Questions tagged [worldbuilding-resources]
Please review the List of Worldbuilding Resources (see link in tag wiki) before using this tag. For questions seeking resources intended to help people with building a fictional world, such as books and software relating to worldbuilding itself (rather than the world that is being built). Consider also [software-recommendations]. Not for use for questions about natural resources within a fictional world; use [natural-resources] instead.
213 questions
6
votes
4
answers
673
views
How can I make a 2D FTL-lane map on a galaxy-wide scale?
I want to finally get around to actually making a map for my Sci Fi worldbuilding project I have been slowly working on for the last few years. For context, this setting takes place in the Milky Way ...
18
votes
7
answers
3k
views
World Building Knowledgebase - How to write good Military World Building
This is a migration or re-post of something I posted in the Meta, which received good reviews:
Here is the Meta Post - go check the Meta out, it is where us cool-kids hang out.
This is going to be a ...
- 35k
1
vote
2
answers
139
views
Resources for developing a time travel system [closed]
I hope this is the correct forum for this question. I'm in the early stages of worldbuilding for a time travel story I want to tell. To be clear, I am not asking for time travel mechanisms. Instead, I'...
- 127
2
votes
2
answers
382
views
Viability of a medieval city without crops
How could a city be viable if the soil surrounding it has become hostile to any kind of crop? What would the options be?
I came up with the idea of establishing settlements around the city, miles away,...
- 77
3
votes
2
answers
206
views
How would you make a ‘histomap’ of a fictional world?
Currently I’m working on a fictional world for my language and to build some history for my world I decided to map out some wars in it. I’ve been using MS Paint to do so but I’d really like some ...
- 31
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
A List of Worldbuilding Inspiration
In the last few days I have either promoted or heard some excellent quotes that I believe are motivational — even defining — for worldbuilding. I'm inviting all worldbuilders to contribute similar ...
- 132k
6
votes
4
answers
720
views
Can I hire someone to help with the worldbuilding of realistic sci-fi mechanics?
Basically, I want to ask/hire someone with an understanding of physics for feedback and fact-checking of a mechanic I am developing. Just so that I know which laws I am breaking, and what my system ...
- 85
4
votes
1
answer
192
views
geology in fantasy worlds
I was wondering about how to figure out the geology of your fantasy world. For example, where would granite, limestone, sandstone, and gems (diamonds, amethyst, etc.) be placed? If a castle is made ...
- 41
6
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How do human girls who are sterilised at age 9 develop as they mature?
On the world of Ruquelis, there are three genders, men, women, and lilim who are a female sex, with wings and clawed feet. Because of the genetics of this situation, lilim are less fertile and can ...
- 67k
1
vote
2
answers
308
views
How would a moon that was stroking a planet with a tail appear to people on the planet? [closed]
In my world, the moon has heard the poetry and romantic words of a person on the planet, and so has decided to flirt with and stroke said poet with their moon scale tail.
Their tail has magic, and so ...
- 41.6k
11
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Would it be possible to make a custom zoomable world map (kinda like google maps)?
Would it be possible to make a custom zoomable world map (kinda like google maps), where you can have all the cities of the world but are able to zoom out to the whole world (and no longer see the ...
- 237
4
votes
2
answers
304
views
I'm trying to conceptualize the layout of a village/town, but having trouble [closed]
So I'm currently attempting to lay out a large city and the geography surrounding it, but it's proving much more challenging than I thought. Whenever I try to lay it out, it's messy and unrealistic. ...
- 41
1
vote
0
answers
27
views
When would two moons line up? [duplicate]
I am gearing up for a TTRPG (tabletop roleplaying game) and my world is a similar size to Earth with a smilier number of days. However it has two moons. One is slightly larger than our moon but it ...
1
vote
2
answers
188
views
Can it be called an 'illusion' if it can change things? [closed]
In a sci-fi book that I am still to write, can I use the word 'illusion' to denote extreme cases of mind trickery where such an 'illusion' can alter things and space around, example: people are able ...
2
votes
2
answers
539
views
Radios and walkie-talkie [closed]
In a solar punk if there are radios and walkie talkies being used regularly by a very poor post-apocalyptic society...does it sound believable that there are no airplanes and flying vehicles nor cars, ...
2
votes
1
answer
167
views
How to design a simple economic model for a Martian settlement?
I'm trying to design an economic model for my story world, starting from an individual settlement on Mars, then level by level, stepping up to one encompassing the entire Solar System. Aspects I'm ...
7
votes
5
answers
554
views
Litmus Test for whether my worldbuilt cultures are too close to modern America/Britain/etc
I was listening to a video on how to write, and the person giving the lecture said something along the lines of "I'm bored with stories where the setting is supposed to be in the far-flung future,...
- 109
3
votes
1
answer
472
views
How can I build a successful empire ruled by a malevolent ruler? [closed]
Right now, I'm trying to build an empire (based on byzantine) that is set as the main enemy.
In an empire, does the ruler interact with their people? What is their empire's history?
The empire I'm ...
- 65
3
votes
3
answers
475
views
System of Government?
New at this.... I am looking for the best way to classify the system/form of government described below in a story I'm working. It looks like a mash of many different things.
There originally existed ...
- 31
1
vote
0
answers
132
views
Algorithm for creating realistic flying (voxel) islands [closed]
I am currently working on a part of a game that has voxel-based terrain, a bit like Minecraft. There are different kinds of „blocks“ like stone, dirt, sand, etc. But the story/setting requires that I ...
- 19
7
votes
2
answers
168
views
How can I organize societal structure based on harsh climates?
I'm writing a fantasy old-west type novel, and I want this world to have extreme climates. I have a few questions, particularly for Americans:
I want the mostly settled areas (mid to low income ...
- 91
24
votes
15
answers
4k
views
Are there any non-organic resources that are rare in the grand-scheme of the Universe, but common on Earth?
I have been world-building a setting where a species of advanced aliens invades Earth, only to be forced off after the humans resort to guerilla tactics. In this setting, biological life is abundant ...
- 1,503
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
At 1.5 g of constant acceleration, how long does it take to get to 0.93c?
I just finished reading Andy Weir’s “Project Hail Mary”. He crafted a situation where a ship with was able to travel to Tau Ceti, some 13 light years distant. Having crew, he limited the ...
- 1,668
3
votes
1
answer
106
views
Software for simulating a slice of an atmosphere?
For my world, I want to simulate a 2d vertical slice of an atmosphere, to test if my assumptions about it are correct. The software needs to support gas compression via gravity, different gasses used ...
- 9,143
3
votes
2
answers
180
views
Biblaridion's equation for making a star based off its luminosity
I have searched for at least 45 minutes and I can't seem to find it. If you don't know what I'm talking about, in Biblaridion's first Alien Biospheres Video, he mentioned the you could calculate a ...
- 31
5
votes
4
answers
258
views
Which fictional universes make good examples for formal analysis? [closed]
I am writing a paper on a way to apply category theory (WP, nLab) to literary analysis. My plan is to explain allegories (WP, nLab) as a way of formalizing the structure in fictional universes, and to ...
- 219
3
votes
2
answers
134
views
Technology disparities between nations and internal organizations [closed]
I'm doing a series of world-building for an alternate world in a very low magic setting, basic premise is that 3000 years ago, in a dnd like a world, Wizards in order to prevent magical wars from ...
5
votes
2
answers
460
views
What will real space vehicles look like in the future?
Most sci-fi today is imho unimaginative and unrealistic when it comes to future orbital and interplanetary vessel design.
What will spaceships and habitats look like when we build them in zero-g using ...
- 6,094
5
votes
1
answer
133
views
3D models for steampunk components [closed]
I'm looking to do design/fabrication of some steampunk accessories. I want to find component-level models of stuff like gears, pistons, gauges, etc. Can anyone point me to resources?
I've done ...
- 497
0
votes
1
answer
129
views
I've got the world, story and scenes...where do I go from there to make them real? [closed]
More of a do and show person, not really good with words.
Got movies in my head and remember them for years to the most miniscule detail...as If I was inside them.
Collected memories seen through the ...
- 9
2
votes
2
answers
134
views
Tools for workshopping celestial body orbits
I am working on a scifi setting that mostly takes place among the moonlets and boulders of a gas giant's ring system. The humans living in this world travel slowly, in primitive spacecraft, between ...
- 3,432
0
votes
1
answer
106
views
Creating new world [closed]
I'm not very talented in painting. I'm looking for an app or website where I can create my fantasy planet, a uniform or a plant. Are there any?
8
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How to transfer a fantasy map onto a globe and back
I made a nice fantasy map with some really interesting geographic constellations, fitting my story. The climate zones don't fit, however.
I found the tool, Map to Globe where I can upload my map to ...
- 417
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How do I make a galaxy map similiar to this?
https://i.sstatic.net/16dpM.jpg
This is a star wars galaxy map I found. I have inkarnate but I don't think it is possible to make a galaxy map like this on it. If anyone knows of any tutorials that ...
- 51
4
votes
3
answers
769
views
Are there any tools that people use to generate borders during alternate histories?
I personally think that this question is only slightly more suited for Worldbuilding Main rather than the Worldbuilding Meta, but I'm not sure where else to ask.
Is there a website that I could use ...
- 13.1k
7
votes
0
answers
83
views
How do I find collaborators to help build a new world? [closed]
I'm new to worldbuilding, so it would be good to find more experienced people who can help me build my first world. I know this isn't a discussion forum, so where would I go to find the support that I'...
- 71
5
votes
1
answer
132
views
Guide to medieval combat [closed]
There are many questions that ask about how medieval combat would work in one situation or another. What I am looking for are some books that document how medieval combat works, so I can learn more ...
- 251
3
votes
3
answers
148
views
Sorts of members, shapes and its creatures
I've been searching for a, at least for now, undefinable material that is other sort of creatures that has shapes and members on a different quantity/format from the habitual to us humans to see.
...
- 139
3
votes
2
answers
101
views
Feasibility of Capturing high energy atoms and energy in electromagnetic wave in cosmic rays, how to implement near planets?
I read this question about feasibility of capturing hydrogen from the Solar wind a while ago. Hydrogen in solar wind was exploited in that discussion. Here, does cosmic ray often close in towards a ...
- 305
2
votes
0
answers
120
views
Can solar energy be used to desalinate seawater in Australia? [closed]
An Australian company is going to send solar energy 1, 2 to Singapore and likely to Indonesia.
Could or shall Lake Eyre basin be flooded with desalinated seawater using the solar energy harvested at ...
- 305
7
votes
1
answer
708
views
A universal formula to predict which gas can or cannot stay within bound of a natural satellite or planet?
Given the following graph: ,
Relations exist among the escape velocities, molar masses of gases and the masses of natural planets and satellites. Is there a general math formula where inserting a ...
- 305
3
votes
1
answer
150
views
How Much Solar Wind Does A Star Produce?
I need someone to give me a way to figure out how fast the solar wind from a star with a known mass travels, as well as how much solar wind the star releases in a given amount of time. I hope that it ...
- 2,380
7
votes
2
answers
813
views
What Tools to use to generate a fantasy world map with some preset parameters?
I have a world I would like to use for a fiction I am using, and the free tools I got from google (first page) mostly don't do it well.
The world is a Disc. The landmass is about 475 million square ...
- 71
5
votes
2
answers
273
views
Maps of star clusters
Inside star clusters, there are regions where stars are within 1 light year of each other. I wish to create a sci-fi setting in one of these regions. To start, I have tried to find maps/charts of ...
- 51
3
votes
2
answers
314
views
Would categorizing planes of existence be considered dumbing down or enriching when it comes to worldbuilding?
The world that I'm making draws strong influence from a multitude of religions, mythology, and folklore, and that extends to the planes from occult beliefs. These planes are the Physical Plane, Astral ...
- 2,071
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What software should I use for making phylogenetic tree/cladograms?
So I'm currently drawing lots of creatures to fill the planet of my world building project.
But I would like to show them in a organized way - in a phylogenetic tree.
Sure I can draw the line myself ...
- 632
2
votes
2
answers
151
views
A tool to keep track of asynchronous events on a calendar?
I've got an urban fantasy story set a few decades ago that heavily involves vampires and werewolves, and as such, when exactly the sun and moon were out on a given day is important information for me ...
- 8,335
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
A tool that draws the borders around settlements automatically [closed]
So im really not sure if this is the correct place to ask this, however i cant think of another place where it would be more appropriate to ask, so correct me if this is the wrong place to post!
So i ...
- 83
0
votes
1
answer
86
views
Does anyone know of a stellar map that gives the distance between the nearest systems? [closed]
What im looking is for something like this but with more stars
1
vote
0
answers
66
views
How much do stars brighten as they age? [closed]
Typical worldbuilding resources give some approximate equations for the luminosity of a main sequence star as a function of its mass, e.g. L = M4 (relative to the Sun's mass and luminosity, for stars ...
- 305