22 Game World Questions

Sometimes a small detail is all that is needed to ground something into the setting. 25 orcs, okay.

25 grey orcs clad in black feathers, bearing the message of the Savage King. A little more than okay. 

Here are 22 questions, answering even 5 of them will make it interesting enough. Or go through all of them..

Any question that says “your character” is applicable to PCs or NPCs. 

1.  What helmets are the soldiers wearing? Can their allegiance be recognised by the helmet or uniform?

2.  Follow up, What color are the priest’s robes? Why? Do the religious texts forbid the color purple or is it just the color of the rival church? 

3.  How do wizards or witches recognise each other? Pin, tattoo, aura, clothing, signet ring, proud display of a hefty spellbook. 

4.  What specific courtesy of civilisation does the barbarian or druid not understand?

5.  Many elves lose pigmentation (hair, skin) in what is known as fading, their only sign of aging, is this true to the local elves or just folklore? 

6.   Is dueling legal? Popular? Frowned upon? 

7.  Who is the monster in children’s bedtime stories? They go to school with goblins.. 

8.  What is the perception on adventurers? Thieves and robbers? Hunters of beasts? Those who do the work that must be done?

9.  What is the guild’s secret communication method. Within themselves and other guilds or locations? Specific tunes, coded drawings, are the letters sent by magic, dove or coach? Is a hunter shooting the doves and keeping the letters? (perhaps for the mayor) 

10.  There must be a place where No Man Is Allowed

11.  What’s under the town? Another town? Nothing? Another town of absolutely nothing? Complex sewers built by an ancient civilisation upon which the current town was built.

12.  Fuck the patriarchy! What’s the -archy of this place. Geniocracy (must prove a certain level of intellect) 

13.  Is your character pro-Emperor or pro-Pope?

14.  Who is the important, notable figure in your family history?

15.  What almost killed your character in their past?

16.  It says Athletics on the character sheet and someone in the group probably has an obnoxious high bonus to it. Okay fucking Olympian what sports do you know though? Level 3 fighter, specialised in the discus. I like the sound of that. 

17.  Invent a sport or game if you didn’t do it last question. Magic missileball 

18.  Who is currently trying to conquer this land? Are they working with a hushed and elaborate plan or marching their armies from the east? 

19.  How long does each season last? 

20.  Is the local lord in in feud or favor with the monarch? 

21.  How many priests are level 1 around here? (Meaning can speak forth true blessings and miracles)

22. Are the monsters in the adventure part of a larger clan? What is special or recognisable about the clan?