Join me as I stream for a bit at 2pm Eastern on https://www.twitch.tv/ofgodsandgamemasters/ . We'll be chatting about elves: their mythology and folklore origins, their role in fantasy and #ttrpg , and come up with some cool varieties for #Worldbuilding.
#worldbuilding question: What are some niche hobbies in your world? People get up to all kinds of wonderfully odd things in our world; what's your world's equivalents of Magic the Gathering or Ren faires or bonsai? #fantasy#sciencefiction#rpg#ttrpg
#Worldbuilding prompt 6/15/2024 On this day in 1215, the Magna Carta was signed, placing limits on royal power in England and putting in writing that even the King was not above the law. Do any nations in your world have such a document? What rebellion or revolt led to it? #ttrpg
There's four styles of fiction I am interested in. Space Opera, Cyberpunk, Sword & Sorcery, and Dark Fantasy.
Sword & Sorcery is the one I really want to work on for a videogame, as it's the one where you can indulge the most in lush and wondrous natural environments.
But it's also the one with the least interesting things to explore and to say. Cursing the cruel, uncaring gods has been done. Dark magic corrupts, no surprises there... What's left to explore?
#Worldbuilding prompt 6/12/24
On this day in 1701, the British Parliament passed the Act of Settlement, codifying the rules of royal succession still in use in the UK. What are the rules of succession for your nobles and royalty? Have they led to civil war? #ttrpg
Everyone can recognize a fantastical setting with a great scope.
But what does it actually mean for a setting to have great depth?
I am a massive Star Wars (90s) EU fan, and while it is hugely evocative, it doesn't really have much depth. No matter how many special cases and exceptions to the norm dozens of writers stick on to it, the Jedi and the Force are really very simple.
Does Bloodborne have depth? Or is that an illusion created by (deliberately) incomplete information?
On today's Ranger's Roost, if people are around, I'd love to brainstorm up a $10 Patreon tier. I've got plans to launch it with a cool giveaway, and I want to make sure we keep people around: https://www.twitch.tv/jumprangers
#worldbuilding prompt 5/30/24
On this day in 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake as a heretic. What well known people were killed by religious leaders in your world for heresy? #ttrpg
#Worldbuilding Prompt 5/29/24 On this day in 1453, the Byzantine Empire and the city of Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire. What great empires of your world fell specifically due to war rather than disaster, with their cities and people absorbed by another power? #ttrpg
#worldbuilding prompt 5/28/24
On this day in 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed. Among other things this led to the Trail of Tears. What indigenous populations have been brutalized and displaced in your world to make way for 'civilized' colonists? #ttrpg
Doing some #worldbuilding for my #kaendor videogame and defining the laws and mechanisms by which magic works.
I created something that looks logical, consistent, and functional. But there's just no interesting consequences or questions that result from that, which would set off compelling stories or mysteries.
That's very much useless worldbuilding.
It adds information to process, but does not add anything.
With the recent Northern Lights occurrence, I'm #worldbuilding thinking about all the the weird beautiful stuff aberrant Aurora Borealis could represent in #TTRPG settings and games. What kind of amazing discoveries does it hold? What terrifying truths hide behind its beauty?
New on my blog is the second half of my top 10 imaginary worlds. I get a bit deeper this time (or go on a bit more!), as these are ones that have shaped me as a writer.