T w e n t y S i d e d
I’ve said before that one of my goals in designing a campaign setting is to add a few touches that makes the world seem larger or deeper than it really is. Giving the impression of a strong and robust setting can make the world come alive for players and encourage them to approach things in-character. If done right, those extra details can also serve as a starting point for additional detail when the players dive into the blank areas of the map or engage NPC’s you’ve never written or even envisioned.
The cornerstone of this approach is in coming up with plausible or interesting cultures. It’s also my favorite part of the process. It certainly gives the largest dividends in terms of how much time it takes versus how much (percieved) detail it adds. A few minutes spent adding cultural flavor can make a simple village seem almost Tolkienesque in scope. Culture is a faà§ade behind which the thrifty GM can hide his lazyness and lack of prep time.
And note here that when I say “culture” I’m mostly talking about the customs that surround basic life events like birth, marriage, and death, and daily habits that surround basic activities like eating, sleeping, bathing, and recreation.
Note that I don’t suggest using all of the things listed below. This is just a list of some cultural ingredients that amuse me, or that I didn’t get a chance to use in any of the games I’ve run. I suggest taking the standard off-the-shelf setting and adding a couple of these ideas for flavor. Obviously the more you change, the more strange and foreign the place will seem.
Continue reading ⟩⟩ “GM Advice:
Culture”
