world

apocalypse capital city (eg rome) dependent on vassal states for food civilization crumbles, city decays

city, 1000/sq mile, 1/10 mile village, 100/sq mile, 1 mile forest, 30/sq mile, 3 miles wilderness, 40/mile, 2.5 canyon, 25/mile, 4 swamp, 40/mile, 2.5 tower, 1000/sq mile, 1 mile glacier, 25/mile, 4 total: 15 sq miles

cave crypt sewer lava mine

Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions By Patricia C. Wrede Copyright © 1996 =I. The World=

Basics
Are the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world, or are they the same as in real life? How does magic fit in? How do magical beasts fit in? //the laws of nature are the same, but are influenced by all sentient beings, including humans, and spirits. magical beasts are creatures in their own right and are not aware of using magical any more than a horse is aware of using gravity to run//

Is this generally an earth-like world? Is it an "alternate Earth"?

//This is earth, before the age of men. As such, it is not entirely familiar, as many of the landmarks we know in the modern age have been reshaped as result of powerful psychic and magical forces as well as physical forces//

Are there different human races, whether or not there are non-humans like elves or dwarves? How does the cultural and ethnic diversity of this world compare to the real world? //in the world, there is a rich cultural diversity, though not all of this will be seen during the scope of the game. The idea of 'human' isn't quite the way that beings think of themselves in this world; rather, their idea is best translated 'sentient beings' and includes intelligent horses, spirits, some magical constructs. There is also a rich diversity in what we would call 'human genetics' to include humans with green hair, and a wide range of physical sizes// How long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, or did they migrate from somewhere/when else? //there are mulstiple myths regarding the age of the world, but as myths they tend to treat time in terms of mythic events sucn as the coming of an age rather than revolutions around the sun. Humans are a part of this world in all of these myths, and usually their myths extend this to imply that humans are part of the divine order as well as the physical content.//

How many people are there in this country? How does this compare with world population? What is considered a small town/large town/city in terms of number of people?

Where does magic power come from: the gods, the "mana" of the world (as in Larry Niven's "Warlock" stories), the personal willpower or life force of the magician, somewhere else? Is magic an exhaustible resource? If a magician must feed his spells with his own willpower, life-force, or sanity, what long-term effects will this have on the health and/or stability of the magician? Do different races/species have different sources for their magic, or does everybody use the same one?

Alternate Earth
Are there non-human inhabitants of this planet (elves, dwarves, aliens)? If so, how numerous? How openly present? What areas do they occupy (examples: dwarves in mountains or caves, elves in forests, etc.)?

How similar are the history and culture of the alternate earth to real history and culture? Why is it so similar/different?

Is there a specific historical point where this world split off from ours (e.g., Napoleon won at Waterloo)? If so, what was it? How long ago was it? How much has changed and will continue to change as a result? Is the split in history a result of the presence of magic, or is the change the thing that made workable magic a possibility?

If there is no specific point of divergence, what are the differences between this imaginary world and the real one? How obvious are they in everyday life? If magic exists but history is more or less the same, why has it had no effect? If magic works, elves exist, etc., but most people don't know it, how and why has this been kept secret?

If magic is known to exist, which historical events have changed and which are the same? How have organized religions reacted? Governments? Ordinary people? What laws and/or professions are different? What effect will the general and specific differences have on the social questions below?

Not Earth at All
How does this world differ physically from earth? Is it the same size (same density, same gravity), same ratio of land/water, same atmosphere, etc.? Does it have more than one sun or moon? Rings? Are there spectacular constellations/comets, etc. visible at night or by day?

Are there non-human inhabitants of this planet (elves, dwarves, aliens)? If so, how numerous? How openly present? What areas do they occupy?

How are the continents laid out? If there is more than one moon/sun, how does this affect winds, tides, and weather generally?

How much land is there, and how much of it is habitable?

Is the axial tilt and orbit the same -- i.e., does the world have the same seasons and same length of year as Earth?

=II. Physical and Historical Features=

General
In which geographical areas will the story take place? How much ground will the story cover? What are the most striking features of landscape, climate, animals, etc. in thisarea? How will these features affect travel time, communication, etc.?

If there are non-human inhabitants, are there any areas they particularly claim as their own (e.g., dwarves traditionally live underground, usually in mountains)?

Climate and Geography Have human activities affected climate, landscape, etc. in various regions? How? (Example: Sahara Desert growth has been increased by over-farming.) If this is an alternate earth, will the "alternate" part change existing effects? (If there are no people in N. Africa, desert growth is probably slower.)

How do differences from Earth (multiple suns, moons, etc.) affect the climate in various areas?

How much land is in each of the equatorial, temperate, and polar zones?

Note: climate affects landscape through erosion and weathering; the distribution of plants and animals, and formation of soil. As a result, it determines what crops can and can't be grown, what animals can and can't live in an area, what clothes must be worn to cope with the weather, and how houses are built. Winter freezing and thawing may change travel patterns, as waterways freeze or flood and passes close. Weather also affects available sports, like skiing. Are all these things consistent with what you say the climate is like in particular areas?

Where are major mountain ranges? Rivers and lakes? Deserts? Forests, tropical and otherwise? Grasslands and plains?

If there are imaginary animals (dragons, unicorns, etc.), how do they fit into the ecology? What do they eat? How much habitat do they require? Can they live anywhere, or do they prefer or need specific kinds of climate or terrain? Are they intelligent and/or capable of working spells, talking, etc.?

Natural Resources
Which areas are the most fertile farmland? Where are mineral resources located?

Which animals, birds, fish, and other wildlife are commonly found in which areas? If there are imaginary animals such as dragons, where do they live?

Which natural resources, if any, have been depleted in which areas over time?

Which resources (e.g., coal, oil, iron ore, gold, diamonds, limestone, etc.) are particularly abundant, and in which areas? Which are scarce? Are there places where there are rich deposits that haven't been discovered yet, or where they haven't been fully exploited?

How much conflict has been or might be caused by these imbalances in resources? How much active, peaceful trade?

What water resources available, and for what uses (a mill wheel requires flowing water, i.e., river or stream; irrigation needs a large, dependable water source like a lake or large river; etc.)?

World History
How far back are there records or tales of historical events? How widely known are these stories?

Do average people believe old tales, or do they dismiss some that have a basis in fact (e.g., Troy)?

How long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, were they created by the gods, or did they migrate from somewhere else? If there are non-humans, how long have they been around and where did they come from?

How similar is the history and culture of an alternate earth to real history and culture? Why is it similar/different?

Where did civilization begin? What directions did it spread? How was its development affected by the presence of magic? The presence of non-human races, if any? The actions or direct interventions of the gods?

Which peoples/countries/races have traditionally fought, allied, traded, or been rivals? Where are there still hard feelings about old events?

Which peoples/countries/races have been in conflict in the recent past? Why? When and why was the most recent war? Who won?

Which peoples/etc. are considered the most civilized? Which are most technologically advanced? Which are most magically advanced? Least advanced? Why?

Is there a single, generally accepted calendar (including time measurements), or do different countries or peoples or races have different ones?

How many languages are there? Which ones are related (e.g., the Romance languages) and why? Which languages borrow words or phrases from other languages? Which is likely to be most widely spoken?

Is there a "trade language" that facilitates commerce between countries that don't speak the same tongue? Is there a "universal language" spoken by educated or noble persons, as Latin was in the Middle Ages?

Specific Country(s) History
How accessible is this area? What natural features mark the borders? Who are the neighboring countries/peoples and what are they like?

Why did people settle in this country in the first place -- strategic location, trade route, water transport, minerals, good farming, etc.? Have things changed much since, or do they still depend on whatever brought them in the first place?

How do the weapons of this country compare with those of surrounding cities and countries? Have there been recent innovations that may upset the balance of power, or is everyone more or less equal?

Who are the rivals or enemies of this country? How close are they physically? How powerful?

Who are the heroes and villains of each country's history (e.g., Washington and Lincoln in the U.S.; Henry V in England, etc.)? Why are they heroes/villains and what do this say about the country and the people who admire them?

How many people are there in this country? How does this compare with world population? What is considered a small town/large town/city in terms of number of people?

How diverse is the population of this country -- how many different races (human or non-human), creeds, etc. normally live in various cities and towns in this country? In what percentages?

Is population shifting from rural to urban, south to north, mountains to coast, etc.? Why -- invasion, plague, gold rush, etc.? What effects has this had on the places being left? The places gaining people?

Is magic legal here? All magic, or only some types? Do laws vary widely from country to country, or is the attitude generally similar?

What does this country import? Export? How important is trade to the economy? How is currency exchange handled, and by whom? What is the system of coinage, and who mints it?

Which peoples/countries/races have been in conflict in the recent past? Why? When and why was the most recent war? Who won?

Which peoples/countries/races fought, allied, traded, or were traditional rivals? Where are there still hard feelings about old events?

How much of the country is farmland? Forest? Desert? Mountains? Plains?

What are the primary crops (e.g., potatoes, cotton, tobacco, coffee, rice, peanuts, wheat, sugarcane, etc.)? Are any grown mainly for export? What crops can not be grown here because of the soil, climate, or for other reasons?

What water resources available, and for what uses (a mill wheel requires flowing water, i.e., river or stream; irrigation needs a large, dependable water source like a lake or large river: etc.)?

What wild animals, actual or imaginary, live in this area? Are any of them potentially useful -- e.g., for fur, whale oil, hides, magical ingredients, hat feathers?

Which animals, actual or imaginary, are commonly domesticated in this area? Which aren't here, but are elsewhere? (Example: water buffalo in India vs. oxen in Europe vs. camels in desert areas.)

How do most of the citizens make their living -- farming, fishing, trade, manufacturing? Do non-humans tend to take up different trades from humans? Are they legally limited to certain trades?