Questions tagged [urban-fantasy]
Questions for incorporating fantastical elements into the modern world (20th century or later), with an emphasis on cities.
79
questions
6
votes
2answers
107 views
How do I strike a balance between real-world inspiration and purely fictional design, especially for alternate cities? [closed]
My primary question comes from a fledgling animator's perspective. I'd like to capture the general look and feel of a lot of South Florida's cities, while also combining it with my urban-fantasy/...
5
votes
6answers
275 views
How large could a population of supernatural beings be and still be plausibly hidden?
I am trying to figure out how large the population of supernatural beings can be in a stereotypical urban fantasy setting before their numbers stretch the suspension of disbelief. I.e., your standard ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Is there a place in which a portal to another dimension could be hidden for five years, but then discovered by children? [closed]
I am writing a story in which two children, ages 12-14 years old, discover a portal to another dimension. The portal is roughly the size of an average door and has existed for five years prior to ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How hard would be to make a concrete fluid container to explode?
The situation is that two magic users are fighting a concrete golem, their only way to defeat it is to destroy it, when this characters crack it they find that the golem is hollow so their strategy is ...
1
vote
3answers
556 views
Could cobalt make a good sword? and what knownk alloy would be the closest to it?
The setting is semi modern urban fantasy where there are mercenaries with the task of slaying monsters on the unpopulated areas, steel is the first metal to go when it comes to making weapons on large ...
2
votes
5answers
160 views
How bright and lit up could cities be in the future?
Technology will obviously make lamps much brighter and with wholly new designs and functions like self-illuminating walls, surfaces and glowing objects. Genetic engineering could also create trees and ...
6
votes
3answers
207 views
How would people in the 1920s-1930s explain or rationalize superpowers?
In June 1938 Action Comics #1 was published, introducing Superman to the world and codifying the modern idea of a superhero that the world has known for almost the past 80 years. There were ...
23
votes
15answers
8k views
Where could a vampire get blood without harming people?
I am looking for possible ways in which a vampire could obtain blood to feed in an modern urban fantasy setting explicitly without harming humans or other sapient beings. Parameters for this question ...
4
votes
2answers
92 views
Tracking time between multiple different realities simultaneously
How do I track time (using a special time system) between two realities that are not necessarily parallel but if a person jumps from one to the other what would the time be in comparison to their ...
9
votes
9answers
2k views
How do you all work out the relative costs of spells?
Magic system question here. Would much appreciate your help!
I've read a decent bit about writing magic and I think I have a decent grasp of Sanderson's laws.
My magic has a cost (you have to shed ...
0
votes
3answers
175 views
Strategies against a water bender in modern day for an average citizen?
Assuming a water bender can only manipulate water that they are either touching or is within their relative touching distance (say, a few cm to a meter away), and assume that blood, saliva, and sweat ...
33
votes
6answers
12k views
How big would a Daddy Longlegs Spider need to be to kill an average Human?
Daddy Longlegs Spiders, officially "Pholcidae" are known to be the worlds most venomous spiders, sort of.
We are supposedly unaffected by them because their fangs are too small, the shape of their ...
3
votes
9answers
2k views
Best gun to modify into a monsterhunter weapon?
In my post-apocalyptical-urban-fantasy setting, the main character is a mercenary mage who uses a gun with a big bayonet as his main weapon. The blade is supposed to be some kind of a glaive.
The ...
29
votes
19answers
10k views
Why do dragons like shiny stuff?
I like the classic trope of dragons loving gold and collecting it in their lair, yet it seems poorly justified. I know that it is often used as a metaphor for greed; "dragons disease" to show how ...
-1
votes
2answers
541 views
Ideal time in human history for reveal of Demi-Humans and the Conditions for their coexistence
In this world, demi-humans (not just elves or orcs, but also other races like lamias, centaurs, minotaurs, driders, lizardman, alraune, vampires, etc.) have always existed but they did not start ...
1
vote
1answer
168 views
What accommodations would a giant need?
I'm making a human female who's size was multiplied by 10. I need to know what sort of accommodations she'd need to make up for any disadvantages. This is in the modern day, so 21st-century medicine ...
0
votes
2answers
242 views
What would one wish to make magic real? [closed]
One day, as I walked in some random countryside, I found myself in the presence of some higher being. It's kinda blur in appearance, and I can't quite say if it's a genie in a lamp, a technologically ...
32
votes
24answers
7k views
Reason why dimensional travelling would be restricted
Alternate dimensions/timelines are an important part of one of my settings, a modern fantasy. Magic is well known, and it is possible for objects to be enchanted by a powerful magic user to connect ...
7
votes
15answers
3k views
What are some reasons for mages to use guns as well as magic? [duplicate]
The world that I'm building is set in a fantasy world that is reminiscent of the early 20th century. Magic involves the traditional eight schools and anyone can become a magician if they choose to ...
18
votes
8answers
6k views
What would be a source of iron to ward off faeries in todays world
In a story I'm writing, I'm going to need iron to ward off magical creatures, faeries to be exact.
This iron should not be used in an alloy with other metals or coated with something like paint, tin,...
13
votes
24answers
4k views
If fairies don't need as much food, water or space, why wouldn't they overwhelm humans in the post-apocalypse? [closed]
I'm writing a story about the aftermath and consequences of a runic magic system being mysteriously introduced to the human race by an unknown entity. Every week a new rune is given to everyone on ...
27
votes
13answers
8k views
Is an hour-long weekly driving ban feasible in modern America?
So here's the deal: my story takes place in modern America in the aftermath of an unexplained event where a runic magic system was introduced to humanity by an unknown entity. Every week a new rune is ...
8
votes
7answers
3k views
Earth under one roof: Feasible?
Okay, so how feasible is it- if even possible- to put the Earth under 'one roof'?
So here is the premise. The world is heavily heavily over populated, so overpopulated in fact that almost all of the ...
1
vote
3answers
206 views
Is it possible for two dimensions to exist on one planet? [closed]
I'm writing a fantasy comics and I am stuck on a particular idea. Imagine if Hell existed on our planet. Like hell is here, we simply cannot see it, because there is an invisible barrier between the ...
0
votes
3answers
2k views
Whats the difference between the plane, dimensions, realm and realities [closed]
I'm trying to trying to world build a high fantasy and sci-fi. But I can't differentiate the difference between the plane, dimensions, realms and realities. So, I want to know what the difference ...
2
votes
2answers
218 views
Designing a constrained spell-crafting system for the modern world [closed]
I am attempting to construct a magic system for a fictional modern world akin to ours. In this world, like ours, magic has largely been forgotten, so it is no longer part of the world and has had no ...
2
votes
0answers
162 views
How can there be endangered humanoid species? [closed]
In my urban fantasy, I have several human species that coexist with humans. I'd imagine some like species such as who're classified as Faeries have a stronghold to have intercommunication with humans. ...
3
votes
5answers
495 views
Needing help with “New York” worldbuilding in 1920s setting [closed]
I have been writing a fantasy novel for the past 12 years. The story is mostly finished (as far as the storyline and plot goes), but I have been having some trouble with worldbuilding. The story is ...
5
votes
5answers
335 views
Would subways/trains be adapted to be practical for various fantasy species or would something else be invented?
The title says my question exactly. Also if another mode of general transportation were invented for a landlocked city, what would it be? Below are the specific fantasy species that I am dealing ...
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Some science or graspable logic behind a whole new world below the ocean on earth
So not trying to wander into flat earth theory here, But a hidden fantasy world (of elves) in the present day. How would we explain it. There is no contact whatsoever between the two world. Could ...
-7
votes
1answer
222 views
I want to make a super OP dragon that breathes fire underwater [duplicate]
I want to create a super Over-Powered dragon that can:
Breathe fire
Breathe fire under water
Not harm itself while breathing fire (either above water or under water)
I would like answers that are as ...
1
vote
2answers
162 views
Gnolls and their cooperative abilities [closed]
Gnolls are aggressive hyena like humanoids, they aren't very fun to have around for the fact that they fight for really anything and have almost no attentions span. Actually Gnolls are really ...
4
votes
2answers
336 views
Procedure for a bite from a fanged humanoid, and resulting effects
I am currently working on a story idea involving vampire-esque fanged humans, they require blood for sustenance once or twice a month, and are willing to pay. It goes through special canals, so they ...
4
votes
3answers
348 views
Public Transit for Merfolk
In an urban fantasy type world, how exactly would public transit work for merfolk?
Situation A: The merfolk are living in a big cross-species city that also has humanoids. For purposes of this ...
11
votes
5answers
1k views
Can sustainable farming be done in the suburbs in this supernatural post-apocalyptic scenario?
So, here's my situation: my first book revolves around an unknown entity giving modern day humanity an assortment of supernatural powers. Every week a new power is given to everyone on Earth over the ...
6
votes
1answer
302 views
Centaurs in an Urban Fantasy [closed]
Okay trying to make this as narrow as possible. I hope.
I have world where magic has returned in modern times. It came back in 2010 but the story takes place in 2018. In this word some people have ...
1
vote
0answers
104 views
Physical Force Generation- Applications, weaknesses, and the science behind it [closed]
I've been developing this anti-hero, "Vicious," for a few weeks now- but I need some help concerning the specifics. Vicious has an ability known as "physical force generation." From any point on her ...
0
votes
1answer
147 views
What would stop a witch from telling everyone about magic [closed]
In my urban fantasy world, magic users exist alongside regular people without them knowing. The world's history is the mostly same as ours except that magic secretly existed the entire time. Real life ...
2
votes
3answers
183 views
How would I create a society in which the known world has collapsed due to a demon influx
In my story, I wanted to have a world in which humanity had nearly gone extinct from being eaten by demons but eventually the demons ran out of humans to eat and thus died off or went into a sort of ...
2
votes
4answers
316 views
How could “power control” laws be enforced with the fewest violations of civil liberties? [closed]
The central premise of my story is that one day in the year 2017, an unknown entity starts imbuing humans with supernatural abilities. A quick rundown of the system:
Every human over the age of 13 ...
8
votes
2answers
256 views
What would a beach look like if prolonged exposure to humans made the sand change color?
So one of the supernatural elements in my urban fantasy story is a system of "aura-syncing" that explains how various supernatural abilities extend to one's clothes and belongings. A full explanation ...
2
votes
2answers
440 views
Everyone can heal very quickly. How does this impact forensics and criminal investigations?
So the central conceit of my story is that everyone has various superhuman powers in modern day America, and one of the powers that everyone has is a superhuman healing factor. Anything we'd classify ...
11
votes
5answers
762 views
Would the collapse of civilization make turning into a vampire and colonizing the ocean floor a sane idea?
One idea I've always wanted to try writing is the concept of vampires exploiting their lack of a need to breathe and generally low-maintenance biology to escape the brunt of the sun's rays by living ...
4
votes
2answers
255 views
What kind of a following could a religion/cult get in a year if its prophet had actual demonstrable magic powers? [closed]
So the first phase of the story I'm writing is the year-long leadup to the utter collapse of society and infrastructure brought about by humanity's sudden ability to use supernatural powers. And one ...
0
votes
3answers
212 views
Everyone a Girl Touches is Erased from Existence. (Need help Ironing Out Details.) [closed]
I have basic a premise but I need some insight...
"A young protagonist has a curse: anyone she touches with her bare flesh gets erased from existence."
The plot and mechanics that I have so far are ...
8
votes
6answers
1k views
Anatomically Correct Dungeons and Dragons Mimic?
This one’s a bit of a stretch, so bear with me. The classic monster in table top games and video games alike: a monster that can imitate the shape of things (mostly treasure chests) to lure in people ...
0
votes
2answers
374 views
How, if at all, would gender dynamics change if women became just as strong as men? [closed]
I'm doing a story about a modern-day world where everyone over the age of 13 has supernatural powers. An unknown entity suddenly granted humanity this ability out of nowhere and without warning or ...
8
votes
9answers
789 views
How would prisons handle superpowered inmates?
A major plot point of my story that's been bugging me for a while has me wondering what exactly the (specifically American) prison system could and would do to deal with the fact that the entire ...
30
votes
9answers
4k views
Would a weaponized priesthood violate separation of church and state?
The Situation
For reasons unimportant to the question all divine/infernal beings ceased contact with humanity in the dark ages. For reasons equally obscure they are now back and busier than ever. Law ...
3
votes
1answer
276 views
How would humanity organize long distance communication using an astral projection power?
So I’m writing an urban fantasy story where humans start getting supernatural powers from an unknown source, and as several of these powers were intentionally and maliciously designed to wreak havoc, ...
