World Building On Plotting, Story & Research PT 2

[Jack Konstantine]

Those of the successful DMs/GMs that were able to produce in-depth worlds; what is your process? How long does it take to typically prepare your events, and how would you implement conflict in an effective manner? Is research a hyperactive part of your life, or do you abide by a deadline? Have you experienced failure, and felt as if you had simply wasted your time? Where do you seek inspiration, if any at all? Do you believe in the old adage, "Write what you know"?

 

[Chordling]

I like to follow a “create what you need” type of world builder. Story and world building go hand-in-hand for me most of the time. So, you need to have some idea of what you want the players to accomplish in your roleplay in order to understand what you need from your setting. You need to chose a conflict. The conflict can be somewhat arbitrary but you can narrow down your choices based on the setting you are working with. (For example, many steampunk settings will have some level of conflict with technology vs society.) Once you have at least a basic idea of what your player’s objectives are, then you can start making a list of items for things that your world absolutely needs. You may also find extra curricular materials along the way- things that supplement the feeling of the world but not required or necessary for the plot’s existence.

Below are some examples of my inactive world building threads. This can help you get an idea to how long the process can take. I set deadlines for myself for both of these projects. Otherwise, nothing would have gotten accomplished.

Idea - Tales of Nakashigata -- Feedback Thread

Updated content here Hello everyone! This is a new idea that has distracted me from responding to my role plays on a usual schedule for the past couple of days, hahaha. It's got steampunk (which is no surprise to those of you who know me lol). I still haven't made a decision about whether I...

www.rpnation.com

Idea - Portals to the Afterlife: Interest Check Now Available!

Please jump to this post ! This untitled idea is recycled from a roleplay I had with someone over Skype. I have no intentions to turn this into a fully fledged roleplay as of now. I simply wanted to post the idea here. I will be posting pieces of my work as they are created. Constructive...

www.rpnation.com

 

[Jack Konstantine]

I like to follow a “create what you need” type of world builder. Story and world building go hand-in-hand for me most of the time. So, you need to have some idea of what you want the players to accomplish in your roleplay in order to understand what you need from your setting. You need to chose a conflict. The conflict can be somewhat arbitrary but you can narrow down your choices based on the setting you are working with. (For example, many steampunk settings will have some level of conflict with technology vs society.) Once you have at least a basic idea of what your player’s objectives are, then you can start making a list of items for things that your world absolutely needs. You may also find extra curricular materials along the way- things that supplement the feeling of the world but not required or necessary for the plot’s existence.

Below are some examples of my inactive world building threads. This can help you get an idea to how long the process can take. I set deadlines for myself for both of these projects. Otherwise, nothing would have gotten accomplished.

Idea - Tales of Nakashigata -- Feedback Thread

Updated content here Hello everyone! This is a new idea that has distracted me from responding to my role plays on a usual schedule for the past couple of days, hahaha. It's got steampunk (which is no surprise to those of you who know me lol). I still haven't made a decision about whether I...

www.rpnation.com

Idea - Portals to the Afterlife: Interest Check Now Available!

Please jump to this post ! This untitled idea is recycled from a roleplay I had with someone over Skype. I have no intentions to turn this into a fully fledged roleplay as of now. I simply wanted to post the idea here. I will be posting pieces of my work as they are created. Constructive...

www.rpnation.com

Good grief, Bardbarian. You certainly put out.

By the way, I like your Sci-fi pitch; your upcoming plot too, steampunk Japan? That idea slaps.

 

[Chordling]

Hopefully, it helps answer some of the questions you had. Both of the ideas I presented are not in use at this time but they are at least fleshed out to a degree (the Japanese one more so than the cyberpunk one).

 

[Jack Konstantine]

Hopefully, it helps answer some of the questions you had. Both of the ideas I presented are not in use at this time but they are at least fleshed out to a degree (the Japanese one more so than the cyberpunk one).

Every bit of information is useful. Seeing a work in progress let alone reminds me that this is a process, and not some hoodoo that is just wished into existence! (I almost believed it) Thank you.

Regardless, I'm tired of suffering in silence with my half-baked plotlines caused by knowledge gaps. :/

Gotta git guud.

 

[Chordling]

Use this forum to your advantage in any creative means that you can. Your half-baked ideas do not need to be kept to yourself. Feel free to share them here with others to receive feedback. You're not obligated to make the changes other people suggest. Sometimes the ideas work. Sometimes they do not. You're still world building either way.

I'm not sure how I missed this one. Here's the third setting that I introduced to the forums. It is currently inactive but was not completed to the same level as the other two.

Idea - Cyberpunk Cowboy MMORPG

Hey, I had this little thought pop into my head a few weeks back. I might have a problem. Feel free to browse, comment, and ask questions to all of the content that I document here. The idea is still in the fetal stages of planning and I do not expect to start this for at least a few months...

www.rpnation.com