I have a whole separate article that goes into the basics of determining your magic system. Stack Exchange Network. Are there questions that must be asked or avoided (how’s the family, how’s the business, never talk politics or religion, etc.)? A: Is this generally an earth-like world? What does a basic pauper’s meal look like? Access to fresh water, arable land, mineral resources, and fishing waters are influential in whether an area can support a large number of people. There is no limit to the creativity you might employ in devising a non-human race. They also have their own list of resources, many of which are also included on this page. (Desert, mountain, forest, island, etc.) A society in decline lets buildings and infrastructure fall into disrepair, while a thriving one will create new and better, seeking to outdo the old standards. A town of a thousand people has a different feel to it than a village of a hundred, or a city of ten thousand. Afterlife: What happens when you die. You can lend permanence to a setting by making the buildings ancient but still functional. Religion and Worldbuilding: 50 Questions For Creatives. News, Media, and Worldbuilding: 50 Questions For Creatives. Language shapes culture just as culture shapes language, and language is influenced heavily by geography and history. If you want fantastical races, the best route is to create your own. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Which are scarce? If it isa moon, does it revolve around its own axis or is it tidally locked to the planet it’s orbiting? Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions – A great list of questions to help you build a realistic fantasy world. There are two basic types of authors when it comes to worldbuilding: those who plan and those who make it up as they go along. What questions do you have about your world? Don’t fall into the Star Wars Trap of having mono-climate worlds (Tatooine = desert, Hoth = ice, Endor = forest). Step 5: Determine the Culture of Your World. Meaning: Why we’re alive. It produces the beings you're writing about. How’s the gravity compared to Earth? Basics ; What are the physical characteristics of this race? For countries, the larger the population, the more cities, the more bureaucracy to keep it all running. However, you can also use clothing to differentiate between classes and religious beliefs, as well as profession. Checklist: Building a Culture A “traditional” fantasy monarchy is usually assumed if you don’t get into detail on politics. I’m in the midst of a HUGE world building experiment and this is good food for thought. World building questions: Who have been the major rulers? You may wish to shuffle them around to suit your specific requirements. How do magical beasts fit in? Fictional settings require real thought about news! Worldbuilding is the process of constructing a fictional universe. The cost of certain items (weapons, armor, imported goods) will rise dramatically. Country & Culture Development Questions. We are starting to have a problem with psychology questions. The smaller the land, the more it will be reflective of the leadership of its ruler. Focus on the questions you find helpful to develop your plot, characters, and world. Are these gifted individuals looked upon as boons to their communities: protectors, sages, visionaries? A: Are there different human races, whether or not there are non-humans like elves or dwarves? Apply all the questions to magic if it’s in the story. Do the majority of people approve of or disapprove of the government? How big is the gap between rich and poor? A guide to creating news and media in your fictional worlds! When it’s boiled down, cultural appropriation in worldbuilding happens in much the same way characters are stereotyped or misrepresented. It only takes a minute to sign up. But I digress.) Do they need to worry about heat, cold, or both? And I know biology. A: How do magical beasts fit in? To get started, go to My Workspace, click the New button, and select the Worldbuilding Survey option. What are the belief bullet-points of your religion? Are we in the past, present or future? If you’re not looking to make an anti-deity statement, include at least oblique references to religious institutions or practices existing. You don’t have to use the whole of your world, but there should be a sense that it’s more than a little patch of forested countryside with a city or two. Living in a harsh environment and shrugging it off by ingenious building is a sign of a more advanced people. Do people believe in one God, many or none? wondrous worldbuilding — Questions for developing the biology of a new... 1.5M ratings 277k ratings See, that’s what the app is perfect for. Utopian politics have their place, more often it’s useful to have the friction and conflict of intrigue and rebellion. Flesh things out as you go and you'll come up with more and more questions, which lead to more answers. Magic is powerful. Is education available to all or only certain groups? Stack Exchange Network. /r/worldbuilding - If you are into worldbuilding and you do not know about this place yet, this would be the first link you should click. Is there one monolithic religion that dominates all others? Helpful questions to create superhero settings. If we’re on an exoplanet, what does it look like? What natural resources are available in different regions? Is it this or another solar system? Does it have moons? Its people? Element: Consider … Creation myths: Explain the creation and destruction of the world. Looking to support my writing? $2.99. A key part of creating interesting worlds is creating diverse cultures that vary in some way from our own norms. For artists, writers, gamemasters, musicians, programmers, philosophers and scientists alike! 60 Worldbuilding Questions for A/B/O fic writers Long post, press J to skip So we were talking on Discord about writing A/B/O worlds, and somebody was wondering when parents should find out the secondary genders of kids and such. Culture is how biology responds and makes its living conditions better. What environment is the main story in? Are there questions that must be asked or avoided (how’s the family, how’s the business, never talk politics or religion, etc.)? But I also understand how frustrating it can be. And Historical research is most definitely useful when worldbuilding. For example, a society living in the frozen north may (much like Inuit culture) have multiple ways of referring to snow, or cold. In an oppressive society, the rulers will see all the benefits from this. and use them as you see fit. Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions: By Patricia C. Wrede Basics What are the physical characteristics of this race? Also, while we have tried to categorise the questions to make them easier to manage, this categorisation is neither perfect nor comprehensive, and in somecases is downright questionable. If your characters arrive at a farm seeking aid, will they be taken in, or chased off as threats? Are there publicly run communications systems? Is your world a place of information and knowledge, or propaganda and lies? Other Gaming/Pop Culture Questions (29) Pokémon Biology Questions (93) Pokémon Design Questions (195) Pokémon Move/Ability Questions (66) Pokémon Movies or Anime Questions (20) Pokémon Worldbuilding Questions (115) Spotlight Series (2) Unova Pokédex (71) X Nuzlocke (24) The guest? What is the total population (of the planet / the country / the city, etc.). Buy the Kobo ebook Book Food, Culture, And Worldbuilding: 50 Questions For Creatives: Way With Worlds, #5 by at Indigo.ca, Canada's largest bookstore. Worldbuilding is the part of the writing process that sets up where your story takes place. Leave a comment and share with others! Yeah, you probably won't want to complete all of them. Also, while we have tried to categorise the questions to make them easier to manage, this categorisation is neither perfect nor comprehensive, and in somecases is downright questionable. It may not even be advisable. Water Geography – Pretty much everything you need to know about the geography of water when you’re mapping your world. ... How similar are the history and culture of the alternate earth to real history and culture? ‎News and media shape culture and education, forge the future, and record the past. So take these questions, prompts, thoughts, etc. Most games come pre-packaged with their own fauna and magic systems. Imagine our world after some major single social, political, cultural, or economic change has happened, then: Answer the following questions. For me, I love the idea of creating new races, religions, places, cultures, and people. Is there a class system? Worldbuilding is the process of constructing an imaginary world, sometimes associated with a whole fictional universe. Country & Culture Development Questions. Do they have access to What are there different types of school for? 10. by Amelia Wiens. The creation of new worlds and new universes has long been a key element of speculative fiction, from the fantasy works of Tolkien and Howard, to the science-fiction universes of Burroughs and Asimov, to the tabletop realm of Gygax and Barker, and beyond. Where are we? Starting a World. It is a nice reminder that a lot of that stuff is really helpful to writers as well. Are the laws of nature / physics different to earth? Free … These are the traits that, as a society, are held in highest regard. Does the leader have special protection (Kingsguard, secret service)? Are we on Earth or another planet? What reasons? You’re welcome. Basics. Was your world made by one or more gods? Aug 8, 2016 - What separates one culture from another. Who goes to them? Be celibate? However you decide to craft your world, there are a number of worldbuilding questions you can answer (if applicable to your story) in order to help you along: Decide where to start . The creation of an immersive, believable world is the same concept for either one. This ties in with geography and technology, and to a lesser extent with government. Are different groups of people educated separately? This is mostly a matter of practicality. Also bear in mind that people will most commonly dress from materials that are readily available in their region. Sign up to join this community. How long has the system of government been in place? Nice post. Does the culture value wealth or generosity more highly? The guest? A: How does magic fit in? How much land is temperate, equatorial or polar? 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