Fantasy worlds - Writers Forum

Jukeboxhero · 06-06-2003, 05:47 PM

just curious about to start work on a new story figured I'd change worlds. My previous world grew over many years of playing frp's. So any tips on the creation of the fantasy world.
Should I just begin writing and see what develops or should I create the world first then start the story?

Chrispian · 06-06-2003, 11:21 PM

Not bad for shorter stories, but I think if you want to build a bigger world you should maybe do a "bible". I have one for each of my worlds and I just jot down facts I think of about the world. Just a thought though

Jukeboxhero · 06-07-2003, 02:40 PM

I like that Idea alot.
Do you have maps for your worlds or just notes in the Bible's.
I tended not to go for paper maps just kept it all in my head. Trouble is readers tend to like maps of worlds.

Csira · 06-07-2003, 03:13 PM

Well, I usually keep both: notes for my world and map. The only reason I made a world map is because it tends to get confusing, for me personally, to keep it all in my head. I would lose the sense of direction very easily, not saying that you would, but that is why I chose to draw and jot it all down.

Hehe. I am so fanatical about the different countries in my world that I even distinguished each fashion taste (boy, did I do a lot of research) ^^;;

I wish you luck on your new world.

Jukeboxhero · 06-07-2003, 05:26 PM

see thats the problem right there. It's all the research that worlds require.
I know that to make the world believable u gotta put the hours in but it gets too mundane there should be a site for demographs and such.

Probably get snowed under with url's now.

Glaucomys sabrinus · 06-07-2003, 10:03 PM

This is a GM page, but it might be helpful:
http://www.irony.com/webtools.html
There used to be great beginner forms for characters and settings on doujiart.com, but the site disappeared...

DragonReborn · 06-12-2003, 10:29 PM

I say you might create a bible, as they say, but don't let that keep you back from your imagination. I used to create worlds like that, and so when I started writing, I looked at them for my whole book. But, instead, if you get a new, cooler idea, don't be afraid of changing your world.

MoonHunter · 07-01-2003, 06:51 AM

In gaming we call it a world pack, but it works the same as a writers bible. The Gamers have taken all the setting development tools that writers have used and helped to refine them. If you are a gamer, check out all the world creation links and sites. If you are not a gamer, the basics are still valuable for you... after all we got all our tips originally from writers.

http://forums.rpghost.com/showthread...&threadid=5929 is a recent posting on the subject... if you scroll down some.

This is a link that gives some of my best world building advice.
http://www.openroleplaying.org/tools...max=65&start=1

Just some help.

Kitten Courna · 07-01-2003, 09:15 AM

Now here's somethign that will be less helpful than anything else. I know that when I make world, I start wherever my characters start. I think of things that they would know, and habits that they would have, then put reasoning behind them to flesh them out. When my characters travel, I travel with them, and I write down all the new things that are seen, then later go back and put reasoning behind them. Often, I save maps until the end, because by then I'm so familiar with my world in my head, that I only make the map for other people, and it won't hinder me while I write. It's not helpful because it's difficult to keep so much in your head, but it gets easier as it all become second nature. If you do this, it will also take a long time for the world to really flesh out, so you need to not be afraid of rewrites.

If you want a realistic world, I would suggest you spend some time in it yourself.

Yep, about as helpful as a hockey stick in a racquetball court.

--Kitten

Chrispian · 07-01-2003, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonHunter

In gaming we call it a world pack, but it works the same as a writers bible. The Gamers have taken all the setting development tools that writers have used and helped to refine them. If you are a gamer, check out all the world creation links and sites. If you are not a gamer, the basics are still valuable for you... after all we got all our tips originally from writers.

Just some help.

I'm glad to see another gamer here on the site. RPG'ing is what lead me to writing in the first place. RPG'ers, I think, have the best idea of how to make a character and build a world. Not all of them can tell a story, but that's another issue

. I use many of my RPG tools to construct worlds and characters for my stories. One of these days, I'll even finish my RPG.

Jukeboxhero · 07-01-2003, 01:47 PM

I'm a gamer too thats where my first world game from just wanted tips for new one.
All the above have been to ggreat. I've actually just finished the geographic map need to flesh it with cities etc.
Again cheers.

Bartleby · 07-01-2003, 02:27 PM

The hardest thing about world building especially fantasy or sci fi world building is that everything has to be cut from the whole closth so to speak. You need a bit of everything detailed, social customs, rules for magic, ideas about fashion, politics, economics, and even different ways of speech for different races cultures and the like. Chrispian's idea of a world Bible is an excellent idea, that I myself have used both as a gamer and a writer. But more important than even that is to do as Kitten suggests and try to work from each characters point of view as well. Remember that characters have their own prejudices, points of views and opinions that may not mesh with the "facts" in your Bible. But those are just a few of my ideas.

Chrispian · 07-01-2003, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukeboxhero

I'm a gamer too thats where my first world game from just wanted tips for new one.
All the above have been to ggreat. I've actually just finished the geographic map need to flesh it with cities etc.
Again cheers.

I know Bart's a gamer too. I sense a trend!

Jukeboxhero · 07-01-2003, 05:20 PM

new thread needed me thinks