The Worldbuilding Summer time Camp is right here! This second immediate wave is themed round Refuge, so let’s have a look at how one can method this theme and the varied prompts!
The silver theme: refuge
The place do you go when every thing round you adjustments? A refuge generally is a literal place (like a constructing or a metropolis), nevertheless it may also be something that retains you secure or comforts you. The change somebody takes refuge from may also be small within the grand scheme of issues—typically, small adjustments can have deep penalties on a particular individual or group. You may tie this in with the earlier week’s theme and make these prompts about how your world responds to no matter change you wrote about, or provide you with one thing fully totally different!
Refuge prompts
These are the prompts that comply with the theme of Refuge. To reply them, go to the Summer time Camp problem web page!
Someplace in your world, describe…
11. A settlement thought of a refuge [Settlement]
Refugee camp, Ellis Island (USA), Ba Sing Se (Avatar: The Final Airbender)
Refuges are sometimes seen as beacons of hope for these in search of a greater life. After all, not every thing’s optimistic about these locations, which is an effective way to introduce native battle in your world. In the actual world, refugee camps typically have poor dwelling situations, and, whereas many individuals noticed (and nonetheless see) the US as a refuge, it’s not an ideal nation both. On this planet of Avatar, town of Ba Sing Se is a refuge from the horrors of the fireplace nation, nevertheless it’s additionally a totalitarian police state. Not everybody may see these locations as a refuge, they usually could even need out!
12. A know-how used for protection or safety [Technology]
Counter-siege weapons, defend turbines, sea dams, base isolation system for earthquakes
The very first thing you might affiliate with safety is aggression, however not all defensive applied sciences are about weapons and shields! For instance, international locations vulnerable to earthquakes typically use a particular kind of basis to guard the constructing at any time when an earthquake begins. For one more instance, the Netherlands is well-known for its sea dams that defend it from flooding. So, when fascinated about this, contemplate what your world’s societies primarily fear about, and create a know-how that minimizes its results!
13. A naturally sheltered place [Geography]
Oasis, caves, Kholinar metropolis (The Stormlight Archive)
Why construct a refuge when you could find one in nature? Even many refuges which might be constructed by people might be based mostly on pure options so that you just don’t must create them from scratch. Consider buildings that use caves as a part of their construction, or small settlements round an oasis (like an Avatar: The Final Airbender). A extra large-scale fictional instance of that is Kholinar Metropolis, a big settlement constructed underneath a set of pure rock formations that shelter it from the huge hurricanes they principally take care of each week. So strive to consider the extent of modification that place would have (if any) and what it’s sheltering its inhabitants from.
14. A constructing thought of a refuge in opposition to the world [Building]
Monasteries, libraries, hospitals
A refuge doesn’t must be in opposition to one thing bodily. Typically, you simply want a spot the place you may relaxation for a time. Monks, for instance, are typically at the very least a bit remoted from the skin world for his or her complete lives. However even buildings like libraries are a short lived refuge from the hustle and bustle of town—simply consider the quick silence and targeted atmosphere that surrounds you once you stroll into one. And that is one thing you may reproduce in your individual constructing! These locations will normally really feel totally different than the skin world, be it background prayers, targeted silence, or pained groans. Be certain to explain its environment to present your viewers why it’s thought of a refuge.
15. A unit devoted to guarding somebody or one thing [Military Formation]
Secret Service, King’s Guard, Night time Watch (A Track of Ice and Hearth)
Safety items make for superb worldbuilding materials as a result of they hook up with many points of the world. To start out with, they are going to be defending one thing (or somebody) vital from one thing (or somebody) that can also be vital—however for various causes! They are going to typically be half of a bigger faction with particular objectives and flaws, they comprise complete characters and, because of the nature of their work, they’ll normally have one thing secret or mysterious. This may very well be something from strategic particulars to, within the case of the Night time Watch, the existence of zombies threatening to interrupt in and kill everybody. To keep away from making this too generic, have a look at your world’s themes and provides the unit a function that matches with them. It may even be a secondary, secret function if that will suit your setting!
16. A private merchandise that retains you secure [Item]
Shields, talismans, biosuits, meals (Spirited Away)
Discover how the immediate doesn’t say that the merchandise have to be particularly designed to maintain you secure. Whereas protective-by-design objects are excellent for this immediate, you could possibly take it in so many various instructions! For instance, in Spirited Away, Chihiro should eat some meals from the spirit world to keep away from disappearing. Meals isn’t designed to maintain you secure, nevertheless it positively protected her in that occasion. Keep in mind too that an merchandise can be utilized to guard you from well-known penalties of an motion you need to take—like a biosuit! You can even strive linking this immediate with the defensive know-how in immediate 12. Possibly that know-how is a part of this merchandise, or possibly this merchandise is a sized-down model of that know-how for use by people.
17. A convention that offers consolation [Tradition]
Thanksgiving, Christmas, meals for grieving
This one may also be interpreted in a myriad of the way, all of it depends upon the way you select to know “consolation”! However on the whole, strive to consider a practice that offers off cozy vibes (no matter which means on your world’s cultures). This can normally embrace doing issues with different folks, and particularly issues which might be out of the strange in a roundabout way. To get began, take into consideration one thing crucial to your tradition. It may very well be associated to faith, to pure, and even private occasions. Think about the potential for making a practice that has developed over time—possibly it wasn’t all the time cozy and comforting!
18. A species with protecting anatomy [Species]
Turtles, hedgehogs, mimics (Dungeons & Dragons)
We’ve talked about issues and locations—let’s take into consideration creatures! Now, most species could have some a part of their anatomy devoted to safety. For instance, we now have skulls, pores and skin, and hair, amongst different issues. However to make issues attention-grabbing, consider a function that may be very uncommon and even distinctive to that species! Turtles have shells, hedgehogs have spines, and mimics have… properly, their complete physique! Now, I do know that the purpose of a mimic’s anatomy in “canon” D&D is usually trapping unaware adventurers. However you’re the god of your universe, so you may completely have species with this kind of anatomy for defensive functions. In spite of everything, you don’t must defend your self if nobody can let you know’re there!
Wild card prompts
Each week, we additionally launch two prompts that aren’t associated to the theme, so you may reply them as a substitute if you wish to take a break from the principle theme! Right here they’re:
19. A sub-culture thought of larger-than-life by some [Ethnicity]
Drag queens, carnies, theater folks
Let’s add some coloration to your world’s cultures! All societies have sub-cultures that take components of their base tradition and both exaggerate them or go in opposition to them. These teams are a tremendous method so as to add depth to your world with out branching out to totally different areas or cultures. After all, “larger-than-life” is a completely subjective opinion about somebody, however that’s the purpose! Why are they perceived like this by some? And do different folks have totally different opinions about them too? As leisure folks can typically fall into these sub-cultures, you could possibly tie this into final week’s Wild Card immediate a couple of constructing related to enjoyable!
20. A charity or different group targeted on doing good [Organization]
Crimson Cross, Jedi Council (Star Wars)
That is one other immediate you could absorb many various path as a result of this group is doing good… in line with whom? So long as the group both views itself or is considered as doing good, it suits the immediate even when it doesn’t match our real-world requirements of “good”. You may hyperlink it to prompts in each this and final week’s theme, however you too can do your individual factor by, you guessed it… your world’s themes and style! What is taken into account “good”, in addition to what sort of good is required, will depend upon what your world’s wants are.
DON’T MISS THE NEXT PROMPT REVEAL!
Excited to get the third immediate wave? As a result of we’re excited to point out them to you! Be certain to tune into subsequent Saturday’s stream at 6pm UK/10am Pacific to be the primary to know the 8 Perception prompts and two new Wild Card prompts. Do not forget that to get Silver, it’s essential to full any 16 prompts, not essentially those on this wave!
What are your ideas for this theme? Share within the feedback—and go to the problem web page to reply the prompts!
