Tropical Beach EditionFAQ:>What is worldbuilding?Worldbuilding is the process of creating entire fictional worlds from scratch, all while considering the logistics of these worlds to make them as believable as possible. Worldbuilding asks questions about the setting of a world, and then answers them, often in great detail. Most people use it as a means of creating a setting or the scenery for a story.>"Isn't there a Worldbuilding general in >>>/tg/ already?"Yes, there is. However, that general is focused on the creation of fictional worlds for the intended purpose of playing TTRPG campaigns. Here you can discuss worldbuilding projects that are not meant to be used for a roleplaying setting, but for novels, videogames, or any other kind of creative project.>"Can I discuss the setting of my campaign here, though?"If you want to, but it would probably be better to discuss it on >>>/tg/ . We don't allow the discussion of TTRPG mechanics, however. If you want to discuss stats or which D&D edition is best, this is not the place.>"Can I talk about an existing fictional setting that is not mine?"Yes, of course you can!>"Does worldbuilding need to be about fantasy and elves?"Worldbuilding, as already stated above, and contrary to what many believe, does not inherently imply blatantly copying Tolkien. In fact, there are many science-fiction setting out there, and even entire alternative history settings which do not possess supernatural elements at all. Any kind of science fiction book has an implied setting at least, which involves a certain degree of worldbuilding put into it.Old Thread: >>24667235
You forgot the thread question
>>24748733OP doesn’t seem to be doing anything in this department, and I was thinking of making a new thread myself before they did it, so I’m stepping in:Thread Questions:>What are the tropical regions of your setting like? Are they based on any particular place in our own world, and where do you look when coming up for ideas and resources on said regions? >When it comes to the flora and fauna of such regions, what are they like? What about monsters if they exist, and where do you look for ideas and resources on either?>How about the peoples of said tropical regions, what are they like and what real-life peoples, if any, are they based on? And what do they consider appropriate dress and/or beachwear?>If your setting has more than one sapient race, which are most present in such environment? And what adaptations do they have for said environmental factors, especially if they’re semi, or fully, aquatic.Bonus question:>What are the polar regions like in comparison?
>>24749928Since the last thread did better than the previous few and actually made it to the limit, I’m posting the thread questions from the last couple threads if you’re interested.>What kinds of magic, psychic abilities, and/or other powers exist in your world? And if multiple types exist, how do they interact with each other, if at all? >If the different types can be combined, what is the result? And if not, what is the reason?>How do people use/gain access to the magic? And what are the most important things to consider/remember when creating a magic system(s) or power system, and what mistakes to avoid? How did you make your own?>Is there anything that the magic or powers explicitly cannot do, and if yes, what? And how much of the limits of the abilities are inherent versus a lack of understanding?>On the subject of hyper-advanced technology, what exists in your world and what do you need to remember when creating/including it? What about magitech, or other tech that incorporates powers, what can you say on that?>Do the people in your setting believe in any celestial beings like Angels or something similar? And do these beings actually exist, and if so, how accurate are the beliefs?>How about Demons or similar beings, how accurate are their beliefs to reality? And how do you add your own twist to them, or to Angels?>Are there any other categories of otherworldly entities in your world, like the Fae, Yokai, Ghosts and specters, Grim Reapers, Elementals, etc.? If so, how are they related to Angels, Demons, or each other, if at all, and what are they like?>What about the gods in your world, what are they like, how are their pantheons structured? And what is their relationship with the other mystical entities in the setting (do they have any specific groups of Angels serving specific gods, etc.)?
Bump
>Been writing post apocalyptic bronze age fantasy setting with tyrannical elves and evil gods and shit for a while now>Xitter recommends me some other guy's post that's doing basically the same exact thing but his shit looks much cooler than minehas this ever happened to you and how do i deal with this mentally
>>24751690>bronze age>elvesReally?
>>24752414Fuck you mean "really" faggot what part do you not understand? You won't even reply to this cause half the replies in this thread is you asking nothing statements to bump an empty thread. Fuck off.
>>24749931The last thread did well because it had me DESU
>>24752414Think Annunaki crossed with Druchii from Warhammer.
We all know what fantasy settings we like, even love.But what fantasy setting do we NEED right now?
>>24752422>>24753361Let me guess, your setting has dwarves and orcs and dragons too?
>>24753442Did you seriously delete and repost that to basically say the same exact thing?
>>24753446There was a typo.
>>24753456That's not what a typo is.
i could just check but i'm going to bump (you)r thread. does /tg/ have writing threads? or is it mainly just in their wbg equiv
>>24753442No orcs or dwarves, yes dragons. Something wrong with that?
>>24753497I'm assuming when you say your setting is Bronze Age you mean it is Mesopotamian, correct?
>>24753512I have a few anachronistic cultures that are more reminiscent of early Iron Age (Cimmero-Scythians, Vedic India, even some Celtic stuff, etc) but it's mainly a blend of Hittite, Mesopotamian, Minoan Greek, Ancient Egypt, Kush, and the like.
>>24753544So why are you also including Germanic folklore (elves)? Why not focus on what makes your setting unique instead?
>>24753620The modern fantasy elf is completely divorced from the original Germanic origin.For some examples; TES already did Mesopotamian Elves, and stuff like Warhammer's elves don't feel Germanic at all.Why include elves? Maybe because I like elves? And moreover the point is taking classic fantasy tropes and races and applying them to a new cultural/mythological background.
And like I mentioned, I was mostly just a touch salty because I saw some other guy also came up the same idea of tyrannical Mesopotamian elves and his look way cooler than mine>pic related
>>24753645>applying them to a new cultural/mythological background.How are they different from all of the other elves in fiction?
>>24753729By being Bronze Age Mesopotamian demigods?Are you just begging for (you)s at this point?
>>24753759Why are you so passive aggressive? I asked a simple question. You can't just take a cliche, move it to a new setting, then act like it is no longer a cliche. What sets your fantasy book apart from the tens of thousands of others, other than the fact that characters use bronze weapons instead of iron and ride chariots instead of on the backs of horses?
>>24753771>You can't just take a cliche, move it to a new setting, then act like it is no longer a cliche.Why are you assuming I did this? I explained the basic points on why my elves are different from the basic modern fantasy elf.That being said, there is literally nothing wrong with using tropes or having generic elves. They're popular for a reason.>Why are you so passive aggressive?Projection much?>Erm why are you using elves, you know they're Germanic right? You can't just have elves in a bronze age setting.>Erm, your setting sounds really generic because it has elves, sounds like another generic cliche fest.
>>24753789>Why are you assuming I did this? I explained the basic points on why my elves are different from the basic modern fantasy elfNo you didn't you only said that they're "Bronze Age Mesopotamian demigods". Giving Legolas an ethnic hat doesn't make him any different than the regular Legolas on a fundamental level.
>>24753794>Giving Legolas an ethnic hat doesn't make him any different than the regular Legolas on a fundamental levelDo you have a single reason to assume my elves are in any way like that? Why are you assuming that my elves are Legolases in ethnic hats?Especially when I already specified in my literal very first post (which was not asking for critique) that they are cruel tyrannical overlords who worship evil gods. You saw my post and decided to be a sarcastic asshole >>24752414>Bronze age elves? Really?
>>24753803>they are cruel tyrannical overlords who worship evil godsLet me guess: They worship a giant spider?
>>24753810Nope.But I'm going to stop responding to you because you're obviously a retarded cunt. Enjoy your last (you).
>>24753442Yeah.
Anyone have any good inspirations or ideas for how humans can be genetically modified to be domesticated animals?
>>24753941Think about the job you want them to do and work your way backwards from there. If they are coal miners they should be able to see in the dark and breathe poisoning fumes without dying, for example.
>>24753941Are you more interested in the mechanical aspect, like how exactly the genetic engineers use science/magic/etc to slowly transform humanity irreversibly into something new? Or just interesting ideas on what the end results could be?
>>24753422pseudo-modernist metaphysical fantasy without any reliance of some shallow "_____punk" aesthetic
>>24753422Something that sells people on the idea that you can do good things even when you seek glory, or power, or other selfish things.I want people to know that success is not a zero sum game.
>>24754027The latter. I'm sure there are some obscure settings that have already done it.
What programs do you guys use to keep track of shit? Trillium seems like a pretty good notetaker/article tracker (maker), especially since it's free and local. It's not a visualizer though, and I'd like to find something that can do this which isn't some subscription based, data mining/selling service.
>>24754188>pseudo-modernist metaphysicalHoly fucking buzzword salad
>>24748733Alright my dudes.I'm writing a character who has the ability to stop energy in an area of effect. So everything stops moving because kinetic energy expires, heat dies, electricity doesn't work, stuff like that. A complete ,bubble of energy vacuum.I was wondering if light should work within? Is light an energy? I suppose sunlight should also stop because it's solar energy, but idk... should everything inside the AOE be a completely dark?
>>24755257if you played pathologic, it would make complete sense to you, pseud.
>>24756087it would have to be as visible light is electromagnetic radiation, which does make it energy.
You know, I think I'm finally considering what that meme said: write out my political fantasies and add them to my setting. So hear me out. World War 2. The US decides to sit out the land war in Europe, refuses to aid the USSR with Lend Lease, and quietly focuses on developing the Atom Bomb and defeating Japan. As a result, the Soviets still manage to push the Germans out of their borders....but with disastrous losses that nearly collapse their nation due to famine. And then the US just develops the Atom bomb anyway and turns most German cities into an irradiated heap. Half the German population is murdered and the nation surrenders the Nazis to prevent the other half from dying. Hitler and nearly ten thousand officials are executed and the country is occupied by US forces. The Atomic Era begins. The US is the world's sole superpower and nuclear energy is now the default. The Golden Age of Capitalism of the 50s never ends. Leftism is fully crushed, and so is Segregation- but without the other things in the 60s. The US is occupying most of Europe, is planning to wipe out the remnants of the USSR soon, has forced the Brits and French to abandon their old colonies and replaced their viceroys with either democracies or puppet dictators sent by the CIA, and is sending out troops to destroy communist insurrections wherever they erupt.It's going to be easy enough to translate this to my own setting.Llys starts the war with Babylonian help, Tripura just nukes them all after mostly letting the Chinese and Persians die doing most of the fighting, Megacorporations take over and transform the country into one big Megacity with clean streets manned by Robocops.....oh, and there are airships threatening occupied countries with nukes.Somewhere along the way, the natives (non-Dravidians) are given legal equality but never become anything more than an underclass.
>>24748733How do you make Angels more than just physically flawless humans with wings and halos and a divine glow? Especially if you want to avoid going the “Biblically accurate” route like picture related and keep them actually humanoid. I asked in the last thread but it was already near the end and I forgot to clarify the "humanoid" part, so while I got 'some' good answers, like them taking on appearances based on the viewer/of deceased believers, making them look like robots, and a couple others, I could still use some more. >>24744122 suggested some elementally-themed ideas, and I'd love more of those, as well as ideas for other elements like lightning, light, void, gravity, and/or ice, does anyone have any suggestions there please? I think that ice angels having shifting snowflake patterns as halos is a great idea, for example.
>>24756400>/v/ermin Ah it makes sense now. Only one of the brain rotted zoomies from there would defend talking in a bunch of meaningless terms
>>24748733I’m working on a setting where the forces of Heaven and Hell are in conflict, but are prevented from waging large-scale battle in either of their two realms. As a result, they use the mortal world to get around this. That’s not the issue at hand though, I’m running out of name ideas for both sides that aren’t just the names of angels or demons from the Bible, and could use some suggestions, and I would love to hear how you name your own angels and demons as well. I want the names to be meaningful beyond just slapping “el” to the end of ordinary names for angels, which of course makes it harder on me…One idea I had was that succubi and incubi, especially the former, mainly take on the role of spies in the mortal world, so I could use some names for that kind of demon in particular. Lilith as their queen is a given, and names of historical women associated with lust (like Helen because everybody in Greece wanted to marry her) could work for some of them, especially if the rumors are true and said women become succubi after death, but I can only think of a few and I still need some more ideas for succubi that weren’t ever human, thanks in advance for any help you can give me! The last thread suggested I take a page from the book of Journey to the West where the animalistic demons have titles instead of names, which is a start at least, what do you think?
>>24757537>like them taking on appearances based on the viewer/of deceased believers, making them look like robots, and a couple othersThat was me >24744122That was also me >lightningYou know how when lighting strikes wood, it leaves behind a pattern that looks like branches? Imagine that, but it takes (roughly) the form of a winged humanoid, constantly pulsing and vibrating. It has a booming voice made up of hundreds of different voices and when it departs, the surface he was on gets charred with the same pattern his body was made of. Or you could make it a humanoid version of the Thunderbird (an idea I had is that, only the people he wants to be heard can hear his "human" voice, the rest just hear a cacophony of wind, thunder and eagle screams) >lightYou can only see them through mirrors OR they don't have physical forms, they are only images, however, if you do see them they can enter your mind and wreck your perception of reality >voidWhen I made that post about elemental suggestions, I mentioned I have never liked Darkness/Void as an element because its not really a thing... Its the absence of a thing>gravityBodies made out of white feathers, mechanical wings of black steel, constantly shedding both parts, their faces are a yellow ring with a black center (this is a reference to that black hole picture ) the feathers are extremely heavy while the steel is lighter than air and floats OR normal human bodies, except it lacks a head in its place is a mini-replica of the solar system and its wings look like the space, dotted with stars >iceTheir bodies are an aurora borealisOr just their wings (they use them to hypnotize people)Or their bodies are made of crystal clear ice and (depending on the person) it can reflect their biggest fears, insecurities or guilt. For instance, if you feel guilty about killing someone, their faces would reflect that of the victim while their bodies show you again when you killed them. If their trying to encourage someone, they could reflect something nice, like your father telling you everything is going to be ok
>>24757537I personally like the "biblically accurate" look, but one commonish idea is to make them more based on birds, lions, "noble" animals with faces and porcelain aesthetics. Bayonetta are pretty much my go to.
>>24754188You mean like other realms/dimensions? Dream realms? I've been trying to figure out what a 3rd genre would be. The supernatural, religious, metaphysical, paranormal, spiritual side of what i guess would be fantasy.It's not sci fi and it's not traditional fantasy. It exists in another plane. I don't know how to describe it and it's probably just a form of fantasy anyway. That's what we need right now.
>>24749928The tropical areas are pretty obviously based on the history of our world but not a straight copy. There are ordered, hierarchical kingdoms and tribes of desert nomads. There are also scattered jungle tribes that don't really matter except to thwart would-be world conquerors with impossible logistical problems for no real gain.The major religions are henotheistic Sun worship and polytheism. These religions don't really go well together but many places have historically been tolerant of both anyway, at least to some degree.There is an advanced city-state in the far South that is a major international producer of steel and has formidable city walls. Even more South there is an anomaly that spreads. (I need to world-build that anomaly to determine how exactly it works.)There is a lost city of the Elves in the high desert. No one lives there anymore.There is a kingdom in the not-so-South that is ruled by a very prestigious and respected dynasty of Elves, though currently only like 2 Elves remain (the king and the prince) and the rest of the kingdom is humans.There are some "monsters" but those are more like animals for local color (possibly dangerous to travelers, though), such as small winged lizards that live in the desert sands and have a poisonous bite. I'm considering the possibility of spirit beasts but haven't reached a conclusion on that. There are a few powerful sorcerers who have found ways to cheat death by becoming monsters themselves, but the role of this phenomenon in the South is also something that isn't at all settled.The polar regions in contrast are sparsely populated but some Elves can still be found there and other non-humans also exist, maybe even real dragons though no one can say for sure...
Thread is starting to gain steam
I literally cannot decide what fantasy races to include in my setting.
>>24759039These are great, thanks! Not sure about Light though,. Oh, just had an idea, what if Light Angels look like they're multiple Angels at once in a spectrum of colors? Any thoughts on Death or Life besides the Grim Reaper and plants, respectively? Or halos specifically, like in picrel?
>>24748733I came up with part of the idea of a. Scifi world I'm calling "Jupiter; Independent" and heres what it's main scifi thing is going to beIn the far future humanity, through cybernetics, gene alteration, and general affronts to God, has created a new organ that allows them to naturally house AI within their body. It's not a full ai living in a persons body but more a housing organ that keeps the ai close to you. An addition piece of tech get put on/in the body to help run it and they're held like companions. You have to get the AI and getting your first AI is like getting your first pet, a childhood experience. Very few peope don't have an AI and at most some just have Smart-Intelligences that are dime a dozen and can be replaced.The story for this setting follows a young boy living on Jupiter who has to start looking for his father who's hasn't returned home.How does it seem?
>>24758481Name angels after virtues. Take names from jewish mythology and other related religionsMake their names start with A and end in Z For demons name them after sins and vices. There are a lot of demons names from Catholic sources.
>>24759624>Fantasy races Don't, fantasy races fucking suck
>>24759786I'm not sure what your angle is with this. Is it about the fantastic science fiction adventures of a boy and his AI friend or is the main character so young that he doesn't have an AI yet and has to survive in a world in which an AI is required for many things? Those are very different stories.
>>24759624What is the theme of your setting?
>>24748733So I wanted an incident that was similar to the British seizing 2 ships that the Ottomans paid for during WW1.My idea was a relatively wealthy country (let's call it Coastdom) that isn't too advanced at gunsmithing orders several cannons of a large caliber designed for coastal defence from a naval power (let's call it Anchorland). It's also funded by many donations in coastal regions.However Anchorland suffers a large influx of pirate attacks, and increased aggression from a neighboring kingdom that has a weaker navy, but still strong enough to threaten. The newly made cannons are seized and used to defend their own coasts.This of course outrages Coastdom, and when the two are forced to ally with one another, they "retreat strategically" when an ambush comes to attack the Anchorland fleet, causing much of their fleet to sink.This creates a large resentment between both Anchorland and Coastdom. Anchorland's crown prince died during the ambush, so they blame Coastdom for abandoning him. Coastdom insists it was necessary to retreat, and still think of the Anchorlands as swindling liars as the cannons were never given, and the money never returned.Do you think this is reasonable?
>>24761752It's the former. The boy is around 14 and kids usually get some form of ai at around 7 - 8 years old.
>>24761781It's partially meant to be a sort of mythological iron age-ish kind of setting, but "fantasy". As in less high power super wizards and courtly wizards with notChristian monks, and more mythological tales of valor with smaller stakes, clans and fortified towns, more wild and untamed lands, nature spirits and pantheism; but still in a distinctly "not real" setting that isn't meant to be "trying too hard" like a lot of fantasy settings do. Conan, Dwarf Fortress, and Dominions (the strategy video games) are my biggest inspirations, but I want something that doesn't feel quite as "humanocentric" as those without going full kitchen sink dwarves/elves/goblins. It's a very vague set of qualifiers I know, but I know it when I see it.
>>24759726>Life Does it really makes sense for an angel of life to exist? Since god created all the life and the world by himself >Death Pale, emaciated and with a wound on his head Make him look like Abel Covered in a lambskin (because lambs used to be sacrificed to god) Riding a pale horse adorned with withered roses
>>24753941You made this exact post on the last thread
>>24763044Fair, the Life and Death idea was basically right off the top of my head after waking up, what about Order and Chaos angels? For the former I'm torn between them looking robotic or crystalline, and for the latter there has to be something other than constant mutations.
>>24757537Might not be exactly what you're looking for but I like the idea that while angels may appear 'human' their very presence signals their divine nature in impossible yet subtle ways:- when outside, they always impossibly seem to be standing in front of a light source when noticed - whether that be the sun, streetlights, etc. Like somehow it's difficult to actually look upon their faces- their footfalls on bare ground send up fresh shoots of green growth which die as their feet leave the ground- their voice seems layered, as if somehow two people with an identical voice were speaking at once, but one deeper or greater or "higher" than the other (the idea being that their physical body on earth is an echo of their greater, true metaphysical being)-likewise, when forced to act beyond the capabilities of the flesh, the shimmering outline of their "true" bodies can be seen pulling their physical "shells" along
>>24762156Form ultimately fits function.When making a fantasy race, think about what purpose it serves in the setting or story.>Ancient immortal precursor race to humanityLeans elf-coded.>Vermin nuisance raceLeans goblin>Savage forest dwelling raceLeans orc>Underground minersLeans dwarfNow you don't actually have to literally use literal 'orcs' - but whether you go with something slightly more niche (say, any sort of beastfolk as a replacement for the orc-coded race, or kobolds for goblins, or gnomes for dwarves) or make your own "unique" race it ultimately should "fit" for what its purpose is.As an example, Bakker's Cûnuroi aren't literally elves but they fulfill the narrative function of the ancient, immortal, precursors and consequently don't look like diminutive rat people; they look like the Engineers in Prometheus - basically tall, porcelain-white godlike beings when compared to humans.You can intentionally subvert this of course but there's a reason why these tropes have been recycled for decades across a million different settings.
>>24764245>Order and chaos angels Aren't angels agents of order already?Idk, I think if you want to go with that divide you should do: Order angels and chaos demons Angels are mechanicals while most demons (with the exception of the originals) are purely organical
>>24764331To keep using Bakker as an example, you can sort of see how this process works in practice with the Inchoroi>I need a rape alien fantasy raceMay as well start with xenomorphs. They're probably the most iconic rape aliens out there.>Too bestial, these guys are also intelligent/scientistsTrim off the bestial elements (drop the tail, fix their posture)>I need them to communicate with other humanoid racesTake the xenomorph's "second mouth" but turn it into a humanoid face instead of just being another monster mouthNow just tweak it a bit, flip the color scheme (white evokes immortality), add some devil wings (because they're evil); now you have a completely "original" fantasy race that looks 'right' for their actual function in the setting
not a writer, nor even intelligent. but if i were to make art for my own little world building ideas. do i need to draw black people? I kind of don't want to, but i feel like i would have to answer to somebody if i didn't include them.
>>24764741No
>>24764770sick! ty anon!
>>24764331Hey, nice reply, I appreciate it.Unfortunately I have a massive problem that the moment I try to write anything down or codify my ideas or vague aesthetic impulses into a "real" work or outline it instantly loses all its appeal. I'm basically trying to write on vibes like running on fumes; it's ultimately futile.
The average Elyssan military camp, ever since the time when their aristocrats had souls and hearts, consists of a skyscraper sized "hive" that can be set up in merely 3-6 hours and has outer walls made of some bizarre black mud that can "heal" itself and repel anything short of bunker busters.Basically just a mobile, artifical, magic constructed mountain fortress.The Tripurans tend to invade it anyway by just crashing giant mecha from orbit right into their roofs. The gravity does a better job than artillery ever could.This makes them the least favorite enemies of Elyssan commanders, who find mecha a stupid, childish design and prefer to fight conventional weapons like artillery or planes.Besides, just crashing your weapons on your enemy just feels crass.
>>24764331>When making a fantasy race, think about what purpose it serves in the setting or story.Because people have a preference for a fantasy race. >As an example, Bakker's Cûnuroi aren't literally elves but they fulfill the narrative function of the ancient, immortal, precursors and consequently don't look like diminutive rat people; they look like the Engineers in Prometheus - basically tall, porcelain-white godlike beings when compared to humans.And therefore they do NOT invoke the same feelings in readers as having elves would've. This means that you lose some easy readers because you wanted them to be unique and quirky.
>>24765470Think you've completely missed my point.There's nothing wrong with just using elves (the original post wanted to go beyond using standard fantasy races) and I already said there's a good reason why they're popular. All I was saying is have the form fit the purpose, regardless of whether you make something new or use something established.Elves, like the Cûnuroi, are generally tall, pale, and beautiful. Their form follows from the feeling they're meant to evoke. The Cûnuroi's visual language accomplishes the same thing as Elves since they have the same role in the setting.>This means that you lose some easy readers because you wanted them to be unique and quirky.Not everyone writes for the purpose of capturing the largest audience, but sure, I don't disagree. But successfully executing something novel while still leaning on established tropes can leave a positive impression as well.
>Bakkerfag has breached containment and its now in this generalIts over
>>24765687What are you even talking about? I was just using him as an example.
