The Worldbuilder’s Tavern

4.4 Building a Cataclsym

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Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise in creating a cataclysmic event!

Here are the 10 questions we answered in this episode, which can help guide you in building your own cataclysm. 

  1. What is the nature of the event? Natural vs supernatural; single vs multiple events; unprecedented vs repeat, etc.
  2. What is the scale and impact of the event? Who or what is most affected, both immediate and long term?
  3. Who survives and why?
  4. How do governments/institutions/power structures respond?
  5. Do new religions/belief systems/factions emerge as a result of the event?
  6. What has permanently changed about reality after the event? Are there new dangers introduced?
  7. Are there new opportunities created in the wake of the event? Resources, technologies, etc.
  8. What everyday behaviors must change in order for people to function after the event?
  9. What’s the emotional and psychological fallout?
  10. What do people think caused the event? Are there secrets waiting to be discovered? Who controls the information about what really happened?
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    • Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
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      The Worldbuilder’s TavernBy Emma Maione, Allison Alexander, and Christiana Jones
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