Past, Present, and Approaching Themes

Hello! This week's world-building theme is "introduction". We want to hear about your constructed world! Today's question is free-form: introduce yourself, your world, and/or the works based within your world (if applicable) in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

What are the main inspirations for your constructed world? Was there anything specific that sparked your drive to make your own world(s): a book, a game, a vacation, a friend or family member? Is it derivative (existing as an offshoot of reality, for example) or original? #OCWorld #prompts

How large is the focus of your constructed world? Is it only a single nation, or does it span multiple? If it spans multiple nations, are they all located on the same planet (or a relative enclosed space), or are they scattered amongst solar systems, galaxies, universes? #OCWorld #prompts

Is your constructed world a solo effort, or do you collaborate with others? Was it always this way, or did it change? If solo, did you receive help with the construction of your world at any point (either directly or through a specific world-building community)? #OCWorld #prompts

Do you have any favorite world-builders? Have you played with aspects of their constructed world(s) before? Did they drive you into building your own worlds? Tell us about them in as many or little words as possible— and link us to their work, if possible! #OCWorld #prompts

Viva! This week's world-building theme is "family". We want to hear about the nuance of family in your constructed world. Today's question is free-form: tell us about how your world's culture(s) create and maintain families in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

Are there limits to the amount (and types) of living things that can be added to your civilization(s)'s household? Is there a restriction on the amount of children that can be had? Are animals allowed to be "owned" for purposes outside of work and/or food? Are plants? #OCWorld #prompts

How easy is it to build a family in your constructed world's civilization(s)? Do you need the approval of others (such as the government or one's elders) to build one, or can you make one without it? Are certain groups not allowed to build their own families (legally or otherwise)? #OCWorld #prompts

Is adoption a concept in your constructed world's civilization(s)? Is it a legal process? Is it stigmatized? Do the peoples in your civilization(s) see child rearing as a community project, or more private? Does trans-lineage adoption exist? How about trans-species adoption? #OCWorld #prompts

Does the concept of marriage exist in your civilization(s)? Are weddings necessary to see a marriage as valid? Does it require a legal process? Does getting married grant any special privileges? Are there limits to the types (and amount) of people that can be married? #OCWorld #prompts

Insahaeyo! This week's world-building theme is "culture". We want to hear about the different kinds of cultures in your constructed world. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your world's cultures in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

Are your constructed world's civilizations all built around a single culture, or do they have multiple? If they have multiple, how are they different: is it their art, clothing, food, language, something else? What, if any, real-world cultures do they draw inspiration from? #OCWorld #prompts

What do the calendars of your constructed world's civilizations look like? Are they based on any real-world calendars? How long do your peoples celebrate their new years? If there are multiple calendars in your world, do their new years overlap— if not, which one "starts" first? #OCWorld #prompts

Is there a specific thing from your constructed world's culture(s) that is only had during a certain time? Are there foods, clothing, or instruments that are associated with certain celebrations, milestones, and/or seasons? Are these limits set for cultural or practical reasons? #OCWorld #prompts

Look to your constructed world's stars: do they hold any spiritual meaning to any of your civilizations? Do they have an astrology system based on them? Is there a myth or folklore surrounding the names of stars and/or constellations? Are any of them used for navigation? #OCWorld #prompts

Akkam! This week's world-building theme is "history". We want to hear about the in-universe history of your constructed world. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your world's history (or how you went about making it) in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

Are there parts of your constructed world's history that are celebrated by one (or more) of its civilizations? If so, how is it celebrated: with clothing, food, music, dance? On the inverse, are these same events hidden by other civilizations— and if so, why? #OCWorld #prompts

Is there a specific moment in your constructed world's history that was immortalized in an unusual way? Is there a historical figure associated with a particular activity, or food, that is had during a certain time of year? If so, is it seen as a symbol of pride or mockery? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there certain cultures, peoples, groups, or otherwise that became lost to history in your constructed world? Was this loss caused by a natural disaster, or an outside power? Are there trace elements of their existence in the world itself, such as words or tools? #OCWorld #prompts

Name an important figure (or #OCs) in the history of your constructed world. Who were they, both inside and outside of their community? What did they do that was notable, and did this benefit their homeland? Are they universally loved, or are they villainized by one or more groups? #OCWorld #prompts

Namaste! This week's world-building theme is "expression". We want to hear about how the peoples in your constructed world self-express. Today's question is free-form: tell us about the many ways of self-expression in your world's cultures in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How emotive are the peoples in your constructed world? Are their expressions obvious to those outside of their culture (and/or species), or are they more subtle? Are certain expressions often misinterpreted (like a smile reading as friendly instead of aggressive, or vice versa)? #OCWorld #prompts

Is gender a concept in the cultures of your constructed world? If it is, how many genders does each culture have, and how do these genders differ: is it by certain visual, biological, and/or mental factors, or something else entirely? Is gender seen as static, or can it change? #OCWorld #prompts

Do courtship rituals exist within the cultures of your constructed world? If so, to what extent would one express their attraction to another? Are there specific seasons where these rituals are performed? Do the results of a successful match-up last a long or short period of time? #OCWorld #prompts

Has there ever been a time in your constructed world's history where two entirely-different modes of expression clashed in some way? Think something like a gesture being read as an insult, or a way of dress signifying an unexpected gender. Was it a minor or major incident? #OCWorld #prompts

Nĭmen hăo! This week's world-building theme is "health"! We want to hear about how the peoples in your constructed world keep themselves fit and disease-free. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your civilizations' stances on health in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

What does a healthy individual look like for the peoples in your constructed world? How are their bodies adapted to the environment(s) that they live in? How do they maintain their bodies: with exercise, a specific diet, something else? Do these requirements ever change? #OCWorld #prompts

How frequently do the peoples in your constructed world's civilizations rest? Do they take a single long rest, or do they take many short ones throughout the day? Do these rests shut down all of one's senses, or only some of them; if the latter is true, which senses stay on? #OCWorld #prompts

What are (or were) the most dangerous diseases known to the peoples in your constructed world? Are they contagious? Can they pass between species? Are they curable? How does one stay protected from them? Have they ever been eradicated; if so, can they ever come back? #OCWorld #prompts

Imagine you could enter one of your world's civilizations (ignoring any factors that would make this impossible, and without bringing any bad germs along with you). Which diseases would you need to worry about the most? What food, drink, or other items would be hazardous to you? #OCWorld #prompts

Latha math! This week's world-building theme is "food"! We want to hear about the foods and dietary needs of your constructed world's peoples. Today's question is free-form: tell us about the food that your world's peoples eat in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How do the peoples in your constructed world's civilizations eat? Do they use utensils? Do they use specific body parts? Are there certain etiquette rules that need to be followed while they are eating; are they forced to modify these rules when in other civilizations? #OCWorld #prompts

What are the dietary needs of your constructed world's civilizations? Are these diets impacted by their environment in some manner? Do the peoples in these civilizations carry certain adaptations and/or mutations that make these diets healthy for them, but not for others?

Are food allergies a common concern in your constructed world's civilizations? If your world has multiple species of people, is there a "food council" that catalogues what foods are toxic across its different species? How regulated are these potentially-toxic foods? #OCWorld #prompts

Say that a universe-traveling gastronomist made a visit to your constructed world, to "detail the culinary diversity of all known universes". What's the one dish that your civilizations' peoples would say summarizes their cultural cuisine? Describe it in as much detail as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

Mabuhay! This week's world-building theme is "disability"! We want to hear about the cultural perceptions of disability in your constructed world's civilizations. Today's question is free-form: tell us how disability is seen in your world in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How do the civilizations in your constructed world see disability? Are disabilities seen as errors that need to be fixed, a normal aspect of daily life, or something divine? What is the general quality of life for a disabled person in these civilizations: good, decent, poor? #OCWorld #prompts

What are the types of accessibility features and tools that are present in your constructed world? Are there tools for those who lack certain senses (like tactile, aural, visual aids)? Are they built into your civilizations, or are they personal devices? A mix of both? #OCWorld #prompts

How affordable is it to live as a person with disabilities in your constructed world's civilizations? Are disabilities subsidized by the government? Are there hidden fees associated with having disabilities (such as mandatory software upgrades, or one's aids being hard to repair)? #OCWorld #prompts

Here's a twist: do you have any disabled #OCs? Tell us about them! What are their disabilities, and how do they navigate your constructed world as a disabled person? If your world has an overarching narrative, what is their role in it: are they the main focus, or in the background? #OCWorld #prompts

☎️: "Moshimoshi!" This week's world-building theme is "entertainment"! We want to hear about the ways that your constructed world's peoples have fun. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your world's different forms of entertainment in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

What is the most popular form of entertainment for the peoples in your constructed world's civilizations? Are these activities associated with certain age groups, or do all ages participate in them? Are they free and accessible, or do you have to pay to participate in them? #OCWorld #prompts

Let's talk children's games! What are the types of games that children play in your constructed world's civilizations? How do you play them? Do they require any materials; do they teach any skills? Do adults play these games as well? Are they similar to any real-world games? #OCWorld #prompts

Is there anything in your constructed world that was made (or founded) for a more serious purpose, but is now used for entertainment? How did it function beforehand? Does its original purpose still exist at all; is it illegal (or ill-advised) to use outside of that purpose? #OCWorld #prompts

With every product sold, there is marketing. Do you have an in-universe brand that your constructed world's peoples use regularly? Is it a parody brand (like a Wamicom or Sbubby), or was there more intention in its naming? Do you have a visual mock-up of its branding? #OCWorld #prompts

¡Hola! This week's world-building theme is "conflict"! We want to hear about the many conflicts within your constructed world. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your world's political, cultural, and/or military conflicts in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any active conflicts in your constructed world? Are they civil, regional, international? Are they "peaceful", or are they violent? Are they considered wars, genocides, neither? How many groups are involved in these conflicts? How recently did they start, and why? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any organizations, ally-ships, and/or treaties in your constructed world that help limit the amount of conflicts that occur? Are they effective; if not, how can they be improved? If they don't exist at all, was this a conscious decision, or did they used to exist? #OCWorld #prompts

Is there a particular civilization, religion, species, and/or ethnic group in your constructed world that is regularly used as a scapegoat for societal issues? If so, when did it start-- how often are they the victims of conflict? If not, has it ever happened in the past? #OCWorld #prompts

What was the most significant conflict, past or present, in your constructed world? Was it "peaceful" or violent? Who started it, and when? How long has this conflict lasted for— and, if it ended, what were its outcomes, both short and long-term? Was it preventable, or inevitable? #OCWorld #prompts

👋🐒. This week's world-building theme is "animals"! We want to hear about the kinds of animals in your constructed world, whether sapient or not. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your world's animals in as many or little words as possible.

What do the animals in your constructed world look like? Are they based on one or more real-life animals; if so, are those animals extant [living] or extinct [dead]? What animal category is seen as the dominant group (e.g., mammals in real life); are your peoples from this group? #OCWorld #prompts

How do the peoples in your constructed world see non-people animals? Are they seen as lesser than people or as equals? Do any of them actually feel lesser than animals? How are animals treated; are they eaten or used for resources? Is animal abuse treated similarly to people abuse? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any regulations in your constructed world that limit the kinds of animals a person can own? Can animals that are seen as too sapient be "owned" by people? How about zoos? If there are sapient, non-people animals, is there a reason why they haven't been granted personhood? #OCWorld #prompts

Do any of your constructed world's animals have visual documentation (either hand-made, kit-bashed, or in a creature creator)? If so, share, and tell us more about them! Don't forget to credit the artist (even if it's you), and use alt text to describe your images. #OCWorld #prompts #CreatureDesign

Jolan'tru! This week's world-building theme is "language"! We want to hear about your constructed world's languages— and yes, even #conlangs! Today's question is free-form: tell us about the languages (or conlangs) in your world in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How many languages are recognized across your constructed world? How many of them are unrecognized (like those from remote civilizations), but exist? Which senses are used with these languages (such as sound, sight, touch, taste, smell, etc.)? Which body parts are used for them? #OCWorld #prompts

What do the writing scripts in your constructed world look like? Are they alphabets, logographs, syllabaries, something else? Do all of your civilizations' spoken languages have their own written scripts; if not, how do they record their own history? Is there a universal script? #OCWorld #prompts

Can every person in every civilization of your constructed world speak all of the known languages with little issue? If not, what are the limitations that make this hard if not impossible? Are there tools that can be used to bypass these limitations, or are interpreters necessary? #OCWorld #prompts

Are any of your #conlangs developed enough for you to write a sentence or two in them? If so, write out a scenario and use your conlang for the dialogue. Make sure to translate the dialogue afterwards— and point out any subtle (but very important) details, if applicable! #OCWorld #prompts

Dydh da! This week's world-building theme is "people"! We want to hear about the different kinds of sophonts, aliens, or "people" in your constructed world. Today's question is free-form: tell us about the people in your world's civilizations in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How many distinct peoples are known in your constructed world? Are they separated by species, subspecies, breed or race? What are their physical similarities and differences (such as body plan, colors, etc.)? Do any of them stem from the same ancestor? What do they call themselves? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any prejudices associated with peoples of different lineages being involved in an intimate, non-platonic manner? Are certain peoples more likely to do this than others? Are inter-lineage relations so taboo that there are laws against them— if so, what are the punishments? #OCWorld #prompts

In your world, can inter-lineage pairings conceive offspring? If only some of them can, which ones? Are these offspring viable, or do they regularly not survive gestation; if they do survive, are they born sterile? Is there a stigma towards mixed-lineage people— if so, what kinds? #OCWorld #prompts

Is there size variation between the peoples of your constructed world? If so, which lineage is the tallest, shortest, widest? Do you have a height chart showing this variance? (If so, make sure to use alt text, and write all of the image's text alongside its visual descriptions.) #OCWorld #prompts

Bonjour! This week's world-building theme is "travel"! We want to hear about how the people in your constructed world travel— and how far! Today's question is free-form: tell us about the different modes of transport in your world in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

What are the types of transportation in your constructed world? Are they self-propelled, like a bicycle; are they an animal that you either ride or strap a carriage to? Are there some vehicles that you have full control over, like a car; how about ones on set courses, like trains? #OCWorld #prompts

How easy is it to travel around in your constructed world's civilizations? Does public transit exist in them: if so, is it well-maintained and/or affordable? Does one method of commute dominate over the others— if yes, which one? Does this imbalance cause societal issues? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any locations in your constructed world that have restricted access? If so, why are they restricted: secrets, hazards, something else? How far in can you go until you're caught? Can you gain access with a permit; if yes, what are the permit's requirements and/or limits? #OCWorld #prompts

If you could experience any location in your constructed world, which one would you want to visit the most? Try selling it like a travel agency! Or, inversely, which one would you like to avoid? Make a propaganda campaign against it! (If you're feeling creative, do both!) #OCWorld #prompts

Chaírete! This week's world-building theme is "the psyche"! We want to hear about the minds and souls of your constructive world's peoples. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your peoples' mental and spiritual characteristics in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How many "souls" do the peoples in your constructed world carry? Is each soul seen as their own individual person, or are they part of the same whole; a mix? Is plurality (that is, one body carrying multiple people) seen as commonplace to any of them, or tied to certain rituals? #OCWorld #prompts

If your constructed world has multiple species of people, how are their mental and psychological conditions categorized? Are they assigned per species, or are they more broadly defined? Are there any conditions named after a specific people/species; if so, is it seen as offensive? #OCWorld #prompts

Do any of your constructed world's peoples use mind-altering substances for spiritual practices? If so, where do they get these substances; what are their effects; how are they used? If not, is there something done that can put them in a similar state (like a dance, massage, etc.)? #OCWorld #prompts

Imagine two of the peoples in your constructed world swap bodies. Assuming that the body-swap doesn't make it impossible for them to move, breathe, and so on, are there any behaviors that they cannot perform without their body of origin? How stressful would such a swap be for them? #OCWorld #prompts

Marḥaban! This week's world-building theme is "religion"! We want to hear about the belief systems of the peoples in your constructed world. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your constructed world's religions in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

What kinds of religions exist in your constructed worlds, if any? Are they animist, where all things are alive in some way; divine, where one or more gods are involved; spiritualist, where there are realms between the living and dead; something else? If there are no religions: why? #OCWorld #prompts

How do the peoples in your constructed world practice their religions? Do they actually see their religion as a "religion", or as a regular aspect of life? Do they go to places for worship, or is it private (or not done at all)? Are any civilizations "ruled" by their own religions? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any restrictions attached to the religions in your constructed world? Are there certain things that shouldn't be eaten; certain clothes that should (or shouldn't) be worn; certain activities that should be avoided? What are the reasons behind these restrictions, if any? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any special phrases and/or gestures associated with your constructed world's religions; if so, what are they? Are any of them said or performed as a reaction to words, actions, or particular meals? Are these "ritual acts" seen as a polite gesture, or explicitly religious? #OCWorld #prompts

Chehuntamo! This week's world-building theme is "farming"! We want to hear about how plants, animals, and other growable matter in your constructed world are cultivated. Today's question is free-form: tell us about the farming in your world in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How many of your constructed world's civilizations farm? Do none of them farm, and act as hunter-gatherers; in contrast, do all of them farm in some way? What are the kinds of farms seen these civilizations: do they raise livestock, grow plants, synthesize crystals, something else? #OCWorld #prompts

How are farms structured in your constructed world's civilizations? Are they maintained through the labor of its peoples and/or animals, or are they automated (in part or in full)? Are civilians allowed to own and run their own farms? Are there any farms that are government-owned? #OCWorld #prompts

What are the ecological impacts of your constructed world's farms? Are they only beneficial; do they have any major drawbacks? Do they impact the environment in any minor or major way; are there any species (plant, animal, or otherwise) threatened with extinction because of them? #OCWorld #prompts

What physical resource is farmed the most in your constructed world? Is this resource farmed for food, textiles, construction, something else? When did this resource start being farmed; did it start taking on different characteristics (such as size or taste) as a result of it? #OCWorld #prompts

Talofa! This week's world-building theme is "hygiene"! We want to hear about how the peoples in your constructed world keep their bodies clean. Today's question is free-form: tell us about your peoples' hygiene routines in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

What are the standard body care routines for the peoples in your constructed world? Do they have particular baths that they take, nails or claws to dull or sharpen, teeth to polish or floss, feathers to preen or hair to brush? Is this body maintenance daily, or less frequent? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there times where the hygiene rituals of your constructed world's peoples are done more often? Are there certain body processes that need special care (such as shedding, molting, or pupating)? If so, how limiting are they; are certain responsibilities put on hold as they occur? #OCWorld #prompts

If your constructed world's peoples were to stop taking care of themselves, what issues may arise? Would their body coverings make it hard to cool down, their nails or teeth make it hard to grab or bite, their shed cut off circulation? Has it ever been used as a cultural statement? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any hygiene rituals that are done for cosmetic and/or cultural reasons in your constructed world? Do its peoples trim their body coverings, place temporary or permanent marks across their body forms, something else? If so, what do these body modifications symbolize? #OCWorld #prompts

Salve! This week's world-building theme is "crime"! We want to hear about the illegal (and/or immoral) activities that exist within your constructed world. Today's question is free-form: tell us how crime impacts your civilizations' peoples in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

What is the overall crime rate in each of your constructed world's civilizations? Are these numbers skewed by the kinds of things that are illegal in them? How do these civilizations prevent crime, if at all; are these methods effective, or do they make the crime rate rise instead? #OCWorld #prompts

Is there anything in your constructed world that is seen as legal to do, say, or own, but illegal in real life (either regionally or abroad)? Is it only legal in a specific region? Are there regulations put in place for this item, activity, et cetera; if so, what kinds? #OCWorld #prompts

Is there anything that is illegal to do, say, or own in your constructed world that is legal in real life? Why is it illegal? Are there "underground" markets where people do them anyways? Are there any risks involved with participating in this illegal act(s); if so, what are they? #OCWorld #prompts

How does one seek justice as a victim of a crime in your constructed world? Is there a legal process associated with it, or can you do it yourself? If the former, how easy is it to use the legal system; if the latter, are there limits to the types of revenge that you can perform? #OCWorld #prompts

Kama pona! This week's world-building theme is "learning"! We want to hear about how the peoples in your constructed world learn (and what they learn about). Today's question is free-form: tell us about your civilizations' forms of education in as many or little words as possible. #OCWorld #prompts

How do the peoples of your constructed world frame "learning"? Is it something that is done by one's experiences, taught by a trusted elder, neither or both? Is learning seen as something that is encouraged regardless of one's upbringing, or only reserved for a select few; why? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there proper classroom settings to teach the youth of your constructed world's peoples; if so, what subjects are they taught? How about adults: can they go to school to hone their studies with the same amount of ease? Is formal education seen as a right, or a privilege? #OCWorld #prompts

Are there any skills that your constructed world's peoples (or, more specifically, a lineage or few) are born with; if so, what are these instincts, and can they ever be taught? If they are teachable, how easy is it to learn such skills, and is learning them stigmatized in any way? #OCWorld #prompts

What are the most important bits of knowledge that are taught in your constructed world's civilizations? Do these teachings differ across groups? If they all learn the same things, was it due to the influence of one person and/or event; if so, is it seen as a "good" or "bad" thing? #OCWorld #prompts