TSL World Building Worksheet

GENRE AND TONE

What Genre is Our Story?

Historical fantasy, original fantasy, space opera, urban sci-fi, modern secret immortals, intrigue, punk, fanfic based on existing media

What is the Tone We’re Aiming For?

Goofy, dire, cathartic, escapist, power fantasy, sweet, angsty

What Elements of This Genre and Tone Do You Want to See in the Story? What Do You Not Want to See?

(Record these on a palette.)

COMMUNITY

The PCs live in a community sharing positive, feminist values, even if it’s not perfect.

What’s The Scale of This Community?

Secret coven, well-regarded social group, insular commune, widely known village, guardians of the great library, run-down city, glittering metropolis, wandering folk, pirate fleet, notorious horde, wild continent, paved continent, scattered villages on an inhospitable planet, a heavily developed planet, asteroid dwellings, half of a contested star system, all the planets of the star system (save one?), scattered among the stars, galactic union

What is Especially Positive About This Community?

Reliable emotional support, skill-sharing, virtuous leadership, safe stronghold, wisdom from diverse experiences

What NPC Epitomizes This Virtue? What Do They Want From the PCs?

What is a Serious Flaw of Your Community?

Complacent, ignorant, combative, endless deliberation, resources stretched thin, hedonism, dependence on a problematic activity, moral blind spots, unfair governance structure

What NPC Epitomizes This Flaw? What Do They Want From the PCs?

Define at Least One Location Associated with Your Community. Why Would it Be a Dramatic Place to Have a Sword Fight?

TOXIC POWERS #1

Toxic powers threaten the well-being of your community. Generate two of them, answering the following questions for each:

Do They Threaten Your Community From Within, or From Outside?

What Do They Want?

Domination, order, safety, strife, conformity, silence, possessions, to humiliate, to tear down your achievements

Why Are They so Dangerous?

Blackmail, magic, ruthlessness, social standing, numbers, evil genius, divine power, agents everywhere, skill at arms, clever manipulation, control of media, technological advantage

What’s Appealing About Them?

Define at Least One Location Associated with Each Toxic Power. Why Would it Be a Dramatic Place to Have a Sword Fight?

Create an NPC to Act as the Face of Each Toxic Power

How Do These Toxic Powers Relate to Each Other?

Rivals, Enemies, Allied, Unaware

TOXIC POWERS #2