Patrica C.

Wrede's Worldbuilder Questions

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About This Page

This page is not Patricia Wrede's web site. So far as I know, she doesn't have one. So if something is broken send your comments or complaints to me webmaster!larseighner.com. This page is not for young fans of Patricia ". Wrede and the worlds she has created. This page is not about her books, her characters, her specific worlds, and it is not about her. It doesn't have games, amusements, or chat about any of that. So, if that is what you are looking for, you are in the wrong place. #s far as I know $s. Wrede does not maintain an official web site, but there are numerous sites for fans of fantasy fiction where you will find her fans well represented. If you found this page, you must know how to use a search engine, so go back to the search engine listing and find a more appropriate site. This page is about creating fantasy worlds. In particular, it is about creating such worlds as part of the process of writing fiction. I know these page are consulted these days by people who are interested in creating fantasy worlds for games, and I suppose the %uestions are &ust as useful for that. Indeed, it is also a pretty good guide to considering real worlds, although I have not heard from any ethnographers so far. This page 'actually the many pages in this section( are derived of a number of postings $s. Wrede made to the )I*+,-T writing echo 'as )I*+,-T groups are called( back in the dark ages when internet access was not available to the public. There were many re%uests to repeat the posts, which $s. Wrede often honored, and as a result, I almost certainly lost the thread of $s. Wrede's original scheme. #nd I have perhaps done some damage in rendering the %uestions in .T$/. +riginally the %uestions did not have the sort0of0alphabetic arrangement I have given them here. $s. Wrede had a proper outline scheme with roman numerals, letters, and numbers. 1ut when I collected all of the posts, I never could get the scheme to line up properly. +f course, fantasy worlds are like real worlds in that everything is 'or should be( interrelated, and in the final analysis, any scheme is necessarily arbitrary. I suggest you pick one that makes sense to you. I put the %uestions on the web many years ago and obtained $s. Wrede's permission to have them on my site. The implications of all of that are these pages have no connection with any software product, any building0block toys, game creation system, or any other product which uses the word 2Worldbuilder2

as a trademark. I cannot give you permission to do anything with $s. Wrede's %uestions. I do not distribute them in any form other than these web pages, which is what I have the author's permission to do. $s. Wrede does not receive any part of donations to this site, nor does she receive commisions on sales through advertising banners on this site 'although I hope she gets the royalty in the event that some of her books are sold here(. These pages are intended for working writers and contain nothing of particular interest to $s. Wrede's young fans. $s. Wrede is not responsible for the content of my site, for anything that may be broken on it, or for the banner ads.

Index of Patricia C. Wrede s Worldbuilder !uestions

#rts and -ntertainment #rchitecture "alendar "rime and the /egal System *aily /ife *iet )ashion and *ress -ating customs -ducation )oreign 3elations 4estures 4overnment 4reeting and $eeting. /anguage $agic and $agicians $agic and Technology $anners $edicine People and "ustoms -thics and 5alues Physical and .istorical )eatures "limate and 4eography ,atural 3esources 4eneral .istory .istory of a Specific "ountry Politics Population 3eligion and Philosophy 3ules of $agic 3ural )actors Science and Technology Social +rgani6ation Transportation and "ommunication 7rban )actors 5isits War Wi6ards

Arts and "ntertainment

What is the status of the various arts 'dance, music, theater, etc.( in this society8 #re artists revered or mistrusted8 Who supports the arts8 Which arts are most highly valued and why8 #re there permanent theaters or concert halls for performing arts8 If so, who owns and runs them8 #re there also traveling troupes8 What do people at various levels of society do for fun8 "an magic be used in the arts and if so, how 00 paint that glows, pictures that move, flutes that play themselves, etc.8 Is there a separate branch of purely magical art, like illusions8 What sports or pastimes are common 'hawking, hunting, skiing, baseball(8 Which ones take skill, money, and9or leisure time8 What games are commonly known 00 chess, dice, poker8 Which are common among everyone, and which are limited to the peasantry or nobility8 #re certain countries9cities known for a passion9e:pertise for particular games or pastimes8 #re there non0human races who tend to be naturally talented painters, dancers, etc.8 .ow does this affect human practitioners of these arts8 *o non0human races have their own games and leisure pastimes8 .ow do they differ from human games8 .ow do they reflect the physiology and9or particular magical talents of the non0 human races8

Architecture

What is the most common building material8 Why is it used 'availability, cheapness(8 *oes it have any ma&or drawbacks 'wood;the 4reat )ire of /ondon(8 .ow are buildings normally ornamented8 "arved gargoyles, painted murals, geometric patterns8 .ow tall a building can be constructed at a reasonable cost and in a reasonable time8 What are typical floor plans like 00can people afford to waste space on hallways or do they &ust have a series of rooms opening into other rooms8 #re buildings normally built s%uare, triangular, domed, what8 .ow many people usually live in a typical house8 .ow large is a typical house8 What are the differences in materials and appearance between a lower0class, a middle0class, and an upper0class type house8 .ow do city houses differ from those in rural areas8 .ow are living %uarters arranged8 #re bedrooms on the top floors for privacy or on the ground floor for convenience8 #re parlors or libraries common8 .ow are houses heated9cooled8

Calendar

Is there a single, generally accepted calendar 'including time measurement( or do different countries or peoples or races have different ones8 .ow is the day divided into smaller time units8 What are they '.our of the /ark, Sunrise 1ell, ,ones, etc.(8 #re the names relevant to anything8 Is the length of an hour fi:ed, or does it vary depending on changes in the length of the day as the seasons change8 What are the names of months, and how many days are there in each8 .ow many days in a week9week0like0period8 $onths in a year8 #re there leap years8 If so, who keeps track8 Which days are general holidays or festival times8 What do they celebrate8 #re there any that are onl# celebrated in particular countries, cities, or regions8 What event's( do people use to date years8 Is it a single occurrence 'the creation of the world, the end of the 4reat War, the invention of atomic power, etc.(, or are events dated based on recurring things 'the <=th year of Tiberius' reign, the >??th year of the .an *ynasty(8 .ow do people tell what time it is8 #re there clocks, watches, sundials, etc., or do people have to listen for the bells from the castle or church, or do they &ust eyeball the sun8 #re there any days that are considered 2outside the year200like $ardi 4ras8 .ow did they originate8

Crime and the $egal %#stem

.ow has the presence of magic and magicians affected law and government8 #re wi6ards barred from certain kinds of &obs '&udge, &ury, police(8 *o some &obs re&uire that their holder be a wi6ard8 What are considered normal and legal ways of gathering evidence and determining guilt8 Is torture allowed8 Truth spells8 #re arbitrary &udgements by the lord or landowner allowed, or is there a standard that they are supposed to follow8 If someone doesn't like the &udgement he receives in court, is there anyone he can appeal to, like the -mperor or the Supreme "ourt8 #re there laws forbidding certain types of people 'peasants, wi6ards, priests, women( from carrying arms8 #re there laws re&uiring certain people to be skilled with certain weapons, as -ngland for some centuries re%uired yeomen to be proficient with the longbow8 Is forensic magic possible8 "ommonly used8 #dmissible in court8 7sed only for certain types of crimes 'and if so, what(8 Is it something any wi6ard can do, or do you have to speciali6e8 #re certain spells 'as opposed to magic generally( illegal8 If so, how would a criminal magician be detected8 #pprehended8 Punished8 #re criminal magicians dealt with by the same court system as everyone else, or is there a special branch of the courts, or are they handled by the Wi6ard's 4uild, or do you &ust send out a bunch of heroes to kill them off8 #re there separate courts for civil and criminal matters8 )or magical and non0magical matters8 )or humans and non0humans8 What are the differences8 What things are considered truly serious crimes and why8 '-:ample a trade0oriented culture might consider counterfeiting a death0penalty crime@ in a place where life is cheap, murder might be something that only results in a small fine.( What are the punishments for serious vs. minor crimes8 #re there prisons, or are people punished and released8 #re there degrees of punishment00branding vs. cutting off ears vs. cutting off a hand vs. decapitation00or do they &ust hang everybody8

Who is responsible for catching criminals8 Who pays the crook0catchers00the king, the city government, a consortium of merchants, somebody else8 .ow are they organi6ed00into independent police precincts, or into overlapping districts, or &ust according to whoever wants to hire them8 #re there lawyers or advocates8 Who can afford them8 Who trains and9or certifies them8 #re people guilty until proven innocent, innocent until proven guilty, or does it depend on the mood the lord is in when the case comes in front of him8 #re there &udges other than the lord9king or landowner8 If so, how are they paid, and by whom8 .ow often are outlying areas likely to see a &udge8 Is 2mob &ustice2 common8 #pproved of or disapproved of8 #re there sumptuary laws re%uiring certain clothes to be worn or not worn by certain occupations or classes8 *o &udges wear robes or wigs8 #re highwaymen, muggers, bandits, or pirates common or rare8 What sorts of crimes would the average citi6en be likely to run across during his9her lifetime8 Who can make or repeal laws00a group 'such as an elected Senate, an appointed "ouncil, or an hereditary .ouse of /ords( or only the king9emperor9head0of0state8 .ow are alleged criminals treated before9after their convictions8 *o the police9military9city guard make a practice of roughing up suspects, or is this frowned upon8

'ail# $ife

.ow do people feel about foreigners8 ,on0humans8 .ow ready are they to accept different ideas8 .ow cosmopolitan are they8 .ow much social mobility is there8 Is it easy or hard for a person born a peasant to advance to the middle class, or for a middle class person to advance to the upper class or nobility8 .ow much resistance would there be8 Would such a person ever be accepted socially8 What things are considered lu:uries00chocolate, coffee, cotton, flush toilets, spices8 What do people in general look like8 Would a blonde 'red0head, brunette( stand out in a crowd8 Someone A' tall8 B' tall8 *o non0humans8 What is furniture like00big and blocky, delicate, simple, elaborately carved or decorated8 What is it mostly made of00cloth, wood, stone, etc.8 #re certain things 'like chairs with arms( reserved for high0status individuals8 In what ways does furniture design reflect the customs of people 'e:ample beds with bed0 curtains for privacy in medieval keeps where servants wandered through rooms without warning@ chaise lounges as common furniture in a society where people are accustomed to recline rather than sit, etc.(8 What are plumbing and sanitary systems like8 Who builds and maintains them8 .ow reliable are they, and who do you call when the drains back up8 .ow do they differ from city to farm8 .ow do people cope with various disasters00fire, floods, volcanoes, plague, etc.8 .ow common are such disasters8 .ow early do people get up in the morning in the city8 "ountry8 #re clocks common, or do people tell time by the sun or by listening for the church bells8

'iet

What dishes are considered holiday food8 What foods9drinks are associated with particular holidays, events, 'e.g., funerals, weddings( or times of the year8 When a guest arrives, is food or drink offered immediately, after an interval, or only on re%uest8 Is there a particular food or drink that it is customary to offer a newly arrived guest8 # guest who is departing 'stirrup cup(8 .ow many meals are considered normal in a day8 When are they served8 Which are substantial, and which are smaller8 #re certain foods 'e.g., eggs and bacon( reserved mainly for a particular meal 'breakfast(8 What dishes would be considered typical of this area8 What wines or beers8 Is there a safe supply of drinking water, or do people 'including children( drink ale or beer e:clusively because 2water is unhealthy2 'i.e., contaminated and will make you sick(8 What foods are considered peasant food8 What foods are staples, commonly eaten every day8 What foods are rare8 What foods are normally cooked9eaten raw8 What is the food like8 What herbs and spices are readily available, and which must be imported8 .ow common9e:pensive are imported foods and spices8 What spices are commonly used8 *o people tend to like highly spiced food, or not8 .ow is food preserved for use during the off0season00smoking, canning, drying, etc.8 .ow reliable are the methods used00how often does 2preserved2 food spoil8 When food is in limited supply, who gets first crack8 The laborers and farmers who have to work to produce more, or the children who are the ne:t generation, or the wise and revered elders8 What foods do non0humans like, and how do these differ from those favored by humans8 #re some foods poisonous or distasteful to one species that are delicacies or necessary to another8

(ashion and 'ress

What do people wear8 .ow e:pensive is it8 "an the material be produced locally, or must some or all of it be imported8 #re certain clothes customary for certain occupations 00 e.g., military uniforms, &udges' robes, sports team uniforms, etc.8 .ow much variation is allowed8 "ould a scholar wear a fluorescent green robe as long as the cut was right, or would that be too much8 Is it color or style that is most important8 #re the dyes for certain colors 00 purple, indigo blue, etc. 00 rare, making cloth of that color more e:pensive and9or reserved for nobility or other high0status people8 #re there sumptuary laws, defining who can wear what8 What are the penalties8 Who decides when changes are needed8 .ow often are they ad&usted8 .ow many changes of clothes can a normal person afford8 # noble person8 # peasant8 What are current fashion in clothes like8 In hats8 Cewelry8 Shoes8 *o such fashions differ for humans9non0humans8 )rom country to country8 What materials are appropriate for the climate8 What cloth 'e.g., silk( must be imported, and is therefore used only for e:pensive upper0class clothing8 What styles are considered tacky and vulgar, and what is stylish8 What types of decorations and accessories are common8 What colors and combinations of colors are thought to look well together, or to clash8 *o opinions of this vary from race to race8

What physical types and characteristics are currently fashionable00tan vs. pale skin, the 2consumptive look2 vs. robust good health, fat vs. thin, blonde vs. brunette, muscles vs. 2dead poet2, etc.8 .ow does this vary for non0human races8 .ow do non0human fashions reflect the habitat and physiology of non0humans8 *o mermaids have a nudity taboo, for e:ample8 *o dragons dress for dinner8

"ating customs

*o men and women, parents and children, servants and master, eat separately, or does everyone eat together8 .ow is status displayed at the table 'seating above or below the salt, near or far from the head, serving first with the best, etc.(8 What dishes are considered holiday food8 What foods9drinks are associated with particular holidays, special events 'e.g., weddings, funerals(, or times of the year8 What distinguishes a formal, high0court dinner from an ordinary meal, besides %uantity and variety of food8 .ow do formal, high0court manners differ from everyday ones8 What eating utensils are used, if any8 )orks, eating knife, spoons, chopsticks, what8 What is the order of a typical upper0class meal00do they start with wine, then a sweet, then stew, then salad, or is everything brought in at once8 What shape are tables9eating areas 'round, oblong, s%uare, rectangular, etc.(8 Where is the 2place of honor2 for a guest8 Where do important members of the household sit9recline9whatever8 #re special arrangements necessary for entertaining guests of different races9species00taller chairs for dwarves, raw meat for werewolves, perches for harpies, etc.8 .ow do the eating customs of different races reflect their cultures and biology8 What things are ne)er eaten 'i.e., what's not kosher(8 Why8 #re some common human foods poisonous to dwarves or elves 'or vice versa(8

"ducation

.ow much does it cost to get various levels of education8 What education is available, and where8 #re there schoolhouses in every town, or do ordinary people have to travel if they want to be educated8 #re there universities8 Private tutors8 What is the literacy level in the general population8 Is literacy considered a useful9necessary skill for nobility, or something only scribes9clerks9wimps need8 What areas are considered absolutely necessary knowledge for a courtier 'poetry, languages, skill at arms, etc.(8 Which are nice but not necessary8 Which would be slightly embarrassing if anybody found out 'a passion for comic books, etc.(8 .ow respected are teachers and scholars8 Who supports them8

(oreign *elations

*oes this country have formal relationships with other countries8 If so, who can be an ambassador9envoy8 #re there standing embassies and consulates, or are envoys sent only when something specific comes up8 .ow are treaties arranged8 #re there any significant ones currently in force or coming up for signing8

.ow much do official attitudes toward other countries affect commerce and trade8 *o merchants pretty much ignore tensions between governments as long as they can make a profit, or will this get them into trouble8 .ow much formal spying and intelligence gathering is normally done by governments8 1y the military8 1y merchants8 Who has the best information0gathering system8 Which countries are traditional allies8 Which are traditional rivals8 .ow do these traditions affect current foreign policy8 Which heads of state are related by blood or marriage8 .ow important are marriage alliances8 .ow do ties of blood9marriage affect foreign policy8

+estures

#re gestures and body language in this society generally subtle, or not8 *o people talk with their hands, or is that considered vulgar8 What gestures are insulting8 What do they mean8 *o some gestures differ in meaning depending on the culture or time 'e:ample the #merican 252 for victory sign, which became the peace sign, is9was highly insulting in -urope(8 .ow do overall gestures and body language differ between countries8 #re there things that don't matter in one area that are mortal insults in another 'eating with the left hand, etc.(8 What are the different ways of showing respect 'bowing, saluting, etc.(8 To whom is one e:pected to show respect00one's elders, superiors in rank, social superiors, teachers, priests, etc.8

+o)ernment

.ow has the presence of magic and magicians affected law and government8 #re wi6ards barred from certain kinds of government &obs or offices8 *o some positions re&uire that their holder be a wi6ard8 .ow has the presence of non0human races affected law and government8 What is the basic form of government in this country00feudal aristocracy, oligarchy, absolute rulership, democracy, what8 What forms of government are used in neighboring countries, and why are they the same or different8 what services does the government or head of state provide schools, wells, courts, an army to protect people from the 5ikings8 What services are provided locally or privately8 Who has the right to levy ta:es8 )or what purposes8 +n what or whom8 "an ta:es be paid in kind, or do certain things re%uire money8 Who provides support services for the head of state8 What are they called Ding's "ouncilors, "abinet ministers, Secretary of State8 #re these hereditary offices, appointees, career civil servants, or elected officials8 Is the relative power of a country or king usually measured by the si6e of the army, the number and ability of the wi6ards, or the amount of money9trade flowing through it8 What are the easiest9most common ways to advance in status00amass more money, marry well, get the king's eye, etc8 .ow much resistance is there to someone advancing in social status8 Who will take over running the government if the current head of state is incapacitated8 .ow is this determined8 Is there an heir apparent 'either actual or political(8 What happens if the heir is a minor8

Who is responsible for protecting the king or head of state8 .is personal guard, the Secret Service, an elite group affiliated with the regular military8 What safeguards have they got against assassins, poisoning, direct assault, magical attack8 Who can give orders 'to military, to ta: collectors, to servants, to ordinary folks on the street(8 .ow are such people chosen8 Who is responsible for coinage the king, local barons, merchant guilds, someone else8 #re there generally acceptable standards for coins8 .ow easy9common is counterfeiting8 Is there an organi6ed system of education8 If so, who provides it government, temples, private persons8 .ow is it supported8 Who can call up men for an army, and how8 *oes the king ask his lords for men, who in turn draft their peasants, or can the king go straight to the bottom8 .ow much formal spying and intelligence gathering is normally done by governments8 The military8 The merchant guilds and wealthy tradesmen8 *o relations between countries depend mainly on the relations between the heads of state, or can two kings hate each others' guts without being able to &ust declare war and drag their countries into it8

+reeting and ,eeting.

.ow did the greeting gesture originate 'e:ample shaking hands to prove one's weapon hand was empty(8 Is there a special I0am0not0armed gesture for wi6ards8 Is there a difference between the greeting offered to an e%ual and that offered to a superior or inferior8 1etween that offered a man or a woman8 'cf. the various levels of curtsey( 1etween that offered a human vs. a non0human8 Is there a way of changing a greeting gesture to make it insulting8 When meeting someone for the first time, how are they greeted00wave, handshake, bow, some other gesture8 *oes this differ if one already knows the person8 If you see someone you like on the far side of the street, how do you acknowledge them8 .ow are two people who have not met before introduced to each other8 What is the order of precedence when there are several people of differing se:, social status, or race9species present who must all be introduced to each other8 #re there people or beings who are ne)er introduced to each other8 #re 2true names2 significant, and if so, under what circumstances would someone be given someone else's true name8 #re there customs involving the way in which someone is named when being introduced 'e:ample giving all of a person's names and titles at the first meeting, but never repeating them afterward, so that he's always referred to as 24eorge2 even though he's introduced as the *uke 4eorge -dward "anterbury 4ordon de la Suis0)oule, $ar%uis of .orsham, Whitewater and )ramingham, -arl of St. Peter's "lose, and 5iscount of #bernathy.(

$anguage

Is there a 2trade language2 that facilitates commerce between countries that don't speak the same tongue8 Is there a 2universal language2 spoken by educated or noble persons, as /atin was in the $iddle #ges8 #re some or all people bilingual8 Is there a common second language many people know8 #re there 2secret2 languages or codes known only by priests, soldiers, guild members, etc.8 If so, why were they developed8

What are the variations in speech patterns, synta:, and slang from one social class to another8 +ne occupation to another8 +ne region to another8 What areas do local slang phrases come out of8 '-:ample In a fishing town, referring to good luck as 2a good catch2@ in a farming town, as 2a good harvest2, etc.( What kinds of colorful turns of phrase do people use8 What things in this culture would their language have many specific words for 'e.g., the Inuit languages that have <EF words for different kinds of snow(8 What do the people in this culture consider important enough to name8 What will people swear a binding oath by8 What do people use as curse words8 .ow many languages are there8 Which ones are related 'e.g., the 3omance languages of -urope( and why8 Which languages borrow words or phrases from other languages8 Which are likely to be most widely spoken8 #re there different languages for different races 'dwarves, elves, etc.(, or is language based more on geography than race9species8 Is there a special language you need to learn in order to talk to dragons or other magical beasts8 *o wi6ards have a special language that is used for magic8 If so, where do they learn it8 Is it safe to chat in this language, or is e)er#thing said in it automatically a spell8

,agic and ,agicians

#re the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world 'to accommodate magic( or are they the same as in real life8 If the same, how does magic fit in8 .ow do magical beasts fit in8 If there is no specific point of divergence, what are the differences between this world and ours8 If magic e:ists but history is the same, how is this &ustified8 .ow do organi6ed religions react to magic8 If there are imaginary animals 'dragons, unicorns, etc( how do they fit into the ecology8 What do they eat8 .ow much and what kind of habitat do they re%uire8 #re they intelligent and9or capable of working spells, talking, etc.8 Where did civili6ation begin8 What directions did it spread8 .ow was its development affected by the presence of magic8 The presence of non0human races, if any8 Which peoples9races9cultures9countries are most technologically and9or magically advanced8 /east advanced8 Why8 Is magic legal8 #ny magic, or only some types8 *o laws vary widely from country to country, or is the attitude generally similar8 What wild animals, actual or imaginary, live in this area8 #re any of them potentially useful00 e.g., for fur, whale oil, hides, magical ingredients, etc. #re there magical beasts, like dragons and unicorns8 If so, which ones8 .ow many8 #re they common, or are some endangered species8 .ave any been domesticated8 #re there magical artifacts 'rings, swords, etc(8 If so, who makes them8 .ow8 #re they permanent, or does the magic wear off after a while8 What effect has magic had on laws8 #rt8 Technology8 -ntertainment8 etc. Where is scientific and9or magical research done00universities, private labs, under the auspices of the king9government, etc.8 4iven the magical9technological level of this society, what is an appropriate ratio of farmers or food producers to urban residents8 If this is based on the presence of magic, how many urban residents are going to starve if the spells supporting farming fail suddenly8

#re magicians a force in politics, or are they above it8 #re there national politics that revolve around magic9wi6ards 'i.e., trying to outlaw or promote certain kinds of magic, trying to draft all wi6ards into the king's army, licensing of magicians, etc.(8 .ow much as the presence of magic affected military strategy and tactics in general8 Is healing usually a magical process8 If so, how does the magical healing talent9spell work 'i.e., speeding up the body's natural healing mechanism vs. doing instant repairs from outside(8 *oes a magical healer have to consciously direct the healing process 'meaning that lots of knowledge of anatomy, etc. would be re%uired(, or does magical healing simply speed up the normal, unconscious healing process in the patient8 Is there more than one kind of magical healer 'as there are surgeons, eye doctors, orthopedic doctors, etc.(8 #re there both magical and non0 magical healers, and if so, are they rivals or simply different specialties8 What level is medicine at8 Who are the healers8 *o you have to have a talent to heal8 Who trains healers, herbalists, apothecaries, surgeons, magical vs. nonmagical healers, etc8 Is forensic magic possible8 "ommonly used8 7sed only to investigate certain types of crimes 'if so, which8(8 #re the results of forensic spells admissible in court as evidence8 #re there separate civil and criminal courts8 Is there a separate court or procedure for magical crimes8 #re &udges and other court officers re%uired9forbidden to know magic8 "an magic be used in the arts, and if so, how 00 paint that glows, pictures that move, flutes that play themselves, etc. 8 .ow do 2normal2 artists feel about this8

,agic and Technolog#

#re there magical means of transportation 'teleport spells, magic carpets, dragon0riding(8 .ow do they compare in speed, safety, and e:pense to non0magical means8 #re there any drawbacks 'e.g., air sickness(8 .ow commonly are they used, and for what purposes 'industrial shipping vs. travel for fun(8 #re magical weapons available8 "an magic be used in warfare8 In what ways8 #re spells fast enough to be useful in hand0to0hand combat, or is magic more of a siege weapon, useful only for long, slow things8 .ow has the presence of magic affected weapons technology8 *o you have to do anything special to armor, weapons, walls, to make them better able to resist spells8 "an ordinary ob&ects be enchanted to make them e:tremely lethal 'the )rying Pan of *eath( or will this work properly only on things that are already weapons8 "an ordinary ob&ects be enchanted to make them 'or their user( much, much better at whatever they do 'the )rying Pan of 7ltimate 4ourmet "ooking, the "omb of ,o 1ad .air *ays -ver(8 .ow common and useful are such enchantments8 To what degree do magical ob&ects and the presence of wi6ards and spells replace technology 'e.g., a chest that is enchanted to stay cold replacing refrigerators(8 *uplicate technology8 Supplement technology8

,anners

What distinguishes a formal, high0court dinner from an ordinary meal, besides %uantity and variety of food8 .ow do high0court manners differ from everyday ones8 What are the rules of precedence00who gets to go through doors first8 Who gets introduced first8

Is there a distinction between 2formal2 good manners and informal, everyday manners8 When and where are people e:pected to be on their best behavior8 .ow important are 2good manners2 in this society8 .ow do 2good manners2 differ from race to race8 .ow to people9dwarves9elves9dragons react when someone has &ust been, by their standards, rude8

,edicine

What customs surround death and burial8 Is there a special class of people 'doctors, priests, funeral directors, untouchables( who deal with dead bodies8 .ow accurate is the diagnostic process8 *o healers have ways of telling two diseases apart if they have similar symptoms8 *o healers depend on standard physical medical tests 00 refle:es, temperature, contracted pupils 00 or do they normally use spells for diagnosis8 .ow e:pensive are healers8 .ow available are such services to ordinary people8 .ow much is known about anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc8 #re treatments based on purely practical e:perience '2We know this works but we don't know why2(, or do healers understand at least some of what they are doing8 .ow much training does a healer normally get8 Where8 )rom whom8 Is healing generally a magical process8 If so, how does the magical healing talent work8 *oes a magical healer have to consciously direct the healing process 'meaning that lots of knowledge of anatomy, etc., would be re%uired(, or does magical healing simply speed up the normal, unconscious healing process in the patient8 Is there a reliable method of birth control8 Who normally handles births00midwives, or doctors8 What is the mortality rate for pregnant ladies, new mothers, and children8 Who can become a healer8 #re there various kinds of healers 'herbalists, wisewomen, pharmacists9apothecaries, surgeons, doctors, etc.(8 If so, why are distinctions made8 What kinds of treatments are available00herbal brews, vaccinations, acupuncture, etc.8 .ow effective are they8 Is it possible to resurrect9resuscitate someone who has died8 If so, how long is it before this becomes impossible8 1efore serious brain damage sets in8 .ow is insanity treated8 #re there asylums or treatment centers8 .ow effective are treatments for insanity8 .ow much do the physical differences between human and non0human races affect their medical treatment8 #re there some diseases that only affect non0humans, or only humans8 #re some treatments lethal to one species but effective in another8 *o doctors have to speciali6e in non0human medicine in order to do a good &ob of it8

People and Customs -- "thics and .alues

What will people swear a binding oath by8 What do people use as curse words8 What are the most desired9most valuable things in this society00gold, &ewels, drugs, money, furs, reindeer, oranges, etc8 Why is it desired9valued8 *o different races value different things8 Is there a race9culture for whom non0material things 'information, time( are the valuable things8 .ow did they get that way8 What things are considered normal and acceptable in this society that would not be considered normal or acceptable in yours8 '-:amples dueling, drugs, open homose:uality, polygamy, infanticide.(

What things are considered shocking in this society that are not considered shocking in yours8 '-:amples showing a woman's ankles, eating left0handed, reading in public.( What are the reactions of ordinary people when someone does one of these things8 What are the acceptable limits to honor and9or honesty in this society8 Is a binding oath unbreakable no matter what, or can you get out of it if the other party turns out to be evil scum or if you weren't fully informed8 #re 2white lies2 acceptable socially, or is lying in any form unacceptable8 What are the attitudes toward ownership8 What constitutes 2theft2 and what can be stolen00 gems, gold, purses, small moveables, someone's good name8 #re thieves organi6ed in a guild, licensed by law, freelance, or what8 Who is considered a citi6en, with the rights and privileges thereof8 What are those rights and privileges 'voting, protection from thieves, the right to a hearing in 3ome( and what responsibilities go along with them '&ury duty, providing funds or knights for the lord's army(8 #re there certain classes of people 'wi6ards, foreigners, children, peasants, women( who have fewer legal rights or less recourse than full citi6ens8 Why8 #re they considered mentally or morally deficient, a danger to the state, or is there some other rational8 What are the most controversial sub&ects in this culture8 What things can you easily start a friendly argument about in any bar8 What things will automaticall# start an unfriendl# argument8 'cf. the list of topics forbidden for discussion on this echo( What are the social taboos00what things are 2not done2, like wearing a bathing suit to the office8 What things are never talked about8 What would happen if someone did8 .ow do these taboos vary for different races8 What are the biggest social faux pas00burping loudly at a formal ban%uet, drawing steel in the presence of a king9noble, asking a dwarf whether it's a male or a female8 What sub&ects or actions cause embarrassment or discomfort8 What are the society's mores regarding courtship, marriage, and family8 Is marriage primarily a civil or a religious institution8 What are the standards of beauty for people8 )or paintings and sculpture8 )or clothes and furniture8 .ow do they differ from the standards in your culture 'e:ample a culture which considers fatness a highly desirable beauty trait(8 .ow do they reflect the physical traits of the various people 'e:ample dwarves considering height a GnegativeG trait, werewolves attracted by length of teeth or scent, etc.(8 What kind of ideal life do people aspire to8 *oes everyone want to be an -nglish country gentleperson, living out in the country, or is it the ,ew Hork social whirl, or the &et0set lifestyle, that attracts most people8 What kinds of people are the rebels and outcasts of this society8 .ow does society deal with them00prison, e:ile, decapitation, reformation, etc8 Who are the arbiters of ethics 'as opposed to law(8 .ow did they get to be arbiters8 Who are the arbiters of the social milieu8 *itto, ditto.

Ph#sical and /istorical (eatures

In which geographical areas will the story take place8 .ow much ground will the story cover8 What are the most striking features of landscape, climate, etc. in the story area8 If there are non0human inhabitants, are there any areas they particularly claim as their own 'e.g., dwarves in caves under mountains(8 Climate and +eograph# 0atural *esources

+eneral /istor# /istor# of a %pecific Countr#

Climate and +eograph#

.ave human activities affected climate, landscape, etc. in various regions8 .ow8 '-:ample 4rowth of the Sahara *esert has been increased by over0farming.( If this is an alternate earth, will the 2alternate2 part change e:isting effects 'if there are no people in ,. #frica, growth of the desert would be slower, etc.(8 .ow do differences from -arth 'multiple moons, suns, etc( affect the climate in various areas8 .ow much land is in each of the e%uatorial, temperate, and polar 6ones8 ,ote climate affects landscape through erosion and weathering, the distribution of plants and animals, and soil formation. Winter free6ing and thawing may change travel patterns as waterways free6e or flood, or mountain passes close. Weather also affects available sports, like skiing. #re all these things consistent with what you say the climate is like in particular areas8 Where are mountain ranges8 3ivers and lakes8 *eserts8 )orests, tropical and otherwise8 4rasslands and plains8 If there are imaginary animals 'dragons, unicorns, etc.( how do they fit into the ecology8 What do they eat8 .ow much and what kind of habitat do they re%uire8 #re they intelligent and9or capable of working spells, talking, etc.8 .ow common are they8 #re any endangered species8

0atural *esources

Which areas are the most fertile farmland8 Where are mineral resources located8 Which animals, birds, fish, and other wildlife are commonly found in which areas8 If there are imaginary animals such as dragons, where do they live8 Which natural resources, if any, have been depleted in which areas over time8 Which resources 'e.g., coal, oil, iron ore, gold, diamonds, limestone, etc.( are particularly abundant, and in which areas8 Which are scarce and where8 #re there places with ma&or deposits that haven't been discovered yet, or where such deposits haven't been fully e:ploited8 .ow much conflict has been or might be caused by these imbalances in resources8 .ow much active, peaceful trade8 What water resources are available, and for what uses8 '-:ample a mill wheel re%uires flowing water, i.e., a river or stream@ irrigation needs a large, dependable water source like a lake or large river, etc.(

+eneral /istor#

.ow far back are there records or tales of historical events8 .ow widely known are these stories8 *o average people believe old tales, or do they dismiss some that have a basis in fact 'as people dismissed Troy at one time(8 .ow long have there been people on this world8 *id they evolve, were they created by the gods, or did they migrate from somewhere9when else8 If there are non0humans, how long have they been around and where did the# come from8 )or an alternate -arth, how similar are history and cultures to real history and cultures8 Why are things similar9different8

Where did civili6ation begin8 What directions did it spread8 .ow was development affected by the presence of working magic8 The presence of non0human races 'if any(8 The actions of gods8 Which peoples9countries9races have, over the centuries, fought, been allies, traded, or traditionally been rivals8 Where are such old events still important00still causing hard feelings8 Which peoples9countries9races have been in conflict, allied, etc. in the GrecentG past8 Why8 When and why were the most recent wars8 Who won8 Which peoples9etc. are considered the most civili6ed8 Which are most technologically advanced8 $ost magically advanced8 /east advanced8 Is there a single, generally accepted calendar 'including time measurements like hours and minutes( or do different countries, peoples, races, etc. have different ones8 .ow many languages are there8 Which ones are related 'as the 3omance languages are( and why8 Which languages borrow words or phrases from other languages8 Which is likely to be most widely spoken8 Why8 Is there a 2trade language2 that facilitates commerce between countries that don't speak the same tongue8 Is there a 2universal language2 spoken by educated or noble persons 'or magicians(, as /atin was in the $iddle #ges8

/istor# of a %pecific Countr#

Who are the rivals or enemies of this country8 .ow close are they physically8 .ow powerful8 Who are the heroes and villains of each country's history 'e.g., Washington and /incoln in the 7.S., .enry 5 in -ngland, etc.(8 Why are they heroes, and what does this say about the country and people8 .ow accessible is this area8 What natural features mark the borders8 Who are the neighboring countries9peoples and what are they like8 Why did people settle in this area in the first place00strategic location, trade route, water transport, minerals, good farming, etc.8 .ave things changed much since, or do people still depend on whatever brought them here in the first place8 .ow do the weapons of this country compare with those of surrounding cities and countries8 .ave there been recent innovations that may upset the balance of power, or is everyone more or less e%ual8 .ow many people are there in this country8 .ow does this compare with world population8 What is considered a small town9large town9 city in terms of number of people8 .ow diverse is the population of this country00how many different races 'human or non0 human(, creeds, etc. normall# live in various cities and towns in this country8 In what percentages8 Is population shifting from rural to urban, south to north, mountains to coast, etc.8 Why8 What effects has this had on the places being left8 The places gaining people8 Is magic legal here8 #ll magic, or only some types8 *o laws governing magic vary widely from country to country, or are attitudes generally similar8 What does this country import8 -:port8 .ow important is trade to the economy8 .ow is currency e:change handled, and by whom8 What is the system of coinage used, and who mints it8 .ow much of this country is farmland8 )orest8 *esert8 $ountains8 Plains8 What are the primary crops 'e.g., potatoes, cotton, tobacco, coffee, rice, peanuts, wheat, sugarcane, etc.(8 #re any grown mainly for e:port8 What crops can not be grown here because of the soil, climate, etc.8

What water resources are available here, and for what uses8 What wild animals, actual or imaginary, live in this area8 #re any of them potentially useful00 e.g., for fur, whale oil, hides, magical ingredients, hat feathers8 Which animals, actual or imaginary, are commonly domesticated in this area8 Which aren't here, but are elsewhere8 '-:ample water buffalo in India vs. o:en in -urope vs. camels in desert areas(.

Politics

Is magic a profession, an art, or &ust a &ob8 What is the status accorded to magicians in this society8 #re they forbidden overt political action, or are wi6ards and9or the wi6ard's guild knee0deep in court intrigue8 Is there tension, rivalry, or outright hostility between any of the actual gods8 .ow does this affect church politics8 "ourt politics8 People's everyday lives8 *oes the level of technological advancement match the level of social and political advancement8 What are the ma&or political factions at present8 .ow long have they been around8 Which factions are allies, which enemies8 #re there any potential new forces on the political scene 'e.g., a rising middle class, a university gaining une:pected power because of certain magical discoveries, etc.(8 .ow much influence do 2special interest groups2 such as merchants, wi6ards, or various religions, have on court politics8 .ow do they e:ercise their influence00indirectly 'by talking lords or council members into taking their sides( or directly 'by having their own representatives on the council(8 What political positions are considered conservative8 /iberal8 7nthinkable8 .ow do such positions differ from what is considered conservative9liberal in your own society8 #re there any shaky political alliances between disparate groups8 Why were they formed8 .ow long is it likely to be before they fall apart8 When they do, what will the effects be8 What ancient rivalries and hatreds still affect current attitudes and political positions 'e:amples Scottish and Welsh separatist groups@ "atholics vs. Protestants vs. $uslims@ .atfields vs. $c"oys@ dwarves vs. elves(8 What kinds of people are likely to face pre&udice dwarves, werewolves, merchants, women, undertakers8 Is this institutionali6ed 'i.e., a matter of law(, or is it mostly a matter of public attitude8

Population

.ow many people are there in this country8 .ow does this compare with world population8 What is considered a small town9large town9city in terms of number of people8 .ow diverse is the population of this country00how many different races 'human or non0 human(, creeds, cultures, etc. normall# live in various cities and towns in this country8 In what percentages8 Is population shifting from rural to urban, south to north, mountains to coast, etc.8 Why00 invasions, plague, &ob opportunities, gold rush8 What effects has this had on the places being left8 The places gaining people8 4iven the magical9technological level of this society, what is an appropriate ratio of farmers or food producers to urban residents8

Is there much immigration into or out of various countries8 Why8 To or from what other areas8 Which geographical areas are most heavily populated8 /east8 Why8 #re certain regions or types of terrain more popular areas for non0humans 'dwarves, etc.( to live8 Why8

*eligion and Philosoph#

.ow do various religions, if any, view magic8 *o any forbid it8 3e%uire it8 Why, or why not8 *o any re%uire9forbid magicians to be priests9priestesses 'as opposed to members of the congregation(8 #re there actual gods9godlike beings8 If so, do they take an active role in the religions that worship them8 *o they take an active role in the lives of everyday people8 Why8 .ow many gods are there, and is there a hierarchy among them8 Which ones are good or evil, or is this meaningless when speaking of gods8 .ow do various religions view non0believers8 )oreigners8 ,on0humans8 Which support the state9king9government, and which are more interested in ordinary people8 Is there a difference between miracles and magic8 If so, how are they distinguished in everyday events8 Is there tension, rivalry, or outright hostility between any of the actual gods8 .ow does this affect church politics8 People's everyday lives8 Where does religion fit into this society8 Is there a state church8 Is freedom of religion the norm8 *o people generally think of the temples9churches as parasites, or as useful parts of society8 If there are actual, demonstrable gods, what part does faith play in their worship8 Why do they want worship8 What are their various rites like, and why8 What offerings are considered good, better, best8 #re people supposed to pick one or more gods to worship and ignore the others, or do most people pray to whoever is most likely to grant results in a specific situation 'the god of harvest when bringing in the crops, the goddess of war when in battle, etc.(8 .ow do people decide whom to worship8 Which temple to be affiliated with8 .ow much part do various religions and philosophies play in public and private life8 #re philosophers and theologians considered academics, or do they debate in the marketplace, like Socrates8 .ow much influence do their theories have on the way people actually behave8 #re priests or philosophers full0time occupations, or do they need day &obs8 If they are full0 time, who supports them00the congregation, a wealthy patron, the temple's investment fund8 Why are the gods interested in people8 #re they like the 4reek pantheon '%uarrelsome, larger0 than0life humans(, or are they more transcendent and incomprehensible8 *o the gods have limits to what they can do8 To what they will do8 "an the gods make mistakes8 .ow do the various temples and philosophies e:plain the classic 2problem of evil28 *o they think bad things are always a &ust punishment for some transgression, a character0building e:ercise, the result of an evil antagonist 'Satan, /oki(, or &ust something the gods can't prevent8

*ules of ,agic

What things can magic not do8 What are the limits of magical power8 Is there a difference between miracles and magic8 If so, how are they distinguished8 Where does magic power come from the gods, 2mana2 'cf. /arry ,iven's Warlock stories(, the personal will0power of the magician, etc.8 Is it an e:haustible resource8

.ow does a magician tap magical power8 *oes becoming a magician re%uire some rite of passage 'investing one's power in an ob&ect, being chosen by the gods, constructing or being given a permanent link to the source of power, successfully summoning a demon, etc.( or does it &ust happen naturally, as a result of study or as a part of growing up8 What does one need to do to cast a spell 00 design an elaborate ritual, recite poetry, mi: the right ingredients in a pot8 #re there things like a staff, a wand, a familiar, a crystal ball, that are necessary or useful to have before casting spells8 If so, where and how do wi6ards get these things8 .ow long does it take to cast a spell8 "an spells be stored for later, instant use8 *o spells take lots of long ritual, or is magic a 2point and shoot2 kind of thing8 "an two or more wi6ards combine their power to cast a stronger spell, or is magic done only by individuals8 What makes one wi6ard more powerful than another00knowledge of more spells, ability to handle greater %uantities of mana, having a more powerful god as patron, etc.8 *oes practicing magic have any detrimental effect on the magician 'such as being addictive, slowly driving the magician insane, or shortening the magicians life0span(8 If so, is there any way to prevent these effects8 #re the effects inevitable in all magicians, or do they affect only those with some sort of predisposition8 *o the effects progress at the same rate in everyone8 .ow much is known about the laws of magic8 .ow much of what is 2known2 is wrong 'as #ristotle's ideas about human anatomy were wrong, but accepted for centuries(8 What general varieties of magic are practiced 'e.g., herbal potions, ritual magic, alchemical magic, demonology, necromancy, etc.(8 *o any work better than others, or does only one variety actually work8 #re certain kinds of magic practiced solely or chiefly by one se: or another8 1y one race or culture or another8 *oes a magician's magical ability or power change over time 00 e.g., growing stronger or weaker during puberty, or with increasing age8 "an a magician 2use up2 all of his9her magic, thus ceasing to be a magician8 If this happens, what does the e:0magician do00die, retire, take up teaching, go into a second career8 "an the ability to do magic be lost8 If so, how 00 overdoing it, 2burning out,2 brain damage due to fever or a blow, magical attack, etc.8 "an the ability to do magic be forcibly taken away8 If so, how and by whom8 'Traditional e:ample certain spells could only be worked by virgins@ raping such a witch robbed her of her power.( What is the price magicians pay in order to be magicians00years of study, permanent celibacy, using up bits of their life or memory with each spell, etc.8

*ural (actors

4iven the magical9technological level of this society, what is an appropriate ratio of farmers to urban residents8 4iven the state of roads and transportation, how much food is it possible to ship to a given location before it spoils8 'This limits the si6e of cities.( #re rural areas primarily farms, forests, fields for gra6ing, or 2waste land28 In outlying areas where there aren't many people, how many roads are there, who builds them, and who maintains them8 .ow reliable is the weather from year to year 00 is crop production relatively dependable, or do people have to cope with regular famines due to drought or floods8

What kinds of catastrophic9weird weather are common00tornadoes, hurricanes, bli66ards, waterspouts, dust storms8 .ow do people cope8 .ow do non0humans cope8 .ow are farming9food0producing areas divided up between humans9nonhumans8 What kinds of conflicts are likely 'e:ample e:panding human farms encroaching on the forests werewolves or dragons use for hunting(8 "an peasants9yeomen own their own land, or does it all belong to the lord8 What kinds of rights over land, crops, game, etc. does the lord9landowner have8 Is poaching a problem8

%cience and Technolog#

Is the level of technology in this society comparable to that of ancient 3ome, the $iddle #ges, the 3enaissance, the Industrial 3evolution, what8 What important inventions or advances have been made 'the wheel, gunpowder, printing, flush toilets(8 .ave any of them been produced in %uantities sufficient to affect the daily lives of the average person, or are flush toilet a lu:ury for nobility only8 What inventions or advances have not been made that you would e:pect to see at this stage of technological development8 Why8 Which ones are about to be made8 .ow much is known about the laws of nature, physics, and magic8 .ow much of what is commonly known is wrong 'e.g., #ristotle's ideas about human anatomy, which were wrong but accepted for centuries(8 #re the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world, or are they the same as in real life8 .ow does magic fit in8 .ow do magical beasts fit in8 Where is scientific and9or magical research done 00 universities, private labs, under the auspices of the king or government, etc8 In what areas might magic replace technology, and thus suppress its development 'e:ample if a spell to keep food cold is easy and cheap, there's no need to invent refrigerators(8 In what areas might magic cause more rapid technological or scientific development 'common use of crystal balls might lead someone to think of inventing the lens9telescope sooner(8 .ow do the technology levels and scientific knowledge of non0human races compare to those of humans8 #re there significant differences, and if so, why8

%ocial 1rgani2ation

Where is scientific and9or magical research done 00 universities, private labs, by the government, etc.8 *oes it re%uire a license to be a wi6ard8 # driver's type license 'something nearly everyone gets upon coming of age( or a doctor's0type license 'something that only a small portion of the population will ever get(8 Who certifies wi6ards the government, wi6ard's guild, local priests, independent accounting firm8 What are the various ranks and titles and proper forms of address for the aristocracy9nobility8 Is everybody 2my lord2 or 2my lady,2 or are there more distinctions 'your grace, your highness, your ma&esty, your holiness, etc.(8 Which occupations are most respected8 Which are most looked down on8 Why8 .ow many levels are there in this society 'e.g., peasant, bourgeoise, warrior, nobleman(8 .ow firm are the divisions between classes 'is it disgraceful for a nobleman to engage in trade or for a warrior to help with the harvest(8

.ow difficult is it to rise or fall from one social level to another8 .ow much social mobility is there8 .ow much do people thin3 there is8

Transportation and Communication

What are the common domesticated animals used for transportation at various levels of society 00 e.g., o:en, horses, donkeys, camels, etc.8 #re there magical means of transportation 'teleport spells, magic carpets, dragon0riding(8 .ow do they compare in speed, safety, and e:pense to non0magical means8 .ow commonly are they used, and for what purposes 'industrial shipping vs. travel for fun(8 )or traveling short distances within a city, what are the alternatives8 "an people hire a cab, a litter, a rickshaw, or do they have to walk or rely on their own servants or horses8 .ow are messages sent when necessary8 Is there a public9private postal system, or does everyone of importance have to send messengers8 .ow fast can news get from one point to another8 #re there magical means of communication 00 crystal balls, scrying in a pool of water, telepathy8 .ow common8 .ow reliable8 .ow e:pensive8 .ow available is water transportation8 .ow common is travel 'for any reason(8 *oes the concept of travel 2to see the world2 or for fun, even e:ist8 .ow dangerous is travel8 .ow large a group is considered safe8 .ow much traffic is there inside9outside the main cities8 Which areas are the best9worst8 What are the fastest means of traveling long distances over land8 +ver water8 Which are the safest8 What is transportation like8 #re there good roads8 Who built them8 Who is responsible for maintaining them8 Where would a traveler stay at night8 #re here enough travelers to support inns, or do people have to stay at the e%uivalent of medieval monasteries or in people's homes8 #re some classes of people 'slaves, peasants( not e:pected to travel at all8 #re some 'heralds, messengers( e:pected to travel constantly8 .ow do people find out what is happening in the world 00 rumor, town crier, newspapers, T5 and radio8 .ow slanted is the news they get this way, and in what direction8 Is there freedom of the press8 If not, who controls9censors it and through what means8 .ow are books produced8 #re they common 'has the printing press been invented(, or are they valuable hand0written ob&ects8 Where are the great libraries9collections8 .ow accessible are they to scholars, wi6ards, the general public8 Who supports them8

4rban (actors

.ow many people are there in this country8 .ow does this compare with world population8 What is considered a small town9large town9city in terms of number of people8 Is population shifting from rural to urban, south to north, mountains to coast, etc.8 Why8 What effects has this had on the places being left8 The places gaining people8 *oes city layout reflect some philosophy 'religious or architectural or political(, such as that the 2head2 of the city must be at the center, the highest point, or the most strategic location8 +r were layout considerations mainly practical8 +r did most cities 2&ust grow28 #re there public or private parks in most9any cities8 What kinds of activities take place in them8

#re cities generally laid out on a s%uare0grid system of streets8 .ow wide are the streets and alleys8 What are the landmarks in each city8 Where are the interesting neighborhoods, like "hinatown, the dwarfish section, etc., and what things give each its special character8 Where do people go to shop8 To eat8 To have fun8 To do touristy things8

.isits

#re there %uestions that must be asked or avoided when visiting someone 'e.g., how's the family, how's the business, never talk politics or religion, etc.(8 #re there topics that can onl# be raised by the host8 1y the guest8 .ow seriously does the culture take the responsibilities of host and guest8 What rules define when someone becomes a host or guest 'e.g., in some mid0easter countries, giving bread and salt to someone makes the person your guest@ giving him a A0course meal without bread or salt doesn't(8 What things are considered courteous to offer a guest food, reading material, personal guards or attendants, music9entertainment, a person of the opposite se: to sleep with8 What is considered a courteous response to a host's offer8 #re there things it is considered rude to accept8 3ude to turn down8 3ude to ask for8 3ude not to ask for8 When a guest arrives, is food or drink offered immediately, after an interval, or only on re%uest8 Is there a particular food or drink that is customary to offer a newly arrived guest8 .ow do the different customs of various countries9races interact, conflict, etc8 -:ample # man from a culture where it is not polite to refuse a host's offer of food being the guest in a culture where the guest is e:pected to say 2when.2

War

Which peoples9countries9races have been in conflict in the recent past8 Why8 When and why was the most recent war8 Who won8 Who is still mad about that8 What ma&or weapons of war are available 'e.g., siege towers, catapults, cannons, #0bombs(8 .ow much as the presence of magic affected strategy and tactics8 *o army commanders have to use specific unusual formations or techni%ues to deal with possible magical attacks8 .ow can magic be used as part of a battle plan 'e:ample getting a weather magician to make it rain so that the enemy cannons are harder to move in the mud(8 .ow are armies usually structured8 Is there a formal, independent command structure, or is everybody officially under the command of the lord who brought them to the king's army, or what8 If a formal structure, what are the various ranks and titles8 Who can call up men for an army8 .ow is this done8 *oes the king ask his lords for men, and the lords then draft their peasants, or can the king go straight to the bottom8 #re there professional soldiers9mercenaries8 Is a career in the king's army possible, or would you have to be a mercenary or sell0sword in order to make a living as a soldier8 *oes the army accept volunteers8 .ow large is a typical army8 What percentage of the soldiers in it will be trained 'knights, professional soldiers, guards, mercenaries( and what percent will be untrained recruits8 #re recruits given training, or are they e:pected to learn on the &ob 'i.e., in battle(8 .ow is the army supplied8 #re soldiers allowed to live off the land9peasantry, or do they pay for what they take8 .ow are supplies handled during long campaigns8 .ow many days worth

of supplies can the army haul along with them8 '3ef. #/-I#,*-3 T.- 43-#T #,* T./+4ISTI"S +) T.- $#"-*+,I#, #3$H for the math on how much a horse can carry, etc.( What are the accepted conventions for making war 'e:ample only fight in winter when nobody is busy with crops@ don't make war on civilians@ only certain kinds of weapons are used@ etc(8 *o they differ from race to race8 .ow does the presence of non0humans 'dwarves, vampires, etc.( affect strategy, tactics, and battles generally8 #re special weapons re%uired if an army is facing certain kinds of non0 human armies8 .ow would non0human soldiers turn their physical differences from humans to their advantage8 #re particular non0human races traditionally better with certain weapons 'e.g., dwarves with a:es, elves with bows(8 Why00because they have greater strength, better eyesight, more manual de:terity, etc8

Wi2ards

What do you need to do to cast a spell00design an elaborate ritual, recite poetry, mi: the right ingredients in a pot, speak the right words in an ancient language, etc.8 #re there things like a staff, a wand, a familiar, a crystal ball, that are necessary to have before casting any spells8 "ertain specific spells8 If so, where and how do new wi6ards get these things8 *o they make them, buy them from craftsmen, inherit them from their teachers, order them from Wi6ard Supply, Inc.8 Is there a numerical limit to the number of wi6ards in the world8 Why8 Where does magic power come from the gods, the 2mana2 of the world, the personal will0 power of the magician8 *o different races9species have different sources for their magic, or does everybody use the same one8 #re different races9intelligent species good at different kinds of magic8 If so, what types are associated with what species8 #re there species that use magic more or less unconsciously00for instance, dragons using magic to fly without consciously being aware of it, or werewolves using magic to change8 .ow does a magician tap his9her magic power8 *oes becoming a magician re%uire some rite of passage 'investing one's power in an ob&ect, being chosen by the gods, constructing or being given a permanent link to a source of power, etc.( or does it &ust happen naturally as a part of growing up8 *oes a magician's magical ability or power change over time 00e.g., growing stronger or weaker during puberty, or with increasing age8 "an a magician 2use up2 all of his9her magic, thus ceasing to be a magician8 What do such magicians do then00retire to teach, commit suicide, get a normal day &ob, go into consulting8 Is a magician's lifetime normally longer or shorter than average8 Why8 *oes this vary for different races9species8 #re there races9species all of whose members are magicians8 #re certain spells illegal 'as opposed to magic generally(8 Why00because of the effect of the spell, or because of the ingredients or procedures needed to cast it, or what8 .ow are violations of this law detected8 .ow are illegal magicians apprehended8 Punished8 Is this the responsibility of the magician's guild, or do ordinary law enforcement agencies have to deal with it8