How to build a Fantasy World for your next TTRPG campaign
You’ve got a great idea for a tabletop role-playing game, but the world around it still feels a bit blurry? Don’t worry—we’re here to help!
In this article, we’ll walk you through practical tips to create a rich and immersive fantasy universe for your next campaign.
Start with a Core Concept
Every great world begins with a spark. Maybe you already have a few ideas: a mysterious city, a powerful faction, or a unique character. That’s a solid foundation to build on.
Use this initial concept as your anchor and expand outward. It could be a central question or theme that later becomes the players’ main quest.
For example, if your first idea is a specific city, you can create a template in Lore and generate its dedicated page. This template can then serve as a blueprint for other cities, helping you maintain consistency across your world.
Repeat this process for other elements—factions, races, landmarks—and don’t hesitate to use Lore’s pre-filled templates to speed things up.
Draw Inspiration from the Worlds You Love
Whether you’ve read epic fantasy novels, played immersive video games, or explored other TTRPG settings, you already have a treasure trove of inspiration.
Take what resonated with you and weave it into your own campaign to enrich your Lore.
Here are a few references worth exploring:
Video Games
- Dragon Age: Origins – A kingdom plagued by underground creatures and a tightly controlled magic system. Perfect for stories about magical regulation, religious conflict, and racial tension.
- Slip Fiction – A gateway to multiple fantasy worlds with diverse game mechanics and storytelling styles.
Literature
- The Silmarillion – J.R.R. Tolkien – A mythic history filled with gods, ancient races, and legendary wars. Ideal for building a world with deep lore and timeless artifacts.
- The Farseer Trilogy – Robin Hobb – Emotionally driven narratives centered on human connections, empathic magic, and personal quests. Great for character-focused storytelling.
- Howl’s Moving Castle – Diana Wynne Jones – Whimsical and magical, full of humor and charm. Perfect for crafting a colorful, quirky world where fantasy meets fun.
Tabletop RPGs
- Dungeons & Dragons – Forgotten Realms – A sprawling universe with flying cities, active deities, and adventurer guilds. Every region offers a potential campaign setting.
- Nightfell – A dark fantasy setting where the sun has died and the moon governs the world. Inspired by Italian folklore, Nightfell offers a hauntingly rich universe filled with ancient mysteries, terrifying creatures, and unique magical traditions. Perfect for GMs seeking a deeply immersive and atmospheric world.
Define the Rules of Your World
To help players fully engage with your universe, it’s important to establish its internal logic. These aren’t necessarily game mechanics, but rather the rules that govern how your world works.
For instance: some characters might be able to read minds, while others can fly like birds.
In fantasy settings, these rules are essential—especially when magic and extraordinary abilities are involved. They help players (and readers) understand the boundaries and possibilities of your world.
Use Lore as Your Worldbuilding Hub
Lore, part of the Amsel Suite, is a powerful tool designed to simplify your worldbuilding process. Here’s how to use it as the central repository for your fantasy universe.
Built-in Templates
Lore’s templates save you time and help you stay organized. You can either create your own or use the universal templates included with the software.
These templates provide a solid starting point for structuring your world. You can customize or remove them as needed to fit your vision.
The key to building a compelling fantasy universe is structure. Once your ideas are clearly organized, they’ll be much easier for others to understand and explore.
