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15 answers to questions I'm asking myself about my new D&D world (aka creating a new D&D world, part 16)

Not too too long ago, I purchased The Ultimate RPG Game Master's Worldbuilding Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create and Customize Your Own Game World by James D'Amato and it, and going whale watching, inspired me to create a new D&D world. So here we go! I'm going to use prompts from the book to begin crafting this world, but not all posts will be from there.

You can read part 1 of my planning here, read part 2 of my planning here, read part 3 of my planning here, read part 4 of my planning here, read part 5 of my planning here, read part 6 of my planning here, read part 7 of my planning here, read part 8 of my planning here, read part 9 of my planning here, read part 10 of my planning here, read part 11 of my planning here, read part 12 of my planning here, read part 13 of my planning here, read part 14 of my planning here, and read part 15 of my planning here. 

In this post, I'm brainstorming questions to ask myself about the world.

  1. How do people pray to their gods?
    1. Donate money to the temple
    2. Volunteer at the temple
    3. Speak to the gods themselves
    4. Ask a priest to speak to the gods for them
    5. Participate in an activity related to the gods
  2. How much is money worth in this world?
    1. 1 gp=10 sp, 1 sp=10 cp, thus 1 gp=100 cp (additionally, 1 pp=10 gp)
    2. "A gold piece can buy a spear, 50 ft. of rope, 20 arrows, two days of trail rations, or a goat. A skilled artisan can earn roughly a gold piece for a day’s work."
    3. 1 gp is approx $200 so 1 sp is approx $20 and 1 cp is approx $2
  3. How much should players contribute to the world-building?
    1. I'd like them to help plan the island we start on (which I think the characters will all be from) and maybe some answers to some of these questions
  4. What are some more details on the political structure?
    1. Maybe 1 member of upper house per 200 people?
  5. What kinds of clothes do people wear?
    1. Think traditional Irish clothes from 1500-1700 (but the more Irish stuff, not the British stuff)
  6. What wildlife is found on and around the islands?
    1. Use the Wiki article "Fauna of Ireland"
  7. When in the year are we starting?
    1. Close to Eagna's holiday "Legends Night" which is on 9/30
  8. Which island are we starting on?
    1. I think Eagna (but playres could persuade me otherwise I suppose)
  9. Which islands should I direct players to?
    1. I think I need to work with my DM friend on this
  10. Which languages exist in this world?
    1. Aquan (the sea fae language)
    2. Aarakocra
    3. Celestial (what the gods speak)
    4. Common
    5. Draconic
    6. Druidic
    7. Dwarvish
    8. Elvish
    9. Giant
    10. Gnomish
    11. Goblin
    12. Halfling
    13. Infernal
    14. Orc
    15. Primordial
    16. Thieves' Cant
  11. Who are the leaders on the island we're starting on?
    1. Lower House
      1. Ciall MacEagna
        1. Elf
        2. Male
        3. 45
        4. Tall
        5. Serious, literal, scholarly
        6. Has three daughters
        7. Older brother disappeared when they were kids
    2. Upper House (may add more)
      1. Aoife O'Quin
        1. Human
        2. Female
        3. 30
        4. Average height
        5. Devout, risk-taker, passtionate speaker
        6. Single
        7. Elected on platforom she'd investigate the rising disappearances

  12. Who are the players in this world (e.g. carpenters or mercenaries or priests)?
    1. This is obviously something I'll work with the players on, but I wouldn't want them to be too rich or too well traveled (meaning, they can't have been to too too many isalands)
  13. Why are the fae taking more children (and what's the why behind that why)?
    1. The fae's fertility is declining and they want more children
      1. Sioga didn't feel like she could reach out to the other gods to help, so her mother just helped some children disappear so the fae could maintain their population
        1. Some fae are being captured by "collectors"?
        2. Some fae are being poisoned by pollution?
        3. A curse?
    2. Something I'm going to work with a DM friend on
  14. Why are the players interested in the adventure (just brainstorm some ideas)?
    1. They've known children who've gone missing (a family member, childhood friend, student/apprentice, neighbor, etc.)
    2. They need the money being offered to investigate
    3. They're generally curious about disappearances etc.
  15. Why are we starting in this world now?
    1. A child has returned from being missing yet hasn't aged as much as one would expect
    2. It's close to "Legends Night"

(Prompt by me)


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