Cultures and Beyond

Randy Ellefson shows how to fill an imaginary world with societies that feel believable. Chapters take in the making of a culture itself, then move to organisations and military groups, faiths, the supernatural, systems of magic, languages and personal names, along with technological and supernatural items. Each part of the setting can be worked out with the same framework.

The author also explains how to design legal and judicial systems, including crimes and punishments, and how to borrow from history, such as trial by ordeal. Other sections cover education, currencies and the value of labour, along with the files a large project needs. Pre-made templates are included, and the book explains how real-world cultures can be used while still feeling original.

The book is the third volume in The Art of World Building series and suits anyone building an invented setting, from a novel's background to a tabletop campaign. Edition note: published by Evermore Press, LLC in 2020, 466 pages, ISBN-13: 9781946995346.