First steps to create an original scenario for your campaign.
World Building is a complex process and can easily be overwhelming for both the players and the GM, who inhabits the place, what type of vegetation and biomes, what the politics and society are like, these are questions that will come up when we talk about this subject, which can leave many lost and confused, so we will give you that support in this regard!
Well, maybe the best place to start is at the beginning, and when I say beginning, I mean at the beginning of, well, everything! The best place to start creating a scenario is from the void that precedes creation, instead of thinking about all the cities and their minutiae, try to start with the simple things. Where did everything originate from and what are its aspects, what religions were formed from it; or in the case of a closer line to evolution, what that process would be, where the ancestors of each race came from?!
Keep in mind that the creation of a world is one part of the development of a story and there is no problem with loose ends, they will serve to increase development forward. Pay attention to the basic outline at this point and when the time comes the details will fall into their places.
WHEN & WHERE
Every story takes place somewhere but the moment in which it takes place is just as important; think about the place where you live, what was like 300 years ago or in the past millennium and look at it now! The question of “when” is just as important as the place it is situated. Think about the type of campaign you would like to have and the themes you would like to address, they will give you a sense of when the story takes place doesn’t make much sense a tribal world with no tech having laser guns and don't be afraid to be inspired by other works or even real life, after all, everything can wake up your creativity.
When we define the central location, we can already decide what the geography, mountains, hills, rivers and vegetation will be like, in addition to all kinds of exotic features, let's say the world you are creating has two suns as an example, maybe because it has more light, the trees have grown more and are greener, and with it bigger dangers hidden among the leaves; it could also be that because it has two suns, the planet has few plants and is extremely arid, difficult to survive with creatures buried in the scorching sands, this just depends in what stories you want to tell.
Creating a story is easier when treated as one, or several, balls of yarn, each unravelling into something new and often meeting halfway, this way you allow the story to grow naturally and giving a purpose for each thing to be the way it is, only one choice can generate several reactions and spontaneous creations, this way would be so much easier and will take much less time that it should.
We have already established a starting point, a place in time and a place in space, now we need to fill this place with life, after all creatures shape the environment where they live, bringing new interactions, but also new challenges for their creator. How the races arrived at that place they are now?! And why?!, No people remain forever in just one place, giving life to their characters is letting them explore and dream as well, and from their thoughts create myths and legends, they don't need to be real, just the ideas of how each ancestor was seen by that group.
Myths and legends are essential when we talk about a culture, because each one of them has different perspectives and points of view for each situation in their experience so the same experience could let multiple myths about it. Not everything has to be truth since they’re only perspectives and myths tend to grow and change with time, so don't worry about some inconsistencies between them. When creating a society, it is worth thinking about the morality of that people as well as their philosophies and ideals, since society is shaped by its individuals, but how to discover those morals and ideals, political connections or even allies and enemies?! They will come naturally when you develop characters in their stories.
A big decision that you will have to do is about natural laws and what is possible in that world, you will have to find these parameters and set the limits of them . One of the biggest points to highlight in this topic is about magic and how does it interfere with the mundane, is it easy or difficult to access? Is she banned and frowned upon? Or is it seen as a heavenly gift?! These among other decisions will make your world much more customized and original, even if it takes inspiration from elsewhere.
In short, don't worry so much, and let things get a little out of hand, sometimes look to your players' backgrounds for inspiration, they can also give you tips on parts of society that you hadn't imagined. Take things naturally and they will progress effortlessly, a decision based on nothing is infinitely more difficult than a decision made with a character's thinking.
Good rolls and we see you all soon!
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