1. The Physical Foundation (The "Where")
Before you populate the world, you need to understand the constraints of the terrain.
Geography & Climate: Is it a single-biome world (like an ice planet) or diverse? How do mountains, oceans, or toxic wastes dictate where people live?
Celestial Context: How many suns or moons are there? How does the day/night cycle or seasonal shift affect biology?
The "Weird" Factor: What is the one physical law that differs from our world? (e.g., floating continents, a world where it never stops raining, or a planet with a vertical "up-down" gravity shift).
2. The Power Structure (The "Who")
Setting is defined by who holds the keys to the kingdom.
Governance: Is it a crumbling empire, a corporate technocracy, or a loose collection of magic-wielding tribes?
The Economy: What is the most valuable resource? Is it "Spice," mana, fresh water, or data? Whoever controls this resource controls the setting.
Social Hierarchy: Who is at the top, and who is at the bottom? How does a person move between these layers (if they can at all)?
3. The Rules of Reality (The "How")
Whether it’s Magic or Tech, the "system" must be consistent.
The Magic/Tech System: What are the costs? (e.g., using magic drains physical stamina, or FTL travel causes premature aging).
Infrastructure: How do people get around? Think about the difference between a world connected by ancient "stargates" versus one reliant on horse-drawn wagons.
4. The Daily Grind (The "Vibe")
This is where you find the sensory details that create immersion.
Architecture & Aesthetics: Do people live in brutalist concrete bunkers or organic tree-cities? What do the textures feel like?
Taboos & Traditions: What is considered a grave insult? What does this society celebrate, and what do they fear?
The "Old World": What lies beneath the surface? Every great setting has "ruins"—the remnants of those who came before.
5. The Environmental Conflict (The "Why")
Finally, connect the setting back to your plot.
Current Instability: Is the world dying, expanding, or undergoing a revolution?
The Pressure Point: What part of the environment is currently making life difficult for your protagonist? (e.g., a looming "Long Winter" or a solar flare threatening the power grid).
How to use this: Try to answer just three of these points in detail today. Once you have those, the rest of the world often begins to reveal itself through logical necessity.
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