Formats
When I write up a country or state, these are the questions I ask myself. These questions are more aimed at me as a writer than for specific game use. For example, I have no need of specific population levels, because for fiction it is enough to know that an area is heavily inhabited, unihabited, or whatever the point-of-view general impressions will be. Nobody goes to a town and says “it feels like 12,000 people live here, with 24 inhabitants density per acre.” Instead, the general impression is more likely to be expressed in terms of busy, empty, crowded, sleepy, whatever.
Countries
Country Name
Title—Eagle of North, etc.
Root of Name—Etymology of name
Natives Called—What they call themselves
Adjective—Country used as adjective
Pejorative—What other people call them to belittle them
Root Kingdom—Country that preceded this one
Parent State—Overlord state
Client States—Additional properties, regions, or protectorates
Ally States
Rival States
Political Stability—Low, Medium, etc.
Analogue—Real world analog state (England, Mongolia, none-at-all, etc.)
Geographic Region—Continent, proximity to ocean or sea, neighbor states
Population Level—Low, Medium, etc.
Technology Level—Dark Ages, Medieval, Renaissance, etc.
Ethnic Mix
Appearance—Traditional versus actual appearance and impression they give
Fashion
Male
Female
Notes
Religion
Patron Saint
Religious Houses
Universities
Chivalric Orders
Languages—Dialect too, if known
Native Classes—Regional professions
Native Traits/Talents—Second Sight, Battle Sense, etc.
Native Specialty Skills
Native Produce/Industry—Resources, exports, etc.
Clan/Tribe Divisions
Sovereignty
State Name
Definition—Etymology
Rank—Kingdom, Duchy, Principality, etc.
Holder—Current seated leader
Office—Regional offices he holds (Sheriff, Marshall, etc.)
City, Town, Village—Habitations within states
Fiefs—Smaller divisions not shown on map
Military
Country
Motiffe—Double Eagle, etc.
Martial Arts Traditions
Cultural Weapons—Weapon associated with state
Other Common Weapons
Martial Arts
National Feats—Military skills and maneuvers
Kit—May have different listings for elite vs. Common troops
Armor
Shield
Helmet
Military Reputation
Military Hierarchy—Captain, lieutenant, etc.
Discipline—Morale, usually low, medium, or high
Troop Levels
Infantry—Light or heavy, plus weapons
Mounted Infantry—Ride to battle fight on foot
Cavalry—Light or Heavy, plus weapons
Skirmishers
Archers—All types of ballistic troops, light or heavy
Mounted Archers
Navy
Type of Ships
Number of Ships
Crew per Ship
Marines per Ship
Armaments—Arbalests, Greek Fire, etc.
Home Port
Siege Capabilities
Pioneers—Artillerists
Siege Engineers—Sap castles, mine castles
Scouts
Mercenaries—Companies hired as additional protection
Favored Tactics—Schiltron, Massed Cavalry Charge, etc.
Special Troops
Military Orders—Native orders of knights
Commanders
Books they study
Horses
Size—In hands
Color—Dun, Roan, etc.
Conformation—Physical characteristics
Temperament
Traits
Flavor, Fable, & Folklore
Recurring Theme, Lore, or Symbolism
Local Creatures
Heroes & Monsters of Myth and Folklore
Historical Sites
Magic on the Landscape—Magic mazes, Faerie circles, etc.
Odd Competitions or Traditions—Gurning, etc.
City or Town
City Name—Include etymology if known
Titles & Nicknames
Founded—Year or historical period
Water Class—Port? Rivers? Canals?
Land Class—Agriculture?
Political Location
Physical Location—Plain, Highland, Mountain, etc.
Physical Layout/Characteristics
Streets & Roads—Named highways that connect city/town
Connections—Other cities and towns
River Connections—Other cities and towns
Canal Connections—Other cities and towns
Citizen Character—Reclusive, welcoming, etc.
Crafts/Industry—Noteworthy local produce and exports
University—Does the city/town have a university
Forest Law—Does city/town fall under royal Forest Law regime
Crest—Town heraldry
Notes—Lore and unique qualities
City Wards/Neighborhoods
- Ward Name
Ward Nickname
Location—Ward placement in city or town, neighboring wards
Reputation
Infrastructure—Gates, walls, ditch, moat, underground river, etc.
Residents—Social class, wealth, specific guilds, etc.
Industry
Churches—Abbies, Shrines, Basilicas, Friaries, Commanderies, etc.
Notable Inns
Notable Streets
Bathhouses—Named stews
Whorehouses
Notable Places—Theaters, graveyards, and so forth
Lore
Dynastic Family
- Called/Nicknames
Offices—Sherrif, or Game Warden, or Marshall, etc.
Rank—baronial, ducal, royal principality, royal monarchy, etc.
Primary Holding—Main or richest power base
Secondary Holdings—Other properties the family may own
Patron—Dynastic house or ruler the family pays allegiance
Heraldry
Color—Purple, royal red, etc.
Motto
Mythic Progeniture—Faerie, Sea Serpent, Dragon, etc.
Reputation
Patronage—Learning, crusade, etc.
Regalia—Crowns, sceptors, etc.
Parent House
Cadet Houses Landed
Cadet Houses Unlanded
Generations—Heads of house and regnal dates in order
Lore—Powers, unusual characteristic, etc.
Clerical Orders
Order’s Name
Called—Red belts, black friars, etc.
Type—Priest, Canon, Friar, Monk, Militant Monk, Lay Order, etc.
Charism—This order’s mission
Parent Order
Government—Ruling hierarchy in order
Gender—Does the order have a female branch, or is it men only?
Habit—Varies by order
Tonsure—Varies by order and gender
Accommodations—Cathedral, monastery, friary, parish, etc.
Popularity—How widespread is the order
Rule—What rule or regulation defines the order
Vows—These vary by order
Discipline—Some orders are super strict, some lazy, some hard working, some lecherous, etc.
Regular Tertiaries—Is there a lower order or organization for lay involvement
Lay Tertiaries—Is there an organization for lay members of community
Saint
Nickname
Holy Day
Gender
Guild Patronage—What guild does the saint represent
Charism—Travel, war, etc.
Period Lived
Country—What country claims the saint as patron
This is brilliant, thank you so much for sharing! (Also, I love your cover art!)
You're welcome on the information, and thanks about the art!