Instant World Builder

by DungeonMastering.com

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Table of contents

Foreword .............................................................................. 3 Introduction .......................................................................... 4 Ma s ..................................................................................... ! Ins iration ............................................................................ " Data ...................................................................................... 1# Starting sma$$ ........................................................................ 1% &'in(ing big ......................................................................... 14 Pat's ..................................................................................... 1" )o$or commentary ................................................................ 1* +etting caug't u in detai$s ................................................. %#

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Foreword

I rea$$y $i(e wor$d bui$ding and must 'a,e s ent 'undreds of 'ours of t'at art of t'e D-D 'obby in my $ife. I 'a,e in,ested a $ot of my time and (now$edge in t'is ro.ect.

&'e

Instant

/or$d

0ui$der

Pro.ect

was

origina$$y

ub$is'ed

on

DungeonMastering.com. &'e wrote eig't artic$es and t'en unofficia$$y added a nint'. &'ey are a$$ bund$ed toget'er 'ere wit' a few e1tra ideas t'at I gat'ered from t'e gaming community. &'is document is s'ort and dense wit' information2 ti s2 and ideas. I tru$y 'o e you wi$$ find my t'oug'ts on wor$d3bui$ding 'e$ fu$ and entertaining.

Suggestions and comments are a$ways we$come.

-Yax yax@dungeonmastering.com www.DungeonMastering.com

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Introduction

W at is t e Instant World Builder !ro"ect#

&'e D-D Instant /or$d 0ui$der Pro.ect focuses on % goa$s4

)reate a mind3b$owing D-D cam aign setting. 5ot s end anytime doing it!

&'at's rig't4 (ic(ing bac(2 b$owing minds. &'ey seem to be contradictory goa$s. /e$$ t'ey are2 but com romises can be made. 6ust $i(e t'e Instant )am aign 0ui$der2 t'is ro.ect wi$$ suggest ways to sa,e time w'i$e s'a ing a uni7ue and stimu$ating en,ironment.

T e $rere%uisites

None. &'is ro.ect wi$$ 'e$ a$$ dungeon masters.

8owe,er. If you9re .ust underta(ing t'e dungeon master rofession2 :ou mig't be best ser,ed by using a ub$is'ed cam aign setting2 and maybe a
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ub$is'ed ad,enture to get your feet wet2 see w'at your $ayers $i(e and w'at your strengt's and wea(nesses are as a dungeon master.

&riginal Instant World Builder articles

:ou can read a$$ t'e artic$es in t'e origina$ format by going to t'e Instant /or$d 0ui$der 'ome age.

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Ma$s

Drawing ma s for a new cam aign mig't be my fa,orite DM acti,ity. It9s w'at I start wit' w'en I design wor$ds and cam aigns. I am usua$$y moti,ated2 ins ired and a$ways sur rised to see t'e $ot 'oo(s t'at arise during ma 3drawing.

;nfortunate$y I can9t $et myse$f do too muc' ma 3drawing ot'erwise I wou$d ne,er get around to doing anyt'ing e$se. So 'ere are a few t'oug'ts on creating ma s.

Write on t e ma$

It sa,es time to write notes direct$y on t'e ma . It a$$ows for a better wor( f$ow if you don9t 'a,e to write on % different s'eets or documents. For t'ose of you w'o are artistica$$y inc$ined it mig't not be fun because too muc' writing on t'e ma ma(es for an ug$y fina$ roduct. 0ut you9$$ be t'e on$y one $oo(ing at t'e ma so a $ot of time can be sa,ed by not caring about t'e $oo(s of t'e ma .

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'et t e $layers and t eir c aracters wor( on t e ma$

=ne of t'e best wor$ds I9,e created was a$most com $ete$y drawn by a $ayer. /'en t'e arty wou$d e1 $ore an un(nown area I wou$d draw a ,ery roug' co y of my ma and $et t'e cartogra 'er of t'e grou co y it and add detai$s.

>s t'e $ayers tra,e$ed t'e wor$d t'e ma wou$d e1 and and get ric'er 3 t'e c$imate2 t'e ty e of creatures encountered2 odd $aces t'ey wanted to e1 $ore2 sites of t'eir great ,ictories2 w'ere t'ey got owned by a red dragon2 w'ate,er. &'e end resu$t was a ma 1# times ric'er t'an t'e one I origina$$y drew2 and it was fair$y accurate.

Note: I wrote an article on drawing dungeon maps that could also apply to drawing world maps.

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Ins$iration

)reating a ric' D-D wor$d and cam aign setting is a daunting tas(. Is it e,en ossib$e to com $ete suc' a tas(? Probab$y not. 0ut it is ossib$e to create wor$ds big enoug' and ric' enoug' for one arty of ad,enturers. Since wor$d bui$ding can be an intimidating acti,ity to underta(e2 I t'oug't I9d s'are some ways to get um ed u about wor$d bui$ding.

To$ )* ways to get ins$ired for world building

1.

Watc a mo+ie. :ou wi$$ find coo$ settings and en,ironments in most mo,ies. 5ot .ust fantasy e ics. I recent$y watc'ed Pans Labyrinth w'ic' is a great grown3u fab$e. I seem to remember Where dreams may come9s wor$d 'ad a2 er2 dreamy fee$ to it. ,ead boo(s. >ctua$$y you don9t e,en need to read o$d boo(s. 6ust read ages or c'a ters of boo(s you9,e a$ready read and stea$ ideas. -it down and write. Sto is fun. :ou9$$ 'a,e a b$ast. rocrastinating! 6ust sit down. /or$d creation

%.

3.

4.

.et wit t e $layers and create c aracters. &'ere9s not'ing wrong wit' 'o$ding a first game before you $an anyt'ing. ,ead t e Dungeon Master .uide. &'e DM+ 'as 1# great ages @in c'a ter !A of crunc'y wor$d3bui$ding detai$s. It cou$d get t'e ideas

!.

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f$owing.
<.

Borrow from fluffy ,!.s. I 'a,en9t $ayed t'at many different CP+s 3 if you count a$$ of /'ite /o$f9s stuff as one. 0ut ot'er CP+ setting $i(e t'e /or$d of Dar(ness2 or /ar'ammer 'a,e some great ideas and conce ts waiting to be borrowed. ,emember your tri$s and tra+els 3 es ecia$$y usefu$ if you $an on running a tolkienes ue @new word!Atra,e$ odyssey. Sometimes t'ere are detai$s we can add to a game because we 'a,e seen t'em wit' our own eyes. >nd detai$s definite$y add to a wor$d9s o,era$$ badassness @anot'er new word!A. /s( your friends for ideas 3 maybe from t'eir tra,e$ing e1 eriences in foreign and e1otic $aces. Watc t e Tra+el 0etwor(. I t'in( you get t'e w'o$e tra,e$ing idea. your $layers w at (ind of game t ey want to $lay. &'at mig't for ideas on forums. I9m not t'e on$y one wit' enoug' free time a ma$ or add to your e1isting ma . I was reading =rson Scott 'e$ you c'oose some of t'e features of t'e newborn wor$d.

".

B.

*.

1#./s(

11./s(

to ta$( about D-D! I discuss on /iDards9 officia$ D-D forums.

1%.Draw

)ard9s !ow to write science "iction and "antasy and I was $easant$y sur rised to read t'at 'e dood$es ma s and if t'e ma intrigues 'im 'e ma(es a story around t'e ma . If it9s a good tec'ni7ue for t'e aut'or of #nders $ame2 it9s good enoug' for you too!

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.at ering Data

:ou cou$d s end wee(s gat'ering information about t'e wor$d you9re creating 3 o$tica$ system2 $e,e$ of magic2 c$imate2 fauna2 'ow awesome red dragons are2 etc. So 'ow do you determine w'at is ,a$uab$e information and w'at is .ust irre$e,ant f$uff?

.at er data for your $layers

Since a$$ t'e information about t'e wor$d you9re creating wi$$ e,entua$$y be un$oaded on your $ayers t'e detai$s of your wor$d s'ou$d matter to t'em and t'eir c'aracters 3 you need to ma(e sure t'at you find a way for t'at information to be of ,a$ue to your $ayers.

T e coolness factor

I9m a$ways sur rised w'en I read my $ayers9 notes to see w'at t'ey t'oug't was im ortant. Eery often t'ey9$$ remember w'at t'ey t'oug't was coo$2 uni7ue2 or w'at t'ey t'in( I t'in( is im ortant 3 'urray for meta3gaming! So if you want your wor$d bui$ding wor( to ay off ma(e sure you inc$ude some uni7ue and coo$ ideas and conce ts in it. P'i$ 3 t'e )'atty DM 3 'as
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b$udgeoned 'is readers wit' t'e ,ery2 er2 coo$ ru$e of coo$.

Build on assum$tions

&'ere9s no oint in bui$ding a w'o$e wor$d from scratc'. :our $ayers wi$$ assume a $ot. For e1am $e2 my $ayers wi$$ assume t'at t'ere are a$ways gob$ins or (obo$ds to be found2 t'at dragons are rare2 t'at t'e c$imate is tem erate2 and t'at t'ey9$$ get e1tra FP if t'ey ay for t'e iDDa. 0y bui$ding on your $ayers assum tions2 you9$$ sa,e a $ot of time.

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-tarting small 1 t e inside out tec ni%ue

&'is tec'ni7ue is a good way to (ee t'e wor$d bui$ding time to a minimum. In a nuts'e$$ it consists of wor(ing on a sma$$ area w'ere t'e P)s wi$$ be ad,enturing in t'e first few sessions and t'en e1 and outward in a$$ directions.

2stablis ing t e standards

:ou 'a,e to s'ow your $ayers w'at your wor$d is about. I be$ie,e it ma(es sense for t'e starting area to be a norma$ town or ,i$$age. It9s a $ot of wor( to ma(e your $ayers fee$ and understand w'at your new wor$d is $i(e. &'ere9s a ris( of information o,er$oad if you te$$ $ayers w'at t'e wor$d s'ou$d be $i(e but t'e first few sessions are in a com $ete$y different en,ironment. &'e $ayers wi$$ sti$$ be t'ri$$ed e,en t'oug' t'ey start t'eir ad,enturing career in a generic 'am$et.

2x$anding outward in almost all directions

=nce you fee$ confident t'at t'e $ayers are immersed in t'e new wor$d2 it9s time to figure out w'ic' arts of t'e wor$d to create ne1t. Introduce rumors2
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$egends or myt's about great eo $e2 owerfu$ artifacts2 and forgotten $aces. 5o need to $an anyt'ing. 6ust introduce random rumors and interesting stories and watc' your $ayers9 reactions. &'ey9$$ a$ways be more ent'usiastic about a few of t'e ossibi$ities you9,e introduced in t'e game. 6ust go for w'ate,er your $ayers fee$ $i(e doing 3 e1 and in t'ese directions.

Doesn9t it ma(e sense for t'em to c'oose t'e goa$ of t'e cam aign t'ey9re $aying in?

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-tarting small. T in(ing big.

Designing a sma$$ area to start a cam aign is a great way to sa,e time2 but t'e cam aign sti$$ needs a grand $an. So w'at9s t'e big icture?

W at (ind of cam$aign are you $laying#

In my current cam aign2 most of t'e action ta(es $ace in a big city. My $ayers sometimes ma(e fun of me by saying t'eir c'aracters wi$$ $ea,e t'e city and ne,er come bac(! &'ey (now t'at t'e rest of t'e wor$d isn9t designed as t'oroug'$y as t'at city.

=f course t'e P)s $ea,e t'e city 7uite often and t'ey 'a,e tra,e$ed t'e w'o$e wor$d but t'ey a$ways come bac( because4

1. &'at9s t'e (ind of game we9re $aying. &'e best $ot 'oo(s come from t'e city. %. &'ey (now t'at I can9t ossib$y create a w'o$e wor$d and sti$$ con,ince my gir$friend I9m not t'at muc' of a gee(.

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T e Ma$

So (ee in mind t'e (ind of game you and your $ayers want to $ay and don9t bot'er wit' t'e areas t'at don9t fit your cam aign.

3ow big s ould t e big $icture be#

I t'in( t'e grand $an s'ou$d be to 'a,e a good idea of w'at t'e wor$d around t'e P)s wi$$ fee$ $i(e. :ou (now you 'a,e enoug' materia$ w'en4

:ou can come u wit' rumors and $ot 'oo(s on t'e f$y 3 and t'ey fit t'e cam aign. :ou (now w'at (ind of mood or sty$e of $ay eac' region of t'e wor$d ca$$s for. &'e $ayers wi$$ fee$ confident t'ey can go anyw'ere because you $oo( $i(e you (now w'at you9re ta$(ing about. :ou 'a,en9t seen anot'er 'uman being in wee(s because you were drawing a ma 3 a big ma .

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Disclaimer

/or$d bui$ding is addicti,e. )reating t'e best cam aign setting e,er can rea$$y eat u a $ot of your free time. I rea$$y be$ie,e t'at starting sma$$ is t'e best and w'en you 'a,e a few gaming sessions $anned you can switc' to t'in(ing u t'e rest of t'e wor$d.

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Wor(ing wit $at s

Most 7uests re7uire t'e P)s to tra,e$. Sometimes t'e .ourney from point % to point B is an integra$ art of t'e ad,enture. Sometimes it9s .ust an une,entfu$ .ourney. Some .ourneys 'a,e to be com $eted many times4 tra,e$ing from one city to anot'er for e1am $e. :ou can sa,e a $ot of wor$d bui$ding time by focusing around t'e at's t'e P)s are $i(e$y to ta(e.

!lot oo(s for t e "ourney

Instead of creating a random $ot 'oo( t'at t'e P)s mig't not care about2 it can be interesting to create a $ot 'oo( around a road t'e P)s 3 or 5P)s 3 use often. &'e ob,ious e1am $e t'at comes to mind is a road w'ere merc'ants are consistent$y ambus'ed by 'ig'way robbers.

:ou can introduce t'e $ot 'oo(s .ust before t'e P)s $ea,e on an ad,enture2 or maybe ear$ier in t'e cam aign so you can bui$d 'y e. G,en if you don9t $an anyt'ing a random rumor of t'ie,es or monsters around t'e road wi$$ (ee your $ayers on t'eir toes.

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,andom encounters >ren9t random encounters a great way to sa,e time? &'ey9re t'e a e1 of non3 re aration. 0y (ee ing t'e random encounters rea$$y random 3 easy2 a ro riate2 or im ossib$e GH 3 you can (ee t'e $ayers guessing and combat is a$ways fun.

&'e dice ne,er 'a,e t'e $ast word t'oug'. :ou s'ou$d a$ways ,eto random encounters t'at wou$dn't ma(e sense in a scene.

P&: I wrote an article on why I like to roll "or random treasure too.

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T e color commentator

&wo of t'e c'aracters in my ongoing cam aign once met an 5P) 3 com $ete$y im ro,ised at t'e time 3 w'o stuc( around and became a fan of t'e % P)s. &'e 5P) was a bard and wou$d tra,e$ t'e wor$d singing raise for t'e % intre id ad,enturers. &'e P)s wou$d regu$ar$y bum into t'e bard and t'ey wou$d ta$( about t'eir ad,entures.

!eo$le li(e to tal( about t emsel+es

/'o are you to (ee t'em from doing it! Het t'e $ayers reminisce and ta$( about t'eir dramatic ,ictories and incredib$e fig'ts 3 e,en encourage it! &'ey9$$ fee$ $i(e su erstars.

&'at 5P) w'o $i(es to ta$( to and about t'e P)s is a$so a great way to bring bac( o$d $ot 'oo(s t'at didn9t wor( t'e first time around or information you $anted t'at mig't 'a,e been forgotten.

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,egional c aracteristics and generic 0!4 %uir(s

> great way to add f$a,our to a region of a wor$d you9re creating is to come u wit' an accent for a$$ 5P)s 3 or any ot'er easy3to3ro$e $ay 7uir(. For t'ose of us w'o aren9t good at accents t'ere are e1 ressions. It9s easy to decide on a few t'ematic e1 ressions t'at t'e in'abitants of a region use. For e1am $e2 you cou$d easi$y name 5P)s wit' Coman sounding names and 'a,e t'em use a few e1 ressions from t'is $ist of $atin e1 ressions. It9s easy on t'e DM. It9s easy on t'e $ayers. >nd it adds a 'e(ne(sais( uoi to t'e cam aign setting!

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Don5t get too caug t u$ in t e details

&'at's it! :ou 'a,e a $ot of guide$ines and ideas in t'is document to get you going. :ou'$$ bui$d a dense2 ric' cam aign setting and you'$$ 'a,e a b$ast $aying D-D.

&'e main

itfa$$ of wor$d bui$ding is t'e first one I mentionned in t'is

document4 getting caug't u in t'e detai$s. Instant wor$d bui$ding is a$$ about c'anne$ing your energy.

If you fee$ $i(e you're wor(ing too muc' to re are your games2 t'en you can or contact me. I'$$ be 'a y to gi,e a few ti s s ecific to your cam aign.

I sincere$y 'o e you'$$ find your D-D $ife more en.oyab$e now t'at you (now 'ow to create a wor$d )instantly*.

-Yax yax@dungeonmastering.com www.DungeonMastering.com

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