50 questions to create a fantasy world
1) What ethnicities exist in the world?
2) What social behaviour do the different ethnic groups exhibit towards each other, and to what extent does racism exist?
3) If there are fantastic races, what are they? How are they related to each other? What cultural characteristics does each race possess?
4) What is the technological level of the different civilisations?
5) What kind of lighting do the inhabitants use, has the light bulb been invented, is there such a thing as street lighting?
6) What territories exist and how are they divided?
7) What are the politics of each kingdom?
8) Who are the top leaders in each region and what system of government do they use?
9) What wars have there been, are there or will there be?
10) What types of transport are there and which is the most commonly used?
11) What religion or religions do the inhabitants profess?
12) Is there religious fanaticism and do sects exist?
13) On what is the economy of each territory based?
14) What type of currency do the different regions use?
15) Is money important to the point of ruling the world?
16) What kind of trade exists in each territory?
17) What kind of trade relations exist between the different territories?
18) What is socially considered a respectable trade and what is a despicable trade?
19) Does magic exist, what kind of magic, what or who makes its existence possible?
20) What language (or languages) do the inhabitants speak?
21) What is the power structure in the society? What are the social classes?
22) What festivals are there?
23) How do the lower classes enjoy themselves and what about the nobility?
24) What traditions does each culture have?
25) What behaviour is acceptable and unacceptable in each culture?
26) What philosophy do the people of each region share?
27) What level have they reached in science?
28) How advanced is medicine, is there penicillin, and what about vaccines?
29) What fauna is there in the world?
30) What flora is there in the world?
31) How have humans interfered with ecosystems?
32) What calendar do they use?
33) What is the world beyond the planet like? What has astronomy discovered? Is there a sun and a moon?
34) At what point in history is the story set?
35) What happened before?
36) What can happen next?
37) Are there vices such as alcohol, drugs and prostitution? If so, are people in the habit of resorting to them?
38) What kind of ethics govern society?
39) Does the printing press exist?
40) What means of communication is used?
41) How does education work, are there schools and universities?
42) How easy or difficult is it to get a good education?
43) What kind of cultural wealth does each country have?
44) What is the general culture of ordinary people?
45) What great archaeological discoveries have been made, and were there any unknown ancient civilisations?
46) What is the mentality of ordinary people? Are they tolerant or closed-minded?
47) Which great historical figures are revered or hated in each region?
48) Which countries have the greatest military power and the greatest economic power?
49) How do the main characters in the story relate to all of the above? What do they do? Do they have a god? What social class are they in? What social behaviour do they share?
50) Do you like the world you have created?
You can find more information on the Spanish blog of "inteligencia narrativa"
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