Worldbuilder's Anvil - TopPodcast.com

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Games & Hobbies
**Worldbuilder’s Anvil**

Do you have visions of fantasy world’s dancing through your head? Are you a gamemaster that wants to tell stories in your world? Are you a fiction writer who wants your next setting to be your best?

Do you want to build better fantasy worlds?

Then the Worldbuilder’s Anvil podcast is for you. Learn to create the physical world, characters, cultures, kingdoms, races, species and monsters. Learn it all, with some banter to boot.

Join Michael and Jeffery on the weekly podcast that looks at storytelling, game mastering, pop culture and life through the lens of fantasy world building. Subscribe TODAY!

Listen to new episodes every Monday and BUILD BETTER FANTASY WORLDS.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 21: Fantasy Cultural Norms Feb 23, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Fantasy Cultural Norms

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes

Values
- Two-axis system
- x-axis Harmony To Dominion over nature
- y-axis Conformity to Divergence over people
- What is the actual
- What is the ideal
Behaviors - Common expressions of the values
- Common Stories
- Greetings
- Polite or rude
- Idea
This will be subject to change as time goes on.

20: Worldbuilding Trap Consistent = Fake Feb 20, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Trap: Consistent = Fake

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes

Thinking that Consistent means cultures always follow the same logic
- languages will always have exceptions
- Individuals will very from the cultural idea
- Cultures are made of of groups of individuals who are always changing.
Being consistent means that once you make a choice. You have to respect it.
- If they people have to bow whenever they enter a room. They have to do it.
Work around
- Create an exception to a rule.
  - Mary did not bow when she entered the room because the owner failed to greet her properly
- Punish the character who breaks the rule
  - Mary becomes known as "the Rude" and never invited to parties in the city.

Episode 19: Cultural Information in Worldbuilding Feb 18, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Cultural Information in Worldbuilding

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes

What I track when I create fictional cultures
- Brief pre-state history
- Important symbols
  - Basics on Music and Arts
  - pre-religious believes
  - Type of culture
    - Hunter gatherer
    - Tribal
      - Agriculture
      - Pastoral
    - Civilization
    - Other
- Other similar cultures
- This will be subject to change as time goes on.

Episode 18: Evolution, Not just for your fantasy species Feb 16, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Evolution, Not just for your species!

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes

Not a creation vs evolution discussion about the real world. It is about things changing.
Long-term
- Species
- Races
- Chemical
- Plants
- Geology
- Cosmos
Short-term
- Cultures
- States
- Languages
- FACES - Characters change before, during, and after stories . . .unless they are dead . . . then they still might.

Interview Request Feb 15, 2015

Show notes

The Worldbuilder's Anvil is planning to add a weekly interview starting 3/7. If you would like to request an interview please join my newsletter and respond to the email. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Episode 17: What is the state of your nation(s)? Feb 13, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - What is the state of your nation(s)?

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes

What are states?
- You should know the basics of one?
- What is the cultural makeup?
- What is the form of government?
- How are the people taxed?
- What is the history of important events?
- What are important current events?
- What relations do they currently have with neighbors?
- Know the basic economics
Do I need this if I am working on a fantasy version of earth?
- Yes!
Should Iwrite up other nations thatare mentioned when talking about my state?
- I would, but it depends
Should I share mine with the world?
- Depends again?
- The Gazetteer Writer's Manual: Creating Travel Guides to Fictional Worlds (World Building Series)

Episode 16: Laphinnesehïrïm errr Languages Feb 11, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Laphinnesehïrïm errr Languages

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes

Why are languages important and intriguing
- Languages are a common way for cultures to share ideas.
- They flesh out cultures like nothing else
- They add a high level of detail that can be shared with others
- Must have resources on languages The Language Construction Kit and The Conlanger's Lexipedia both by Mark Rosenfelder
What type of languages are there
- Common spelling mock ups - town becomes jeff so Newtown = Newjeff
- Naming languages - you have the basics, lack grammar, rules, and phonics
- A Full blown language - Think Tolkien or Klingon
  - Oral vs writing systems vs sign vs ???

Episode 15: Religions in your Fantasy World Feb 09, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Religions in your Fantasy World

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes

Myths to Religion
Common Rituals
Common Beliefs
Common Symbols
Common Stories
Possible belief in the Supernatural
Salvation is optional

Episode 14: Races Feb 06, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Races

What are Races?
- Depends on how you define it for your world
- Common appearance of the grouping
  - Not body height, weight, and intelligence should vary based on nutrition
- Shared Traits by then vast majority of the group
What Races is not?
- All living in one country
- Photocopies of each other (Depends)
- What I say

Episode 13: Cultures Feb 04, 2015

Show notes

Today's Topic - Cultures

What is a culture?
- Shared Experience
- Shared symbolism
- Shared Beliefs and Norms
- Language
- Religion
- Common Food, and Rituals
- Art, Music, and Dress
What culture is not?
- A country (Most likely not)
- A Race (Most likely not)
- Fixed in time

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Worldbuilder’s Anvil

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected