World Building Checklist?

[damiller]

Does such a thing exist?

My google fu is weak, as I can't seem to find ANYTHING like it. I am struggling with how to organize new campaigns and a generic checklist of all the things a GM may want to consider about a new Campaign BEFORE play begins would be very helpful.

On the flip side, if nothing like that does exist, I would appreciate any suggestions for such a checklist.

d

 

[el-remmen]

I would make a distinction between "world-building" and "campaign preparation".

Sometimes they are one in the same, but not always. . .

 

[Arkhandus]

I can't quite recall where I might've seen something like that on the Internet before, but I'm fairly sure I've seen something similar.......

Anyway, what I can recall and find is Rich Burlew's series of articles about building a campaign setting once, part of his website. It starts here http://www.giantitp.com/frm0009.html

 

[Bibliophile]

If I remember correctly, over in the hosted forums section of this site, in the "Game Master's Foundation" forum, there's a really good thread from a ways back about a campaign journal. It might just fit the bill for you.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

For published campaign planning aids both Phil Reed (Campaign Planner PDF series) and Paizo (GameMastery Campaign Workbook (print)) have products. My preference is for the PDFs, since I can then print out as much of a given sheet as I want. I own all the Campaign Planners, and have not (yet) purchased the Paizo product, but suspect that it will be at the very least decent.

The Auld Grump

 

[Starglim]

There are several past discussions on this in the archives here, though it looks as if membership is required:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/world-create/

 

[Shadowslayer]

Here's everything you need to know: Dungeoncraft

 

[philreed]

Potential products for world/campaign building:

Campaign Plannerhttp://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=2097&, Campaign Planner 2http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4085&, and Campaign Planner 3http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4330& are all packs of forms that you can print or fill-out onscreen. Fair warning, all three of these are by me.

DM Design Kithttp://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1055& is an old AD&D supplement. Many of the forms, and the book on adventure design, are still usable today.

World Builder's Guidebook is a second edition AD&D product. Not as useful as other releases but there's still some good advice.

DM Campaign Trackerhttp://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4782& is another set of forms for 3.5 campaigns.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Google "Patricia Wrede World builing" =

http://www.sfwa.org/writing/worldbuilding1.htm

 

[jdrakeh]

The guy knows nada about HTML, though when it comes to World Design, Rich Staats has you coveredhttp://www.geocities.com/dr_games/staats2.htm. Seriously. This is the definitiive online world-building site (and the most widely mimicked).