Worldbuilding

WORLDBUILDING is when the GM constructs the game world. The world should be easy to explain and connect to the story’s plot. The GM can include locations, items, obstacles, and characters. These should suit the PC’s stats. Stats include SKILLS, SPECIAL ABILITIES, EQUIPMENT, MOVE, and DETAILS.

Location is often the first thing made by the GM. A location could be a city or a forest, a temple or a tunnel. It could be on top of a hill or a mile below the sea. As PCs explore, locations will change. Some locations are dangerous. They may have natural hazards, enemies, or magical TRAPS. A home base makes a good starting point for PCs. This is a safe place to which they can return and rest.

Location, beyond a physical description, explains a place's history, culture, and resources. Some things are useful to consider when describing a location. These include nature, technology, government, trade, traditions, and taboos.

The GM introduces NPCs (Non-Player Characters). The GM must know an NPC's look, purpose, and personality. They could be friendly or violent, approached from a distance or stumbled upon. They could be strangers, family, shopkeepers, or ghosts. They can be anything as long as they add to the group's experience.

The GM may include items in their world. These could be EQUIPMENT, MAGICAL ITEMS, artifacts, or personal belongings. Items could be cheap or expensive. They could be easy to find or lost and in need of rescue.

Clues and secrets are useful for advancing a story. The GM can tell clues to an entire group or to a single player. The GM should always hide a secret in a location that players are likely to find.