S is for Sandbox Part I What is a Sandbox

Created: 2025-02-08

a sandbox is a gaming environment in which the direction of play is driven by the choices of the players, rather than by a series of encounters/game actions that must occur to meet with the Game Master’s chosen “plot”.   A sandbox is an attempt at a “breathing world” that the players experience, and that allows them to follow their own interests within its context

See in context at S is for Sandbox Part I: What is a Sandbox?

Created: 2025-02-08

Because it bears repeating, the only thing that a sandbox lacks is the GM making decisions for the Player Characters, either overtly or covertly.  And, that is a damn good thing to lack.

See in context at S is for Sandbox Part I: What is a Sandbox?

Created: 2025-02-08

Likewise, there are players who just want to engage in a table top skirmish game.  There are players who don’t want to make decisions, who just want to go along with the flow.  There are definitely people who want others to make choices for them, and who would prefer to engage in something far less than a “breathing world”.  Essentially, they want the limited palette of a computer game at the table, and often because they have never experienced anything more.

See in context at S is for Sandbox Part I: What is a Sandbox?

Created: 2025-02-08

The sandbox remains relevant, because it is the singular important thing that table top gaming does better than its competitors.

See in context at S is for Sandbox Part I: What is a Sandbox?