The Worldbuilding Summer time Camp is right here! This primary immediate wave is themed round Change, so let’s have a look at how one can strategy this theme and the assorted prompts!
The copper theme: change
Tumultuous occasions are attention-grabbing moments to set tales in, whether or not they be as a result of pure disasters, illness, conflicts, or others. Characters face uncommon challenges, infrastructure breaks down, and society as an entire can change. Change may be huge and small—from the scale of a small neighborhood or metropolis to the whole universe—, and it may be constructive and detrimental. With these prompts, you’ll take into consideration adjustments which have occurred (or are taking place) in your world and the way persons are coping with them.
Change prompts
These are the prompts that observe the theme of Change. To reply them, go to the Summer time Camp problem web page!
Someplace in your world, describe…
1. A tumultuous area vulnerable to pure disasters [Geography]
Japan, San Francisco, Reykjavik
Pure disasters are scary as a result of we will’t management them in any respect, however that’s additionally why they’re so attention-grabbing to jot down about! How has this space in your world tailored to pure disasters, and the way has this affected its individuals? Do not forget that pure disasters will also be brought on by magic and even by fantastical creatures that trigger them accidentally.
2. An environmental or different large-scale pure catastrophe [Natural Law]
Highstorms (Stormlight Archive), Iron Wind (Numenera)
You wrote in regards to the place, now it’s time to jot down in regards to the factor! In the event you select a pure catastrophe that additionally exists on Earth, you’ll be able to twist it into a singular model of your world. For instance, in Stormlight Archive highstorms are large hurricanes… that additionally occur to be associated to the magic system, the pure setting as an entire, and even foreign money! Within the Numenera RPG, the Iron Wind seems like a sandstorm, but it surely’s manufactured from nano-tech that continuously adjustments the whole lot it touches (it’s virtually prefer it was made for this week’s theme!)
3. A personality who goes by an amazing change or metamorphosis [Character]
Aragorn (Lord of the Rings), Zuko (Avatar: The Final Airbender), most protagonists in fiction
Change can occur not solely on this planet but in addition inside an individual. And that’s truly what makes characters attention-grabbing to examine or play! In The Lord of the Rings motion pictures, Aragorn turns into king of Gondor despite the fact that he initially refused to take the throne (it’s completely different within the books). In Avatar: The Final Airbender, Zuko goes by a masterfully written redemption arc. To plot out the character arc, take into consideration their motivations first. What drives them to alter, and why do they settle for (or initially refuse) this drive?
4. A illness that brought about societal upheaval [Condition]
Covid, Bubonic Plague, Demon Worms (Princess Mononoke)
Change doesn’t solely come from pure disasters. As we noticed not too long ago in the true world, illnesses may also severely have an effect on society as an entire and problem many issues we take with no consideration. However world-changing situations don’t must have an effect on people: in Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, Demon Worms is a situation brought on by hatred that principally impacts forest gods. After all, in a world the place gods tackle a bodily type, that could be very harmful and is likely one of the issues that the protagonists should face. Demon Worms are additionally carefully tied to the themes of the film—so use that as a place to begin: have a look at your meta and contemplate what sort of situation would serve the themes you need to cope with.
5. A doc that modified the course of historical past [Document]
Authorized paperwork, the Bible, peace treaties, King Robert’s will (A Track of Ice and Fireplace)
Phrases are so highly effective that one doc can utterly change the whole lot. And whereas authorized paperwork are the clearest examples of this, different kinds of texts may also change the world. A letter despatched in secret by a strong individual, or spiritual scriptures, are simply as highly effective. Typically, the doc itself finally ends up not being that influential, however the whole lot that occurs round it’s, comparable to King Robert’s will in A Track of Ice and Fireplace. So, for this immediate: is your doc a solution to a change that’s taking place, or is it the reason for the change? Keep in mind additionally that paperwork don’t must be written! Movies, music, and artwork are additionally paperwork with the potential to alter the world.
6. A displaced individuals in your world [Ethnicity]
Refugees, Elves (The Lord of the Rings)
Societal change can power individuals to depart their homeland for quite a lot of causes. In The Lord of the Rings, elves are slowly leaving Center Earth to make manner for people because the world is altering too quick for his or her immortal minds. After all, most individuals are displaced towards their will, be it as a result of struggle, poor dwelling situations, or different difficulties. Take into consideration the connection between these individuals and the change they’re experiencing. How wouldn’t it have an effect on their tradition and traditions? And the place did they go (and why)?
7. A battle that concerned a altering setting [Military Conflict]
French Revolution, Final March of the Ents (The Lord of the Rings), climax of Treasure Planet
There are various instructions you’ll be able to take this immediate! It could possibly be a actually altering setting, such because the climactic scene in Disney’s Treasure Planet, which takes place whereas the planet is actually collapsing on itself. But it surely may be metaphorical; for instance, the French Revolution brought about a altering social and political setting by ending the monarchy. The change may be the reason for the battle: in The Lord of the Rings, the final march of the ents occurs due to how Saruman modified the literal setting round Isengar. In any case, be sure that the change is the main target of this battle!
8. A car that, when launched, brought about social upheaval [Vehicle]
Bicycles, trains, vehicles, spaceships
Transportation is a vital a part of any society, as that is how sources may be moved from place to put. Sooner transportation means simpler entry to all types of sources, which in flip means extra wealth for that society. For a special instance, the invention of bicycles contributed a ton to ladies’s rights throughout the suffragette motion (extra information)! Nevertheless, not all adjustments introduced by new strategies of transportation are constructive. Particularly within the quick time period, many individuals who labored within the transportation trade may lose their jobs as they develop into redundant, which might trigger plenty of social unrest. Take into consideration how this car would work together with the opposite prompts too: is that this how the displaced individuals moved? Or perhaps it’s a car able to withstanding the pure catastrophe you created!
Wild card prompts
Each week, we additionally launch two prompts that aren’t associated to the theme, so you’ll be able to reply them as an alternative if you wish to take a break from the principle theme! Right here they’re:
9. A fantasy about meals [Myth]
Golden apple, Mana from Heaven, Ambrosia
Meals is tremendous enjoyable to consider when worldbuilding, as a result of it might probably present quite a bit a couple of tradition with out explicitly saying it. The elements they’ve entry to, their technological degree, and their values or beliefs will change the kind of meals they’ve. However for this one, let’s take a step again and take into consideration a fantasy as an alternative of actual meals. What is a perfect meals from the standpoint of your tradition? Or, what’s the reverse of best, if you wish to write a darker fantasy? Take into consideration not solely the form and style but in addition about its symbolism. And keep in mind that cultures will solely be capable of give you meals based mostly on the sort of meals they know!
10. A constructing related to pleasure and enjoyable [Building]
Enjoyable home, library, theater
Have some enjoyable with this one! The place do individuals in your world go to have enjoyable? The best way you outline enjoyable is as much as you… or quite, as much as the individuals in your world! For instance, in the event you’re studying this, you’d most likely have a ton of enjoyable in a constructing devoted to worldbuilding, however you most likely additionally know individuals who would discover it extremely boring. Everybody has completely different definitions of enjoyable, so that is your likelihood to give you one thing that uniquely expresses the values of a tradition (or a subset of individuals in it).
DON’T MISS THE NEXT PROMPT REVEAL!
Excited to get the second immediate wave? As a result of we’re excited to point out them to you! Be sure to tune into subsequent Saturday’s stream at 6pm UK/10am Pacific to be the primary to know the 8 Refuge prompts and two new Wild Card prompts. Do not forget that to get Copper, it is advisable full any 8 prompts, not essentially those on this wave!
What are your suggestions for this theme? Share within the feedback—and go to the problem web page to reply the prompts!
