Your World Building Purpose
The craft of world building – like all enterprises undertaken – requires the driving force needed to give purpose. In knowing why it is you wish to world build, you would find clarity in what it is you set out to do. People decide to build a world for various reasons, which we shall cover here throughout the course of the article.
- Literature
Especially within the realm of fantasy or science fiction, world building is a necessary step required to facilitate the creation of the story’s setting and is arguably the earliest rendition of world building as a craft. Whether it be to ground the reader in a believable environment or to instill within them a sense of otherworldly, alien awe, world building in literature is something a prospective writer should consider early on before committing pen to paper. Household names like Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Philip K. Dick, N.K. Jemisen, and Liu Cixin have all undertaken the task of world building – whose universes have gone on to live not just in the realm of fiction, but within the hearts and minds of their captivated audience.
- Game Development
As with any other form of media, game development necessitates the requirement to build a setting that captures the attention of the audience, the mood of the narrative, and the framework of the game’s universe. In the history of game development, world building truly began with the rise of RPGs in the 1970s – 1980s. As opposed to the earliest arcade games which had minimal world building and focused instead on gameplay mechanics, it was games like Ultima or Wizardry that had set the stage for RPGs to take on more expansive fantasy worlds with detailed lore and exploration opportunities. In time, the phenomenon would culminate in the birth of beloved settings such as Tamriel of Elder Scrolls fame, Hyrule (Legend of Zelda), or even the development of an alternate-history Earth that led to the post-apocalyptic setting of the Fallout series.
- Tabletop RPGs (TTRPGs)
With tabletop RPGs, the tradition of world building began with the departure of the genre from its roots in wargaming. Dungeons and Dragons, perhaps the most famous example of TTRPGs, was first developed in the 1970s, and brought about world building to the forefront of the creative department with detailed settings and narratives, all handcrafted from scratch within the mind of its author – Gary Gygax. The heritage had thus been carried on through the years inspiring many a prospective Dungeon Master to take up the mantle in creating a living, breathing universe for others to enjoy. Perhaps that could be you?
Other popular settings with rich world building that exist within the TTRPG community include Forgotten Realms, Shadowrun, Vampire: the Masquerade, Werewolf: the Apocalypse, and Glorantha.
- For Fun
Perhaps most obviously, it is important to consider that sometimes – maybe people just do this as a hobby. Oft at times, we are drawn to ask ourselves why we or someone in particular wishes to commit to a certain act (and that is a question that is posed to many a creative mind). But sometimes, the artist wishes mainly to create art for art’s sake. No audience necessary – and in that moment of realization is contentment achieved. It is important, most especially to yourself, that the world you create is one that only you could dream of, and it is a special place in which you can express all your creative energy towards. It’s a vision only for its creator to understand, and all the world is raptly awaiting the day you decide to share it.
There are certainly various other examples by which world building can come into the picture, but the three above are the main outlets that most would consider to begin their venture. The fact, however, remains that world building is fundamentally about bringing life and color to your audience in whatever form it may take.