tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post5109140684802297404..comments2024-03-25T21:52:03.310-05:00Comments on Hill Cantons: Do Sandbox Campaigns Evolve in Distinct Patterns?Chris Kutalikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-3500699473163210672012-12-04T15:11:33.867-06:002012-12-04T15:11:33.867-06:00Phase Four is very pronounced in both play groups ...Phase Four is very pronounced in both play groups and feels a lot like a "correction" from the original gear-down period. Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-36975329159393857302012-12-04T14:10:11.454-06:002012-12-04T14:10:11.454-06:00I have a friend having exactly that problem: the p...I have a friend having exactly that problem: the players getting fixated on what they are sure is The Hook and beating their faces bloody against something they should have walked away from and tried again later. This is the effect of years if not decades of the standard game being a series of story arcs, especially with that DM.<br /><br />As I understand it, the players who could not make the cognitive leap to what a sandbox is really like dropped out to a more rail-y game and the remaining players have entered Phase Two, possibly Phase Three.PatrickWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02083947433803227063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-62718286471201359932012-12-04T14:04:47.561-06:002012-12-04T14:04:47.561-06:00My Southern Reaches campaign reached Phase Three, ...My Southern Reaches campaign reached Phase Three, with one or two players jumping ahead to Phase Five. When I start my new campaign next years (currently titled: Blood, Gold, and Lizards), I expect to see more of the same.<br /><br />The difference I see is that my group did not seem to hit Phase Four. I may be wrong, but I don't recognize that pattern.PatrickWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02083947433803227063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-38281967307878463802012-11-21T13:27:56.150-06:002012-11-21T13:27:56.150-06:00It seems really clear to me reading the comments h...It seems really clear to me reading the comments here that a lot of sandbox campaigns get stuck in that first phase. <br /><br />Why do you think that is, Mr Todd and others? I mean reasons other than being stuck in the old-new plotted mindset. Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-2845389793144540422012-11-21T13:26:16.200-06:002012-11-21T13:26:16.200-06:00There's nothing hard and fast about the time b...There's nothing hard and fast about the time between sessions--and there is a great of finessing involved with these broad categories. Each phase was highly variable depending on the group style and the individual tensions. <br /><br />That said the first phase was fairly short for both face-to-face groups, maybe 3-4 sessions before cohering as a group. The G+ group because it was originally structured under the revolving cast system of FLAILSNAILS would have likely stayed there in perpetuity if I hadn't intervened (I basically created a more stable, mostly-closed stable pool of 9-12 players and consciously talked out with some of them why it would be advantageous to hunker down a bit more.)Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-88961457841870168052012-11-21T12:47:58.372-06:002012-11-21T12:47:58.372-06:00That long stretch in the Mountain Hall was obvious...That long stretch in the Mountain Hall was obviously Phase Three and I suppose it was Phase Four that most of the last sessions were in (though much more focused and "long hauly" than the G+ group). <br /><br />Yes let's! What about next weekend?Chris Kutalikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01414743509426875792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-72233926547461219082012-11-21T11:53:49.214-06:002012-11-21T11:53:49.214-06:00Glad you're posting again. What phase do you ...Glad you're posting again. What phase do you think our tabletop group is in right now?<br /><br />Speaking of, we need to get together again for a game.Desert Scribehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862907749003106864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-49200003563295893212012-11-21T02:34:02.402-06:002012-11-21T02:34:02.402-06:00My campaign has reached phase three: after having ...My campaign has reached phase three: after having reached the astral sea, they decide to take on the githyanki lich queen. In order to do that, they founded their own domain (using the An Echo Resounding rules) and are now trying to expand it.Alex Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104864340940538702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-33773192206219313612012-11-20T20:49:22.480-06:002012-11-20T20:49:22.480-06:00My sandbox group started out bouncing, then began ...My sandbox group started out bouncing, then began systematically exploring the countryside. As they found an area of interest, they explored it as thoroughly as they felt capable (until the dungeon danger started hitting back hard) and then they'd go somewhere else. At one point they really settled down and got beseiged, and while they lost the keep their enemies won a phyrric victory. They then continued with their prior wander-delve-flee model. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-39784417413850962642012-11-20T20:42:09.139-06:002012-11-20T20:42:09.139-06:00Great and timely post. I feel that my home campai...Great and timely post. I feel that my home campaign is currently struggling at the buffet. I had vague feelings of something "next". You've provided some specific possibilities to mull over.Norman J. Harman Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01319655075997712313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-25180962242412904032012-11-20T19:42:00.339-06:002012-11-20T19:42:00.339-06:00That's really interesting and useful to me. I...That's really interesting and useful to me. I'm glad you've got the posting bug, because I really value reading stuff from an experienced DM Who is reflective and analytical.<br /><br />So, I'm wondering about how many sessions it took to move from one phase to the next. Also, how did your job shift as DM in response to the phase shifts? Telecanterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238356788092725244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-75035468098718436832012-11-20T19:13:18.202-06:002012-11-20T19:13:18.202-06:00I've only ever run the buffet phase so far. I ...I've only ever run the buffet phase so far. I noticed when it comes to FLAILSNAILS it basically cannot move beyond that phase unless you have a core group of players. If it is all rotating cast all the time, it just about stays there.Nopehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02743719179352388875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1389986049507804094.post-70485056878576937282012-11-20T15:48:41.955-06:002012-11-20T15:48:41.955-06:00I've certainly found phase one is true in any ...I've certainly found phase one is true in any case, in fact I find that phase one can be a really hard period to work through for players who are used to more story driven games. Instead of letting this exploration happen they keep looking for 'the hook' - ignoring the 20 hooks lying around. Theres lots of temptation or pressure to 'rework' the sandbox in this phase and give them some rails to ride if some of the players are struggling but it's important to get them to work through this phase so they get to see how rewarding it is when things grow organically and their PCs roll into a town and see familiar sights and faces and feel the repercussions of the actions that they chose.<br /><br />Haven't made it to a phase three yet, but I keep hoping. Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04921387967662542436noreply@blogger.com