A Work Intensive Approach to World Creation

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

So I'm envisioning wonders of the world.

They fit in three categories:

Wonders of the Ancient World, Forgotten Civilizations
Wonders of the Ancient World, Known/Active Civilizations
Currently in use wonders.

I envision:

The Lighthouse: Instead of fire at the top, a powerful spell. Still in use by the kingdom that built it over 1,000 years ago.
The Valley of the Kings (Including the Great Pyramids): Ancient/Forgotten civilization, currently considered an archeological find of the eon by Archmages, who hire guards to patrol its borders.
The Oracle of XXX Not sure which kingdom will have this, but once per lifetime a person may travel there, give sacrifices of loot unto the orcales, and get an answer. The civilization that built it has been lost to the dust of time.
The Great Wall: Another built by a long-ago kingdom, I'm going to put it in a vast region of swamp, deep within it. I've got plans for this baby.



So, anything you can think of?

 

[Alceste]

I've been trying to convert the map over to CC3 version, but so far, CC3 keeps crashing on me while I've been doing this, so we won't bother to convert it over, sound good?

Now, we've got the basics down on the kingdoms, so I guess tonight or tommorrow, I'll add a new section, probably to the South.

I picture the southern kingdoms, as we wrote with the Archmages, as decedant, slowly disintegrating empires.

Picture roman-esque clothing, Egyptian construction, Middle East attitudes.

"The men in the village all wear togas, and bow to you, the armored and armed strangers, as you exit the trees."

Or something.

Humm, how do you like CC3 so far? I was thinking about buying it. Btw, I am impressed with the depth of your work on your campaign so far.

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Ralts, this is frickin' awesome! Not sure how I missed this thread before now. As a fledgling world builder, this has been an immense help!

 

[Wolv0rine]

Humm, how do you like CC3 so far? I was thinking about buying it. Btw, I am impressed with the depth of your work on your campaign so far.

I keep trying to convince him that Photoshop is the Only way to make wicked-awesome maps, but he has stonewalled my valiant attempts so far.

The man even took a photoshop class. When was the last time you saw a CC3 class? lol

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

Bump

 

[Kid Socrates]

Also chiming with a note on how fantastic this thread is. I'm using your thought progression as a template for my world, and it has me thinking in ways I hadn't before, and coming up with new ideas I don't think I would have, either.

 

[anton1066]

Ralts, I have been making my world according to your method. I hate you for making me actually think about my world and adding logic to it(not that i am against logic in a world, just the work). But the group I DM for loves it and i guess thats why i still do it.

 

[Greg K]

Ralts, I have been making my world according to your method. I hate you for making me actually think about my world and adding logic to it(not that i am against logic in a world, just the work). But the group I DM for loves it and i guess thats why i still do it.

Lol! My current group had six players including myself until two moved cross country. Four of us were DMs and, yet, whenever someone other than myself was DM, every player would ask when we would go back to my campaign. Skillwise, three of us were equal GMs. However, I was the only one that took an approach to world building that is similar to the one Ralts describes while the others just very loosely set their campaigns in various ages of Middle Earth. As I run a more restrictive campaign than the others in terms of allowable classes, races, and other material, I really think it was the world building that made the difference and their enjoyment of the campain makes the effort worth it.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

bump.

Great thread. I hope to see plenty more.