Free Ideas: Fantasy World Building Project V1

As writers, we have so many ideas bouncing around in our heads. Sometimes it can get overwhelming and a little sad.

Let’s be honest, not everyone is going to succeed or live long enough to see their dreams realized.

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered-”

Les Brown

Not the full quote but that’s the part I want to emphasize. Not every person will realize their dream or see their ideas flourish.

So why not put the smaller ideas out there? Let someone who does have the drive and time realize that idea.

This is my attempt to save some ideas and concepts from oblivion. If anyone finds anything here interesting, feel free to build on it.

Basic Rules

Since you’ll be adopting the world, I don’t think it’s a good idea to write fully fleshed-out concepts. It might limit creative freedom.

I’ll be asking questions to get your mind racing and setting the basic foundation. Like a D&D game, I set it up and you knock it out of the park.

Let’s start with the world and premise.

The World/Premise

In a fantasy world, there’s a continent constantly at war.

• Why are they at war?
• Name of the continent?

Within the constant cycle of violence lived a nomadic people. Prisoners of war, the oppressed, people tired of war, and the undesirables.

They’ve come together to survive this cruel world. One of their many journeys forced them through the _______ desert.

A dangerous area that everyone stays away from. But to escape from the surrounding battles, it’s their only way.

Many die from starvation and dehydration. 70% of them fell to the scorching sun but enough lived to see a miracle.

They found stone Golems. 40-80 foot Golems in a circle around what seemed to be an oasis.

Tired and amazed, the 30% took this as a sign to finally settle down. Surely, there won’t be any more war or oppression here.

• Name of the settled area?
• How many Golems are there?

At first, everything was well. But the news of the nomads in the desert spread. Curiosity and desire for more bodies in the wars led scouts to search for the nomads.

Eventually, everyone knew about the Golems and they wanted them for war. All kingdoms raced to attack the nomads and steal the Golems.

Around this time, the first child who could control the Golems emerged from the nomads.

With the child and Golems, the nomads repealed the invaders.

After this, the nomads grew immensely due to the new people fleeing the wars. Seeing the kids controlling the Golems, the current leader took the chance to________.

• Name of the current leader?
• Did the leader want to end all war, take revenge or gain power?

Using their influence, they forced the children to wage war on the other kingdoms.

• How did he/she force the children?

Using Golems, the nomads conquered the continent by destroying all other kingdoms. After that, the Golems start to deactivate for some unknown reason.

• Is this seen as a good or bad thing by the common people?
• Will the leader keep this deactivation a secret in case of a revolt or not?
• What happened to the kids who controlled the Golems?

I think I’ve said enough, let’s move on to characters.

The Characters

The section should mostly be up to you so I’ll just ask questions.

• What’s the genre is the story?
• Who’s the perspective character? Someone from the nomads, fallen kingdoms or somewhere else?
• How big is the cast?
• Adults or Teens?
• Will one of your characters be a new generation Golem controller?
• From high or low society?

For more on characters, read here and watch here.

Theme

Possible ideas for an overall theme:

• The oppressed becoming the oppressors
• Cycle of Violence
• Meditation on nuclear weapons (Golems)
• The horror of child soldiers
• The price for peace and if you’re willing to pay it
• The many sides of nature(Golems & Humans)
• Lost of innocence
• Child Abuse
• How precious childhood is

If none of these work then create your own unique theme for this setting.

Magic

Building a magic system and how it affects the world is exciting. I won’t take that away from you.

So instead, I’ll only build the Golem’s magic and ask some questions.

The Golems are tall stone men in armor ranging from 40-80ft in length. Besides their immense strength, there are some with additional powers.

• What are the additional powers?
• Do only a few have it or do all of them have powers?
• Are the powers unique?

All Golems can use telepathy to talk to their partners without others noticing. No one knows who created them but each Golem is bound to follow the wishes of their partner.

• Are Golems conscious? Are they magical, AI or something eldritch?
• Can Golems gain free will?

The Chosen Children are from the age of 13-18 when their ability starts to manifest.

When this happens they become linked to the Golem, if one goes they both go. The link lasts a lifetime but no child has made it past ___.

As for other magic:

• Is there even general magic in this setting?
• How does it work, soft or hard?
• How would it work against the Golems?
• Rare or common?
• Would magic become rare after the Golems attack?
• How powerful can magic get? Can they affect Golems?
• Is there summoning magic? Any connection to Golems?
• Are there Golem researchers?

You can read my other magic articles if you want help building your magic system.

Conclusion

The story?

That’s up to you and I would love to see what you have in mind.

But it will probably take place during the Golem war or after it. Either way, I’m excited.

I’m going to start a contest about this on Penana, submit your first test chapters there.

One day, I want to create a website where writers can sell their worlds and ideas. Hopefully, ideas that would never see the light of day can flourish.

Let this be a test trial for that idea. Tell me your thoughts below in the comments and how I can improve this system.

For example, should I be more or less vague? Is this a dumb idea and should I stop here?

With that, I’m done.