Pyramid #3/041: Fantasy World-Building

The World Is Yours to Shape

Lots of people have fixer-uppers. But for some folks, these projects are entire worlds. This month's Pyramid – the PDF magazine for roleplayers – offers tools and resources to help build a fantasy world:

• "The Turning Points of History" offers a set of random tables to generate fantastic histories suitable for the smallest towns, the most epic worlds, and everything in between. Written by Matt Riggsby (author of GURPS Dungeon Fantasy 8: Treasure Tables), this article will have you devising today's action using yesterday's lore.
• "Shadowland Runners," an add-on about how information brings rule to a widespread kingdom. GURPS author Michele Armellini describes (with GURPS rules) the ephemeral world that makes this communication possible.
• "God Is Dead," this month's Eidetic Memory offering from GURPS Fourth Edition co-author David Pulver, includes both systemless and GURPS insight. How does the world react when one of its deities dies?
• "In the Jungle," which takes your fantasy gaming in a new direction – straight up! Discover what the canopied world of trees has in common with dungeon-delving action.
• "The Gnomish Mafia," a generic organization suitable for anywhere that can welcome small criminals with big plans.
• "The Children of the Coming Darkness," a dire development for yourGURPS Banestorm campaign. Can the world survive the plans of this insane cult?
• "The Duodecennial Deviations," a developed look at how a calendar might bestow or remove GURPS abilities . . . and what that means for the world at large.
• "Spirits in Everyday Life," an examination of how the spirits of a fantasy world might be appeased . . . and what can happen if they aren't.