Fill - Free fillable Worldbuilding Template V2 (Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand) PDF form

The Ultimate Worldbuilding Template

With a little help from blog.reedsy.com

BASICS

GEOGRAPHY

Natural world

Locations of significance

Weather

PEOPLE

Races & species

Languages

Social frameworks

CIVILIZATION

History

Culture

Religion

Leisure

Education

TECHNOLOGY, MAGIC & WEAPONS

Magic systems

Technology

Weaponry

ECONOMY

Trade & commerce

Transportation

Business

POLITICS

Government

Law

 THE BASICS

What is your world called? _________________________________________________________

Is it set on:

☐ Earth

☐ Alternate Earth

☐ Not Earth

Estimate its population: ___________________________________________________________

In one sentence, describe your world.

______________________________________________________________________________________

󰋰 GEOGRAPHY

⛰ THE NATURAL WORLD

• How was the world created? How long ago was it created?

• How do the laws of physics work?

• How does the solar system move? What celestial beings exist (suns, stars,

moons, etc.) and how do they relate to the world?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Flora and fauna

• How does the flora differ from region to region?

• Do any plants have special or magical properties? Are any

dangerous?

________________________________________________________________________

Creatures

• What kind of wildlife roams which parts of your world?

• How did the wildlife evolve? Where are they most commonly found?

• Do mythical creatures such as dragons exist? How do they fit into

the ecosystem?

________________________________________________________________________

Landscape

• Where are the mountain ranges? Rivers? Forests? Deserts? Seas?

• How does the terrain interact with its inhabitants?

• Are there any “natural wonders” in your world? H ow were they

formed?

________________________________________________________________________

Diseases

• What natural diseases have evolved over time? How are they

transmitted? How has this affected population growth?

________________________________________________________________________

󰈑 LOCATIONS OF SIGNIFICANCE

• What are the major cities in your world? Ports? Most populated

metropolises?

• Is your world split geographically? (e.g. rural and urban, north and south,

etc.) If so, how?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Capital city

• What is the capital city of the world? Why is it the capital?

________________________________________________________________________

Flags and symbols

• How does each city choose to represent itself (crest, flags,

signature colors)?

________________________________________________________________________

⚡ WEATHER

• What are the processes of your world that drive weather and ocean

patterns?

• Are certain regions more vulnerable to certain weather conditions?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Climate

• H ow does the climate differ in each region?

• What are the seasons like in your world? How many seasons are

there?

________________________________________________________________________

󰚜 PEOPLE

 RACES & SPECIES

• What intelligent species or races populate your world? Dwarves? Elves?

Xenomorphs? Other? How did they come to exist?

• How does each race or species perceive each other? How do they co- exist?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Physical build

• What do the inhabitants of your world look like? Do they have any

distinguishing features?

• What is the societal standard for beauty? How might this differ in

each region of the world?

________________________________________________________________________

Mannerisms

• What is the code of conduct between people of different ranks or

classes? People of different cities or regions? Elders?

• H ow people in your world convey non- verbal boredom? Disbelief?

Happiness? Impatience? Respect?

• What would be a gesture that is universally insulting in your world?

________________________________________________________________________

Customs and rituals

• Are there any rites of passages in your world? “Coming of age”

celebrations? If so, what age marks the transition from child to

adult?

• What traditions surround death and burial? What about

engagements and proposals of marriage?

________________________________________________________________________

Festivals

• What are the important festivals of your world and why are they

celebrated?

________________________________________________________________________

 LANGUAGES

• How many languages exist in your world? How did they originate?

• Which language is spoken most? Is there a universal language?

• How do the names differ in each region?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Sayings

• What are common sayings? Idioms? Insults? “Untranslatable” words

that only a certain group of people would understand?

________________________________________________________________________

Accents

• If different languages exist, how does this affect the accents in your

world? What do the accents say about the person (place of origin,

social class, level of education, etcetera)?

________________________________________________________________________

Greetings

• How do people of the same race greet each other? How do people of

different races greet one another?

• Is there an informal and formal way to greet others depending on

the level of familiarity (i.e. friends, acquaintances, elders,

superiors, etcetera)? What are the proper forms of address?

________________________________________________________________________

 SOCIAL FRAMEWORKS

• How do people see each other in your world? Foreigners? Non- humans?

• What are the social taboos? What would one need to do in order to be

kicked out of society?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Class or caste systems

• Is there a class system? If so, how much emphasis does society place

on it?

• What are the tell- tale signs that a person belongs to a certain class?

• How does class affect the business in your world? Can anyone

become a priest or a wizard — or is it a privilege restricted to

certain members of the hierarchy?

________________________________________________________________________

Family structure

• What is the normal family unit?

• What is the social system within a family unit in your world?

Patriarchal? Matriarchal?

• What const itutes a good father? A good mother? A good child?

________________________________________________________________________

Marriage

• How is marriage defined in your world? Is marriage a civil or

religious institution?

• Do people marry for love? If not, why do they marry?

________________________________________________________________________

⛩ CIVILIZATION

⏳ HISTORY

• How did civilization begin?

• What were the significant wars that have taken place on your world’s soil?

How have they shaped the present?

• When was the earliest known record of history?

• Can your world’ s history be divided into significant eras (e.g. G eorgian,

Victorian, Edwardian, etcetera)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Myths

• What myths exist in your world to explain the cosmos ? How might

this have in turn shaped religion?

• How were stories passed through generations?

________________________________________________________________________

☪ CULTURE

• How is culture preserved in your world?

• What are some things that define each culture? What would a person from

a certain city, region, or country be proudest of?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Literature, art, and music

• What is the role of the arts in your world’ s culture? How is it

perceived by society and how has it evolved?

• W ho are some celebrated or noted artists in history? What for?

• How might the arts have changed as a result of outside influences

(from other regions, cities, races, etcetera) ?

• Are any of the arts taboo? If so, why?

________________________________________________________________________

Clothing

• What is the customary dress for men? Women?

• What fashion is trending and how does this differ from region to

region?

• How does the clothing one wears reflect status?

• What is the dress code for each profession? How strictly followed

must it be?

________________________________________________________________________

Cuisine

• What are the regional dishes? How might this differ depending on

the climate and environment?

• Is there a difference between what the poor and the rich eat? What

is considered a luxurious food? What is considered a staple food?

• How are mealtimes approached? Is there a set hour to be at the

table? Are there traditions that precede or follow a meal?

________________________________________________________________________

󰸤 RELIGION

• How do people worship in your world?

• When and where do people worship?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Gods and deities

• Who are the major and minor gods that people worship?

• What function do the gods serve in society?

________________________________________________________________________

Holy texts

• What (if any) holy texts exist?

• How well- known are the scriptures? Would people of all ages be

able to recite them on the spot if asked?

________________________________________________________________________

Significant prophets

• Who are the important religious figures in the world? For what

reason are they significant?

________________________________________________________________________

󰋌 EDUCATION

• Does formal education exist? If so, who can access it? The rich? The

clergy? Everyone in the general population?

• If magic exists in your world, how is it studied? Do schools exist to train

it?

• What are literacy rates among the general population? How does this

affect communication and the distribution of information?

_______________________________________________________________________________

⚽ LEISURE

• How do people spend their leisure time in your world? What forms of

entertainment are most common?

• Are there any organized sports in your world? How might its rules and

regulations differ from the ordinary (i.e. Quidditch)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

✨ TECHNOLOGY, MAGIC, & WEAPONS

 MAGIC SYSTEM(S)

• To what ends and purposes is magic used in your world? Who can use it?

• What limits are there to its power? What are the consequences of using it?

• What is the history of magic and magicians in your world?

• How does society view magic? Positively? Negatively? As the Other?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Rules of magic

• How does magic work in your world? Where does it come from?

• Is there a language that’ s needed in order to call forth magic? If so,

what are its roots?

• Is magic regulated in any way? What is the governing body?

________________________________________________________________________

Practitioning magicians

• What are magicians’ status in society? Are they trusted advisors of

kings or charlatans on the road?

• How many magici ans exist in your world? How do they perceive one

another?

________________________________________________________________________

󰍒 TECHNOLOGY

• How advanced is the technology in your world? How does it work?

• How does technology impact the different parts of society?

Transportation? Communication? Medicine?

• How does magic and technology interact and co- exist? Is it a rivalry? A co-

op? Are there rules and regulations?

_______________________________________________________________________________

⚔ WEAPONRY

• What weapons are predominant in your world (ranged, combat, anti- gravity,

etcetera) and why?

• Who makes the weapons? How do they work? Is it easy to obtain them?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Signature weapons

• Are there special weapons ( e.g. Thor’ s Hammer, Captain America’s

shield, etcetera)? How are they made? How many of them exist in

the world?

________________________________________________________________________

Common weapons

• Are there any weapons that are so commonplace that every

household owns it? If so, what?

________________________________________________________________________

• Are there professions that necessitate the bearing of weapons?

What about religions (i.e. the Sikhs who carry daggers)?

________________________________________________________________________

 ECONOMY

 TRADE & COMMERCE

• How is trade facilitated? Is it carried out by traveling merchants? By a

guild? Are there auctions?

• What cities, countries, or regions are allies? Trade partners? How has this

changed throughout history?

• How is the soft power of a region, city, or country determined?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Currency

• Is there a universal currency? If not, what are the regional

currencies? What is the valuation?

• How is the currency circulated and what are the denominations?

Can the currency be broken down into units (dollars , cents , dimes ,

quarters )?

________________________________________________________________________

Major imports & exports

• What are the major exports of the region or city? Imports? How

might this have evolved throughout history?

• Does a particular region specialize in particular trade (i.e.

Livestock, weaponry, etcetera)? Why?

________________________________________________________________________

Natural resources

• What resources are natural in each part of your world? How does

this affect trade and trade relationships?

________________________________________________________________________

 TRANSPORTATION

• How easy it is to travel within a city and outside of a city? What modes of

transportation exist (horse, anti- gravity car, etcetera)?

• How is information disseminated all over your world (ink and paper, owl,

newspaper, messenger)?

_______________________________________________________________________________

 BUSINESS

• What crafts or trades are highly valued in your world?

• Are some professions considered more elite or respectable than others?

How so?

• How do people advance in their fields? Are there apprenticeships? How

easy is social mobility?

• W hat is the normal work schedule for the average person? What is the

average income?

_______________________________________________________________________________

 POLITICS

⚠ GOVERNMENT

• What is the form of government? Is it a m onarchy? Republic? Empire?

Theocracy?

• What are the responsibilities of the government? How far does the

government’ s sphere of influence spread (magic, religion, etcetera)?

• How is the government perceived? Is it trusted by the people or is there

tension?

_______________________________________________________________________________

⚖ LAW

• What is the rule of law in your world? How is law? What are the most

important laws?

• What are the punishments for breaking the law?

_______________________________________________________________________________

Justice systems

• What is the legal process in your world? How are people tried?

• How does magic fit into the legal system? Is it above the law?

________________________________________________________________________

W ar systems

• How is war declared? Is there a formal process that a country must

go through in order to engage in war?

• What is the command structure of the army?

• How big is the army? Is it composed of humans? N on- humans? Both?

________________________________________________________________________

Fill Online, Printable, Fillable, Blank Worldbuilding Template V2 (Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand) Form

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Fillable Worldbuilding Template V2 (Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand)

Fill Online, Printable, Fillable, Blank Worldbuilding Template V2 (Department of Internal Affairs New Zealand) Form

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