World-building – How to Create a World From Scratch

“I started wisely with a map.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

To build a completely new world is a very creative process. It will include drawing a map, creating a list of ‘Places of Interest’, and coming up with a list of races that dwell within the land.

Additionally, your map will be created by you with a blank sheet of xerox paper. Considering your world is composed of 75% ocean like our planet is, you could begin by drawing four or five large land masses. Try to make the edges of the continents with greatly curved and meandering lines to simulate real continental geography. When you are finished with your world map, make 3 copies of it. On one copy draw in geographic features such as mountains, forests, swamps, plains, hills, towns, etc. On the second copy mark off boundaries and label each territory with it’s associated race. On the 3rd copy point out ‘Places of Interest’, ancient battlegrounds, schools of magic, dragon’s dens’, etc.

Whether you are creating a new world for your fantasy novel, dungeons and dragons campaign, or MUD/MMORPG game, drawing a map with places of interest, races, and geographic features is always a good start.