The Worldbuilding Question Thread

All right, so it seems that people want to do this! The tough part was deciding how to structure this whole thing because not every question will apply to every person. But I figured that this problem solves itself, really. There's a lot of questions - lots - so it'll be a while before we run out. If a question doesn't apply to you but you still want to participate, just skip ahead to the next one that applies. As long as we're doing some worldbuilding, order doesn't really matter, and I'm sure that we can all individually remember if we've answered a question before.

If the question posted by the person before you does apply to your world, but it's difficult for you or you're not as interested or you don't feel like answering it, give it a shot anyway! Not all worldbuilding is glamorous. Even if you'd rather talk about your system of magic than your system of sanitation, all of those little details lend depth to your setting. Not all of these questions are exciting but they force us to think about the nuts and bolts, so I say challenge yourself and tackle the boring questions, too, or those that you don't immediately have an impressive answer to.

I've put them all in one google doc (because the ones on the website are sectioned off and not numbered). There are a LOT of questions. 473, to be exact. So, after answering the question that the person before you asked, just ctrl+f the number of that question within the document, and copy-paste the next one. Don't forget to include the number too, so the next person can find theirs. Hope that makes sense.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11RoRlK1Mz6S7vbjyu48J8OwmQtrPKO3oN1UNfYUKHgw/edit?usp=sharing

I shall kick it off then!

Are the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world, or are they the same as in real life? How does magic fit in? How do magical beasts fit in?

The laws of nature and physics are the same. Magic is, in a nutshell, the reality-warping effect of tiny pieces of another universe. There are no magical beasts with significant power.


2. Is this generally an earth-like world? Is it an “alternate Earth”?

Is this generally an earth-like world? Is it an “alternate Earth”?

It is an earth like world, but I would not call it an alternate earth. It is not a what if this happened with magic. My earth is its own place with its own history and peoples, but they may be inspired from our own history.

3. Are there different human races, whether or not there are non-humans like elves or dwarves? How does the cultural and ethnic diversity of this world compare to the real world?

3. Are there different human races, whether or not there are non-humans like elves or dwarves? How does the cultural and ethnic diversity of this world compare to the real world?

Yes, there are different human races, delineated by a clan structure. Oddly enough, the non-humans (of which there are many) are also bound by a race-inspired clan structure. Naming conventions list the appropriate clan as a means of identifying and separating race and social hierarchy. (both for the clan members themselves, as well as outsiders)

In comparison to the real world, I love the idea of a clan structure because it lends an indigenous feel to socio-cultural identity. The ethnic diversity is tied not only to clan history, language and culture, but ultimately, the land, which is the heart of every clan's true power.

4. How long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, or did they migrate from somewhere/when else?

3. Are there different human races, whether or not there are non-humans like elves or dwarves? How does the cultural and ethnic diversity of this world compare to the real world?@serendipitysnape Hilarious. We wrote a response at the same time.

There are many different races, and within them there are some different ethnicities. So the characters of the novel are of mostly Arabic decent since the province of Egonia is desert-like. However there are people to the west who are more caucasian in appearance and people to east who are more diverse since it's the region of magic. There are also Elves to the north(who are either Gold, Wood or Deep elves), Trolls to the south east, and Dwarves to the very far east. There are of course, other races too: goblins, fae etc. so it's a fairly diverse world. Of course most of these people and cultures aren't that well developed, since I only think about them as they come up in my actual story.

4. How long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, or did they migrate from somewhere/when else?

4. How long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, or did they migrate from somewhere/when else?

Boring answer for this one. People have been living on this world roughly as long as they have been on earth, and they evolved from a species of ape.

5. How many people are there in this country? How does this compare with world population? What is considered a small town/large town/city in terms of number of people?

Psst - here's a great resource for that http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/blueroom/demog.htm