The Ultimate Worldbuilding Template

please copy and create own item

Is it set on?

Earth-

Alternate Earth-

Not Earth-

Estimate its population:

In one sentence, describe your world:

Basics

Geography

Natural world

1. How was the world created?

b)How long ago was it created?

2. How do the laws of physics work?

3. How does the solar system move? What celestial beings exist (suns, stars, moons, ect…) and how do they relate to the world?

Flora/ Fauna

1. How does the flora differ from region to region?

2. Do any plants have magical properties? Are any dangerous?

Creatures

1. What kind of wildlife roams which part of your world?

2. How did the wildlife evolve? Where are they most commonly found?
3. Do mythical creatures such as dragons exist? How do they fit into the ecosystems?

Landscape

1. Where are the mountain ranges? Rivers? Forests? Deserts? Seas?

2. How does the terrain interact with its inhabitants?

3. Are there any “natural wonders” in your world? How were they formed?

Diseases

1. What natural diseases have evolved over time?How are they transmitted? How has this affected population growth?

Locations of significance

1. What are the major cities in your world? Most populated metropolises?

2. Is your world split geographically? (e.g. rural and urban, north and south, ect…) If so, how?

Capital city

1. What is the capital city of the world? Why is it the capital?

Flags and symbols

1. How does each city choose to represent itself (crest, flags, signature colors)

Weather

1. What are the processes of your world that drive weather and ocean patterns?

2. Are certain regions more vulnerableto certain weather conditions?

Climate

1. How does the climate differ in each region?

2. What are the seasons like in your world? How many seasons are there?

People

Races & species

1. What intelligent species or race populate your world? Dwarves? Elves? Xenomorphs? Others? How did they come to exist?

2. How does each race or species precive each other? How do they co-exist?

Physical build

1. What do the inhabitants of your world look like? Do they have any distinguishing features?

2. What is the social standing for beauty? How might this differ in each region of the world?

Mannerisms

1. What is the code of conduct between people of different ranks or classes? People of different cities or regions? Elders?

2. How do people in your world convey non-verbal boredom? Disbelief? Happiness? Impatience? Respect?

3. What would be a gesture that is universally insulting in your world?

Customs and rituals

1. Are there rites of passage in your world? “Coming of age” celebrations? If so, what age marks the transition from child to adult?

2. What traditions surround death and burial? What about engagements and proposals of marriage?

Festivals
1. What are the important festivals of your world and why are they celebrated?

Languages

1. How many languages exist in your world? How did they originate?

2. Which language is spoken most? Is there a universal language?

3. How do the names differ in each region?

Sayings

1. What are the common sayings? Idioms? Insults? “Untranslatable” words that only a certain group of people would understand?

Accents

1. If different languages exist, how does this affect the accents in your world? What do the accents say about the person (place of origin, social class, level of education, etcetera)?

Greetings

1. How do people of the same race greet each other? How do people of different races greet one another?

2. Is there an informal and formal way to greet others depending on the level of familiarity (i.e. friends, acquantances, elders, superiors, etcetera)? What are the proper forms of address?

Social framework

Civalization

1. How do people see each other in your world? Foreigners? non-humans?

2. What are the social taboos? What would one need to do in order to be kicked out of society?

Class or caste systems
1. Is there a class system? If so, how much emphasis does society place on it?

2. What are the tell-tale sign that a person belongs to a certain class?

3. How does class affect the business in your world? Can anyone become a priest or wizard- or is it a privilege restricted to certain members of the hierarchy?

Family structure

1. What is the normal family unit?

2. What is the social system within a family unit in your world? Patriarchal? Matriarchal?

3. What constitutes a good father? A good mother? A good child?

Marriage

1. How is marriage defined in your world? Is marriage a civil or religious institution?

2. Do people marry for love? If not, why do they marry?

History

1. How did civilization begin?

2. What were the significant wars that have taken place on your world’s soil?

3. When was the earliest known record of history?

4. Can your world’s history be divided into significant eras (e.g. Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, etcetera)

Myths

1. What myths exist in your world to explain the cosmos? How might this happen?

2. How were stories passed through generations?

Culture

1. How is culture preserved in your world?

2. What are some things that define each culture? What would a person from a certain city, region, or country be proudest of?

Literature, art, and music

1. What is the role of the arts in your world’s culture? How is it perceived by society and how it evolved?

2. Who are some celebrated or noted artists in history? What for?

3. How might the arts have changed as a result of outside influences (from other religions, cities, races, etcetera)?

4. Are any of the arts taboo? If so, why?

Clothes

1. What is the customary dress for men? Women?

2. What fashion is trending and how does this differ from region to region?

3. How does the clothing one wears reflect status

4. What is the dress code for each profession? How strictly followed must it be?

Cuisine

1. What are the regional dishes? How might this differ depending on the climate and environment?

2. Is there a difference between what the poor and rich eat? What is considered luxurious food? What is considered a staple food?

3. How are mealtimes approached? Is there a set hour to be at the table? Are there any traditions that proceed or follow a meal?

Religion

1. How do people worship in your world?

2. When and where do people worship?

Gods and deities

1. Who are the major and minor gods that people worship?

2. What function do the gods serve in society?

Holy texts

1. What (if any) holy texts exist?

2. How well-known are the scriptures? Would people of all ages be able to recite them on the spot if asked?

Significant prophets

1. Who are the important religious figures in the world? For what reason are they important?

Education

1. Does formal education exist? If so, who can access it? The rich? The clergy? Everybody in the general population?

2. If magic exists in your world, how is it studied? Do schools exist to train it?

3. What are literacy rates among the general population? How does this affect communication and distribution of information?

Leisure

1. How do people spend their leisure time in your world? What forms of entertainment are the most common?

2. Are there any organized sports in your world? How might its rules and regulations differ from the ordinary(i.e. Qudditch)?

Technology, Magic, Weapons

Magic systems

1. To what ends and purpose is magic in your world? Who can use it?

2. What limits are there to its power? What are the consequences of using it?

3. What is the history of magic and magicians in your world?

4. How does society view magic? Positively? Negatively? As the other?

Rules of magic

1. How does magic work in your world? Where does it come from?

2. Is there a language that’s needed in order to call forth magic? If so, what are its roots?

3. Is magic regulated in any way? What are the governing body?

Practitioning magicians

1. What are magicians' status in society?Are they trusted advisors of kings or charlatans on the road?

2. How many magicians exist in your world? How do they perceive one another?

Technology

1. How advanced is the technology in your world? How does it work?

2. How does technology impact the different parts of society? Transportation? Communication? Medicine?

3. How does magic and technology interact and coexist? Is it rivalry? A co-op? Are there rules and regulations?

Weaponry

1. What weapons are predominant in your world (ranged, combat, anti-gravity, etcetera) and why?

2. Who makes the weapons? How do they work? Is it easy to obtain them?

Signature weapons

1. Are there special weapons (i.e. Thor’s hammer, Captain America’s shield, etcetera)? How are they made? How many of them exist in the world?

Common weapons

1. Are there any weapons that are so commonplace that every household owns it? If so, what?

2. Are there professions that necessitate the bearing of weapons? What about religions (i.e. the Sikhs who carry daggers)?

Enconomy

Trade & commerce

1. How is trade facilitated? Is it carried out by traveling merchants? By a guild? Are there auctions?

2. What cities, countries, or religions are allies? Trade partners? How has this changed throughout history?

3. How is the soft power of a region, city, or country determined?

Currency

1. Is there a universal currency? If not, what are the regional currencies? What is the valuation?

2. How is the currency circulated and what are the denominations? Can the currency be broken down into units (dollars, cents, dimes, quarters)?

Major imports & exports
1. What are the major exports of the region or city? Imports? How might this have evolved throughout history?

2. Does a particular region specialize in particular trade (i.e. Livestock, weaponry, etcetera)? Why?

Natural resources

1. What resources are natural in each part of your world? How does this affect trade and trade relationships?

Transportation

1. How easy is it to travel within a city and outside of a city? What modes of transportation exist (i.e. horse, anti-grav car, etcetera)?

2. How is information disseminated all over your world (ink and paper, owl, newspaper, messenger)?

Business

1. What crafts or trades are highly valued in your world?

2. Are some professions considered more elite or respectable than others?

3. How do people advance in their fields? Are there apprenticeships? How easy is mobility?

4. What is the normal work schedule for the average person? What is the average income?

Politics

Government

1. What is the form of government? Is it monarchy? Republic? Empire? Theocracy?

2. What are the responsibilities of the government? How far does the government’s sphere of influence spread (magic, religion, ectetera)?

3. How is the government perceived? Is it trusted by people or is there tension?

Law

1. What is the rule of law in your world? How is law? What are the most important laws?

2. What are the punishments for breaking the laws?

Justice systems

1. What is the legal process in your world? How are people tried?

2. How does magic fit into the legal systems? Is it above the law?

War systems

1. How is war declared? Is there a formal process that a country must go through in order to engage in war?

2. What is the command structure of the army?

3. How big is the army? Is it composed of humans? Non-humans? Both?