A good source for world building advice?

[Ashrem Bayle]

For the first time in probably a decade, I'm considering making my own campaign setting. With that in mind, I'm wondering what you guys think are the best sources for advice and inspiration. I know some companies have put out sourcebooks on the subject. Are any of them any good?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

For the first time in probably a decade, I'm considering making my own campaign setting. With that in mind, I'm wondering what you guys think are the best sources for advice and inspiration. I know some companies have put out sourcebooks on the subject. Are any of them any good?

Some of them are very good.

A Magical Medieval Society: Western Europe and A Magical Society: Ecology and Culture in particular are well worth looking at.

A good online source is Patricia C. Wrede's Worldbuilder.

For the physical mechanics of designing a world (as opposed to its culture) I still rather like the old TSR Worldbuilder's Guidebook. If nothing else it has some good mapping sheets.

The Campaign Planner series by Ronin Arts is not a how to book, but rather a bunch of sheets that are useful when designing a campaign. In this case it is better to get the individual PDFs rather than the Deluxe version, since the individual books include forms that can be filled out on your computer.

Hope that this helps.

The Auld Grump

 

[Psion]

For the physical mechanics of designing a world (as opposed to its culture) I still rather like the old TSR Worldbuilder's Guidebook. If nothing else it has some good mapping sheets.

I'll second that. Though I think the real meat of the book is the inspirational bits and organizations.

The Campaign Planner series by Ronin Arts is not a how to book, but rather a bunch of sheets that are useful when designing a campaign. In this case it is better to get the individual PDFs rather than the Deluxe version, since the individual books include forms that can be filled out on your computer.

That, of couse, is useful for managing your campaign.

Another source I find fantastic, but perhaps hard to find if you don't own it, is the Dungeoncraft articles in Dragon by Ray Winniger. Unfortunately, these ran after the time of the Dragon Archive CD Rom.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Another source I find fantastic, but perhaps hard to find if you don't own it, is the Dungeoncraft articles in Dragon by Ray Winniger. Unfortunately, these ran after the time of the Dragon Archive CD Rom.

They used to be available on the Wizard's website as well. I downloaded them while they were there (for all I know they may still be there, buried in the depths... but I think that they were removed after WotC spun off Dragon Magazine). I believe that there is also an online archive somewhere out there, whether it is legal or not I do not know.

The Auld Grump

 

[Aus_Snow]

I was going to mention every one of those sources and tools that TheAuldGrump already has.

No need, it seems. Still, I'll second (or third, as the case may be) each of them.

 

[exile]

Baby Names From Around the World. I've found this book is excellent for naming characters in almost every game that I play. It would probably work out nicely with having consistent naming conventions in your world.
Chad

 

[Whisper72]

I do not have them myself, but one could take a look at the whole world builder series from Troll Lord by Gary Gygax himself. Dunno how useful they are, but asking around, checking out reviews may be a good idea.

The old World Builder book is nice, also take a look at the Campaign and Catacomb guide from the same era. Although it focuses more on how to run a game, there are plenty issues in it that may be useful to take along when creating worlds in the first place...

Furthermore, I third (fourth?) the other sources already mentioned...

 

[Whisper72]

For names, just take out ye regular atlas. Look at real world place names, especially British ones. Good stuff there. With the best of intentions, it is usually more difficult to come up with better sounding 'weird, fantasy sounding names' than already exist in the real world...

 

[Tommi]

If you want to build worlds/countries/regions/towns...

My suggestions world building the material part: general geography books etc. But also Aria World (those that have got past the jargon suggest it as very valuable tool). Also Good book read is HARN world boxed set. and HARN palyer guide

A bit smaller area (countries ect.): Rolemaster Castles and Ruins (out of print but PDF available), RuneQuest Fantasy cites (I have it in Finnish so I don't know english name), Again Aria Wold, HARN kingdom books.

Yet smaller area: HARN Manor. Castles and Ruins, RQ fantasy towns and Aria World.

There are also very good web sites and my faw is :
http://users.tkk.fi/~vesanto/roleplay.html

corrected link

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Thanks guys. Wonderful replies.

On another note, what would you recomend for overland/continant map drawing software? I'm looking at Campaign Cartographer 2.