Polar Region Distortion on Full World Maps

Posting on behalf of u/Jagged_Orchid Pre-requisite: Download the free application G.Projector: https://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/gprojector/download/ This guide describes my process for building a full map of a spherical world starting from scratch, but this method can be adapted in several ways to allow editing of already created polar regions of existing maps and is also useful for visualizing... Continue Reading →

Flatland, an inspiration for true Cosmic Horror

The cover for Abbott's Flatland No matter how trashy H. P. Lovecraft was as a person, his impact on the horror genre can't be understated. He created the concept of "cosmic horror," which Wikipedia helpfully describes as "emphasizing the horror of the unknown and incomprehensible more than gore or other elements of shock." The core... Continue Reading →

Crafting a Complete Ecosystem with Getz’ Model

Ecology and biology are areas that I often overlook. This is a shame; they can lead to some very interesting worlds, such as Roshar's crabs-are-everywhere approach in Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archives series. The field of speculative evolution/biology is concerned with how things might realistically look in other environments, and every worldbuilder can benefit from studying... Continue Reading →

Trade Routes

A trade route is simply a passage traversed by merchants and caravans from settlement to settlement for economic purposes. A trade route can pass over land or sea and link multiple locations over great distances. While many goods can flow along each route, some can become famous for certain materials eg the Silk Road and... Continue Reading →

Scandinavia and Linguistic Distance

This week, I'd like to take a brief look at something different. I recently read through the amazing webcomic, Stand Still, Stay Silent (here's page one), set in a unique post-apocalyptic Scandinavian setting. There are a billion good things about SSSS---fascinating usage of Nordic folklore, detailed worldbuilding, delightful character interactions, and an engaging storyline among... Continue Reading →

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