I am in the process of designing a new campaign world and the PCs from my last campaign are the new gods of this world. There will be a few different worlds in this universe: one created by all the god together, and one for each god that they created alone.
For the individually created worlds, I want to get input from the players about what kind of world their god would create. I am considering what type of questions to ask. I want to get enough information to build off of, but nothing so detailed that it becomes a chore. The main campaign will take place in the world I am creating for them, but I want them to have forays into the worlds their gods created for fun side quests.
Note: I am not at all concerned with making sure they create worlds that have to make sense. I'd like consistency, but I would like them to feel like they can be creative without overthinking it (i.e. if they want to have a world where everything appears in shades of pink, it is done!)
Theme - that can be the same question as a theme for a Session Zero before starting a campaign. Will each character's world be horror themed, jungle adventure themed, noir, occult, urban? Having a feel for the 'theme' of the world will go a long way towards helping you to flesh out details later.
Maybe something like a color palette? When new characters visit that world, are they overcome with shades of blue from the sky and the water? Is everything dark grey in shadows and stone? Or is everything awash in Sepia like an old Western movie? Etc etc.
Obviously those two suggestion lean more towards the intangible and the feel of a place rather than concrete facts, so I'll make a few suggestions about that as well. Is it religious? How religious is it/do they worship this god that created the planet? How does civilization live with and regard nature? Is it industrial, agricultural, shamanistic living in the trees, etc. And do they live in smaller tribes/groups, or do they live in cities and organized villages?
I think the key to this is to ask questions to get the players excited about 'customizing' their world. Then it won't feel like a chore. Also I'm realizing you briefly mentioned the shades of color thing but I'll leave it in my suggestions, because great minds think alike.
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I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I might just be really vague and say: What’s it like? Let them give you as much detail as they want — basically asking if they’re a hands-on god, placing every blade of grass and bend in each river, or more hands off, where they just get things started and let evolution and environmental factors take over.
I’d also ask which of the playable species are on the planet to start, just remind them that with things like spelljammer, radiant citadel and soon planescape other species may arrive.
Are you planning to have the characters visit these worlds in a future campaign? If so, I’d warn them that you’ll probably fill in details as needed. And while you will try to keep with their theme, sometimes strange things happen and the world doesn’t go to plan. And how long since the creation do you plan before new characters go there? Obviously, the more time that’s passed, the further it will be from what they made.
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I am in the process of designing a new campaign world and the PCs from my last campaign are the new gods of this world. There will be a few different worlds in this universe: one created by all the god together, and one for each god that they created alone.
For the individually created worlds, I want to get input from the players about what kind of world their god would create. I am considering what type of questions to ask. I want to get enough information to build off of, but nothing so detailed that it becomes a chore. The main campaign will take place in the world I am creating for them, but I want them to have forays into the worlds their gods created for fun side quests.
Note: I am not at all concerned with making sure they create worlds that have to make sense. I'd like consistency, but I would like them to feel like they can be creative without overthinking it (i.e. if they want to have a world where everything appears in shades of pink, it is done!)
What questions would you ask your players?
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
Theme - that can be the same question as a theme for a Session Zero before starting a campaign. Will each character's world be horror themed, jungle adventure themed, noir, occult, urban? Having a feel for the 'theme' of the world will go a long way towards helping you to flesh out details later.
Maybe something like a color palette? When new characters visit that world, are they overcome with shades of blue from the sky and the water? Is everything dark grey in shadows and stone? Or is everything awash in Sepia like an old Western movie? Etc etc.
Obviously those two suggestion lean more towards the intangible and the feel of a place rather than concrete facts, so I'll make a few suggestions about that as well. Is it religious? How religious is it/do they worship this god that created the planet? How does civilization live with and regard nature? Is it industrial, agricultural, shamanistic living in the trees, etc. And do they live in smaller tribes/groups, or do they live in cities and organized villages?
I think the key to this is to ask questions to get the players excited about 'customizing' their world. Then it won't feel like a chore. Also I'm realizing you briefly mentioned the shades of color thing but I'll leave it in my suggestions, because great minds think alike.
I know what you're thinking: "In that flurry of blows, did he use all his ki points, or save one?" Well, are ya feeling lucky, punk?
I might just be really vague and say: What’s it like? Let them give you as much detail as they want — basically asking if they’re a hands-on god, placing every blade of grass and bend in each river, or more hands off, where they just get things started and let evolution and environmental factors take over.
I’d also ask which of the playable species are on the planet to start, just remind them that with things like spelljammer, radiant citadel and soon planescape other species may arrive.
Are you planning to have the characters visit these worlds in a future campaign? If so, I’d warn them that you’ll probably fill in details as needed. And while you will try to keep with their theme, sometimes strange things happen and the world doesn’t go to plan. And how long since the creation do you plan before new characters go there? Obviously, the more time that’s passed, the further it will be from what they made.