Can one have a good recurring villain in a sandbox campaign?
I would like to make one...but one that doesn't start out as villainous. Maybe he would start out as a weakling. Someone the party jipped out of a treasure somewhere along the way. But that would make him angry, and begin plotting...building a stronghold, raising an army. Suddenly that wimpy, toothpick-wristed, limp-haired wizard in training is a little more fearsome. And he's out for revenge!
Alternate ideal: wouldn't it be awesome if in a sandbox campaign there was a foil for the party? Not an enemy, more like a rival. You're on the trail of a priceless artifact and whoops! Someone beat you to it! Better work faster next time! Each adventure I could make a roll every day to evaluate the progress of the rival person/party. It might set a nice sense of urgency for the mini-adventures. But whats this? An evil warlord is threatening the country side and he's too powerful to take alone? You might have to grit your teeth and team up with those smarmy folk who always seem to be dogging your footsteps.
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The rival party is an idea with plenty of history behind it--in my first experiences with D&D (what's known as BECMI around these parts) the wandering monsters tables included 'NPC Party.' I think it's definitely worth doing.
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