As long as there have been people, there have been stories. Some explain a shared past – wars, plagues, and migrations. Some of these stories speculate about mysteries that surround us. For example, why the seasons change, or how that big smoking mountain came to be. If you’re creating a game or novel setting, the people of your world will have these cherished stories as well. Yes, folks! It’s time to talk about worldbuilding religion, creating a mythology and worldbuilding history! History, religion, myths and legends all add depth to your fictional world. They make it feel old, inhabited and ..read more

You may have crafted an amazing landscape for your tabletop RPG or novel setting. You may have drawn elaborate maps, and created entire cosmologies. But until it has people – not just humans, but any sapient species – it’s a dead world. Stories can’t happen there. Worldbuilding cultures, establishing governments (and pitting them against each other), and creating a fantasy economy are the elements that start to bring your world to life, and set the stage for adventure! In this guide, we’ll touch on how to populate your world with sapient species, develop cultures and ethnicities, establish the ..read more

Let’s take a deeper look at worldbuilding terrain, climate and maps! Storytellers often ask “where do I start worldbuilding?” We’ve covered abstract ideas like purpose, inspiration and themes. But often, writers and game masters are searching for something more practical. Now, it’s time to get concrete – and it doesn’t get any more concrete than the ground beneath your feet! Of course, those mountains, hills and valleys will be shaped by other natural forces over time, so it also makes sense to look up to the sky – and consider climate, weather, and waterways. Lastly, while you can write beaut ..read more

New worldbuilders often struggle with overwhelm. There are too many choices when writing lore for a game or novel setting! You can’t do everything. Focus is the name of the game, especially early on. Be deliberate about which areas of your world you flesh out with deep lore, after getting the basics down. These few expanded topics give your setting the illusion of more depth, realism and authenticity. In this article, we’re going to cover (in broad strokes) some of the common focal points for writing lore in a fictional world. We’ll also look at examples from books, games and pop culture, and ..read more

Worldbuilding can be intimidating! After all, it’s creating an entire world and everything in it. But every game or book setting always starts with a single big idea – that’s your premise. But where do you go from there? A worldbuilding checklist can help you create a basic setting for your homebrew adventures or novel series, so you can start playing (or writing) faster. At World Anvil, we’ve seen many storytellers get excited about their big idea, open a fresh notebook or document, and start writing all their ideas down. Which is a great starting place! But we’ve also seen countless worldbui ..read more

Today we’re pleased to feature a guest post from Spiros Drakatos, Game Designer and Creator of Dimday Red. Catch their latest Kickstarter for Nodus 02, and be sure to check out the  ..read more

Worldbuilding Magic Systems and technology is so much fun, but it can also be daunting – because with all that power, creating magic items or technology that are overpowered or out-of-place is easy to do accidentally. And overpowered magic or overpowered technology can be a real drain on your storytelling. Whether you’re working with other people like player characters at your table, or you need a good reason why your main characters of your novel wouldn’t just use your overpowered device for every problem, it can really put you in a bind. So how do you fix overpowered items in your world? You ..read more

Twilight Force, a Swedish power metal band, has taken an unconventional route in engaging fans by leveraging World Anvil’s worldbuilding tools. Let’s explore how the band is crafting a meticulous, imaginative fantasy world to unite and entertain their fans. Uniting Fans through Worldbuilding Twilight Force chose to use World Anvil, typically favored by authors and gamers, to connect with fans on a deeper level. By building a common fantasy universe, known as the Twilight Kingdoms, the band successfully brought fans together, fostering a shared appreciation for the immersive world they’ve built ..read more

Which were the best World Anvil articles this year…. according to the Community? Well, the udans and I scoured the database high and low for your favourites, and we wanted to share those with you as an end of year treat! <3 Top 10 Articles on World Anvil in 2023 Here’s the top 10 articles from 2023 on World Anvil, as selected by community likes. Summer Camp 2023 by Kat Chiron Coming in at number 10, with 49 likes from the Community, is Summer Camp 2023 by Kat Chiron. Ghost Boy of Kirinal by kitoypoy At number 9, and my personal favourite of the year, is Ghost Boy of Kirinal, by kitoypoy. Th ..read more

Are you sick of the ordinary world? Want to escape to a place of wonder and danger – but only temporarily? Do you suspect you may be the Chosen One? Then climb into this unusually roomy wardrobe as we unearth the secrets of PORTAL FANTASY! This popular fantasy subgenre is a great fit if you’re writing or worldbuilding for middle grade and young adult audiences. But more modern stories have given it a grown up spin! So let’s discover what portal fantasy is, common tropes, examples of the genre in fiction and tabletop RPGs, and things to watch out for as a worldbuilder. What is Portal Fantasy? P ..read more