Does magic exist? How does it work, who can use it, and to what extent can it be used? Are there side effects?
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Do characters follow certain fashions and is it different in various cities/districts? Are certain forms of clothing deemed inappropriate? What is the difference in fashion from the elderly to children?
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Does magic have a basis in science?
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How is food/water created and distributed?
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In case of fire...
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Is property purchased or passed down from generation to generation? In the case of bankruptcy, death, or some other occurrence, does the property go to the government, the bank, or some other organization?
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What type of government(s) exist in the world? Are positions elected, nominated/voted, or a birth right? Monarchy, democracy, oligarchy, etc.
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Do groups stage political protests? Is there a particular cause that stands out above the rest? What is the political state of the world?
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Are individual places/groups stereotyped?
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Is there a homeless population? How are they treated and cared for?
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Is there mandatory schooling for children? How is knowledge passed down to new generations?
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What are the common hairstyles/makeup?
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What rules and laws exist in this world and how are they enforced?
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What are the days, months, and seasons called if different from our world? How is the passage of time marked?
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What does the country/city/etc. think of the policies and ethics of their immediate neighbours?
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If your world exists in a solar system different than our own, how many moons does the planet have and how do they affect it? What type of sun? Is the system binary or singular?
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Do characters enjoy recreational activities like swimming and running?
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How do communities and cultures handle a lost child?
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Are internet and wifi accessible by anyone or is it reserved for governments, institutions, and the wealthy?
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How are clothes manufactured and sold? Do hairstylists exist or are they seen as unnecessary?
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What emergency services are available and what is the extent of their abilities? How fast are response times? Are people specifically trained for these jobs or is it a community effort?
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What are the major hospitals, schools, prisons, churches/temples, and other institutions? How important are they to the government? Are they privately funded or do they receive government assistance?
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What type of music exists and is enjoyed by various cultures?
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Is the culture based on a patriarchal or matriarchal system or something else? What are the familial duties and are they different for individual families?
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What kinds of animals pose a threat or are considered adorable?
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What are some of the major events that shaped the world and when did they happen in relation to the current story? What did they do for the world?
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How is hygiene handled? Is there running water? Is there hot water? What kind of soap is used and how is it made or acquired? Is there plumbing?
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What is the latest fashion fad sweeping the nation?
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What is the daily and seasonal weather cycle like? How do characters handle extreme heat and extreme cold?
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How important is mythology in this culture?
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If special powers and abilities exist, how are they discovered and exercised?
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What kind of humour do characters enjoy or frown upon?
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Are mental illnesses known/understood and how are they treated?
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What forms of entertainment exist in major settlements versus minor settlements? Sports, theater, etc.
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How is technology manufactured?
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What kinds of taxes are there? Does white collar crime exist?
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Is this world focused on efficiency and power or is it focused on protecting nature and the environment?
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Do celebrities exist? What are they famous for?
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What jobs exist in this world and how are they acquired? Schooling, apprenticeship, etc
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Does magic have a substance? What does it look like? What does it feel like?
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How are children named?
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Do alcohol and drugs exist in this world? Are they commonly accepted? How is misuse of intoxicants handled? Who makes it and where?
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How are garbage and various other waste matter handled and disposed?
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What superstitions exist in the world and what happens when characters encounter them?
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What are the urban legends that exist in this world? What are old wives’ tales from the past that are still used to the day? What kinds of superstitions are present in this world?
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Are there pirates in this world? Are they stereotypical sea pirates, or are they cyber pirates? What are the consequences for piracy?
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What types of creatures live in different climates? What types of plants grow in these climates? How do they interact?
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If your story is post-apocalyptic, what happened to the nuclear power plants? Are there still employees dutifully monitoring, or what is the extent of the fallout?
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What mythical creatures and beings exist? What kinds of stories are told in various cultures? What are the fables that exist in this world?
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What is the average number of children in a family? How are they taken care of? Are larger families poorer or richer? Is there a tax benefit for having more or less children?
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What mode of transportation is widely available and used? Do people travel on foot, by animal/carriage, on bikes, cars, etc.? What modes are strictly reserved for goods/government/wealthy? Is there a particular method that is associated wit
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Where do characters go for medical treatment? How are doctors and medics trained? How advanced is medicine and is it available to everyone or just the wealthy few?
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Are coffee and tea had daily or on special occasions? Is it imported or locally grown? How expensive is it?
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Are marriages arranged or mutual? How is the ceremony usually held? What other life milestones are celebrated, and who is involved? Are these community events or familial?
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How do magical beings use their abilities on a day to day basis? How do they incorporate their abilities into society?
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What do characters keep as pets? Are animals valued differently by different cultures?
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Are sexualities straying from the ‘norm’ common and accepted, or frowned upon? Is the subject taboo or are the characters open about it?
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What are the prominent organizations in the world? Which are revered and which are feared?
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What is the favourite meal in individual cultures? What is a forbidden food? Are there common allergies or is there a cure for every kind of allergy?
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Is the flora/fauna different from our world? What does it look like? What are the common weeds/pests?
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What types of gems and minerals are available in different regions? Are they heavily mined, extremely rare, or abundant? Do they stand out visually and create interesting landmarks?
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Are certain foods seen as a luxury item? What eating habits are considered rude? Leaving chopsticks upright in a bowl, eating with mouth open, etc.
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Is social media present, or is there something similar, like a knitting circle, for non-tech based worlds? Do knitting circles and book clubs exist in a tech based world?
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What is considered modern literature/music/art and what is considered old, ancient, or classical?
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What is the biggest opposition to the government in power?
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What behaviour is expected of children, teens, adults, and the elderly? Are common citizens expected to behave a different way than royalty or wealthy citizens?
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Is magic considered a dangerous weapon, a curse, a gift, etc.?
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Are citizens in this world primarily carnivores, omnivores, or herbivores?
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When are kids considered adults?
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Who are the most important historical characters to the society?
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Is there paper, plastic, or crypto currency? What kind of coins exist and what are they made out of? How is money manufactured and controlled? Is there trade in place of money, or are they interchangeable?
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What by-laws exist in smaller communities? (Have fun with this, by-laws are usually ridiculous and focused on unsightly things the neighbours don’t want to look at.)
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Are farmers revered for feeding everyone, or are they treated poorly despite feeding everyone? Is the proper care of animals decided by the general public or the farmers who know how to care for them? How is food distributed? Local farmers
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Do polygamous families exist? How are they treated?
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How are medications manufactured and regulated, and how much do they cost?
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Are amputees given new limbs? How are they made? Are they cybernetic, clockwork, etc.? Are they considered a fashion statement, or unsightly, or something else? How might someone lose a limb? Workplace, battle, etc.
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How many countries or lands or planets or realms exist outside of the main setting?
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How big or small is this world in comparison to our own? What is the climate like? Are life forms carbon based, or something entirely new? Is this world advanced or primitive? Are populations dense or sparse?
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Is this world particularly land-mass oriented or primarily water oriented?
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What is the average height of characters?
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Are religions common and prominent, rare and persecuted, or entirely non-existent or cult-like?
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How is information relayed across long distances?
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What is the rate of mortality? How is death treated and what are the various funeral ceremonies of different cultures?
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Are there highways and paved roads? Are there ruined/abandoned cities and wastelands, and what happened to make them that way? Are there certain roads and trails that your characters follow or do they trail blaze?
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Who are the political idols and what are the political ideals? What happened to prevent the ideals from being achieved prior to the start of the story?
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Is magic non-verbal or summoned by incantation?
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Is there electricity or some other form of power and how is it generated?
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What kinds of weapons exist in this world? What are they made out of? How are they made? Blacksmith, gunsmith, wood, steel, guns, swords, et
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How does this world value astronomy and is space travel viable?
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What is the capital city called? What are the names of major cities and bodies of water? What are mountains and prominent landmarks called?
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How do characters learn how to use magic/weapons? Are there special schools, trainers, masters, etc.? How long does it take to master the skill?
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What imports and exports are the most valued, how are they transported, and are they targeted/protected by individual groups? What is the most valuable commodity?
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Are ethnicities distinct or are mixed races common in this world? Are there immigrants, refugees, and tourists and how are they treated?
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Does anyone believe in aliens, ghosts, etc.? What are the beliefs of various cultures about the afterlife and extraterrestrial life? Are there small groups adamant about their existence despite backlash from the rest of society?
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What is the common tongue of the current setting and what other languages exist?
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Can a magical being lose their power in any way? How does this happen and how would they get it back? Age, injury, illness, opposing magic, curses, etc
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. How are those with powers/ability/magic treated? How do they treat non-magic entities? Is there separatism between the two, or do they peacefully coexist?
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What kinds of toys do children have? What are the latest gadgets and tech the teens all have? What are things from the past the older generation still hold on to? Flip phones vs smart phones
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. What sort of technology is present and is it commonly available? What kind of technology is currently in development? Are citizens monitored by government tech and how do they feel about it?
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Are there any ongoing wars or wars that happened in the past that are still talked about?
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