Rob Conley at Bat in the Attic wrote… rather a lot, really, on construction of a fantasy sandbox. Much of the material can be applied to general campaign construction, though.
The first page, the introduction with the ‘summary’ list of 34 steps, can be read at How to make a Fantasy Sandbox.
The follow up material consists of 18 more posts that expand on 26 of the 34 steps mentioned above (I understand Real Life caught up to him).
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part I covers Step 1
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part II covers Step 2, 3, & 4
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part III covers Step 5, 6, 7,8,9, & 10
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part IV covers Step 11, 12, & 13.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part V covers Step 14 & 15.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part VI covers Step 16.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part VII covers Step 17.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part VIII covers Step 18, 19, & 20.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part IX covers Step 21.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part X covers Step 22.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XI covers Step 23.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XII covers part of Step 24.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XIII covers part of Step 24.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XIV covers part of Step 24.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XV covers part of Step 24.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XVI covers part of Step 24.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XVII covers Step 25.
- A Fantasy Sandbox in detail Part XVIII covers Step 26.
It looks like Step 24 — Pick the 4 or 6 most important population locales and draw a quarter page sketch map of the settlement — takes a lot of explanation.
This will take some time for me to absorb. The material I have seen so far is remarkably detailed.
I look forward to it.
