The Art of World Building: Creating Breakout Fantasy and Science Fiction Worlds In Stories and Gaming EP 2: Using Earth Analogues
Nov 7, 2017
Explore whether world-building is essential and how Earth analogues can spark creativity. Discover the 'rule of three' to promote originality and sidestep clichés. Delve into the pitfalls of misleading analogues in storytelling, using goblins as a key example. Learn how to reimagine governmental structures inspired by real-world systems. Encourage innovation by transforming familiar species traits in your worlds, blending the known with the imaginative for richer storytelling.
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Rename When You Break Core Traits
- When you use public-domain races, satisfy reader expectations or rename them if you change core traits.
- Avoid calling something by a familiar name if its appearance and behavior differ significantly.
Apply The Rule Of Three
- Apply the Rule of Three: make at least three significant changes to any Earth analogue.
- Significant tweaks prevent distraction and accusations of copying.
Avatar Felt Too Familiar
- Randy uses Avatar as an example of an analogue that felt too close to Earth cultures.
- He found the Na'vi distracted him because they resembled Native Americans with blue skin.
