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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dykstrav" data-source="post: 3308879" data-attributes="member: 40522">I've built two homebrews now and helped other DM's work on their own. Here's basically where you start...1) Figure out what you like about the game, but also, what you don't like. At first, don't worry about being derivative or whether or not it makes sense, just start grabbing what you like. You're just brainstorming at this point. You can sketch out a continent, or a few overarching storylines (such as elemental wizards making forays into deserts to take slaves and a resurgence in an ancient cult of demon-worshippers). You'll probablky want to consider a few of the most powerful NPCs in the setting that your characters may encounter or at least hear of. This is a great opportunity- you get to make all those characters that you've daydreamed about but never got a chance to play. Again, don't get bogged down in details. At first, it's fine to know that the king is a 8th-level aristocrat and play from there.2) Start designing adventures. This is important! A campaign setting is essentially about playing the game in them. Once you start designing the actual adventures, all those disparate elements you brainstormed will start to come together. The setting will sort of organically build itself once you start answering the questions ("Why are there dinosaurs and elves on this pirate island?" "Why is the sheriff willing to accept bribes?" "Why do the gnolls spare caravans traveling through the mountain pass but attack other travelers?")3) After you've gotten a few adventures, start playing. Don't worry too much if you haven't answered alot of questions at first. Your players can help you fill in the gaps. The cleric, for example, can design his deity and do some of the work for you. Alot of players love the chance to add to a world when you ask and give them the chance.After this basic process, you'll have a pretty good idea of what sort of world you're playing in. You start in relatively broad strokes and fill in the details as your game goes in new directions.If you can get it, I'd recommend you check out the World Builder's Guidebook. It's a resource for 2E but there aren't any rules-specific elements, it can work just as easily for 3.5. It's got loads of good material for developing a D&D world.</blockquote>

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