[oneofus]

In Creating Fantasy Worlds I showed you some websites where you can get help and inspiration from to make fantasy worlds for your stories.

As I find more links I'll add them here and if anyone has any links or comments related to the feature, please share them.

The One Of Us features will grow and change over time (sites disappear and links change) so this is the place to keep up to date.

[Aiyana]

Cheers, Paul. This will be VERY helpful, indeed!

Mel x

[jamie]

Heres a fantasy world which original started as a poem for me :


Earth in 2090


Turgid purple river laps redhot sand
Fumous gases envolope ghostly landscapes
Beastlike creatures stalk the earth
Wretched humanity
Bad to the bone
Rotten to the core
Holocaustic reprecussions shockwave through Earth
Shadowy expanses
Frigid seas
Windswept , thirsty steppes

New York : capital of the planet
Headquarters : Steely stone towers , gaurded at the spiked gates by goblins , sheilding The Queen
Lethal gamma rays shoot intruders
Traitors tortured , executed ruthlessly
Global invasion by unknown peoples
Animals killed , democracys toppled , leaders banished
Continents conquered , rolling clouds exploding like
deadly fungus , acidic rain , bitter wind ,
Major cities sacked , pillaged . Mankind wanders listlesstly , enslaved , worked to the very bone in construction of the Evil Kingdom .
Where London was now lies deathly pools and creaking groaning black forests of hideous carnivourous plants
Decidous regions now blankets of ice , Thriving lands now barren wasteland . Interstellar battles rage in purple skys , stray rays bounce , space debris falls like parachutes . Plantations of Humans working round the clock , slackness punished by platinum pronged spears
Mother Earth begs embellishment , black skies long for irredesence , Humanity longs for a hero .

[oneofus]

I like the idea of how this started as a poem. It's a good catalyst for the start of a world and also the start of a story.

Fantasy worlds can be created from a poem like this, or from a warning written on a map (Here Be Dragons!) or from a traveller's tale (like Gulliver's Travels for example) or from a legend of "a land far, far away".

How other cultures and characters in your story describe a world can be a good starting point too. In fact, it's probably a good idea to write out a few descriptions of your world from the viewpoints of different people, nations, races and cultures. Country A will describe country B differently than what country C might, especially if country A and B are at war!

[jamie]

Its such a broad genre , fantasy . That is why the books are 1000`s of pages long .........

[White Lion]

unless i have fully created a world with a geography/populace/ theology/history etc
i can't write. i have bearly finished this stage and it has taken me close to a few months this time around.

[kingleby]

same here! when i don't plan my novels they turn out real bad and unrealistic (even the fantasy ones, lol). i love the idea of it forming from a poem! i've never tried that before. one of my ideas i got from taking part in an Rp forum, they are really helpful for developing characters. i can give the link if you want it.

I also create fantasy worlds with the whole history of the world and i even draw a map, have the history of all the places...lol, i'm so weird

[oneofus]

I used to love playing Dungeons & Dragons when I was younger. I would sit for hours reading about the fantasy worlds and pondering over the maps!

Let us know the link for that RP (role-playing) forum - role-playing games are centred around character building so I find them great for character creation (especially for fantasy settings).

[kingleby]

okay, its here:

http://marty78.hyper...2.com/index.cgi?

[Vandalin]

just from a quick look, looks like fun and inspirational too possibly. Nice work.

[MrChom]

I'm working on a fantasy novel myself at the moment, and it's getting to be a handful keeping track of the stuff I originally plotted out. Currently I have about 20 sheets of paper stuck to my wall with the rough history, character profiles, religion, a map, information about major cities, currencies and so on. Add to this the ream of post-its on technology, addenda and all sorts of other odds and sods and it gets real messy.

I can't even begin to think about what it must have been like for Tolkien with his untold reams of legends, languages, and a far expanded geography. I can see now why fantasy novels are so epic, it's the amount of scope people have to work with and frankly it scares me.

[oneofus]

I may have a solution for all of your bits of paper...

If you pop into any bookshop, they'll have a ton of stuff about Tolkein. Amongst all of this, there may an encyclodepia on Middle Earth. Take a look at the format of the info in there. Use the format that they use, and pop all of your notes into this format. It may help to keep all of your stuff organised.

[tagos]

http://www.profantasy.com/

The best of the lot IMHO. Expensive but worth it. Design a fantasy world from the sewers up to a global map.

[oneofus]

That looks really good. I may grab a copy of the city builder to populate the world I created using the Civilisation 3 map editor.

[Y12Jesusa]

I'm just new here, Y12Jesusa from australia. I'm intrested in MAGIC...

I've watched so many movies and video games (from dungeons and dragons to diablo 2 two warcraft and i own the lord of the rings) Insipiring as they maybe.

But is there a way to go around using magic that is feasable, realistic without
using it to eipc proportions and to not use too much american dialogue?

[the_faery_queen]

strange. the world is the last thing i do. if at all. i prefer characters and plot over needeless background information, so my world only develops as i need it. i only named towns that i needed, when i needed them and i had to rack my brain for a handfuil of names for the map my friend was making for me, after i had written the first two novels in the series. i always find it interesting the level people go to with world building because for me, its unneccessary, and also, in reading, the books that have the huge worlds with complex backstory, tend to be the ones i find boring!

so no offense to the people here who world build, but make sure it doesn't get in the way of characters/plot because i have seen cases where that does happen.

[dawiaakasailorsea]

Hmm... for me. I liek to create a few main characters then there home town and the a few cities, villages, etc. around it. Then I fouse on where the character is going to go if they leave the areas closest to them. I create thos places and then finish up by creating all of the other places. Then finally the story.

Altought for RPG sites I just come up with random places then later go back and add more detail and other places if need be.

[Brant_Flir]

Hi everyone! I'm new here. I am currently working on a fantasy novel, and i'm startign all from scratch. At the moment i'm researching and just getting as many facts of weapons and fantasy creatures/races and am currently working on getting the history and backstory written down.

To me, this is the funnest part of the novel writing process!

I don't like maps though. They're hard to draw good.

[BlackReflex]

Hey

I was just wondering if anybody could help me out just a little bit with the creation of my world.

i first want to give the reason why im writing, or how i came to write.

I've been thinking about writing since i was 9 or so, but at that time i figured that writing was a lost cause because usually, unless you're a genius on paper, writers don't make alot of money. I instantly put the idea aside. So i said that i would just become a software engineer. Not to be cocky, or obnoxious, but I can basically be anything i want because im (not to be obnoxious) pretty smart, which is why changing career choices is not that big a deal for me. But i have a short attention span, and i soon realized that although i could do whatever i wanted, i would not like what i was doing. And that, to me, is worse than not doing anything at all. So I asked myself " What keeps my interest? What could i do for hours and sometimes even 16-20 hours at a time, without being bored are losing vigor?" and the answer was reading. Although it took me 4-5 years to figure it out, i now know i want to be a writer. I'm 13 now, and i fear that my inexperience may prohibit me from being a good writer.

I started out with getting a little outline of what the series would be about (i hope for it to be a trilogy) and then, in my foolishness, just started writing. Well that was just kinda stupid. Maybe if i had a more detailed summary, it might've been a little better. But i just had an outline. Then, i went to trying to design my characters, then putting the story and world around them. That also resulted in a failed attempt. I soon realized that although i have a pretty good idea, on what the characters are like, and what it will be about. I need to have the land and society they are based around, for without that, you have nothing. So now, i've thrown everything away, and starting from scratch again. Starting with the world, or land.

I've been looking up everything i possibly could for the past couple of weeks on building fantasy worlds. But i still am not sure how to produce my land.

Not so much how, but in what order.

Should i first build my characters and their respective attributes, societys, beliefs and powers and then build a world and guideline to contain them?

Should i first build the world, and the rules on the use of magic and so forth. Then fit my characters in?

Or, in your oppinion, should i first make the background and history for everything. By that, i mean should i write how the antagonist came to be. And how the protagonist gets his powers etc. And then build the world around that...?

Should i know what parts my character is traveling to and then build the land and places around wherever he goes?

And say i do get a basic outlook on what my land will be like. Would it be easier for me to get things done, if i maybe had someone draw (I CANNOT DRAW WORTH SHIZ) a tangible map of the land. Or are there any reliable online map generators that would help me in this aspect?

Im really just kinda confused on which parts should i do first.

Im sorry if this is all kidna garbled up and confusing to some of you, but i really am just kind of baffled. I feel that I can't start writing my book until i first have a land in which to put it in.

I know some of these questions might seem kinda stupid. But im really clueless

thanx in advance.

p.s- Would it help if you had kind of an idea what the trilogy will be about?

[Vandalin]

Wow, where to start...

One thing I have learned in my years of writing is that everyone has to find their own way/method. Ideas can be given and tried but we each have our own way of creating.

I can start a story with a scene that flashed in my mind and the flesh it out from there. I can start with a character and create a story around them. Most of my stories though don't specify where or when they take place. They are fiction but I don't require the entire world history for my stories. The closest to that would be a family history for one of my stories which actully led to the idea of a prequel that I will be writing.

I have however played with the idea of a spec-fiction (sci-fi) story which would take place on a different planet in which I would have to tell of the world and possibly some of it's history. I have found this harder for me and it hasn't been able to keep my interest long enough to put more then 100 words down for it.

My best bit of advice when deciding where to start is find what feels natural and don't stick to one method. I have to multi-task my creativity. Work on the characters and the setting at the same time. If the world the person lives in is very cold then their clothing style will be different than if they lived in a dessert. There is so much inter-mingling of ideas and facts that it would be hard to make one without the other (in my mind at least).

Here is a thought: Which is more important, the characters in your story or your world? Meaning, as a trilogy (I think you said trilogy in a previous post) does the story focus more on the characters or the world? Two examples I can think of would be Terry Brooks Shannara multi-series and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. The Shannara books are really more about the world as the characters continue to change throught the different serieses (sp) and although they are all inter-connected and the characters are important, the books (to me) tend to be about their world and their magics. The Potter books on the other hand a character driven. The world is important but it's the characters that are the focus.

I'll have to get back to you on the map drawing ideas. I know we had a thread somewhere in the forums about a downloadable program that generates worlds. There is also something like Sim City if it's a small world as they include a "world design" portion to the program. Or something like the old Civilization (or new, haven't checked it out yet) had a great world building option.

In the meantime, try different methods (as you have been doing) and remember, one book may be written by outline, one may be written free flowing. It's all in the story. Hope this helps more than confuses.

[BlackReflex]

Thanx for the advice. That helps alot. Especially the Character or World focus. I've read some of the Shannara books ( couldn't read all of them because they were just so boring...) and all the HP books, and i see what you mean.

Thanx

[BlackReflex]

Anyone know about any websites or just have any plain ol' advice about how to go about creating the Rules of Magic for your world? I think that so far, that's about the only thing holding me back. I can't honestly start writing my book without knowing how the magic works. I know that that's mostly up to the author and that as the author, i should already have some idea. But i really don't have anything ORIGINAL.

Im not really looking for any actual magical systems already made up, just some input or advice about how to go about doing it. Or, maybe what you (if you have made up some magic for your books?) started out doing, and how you went into developing it.

I know of a whole bunch of different magic and rules of use. Ranging from David Eddings "Will and the Word" to J.K Rowlings "Wand Magic" as i call it. I personally love Christopher Paolini's system. It's almost like a more complicated Will and the Word type of thing. But i feel that since i like it so much that i, as a writer, would be inclined to kind of copy off of him and i don't want to put myself in a situation where my book seems like a spin off of someone elses just because of the way people use magic.

One of the problems is that i read so much that alot of times i think that ive just made up a way that my characters could use magic, only to later realize that it's already been used in another. I realize that it would probably unlikely that i make up a system that hasn't been used in another book, but i atleast want to individualize a system to the point that it actually seems like my own idea.

Im not sure of whether i should spend a year or however long it takes to create a language of my own from scratch. Full alphabet, grammarical usage and everything.

Or maybe making a variation of Will and the Word.

Possibly Chaos Magic, or some type of unstable elemental magic. (my book centers around a race named Kiri who are elementals.)


Maybe some type of rune or symbol magic....

Frankly, im just throwing ideas none of which i feel all that strongly about.
ANY INPUT AT ALL WOULD BE WELL APPRECIATED.

[oneofus]

Oooh, that's a very very interesting question you have there!

I don't think you should worry too much about coming up with a system that's already been used as most "magic systems" in fiction are fairly alike anyway. However, I understand why you want something original.

I would start by thinking about where the "energy" to do the magical effects comes from. Does it come from someone's mind like mind-over-matter (using parts of the brain that we don't currently use)? It may come from hallucinogenic substances that unlock some hidden inner brain functions. Different substances could allow different types of magical effects. Your characters may have to gather rare and ususual substances or herbs or chemicals and mix them together using long-forgotten recipes (alchemy and the like).

Anther idea is that your characters can tap into some energy such as ley-lines or open a small hole into the spirit world. A temporary breakdown of barriers between worlds could produce some magical effects (want to walk through walls? step into the world of ghosts for a few minutes! Want to send a fireball from someone? A quick little gateway into Hell may produce a nice burst of fire for you!)

Control of the elements is another idea and something you touched on in your post. different factions or characters in your book could conflict due to their affiliation with opposing elements - fire vs water for example.

You could look into the idea of your characters tapping into the power of others who are native magic users such as genies. You don't have to explain how the native users came about their magic but if could create a believable magic system for your world. Genies can be quite interesting if you think about the "wish" system. Your characters could wish for something but the wording will be interpreted literally ("I want my enemies dead" could transport the character 100 years into the future - not quite the intended effect!) Magic could be an answer to a divine request. Your characters could call upon their deities to pass on a little of their power to the magic user. In a world based on Greek mythology, a worshipper of Zeus could call upon the power to use lighting as a weapon, or a light to guide their way or as a power source etc.

Also, I wouldn't try and create a whole language for your world. In my opinion, it could make things difficult to follow for your readers if they kept having to go to an appendix in the book to translate things. You could however throw inthe odd word or two. If you did this, it may be easier to try and assign a real world language as a base. So for example, one of your languages could be based on arabic and another on chinese so you could create a consistent tone and feel to your new words.

I hope this has given you ideas!

[BlackReflex]

Wow...
Many thanx for your input. I didn't think of half the things you said. Your post has really given me a whole slew of ideas. I think i know what im going to do now.

I have another question that ill post as a new topic. It would be great if you could take a look at it?

[Arumbus]

 oneofus, on May 25 2004, 12:52 PM, said:

In Creating Fantasy Worlds I showed you some websites where you can get help and inspiration from to make fantasy worlds for your stories.

As I find more links I'll add them here and if anyone has any links or comments related to the feature, please share them.

The One Of Us features will grow and change over time (sites disappear and links change) so this is the place to keep up to date.

Great article! For those interestested in fantasy world building, you may also want to take a peek at what we are doing for "The Mythical World of Mernac" - the would building here is an interactive activity with many writers involved and controlled and edited by the "Gods" to ensure consistancy.

It is a new project but shows some promise

Take a Peek: Interactive Fiction of Mernac

May the Seven Mothers Bless you,

[oneofus]

Wow, that sounds like a fantastic idea! Hope it all goes well and I'll do my best to stop by and check it out a bit more.

[Samulis]

I truly cannot belive there is a part of a site dedicated to exactly what I have been working on for two years now. I have been creating an entire world out of nothing but pieces of paper, scribbles on notebooks, and drawings. I call it Imparus and am writting the entire history of the world bit by bit. I want to know if people are willing to critique some of the finer bits of information on the world.

http://www.freewebs.com/Samersania

-Samulis

[Chad]

I skimmed over the link provided by the OP, but I have a question. Ok, in a fantasy world I would want a large variety to places. A desert, tundra, marsh, grassland, mountains, and forest. The problem is, I'm not sure how to realistically place them on a continent. What would be the most realistic way to organize those areas? How close should the marsh and desert be? Should the desert be in the middle, or the farthest south? That kind of thing.

[Samulis]

 Chad, on Feb 17 2009, 12:52 PM, said:

I skimmed over the link provided by the OP, but I have a question. Ok, in a fantasy world I would want a large variety to places. A desert, tundra, marsh, grassland, mountains, and forest. The problem is, I'm not sure how to realistically place them on a continent. What would be the most realistic way to organize those areas? How close should the marsh and desert be? Should the desert be in the middle, or the farthest south? That kind of thing.

Try to locate the place's real position on a map, such as 'near the equator' or 'far north' also, if you already have a culture growing there, model the place to follow them, like a european-based culture would have a more european land and middle-eastern cultures should live in more of a arid region. It's all up to you. Also, if you want, you can think of each land bordering the other as it's own world, slowly merging close things together, for example, there are more places where forest turns into plains than forest turns into desert. It does happen, but less likely. Deserts are often pictured either far inland or on the coast. When you are thinking about mountain ranges, throw in what you have, like some plate tectonics, volcanoes, whatever you can. You can even make up whole stories about gods and how they lifted the land with their mighty arms.

[oneofus]

If you have a copy of the classic computer game Civilisation, you can use the map builder to build realistic maps. It keeps them within the bounds of reality so that deserts and tropical zones are placed where they would be.

On a basic level, looking from the top of the world down you would typically get:

• Arctic
  
• Tundra
  
• Temperate
  
• Desert
  
• Tropical
  
• Desert
  
• Temperate
  
• Tundra
  
• Arctic

[Samulis]

Civilization is a great way to make maps, be it Civ III or Civ IV. I believe there is a way to export those maps as images. You could then import them into a program like Photoshop and manipulate the image to what you want- e.g. trace it on a separate layer and then delete the original map layer and replace it with a scroll to give the appearance of a hand-drawn map.

[oneofus]

Yes indeed, I've done this myself. I also found a good Photoshop tutorial that shows you have to give the map an antiquated look. However I can't find it again... serves me right for not saving the bookmark! A quick Google search should bring up a whole load of examples.