Loading...
Read through all sixteen domains first. Then choose the three to five your story depends on most and fill those in fully. For the rest, one line each is enough. You do not need all 64 parts before you start writing.
Answer The World once, for the whole setting. Answer Livelihood, Society and Culture once for each people or nation, and again for a single city if your story needs it.
The World
Cosmology
Origin
The creation story or scientific explanation for the existence of the universe.
The Sky
The sun, moons and stars, and the day, the year and the seasons they give the world.
Deities
The gods, goddesses, or cosmic forces active in the universe.
Afterlife
What happens after death.
Mechanics
Natural Laws
The fundamental physical laws that govern the universe.
Reality
What exists beyond the physical world: other planes, dimensions and the supernatural.
Magic
The rules and application of supernatural forces or abilities.
Technology
The level of technological advancement and its impact on society.
Go deeper: Magic System Checklist · Ultimate List of Combat Spells
Geography
Lands and Seas
Where the land and the water are: continents, islands, oceans, rivers and coasts, how large they are, and how far apart.
Terrain
The variety of landscapes, from mountains and deserts to forests and plains.
Climate
The overall weather patterns and their effects on the world.
Landmarks
Exceptionally recognizable natural features.
Go deeper:
Read the rest for free
Enter your email and we'll send you a sign-in link. It unlocks this page and all 78 free tools. No password.
Read through all sixteen domains first. Then choose the three to five your story depends on most and fill those in fully. For the rest, one line each is enough. You do not need all 64 parts before you start writing.
Answer The World once, for the whole setting. Answer Livelihood, Society and Culture once for each people or nation, and again for a single city if your story needs it.
The World
Cosmology
Origin
The creation story or scientific explanation for the existence of the universe.
The Sky
The sun, moons and stars, and the day, the year and the seasons they give the world.
Deities
The gods, goddesses, or cosmic forces active in the universe.
Afterlife
What happens after death.
Mechanics
Natural Laws
The fundamental physical laws that govern the universe.
Reality
What exists beyond the physical world: other planes, dimensions and the supernatural.
Magic
The rules and application of supernatural forces or abilities.
Technology
The level of technological advancement and its impact on society.
Go deeper: Magic System Checklist · Ultimate List of Combat Spells
Geography
Lands and Seas
Where the land and the water are: continents, islands, oceans, rivers and coasts, how large they are, and how far apart.
Terrain
The variety of landscapes, from mountains and deserts to forests and plains.
Climate
The overall weather patterns and their effects on the world.
Landmarks
Exceptionally recognizable natural features.
Go deeper: Inkarnate World Map Aesthetic Guide · 150+ Seamless Biome & Parchment Textures
Ecology
Biomes
The distinct ecological communities determined by climate, flora, and fauna.
Flora and Fauna
The plants and animals of the world, including any invented creatures.
Peoples
The thinking species or races of the world: what their bodies are like, how long they live, and where they are found.
Adaptation
How organisms change over time to survive in their environments.
Go deeper: Universal Biome Model
Livelihood
Resources
Made Goods
What people make, how they make it, and the famous objects among them.
Natural Goods
Materials and resources obtained directly from the natural environment.
Energy
Sources and forms of power used for work, heat, and electricity.
Scarcity
The limited availability and strategic location of resources and its implications.
Go deeper: Ultimate RPG Gear & Prices Reference (Great Net Equipment List)
Infrastructure
Transportation
Systems and methods for moving people and goods.
Communication
How information is conveyed across distances.
Public Services
Systems in place for the welfare and convenience of the public.
Health
Sickness and injury, who treats them, and how well.
Settlements
Founding
Origins and reasons behind the establishment of communities.
Layout
The kinds of settlement, how large they are, how they are laid out, and their notable buildings.
Population
How many people there are, where they live, and where they are moving.
Borders
Geographical or political boundaries defining territories.
Go deeper: City Size & Population Models · 35 Fantasy Cities & Urban Adventure Hooks · Ultimate List of Place & Thing Names (Premium Toolkit)
Economics
Commerce
The buying, selling, and trading systems within and between societies.
Wealth
The distribution and accumulation of resources and capital.
Currency
The medium of exchange for goods and services.
Professions
The variety of occupations available to individuals based on the society's economy.
Go deeper: 200+ Medieval Castle Professions · Ultimate RPG Gear & Prices Reference (Great Net Equipment List)
Society
Politics
Power
The structures and individuals that hold authority and influence.
Process
How decisions are made and executed within governmental systems.
Law
The laws, who enforces them, how the accused are judged, and how the guilty are punished.
Diplomacy
The management of relations and negotiations between different entities.
Go deeper: The Faction Design Blueprint (Premium Toolkit) · 7 Directions of Leaders
Class
Stratification
The division of society into different social classes.
Status
The social standing or prestige of an individual or group. Factors include lineage, health, age, sex, race, wealth, technology, magic, etc.
Mobility
The ability to move between different social strata.
Discrimination
Unfair treatment based on class, race, gender, etc.
Affiliation
Family
Family, marriage, who counts as kin, and what is expected of men, women and children.
Factions
Groups within larger communities with specific agendas or interests: government, business, community, religious, political, criminal, etc.
Identity
The sense of self and belonging among individuals or groups.
Warfare
Who fights, with what weapons, and how wars are waged and ended.
Go deeper: The Faction Design Blueprint (Premium Toolkit) · 12 Qualities of Effective Organizations · Dunbar's Number of Social Groups · 5 Ecologies of Human Belonging
History
Epochs
Distinctive periods that define the major phases of world history.
Rise and Fall
The rise and fall of dominant political entities, their influence, and the movement of wealth.
Turning Points
Key events that changed the world: wars, disasters, migrations and discoveries.
Lore
The foundational myths, legends, and recorded history that shape cultural identities.
Culture
Religion
Teachings
What the faith teaches about the world and how to live, and the sacred writings that hold it.
Practice
Worship, ceremonies and rites, and the places where they are held.
Clergy
Who leads the faith, how they are chosen, and what power they hold.
Heresy
How alternate beliefs are handled by the dominant religious power structure.
Go deeper: 9 Stages of Spiritual Growth
Values
Legacies
What societies aspire to be remembered for by future generations, and what is most remembered about those who came before.
Ethics
The moral principles that guide behaviors and decisions.
Priorities
What societies deem most important and worthy of attention or resources: arts, sciences, myths, health, work, freedom, etc.
Knowledge
What counts as true, who studies and teaches it, what is written down, and what is kept secret.
Go deeper: Character Values Wheel (Premium Toolkit) · 5 Moral Spectrums · 8 Modes of Knowing
Customs
Tradition
The inherited, established, or customary patterns of thought, action, and behavior: holidays, observances, the calendar, greetings, hospitality, etc.
Language
The system of communication used by a particular community or country.
Life Stages
How birth, childhood, coming of age, marriage, old age and death are marked.
Taboo
Prohibitions or restrictions on certain actions, behaviors, or discussions within a society, and the consequences for deviancy.
Go deeper: 7 Levels of Linguistics · Ultimate List of Phrases & Idioms
Daily Life
Food
What people eat and drink, how it is prepared, and how meals are shared.
Dress
Clothing, hair and adornment, and what they show about the wearer.
Homes
Where and how people live: houses, building materials and household life.
Arts and Leisure
The arts, games and sports people enjoy, and what they are for.
Go deeper: 25 Categories of Hobbies
Related Resources
The Faction Design Blueprint
A systematic approach to building organizations that drive conflict and populate your world. Design...
PremiumUltimate List of Place & Thing Names
Find the perfect name for any place or thing with this curated list of evocative, memorable, and...
PremiumMagic System Checklist
A checklist for designing a magic system: covers accessibility, cost, effect, and acceptance with...