WORLD-BUILDING WORKSHOP

World-building & Character Workshop

Follow the directions below to create the content required for the submission.

This workshop allows for experimentation with the challenges of creating fictional worlds and the character that inhabit them. In a holistically designed game, mechanics, including characters, will connect logically and cohesively to the laws of nature and culture in that world. These worlds should be new, not derived from a preexisting intellectual property, even your own. The characters should be unique to this world as well.

Tip: Remember a “world” is just the environment as the player experiences it, it doesn’t mean a whole planet should be created. Watch scope.

Step One: Type & Context

· Select World Type—Alternative History, Alternative Reality, Horror, Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction. (Explain hybrids carefully)

· Give a high-level summary of the world. (200 words minimum)

Step Two: World-building Content

· Laws of the nature

· Address physics, biomes, ecology, terrain, weather, flora and fauna, etc.

· Address inherent risks and resources

· Address seasonal differences, astronomical features, etc.

· Address taxonomy of flora and fauna, the food chain

· Laws of culture

· Identify high vs. low context culture, and justify.

· Address norms, history, politics, philosophical and/or mythological systems, etc.

· Address interpersonal power dynamics

· Address interplay of cultural elements (Example: theocracies)

· Address degree of belligerence—are wars common? Why or why not?

· Provide points of interconnection between the physical and cultural. (Examples: plants used for rites or rituals, level of technology vs. connection to nature.

· Explain the impact of culture & ecological resources on architecture & color use in the world.

Step Three: The Vehicle Character

· Design a preset (vehicle) player character for the world created above.

· Appearance—name, age, gender, build, race/ethnicity, hairstyle, make-up/scars, facial structure, costuming, etc.

· Backstory—family history, personal history, education, beliefs, marital status, etc.

· Psychology—personality tendency, shaping/traumatic events, street smarts, etc.

· Social standing—what’s the character’s level of power (or lack thereof) in this world?

Step Four: Character Customization/Selection System

· Customization system—Design and document a character customization system for a player to create their own character for this world setting.

· The customization or selection system must allow for the creation of/include the character designed as a vehicle player character for Step #1.

· The customization or selection system must allow for the creation/selection of at least six distinctly different characters.

· The customization/selection system should incorporate elements besides the physical (mechanics, personality, etc.).

· Customization System Wireframes

· Based upon the system breakdown, create UI Wireframes of the UI system that a player would use to create/select a character.

· The wireframes should include all customization/selection features that would be offered to players.

*If you source images or other content, be sure to cite and use a final “References” page/slide.