30 Days of Worldbuilding

[Adam Levine]

Aaand I'm enjoying this event again.

 

[Juno]

DAY TWELVE - FLORA

Greenery, the forests, the flowers, and the fields. This day asks you to look at a different part of the ecosystem for the generally more sedentary life forms of the world.

You can go at this prompt the same way you went at the Fauna in your world, creating biomes to place these plants. Many times the flora is an important part of the Biome, providing homes and nourishment for the majority of the creatures who walk it. Is a forest anything like a forest without trees? Is a field still a field without grass? It may look more like a desert at that point. When you start weaving the ways these plants fit into the world you may then start weaving more and more creatures from yesterday into these ecosystems, and may create some brand new creatures to fill a need of these organisms. If your world has no bees then what pollinates the flowers? Big questions.

You can also get a head start on future prompts and think about which plants are edible, or have parts of them that are edible. Which plants can be domesticated and grown in a field? Who would bother? What flavor do they have when you bite into them?

Also for your consideration, look into flora that has been pushed to its limits. Yggdrassils in fiction, giant mushrooms, heck one of the Earth's largest living organisms appears on first glance to be a forest full of separate trees, but is instead a single organism, Aspens who are connected by a single root system. Plants can definitely be wild as creatures.

Now go! Grow and…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Desert Stream~]

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9414136&postcount=16
Still need to add some details, but I got quite a few plants done.

 

[Juno]

DAY THIRTEEN - FOOD

The best way to the heart of the people of your world is through their stomach. Not only do you get to design new and exciting dishes but you get to tackle the wonderful world of logistics.

If you look at a meal and think about every component of it, like really think, you may realize that these individual pieces came together from far and wide to get on the plate in front of you. The chicken came from some other state in the United States, the vegetables from others, the spices are from different places in the world, some fruits may have even survived a trip over sea. It's really amazing to think about.

With this in mind, how does a town in your world get their food? Are they more limited to what's locally available and farmed from the nearby fields? Do they trade for some certain products regularly since the town over is much more affluent with animal husbandry? Do they covet rare foods and spices preserved and brought in by passing merchants? Which individuals may be rolling in wealth due to their business in selling spices? How do they preserve and ship these products?

You also get to dip into your Flora and Fauna building to imagine if you haven't already which animals are domesticated for food and which plant life is edible and moreover, which is enough of a staple for it to be significant to the well-being of all the cultures who regularly use them?

Time to get cookin', and…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Adam Levine]

Agh. Some stuff's been going on lately, but now I'm back on track!

 

[Desert Stream~]

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9414136&postcount=17
Yay food

 

[Juno]

DAY FOURTEEN - TECHNOLOGY

Time for science! Or at least figuring out how far the sciences and other studies of your world have pushed it as far as technology goes. This is a question that can get very speculative and central for sci-fi plot, but then more serves to answer basic questions of daily life in others.

There are a lot of implications that come with the level of technology you choose for the cultures in your setting. This can range from medical technology saving lives, to sanitation technology keeping folks from becoming sick in the first place, to communication technology making long distance messages pass through in a flash, to agricultural innovations providing more food more reliably. You may be astounded to learn how recently some innovations have rolled around, and how not too long ago simple conveniences were life and death.

Regarding more speculative technology, you may touch upon concepts that seem like dreams today but might be a reality in the future. These things may even seem like magic, but are gone about in the mundane way that we carry computers in our pockets in the forms of smartphones. Just like tomorrow's subject of Magic however, you will be asked questions about the limits of these technologies. Sometimes the limit is purely cost, where an innovation could do great things, but the materials for it are just too rare and expensive to make this solution viable. Maybe breakthroughs hit a certain limitation that they are seeking to expand upon, such as range or speed of technology. In the meantime, these limitations may even have more mundane but clever work-arounds that reflect the ingenuity of sentient races. The long range deep space communicator helps folks speak between star systems, but it cannot quite reach far enough on its own, so separate relay stations must be set up to extend the signal for example.

Time to be blinded by science, and…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Desert Stream~]

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9417164&postcount=18
Technology is hard when you don't have much :/

 

[Juno]

We're halfway there! This is a fun topic, definitely one I'm going to love getting into later. :)

DAY FIFTEEN - MAGIC

Sleight of hand, arcane arts, time-space disruptions orchestrated by abstract sources, divine will, today is about talking about your world's magic and its sources.

First of all, if your world decidedly does not have magic, whether it's ruled more by fantastical science or mundane rules, then you can definitely still think a bit about magic and how it relates to the beings in your world. Surely some characters within that world have tried to explain the unexplained by some fantastic source. Maybe some decide to convince others that they wield magic to hide their true methods of smoke and mirrors to do incredible things, when the truth is more simple or more clever.

For those who have worlds where magic is real, there is quite a lot to consider and you may be tempted to construct your magic like another scientific force in the world, digging into possibilities and exact functions till your mind pops. Some folks are very good at this, but for others it may feel like a bit of a trap. Always remember that as long as your magic is consistent within the world, it will be believable. Another tip to remaining consistent is using magic as a metaphor. As long as your metaphor stays consistent then so will your magic.

Otherwise there are a ton of resources for how to construct magic in your world and rules that will help you answer all the questions that are raised. They will often bring up common threads that are important "Why hasn't anyone taken over the world with magic?" "Does your magic have a personality all its own?" "What limits magic?" "Where does one obtain the ability to use magic?" etc. etc. I'll post a few but most likely if you google "World building magic" you'll get plenty of results.

Now show me some magic and…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Desert Stream~]

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9418966&postcount=19
Magic woo

 

[Eleanor]

aaaaaa I'm so late

So, I have already started to build a Pokémon region, and I couldn't pass up on this event. I think that there are still some unanswered questions in regards to this world, and this event looks like the perfect opportunity to answer to them and to try to develop this idea even more.
Let's see what I can do in about two months :]

 

[Juno]

aaaaaa I'm so late

So, I have already started to build a Pokémon region, and I couldn't pass up on this event. I think that there are still some unanswered questions in regards to this world, and this event looks like the perfect opportunity to answer to them and to try to develop this idea even more.
Let's see what I can do in about two months :]

Welcome to the MV, we're glad to have you! Definitely not too late to jump in. :D

DAY SIXTEEN - FASHION

The world of fashion is about as varied and deep as any other aspect of your world, with evolution of styles, revolutions in material, and clashing concepts coming together.

This day, of course, isn't just about the high fashion catwalks of your world, it's also about thinking what the more commonfolk wear, or what someone might wear when they attain a higher rank. Sometimes rarity of material denotes value of certain textiles, such as certain dyes and fabrics taking a master craftsman a month or more to create a functional piece, handing down their secret technique from generation to generation.

Different professions and ranks of your civilizations might even wear certain uniforms that serve as a functional distinction from others such as law enforcement or military uniforms. They might even have certain pieces that they wear as a part of the future prompt of Armor, where tabards, tunics, brasards, crests, and other pieces that serve a purpose beyond defense could come into play.

As I said, textiles and the materials required are incredibly important, so maybe take a look at your map or consider domesticated animals when it comes to the easiest and hardest means of creating clothing. Maybe the fanciest of clothing is imported in if your society is big on trade.

Beyond specific fantasy realms though, as creating artificial colors, inks, and dyes becomes easier, sci-fi setting clothing has a lot more to work with, though in the end they may still clutch onto old practices, maintaining the rank of certain pieces of clothing long after they became easier to produce, maybe finding new ways to show off with their material.

Of course there are a few out there with sentient cultures without clothing, but they may still show some dedication to aesthetics, keeping fur groomed, shells polished, or turning to body paint or fur dying as a means to express themselves.

Also heaven forbid you slack on jewelry~

I'm no fashionista, but I'm sure many of you out there are, so get dressed and…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Desert Stream~]

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9420267&postcount=20
Had a fun concept :D

 

[Adam Levine]

Agh! Halfway done!

 

[Juno]

Sorry for the delay! These two topics kinda go hand in hand anyway. :D

DAY SEVENTEEN - ARMS

Really though, today's prompts refer to tools of war, hunting, or self-defense. These can range from swords, guns, laser blasters, cannons, natural defenses built into your race, maybe some offensive forms of magic, and heck even elbow & knee lightsabers.

While thinking about today's prompt, particularly when it comes to war, you should keep tomorrow's today's other prompt in mind since new weapons are invented to circumvent current defenses and new defenses are invented to counter current weapons. Even with the state of the art solutions, you also must keep the cost, availability, and feasibility in mind. If something is exceptionally good it's usually expensive, however when things become cheap to produce, or the funds and resources begin to be more available, then they might just change the face of war.

When it comes to hunting arms, you can think back to the day you answered the prompt about fauna, think which creatures would be hunted, and think how your races would best track and down that creature. The benefit of sentient races over nature is that they can produce a new hunting weapon, but a creature cannot create new defenses as quickly (Or maybe they can, I don't know your world).

Also, some folks are weapon nerds and you can start a fight by suggesting that the longsword was a chump compared to the noble spear, but if you aren't into all that, don't worry, it's your world and sometimes rule of cool can trump reason. This may be answering what your fated hero keeps on their belt to protect themselves, which will most likely become an iconic piece of them, so get flashy if you need to. The iconic weapon of Star Wars, the lightsaber despite as many chances as we take to explain it is still an object of unfeasible fantasy, making sure that we are carried away into a world of fantastic wonder with knights and wise old men, but never letting us forget that this is an advanced world of science fiction as well. While many questions have been answered about how it may work, it was most likely first conceived as an icon of what sort of world this was, even when storm troopers held them in the original drafts.

It's dangerous to go alone, take this and…

GET BUILDING!​

DAY EIGHTEEN - ARMOR

Today it's time to don your armor!

While matching with yesterday's prompts as a means of defending against attack, armor can also cover many other subjects such as forms of protection while working, protection during dangerous situations like kneepads for workers, or helmets for driving vehicles. Even sci fi settings require protection from the cold vacuum of space or stray blasts of radiation while traversing the void.

Regarding practicality, just like with weapons, you'll find folks arguing all day about what's practical and what's not. Remember that not every element of armor is crafted for efficiency. If you're strapping on a metal shell, you may want it to be flashy and intimidating, so have fun with the flourishes if you want.

It mostly goes without saying but definitely research a large variety of armors in ancient and modern times. While doing this, also remember what weapons these armors are designed to protect against, or what purpose they're for. While a helmet may not protect against a well placed bullet, it still protects against shrapnel and getting knocked over the head during a firefight.

Gird your loins and…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Desert Stream~]

Sorry for the delay! These two topics kinda go hand in hand anyway. :D

DAY SEVENTEEN - ARMS

Really though, today's prompts refer to tools of war, hunting, or self-defense. These can range from swords, guns, laser blasters, cannons, natural defenses built into your race, maybe some offensive forms of magic, and heck even elbow & knee lightsabers.

While thinking about today's prompt, particularly when it comes to war, you should keep tomorrow's today's other prompt in mind since new weapons are invented to circumvent current defenses and new defenses are invented to counter current weapons. Even with the state of the art solutions, you also must keep the cost, availability, and feasibility in mind. If something is exceptionally good it's usually expensive, however when things become cheap to produce, or the funds and resources begin to be more available, then they might just change the face of war.

When it comes to hunting arms, you can think back to the day you answered the prompt about fauna, think which creatures would be hunted, and think how your races would best track and down that creature. The benefit of sentient races over nature is that they can produce a new hunting weapon, but a creature cannot create new defenses as quickly (Or maybe they can, I don't know your world).

Also, some folks are weapon nerds and you can start a fight by suggesting that the longsword was a chump compared to the noble spear, but if you aren't into all that, don't worry, it's your world and sometimes rule of cool can trump reason. This may be answering what your fated hero keeps on their belt to protect themselves, which will most likely become an iconic piece of them, so get flashy if you need to. The iconic weapon of Star Wars, the lightsaber despite as many chances as we take to explain it is still an object of unfeasible fantasy, making sure that we are carried away into a world of fantastic wonder with knights and wise old men, but never letting us forget that this is an advanced world of science fiction as well. While many questions have been answered about how it may work, it was most likely first conceived as an icon of what sort of world this was, even when storm troopers held them in the original drafts.

It's dangerous to go alone, take this and…

GET BUILDING!​

DAY EIGHTEEN - ARMOR

Today it's time to don your armor!

While matching with yesterday's prompts as a means of defending against attack, armor can also cover many other subjects such as forms of protection while working, protection during dangerous situations like kneepads for workers, or helmets for driving vehicles. Even sci fi settings require protection from the cold vacuum of space or stray blasts of radiation while traversing the void.

Regarding practicality, just like with weapons, you'll find folks arguing all day about what's practical and what's not. Remember that not every element of armor is crafted for efficiency. If you're strapping on a metal shell, you may want it to be flashy and intimidating, so have fun with the flourishes if you want.

It mostly goes without saying but definitely research a large variety of armors in ancient and modern times. While doing this, also remember what weapons these armors are designed to protect against, or what purpose they're for. While a helmet may not protect against a well placed bullet, it still protects against shrapnel and getting knocked over the head during a firefight.

Gird your loins and…

GET BUILDING!​

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9423414&postcount=22
Armor
https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9422036&postcount=21
and weapons!

 

[Juno]

DAY NINETEEN - WAR

Loose the dogs of War today since we're talking about… War! In particular today is about how large-scale disputes are resolved. This could mean that your world may favor information wars, proxy wars, cold wars, internal conflicts, etc. with of course the most famous type of war being the trading of lives on a battlefield.

Despite what a certain protagonist of one of the Fallout series games says, War changes. Numbers of participants changes, technology changes, context changes, tactics change. The invention of crossbows and guns meant long-range warfare was no longer limited to specially trained individuals dedicated to the art of archery. Any soldier could be handed the device and trained up in a comparative blink of an eye, allowing them to fight at range. This meant a lot for future battles and for those who adopted this technology late, the consequences may have been devastating.

Culture also dictates the nature of war. Concepts of honor, humanitarianism, and tradition may change how someone treats their opponent on and off the battlefield. When prisoners are caught, how are they treated? When one side has clearly lost, is there an olive branch for peace extended along with conditions for this peace now that one side has their lives for leverage? Who even fights in these conflicts? Do nobility forge their leaders in battle or do they keep their hands clean of such affairs? Who are those in the front line and what is their motivation for being there?

This is a subject that is potentially troubling for some, but is a matter of deep interest for others. Some maybe even imagine a world without war. If that's the case then you can definitely speak about the measures taken to prevent this. There have been some interesting takes on how peace can be achieved.

Well good luck with your war of the worlds and…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Desert Stream~]

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9425790&postcount=23
Woo blood and guts!

 

[Juno]

Time to step away from all the gore-y business and talk about something more lighthearted! Unless your world finds gore-y business fun, I suppose. :P

DAY TWENTY - FUN

Worlds just wanna have fun! Or something like that. Today's the day where you decide how the folks in your world kick back and have fun. Whether this is recreational activities, sports, games, vacation locales, or just the simple act of getting some R&R.

There are plenty of examples out there though of good little breakaways and distractions from the more stressful parts of existing. Quidditch, blitzball, Gwent, Podracing, shooting a womp rat in beggar's canyon. Sometimes a pass time turns into a professional entertainment for others but even outside of the fancy stadiums and sponsors kids play in the street to hang out or show off. Sometimes a sport is also just a great way to show off physical prowess and dexterity.

Also, at the end of the great adventure what does your protagonist do with the rest of their time and the dragon's gold?

Not too much else to say on this matter, it should be, as the title implies: Fun! I know a few folks have already started making card games in their worlds.

On your marks, get set…

GET BUILDING!​

 

[Desert Stream~]

https://www.pokecommunity.com/showpost.php?p=9428362&postcount=24
I can't wait to start describing Everything more :P