World Anvil Worldbuilding Podcast: Recent Episodes
World Anvil founders Janet (writer, worldbuilder, nutcase) and Dimitris (GM, worldbuilding wizard, techmonkey)
Are you worldbuilding for homebrew RPG campaigns, novels, game development, films or anything else? Then you're in the right place!
Designed to educate, inspire and entertain, World Anvil's founders - writer & RPG designer Janet Forbes and Gamemaster and RPG designer Dimitris chat with creators and academics about the brass tacks of worldbuilding, exploring a new theme each month.
Expect topics like novel writing and short stories, game design, Cultures and Societies, Settlements and their needs, Myths and Legends and how to avoid worldbuilding plotholes in this inspiring weekly podcast!
If you want to ask questions or leave comments, you can find us on Twitter @worldanvil or email us a hello@worldanvil.com. And if you get inspired, head over to www.worldanvil.com to start worldbuilding for free!
Now grab your hammer.... AND GO WORLDBUILD!
The Blair Witch Project created a whole new film genre - and co-producer Gregg Hale is with guest host Kat to talk about worldbuilding urban legends and folk horror (and dark fairytales, like his new multimedia project, Black Velvet Fairies). Take a walk on the darker side of folklore as we explore how to make a creepy setting that uses the familiar to evoke DREAD.
The Blair Witch Project created a whole new film genre - and co-producer Gregg Hale is with guest host Kat to talk about worldbuilding urban legends and folk horror (and dark fairytales, like his new multimedia project, Black Velvet Fairies). Take a walk on the darker side of folklore as we explore how to make a creepy setting that uses the familiar to evoke DREAD.
Join Janet as we sit down with talented game designer (and counselor!) Alex Roberts, creator of Star Crossed, For the Queen and Our Time on Earth to explore the world of two-player and couples tabletop roleplaying games. Discover the magic of creating shared stories with just one other player and explore the ways RPGs can build connections and strengthen relationships.
Join Janet as we sit down with talented game designer (and counselor!) Alex Roberts, creator of Star Crossed, For the Queen and Our Time on Earth to explore the world of two-player and couples tabletop roleplaying games. Discover the magic of creating shared stories with just one other player and explore the ways RPGs can build connections and strengthen relationships.
What's in a name? Maybe everything! Janet is joined by authors Trip Galey, Chris McCartney, and Kat Bradbury to discuss pro tips (and what to avoid) when it comes to naming your novels, titling your stories, and deciding what to call That Crazy Thing You Created.
What's in a name? Maybe everything! Janet is joined by authors Trip Galey, Chris McCartney, and Kat Bradbury to discuss pro tips (and what to avoid) when it comes to naming your novels, titling your stories, and deciding what to call That Crazy Thing You Created.
Join Janet and award-winning and best-selling author Laura Anne Gilman for a conversation about the historical fantasy world she’s built in the Huntsmen series. What is "gaslamp fantasy"? And how can you create an immersive fantastical world grounded in real world history?
Join Janet and award-winning and best-selling author Laura Anne Gilman for a conversation about the historical fantasy world she’s built in the Huntsmen series. What is "gaslamp fantasy"? And how can you create an immersive fantastical world grounded in real world history?
Storytellers obsess over our goals - long and short term. In this episode, Janet is chatting with Peter Chiykowski, creator of the Story Engine Deck, about doing it in a balanced, responsible way to avoid burnout and overwhelm. Grab a cozy beverage, your favorite planners and pens, and let's prepare for an amazing year of worldbuilding!
Storytellers obsess over our goals - long and short term. In this episode, Janet is chatting with Peter Chiykowski, creator of the Story Engine Deck, about doing it in a balanced, responsible way to avoid burnout and overwhelm. Grab a cozy beverage, your favorite planners and pens, and let's prepare for an amazing year of worldbuilding!
We've got a killer interview today! Join Janet and Mur Lafferty, Hugo Award winning podcaster and author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Midsolar Murders series. We'll discuss blending genres - specifically sci-fi and murder mysteries. You won't want to miss it!
We've got a killer interview today! Join Janet and Mur Lafferty, Hugo Award winning podcaster and author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Midsolar Murders series. We'll discuss blending genres - specifically sci-fi and murder mysteries. You won't want to miss it!
The biggest villain in tabletop RPGs is ... scheduling. But what if you could play a satisfying roleplaying game all on your own? Solo Journaling RPGs have taken off in recent years, and today Janet has acclaimed game designer Anna Blackwell, creator of Apothecaria, DELVE, and the upcoming For Small Creatures Such As We to talk about what makes these games special.
The biggest villain in tabletop RPGs is ... scheduling. But what if you could play a satisfying roleplaying game all on your own? Solo Journaling RPGs have taken off in recent years, and today Janet has acclaimed game designer Anna Blackwell, creator of Apothecaria, DELVE, and the upcoming For Small Creatures Such As We to talk about what makes these games special.
What IS Pulp Fiction? In this episode Janet talks with authors Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books about unpacking this action-packed genre! What are the common tropes that make pulp AWESOME?! And how do we reinvent Pulp without the Problems?
What IS Pulp Fiction? In this episode Janet talks with authors Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books about unpacking this action-packed genre! What are the common tropes that make pulp AWESOME?! And how do we reinvent Pulp without the Problems?
Worldbuilding Fantasy Castles with Wolfgang Baur!❤️ 🏰 Where should your castles be on the map? 🗺️ 🏰 What does everyone forget when worldbuilding castles? 🤔 🏰 How do you STORM a fantasy castle... or defend one!? 🐉 🧙 Janet (founder and CEO of World Anvil) chats with castle fanatic and Ennie Award-winning worldbuilding expert Wolfgang Baur (Founder and CEO of Kobold Pres), digging into the foundations of castles, figuring out the turrets of their troubles, and lowering the drawbridge to reveal common mistakes!
Worldbuilding Fantasy Castles with Wolfgang Baur!❤️ 🏰 Where should your castles be on the map? 🗺️ 🏰 What does everyone forget when worldbuilding castles? 🤔 🏰 How do you STORM a fantasy castle... or defend one!? 🐉 🧙 Janet (founder and CEO of World Anvil) chats with castle fanatic and Ennie Award-winning worldbuilding expert Wolfgang Baur (Founder and CEO of Kobold Pres), digging into the foundations of castles, figuring out the turrets of their troubles, and lowering the drawbridge to reveal common mistakes!
Hannah Nicole Maehrer's debut release, Assistant to the Villain, started out as a series of TikTok sketches. Janet sits down with her to talk about building a novel's worth of plot character-first, and using episodic formats to develop characters, settings, and plot for a longer work. They also discuss building a platform and connecting with readers on social media.
Hannah Nicole Maehrer's debut release, Assistant to the Villain, started out as a series of TikTok sketches. Janet sits down with her to talk about building a novel's worth of plot character-first, and using episodic formats to develop characters, settings, and plot for a longer work. They also discuss building a platform and connecting with readers on social media.
Vampires! Their undying appeal is unquestioned. But how can writers, gamemasters and tabletop RPG players inject new life into these monstrous heroes in games and fiction? Join Janet as she sits down with Jason Carl, brand marketing manager for Vampire: The Masquerade, to talk about fresh approaches to writing vampires!
Vampires! Their undying appeal is unquestioned. But how can writers, gamemasters and tabletop RPG players inject new life into these monstrous heroes in games and fiction? Join Janet as she sits down with Jason Carl, brand marketing manager for Vampire: The Masquerade, to talk about fresh approaches to writing vampires!
In this episode, we're talking about science fiction worldbuilding, collaborative writing, and creating a crew of lovable misfits with Tracy Wolff & Nina Croft, bestselling authors of Star Bringer!
In this episode, we're talking about science fiction worldbuilding, collaborative writing, and creating a crew of lovable misfits with Tracy Wolff & Nina Croft, bestselling authors of Star Bringer!
Are you in the mood... for worldbuilding? Join Janet and our guest Peter Chiykowski of Rock, Paper, Cynic and The Story Engine Deck as we talk about the elements of mood, tone and theme in worldbuilding. These subtle aspects can have a huge impact on how people experience your world - here's how to use them with intention!
Are you in the mood... for worldbuilding? Join Janet and our guest Peter Chiykowski of Rock, Paper, Cynic and The Story Engine Deck as we talk about the elements of mood, tone and theme in worldbuilding. These subtle aspects can have a huge impact on how people experience your world - here's how to use them with intention!
Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's Worldbuilding Con!
It’s easy to get carried away by the desire to fully flesh out your fictional world. Our panel of industry experts will explain how much worldbuilding is enough - and how to deliver it for maximum impact, while avoiding the dreaded “exposition infodump prologue.”
- Why do we need to stop worldbuilding?
- What worldbuilding elements should be going on the page?
- What tricks create the illusion of deep worldbuilding without too much detail?
- Tips for guiding readers into a complex setting gradually
- To prologue or not to prologue?
🎙️Speakers: John Joseph Adams is the series editor of Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy and is the editor of more than thirty anthologies, such as Wastelands, Lost Worlds & Mythological Kingdoms, and Epic: Legends of Fantasy. He is also editor (and publisher) of the Hugo Award-winning magazine Lightspeed and is publisher of its sister-magazines Nightmare and Fantasy. Called “the reigning king of the anthology world” by Barnes & Noble, John is a two-time winner of the Hugo Award and an eight-time World Fantasy Award finalist.
C.L. Clark is a BFA award-winning editor and the Nebula-nominated author of The Unbroken, the first of the Magic of the Lost trilogy, several short stories, and a few essays. When she’s not imagining the fall of empires, she’s trying not to throw her kettlebells through the walls.
Chris Fox is the Amazon bestselling author of The Magitech Chronicles, Shattered Gods, and The Dark Lord Bert. He loves RPGs, and is very proud to have one of his own in print, all to impress a girl, now his wife and mother of his son.
Jason Sizemore is the owner and editor-in-chief of Apex Magazine and Apex Books. He's been nominated for multiple Hugo Awards for his editing work. His most recent anthologies include DO NOT GO QUIETLY: STORIES OF RESISTANCE and APEX MAGAZINE: 2021.
Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's Worldbuilding Con! Our panel of experts is ready to bring the magic! Join us as we think through the mechanics of magic systems. Consider how different magic systems affect combat balance and action economy in gaming. Learn how different styles of magic can contribute to your fictional world’s overall theme and premise.
- Where do you start with creating a magic system?
- What are the essential elements of a magic system?
- How can you balance your magic system?
- How to explain your magic system to your RPG players?
- Best magic system examples
🎙️Speakers: Keith Baker is a game designer and fantasy novel author. In addition to working with Wizards of the Coast on the creation of Eberron, he has also contributed material for Goodman Games, Paizo Publishing and Green Ronin Publishing.
Celeste Conowitch is a game designer based out of Seattle. She is the producer, GM, and editor of the 5th Edition actual play podcast Venture Maidens. When not plotting behind the screen, she works as a senior game designer at Kobold Press and has freelanced with companies like Wizards of the Coast, 2CGaming, and MCDM Productions. To keep up with Celeste, follow her on Twitter @cconowitch.
Shane Hensley is the president of Pinnacle Entertainment Group, and a former designer, writer, and Executive Producer on several triple-A video games. He has a MA in military history, was a long-time freelance game designer, novelist, and writer for TSR, West End Games, and many others, and is the creator of the Deadlands intellectual property, the Great Rail Wars miniatures game, and the Savage Worlds roleplaying game system. He lives in Arizona, USA.
Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's Worldbuilding Con!
No genre is more closely associated with Worldbuilding than fantasy. Unfortunately, this can create a temptation to “play the hits,” following established tropes at the cost of innovation. In this session, we’ll discuss how to subvert audience expectations and deliver a fantasy world that’s both satisfying and surprising. Join Janet and Worldbuilding Con guests Gail Carriger and Amanda Hamon as they discuss fantasy worldbuilding:
- What is a trope?
- What is your favorite or most hated fantasy trope?
- What are the benefits of subverting or inverting a trope?
- What are the drawbacks of subverting or inverting a trope?
- How can we identify and handle problematic tropes?
- How can you deliver a surprising yet satisfying fantasy world?
- When does a trope become a cliche?
- Final advice
🎙️Speakers:
Gail Carriger has multiple NYT bestsellers and millions of books in print in dozens of different languages. She writes book hugs - comedies of manners mixed with urban fantasy (and sexy queer joy as GL Carriger). She is best known for the Parasol Protectorate and Finishing School series. She was once an archaeologist and is fond of shoes, octopuses, and tea.
Amanda Hamon is a Senior Designer leading the production of Dungeons & Dragons books for Wizards of the Coast. An award-winning tabletop game designer, developer, writer, and editor, her work has appeared in dozens of releases from numerous publishers, including Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, and Kobold Press, and across many game systems, including D&D, Pathfinder, and Starfinder. The most recent title Amanda led is Wizards of the Coast’s Keys from the Golden Vault, an anthology of D&D heist adventures that released in February. She is the former Editorial Director for Kobold Press as well as the former managing developer and a co-creator of the Starfinder RPG by Paizo. She has appeared at dozens of events and on streams as a Game Master and player, and her weirdness knows no parallel. Amanda is absolutely not three opossums in a trench coat, though you can find her making screeching noises on Twitter at @amandahamon.
Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's Worldbuilding Con!
Geography is the literal foundation of your worldbuilding. Join us for this foray into the forests, deserts, mountains and oceans of your imagination. From mapmaking to natural disasters to unnatural landmarks, you won’t want to miss this groundbreaking session.
- Where to start with geography in worldbuilding?
- What are the critical elements of geography in worldbuilding?
- How to combine natural processes, historical events and fantastical elements?
- How can geography make stories and games more engaging?
- Tips for describing fantasy geography for readers & players
- How to balance detail in fantasy maps?
- Creating distinctive repetitive shapes in fantasy maps
🎙️Speakers: Caeora is an internationally renowned illustrator, designer and fantasy cartographer who has worked for, among others, the Critical Role franchise! They also hold a degree in game design, are an active tabletop RPG Game Master, and currently work as the Lead Designer for Foundry Virtual Tabletop! You can learn more about Caeora’s maps, illustrations, and TTRPG settings at www.caeora.com, or go support them on Patreon.
Andy Law is an award-winning tabletop games designer and cartographer, and an excitable teller of tales. He’s best known for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (WFRP), a game he has helped design, write, illustrate, map, and produce for longer than he prefers to remember. Andy has also freelanced extensively for many games companies including FFG, Green Ronin, Hunters Entertainment, Chaosium, and Critical Role, where he’s employed to breathe life into other people’s worlds with maps and words. Currently, Andy is the CEO of Rookery Publications, an indie RPG and board game company founded by passionate gaming veterans.
Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's Worldbuilding Con!
Tone, mood and aesthetic are all elements that can be used to differentiate your world. Join us for a lively discussion on how to add a darker edge to your worldbuilding efforts. Learn how careful placement of the shadows in your world can add depth, and help your world feel more realistic - or more fantastical.
- Does genre affect worldbuilding? Are some naturally darker than others?
- What lures us to dark worlds as authors, readers & gamers?
- How do we create reader experiences in dark fiction that feel familiar?
- What elements of worldbuilding can establish a dark tone?
- How to balance a dark, gritty setting with lighter elements? What are some mistakes in dark worldbuilding?
- Examples of great dark worldbuilding settings?
- How to handle sensitive subjects in worldbuilding?
- To swear or not to swear? Do made-up swear words lose impact?
- Tips for adding humor in dark or horror stories
🎙️Speaker: Michael Williams | The author of fifteen novels, a number of stories and poems, and the late, lamented “Mythical Realism” travel blog, Michael Williams has been writing and publishing over the last thirty years. His most recent work, the City Quartet—four magical realist novels set in a city that is/is not Louisville, Kentucky—has received widespread critical acclaim. A native of Louisville, he has lived in a number of far-flung spots, but now dwells in sleepy & domestic Southern Indiana. Recently retired from a professorship at the University of Louisville, he is currently drinking bourbon and at work on a long narrative poem that ties to the novels in the City Quartet, because what is a quartet without a fifth?
... both other people's, and YOUR OWN! In this episode Janet sits down with the amazing DOMINIQUE DICKEY - a pro-RPG designer and writer, and also an INDIE designer and writer. They discuss:
- The advantages - and disadvantages - of writing outside DnD
- How different systems and game mechanics affect the way you write
- Tips for getting into designing professionally for RPG Publishers
- The process to get from RPG system idea to something ready to play test
- ... and more!
Check out Dominique’s newest release "Plant Girl Game” - about a family of plant-kids working to prevent ecological disaster - on Itch and IPR! And for the best tools for worldbuilding in any medium, visit www.worldanvil.com!
... both other people's, and YOUR OWN! In this episode Janet sits down with the amazing DOMINIQUE DICKEY - a pro-RPG designer and writer, and also an INDIE designer and writer. They discuss:
- The advantages - and disadvantages - of writing outside DnD
- How different systems and game mechanics affect the way you write
- Tips for getting into designing professionally for RPG Publishers
- The process to get from RPG system idea to something ready to play test
- ... and more!
Check out Dominique’s newest release "Plant Girl Game” - about a family of plant-kids working to prevent ecological disaster - on Itch and IPR! And for the best tools for worldbuilding in any medium, visit www.worldanvil.com!
What makes Epic Fantasy epic? Where did the genre come from? What are the tropes to rely on (or avoid)? And how can we sprinkle a little epic into other genres, too? Expert Celeste Conowitch from Kobold Press unpacks this knotty topic!
What makes Epic Fantasy epic? Where did the genre come from? What are the tropes to rely on (or avoid)? And how can we sprinkle a little epic into other genres, too? Expert Celeste Conowitch from Kobold Press unpacks this knotty topic!
How can worldbuilding help your mental health? And how can you maintain your mental health in the face of imposter syndrome, perfectionism and competitiveness? We're live with art-therapist and artist Christina Christidou unpacking Worldbuilding and Mental Health!
How can worldbuilding help your mental health? And how can you maintain your mental health in the face of imposter syndrome, perfectionism and competitiveness? We're live with art-therapist and artist Christina Christidou unpacking Worldbuilding and Mental Health!
Ever considered worldbuilding a Matriarchy? To celebrate mother's day, Janet from World Anvil chats with her own mommy, archaeologist and ancient historian Professor Lin Foxhall, about matriarchies and gender dynamics, both past and imagined. Glean insights into worldbuilding families, cultures and power structures in this expert discussion!
Ever considered worldbuilding a Matriarchy? To celebrate mother's day, Janet from World Anvil chats with her own mommy, archaeologist and ancient historian Professor Lin Foxhall, about matriarchies and gender dynamics, both past and imagined. Glean insights into worldbuilding families, cultures and power structures in this expert discussion!
What are the challenges and secret super powers of Autistic characters? What do classic or famous representations of autistic characters get wrong? In this episode, Janet interviews author Jonathan Fesmire about all this and more!
Links:
https://www.jonathanfesmire.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jonfesmire/ http://amzn.to/2uLdE1q
What are the challenges and secret super powers of Autistic characters? What do classic or famous representations of autistic characters get wrong? In this episode, worldbuilding expert Janet Forbes interviews author Jonathan Fesmire about all this and more!
Links:
https://www.jonathanfesmire.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jonfesmire/ http://amzn.to/2uLdE1q
What is GM burnout? What causes it? How can you prevent or solve it?
In this episode, Janet talks with Pro-GM and all round amazing person Dead Aussie Gamer about GMing experiences and how to create a set of DM tools to beat the burn out!
Links:
Website YouTube Twitch
What is GM burnout? What causes it? How can you prevent or solve it?
In this episode, Janet talks with Pro-GM and all round amazing person Dead Aussie Gamer about GMing experiences and how to build a set of DM tools beat the burn out!
Links:
Website YouTube Twitch
World building inspired by real world cultures - and how to get it right!? 😅
In this episode, Janet chats with the AMAZING Basheer Ghouse, expert worldbuilder and RPG writer who's worked for Pathfinder, Kobold Press & Wizards of the Coast. Learn all about how to adapt real world cultures to create fasctinating and unique cultures for your own worlds.
Links: Guns Blazing Kickstarter
Itchio
Worldbuilding inspired by real world cultures - and how to get it right!? 😅
In this episode, Janet chats with the AMAZING Basheer Ghouse, expert worldbuilder and RPG writer who's worked for Pathfinder, Kobold Press & Wizards of the Coast. Learn all about how to adapt real world cultures to create fasctinating and unique cultures for your own worlds.
Links: Guns Blazing Kickstarter
Itchio
Is your world everything-and-the-kitchen-sink? And is that even a bad thing? In this episode, Janet interviews Peter Chiykowski creator of the award-winning webcomic Rock Paper Cynic, and The Story Engine Deck of writing prompts. They discuss Fantasy Kitchen Sink worldbuilding - what is it, what are the problems it can cause, and how to fix it.
Links:
https://lookitspeter.com/ https://rockpapercynic.com/ https://storyenginedeck.com/
Is your world everything-and-the-kitchen-sink? And is that even a bad thing? In this episode, Janet interviews Peter Chiykowski creator of the award-winning webcomic Rock Paper Cynic, and The Story Engine Deck of writing prompts. They discuss Fantasy Kitchen Sink worldbuilding - what is it, what are the problems it can cause, and how to fix it.
Links:
https://lookitspeter.com/ https://rockpapercynic.com/ https://storyenginedeck.com/
Part 1: Dungeons are a staple of TTRPGs (it's even half of Dungeons & Dragons, one of the most popular games!), and they're awesome tools for one-shot adventures too. So we interviewed Duke Davis, from One-Shot Questers, to tell us all about dungeon one-shots and how to use them at your table!
Part 2: Dungeons are a staple of TTRPGs (it's even half of Dungeons & Dragons, one of the most popular games!), and they're awesome tools for one-shot adventures too. So we interviewed Duke Davis, from One-Shot Questers, to tell us all about dungeon one-shots and how to use them at your table!
Part 2: So you've written a novel and edited it, and you're pretty sure it's ready for publishing—time for the next step! If you're going for traditional publishing, you'll want to query your novel to an agent, and to do that, you need a query letter! We interviewed Laura VanArendonk Baugh, a traditionally published author, to tell us all about the querying process!
Part 1: So you've written a novel and edited it, and you're pretty sure it's ready for publishing—time for the next step! If you're going for traditional publishing, you'll want to query your novel to an agent, and to do that, you need a query letter! We interviewed Laura VanArendonk Baugh, a traditionally published author, to tell us all about the querying process!
In this episode, we set sail on the always-current topic of waterways in worldbuilding! If this is your first episode, thanks for joining us. Janet's joined by special guest John Joseph Adams, award-winning editor of BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY, as well as the bestselling editor of more than thirty anthologies! Together they discuss rivers, streams, lakes and all the ways water sources impact your worldbuilding.
In this episode our special guest is John Joseph Adams, award-winning editor of BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY, as well as the bestselling editor of more than thirty anthologies! He and Janet discuss the mysteries of traditional publishing, and how writers can set themselves up for success when submitting short stories and novels.
Part 1: So, you've decided to take the leap and start writing a novel—and now you don't know where to start. Don't worry, that's completely normal! Writing can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. We interviewed Deleyna, a best-selling writer and Anvilite, and she gave us crash course on novel writing basics!
Part 2: So, you've decided to take the leap and start writing a novel—and now you don't know where to start. Don't worry, that's completely normal! Writing can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. We interviewed Deleyna, a best-selling writer and Anvilite, and she gave us crash course on novel writing basics!
In this episode, we’re talking to industry legends Tracy & Laura Hickman!We discuss the lasting impact and legacy of the Dragonlance novels, their approach to collaborative writing and worldbuilding, and their current tabletop RPG projects.
Part 2! Hard and soft worldbuilding describe the approach or method you use when worldbuilding. If you've heard of the terms pantsing and plotting when talking about writing, it's a similar concept! Hard worldbuilding is more methodical, it has a defined process you follow, almost like a blueprint. Soft worldbuilding, on the other hand, is more organic and fully relies on improvisation and figuring it out as you go. We interviewed Andy Law, from Rookery Publications, to learn more about this!
Hard and soft worldbuilding describe the approach or method you use when worldbuilding. If you've heard of the terms pantsing and plotting when talking about writing, it's a similar concept! Hard worldbuilding is more methodical, it has a defined process you follow, almost like a blueprint. Soft worldbuilding, on the other hand, is more organic and fully relies on improvisation and figuring it out as you go. We interviewed Andy Law, from Rookery Publications, to learn more about this.
Part 2! Creating an entire RPG system is a very rewarding experience, as you're able to create a game exactly how you want it! But it's also a big endeavour, which is easy to get overwhelmed by. So Janet interviewed Celeste Conowitch and Jack Caesar, two incredible RPG game designers, to get their thoughts on the matter!
Creating an entire RPG system is a very rewarding experience, as you're able to create a game exactly how you want it! But it's also a big endeavour, which is easy to get overwhelmed by. So Janet interviewed Celeste Conowitch and Jack Caesar, two incredible RPG game designers, to get their thoughts on the matter!
Part 2!
In this episode, we’re revealing the secrets to Making a Great Battle Map! Our special guest is Till Lammer, CEO and Founder of Dungeon Fog! We're talking about where to set your battles in DnD and RPG games - and how to make sure the location will create a great experience in play. You can make the most amazing battle map in the world, but if the area you choose isn’t interesting - your map’s going to be boring! So what makes a battle scene interesting to map and to fight?
In this episode, we’re revealing the secrets to Making a Great Battle Map! Our special guest is Till Lammer, CEO and Founder of Dungeon Fog! We're talking about where to set your battles in DnD and RPG games - and how to make sure the location will create a great experience in play. You can make the most amazing battle map in the world, but if the area you choose isn’t interesting - your map’s going to be boring! So what makes a battle scene interesting to map and to fight?
Part 2! The Monster Manual is an awesome resource to set the stakes of your game, but what if you want something more personalized? Maybe you have your own custom setting, or your players might be experienced enough to know what all the monsters can do. By creating new ones, you’ll re-infuse a true sense of wonder to your world! Join Janet Forbes and Celeste Conowitch, Senior Game Designer at Kobold Press, as they discuss How to Make a Monster!
The Monster Manual is an awesome resource to set the stakes of your game, but what if you want something more personalized? Maybe you have your own custom setting, or your players might be experienced enough to know what all the monsters can do. By creating new ones, you’ll re-infuse a true sense of wonder to your world! Join Janet Forbes and Celeste Conowitch, Senior Game Designer at Kobold Press, as they discuss How to Make a Monster!
Part 2! Peter Chiykowski is a modern day renaissance man who graces the podcast with their presence to show us how randomness can inspire your worldbuilding and gamemastering.
Peter Chiykowski is a write, editor, illustrator, and creator of the Deck of Worlds and the Story Engine. Both being cards you can shuffled and compiled randomly to create inspiring prompts and stories.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Peter Chiykowski is a modern day renaissance man who graces the podcast with their presence to show us how randomness can inspire your worldbuilding and gamemastering.
Peter Chiykowski is a write, editor, illustrator, and creator of the Deck of Worlds and the Story Engine. Both being cards you can shuffled and compiled randomly to create inspiring prompts and stories.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Part 2! Ginny Di joins the show to share some amazing insights on how to bring characters to life through clothing and costume.
Ginny Di is a creator, cosplayer, singer, and the loveliest bean in the world of roleplaying games. You can find full profiles of some of her original characters on her own world on World Anvil.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Ginny Di joins the show to share some amazing insights on how to bring characters to life through clothing and costume.
Ginny Di is a creator, cosplayer, singer, and the loveliest bean in the world of roleplaying games. You can find full profiles of some of her original characters on her own world on World Anvil.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Part 2! Eat Medieval! 10/10 would recommend. On this episode Professor Giles Gaspar and Andy Hook from the amazing project Eat Medieval talk about the key to creating an immersive game or story. Food.
Giles Gasper is a Professor of High Medieval History at Durham University. He specializes in European history of the 11th-14th centuries, its culture, ideas (especially science and religion), and people, and, of course, its food.
Andy Hook is a multitalented restaurateur who has created not one, but four restaurants in the north of England.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Eat Medieval! 10/10 would recommend. On this episode Professor Giles Gaspar and Andy Hook from the amazing project Eat Medieval talk about the key to creating an immersive game or story. Food.
Giles Gasper is a Professor of High Medieval History at Durham University. He specializes in European history of the 11th-14th centuries, its culture, ideas (especially science and religion), and people, and, of course, its food.
Andy Hook is a multitalented restaurateur who has created not one, but four restaurants in the north of England.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Part 2! Matan Gilat, Co-Founder & CEO of Eldritch Foundry and long-time player of D&D joins the podcast today to talk about what to care about when creating characters. It's more than just finding the perfect miniature. Although Matan can help you with that as well.
Matan started Eldritch Foundry back in 2018 and has helped countless Tabletop RPG lovers create the perfect miniature.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Matan Gilat, Co-Founder & CEO of Eldritch Foundry and long-time player of D&D joins the podcast today to talk about what to care about when creating characters. It's more than just finding the perfect miniature. Although Matan can help you with that as well.
Matan started Eldritch Foundry back in 2018 and has helped countless Tabletop RPG lovers create the perfect miniature.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Part 2! Dimitris Havlidis, Web Developer, Designer, CTO of World Anvil, and person with only one eye joins the podcast today to dive into what everyone gets wrong about one-eyed characters. They also discuss their own challenges around living with one eye, and their strengths!
Dimitris has degrees in Computing, Social Psychology, and Graphic Design. They've helmed the technical departments at numerous companies and agencies, and now run World Anvil with Janet.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Dimitris Havlidis, Web Developer, Designer, CTO of World Anvil, and person with only one eye joins the podcast today to dive into what everyone gets wrong about one-eyed characters. They also discuss their own challenges around living with one eye, and their strengths!
Dimitris has degrees in Computing, Social Psychology, and Graphic Design. They've helmed the technical departments at numerous companies and agencies, and now run World Anvil with Janet.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Part 2! Amanda Hamon, Senior Designer for Dungeons & Dragons and Co-creator of Starfinder shares her secrets to creating one-shot adventures your players will love to play.
Amanda Hamon has had a leading role in some of your favorite tabletop roleplaying games. From D&D to Starfinder, and more. See her full catalog of work on LinkedIn.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Amanda Hamon, Senior Designer for Dungeons & Dragons and Co-creator of Starfinder shares her secrets to creating one-shot adventures your players will love to play.
Amanda Hamon has had a leading role in some of your favorite tabletop roleplaying games. From D&D to Starfinder, and more. See her full catalog of work on LinkedIn.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Part 2! Wolfgang Baur & Celeste Conowitch join the podcast to chat about all things pocket dimensions, shadow realms, and tiny planes of existence. From advice on how to use pocket dimensions as a storytelling tool, to fun expansions of the terms very definition. Step through the portal with us on this excellent episode.
Wolfgang Baur is the head Kobold over at Kobold Press and the main-brain behind the Midgard Campaign setting. Wolfgang is a titan within the tabletop gaming industry.
Celeste Conowitch is a game designer at 2CGaming, and producer, DM, and editor of the Venture Maidens actual play D&D 5e podcast.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Wolfgang Baur & Celeste Conowitch join the podcast to chat about all things pocket dimensions, shadow realms, and tiny planes of existence. From advice on how to use pocket dimensions as a storytelling tool, to fun expansions of the terms very definition. Step through the portal with us on this excellent episode.
Wolfgang Baur is the head Kobold over at Kobold Press and the main-brain behind the Midgard Campaign setting. Wolfgang is a titan within the tabletop gaming industry.
Celeste Conowitch is a game designer at 2CGaming, and producer, DM, and editor of the Venture Maidens actual play D&D 5e podcast.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and gamers!
Tell Your Story
Create Your World
Master Your Campaign
- WorldAnvil.com
Best-selling author and self-publishing expert Jenna Moreci joins the podcast today to share some amazing writing and publishing tips with you. Jenna is the author of The Savior's Series and the young adult SciFi novel Eve: The Awakening. Want to learn more from Jenna? Visit her website or join the over 266 thousand people subscribed to her YouTube Channel. Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications!
You can find her first novelette, The Hand that Holds published by Kyanite Publishing, here!
Part 2! Best-selling author and self-publishing expert Jenna Moreci is back on the podcast today to share some more amazing writing and publishing tips with you. Jenna is the author of The Savior's Series and the young adult SciFi novel Eve: The Awakening. Want to learn more from Jenna? Visit her website or join the over 266 thousand people subscribed to her YouTube Channel.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications!
You can find her first novelette, The Hand that Holds published by Kyanite Publishing, here!
Today we're talking about mapmaking - and how to make a map which fits your world perfectly! My guest today is the incredible illustrator, cartographer and author, Isaac Stewart!
Isaac worked over a decade in the animation, video game, and book design industries. Then he became the art director for Dragonsteel Entertainment, the company of Worldbuilding Wizard Brandon Sanderson. He is responsible for the maps, illustrations and scripts inside The Way of Kings and the Mistborn series. In addition to his work at Dragonsteel, Isaac has created maps and symbols for some of the world’s most-renowned fantasy authors, including Tad Williams. He also writes his own books, and works as a freelancer creating maps and designing book covers for others! Isaac lives in Utah with his wife, children, and a couple of cats.
- If you’re curious and you to learn more, check out Isaac’s website:
- OR you can find him on Twitter
- Or see more of his shiny maps over on Instagram.
- For some excellent advice and resources, check out Isaac’s blogs.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications!
You can find her first novelette, The Hand that Holds published by Kyanite Publishing, here!
What is Cyberpunk and how do you get started worldbuilding in the genre? My guest today is the amazing Eran Aviram!
As well as an RPG translater, Eran is a writer and editor whose self-declared main purpose is to turn more people into players, and give those players the tools that allow them to enjoy more things!
He hosts and produces “On the Shoulders of Dwarves", the English edition of Israel's main RPG podcast (running in Hebrew since 2013), was the editor of “City of Mist” and the developer of “Venture Forth”, a storytelling card game in which you play the entire campaign in a couple of hours. Available through DriveThruRPG.
He's also the author behind the articles series “Three Suggestions” which delivers thought-provoking content and suggestions of variant rules for Fifth Edition or Dungeon World. Available on the DMs Guild.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications!
You can find her first novelette, The Hand that Holds published by Kyanite Publishing, here!
Today we're talking about worldbuilding history! My guest today is the amazing Eran Aviram!
As well as an RPG translater, Eran is a writer and editor whose self-declared main purpose is to turn more people into players, and give those players the tools that allow them to enjoy more things!
He hosts and produces “On the Shoulders of Dwarves", the English edition of Israel's main RPG podcast (running in Hebrew since 2013), was the editor of “City of Mist” and the developer of “Venture Forth”, a storytelling card game in which you play the entire campaign in a couple of hours. Available through DriveThruRPG.
He's also the author behind the articles series “Three Suggestions” which delivers thought-provoking content and suggestions of variant rules for Fifth Edition or Dungeon World. Available on the DMs Guild.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications!
You can find her first novelette, The Hand that Holds published by Kyanite Publishing, here!
What is Cyberpunk and how do you get started worldbuilding in the genre? My guest today is Tobias "Toblin" Linder, a tabletop game developer and Game master of 25 years! He’s been a sucker for the Cyberpunk genre almost his whole life, both for his own writing projects, books, movies and everything else.
- Check out the GOODS on World Anvil: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/CD10-CotC/
- Get Toblin’s latest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tleg_managarmr
- Watch him on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/cd10_toblin
Support him on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Managarmr
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
What is Cyberpunk and how do you get started worldbuilding in the genre? My guest today is Tobias "Toblin" Linder, a tabletop game developer and Game master of 25 years! He’s been a sucker for the Cyberpunk genre almost his whole life, both for his own writing projects, books, movies and everything else.
- Check out the GOODS on World Anvil: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/CD10-CotC/
- Get Toblin’s latest on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tleg_managarmr
- Watch him on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/cd10_toblin
Support him on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Managarmr
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
My guest today is Dr Trent Hergenrader, Professor of Worldbuilding! Trent Hergenrader is a real life Professor of Worldbuilding! He holds a position as Associate Professor in the Department of English at the Rochester Institute of Technology, USA. He teaches worldbuilding modules and this semester he’s using World Anvil to teach his class!
His fiction writing has appeared in such places as Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk, and Best Horror of the Year #1. He is co-editor of Creative Writing in the Digital Age (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Creative Writing Innovations (Bloomsbury, 2017). His book “Collaborative Worldbuilding for Writers and Gamers” was published in October last year by Bloomsbury and was an instant success.
Check out http://www.collaborativeworldbuilding.com and https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/collaborative-worldbuilding for the Collaborative Worldbuilding book and cards.
You can also hit up Trent on Twitter at @thergenrade and @collabworldbldg, and go to http://www.trenthergenrader.com for all his complete professional profile and activities!
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
My guest today is Dr Trent Hergenrader, Professor of Worldbuilding! Trent Hergenrader is a real life Professor of Worldbuilding! He holds a position as Associate Professor in the Department of English at the Rochester Institute of Technology, USA. He teaches worldbuilding modules and this semester he’s using World Anvil to teach his class!
His fiction writing has appeared in such places as Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk, and Best Horror of the Year #1. He is co-editor of Creative Writing in the Digital Age (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Creative Writing Innovations (Bloomsbury, 2017). His book “Collaborative Worldbuilding for Writers and Gamers” was published in October last year by Bloomsbury and was an instant success.
Check out http://www.collaborativeworldbuilding.com and https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/collaborative-worldbuilding for the Collaborative Worldbuilding book and cards.
You can also hit up Trent on Twitter at @thergenrade and @collabworldbldg, and go to http://www.trenthergenrader.com for all his complete professional profile and activities!
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
In part two of our talk on geography, my guest Dr Anne Forbes - geologist and fantasy author - takes us through how to make our world geography feel authentic and in tune with our worlds, and introduces us to some real world wonders!
Dr Anne Forbes holds a degree in Natural Sciences witha specialisation in Geology from CAm univerity, and a pHD in Volcanology formt eh Open University! She has published widely on the subject of her PhD which is the interaction of volcanoes and ice. She is originally from the UK, and now lives in Australia with her husband and her noodle horse.
You can follow here on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AnnieForb
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers! You can get started at www.worldanvil.com for free.
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications:
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/home/catalog/kyanite-press-v2i1/
Today my guest Dr Anne Forbes - geologist and fantasy author - takes us through how to make our world geography feel authentic and in tune with our worlds, and introduces us to some real world wonders!
Dr Anne Forbes holds a degree in Natural Sciences witha specialisation in Geology from CAm univerity, and a pHD in Volcanology formt eh Open University! She has published widely on the subject of her PhD which is the interaction of volcanoes and ice. She is originally from the UK, and now lives in Australia with her husband and her noodle horse.
You can follow here on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AnnieForb
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers! You can get started at www.worldanvil.com for free.
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications:
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/home/catalog/kyanite-press-v2i1/
In part two of our discussion about the Dos and Don't of Self Publishing, for both writers and authors, and for Tabletop RPGs, we delve deeper into the topic!
My guest today is Chris Fox - novelist, Tabletop RPG creator and Self-Publishing guru extraordinaire
Find more about him and his amazing work on his website.
Check out his YouTube channel which includes help tips on writing and self-publishing, as well as inspirational videos!
AND Chris has a New RPG coming, the MagiTech chronicles, a science fantasy world steeped in both magic and technology! The Kickstarter launched on 21st February and was a HUGE success! You can check out the Magitech Chronicles World Anvil Page.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers! You can get started at www.worldanvil.com for free.
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications:
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/home/catalog/kyanite-press-v2i1/
Today we talk about the Dos and Don't of Self Publishing, for both writers and authors, and for Tabletop RPGs!
My guest today is Chris Fox - novelist, Tabletop RPG creator and Self-Publishing guru extraordinaire
Find more about him and his amazing work on his website.
Check out his YouTube channel which includes help tips on writing and self-publishing, as well as inspirational videos!
AND Chris has a New RPG coming, the MagiTech chronicles, a science fantasy world steeped in both magic and technology! The Kickstarter launched on 21st February and was a HUGE success! You can check out the Magitech Chronicles World Anvil Page.
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers! You can get started at www.worldanvil.com for free.
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications:
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/home/catalog/kyanite-press-v2i1/
Today we talk about how to name places, how cultures affect languages and visa versa, and how written languages develop!
My guest today is Dr Antonia Ruppel!
She completed her PhD in Classics from the University of Cambridge (thesis: Absolute Constructions in Early Indo-European, CUP 2012).
Was the Townsend Senior Lecturer in the Greek, Latin and Sanskrit Languages at Cornell University (2005-2014). And she's currently a Research Assistant at Oxford University, 'Uncovering Sanskrit Syntax', University of Oxford (2019-).
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers! You can get started at www.worldanvil.com for free.
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/home/catalog/kyanite-press-v2i1/
Today we talk about how to name places, how cultures affect languages and visa versa, and how written languages develop!
My guest today is Dr Antonia Ruppel!
She completed her PhD in Classics from the University of Cambridge (thesis: Absolute Constructions in Early Indo-European, CUP 2012).
Was the Townsend Senior Lecturer in the Greek, Latin and Sanskrit Languages at Cornell University (2005-2014). And she's currently a Research Assistant at Oxford University, 'Uncovering Sanskrit Syntax', University of Oxford (2019-).
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers! You can get started at www.worldanvil.com for free.
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/home/catalog/kyanite-press-v2i1/
Part two of our talk about Wondrous Worldbuilding - making your worlds feel wondrous and non-earth-like - with the internationally renowned illustrator and cartographer Caeora! We discuss:
What is Wondrous Worldbuilding and why should world settings feel wondrous?
How do you instill wonder into worlds?
And can you use wonder or Epic scale in dark worlds too?
Caeora is an internationally renowned illustrator and fantasy cartographer who has worked for, among others, the Critical Role franchise! He also holds a degree in game design, is an active tabletop RPG Game Master, and a pro-D&D streamer, having performed for two seasons in an official Wizards of the Coast Dungeons and Dragons show! You can learn more about Caeora’s maps, illustrations, and TTRPG settings at www.caeora.com, or go support him on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/caeora! Twitter - www.twitter.com/Caeora Twitch - www.twitch.tv/Caeora
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
Today we talk about Wondrous Worldbuilding - making your worlds feel wondrous and non-earth-like - with the internationally renowned illustrator and cartographer Caeora! We discuss:
What is Wondrous Worldbuilding and why should world settings feel wondrous?
How do you instill wonder into worlds?
And can you use wonder or Epic scale in dark worlds too?
Caeora is an internationally renowned illustrator and fantasy cartographer who has worked for, among others, the Critical Role franchise! He also holds a degree in game design, is an active tabletop RPG Game Master, and a pro-D&D streamer, having performed for two seasons in an official Wizards of the Coast Dungeons and Dragons show! You can learn more about Caeora’s maps, illustrations, and TTRPG settings at www.caeora.com, or go support him on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/caeora! Twitter - www.twitter.com/Caeora Twitch - www.twitch.tv/Caeora
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
How can you be more productive? How do you get inspired and stay inspired? And what about Self-Publishing - how do you get things ready? Janet from World Anvil sits down for an in-depth interview with Amazon best-selling Writer & Illustrator Jaime Buckley, and creator of the Wanted Hero franchise!
Jaime Buckley, father of 13, has been a professional illustrator for over 30 yrs, and is also a game creator, podcaster, author of 25 books, 13 comics and 2 graphic novels!
His goal is to create heroes for children, and in 2005 he launched “Wanted Hero”, a fantasy world for children filled with magic, wonder and, of course, a big bundle of humour. The first book of the series has held a top 20 slot on Amazon for 3 years and counting!
Wanted Hero Website: https://wantedhero.com/
World of Wanted hero: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/wantedhero
Or catch up with Jaime on social media!
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wantedhero
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHBooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwantedhero/
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice, and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
How can you be more productive? How do you get inspired and stay inspired? And what about Self-Publishing - how do you get things ready? Janet from World Anvil sits down for an in-depth interview with Amazon best-selling Writer & Illustrator Jaime Buckley, and creator of the Wanted Hero franchise!
Jaime Buckley, father of 13, has been a professional illustrator for over 30 yrs, and is also a game creator, podcaster, author of 25 books, 13 comics and 2 graphic novels!
His goal is to create heroes for children, and in 2005 he launched “Wanted Hero”, a fantasy world for children filled with magic, wonder and, of course, a big bundle of humour. The first book of the series has held a top 20 slot on Amazon for 3 years and counting!
Wanted Hero Website: https://wantedhero.com/
World of Wanted hero: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/wantedhero
Or catch up with Jaime on social media!
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wantedhero
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WHBooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwantedhero/
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ULTIMATE worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice, and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
You can find her first novelette here: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
How do you deal with writer’s block and creative burnout? How do you juggle projects and stay productive? Janet from World Anvil sits down for an in-depth interview with all-round creative genius Chris Dravus!
Chris Dravus is a game master, writer, creator, game developer and all round creative genius! He’s the Chief Creative Director and co-owner of the boardgame company Ironrise Games. They’ve already published their first game, Ironrise, which is a steampunk action-adventure game that focuses on the story that unfolds between heroes villains. They’re now working on a second game, which is a quick, fun, euro-style card game about little animal alchemists trying to make potions for their demanding customers, called Potionarium.
Chris also collaborates with Guy Sclanders, the face of the hit Youtube Channel How to be a Great Game Master. They’re currently focusing on an adventure module and how different GMs might use the same tools.
Check out Ironrise here: https://www.ironrise.com
Check out Chris’s world here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tairos-thechosenone
Follow Chris on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ironrisegames
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ironrisegames
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ultimate worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow Janet on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
Buy her novelette “The Hand that Holds”, published by Kyanite Publishing: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
How do you deal with writer’s block and creative burnout? How do you juggle projects and stay productive? Janet from World Anvil sits down for an in-depth interview with all-round creative genius Chris Dravus!
Chris Dravus is a game master, writer, creator, game developer and all round creative genius! He’s the Chief Creative Director and co-owner of the boardgame company Ironrise Games. They’ve already published their first game, Ironrise, which is a steampunk action-adventure game that focuses on the story that unfolds between heroes villains. They’re now working on a second game, which is a quick, fun, euro-style card game about little animal alchemists trying to make potions for their demanding customers, called Potionarium.
Chris also collaborates with Guy Sclanders, the face of the hit Youtube Channel How to be a Great Game Master. They’re currently focusing on an adventure module and how different GMs might use the same tools.
Check out Ironrise here: https://www.ironrise.com
Check out Chris’s world here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/tairos-thechosenone
Follow Chris on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ironrisegames
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ironrisegames
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is a published fantasy author, professional Dungeons and Dragons Streamer, and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ultimate worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow Janet on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
Buy her novelette “The Hand that Holds”, published by Kyanite Publishing: https://kyanitepublishing.com/product/kyanite-press-v2i1/
Eran Aviram, writer behind the hit webcomic series Crystal Heart and Tabletop gaming expert, talks with Janet from World Anvil about building a consistent world and avoiding worldbuilding plotholes! We especially enjoyed his take on magic systems which make sense and his approach to villains!
Check out “Venture Forth”, Eran’s storytelling card game in which you play the entire campaign in a couple of hours. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/227988/Venture-Forth
You might also enjoy his articles series “Three Suggestions” which delivers thought-provoking content and suggestions of variant rules for Fifth Edition or Dungeon World.
https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Eran%20Aviram
You can follow Eran on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nnesk
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is the founder and CEO of World Anvil, the ultimate Worldbuilding platform for Roleplayers and Writers. She's also a published fantasy author, Game Master, professional D&D Streamer and opera singer!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
Eran Aviram, writer behind the hit webcomic series Crystal Heart and Tabletop gaming expert, talks with Janet from World Anvil about building a consistent world and avoiding worldbuilding plotholes! We especially enjoyed his take on magic systems which make sense and his approach to villains!
Check out “Venture Forth”, Eran’s storytelling card game in which you play the entire campaign in a couple of hours. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/227988/Venture-Forth
You might also enjoy his articles series “Three Suggestions” which delivers thought-provoking content and suggestions of variant rules for Fifth Edition or Dungeon World.
https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=Eran%20Aviram
You can follow Eran on Twitter at https://twitter.com/nnesk
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) is the founder and CEO of World Anvil, the ultimate Worldbuilding platform for Roleplayers and Writers. She's also a published fantasy author, Game Master, professional D&D Streamer and opera singer!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
Worldbuilding Magic and Technology can be tough, but award-winning epic fantasy author Brian McClellan has some incredible advice!
Find Brian at www.BrianMcClellan.com
Catch up with him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BrianTMcClellan
And of course, go buy his books! You can get signed copies of the Powder Mage trilogy right here: https://www.brianmcclellan.com/bookstore/t4xrbrxs7ffw3chbge0cv40l857gct
Brian is also a Dungeons and Dragons player over at TypeCastRPG!
- Check our their Twitch channel for live shows: https://www.twitch.tv/typecastrpg
- Or get caught up right here on their YT channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL8h81zei8rlLQr_GaSgiPQ
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) from World Anvil is a fantasy author, Game Master, professional D&D Streamer, opera singer, purveyor of worldbuilding advice and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ultimate worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
Worldbuilding Magic and Technology can be tough, but award-winning epic fantasy author Brian McClellan has some incredible advice!
Find Brian at www.BrianMcClellan.com
Catch up with him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BrianTMcClellan
And of course, go buy his books! You can get signed copies of the Powder Mage trilogy right here: https://www.brianmcclellan.com/bookstore/t4xrbrxs7ffw3chbge0cv40l857gct
Brian is also a Dungeons and Dragons player over at TypeCastRPG!
- Check our their Twitch channel for live shows: https://www.twitch.tv/typecastrpg
- Or get caught up right here on their YT channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL8h81zei8rlLQr_GaSgiPQ
Janet Forbes (pen-name J.D. Blythe) from World Anvil is a fantasy author, Game Master, professional D&D Streamer, opera singer, purveyor of worldbuilding advice and also the co-founder of World Anvil, the ultimate worldbuilding platform for writers and tabletop gamers!
Follow her on Twitter to keep up with her latest content, advice and publications: https://www.twitter.com/JD_Blythe
In part two of our discussion on interactions between Magic and technology, we continue our talk with Dr Trent Hergenrader, a genuine, real-life PROFESSOR OF WORLDBUILDING! We talk about magic and technology, specifically how they might interact in a worldbuilding setting, and different ways you can do this. We examine old tropes and paradigms, and look at great examples of the two combined!
We always have amazing guests, so check back for new episodes soon. You can also catch these discussions live on Twitch.tv/worldanvil, watch the videos on youtube.com/worldanvil, or head over to www.worldanvil.com to start worldbuilding right now. So grab your hammer, and go worldbuild!
The amazing Professor Trent Hergenrader teaches at the Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Trent Hergenrader is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the Rochester Institute of Technology, USA. He teaches worldbuilding modules and this semester he’s using World Anvil to teach his class!
His fiction writing has appeared in such places as Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk, and Best Horror of the Year #1. He is co-editor of Creative Writing in the Digital Age (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Creative Writing Innovations (Bloomsbury, 2017). His book “Collaborative Worldbuilding for Writers and Gamers” was published in October last year by Bloomsbury and was an instant success.
Check out http://www.collaborativeworldbuilding.com and https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/collaborative-worldbuilding for the Collaborative Worldbuilding book and cards.
You can also hit up Trent on Twitter at @thergenrade and @collabworldbldg, and go to http://www.trenthergenrader.com for all his complete professional profile and activities!
Today we have Dr Trent Hergenrader, a genuine, real-life PROFESSOR OF WORLDBUILDING! We talk about magic and technology, specifically how they might interact in a worldbuilding setting, and different ways you can do this. We examine old tropes and paradigms, and look at great examples of the two combined!
We always have amazing guests, so check back for new episodes soon. You can also catch these discussions live on Twitch.tv/worldanvil, watch the videos on youtube.com/worldanvil, or head over to www.worldanvil.com to start worldbuilding right now. So grab your hammer, and go worldbuild!
The amazing Professor Trent Hergenrader teaches at the Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
Trent Hergenrader is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the Rochester Institute of Technology, USA. He teaches worldbuilding modules and this semester he’s using World Anvil to teach his class!
His fiction writing has appeared in such places as Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk, and Best Horror of the Year #1. He is co-editor of Creative Writing in the Digital Age (Bloomsbury, 2015) and Creative Writing Innovations (Bloomsbury, 2017). His book “Collaborative Worldbuilding for Writers and Gamers” was published in October last year by Bloomsbury and was an instant success.
Check out http://www.collaborativeworldbuilding.com and https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/collaborative-worldbuilding for the Collaborative Worldbuilding book and cards.
You can also hit up Trent on Twitter at @thergenrade and @collabworldbldg, and go to http://www.trenthergenrader.com for all his complete professional profile and activities!
We chat with Amazon bestselling author Sarah R Painter about writing, life and social dynamics in her book! Get inspired for your worldbuilding and writing!
Our guest today is the amazing author Sarah Painter. Before she began writing novels, Sarah Painter worked as a freelance magazine journalist, blogger and editor, and somehow managed to raise some kids on top of all that!
https://www.sarah-painter.com/
Her debut novel, The Language of Spells, became a Kindle bestseller and was followed by The Secrets of Ghosts, The Garden of Magic and In The Light of What We See.
Sarah also has an incredible podcast about writing called The Worried Writer - which is where I first came in contact with her. You can check out the full blog at www.worriedwriter.com, or find the podcast “The Worried Writer” on iTunes.
To get worldbuilding right now, go to https://www.worldanvil.com
To view these episodes live, check out www.twitch.tv/worldanvil
To see the videos of past episodes, including those which haven't been converted to podcast form, check out www.youtube.com/worldanvil
Check out Sarah’s Podcast “The Worried Writer” at www.worriedwriter.com,
Find her work at https://www.sarah-painter.com/
We chat with Amazon bestselling author Sarah R Painter about writing, life and social dynamics in her book! Get inspired for your worldbuilding and writing!
Our guest today is the amazing author Sarah Painter. Before she began writing novels, Sarah Painter worked as a freelance magazine journalist, blogger and editor, and somehow managed to raise some kids on top of all that!
https://www.sarah-painter.com/
Her debut novel, The Language of Spells, became a Kindle bestseller and was followed by The Secrets of Ghosts, The Garden of Magic and In The Light of What We See.
Sarah also has an incredible podcast about writing called The Worried Writer - which is where I first came in contact with her. You can check out the full blog at www.worriedwriter.com, or find the podcast “The Worried Writer” on iTunes.
To get worldbuilding right now, go to https://www.worldanvil.com
To view these episodes live, check out www.twitch.tv/worldanvil
To see the videos of past episodes, including those which haven't been converted to podcast form, check out www.youtube.com/worldanvil
Check out Sarah’s Podcast “The Worried Writer” at www.worriedwriter.com,
Find her work at https://www.sarah-painter.com/
PART 2 of the inspirational conversation between Archaeologist and Ancient Historian Professor Lin Foxhall and Janet from World Anvil!
We explore how geography and culture can affect politics, as well as how Empires rise and fall - and more!
Our guest today is the Prof Lin Foxhall, MBE (Hon.) - Rathbone Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology and Dean of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures at the University of Liverpool.
Previously she was Professor of Greek Archaeology and History at the University of Leicester, and Head of the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, where she was one of the leaders of the team that discovered the body of Richard III.
She has also held posts at St Hilda’s College, Oxford and University College London, and Visiting Professorships in Germany, Denmark and the USA.
If you've enjoyed listening to Lin, follow her on Twitter @LinFoxhall!
To get worldbuilding right now, go to https://www.worldanvil.com
To view these episodes live, check out www.twitch.tv/worldanvil
To see the videos of past episodes, including those which haven't been converted to podcast form, check out www.youtube.com/worldanvil
Get inspired by Archaeologist and Ancient Historian Professor Lin Foxhall and Janet from World Anvil!
We explore how geography and culture can affect politics, as well as how Empires rise and fall - and more!
Our guest today is the Prof Lin Foxhall, MBE (Hon.) - Rathbone Professor of Ancient History and Classical Archaeology and Dean of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures at the University of Liverpool.
Previously she was Professor of Greek Archaeology and History at the University of Leicester, and Head of the School of Archaeology and Ancient History, where she was one of the leaders of the team that discovered the body of Richard III.
She has also held posts at St Hilda’s College, Oxford and University College London, and Visiting Professorships in Germany, Denmark and the USA.
If you've enjoyed listening to Lin, follow her on Twitter @LinFoxhall!
To get worldbuilding right now, go to https://www.worldanvil.com
To view these episodes live, go to https://www.twitch.tv/worldanvil
To watch the back catalogue, and those interviews which haven't been converted into podcast, check out https://www.youtube.com/worldanvil