I’m excited to start my first sandboxing campaign next! I’m going to have the players enter a city full of guilds and see who they end up aligning with.

[@zreyon]

I'm about to introduce a group to D&D and this module may be what I was looking for. I'll grab your caves of carnage notes from Patreon and start making them my own

[@JeremyMacDonald1973]

I highly endorse this - I mean it is a tradition right. This is adventure number one for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of players. Admittedly most of them where playing back in the 80's but this is some good introductory adventuring right here.

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Welcome aboard, Miguel.

[@mfleck2000]

Great video follow-up for Caves of Carnage!

[@Mr88spacepants]

Your notes are really good PDM.. I write bullet points for things that could happen. Awesome!

[@historicalmaterials0]

Great work remaking the Caves of Carnage. I really hope you put the old videos somewhere though. I found them really useful and am keen to go back over them!

[@aaronhamric7679]

The last two times I’ve run Keep on the Borderlands, I’ve used the cork board notice board to good effect. At minimum, I put a bounty on the leader of the bandits on the hill southwest of the keep, somebody interested in lizardman eggs or skins, people looking for work, a couple of leads to stuff far too dangerous for the party, and a couple leads to the caves. It seems to work alright, even when the party decides to ignore the caves and go further afield.

[@EnDungeoned]

Back on form, this is the sort of stuff I subscribed for!

[@ilBrutto100]

I built a campaign emulating the "Caves" but I added 1 element: finding someone to teach/ mentor them. The players showed interest in a field of study (Fighting, wizardry etc...) and they had to find a local who would "teach" them. The PCs had to perform a task which complimented their chosen class and if completed, they were accepted into the field. i.e. the guy who wanted to be a wizard had to complete the "bring me 4 gallons of water using only the 5 and 3 gallon pails...you have 2 minutes". The PC's are having fun (it seems to me)

[@sanjeevshah168]

This is great advise. I never over plan my sandbox adventures. Never have to be honest. Maybe because I never had the time or was too lazy. But knowing just enough and winging it is most of the fun for me.

[@joelarcher2691]

Awesome episode! Love your adjustments

[@DMRaptorJesus]

So I have successfully used the family man hireling in two campaigns, and last night was the start of my new campaign and I introduced him and a few other hirelings. But the group as a whole wanted this guy hired. Great advice Professor, he's a lovable NPC. I also gave each of his kids jobs: his oldest is a maceman (like his pa), a carpenter, armorer, torchbearer and his youngest at 5 is a scavenger/camp follower. I laid it on thick when they tracked him down, having his family live at the local inn. Because of my good dice rolls he almost got the MVP xp (I have the players vote who gets it).

[@NefariousKoel]

Definitely a good NPC backstory to hook them. Might I suggest having your players take turns rolling for their hirelings or friendly NPC hangers-on? Get them more invested, and avoid having that 'GM as player' issue. Even get them to take turns announcing what he'll do in combat (but still RP him yourself of course). They may even end up trying to keep him safe when doing so, if you poured on the poor family man schtick with a horde of dependents, unlike some hireling meatshield.

[@hexadecimil]

My Sand Boxing moto: "Every encounter is a Cheshire Cat." (Figurativly speaking of course)

[@L3monsta]

Sorry, can you explain what you mean by that?

[@hexadecimil]

There are many ways to break down plot elements and stories. For the sake of this argument, we can think of an encounter as having three elements. The creative element, the purpose, and the context. The creative element is the hard part. First think about what part makes the encounter most interesting. Is it an interesting personality or some cool local? Both? That's the first element. Then there is the purpose. What plot device is this encounter serving. Is it giving the party a clue, a fight, an item, a sense of dread? That's the second element. Finally, you can think of everything else as the context. The context to totally interchangeable. To relate this back to the Cheshire Cat, he was interesting mostly because of his personality. His purpose was always to deliver some clue to Alice. But the context was totally irrelevant for him. He could show up in a tree, as a queens guard, as a croquet ball or in a puff of smoke. Those orks you want to attack the party could really show up anywhere and jump them. That you think they HAVE TO BE in a forest is just not true. That cooky wizard could show up anywhere to give them that item. That you think he just HAS TO BE in the tower is just not true. Wizards travel. And that dungeon they are looking for? The entrance could be just around the next corner if they are in a town, in a forest, in hell, even in the sky (cloud portal!) With a little extra creativity anything and anyone can show up anywhere and any time. I don't know if that explains it to you. I'm happy to share more if you like. If you have a particular hard example I can rework it for you too.

[@eviltables7235]

A decent way to start Keep on the Borderlands is just to start them outside the Caves of Chaos. "You've all been assigned by the Keep to find information about the Caves." Takes 10 seconds and gets to the fun part immediately.

[@Trigger99X]

These are my favorite type of games to run

[@enoa4]

I know both Keep on the Borderlands and the Villiage of Hommlet, like the back of my hand, but I really got a lot out of your video. Well done Professor Dungeon Master.

[@lionelhutz3142]

You have a great matter-of-fact style and your experience with RPGs shows!. I wish I had a time time machine to go back to 1983 with some of your ideas and present them to my 11-year old self before I played this meat-grinder!

[@RBloom0566]

I love Dungeon Craft videos!

[@rentauri709]

For me random charts are a GM's best friend in the sandbox world. Charts on names, courts, people, conflicts, ruins and more to help build out a my sandbox setting and get something out of it. Kevin Crawford's books (while not in the grimdark genre generally) are chalk full of them. I also like the way he creates Factions (whether organizations or cities) and uses in between sessions to have these Factions take turns. It really helps make the world feel more alive when the PCs realize that things beyond them is going on and can spark other challenges and adventures for them.

[@Venomm12]

I am going to be running Keep on the Borderlands using Castles & Crusades. I plan on stealing alot of these ideas. As always, I LOVE ALL DUNGEONCRAFT VIDEOS!

[@DUNGEONCRAFT1]

Begin at the entrance to Cave A. Have the players enter fully equipped. As they walk through, have them flashback to the Keep and remember the rumors they learned there. Watch this video first: kzbin.info/www/bejne/poKsl3ucpNZ8sLc

[@FooDogDM]

Can't wait for the upcoming take on a classic adventure. Thanks for revisiting the Caves of Carnage. Always a good refresher

[@Coco.B.]

Oohhh, new backround. The set has leveled up....

[@jakestaples8498]

Great artwork on the keep!

[@bensaylor9093]

I feel like this makes an INCREDIBLE way of creating your first campaign for any system but especially for a game like Mork Borg

[@lonnytucker1345]

Yes!! So happy to hear you are going to revisit/remake yet another classic adventure. You have my full attention ! I really enjoy what you did with the keep on the boarder lands.

[@ServantRules]

Dungeons & Dragons Online did a pretty great translation of Keep of the Borderlands, too. They'll also be using it as the gateway to more Classic modules, with Saltmarsh coming next.

[@kevinhayes9506]

Excellent video Prof!!!

[@mikemihina8507]

I was just rewatching the old campaign diaries. Can’t wait for the new one too!

[@chrishousenick6105]

The five-room dungeon template (as well as professor DM's approach to having a dungeon on one page) is a great tool to couple with a sandbox. You don't need every location the PCs could wander off to be the Dungeon of the Mad Mage, but having just enough detail to run the three or four locations they could travel to is important.

[@m_d1905]

I love the videos. Need to get a copy of the module. Lots of play time there. The two or three I have are from the 2.5 starter kit. They are decent enough to start with, but can be done in a one shot. That's not all bad.

[@grumpygrognard7292]

Love your creative ideas with the Caves of Carnage. Back in the day, I used to be a more of an adventure "on rails" type DM (to my shame). Over the years, I have come to appreciate the sandbox style. If done right, the milieu is more robust and versatile to the actions of the player characters. It allows the PCs to affect the world as much as the world affects them.

[@Cthu1hu]

Another great episode! I love the tips you gave and that Deathbringer is getting to see more of the world! Maybe he won't be so miserable if he's not stuck in one place each episode haha

[@mikehoran2602]

Another great video. Another great tie!

[@vesperschake6241]

I ran an episodic campaign totally based on a physical quest board and always made the players pick next sessions qust at the end of the session.