When we are World Building from scratch, it can become incredibly easy to get stuck in the minute details. Additionally, even if we can end up making sense of our ideas, the complexities of the world’s histories, factions, etc. can be painful to articulate to your friends and players.
The key then is to keep things simple from the start. Here is my formula for World Building from scratch; ask yourself “Geography, Civilization, Factions”:
Geography
(No more than a days travel from where the story starts)
Even if your world has a plethora of cultures, and a myriad selection of varied locales to visit, you need to remember you’re trying to pitch an idea to yourself and others. What do you want your players to see in their mind’s eye?
- Terrain:
Do local roads snake through rolling hills? Does the horizon stretch on across a vast desert? - Biome:
What is the weather like? Have these lands ever seen snow? Have they ever seen tornadoes or typhoons?
Civilization
(Historical parallels are helpful, but don’t be afraid to extrapolate)
If there are humanoids present, what level of technology have they reached? How are spell casters treated? Is magic predominant or a dying art, is it praised or feared? If travelers walk into a town, what do they hear in the streets? What don’t they see in the crowds?
- Technology:
How do people traverse the lands? What kind of weaponry and armor is easily accessible? - Culture:
Does religion play a role in the lives of the people? Is there a standing military, how is it viewed?
Factions
(No more than 3 separate factions)
Make it easy to differentiate the powers that be. Even if there are no clear-cut protagonists, different customs, motivations, etc. make differences easy to explain simple terms. What institution holds sway? What threatens the status-quo?
- Builders:
Is there a faction wanting to make something new? Is it already in charge? How far is it willing to go? - Breakers:
Is there a faction wanting to tear everything down? What happens after? How far is it willing to go?
