Darcien Balog: 2010

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Love this word

I was watching TV or reading something on the inet and the word "requiem" popped out at me. I looked up the definition, having only a working knowledge not a defined knowledge of the word. Besides the reference to Catholic services, it means death or death dirge. Which led me to synonyms of requiem:
Monody -- greek word
threnody
coronach
jeremiad -- or a righteous prophecy of doom.
knell
exequies

What a full word!

Then two more words jumped out at me: hewn and buffeting.

Hewn:
–adjective
1. felled and roughly shaped by hewing: hewn logs.
2. given a rough surface: hewn stone.
–verb (used with object)
1. to strike forcibly with an ax, sword, or other cutting instrument; chop; hack.
2. to make, shape, smooth, etc., with cutting blows: to hew a passage through the crowd; to hew a statue from marble.
3. to sever (a part) from a whole by means of cutting blows (usually fol. by away, off, out, from, etc.): to hew branches from the tree.
4. to cut down; fell: to hew wood; trees hewed down by the storm.

Buffeting:
–noun
1. a blow, as with the hand or fist.
2. a violent shock or concussion.
–verb (used with object)
3. to strike, as with the hand or fist.
4. to strike against or push repeatedly: The wind buffeted the house.
5. to contend against; battle.
–verb (used without object)
6. to struggle with blows of hand or fist.
7. to force one's way by a fight, struggle, etc.

How cool is our language? :)

Ciao for now,
Darcien

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Character Building Worksheet

Fiction Writer's Character Chart
NAME:
Character's Full Name: ______________________________________________
Reason or meaning of name: ____________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Nickname: ___________________________________
Reason for nickname: ______________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Birthdate: ________________________________________
Astrological Sign:_____________________________

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:
Age: _____________________________________
How old does s/he appear? ___________________
Eye Color: _____________________________
Glasses or contacts: _________________________
Weight:__________________________________________
Height: __________________________________________
Type of body/build:________________________________
Skin tone: _______________________________________
Skin type: ________________________________________
Shape of face:_____________________________________
Distinguishing Marks:______________________________
Predominant feature:_______________________________
Hair color:_______________________________________
Distinguishable hair feature (bald, receding hairline, etc.):
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Type of hair (coarse, fine, thick, etc?)__________________
________________________________________________
Character's typical hairstyle:__________________________
Looks like:_______________________________________
Is s/he healthy?____________________________________
If not, why not:_____________________________
________________________________________________
Physical disabilities:________________________________
________________________________________________

FAVORITES:
Character's favorite color:____________________________
Why? ____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Character's least favorite color:_______________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Favorite Music:____________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Least favorite Music:_______________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Food:____________________________________________
________________________________________________
Literature:________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Expressions:______________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Expletives:_______________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Mode of transportation:_____________________________
________________________________________________
Daredevil or cautious?______________________________
Why? ____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Same when alone? _________________________________

HABITS:
Smokes: _________________________________________
What?____________________________________
When and how much?_______________________
________________________________________________
Drinks:__________________________________________
What?____________________________________
When and how much?_______________________
________________________________________________
Other:___________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

HOBBIES:
How does character spend a rainy day? _________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

BACKGROUND:
Hometown:_______________________________________
________________________________________________
Type of childhood:_________________________________
________________________________________________
First memory:_____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Most important childhood event that still affects him/her: __
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Education:________________________________________
Religion:_________________________________________
Finances:_________________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
FAMILY:
Mother:____________________________________________________________________________

Relationship with her:_______________________
_________________________________________
Father:___________________________________

Relationship with him:_______________________
_________________________________________
Siblings:1)________________________________
2)________________________________________
3)________________________________________
4)________________________________________

Birth order:_______________________________________
________________________________________________
Relationship with each:
1) _______________________________________
2) _______________________________________
3) _______________________________________
4) _______________________________________
Children of siblings:________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Extended family?__________________________________
________________________________________________
Close?___________________________________________
Why or why not? __________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

ATTITUDE:
Character's greatest fear:_____________________________
________________________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
What is the worst thing that could happen to him/her? ____
________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
What single event would most throw character's life in complete turmoil? _________________________________
________________________________________________
Why? ___________________________________
_______________________________________________
Character is most at ease when: ______________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Most ill at ease when: ______________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Depressive or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? _______
Priorities: ________________________________________
________________________________________________
Philosophy:_______________________________________
________________________________________________
How s/he feels about self: ___________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Past failure s/he would be embarrassed to have people know about: ___________________________________________
________________________________________________
Why? ____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
If granted one wish, what would it be? _________________
________________________________________________
Why? ___________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

PERSONALITY:
Greatest source of strength in character's personality (whether s/he sees it as
such or not): ______________________________________
________________________________________________
Greatest source of weakness in character's personality (whether s/he sees it as
such or not):______________________________________
________________________________________________
Character's soft spot:________________________________
________________________________________________
Is this soft spot obvious to others?_____________________
If not, how does character hide it?_____________________
________________________________________________
Biggest vulnerability:_______________________________
________________________________________________

TRAITS:
Optimist or pessimist:_______________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
Introvert or extrovert:_______________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
Drives and motivations:_____________________________
Talents:__________________________________________
Extremely skilled at:________________________________
Extremely unskilled at:______________________________
Good characteristics:_______________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Character flaws:___________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Mannerisms:______________________________________
________________________________________________
Peculiarities:______________________________________
________________________________________________
Biggest regret:_____________________________________
________________________________________________
______________________________________________
Minor regrets:_____________________________________
________________________________________________
Biggest accomplishment:____________________________
________________________________________________
Minor accomplishments:____________________________
________________________________________________
Character's darkest secret:___________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Does anyone else know?_____________________________
If yes, did character tell them?_________________
If no, how did they find out?__________________
________________________________________________

SELF-PERCEPTION:
One word CHARACTER would use to describe self: ______
________________________________________________
One paragraph description of how CHARACTER would describe self:______________________________________
________________________________________________
What does CHARACTER consider best physical characteristic? ____________________________________
What does CHARACTER consider worst physical characteristic? ____________________________________
Are these realistic assessments?_______________________
If not, why not?____________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How CHARACTER thinks others perceive him/her:_______
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
What four things would CHARACTER most like to change about self? (#1 most
important, #2 second most important, etc.)
1.________________________________________
2.________________________________________
3.________________________________________
4.________________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
If change #1 was made, would character be as happy as s/he thinks?___________________________________________
If not, why not?____________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

INTERRELATION WITH OTHERS:
Is character divorced?_______________________________
Has character ever cheated on signficant other?___________
How does character relate to others?___________________
________________________________________________
How is s/he perceived by...
Strangers?_________________________________
Friends? __________________________________
Wife/Husband/Lover?_______________________
Hero/Heroine?_____________________________
How does character view hero/heroine?_________________
________________________________________________
First impression:__________________________________ Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
What happens to change this perception?________________
________________________________________________
What do family/friends like most about character?________
________________________________________________
What do family/friends like least about character?________
________________________________________________

GOALS:
Immediate goals:__________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Long range goals: _________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How does character plan to accomplish these goals?_______
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How will other characters be affected?_________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

PROBLEMS/CRISIS:
How character reacts in a crisis:_______________________
________________________________________________
How character faces problems:________________________
________________________________________________
Kinds of problems character usually runs into:___________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How character reacts to NEW problems:________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
How character reacts to change:_______________________
________________________________________________

GENERAL:
Favorite clothing:__________________________________ Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
Least favorite clothing:______________________________ Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
Jewelry:__________________________________________
Other accessories:__________________________________
Drives:___________________________________________
Where does character live?___________________________
________________________________________________
Where does character want to live?____________________
________________________________________________

Spending habits (frugal, spendthrift, etc):_______________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
What does s/he do too much of?_______________________
________________________________________________
Too little of?______________________________________
________________________________________________
Most prized possession:_____________________________ Why?____________________________________
_______________________________________________
Play musical instrument?___________________________
Which?__________________________________
How did s/he learn?________________________________
________________________________________________

UNCATEGORIZED:
Person character secretly admires:_____________________
________________________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Person character was most influenced by:_______________
________________________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
Most important person in character's life before story starts:
_______________________________________________
Why?____________________________________
________________________________________________
How does character spend the week before the story starts?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

Fantasy World Building Questions

I.
The World

A. Basics

o Are
the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world, or
are they the same as in real life? How does magic fit in? How do
magical beasts fit in?

o Is
this generally an earth-like world? Is it an "alternate Earth"?

o Are
there different human races, whether or not there are non-humans like
elves or dwarves? How does the cultural and ethnic diversity of this
world compare to the real world?

o How
long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, or did
they migrate from somewhere/when else?

o How
many people are there in this country? How does this compare with
world population? What is considered a small town/large town/city in
terms of number of people?

o Where
does magic power come from: the gods, the "mana" of the
world (as in Larry Niven's "Warlock" stories), the personal
willpower or life force of the magician, somewhere else? Is magic an
exhaustible resource? If a magician must feed his spells with his own
willpower, life-force, or sanity, what long-term effects will this
have on the health and/or stability of the magician? Do different
races/species have different sources for their magic, or does
everybody use the same one?

B. Alternate
Earth

o Are
there non-human inhabitants of this planet (elves, dwarves, aliens)?
If so, how numerous? How openly present? What areas do they occupy
(examples: dwarves in mountains or caves, elves in forests, etc.)?

o How
similar are the history and culture of the alternate earth to real
history and culture? Why is it so similar/different?

o Is
there a specific historical point where this world split off from
ours (e.g., Napoleon won at Waterloo)? If so, what was it? How long
ago was it? How much has changed and will continue to change as a
result? Is the split in history a result of the presence of magic, or
is the change the thing that made workable magic a possibility?

o If
there is no specific point of divergence, what are the differences
between this imaginary world and the real one? How obvious are they
in everyday life? If magic exists but history is more or less the
same, why has it had no effect? If magic works, elves exist, etc.,
but most people don't know it, how and why has this been kept secret?

o If
magic is known to exist, which historical events have changed and
which are the same? How have organized religions reacted?
Governments? Ordinary people? What laws and/or professions are
different? What effect will the general and specific differences have
on the social questions below?

C. Not
Earth at All

o How
does this world differ physically from earth? Is it the same size
(same density, same gravity), same ratio of land/water, same
atmosphere, etc.? Does it have more than one sun or moon? Rings? Are
there spectacular constellations/comets, etc. visible at night or by
day? Several moons,

o Are
there non-human inhabitants of this planet (elves, dwarves, aliens)?
If so, how numerous? How openly present? What areas do they occupy?

o How
are the continents laid out? If there is more than one moon/sun, how
does this affect winds, tides, and weather generally? 5Contlnent,

o How
much land is there, and how much of it is habitable?50%ocean;fresh
water;Atmosphere is mlsty;more oxygen/heavy air

o Is
the axial tilt and orbit the same -- i.e., does the world have the
same seasons and same length of year as Earth? 1%tilt..slow rotation
day =week

II.
Physical and Historical Features

A. General

o In
which geographical areas will the story take place? How much ground
will the story cover? What are the most striking features of
landscape, climate, animals, etc. in this area? How will these
features affect travel time, communication, etc.? Whole
planet;encompass whole planet;

o If
there are non-human inhabitants, are there any areas they
particularly claim as their own (e.g., dwarves traditionally live
underground, usually in mountains)?

B. Climate
and Geography

o Have
human activities affected climate, landscape, etc. in various
regions? How? (Example: Sahara Desert growth has been increased by
over-farming.) If this is an alternate earth, will the "alternate"
part change existing effects? (If there are no people in N. Africa,
desert growth is probably slower.)

o How
do differences from Earth (multiple suns, moons, etc.) affect the
climate in various areas? Temporate climate

o How
much land is in each of the equatorial, temperate, and polar zones?
Big

§ Note:
climate affects landscape through erosion and weathering; the
distribution of plants and animals, and formation of soil. As a
result, it determines what crops can and can't be grown, what animals
can and can't live in an area, what clothes must be worn to cope with
the weather, and how houses are built. Winter freezing and thawing
may change travel patterns, as waterways freeze or flood and passes
close. Weather also affects available sports, like skiing. Are all
these things consistent with what you say the climate is like in
particular areas?

o Where
are major mountain ranges? Rivers and lakes? Deserts? Forests,
tropical and otherwise? Grasslands and plains?

o If
there are imaginary animals (dragons, unicorns, etc.), how do they
fit into the ecology? What do they eat? How much habitat do they
require? Can they live anywhere, or do they prefer or need specific
kinds of climate or terrain? Are they intelligent and/or capable of
working spells, talking, etc.?

C. Natural
Resources

o Which
areas are the most fertile farmland? Where are mineral resources
located?

o Which
animals, birds, fish, and other wildlife are commonly found in which
areas? If there are imaginary animals such as dragons, where do they
live?

o Which
natural resources, if any, have been depleted in which areas over
time?

o Which
resources (e.g., coal, oil, iron ore, gold, diamonds, limestone,
etc.) are particularly abundant, and in which areas? Which are
scarce? Are there places where there are rich deposits that haven't
been discovered yet, or where they haven't been fully exploited?

o How
much conflict has been or might be caused by these imbalances in
resources? How much active, peaceful trade?

o What
water resources available, and for what uses (a mill wheel requires
flowing water, i.e., river or stream; irrigation needs a large,
dependable water source like a lake or large river; etc.)?

D. World
History

o How
far back are there records or tales of historical events? How widely
known are these stories? Actual grasp of reality of creation

o Do
average people believe old tales, or do they dismiss some that have a
basis in fact (e.g., Troy)? Accept

o How
long have there been people on this world? Did they evolve, were they
created by the gods, or did they migrate from somewhere else? If
there are non-humans, how long have they been around and where did
they come from? 7000years

o How
similar is the history and culture of an alternate earth to real
history and culture? Why is it similar/different? Dlfferent:Advanced
quicker

o Where
did civilization begin? What directions did it spread? How was its
development affected by the presence of magic? The presence of
non-human races, if any? The actions or direct interventions of the
gods?

o Which
peoples/countries/races have traditionally fought, allied, traded, or
been rivals? Where are there still hard feelings about old events?

o Which
peoples/countries/races have been in conflict in the recent past?
Why? When and why was the most recent war? Who won?

o Which
peoples/etc. are considered the most civilized? Which are most
technologically advanced? Which are most magically advanced? Least
advanced? Why?

o Is
there a single, generally accepted calendar (including time
measurements), or do different countries or peoples or races have
different ones? Common

o How
many languages are there? Which ones are related (e.g., the Romance
languages) and why? Which languages borrow words or phrases from
other languages? Which is likely to be most widely spoken? Language
is a barrier

o Is
there a "trade language" that facilitates commerce between
countries that don't speak the same tongue? Is there a "universal
language" spoken by educated or noble persons, as Latin was in
the Middle Ages?

E. Specific
Country(s) History

o How
accessible is this area? What natural features mark the borders? Who
are the neighboring countries/peoples and what are they like?

o Why
did people settle in this country in the first place -- strategic
location, trade route, water transport, minerals, good farming, etc.?
Have things changed much since, or do they still depend on whatever
brought them in the first place?

o How
do the weapons of this country compare with those of surrounding
cities and countries? Have there been recent innovations that may
upset the balance of power, or is everyone more or less equal?

o Who
are the rivals or enemies of this country? How close are they
physically? How powerful?

o Who
are the heroes and villains of each country's history (e.g.,
Washington and Lincoln in the U.S.; Henry V in England, etc.)? Why
are they heroes/villains and what do this say about the country and
the people who admire them?

o How
many people are there in this country? How does this compare with
world population? What is considered a small town/large town/city in
terms of number of people?

o How
diverse is the population of this country -- how many different races
(human or non-human), creeds, etc. normally live in various cities
and towns in this country? In what percentages?

o Is
population shifting from rural to urban, south to north, mountains to
coast, etc.? Why -- invasion, plague, gold rush, etc.? What effects
has this had on the places being left? The places gaining people?

o Is
magic legal here? All magic, or only some types? Do laws vary widely
from country to country, or is the attitude generally similar?

o What
does this country import? Export? How important is trade to the
economy? How is currency exchange handled, and by whom? What is the
system of coinage, and who mints it?

o Which
peoples/countries/races have been in conflict in the recent past?
Why? When and why was the most recent war? Who won?

o Which
peoples/countries/races fought, allied, traded, or were traditional
rivals? Where are there still hard feelings about old events?

o How
much of the country is farmland? Forest? Desert? Mountains? Plains?

o What
are the primary crops (e.g., potatoes, cotton, tobacco, coffee, rice,
peanuts, wheat, sugarcane, etc.)? Are any grown mainly for export?
What crops can not be grown here because of the soil, climate, or for
other reasons?

o What
water resources available, and for what uses (a mill wheel requires
flowing water, i.e., river or stream; irrigation needs a large,
dependable water source like a lake or large river: etc.)?

o What
wild animals, actual or imaginary, live in this area? Are any of them
potentially useful -- e.g., for fur, whale oil, hides, magical
ingredients, hat feathers?

o Which
animals, actual or imaginary, are commonly domesticated in this area?
Which aren't here, but are elsewhere? (Example: water buffalo in
India vs. oxen in Europe vs. camels in desert areas.)

o How
do most of the citizens make their living -- farming, fishing, trade,
manufacturing? Do non-humans tend to take up different trades from
humans? Are they legally limited to certain trades?

III.
Magic and Magicians

A. Rules
of Magic

o What
things can magic not do? What are the limits to magical power? How do
magicians try to get around these limits?

o What
is the price magicians must pay in order to be magicians -- years of
study, permanent celibacy, using up bits of their life or memory with
each spell, etc.? Does anyone ever try to get around the price of
magic?

o Is
there a difference between miracles and magic? If so, how are they
distinguished?

o Where
does magic power come from: the gods, the "mana" of the
world, the personal willpower of the magician? Is magic an
exhaustible resource? If a magician must feed his spells with his own
willpower, life-force, or sanity, what long-term effects will this
have on the health and/or stability of the magician? Do different
races/species have different sources for their magic, or does
everybody use the same one?

o How
does a magician tap his/her magic power? Does becoming a magician
require some rite of passage (investing one's power in an object,
being chosen by the gods, constructing or being given a permanent
link to the source of power) or does it just happen naturally, as a
gradual result of much study or as a part of growing up?

o What
do you need to do to cast a spell -- design an elaborate ritual,
recite poetry, mix the right ingredients in a pot? Are there things
like a staff, a wand, a familiar, a crystal ball, that are necessary
to have before casting spells? If so, where and how do new wizards
get these things? Do they make them, buy them from craftsmen, inherit
them from their teachers, or order them from Wizardry Supplies, Inc.?

o Is
there a numerical limit to the number of wizards in the world? What
is it? Why?

o How
long does it take to cast a spell? Can spells be stored for later,
instant use? Does working spells take lots of long ritual, or is
magic a "point and shoot" affair?

o Can
two or more wizards combine their power to cast a stronger spell, or
is magic done only by individuals? What makes one wizard more
powerful than another -- knowledge of more spells, ability to handle
greater levels of power, having a more powerful god as patron, etc.?

o Does
practicing magic have any detrimental effect on the magician (such as
becoming addictive, fomenting insanity, or shortening life-span)? If
so, is there any way to prevent these effects? Are the effects
inevitable to all magicians, or do they affect only those with some
sort of predisposition? Do they progress at the same rate in
everyone? Are they universal in all species, or are some races
(dwarves, elves, whoever) immune to these detrimental effects?

o How
much is known about the laws of nature, physics, and magic? How much
of what is commonly known is wrong (e.g., Aristotle's ideas about
human anatomy, which were wrong but accepted for centuries)?

o What
general varieties of magic are practiced (e.g., herbal potions,
ritual magic, alchemical magic, demonology, necromancy, etc.)? Do any
work better than others, or does only one variety actually work?

o Are
certain kinds of magic practiced solely or chiefly by one sex or the
other? By one race or another? Is this because of inborn ability,
natural preferences, or legislation?

o Does
a magician's magical ability or power change over time -- e.g.,
growing stronger or weaker during puberty, or with increasing age?
Can a magician "use up" all of his/her magic, thus ceasing
to be a magician? If this happens, what does the ex-magician do --
die, retire, take up teaching, go into a second career, start a
freelance consulting business?

o Can
the ability to do magic be lost? If so, how -- overdoing it, "burning
out," brain damage due to fever or a blow, etc.?

o Can
the ability to work magic be taken away? If so, how and by whom?
(Traditional example: certain spells that can only be worked by
virgins; raping such a witch robbed her of her powers.)

B. Wizards

o How
do various religions,if any, view magic? Do any forbid it? Why or why
not? Do any require priests/priestesses to be magicians? Do any
forbid magicians from holding some or all religious offices?

o How
long does it take to learn magic?

o Is
magic a profession, an art, or just a job? What is the status
accorded to magicians in this society? Are they the equivalent of
shyster lawyers, politicians, and used car salesmen, or are they
considered average working stiffs, or are they looked up to and
admired?

o Are
wizards organized? How? What hierarchy, if any, do they recognize?
What happens if the person/people at the top get killed? Who takes
over? How soon?

o Can
anyone become a wizard, or does one need to be born with some special
talent or gift?

o Are
different races/intelligent species good at different types of magic?
If so, what types are associated with what races/species? Are there
species that use magic more or less unconsciously -- for instance,
dragons using magic to fly without being consciously aware of it, or
werewolves using magic to change?

o Can
you make a living practicing magic, or do you have to have
independent means? If you can make a living, what are you doing --
making magic swords, or making it rain for local farmers? What's a
wizard's job market like? What's a wizard's average income, relative
to the rest of society?

o Are
magicians a force in politics, or are they above it? Are there
national politics that revolve around magic/wizards (i.e., trying to
outlaw, protect, or promote certain kinds of magic, trying to draft
wizards into a ruler's army, licensing of magicians, etc.)? Do
wizards have a lobby? Do they need one?

o Does
it require a license to be a wizard? If so, is it more like a
driver's license (something nearly everyone in our culture gets upon
coming of age) or like a doctor's license (something only a small
percentage of the population will ever get)? Who certifies wizards:
government, wizard's guild/AMA, local priests?

o How
do local people view wizards? Are they good guys, bad guys, Clint
Eastwood (call in only to get rid of dragons), regular working
stiffs, ivory-tower academics, nuisances who make it rain when you're
plowing, dangerous folks to stay away from?

o How
do you get to be a wizard/magician? Does it require inborn talent,
study and hard work, practice, or all of the above?

o Are
wizards barred from certain kinds of government jobs or offices? Do
some government jobs require that their holder be a wizard?

o If
magic requires study, where do you go to learn about it? How do
people fund their training? Is there an apprenticeship system, or are
there wizard schools, or is it one-on-one tutoring/mentoring? Is an
untrained wizard dangerous, or just an ordinary person?

o Do
wizards have a special language that is used for magic? If so, where
do they learn it? Is it safe to chat in this language, or is
everything said in it automatically a spell? If so, how can it safely
be taught to new students?

o Is
magic considered a science, or are scientists and wizards enemies or
rivals? Are magic and science compatible? To what degree does the
presence of magic, magical objects, and wizards replace technology
(for example, a chest that is enchanted to keep its contents cold
could replace the refrigerator)? Duplicate technology? Supplement
technology?

o Are
wizards above or below the law -- I.e., do they have full rights as
citizens, no rights, or can they do as they like without regard to
anyone else's rights?

o Is
the relative power of a country or ruler usually measured by the size
of the army, the number and ability of his wizards, or the amount of
money at his disposal?

o Can
two or more wizards combine their power to cast a stronger spell, or
is magic done only by individuals? What makes a powerful magician?

o Is
a magician's lifetime normally longer or shorter than average? Why?
Does this vary for different races/species? Are there races/species
all of whose members are magicians?

o Are
there fashions/fads in magic -- are herbal spells "in" this
year and ritual spells "out," or vice versa?

o Are
certain spells (as opposed to magic generally) illegal? Why --
because of the effect of the spell, or because of the ingredients or
procedures needed to cast it, or what? If so, how would a criminal
magician be detected? Apprehended? Punished? Is catching and
punishing illegal magicians the responsibility of the magician's
guild, or do the ordinary courts have to handle it?

C. Magic
and Technology

o Are
there magical means of transportation (teleport spells, magic
carpets, dragon-riding)? How do they compare in speed, safety and
expense to non-magical means? Are there any drawbacks to magical
travel (for example, teleport sickness)? How commonly are they used,
and for what purposes (industrial shipping vs. travel for fun)?

o Are
there magical means of rapid communication? How commonly are they
used? For what purposes?

o Are
magical weapons available? Can magic be used in warfare? In what
ways? Are spells fast enough to be useful in hand-to-hand combat, or
is magic more of a siege weapon, used only for long, slow things?

o How
has the presence of magic affected weapons technology? Can magic make
weapons more effective? Do you have to do anything special to walls,
armor, or weapons to make them better able to resist enemy spells?

o How
has the presence of magic affected weapons technology? Can an
ordinary, non-weapon-type object be enchanted to make it extremely
lethal (the Frying Pan of Death) or will this work properly only on
things that are already weapons? Can ordinary objects be enchanted to
make them (or their user) supremely good at something (the Frying Pan
of Ultimate Gourmet Cooking, the Comb of No Bad Hair Days Ever)? How
common and useful are such enchantments?

o To
what degree does the presence of magic, magical objects, and wizards
replace technology (for example, a chest that is enchanted to keep
its contents cold could replace the refrigerator)? Duplicate
technology? Supplement technology?

o Can
spells and/or magical items be mass-produced? Are there magic carpet
factories and boutiques selling magic rings?

o Can
spells and/or magical items be used to increase the efficiency of
manufacturing or mass production? Do businesses keep a wizard on
retainer, as modern businesses might keep a lawyer or efficiency
expert? What, exactly, are they paying for?

D. Miscellaneous
Magic Questions

o Are
the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world (to
accommodate magic), or are they the same as in real life? How does
magic fit in? How do magical beasts fit in?

o If
there are imaginary animals (dragons, unicorns, etc.), how do they
fit into the ecology? What do they eat? How much habitat do they
require? Are they intelligent and/or capable of working spells,
talking, etc.?

o Where
did civilization begin? What directions did it spread? How was its
development affected by the presence of magic? The presence of
non-human races, if any? The direct or indirect action of the gods?

o In
what ways can magic or spells be abused? How often does this happen?

o Which
peoples/races/cultures are considered the most civilized? Which are
most technologically advanced? Which are most magically advanced?
Least advanced?

o Is
magic legal? All magic, or only some types? Do laws vary widely from
country to country, or is the attitude generally similar?

o What
wild animals, actual or imaginary, live in this area? Are any of them
potentially useful -- e.g., for fur, whale oil, hides, magical
ingredients, hat feathers?

o Are
there magical beasts, like dragons and unicorns? If so, which ones?
How many? Are they common, or are some endangered species? Have any
been domesticated?

o Are
there magical artifacts (rings, swords, etc.)? If so, who makes them
and how? Are the spells permanent, or do they wear off after a while?

o Where
is scientific and/or magical research done -- universities, private
labs, under the auspices of the ruler/government, etc.?

o Given
the magical/technological level of this society, what is an
appropriate ration of farmers or food producers to urban residents?
If farm production is based on magic, how many urban residents are
going to starve if the spells supporting farming (weather, land
fertility, etc.) fail suddenly?

o What
are the major political factions at present? How long have they been
around? Which factions are allies, which enemies? Are there any
potential new forces on the political scene (e.g., a rising middle
class, a university gaining unexpected power because of certain
magical discoveries, etc.)

o How
much has the presence of magic affected strategy and tactics in
general? Is magic used primarily for intelligence gathering (spells
of invisibility, scrying, etc.), or are there spells that are of use
on the battlefield (summoning a demon to attack the enemy, casting
fire storms at them, etc.)? If battlefield magic is possible, how can
it be defended against?

o Is
healing generally a magical process? If so, how does the magical
healing talent work? Does a magical healer have to consciously direct
the healing process (meaning that lots of knowledge of anatomy, etc.,
would be required), or does magical healing simply speed up the
normal, unconscious healing process in the patient? Is there more
than one kind of magical healer (as there are surgeons, eye doctors,
etc.)? Are there both magical and non-magical healers, and if so, are
they rivals or simply different specialties?

o What
level is medicine at? Who are the healers? Do you have to have a
talent to heal, or just training? Who trains healers, herbalists,
apothecaries, surgeons, magical vs. nonmagical healers, etc.?

o Is
forensic magic possible? Commonly used? Used only for certain types
of crimes (and if so, what)? Are the results of forensic spells
admissible in court as evidence? Is it something any wizard can do,
or do you have to specialize?

o Are
there separate civil and criminal courts? Human and non-human courts?
Is there a separate court or procedure for magical crimes? What is
different about each type of court? Are judges or other court
officials required/forbidden to know magic? Is evidence obtained by
magic acceptable in court? Is evidence obtained by magic considered
more reliable or less reliable than physical evidence or eyewitness
accounts?

o Can
magic be used in the arts, and if so, how -- paint that glows,
pictures that move, flutes that play themselves, etc.? How do
"normal" artists feel about this? Is there a separate
branch of purely magical art, such as illusion?

IV.
Peoples and Customs

A. General

o Do
average people believe old tales, or do they dismiss some that have a
basis in fact (e.g., Troy)?

o Do
wild and rebellious young people dress any differently from anyone
else? Are they allowed to?

o How
do most people make a living here?

B. Customs

o Does
the weather or climate contribute any habits or customs, such as the
mid-afternoon siesta in hot countries?

o What
is considered a normal family unit? How extended is an extended
family? How important are family connections and responsibilities?

o What
are the rites of passage in this culture? Are they formalized
rituals, such as being dubbed a knight, or are they informal? Are
they different for men and women? For nobility and peasants?

o What
customs surround a birth and the introduction of a new child to the
family? Is the mother sequestered for some period? Is the child? Is
there a formal presentation of the new child to parents,
grandparents, overlord, priest? Is a feast and celebration declared,
or does everyone keep a low profile to keep from attracting demons or
bad luck?

o Who
is normally present for births? Is it strictly a matter for women, or
are men involved, or is the only woman present the expectant mother?

o Who
raises the children? At what age do they begin to be educated or
trained? By whom? Are they considered mini-adults? Do they dress
differently from adults? If so, when do they change to adult dress?

o What
customs surround death and burial? Is there a special class of people
(doctors, priests, funeral directors, untouchables) who deal with
dead bodies? What things must be done and why (burn hair to free
spirit, burn body to prevent necromancy, coins on eyes for ferryman,
etc.)? Are the dead feared, revered, or ignored?

C. Eating

o Do
men and women, parents and children, servants and master, eat
separately, or does everyone eat together? How is status displayed at
the table (seating above or below the salt, near or far from the
head, etc.)?

o What
dishes are considered holiday food? What foods/drinks are associated
with particular holidays, events (e.g., funerals, weddings) or times
of the year?

o What
distinguishes a formal, high-court dinner from an ordinary meal,
besides quantity and variety of food? How do high-court manners
differ from everyday ones?

o What
eating utensils are used, if any? Forks, eating knife, spoons,
chopsticks?

o What
is the order of a typical upper-class meal -- do they start with
wine, then a sweet, then a stew, then a salad, or do they bring
everything in at once?

o Are
special arrangements necessary for entertaining guests of different
races/species -- taller chairs for dwarves, raw meat for werewolves,
perches for harpies, etc.? How do the eating customs of different
races reflect their cultures and biology? How difficult does this
make social interaction among the races?

o Is
sanitation good enough for untreated water to be safe to drink? If
not, what do people drink instead?

o What
shapes are tables/eating areas (round, oblong, square, rectangular,
etc.)? Where is the "place of honor" for a guest? Where do
the important members of the household sit/recline/whatever?

o What
things, while edible, are never eaten (what's not kosher)? Why? Are
some common human foods poisonous to dwarves or elves (or vice
versa)?

o What
types of food or seasoning are characteristic of different races?
Different cultures? Different countries?

D. Greeting
and Meeting

o When
meeting someone, how are they greeted -- wave, handshake, bow, some
other gesture? How did the greeting gesture originate (example:
shaking hands to prove one's weapon hand was empty)? Is there a
special I-am-not-armed gesture for wizards?

o Is
there a difference between the greeting offered to an equal and that
offered to a superior or inferior? Is there a difference between the
greeting offered a man or a woman? Human/non-human?

o Is
there a way of changing a greeting gesture to make it insulting?

o How
are two people who have never met normally introduced to each other?
What is the order of precedence when there are several people of
differing sex or social status present, all of whom need to be
introduced to each other?

o Are
there classes of people/beings who are never introduced to other
classes of people/beings? Are "true names" significant, and
if so, under what circumstances would someone be given another
person/being's true name?

o Are
there customs involving the way in which someone is named when being
introduced (for example: giving all of a person's names and titles at
the first meeting, but never repeating them afterward, so that he's
always referred to as "George" even though he's introduced
as the Duke George Edward Canterbury Gorden de la Suis-Foule, Marquis
of Horsham, Whitewater and Framingham, Earl of St. Peter's Close, and
Vicount of Abernathy)?

o Is
there any difference in the way you greet someone you already know,
compared to greeting a stranger (or does everybody just always hug or
shake hands or whatever)? How does someone acknowledge seeing an
acquaintance at a distance (passing on the other side of the street)
-- by a nod, tipping the hat, wave, smile, or not at all?

E. Gestures

o When
meeting someone, how are they greeted -- wave, handshake, bow, some
other gesture? How did the greeting gesture originate (example:
shaking hands to prove one's weapon hand was empty)?

o Are
gestures and body language in this society generally subtle or not?
Do people talk with their hands, or is that considered vulgar?

o Is
there a way of changing a greeting gesture to make it insulting?

o What
is a comfortable and polite speaking distance for people in this
culture? Other cultures/countries/races? How aware are people of
these differences?

o What
gestures are insulting? What do they mean? Do some gestures differ in
meaning depending on the culture, race, or time (example: the
American "V"-for-victory sign, which became the peace sign,
and which is/was highly insulting in Europe)?

o How
do gestures and body language differ between countries? Between
species? Are there things that don't matter in one area that are
mortal insults in another (eating with the left hand, etc.)?

o What
are the ways of showing respect (bowing, saluting, etc.)? To whom is
one expected to show such respect -- one's elders, superiors in rank,
teachers, priests, etc.?

F. Visits

o Are
there questions that must be asked or avoided (how's the family,
how's the business, never talk politics or religion, etc.)? Are there
topics that can only be raised by the host? The guest?

o How
seriously does the culture take the responsibilities of host and
guest? What rules define when someone becomes a host or guest (e.g.,
in mid-eastern countries, giving bread and salt to someone makes the
person your guest; giving a 5-course meal without bread or salt
doesn't)?

o What
things are considered courteous to offer a guest: food, reading
material, personal guards or attendants, music/entertainment, a
person of the opposite sex to sleep with?

o What
is considered a courteous response to a host's offer? Are there
things it is considered rude to accept? Rude to turn down? Rude to
ask for? Rude not to ask for?

o When
a guest arrives, is food or drink offered immediately, after an
interval, or only on request? Is there a particular food or drink
that is customary to offer a newly arrived guest?

o How
do different eating customs of the various cultures and races
interact and conflict? Example: a person from a culture that
considers it impolite to refuse an offer of food being the guest of
someone whose culture considers it impolite to stop offering food
until the guest says "when."

G. Language

o Are
some or all people bilingual? Is there a common second language many
people know?

o Are
there "secret" languages or codes known only by priests,
soldiers, wizards, guild members, etc.? Why were they developed?

o What
are the variations in speech patterns, syntax, and slang from one
social class to another? One occupation to another? One region to
another? One race to another?

o What
areas do local slang phrases come out of? (Example: in a fishing
town, referring to good luck as "a good catch," while
people in a farming town refer to it as "an unexpected
harvest".) What kinds of colorful turns of phrase do people use?

o What
things in this culture would their language have many specific words
for (e.g., Inuit languages that have 14+ words for different kinds of
snow)? What do the people in this culture consider important enough
to name? What does this say about the way they look at the world?

o What
things would the people of this culture not have a name for, or have
one word that covers numerous variations? What do they consider too
unimportant to name? How does this affect the way they see the world?

o Are
there words that must never be spoken except at particular times, in
ceremonies, or under particular circumstances? Are there words that
must not be spoken in polite company? Do these words differ from
culture to culture or race to race?

o What
will people swear a binding oath by? What do people use as curse
words?

o How
many languages are there? Which ones are related (e.g., the Romance
languages) and why? Which languages borrow words or phrases from
other languages? Which is likely to be most widely spoken?

o Are
there different languages for different races (dwarves, elves, etc.),
or is language based more on geography than race/species? Is there a
special language you need to learn in order to talk to dragons or
other magical beasts?

H. Ethics
and Values

o What
will people swear a binding oath by? What do people use as curse
words?

o What
is the most desired/most valuable stuff in this society -- gold,
jewels, drugs, money, furs, reindeer, etc.? Why is it desired/valued?
Do different races value different things? Is there a race/culture
for whom non-material things (information, time) are the most
valuable things? How did they get that way?

o What
things are considered normal and acceptable in this society that
would not be considered normal or acceptable in yours? (Examples:
dueling, drugs, open homosexuality, polygamy, infanticide.)

o What
things are considered shocking in this society that are not
considered shocking in yours -- e.g., showing a woman's ankles,
eating left-handed, reading in public? What would be the reaction of
an ordinary person who sees someone doing one of these things -- to
turn away, call the cops, draw a sword and challenge the offender to
a duel, etc.?

o What
are the acceptable limits to honor and/or honesty in this society?
Are "white lies" acceptable socially, or is lying in any
form considered beyond the pall? Is thievery an accepted, if
disreputable, occupation, or is it a crime?

o Is
a binding oath unbreakable no matter what, or can you get out of it
if the other party turns out to be evil scum or if you weren't fully
informed? What is considered the right thing to do if two oaths come
into conflict -- do you have to decide as best you can, hold to the
most recent oath, hold to the oath to the most/least powerful person,
commit suicide?

o What
are attitudes toward ownership? What constitutes "theft"
and what can be stolen -- gems, gold, someone's good name or
reputation? Are thieves independent criminals, members of an illegal
guild, business people licensed by law, or what?

o Who
is considered a citizen, with the rights and privileges thereof? What
are those rights and privileges (voting, protection from thieves, the
right to a hearing in Rome) and what responsibilities go along with
them (jury duty, providing funds or knights for the lord's army?

o Are
there certain classes of people (wizards, foreigners, children,
peasants, women) who have fewer legal rights or less recourse than
full citizens? Why? Are they considered mentally or morally
deficient, a danger to the state, or is there some other rationale?

o Is
there a group of people who do not have full rights in this culture?
Why not? Are they considered mentally or morally deficient, a danger
to the state, or is there some other rational?

o What
are the controversial subjects in this culture? What things can you
start a friendly argument about in any bar? What things will
automatically start an unfriendly argument?

o What
are the social taboos -- what things are "not done," like
wearing a bathing suit to the office? What things are not talked
about? What would happen if someone did? How do these taboos vary
among the different races?

o What
are the biggest social faux pas -- burping loudly at a formal
banquet, drawing steel in the presence of a queen/noble, asking a
dwarf whether it's male or female? What subjects or actions cause
embarrassment or discomfort?

o What
are the society's mores regarding courtship, marriage and family? Is
marriage primarily a civil or a religious institution?

o Who
are the persons or groups to which one automatically has a duty
simply by being born -- one's family, one's town/city, one's country,
one's ruler/president, the gods? What is the hierarchy of duty among
them -- is it considered more noble to follow your mother's teaching
or to follow your emperor's orders?

o What
are the standards of beauty for people? Paintings and sculpture?
Clothes and furniture? How do they differ from the standards in your
culture (example: a country which considers fatness a highly
desirable beauty trait)? How do standard of beauty reflect the
physical traits of the various races (examples: dwarves might
consider excessive height unattractive; werewolves might be attracted
by long teeth or a particular scent)?

o Who
are this culture's historic heroes and villains (e.g., Washington and
Lincoln in the U.S.; Henry V in England, etc.)? Why are they admired
as heroes/villains and what does this say about the people who admire
them?

o What
is the ideal life that people aspire to? Do people mostly want to
retire to a little house in the country, buy the most "toys,"
serve in the army/navy?

o What
kinds of people are the rebels and outcasts of this society? How does
society deal with them? What actions or ideas will get you made an
official outcast/exile? What happens to people who don't fit the
accepted social order -- do they have their own sections of town, or
are they invisible ("in the closet"), or do they get kicked
out of the country altogether?

o Who
are the arbiters of ethics (as opposed to law)? How did they get to
be arbiters? Who are the social arbiters? Ditto, ditto.

o Which
ethical/moral decisions are considered the province of religion, and
which are not?

I. Religion
and the Gods

o How
do various religions, if any, view magic? Do any forbid it? Why or
why not? Do any require priests/priestesses to be magicians? Do any
forbid it?

o Are
there actual gods/godlike beings? If so, do they take an active role
in a) the temples, churches, and religions that worship them, or b)
the lives of everyday people? Why or why not? How many gods are
there, and is there a hierarchy among them? Which ones are good or
evil, or is this meaningless when speaking of gods?

o How
do various religions view non-believers? Foreigners? Non-humans?
Which support the state/ruler/government, and which are interested
mainly in ordinary people?

o What
customs surround a birth and the introduction of a new child to the
family? Is the mother sequestered for some period? Is the child? Is
there a formal presentation of the new child to parents,
grandparents, overlord, priest, the gods? Is a feast and celebration
declared, or does everyone keep a low profile to keep from attracting
demons or bad luck?

o Is
there a difference between miracles and magic? If so, how are they
distinguished?

o Is
there tension, rivalry, or outright hostility between any of the
actual gods? How does this affect church politics? People's everyday
lives?

o Where
does religion fit into this society? Is there a state church? Is
freedom of religion the norm? Do people generally think of the
temples/churches as parasites or as a useful part of society?

o Which
ethical/moral decisions are considered the province of religion, and
which are not? Do the gods care how people behave? Why or why not?

o If
there are actual, demonstrable gods, what part does faith play in
their worship? What are their various rites like, and why? What
offerings are considered good, better, best? Are people supposed to
pick one or more gods to worship and ignore the others, or does
everybody officially worship everyone? How do people decide whom to
worship? How do they decide which temple to be affiliated with?

o How
much of a part do various religions and philosophies play in public
and private life? Are philosophers and theologians considered
ivory-tower academics, or do they debate in the marketplace, like
Socrates? How much influence do their theories have on the way people
actually behave?

o Are
priests and philosophers full-time workers, or do they need day jobs?
If they are full-time, who supports them -- the congregation, a
wealthy patron, the temple's investment fund, the god they serve?

o Why
are the gods interested in people? Are they like the Greek pantheon
(quarrelsome, larger-than-life humans), or are they transcendent and
incomprehensible? Do the gods have limits to what they can do? To
what they will do? Can the gods make mistakes?

o How
do the various temples and philosophies explain the classic "problem
of evil"? Do they think bad things are always a just punishment
for some transgression, a character-building exercise, the result of
an evil antagonist (Satan, Loki) or just something the gods can't
prevent?

J. Population

o How
many people are there in this country? How does this compare with
world population? What is considered a small town/large town/city in
terms of number of people?

o How
diverse is the population of this country -- how many different races
(human or non-human), creeds, etc. normally live in various cities
and towns in this country? In what percentages?

o Is
population shifting from rural to urban, south to north, mountains to
coast, etc.? Why -- invasion, plague, gold rush, job opportunities,
etc.? What effects has this had on the places being left? The places
gaining people?

o Is
there much immigration into or out of various countries? Why? To or
from what other areas?

o Which
geographical areas are most heavily populated? Least? Are certain
areas or terrains more popular with certain races that with others?
Why?

V.
Social Organization

A. General

o Where
is scientific and/or magical research done -- universities, private
labs, under the auspices of the ruler/government, etc.?

o What
are the various ranks and titles and proper forms of address for the
aristocracy/nobility? Is everybody "my lord" and "my
lady," or are there more distinctions (your grace, your
highness, your majesty, your holiness)?

o What
occupations are respected? Looked down on? Why?

o How
many levels are there in this society: peasant, bourgeoisie, warrior,
noble? How difficult is it to rise or fall from one social level to
another? How firm are the divisions between social classes -- is it
disgraceful for a noble to engage in trade or for a warrior to help
with the harvest?

o How
difficult is it to rise or fall from one social level to another? How
much social mobility is there? How much do people think there is?

B. Government

o How
has the presence of magic and magicians affected law and government?
Are wizards barred from certain kinds of government jobs or offices?
Do some government jobs require that their holder be a wizard?

o What
is the basic style of government: feudal, aristocratic, oligarchy,
absolute ruler, democracy, what? What forms are used in neighboring
countries, and why are they the same or different?

o What
services does the government or head of state provide: schools,
wells, courts, an army to protect people from the Vikings? What
services are provided locally or privately?

o Who
has the right to levy taxes? For what? On what or whom? Can taxes be
paid in kind, or do certain things require money?

o Who
provides support services for the head of state? What are they
called: King's Counselors, Cabinet Ministers, Secretary of State,
Good Ol' Girls? Are they hereditary offices, civil servants,
appointees, military, elected?

o Is
the relative power of a country or ruler usually measured by the size
of its army, the number and ability of its wizards, or the amount of
money/trade flowing through it?

o What
are the easiest/most common ways to advance in status -- amass more
money, marry well, get the ruler's eye, etc.? How much resistance is
there to someone advancing in social status?

o Who
will take over running the government if the current head of state is
incapacitated? How is this determined? Is there an heir apparent
(either actual or political)? What happens if the heir is a minor?
Who gives orders? How are they picked?

o Who
is responsible for protecting the head of state? His personal guard,
the Secret Service, an elite group affiliated with the regular
military? What safeguards have they got against assassins, poisoning,
direct assault, magical attack?

o Who
can give orders (to military, to tax collectors, to servants, to
ordinary folks on the street)? How are such people chosen?

o Who
is responsible for coinage: the ruler, local barons, someone else
(merchant guilds)? Are there generally acceptable standards? How
easy/common is counterfeiting?

o Is
there an organized system of education? If so, who provides it:
government, churches, private persons? How is it supported?

o Who
can call up men for an army, and how? Does the ruler ask the nobility
for men, who in turn draft their peasants, or can the ruler go
straight to the bottom?

o How
much formal spying and intelligence gathering is normally done by
governments? The military? Merchant guilds and wealthy tradesmen? Are
there actual organizations, or is spying done by diplomats and/or
freelance agents? How effective is it currently?

o Do
relations between countries depend mainly on the relations between
the heads of state, or can two rulers hate each other's guts without
being able to just declare war and drag their countries into it?

o Are
there times when people are expected to fast, or feast (e.g., before
solstice, after the birth of a child, during Lent or Ramadan, after
the death of a ruler, etc.)? Are there occasions when the ruler is
expected to provide a celebration or spectacle for the people to
enjoy, (e.g., the Roman gladiatorial games)?

C. Politics

o Is
magic a profession, an art, or just a job? What is the status
accorded to magicians in this society? Are they forbidden overt
political action, or are wizards and the wizard's guild knee-deep in
court intrigue?

o Is
there tension, rivalry, or outright hostility between any of the
actual gods? How does this affect church politics? People's everyday
lives?

o Does
the level of technological advancement match the level of social and
political advancement?

o Is
the relative power of a country or ruler usually measured by the size
of its army, the number and ability of its wizards, or the amount of
money/trade flowing through it?

o What
are the easiest/most common ways to advance in status -- amass more
money, marry well, get the ruler's eye, etc.? How much resistance is
there to someone advancing in social status?

o What
are the controversial political issues of this day/time/country? What
positions on these issues are considered conservative? Liberal?
Unthinkable?

o How
much influence do "special interest groups" such as
merchants, wizards, or various religions, have on court politics? How
do they exercise their influence -- indirectly (by talking nobility
or council members into taking their sides) or directly (by bribery,
coercion, having their own representatives on the council)?

o Are
there any shaky political alliances between disparate groups? Why
were they formed? How long is it likely to be before they fall apart?
When they do, what will the effects be?

o What
ancient rivalries and hatreds still affect current attitudes and
political positions (examples: Scottish and Welsh separatist groups;
Catholics vs. Protestants vs. Muslims; dwarves vs. elves; Hatfields
vs. McCoys)?

o What
kinds of people are likely to face prejudice: dwarves, werewolves,
merchants, women, undertakers? Is this institutionalized (i.e., a
matter of law) or is it mostly a matter of public attitude? Is the
ruler powerful enough to defy this prejudice and appoint a dwarf as
Chief Councilor or Secretary of Defense and make it work?

o Are
there people who have great influence on government/politics, but who
do not hold any official position? Who are they? Why do they have
influence? Is this considered a normal thing, or a bad thing?

D. Crime
and the Legal System

o How
has the presence of magic and magicians affected law and government?
Are wizards barred from certain kinds of government jobs or offices
(judge, jury, police)? Do some government jobs require that their
holder be a wizard?

o What
are considered normal and legal ways of gathering evidence and
determining guilt? Is torture allowed? Are arbitrary judgments by the
lord or landowner allowed, or is there an independent standard of
justice?

o What
personal weapons are available to anyone who can afford them? Are
some considered "for nobles only" either by custom or by
law? Are there laws forbidding certain classes from being armed at
all? Are there laws requiring certain classes to learn particular
weapon skills, as England for some centuries required yeomen to be
proficient with the longbow?

o What
things are considered truly serious crimes and why? (E.g., in a
trade-oriented culture, counterfeiting might be a death-penalty
crime, while in a place where life is cheap, murder might be
something you pay a small fine for.)

o What
are the normal punishments for serious vs. minor crimes? Are there
prisons, or are people punished and released? Are there degrees of
punishment -- branding vs. cutting off ears vs. cutting off a hand
vs. decapitation -- or do they just hang everybody?

o Who
is responsible for catching criminals? Who pays the crook-catchers --
the ruler, the city government, a consortium of merchants, somebody
else? How are they organized -- into independent police precincts, or
into overlapping districts, or just according to whoever wants to
hire them? Are they full-time, part-time, or volunteers? Private or
public? What sort of facilities do they have? What arms are the
allowed to carry?

o Are
there lawyers or advocates? Who can afford them? Who trains/certifies
them?

o Are
people guilty until proven innocent, innocent until proven guilty, or
does it depend on the mood the lord is in when they bring the case
before him?

o Are
there judges other than the ruler, lord, or landowner? If so, how are
they chosen, how are they paid, and who pays them? Are appeals
possible, and if so, to whom? How often are outlying areas likely to
see a judge? Is "mob justice" common or uncommon? Approved
of or disapproved of?

o Are
there sumptuary laws regulating what different classes/races may
wear? Do judges and lawyers wear special clothes (robes, wigs) to
indicate their calling?

o Are
wizards above or below the law -- I.e., do they have full rights as
citizens, no rights, or can they do as they like without regard to
anyone else's rights?

o Are
highwaymen, muggers, and pirates common or rare? What sorts of crimes
is the average citizen likely to run across during his/her lifetime?

o Who
can make or repeal laws -- a group (an elected Senate, an appointed
Council, or an hereditary House of Lords), or only the ruler or head
of state? How much can the nobility, middle class tradesmen, etc.
influence the laws that are made?

o How
are alleged criminals treated before and after their convictions? Do
the police/military/city guard make a practice of roughing up
suspects, or is this frowned upon?

E. Foreign
Relations

o Does
this country have formal relationships with other countries? If so,
who can be an ambassador? Are there standing embassies and
consulates, or are special envoys sent only when something comes up?

o How
are treaties arranged? Are there any significant ones currently in
force or coming up for signing?

o How
much do official attitudes toward other countries affect commerce and
trade? Do merchants pretty much ignore tensions between government as
long as they can make a profit, or will this get them into trouble?
Are there Customs inspectors or their equivalents at border
crossings? Is the export/import of some
technologies/magics/commodities regulated by the government, or by
non-governmental cartels? How does this affect political
relationships between countries?

o Which
countries/races are traditional allies? Which are traditional rivals?
How do these traditions affect present-day relations between
countries and races?

o Which
heads of state are related by blood or marriage, and how important is
this in determining foreign policy?

F. Waging
War

o Which
peoples/countries/races have been in conflict in the recent past?
Why? When and why was the most recent war? Who won? Who is still mad
about that?

o What
major weapons of war are available (e.g., siege towers, catapults,
cannon, A-bombs)?

o How
much has the presence of magic affected strategy and tactics in
general? Do army commanders have unusual formations or techniques to
deal with various magical attacks? How can magic be used as part of a
battle plan, given various levels of technology (example: getting a
weather magician to make it rain so that enemy cannons will be harder
to maneuver in the mud)?

o Is
magic used primarily for intelligence gathering (spells of
invisibility, scrying, etc.), or are there spells that are of use on
the battlefield (summoning a demon to attack the enemy, casting fire
storms at them, etc.)? If battlefield magic is possible, how can it
be defended against?

o How
are armies usually structured? Is there a formal, independent command
structure, or is everybody officially under the command of whoever
brought them to join the ruler's army, or what? If there is a formal
structure, what are the various ranks and titles used?

o Is
weapon usage restricted according to social class, such as only
knights being allowed to use sword and armor, yeomen using bows and
staffs, peasants using whatever scythes, hammers, etc. are available?
Are there restrictions, either legal, customary, or biological, on
the types of weapons different races or magical beings can use (e.g.,
elves not being able to wield weapons made of cold iron)?

o Are
battlefield commissions or knighthoods possible during wartime, or
must such promotions wait on formal ceremonies? Do normal social
restrictions apply during times of war, or is everyone equal on the
battlefield?

o Who
can call up men for an army, and how? Does the ruler ask the nobility
for men, who in turn draft their peasants, or can the ruler go
straight to the bottom?

o Are
there professional soldiers/mercenaries? Is a career in the army
possible, or would you have to become a mercenary or sell-sword in
order to make a living as a soldier? Does the army accept volunteers,
or only draftees? Can you rise to officer level by displaying courage
and merit on the battlefield, or are officer positions reserved for a
particular type of person only -- people who bought commissions,
people who graduated from military school, sons of famous warriors,
etc.?

o How
large is a typical army? What percentage of the soldiers in it will
be trained (knights, professional soldiers, guards, mercenaries) and
what percentage will be untrained recruits? Are recruits given
training, or are they expected to learn on the job (i.e., in battle)?

o How
is the army supplied? Are soldiers allowed to live off the peasantry,
or do they pay for what they take? What happens if the supply caravan
gets lost or captured? How are supplies handled during long
campaigns? How many days' worth of supplies can the army haul along
with them? (Ref. Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the
Macedonian Army for the math on how much a horse can carry, how much
it needs to eat, etc.)

o What
are the accepted conventions of making war (e.g., only fight in
winter when nobody is busy with crops; don't make war on civilians;
only certain kinds of weapons are available, etc.)? Do they differ
from race to race?

o How
does the presence of non-humans (dwarves, vampires, etc.) affect
strategy, tactics, and battles generally? Are special weapons
required if an army is facing certain kinds of non-human armies? How
could non-human soldiers turn their physical differences from humans
to their advantage?

o Are
particular non-human races traditionally better with certain weapons
(e.g., dwarves with axes, elves with bows)? Why -- because they have
greater strength, better eyesight, more manual dexterity, etc.?

o If
there's a long-term war in progress, how has the home front been
affected? Are people being drafted much younger/older than they used
to be? Have people been forced to step into nontraditional roles --
peasants managing a business, women shoeing horses, children making
bullets, etc.? How have these changes affected society? How will they
affect relationships between races/clans/sexes/social classes when
the war is over?

o Is
the army integrated (i.e., men, women, elves, dwarves, purple people,
and green ones, all serving together)? How does this affect battle
formations? Strategies? Are certain races or groups isolated in
particular units? If so, are those units considered elite troops or
the most expendable soldiers on the battlefield? How do these
attitudes affect strategy?

o Has
science or magic been advanced in general by specific developments in
the fields of weaponry, tactics, or strategy?

o Are
there natural or imposed limitations prohibiting the development or
use of certain types of weapons (e.g., only muscle-powered weapons
because the "laws of physics" in this world don't allow the
combustion of gunpowder)?

o To
what degree has technology changed the face of war? Are there
internal combustion engines useable for large troop movements, or
steam powered ships?

G. Weapons

o How
do the weapons of this country compare with those of surrounding
cities and countries? Have there been recent innovations that may
upset the balance of power, or is everyone more or less equal?

o What
is the level of weapons technology? Are there guns, and if so, how
sophisticated (flintlock, matchlock, rifle, Uzi)?

o What
major weapons of war are available (e.g., siege towers, catapults,
cannon, A-bombs)?

o What
weapons and armor are standard for armies? Mercenaries? Nobility?
Your average peasant trying to defend his/her home?

o Are
weapons, such as swords or pistols, a standard part of dress for
any/all segments of society?

o What
are the accepted conventions of making war (e.g., only fight in
winter when nobody is busy with crops; don't make war on civilians;
only certain kinds of weapons are available, etc.)?

VI.
Commerce, Trade, and Public Life

A. General

o Which
peoples/countries/races fought, allied, traded, or were traditional
rivals? Where are there still hard feelings about old events?

o What
does this country import? Export? How important is trade to the
economy? How is currency exchange handled, and by whom?

o Why
did people settle in this country in the first place -- strategic
location, trade route, water transport, minerals, good farming, etc.?

o Have
things changed much since, or do they still depend on whatever
brought them in the first place?

B. Business
and Industry

o How
is business organized? Are there trade unions? Guild structures?
Multi-state corporations? International cartels?

o Are
people able to cross-craft, I.e., learn or perform different trades?
Does cross-crafting require guild permission, a write from an
overlord, or is it automatically guaranteed by law? How strict are
craft restrictions -- are carpenters the only people allowed to build
houses?

o What
types of trades would be represented in a small town? A middle-sized
town? A large city?

o Is
currency and coinage standardized, or is there a system of exchange?
What are typical denominations? What types of currency is a traveler
or merchant likely to carry on a trip? What are different coins
called, and what are they worth?

o Are
industrial processes (e.g., swordmaking, weaving, etc.) considered
"trade secrets," or are they common knowledge?

o What
is the process a young person goes through to enter a craft or trade?
An apprenticeship? Four years of college? Are the craft requirements
for various skill ranks (such as apprentice, journeyman, master, or
med student, intern, doctor, specialist) standardized, or does rank
depend more on the good favor of a master craftsman than it does on
skill?

o Do
different regions/cities specialize in specific crafts, processes, or
products (examples: Damascus steel, Bordeaux wines, Chinese silk,
Wisconsin cheese)? Do different races specialize?

o What
regulations, if any, has the government/ruler placed on business
practices? Are there antimonopoly laws? Anti-pollution? Are there
standardized systems of weights and measures, or does a merchant have
to specify "a London bushel" of grain rather than "a
York bushel"? How do differing systems affect shipping and
trade?

o Are
any new industries developing? Which old ones do they compete with or
make obsolete?

o How
are records kept -- tally sticks, parchment, clay tablets, beads?

o Is
there a merchant class? Where do they fit in society? Are there
trading guilds? If so, how are they organized? How much power do they
have to control trade? How much infighting is there among them?

o Are
there trading organizations that transcend countries (like the
Hanseatic League)? How large a presence do they have locally?

o Is
this a money-based economy, or mostly barter?

o What
goods are commonly available in small town markets? In large towns?
In cities? How do goods get to market?

o What
industries -- mining, fishing, shipbuilding, lumber, farming,
manufacturing, etc. -- are important, and in which areas? Which
depend on materials from other areas (as shipbuilding on wood, or
weaving on wool)? What happens if supplies are disrupted?

o Who
is responsible for coinage: the ruler, local barons, someone else
(merchant guilds)? Are there generally acceptable standards? How
easy/common is counterfeiting?

o How
much smuggling is there? Of what, from or to where?

C. Transportation
and Communication

o What
are the common domesticated animals used for transportation at
various levels of society -- e.g., oxen, horses, donkeys, camels,
etc.?

o For
traveling short distances within a city, what are the alternatives?
Can people hire a cab, a litter, a rickshaw, or do they have to walk
or rely on their own servants or horses?

o How
are messages sent when necessary? Is there a public/private postal
system, or does everyone of importance have to send messengers? How
fast can news get from A to B?

o How
available is water transportation? How reliable? How dangerous? How
expensive?

o How
common is travel (for any reason)? Does the concept of travel "to
see the world" or for fun, even exist? How dangerous is travel?
How large a group is considered safe? How much traffic is there
inside and outside the main cities? Which areas are best/worst?

o What
is the fastest means of traveling long distances over land? Over
water? Which methods are safest?

o What
is transportation like? Are there good roads? Who built them? Who is
responsible for maintaining them?

o Where
would a traveler stay at night? Are there enough travelers to support
inns, or do people have to stay at some equivalent of medieval
monasteries?

o Are
some classes of people (slaves, peasants) not expected to travel at
all? Are some (heralds, messengers) expected to travel constantly?

o How
do people find out what is happening in the world -- rumor, town
crier, newspapers, TV and radio? How slanted is the news they get
this way, and in what direction? Is there freedom of the press? If
not, who controls/censors it and by what means?

o How
are books produced? Are they common (has the printing press been
invented) or are they rare, valuable, expensive, hand-written
objects? If the latter, who has the time and skill to produce them?

o Where
are the great libraries or collections of books/scrolls/manuscripts?
How accessible are they to scholars, wizards, the general public? Who
supports them?

D. Science
and Technology

o Is
the level of technology in this society comparable to that of ancient
Rome, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution,
what?

o What
important inventions or advances have been made (the wheel,
gunpowder, printing, flush toilets)? Have any of them reached the
point of affecting the daily life of the average person, or are flush
toilets a luxury for the nobility only?

o What
inventions or advances have not been made that you would normally
expect to see at this stage of technological development? Which ones
are about to be made?

o Are
the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world, or
are they the same as in real life? How does magic fit in? How do
magical beasts fit in?

o Where
is scientific and/or magical research done -- universities, private
labs, under the auspices of the ruler/government, etc.?

o In
what areas might magic replace technology, and thus suppress its
development (example: if a spell to keep food cold is easy and cheap,
there's no need to invent refrigerators)? In what areas might magic
cause more rapid technological or scientific development (example:
common use of crystal balls might lead someone to think of inventing
the lens or the telescope sooner)?

E. Medicine

o How
accurate is the diagnostic process? Do healers have ways of telling
two diseases with similar symptoms apart? Do they depend on standard
physical medical tests -- reflexes, temperature, contracted pupils --
or do they normally use spells for diagnosis?

o How
expensive is a healer? How available are such services to ordinary
people?

o How
much is known about anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc.? Are
treatments based on purely practical experience ("We know this
works but we don't know why"), or do healers understand at least
some of what they are doing?

o How
much training does a healer normally get? Where? From whom?

o Is
there a reliable method of birth control? Who normally handles births
-- midwives or doctors? What is the mortality rate for pregnant
ladies, new mothers, and children?

o What
level is medicine at? Who are the healers? Do you have to have a
talent to heal, or just training? Who trains healers, herbalists,
apothecaries, surgeons, magical vs. nonmagical healers, etc.?

o How
much need is there for healers -- how much sickness, plague, injury,
etc. is there in this society? Are there enough healers to meet this
need?

o What
kinds of treatments are available -- herbal brews, vaccinations,
acupuncture, spells, etc.? How effective are they?

o Is
it possible to resurrect/resuscitate someone who has died? If so, how
long does it take before this becomes impossible? Before serious
brain damage sets in?

o How
is insanity treated? Are there asylums or treatment centers, or is it
handled case-by-case? How effective are treatments for insanity?

o How
much do the physical differences between humans and non-humans affect
their medical treatment? Are there diseases that only affect
non-humans, or only humans? Are there diseases that affect everybody,
but with different degrees of severity -- a mild cold in a human is
galloping pneumonia in a dwarf? Are some treatments lethal to one
species but effective for others? Do doctors or healers have to
specialize to do a good job of treating non-human patients?

F. Arts
and Entertainment

o What
is the status of the arts (dance, music, theater, etc.) in this
society? Are artists revered or mistrusted? Are they considered noble
or immoral? Who supports the arts? Which arts are most highly valued
and why?

o Are
there permanent theaters or concert halls for the performing arts? If
so, who owns and runs them? Are they profitable? Are there also
traveling troupes of players/musicians/dancers? How do their
performances differ?

o What
do people at various levels of society do for fun?

o What
sports or pastimes are common (hawking, hunting, skiing, baseball)?
Which ones take skill, money, and/or leisure time?

o Is
magic a profession, an art, or just a job? What is the status
accorded to magicians in this society?

o What
games are commonly known -- chess, dice, poker? Which are common
among everyone, and which are limited to the peasantry or nobility?
Are certain countries/cities known for a passion/expertise for
particular games or pastimes?

o Have
paper-making and the printing press been invented, or are books and
scrolls rare, expensive, handwritten items?

o What
things are considered appropriate subjects for representational arts
such as painting and sculpture? Which are not? (Examples: some
cultures/religions forbid the painting or sculpture of the human
figure, and have abstract art; some have limited painters to doing
only "uplifting" religious works, etc.)

o Are
there non-human races who tend to be naturally talented painters,
dancers, etc.? How does this affect human practitioners of these
arts?

o Do
non-human races have their own games and leisure pastimes? How do
they differ from human games? How do they reflect the physiology
and/or particular magical talents of the various non-human races?

o Are
certain races/cultures considered better at some arts than other
races/cultures? Where do the best dancers, painters, musicians,
actors, etc. come from?

G. Architecture

o What
is the most common building material? Why is it used (availability,
cheapness, legal requirement)? Does it have any major drawbacks
(e.g., the Great Fire of London)?

o How
tall a building can be constructed at a reasonable cost and in a
reasonable time?

o What
are typical floor plans like -- can people afford to waste space on
hallways, or do they just have a series of rooms opening into other
rooms? Are buildings normally built square, triangular, domed, what?

o How
many people usually live in a typical house? How large is a typical
house?

o What
are the differences in materials and appearance between a
lower-class, middle-class, and upper-class type house? How do people
decorate buildings (e.g., carvings vs. paint vs. patterns resulting
from the use of different building materials)? Are there differences
in ornamentation depending on the purpose of the building (e.g.,
gargoyles and carvings of saints used mainly on cathedrals)?

o Has
technology or magic progressed to the point of making window-glass?
If so, how expensive is it? If not, what do people use to cover
windows necessary for ventilation and light?

o How
are living quarters arranged? Are bedrooms on the top floors for
privacy or on the ground floor for convenience? Are parlors or
libraries common? How are houses heated/cooled?

o Are
wars and insurrections common enough that castles and cities are
built with an eye to military defense first and appearance later, or
are palaces and wall-less towns the rule?

H. Urban
Factors

o How
many people are there in this country? How does this compare with
world population? What is considered a small town/large town/city in
terms of number of people?

o Does
city layout reflect some philosophy (religious or otherwise), such as
that the "head" of the city must be at the center or at the
highest point or at the most strategic location? Or were layout
considerations mainly practical? Or did most cities "just grow"?

o Are
there public or private parks in most/any cities?

o Are
cities generally laid out on a square-grid system of streets, or do
they just grow? How wide are the streets and alleys?

o What
are the landmarks in each city? Where are the interesting
neighborhoods, like Chinatown or the dwarvish section, and what gives
each its special character? Do the neighborhoods have names?

o Where
do people go to shop? To eat? To have fun? To do "touristy"
things? What sorts of goods/food/entertainment are available in large
cities that are not available in the country?

I. Rural
Factors

o Are
peasants/farmers/yeomen/serfs tied to their land by law or custom, or
can they move to town if they feel like it? Can they own their farms
and property, or is it all "common land," or is it rented
from a lord or landholder?

o Given
the state of roads and transportation, how much food is it possible
to ship to a given location before it spoils? (This limits the size
of cities.)

o Are
rural areas primarily farms, forests, fields for grazing, or "waste
land"? In outlying areas where there aren't many people, how
many roads are there, who builds them, and who maintains them?

o How
reliable is the weather from year to year -- is crop production
relatively dependable, or do people have to cope with regular famines
due to drought or floods?

o What
kinds of catastrophic weather are common -- tornadoes, hurricanes,
blizzards, waterspouts, dust storms? How do people cope? How do
non-humans cope?

o How
are farming/food-producing areas divided up between humans/nonhumans?
What kinds of conflicts are likely to result? (Example: Expanding
human farms encroaching on a forest that dragons or werewolves use
for hunting.)

o Can
peasants/yeomen own their own land, or does it all belong to the
lord? What kinds of rights over land, crops, game, etc. does a
lord/landowner have? Is poaching a problem?

VII.
Daily Life

A. General

o How
do ordinary people feel about foreigners? Non-humans? How ready are
they to accept different ideas? How cosmopolitan are they?

o How
much social mobility is there? Is it easy or hard for a person born a
peasant to advance to the middle class, or a middle class person to
the upper class or nobility? How much resistance would there be?
Would such a person ever be accepted socially?

o What
items or foods or materials are luxuries -- chocolate, coffee, silk,
spices, flush toilets? Why?

o What
do people generally look like? Would a blonde (redhead, brunette)
stand out in a crowd? Someone 5' 10" tall? Do non-humans stand
out in a crowd, or are there enough of them around that they're
considered ordinary?

o What
are accepted norms of personal hygiene? Do most people bathe
regularly, or is bathing considered a health hazard?

o How
is garbage and other waste material disposed of?

o What
is furniture like -- big and blocky, delicate, simple, elaborately
carved, painted? What is it mostly made of -- cloth, wood, stone? Are
certain things (like chairs with arms) reserved for high-status
individuals?

o In
what ways does furniture design reflect the customs and lifestyle of
the people (example: beds with bed-curtains for privacy in medieval
homes where servants wandered through rooms without warning; futons
that can be rolled up and put away instead of beds in a country with
little house-space)?

o What
are the plumbing and sanitary systems like? Who builds and maintains
them? How reliable are they, and who do you call when the drains back
up? How do they differ from city to farm?

o How
do people cope with various disasters -- fire, floods, tornadoes or
hurricanes, blizzards, plague, etc.? How common are such disasters?

o How
early do people get up in the morning in the city? Country? Are
clocks common, or do people tell time by the sun or by listening for
church bells?

B. Fashion
and Dress

o What
do people wear? How expensive is it? Can the material be produced
locally, or must some or all of it be imported?

o Are
weapons a standard part of dress for any/all segments of society?

o Are
certain clothes customary for certain occupations -- e.g., military
uniforms, judges robes/wigs, sports teams uniforms, etc.? How much
variation is allowed -- could a scholar wear a day-glow green robe as
long as the cut is right, or would that be too much? Is it color or
style that is most important?

o Are
the dyes for certain colors -- purple, indigo, etc. -- rare, making
cloth of that color more expensive and/or reserved for nobility or
other high-status people?

o Are
there sumptuary laws, defining who can wear what? What are the
penalties? Who decides when changes are needed? How often are they
adjusted?

o Are
there fashions/fads in things besides clothes -- styles of carriages,
furniture, etc.?

o Are
there fashions/fads in magic -- are herbal spells "in" this
year and ritual spells "out," or vice versa?

o How
many changes of clothes can a normal person afford? A noble person? A
peasant?

o What
is the current fashion in clothes? Hats? Jewelry? Shoes? Do such
fashions differ for humans/non-humans? Between city and country?

o What
materials are appropriate to the climate? What materials must be
imported, and are therefore for expensive upper-class clothes only?

o What
things are considered tacky and vulgar, and what things are stylish?

o What
types of decorations and accessories are common? What colors and
combinations of colors are thought to look well or to clash? Do
opinions on this vary from race to race?

o What
physical types and characteristics are currently fashionable -- tan
vs. pale skin, the "consumptive look" vs. robust good
health, fat vs. thin, blonde vs. brunette, muscles vs. "dead
poet", etc.?

o How
do non-human fashions reflect their physiology? Do dragons dress for
dinner? Do mermaids have a nudity taboo?

C. Manners

o What
distinguishes a formal, high-court dinner from an ordinary meal
besides quantity and variety of food? How do high-court manners
differ from everyday ones?

o What
are the rules of precedence -- who gets to go through doors first?
Who gets introduced first?

o Is
there a distinction between "formal" or high court good
manners and informal, everyday good manners? When and where are
people supposed to be on their best behavior?

o How
important are "good manners" in this society? What
constitutes everyday good manners? How do "good manners"
differ from race to race? How do people/dwarves/elves/dragons react
when someone has just been, by their standards, unspeakably rude?

o When
a guest arrives, is food or drink offered immediately, after an
interval, or only on request? Is there a particular food or drink
that is customary to offer a newly arrived guest?

D. Diet

o What
dishes are considered holiday food? What foods/drinks are associated
with particular holidays, events (e.g., funerals, weddings) or times
of the year?

o What
distinguishes a formal, high-court dinner from an ordinary meal,
besides quantity and variety of food? How do high-court manners
differ from everyday ones?

o When
a guest arrives, is food or drink offered immediately, after an
interval, or only on request? Is there a particular food or drink
that is customary to offer a newly arrived guest? A guest who is just
departing (stirrup cup)?

o Is
sanitation good enough for untreated water to be safe to drink? If
not, what do people drink instead?

o What
things, while edible, are never eaten (what's not kosher)? Why? Are
some common human foods poisonous to dwarves or elves (or vice
versa)?

o How
many meals are considered normal in a day? When are they served?
Which are substantial and which are smaller? Are certain foods (e.g.,
eggs and bacon) reserved mainly for a particular meal?

o What
dishes or seasonings would be considered typical of this area? What
wines or beers?

o What
foods are considered peasant food? What foods are staples, commonly
eaten every day? What foods are rare? What foods are normally eaten
cooked/raw?

o What
is the food like? What herbs and spices are readily available, and
what must be imported? How common/expensive are imported foods and
spices?

o What
spices and herbs are produced locally, and which are rare and
expensive? Which are most commonly used? Do people tend to like
highly spiced food or not?

o How
is food preserved for use during the off-season -- smoking, canning,
salting, drying, etc.? How reliable are the methods used -- how often
does "preserved" food spoil?

o When
food is in limited supply, who gets first crack? The laborers and
farmers who have to work to produce more, or the children who are the
next generation, or the wise and revered elders, or the nobility?

o What
foods and seasonings do non-humans like, and how do these differ from
those favored by humans? Are some foods poisonous or distasteful to
one species that are delicacies or necessary to another?

o Are
there times when people are expected to fast (e.g., before solstice,
after the birth of a child, during Lent or Ramadan, after the death
of a ruler, etc.)?

o Given
the state of roads and transportation, how much food is it possible
to ship to a given location before it spoils? (This limits the size
of cities.)

E. Education

o How
much does it cost to get various levels of education?

o Is
there an organized system of education? If so, who provides it:
government, churches, private persons? How is it supported? Is magic
considered part of the general college curriculum, or do you have to
study it privately?

o What
sort of education is available, and where? Are there schoolhouses in
every town, or do ordinary people have to travel if they want to be
educated? Are there universities? Private tutors?

o What
is the level of literacy in the general population? Is literacy
considered a useful/necessary skill for nobility, or something only
scribes/clerks/wimps/bourgeoisie need? How common are books? How are
they produced?

o Who
are the teachers? How are they trained? Who pays them?

o How
much education is considered usual at each of the various levels or
classes of society? What things are considered absolutely necessary
for a gentleman/noble to know? A tradesman?

o What
things are considered absolutely necessary knowledge for a courtier
(poetry, languages, skill at arms, etc.)? Which are nice but not
necessary? Which would be highly embarrassing if anybody found out
about them (a passion for comic books, etc.)?

o How
respected are teachers and scholars? Who supports them?

F. Calendar

o Is
there a single, generally accepted calendar (including time
measurements), or do different countries or peoples or races have
different ones?

o How
is the day divided into smaller time units? What are they (Hour of
the Lark, Sunrise Bell, Nones, etc.)? Are the names relevant to
anything? Is the length of an hour fixed, or does it vary depending
on changes in the length of the day as the seasons change?

o What
are the names of months, and how many days in each? How many days in
a week? Months in a year? Are there leap years? If so, who keeps
track?

o Which
days are general holidays or festival times? What do they celebrate?
Are there any that are only celebrated in particular countries,
cities, or regions?

o What
event(s) do people use to date years? Do they use a single event (the
creation of the world, the end of the Great War, the invention of
atomic power, etc.) or are events dated based on recurring things
(the 12th year of Tiberius' reign, the 301st year of the Han
Dynasty)?

o How
do people tell what time it is? Are there clocks, watches, sundials,
etc., or do people have to just listen for bells from the castle or
church, or just eyeball the sun?

o Are
there any days that are considered "outside the year," like
Mardi Gras or the Feast of Fools? How are these days customarily
observed? How did they originate?

Darcien Balog

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

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