Sandbox Generator
Overview
Sandbox Generator is a broad-spectrum campaign prep toolkit. It covers every layer of campaign prep — landscape, factions, encounters, settlements, dungeons, and supplements — in a single volume designed for solo or group use. Uses a full dice set: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20, d100, plus d24 (emulated as 1d2+1d12).
Table Architecture
Organized by scale, from macro-landscape down to room contents:
| Layer | Tools | Key Die |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape | Hex Map, Biome tables (1d100 terrain type per hex) | d100 |
| Factions | Faction generator, political map, contested hex rules | 2d6 |
| Random Encounters | Master wilderness table | 2d6 |
| Settlements | Hamlet → Village → Town → City; towers and keeps | multiple |
| Dungeons | 63 pages: structure, levels, chambers, special rooms | multiple |
| NPCs | Full NPC generator (p. 132+); NPC problem tables | d100 |
| Supplemental | Taverns, guilds, dragons, sea-adventure content | various |
Wilderness Encounter Table (2d6): 1-3 hazard/obstacle · 4-6 faction · 7 NPCs · 8-11 biome monster · 12 special.
Generation Workflow
A recommended top-down sequence for fast campaign prep:
- Roll hex map — place terrain types across a grid; identify biome clusters.
- Seed factions — place 2–4 factions on the political map; mark contested hexes.
- Add settlements — roll hamlet/town/city tables for each populated hex; note regional links.
- Seed dungeons — roll dungeon structure for 2–3 sites; leave room contents partially blank for play.
- Roll NPCs — generate key figures per faction and settlement.
- Run the encounter table — use the 2d6 wilderness table as the primary session driver in play.
The toolkit targets a pseudo-feudal world with a hint of magic; adjust table entries freely for genre.
Design Value
Its strength is breadth. No single generator is deep, but the complete toolkit covers the entire campaign prep surface in one pass. Use it to build a world chassis quickly, then deepen individual elements with focused tools like An Echo Resounding (domain play) or The Perilous Wilds (travel procedures).
See Also
- Pointcrawl and Hexcrawl Exploration - Procedure-level guidance for how those generated landscapes are actually traversed
- Dungeon Checklist - Site-quality filter to apply after random generation produces a draft
- An Echo Resounding - Follow-on support when a sandbox starts maturing into domain-level play