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.
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󰋰 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?
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Flora and fauna
How does the flora differ from region to region?
Do any plants have special or magical properties? Are any
dangerous?
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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?
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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?
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Diseases
What natural diseases have evolved over time? How are they
transmitted? How has this affected population growth?
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󰈑 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?
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Capital city
What is the capital city of the world? Why is it the capital?
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Flags and symbols
How does each city choose to represent itself (crest, flags,
signature colors)?
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WEATHER
What are the processes of your world that drive weather and ocean
patterns?
Are certain regions more vulnerable to certain weather conditions?
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Climate
H ow does the climate differ in each region?
What are the seasons like in your world? How many seasons are
there?
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󰚜 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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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Festivals
What are the important festivals of your world and why are they
celebrated?
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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?
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Sayings
What are common sayings? Idioms? Insults? “Untranslatable” words
that only a certain group of people would understand?
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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)?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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)?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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󰸤 RELIGION
How do people worship in your world?
When and where do people worship?
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Gods and deities
Who are the major and minor gods that people worship?
What function do the gods serve in society?
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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?
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Significant prophets
Who are the important religious figures in the world? For what
reason are they significant?
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󰋌 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?
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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)?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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󰍒 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?
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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?
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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?
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Common weapons
Are there any weapons that are so commonplace that every
household owns it? If so, what?
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Are there professions that necessitate the bearing of weapons?
What about religions (i.e. the Sikhs who carry daggers)?
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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?
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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 )?
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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?
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Natural resources
What resources are natural in each part of your world? How does
this affect trade and trade relationships?
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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)?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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