Who supplies mundane equipment for the wizard’s college?Game worlds can be truly impressive acts of creation. There are truths that even the people who created them and the characters who live in them don’t know. This exercise encourages you to ask and answer questions about the setting of your game world. As a player you can make it your character’s mission to discover truths; as a game master (GM) you can muse on specific setting elements.
Things that are a part of your character’s everyday life sometimes defy explanation. Basic history and infrastructure in a fantasy world can be a captivating line of inquiry.
Who supplies mundane equipment for the wizard’s college?
Are there uniform robes for students? ______________________
• Who manufactures them? ______________________
• Who cleans them? ______________________
• How much does the school spend dressing its students? ______________________
What sort of writing implement do students favor? ______________________
• Is it a quill? If so, from what creature? If it is not a quill, why favor something else?
• How often do writing instruments need to be replaced? ______________________
• How many does the average student use in a year? ______________________
• How does the supplier source its materials? ______________________
How does the school feed its students? ______________________
• Who is the head chef? ______________________
• Who is in charge of ordering supplies? ______________________
• Who does the school purchase its food from? ______________________
• Is the school getting a good deal? ______________________
How does the largest city in the setting deal with waste?
Does it have a sewage system? ______________________
• Is flooding a problem? ______________________
• Who designed the city’s infrastructure? ______________________
Is there an organization in charge of refuse management? ______________________
• How does this organization collect trash? ______________________
• What does it do with it? ______________________
• What would happen if the workers were to go on strike? ______________________
Who makes the world’s greatest wines?
Where do they grow their crops? ______________________
• Are the fruits remarkable? ______________________
• Is the soil special? ______________________
• What is the weather like? ______________________
Do their storage techniques vary? ______________________
• Do they use magic? ______________________
• Where do they age the wine? ______________________
• Has anything ever been stolen? ______________________
Who insists on their superiority? ______________________
• Could their loyalty be politically motivated? ______________________
• When did this wine become popular? ______________________
• How large is the wine trade in the region where it is produced?
Looking into certain world information can provide you with story options down the road.
Who could make the finest version of your favored weapon?
Is there a technique of forging that makes one blade superior to another?
• How long has it been in use? ______________________
• Who developed it? ______________________
• What do blacksmiths brag about when they describe their work?
Is there a school or army renowned for fighting in your style? ______________________
• Where does it get its weapons? ______________________
• What does the master of arms use? ______________________
• Are your needs different from those of the average fighter?
How long does it take to create a weapon of good quality? ______________________
• Is there a ceremony that accompanies weapon forging?
What is the most remote settlement in the world?
Who lives there? ______________________
• How many people call it home? ______________________
• How do they maintain their population? ______________________
• Do they depend on the outside world at all? ______________________
How old is it? ______________________
• Who founded it? ______________________
• Why did they stay? ______________________
• Who is the best historian for this subject? ______________________
Is it dangerous? ______________________
• Are the threats climate based, creature based, or both?
• Is there special infrastructure that makes life there possible?
• Is something that poses a threat also something that promotes life?
Who controls the most powerful army in the world?
Is this a matter of debate? ______________________
Where do they recruit soldiers? ______________________
• How do they train their officers? ______________________
• When do soldiers retire? ______________________
• Do they employ mercenaries? ______________________
Who supplies them with food and weapons? ______________________
• How do they transport supplies? ______________________
• Which relationships do they depend on to make this possible?
• Is any of their equipment unique? ______________________
What was their most recent loss? ______________________
• What do you think caused it? ______________________
• Did this greatly impact their approach to warfare? ______________________
• How did their enemy capitalize on this defeat? ______________________
Who is the wealthiest person in the setting?
How did he or she acquire his or her wealth? ______________________
• How long did it take to amass? ______________________
• Was it all legal? ______________________
• How is it primarily held? ______________________
What is his or her most recent endeavor?
• Why did he or she devote time to this? ______________________
• Is it providing a clear benefit? ______________________
• What do most people think of it? ______________________
Does he, she, or they have rivals? ______________________
• Are there people who could cut off access to controlled resources?
• Who presents a physical threat to his, her, or their holdings?
• Who is the second wealthiest individual in the world?