World Anvil Worldbuilding Podcast

Vampires! Their undying appeal is unquestioned. But how can writers, gamemasters and tabletop RPG players inject new life into these monstrous heroes in games and fiction? Join Janet as she sits down with Jason Carl, brand marketing manager for Vampire: The Masquerade, to talk about fresh approaches to writing vampires! 

In this episode, we're talking about science fiction worldbuilding, collaborative writing, and creating a crew of lovable misfits with Tracy Wolff & Nina Croft, bestselling authors of Star Bringer!

In this episode, we're talking about science fiction worldbuilding, collaborative writing, and creating a crew of lovable misfits with Tracy Wolff & Nina Croft, bestselling authors of Star Bringer!

Are you in the mood... for worldbuilding? Join Janet and our guest Peter Chiykowski of Rock, Paper, Cynic and The Story Engine Deck as we talk about the elements of mood, tone and theme in worldbuilding. These subtle aspects can have a huge impact on how people experience your world - here's how to use them with intention!

Are you in the mood... for worldbuilding? Join Janet and our guest Peter Chiykowski of Rock, Paper, Cynic and The Story Engine Deck as we talk about the elements of mood, tone and theme in worldbuilding. These subtle aspects can have a huge impact on how people experience your world - here's how to use them with intention!

Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's  Worldbuilding Con !  Geography is the literal foundation of your worldbuilding. Join us for this foray into the forests, deserts, mountains and oceans of your imagination. From mapmaking to natural disasters to unnatural landmarks, you won't want to miss this groundbreaking session. Where to start with geography in worldbuil...

Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's  Worldbuilding Con !  Tone, mood and aesthetic are all elements that can be used to differentiate your world. Join us for a lively discussion on how to add a darker edge to your worldbuilding efforts. Learn how careful placement of the shadows in your world can add depth, and help your world feel more realistic - or more fant...

Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's  Worldbuilding Con !  It's easy to get carried away by the desire to fully flesh out your fictional world. Our panel of industry experts will explain how much worldbuilding is enough - and how to deliver it for maximum impact, while avoiding the dreaded "exposition infodump prologue." Why do we need to stop worldbuilding? Wha...

Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's  Worldbuilding Con !  Our panel of experts is ready to bring the magic! Join us as we think through the mechanics of magic systems. Consider how different magic systems affect combat balance and action economy in gaming. Learn how different styles of magic can contribute to your fictional world's overall theme and premise. Wh...

Welcome to a special Bonus Season! Enjoy these sessions from this year's Worldbuilding Con !  No genre is more closely associated with Worldbuilding than fantasy. Unfortunately, this can create a temptation to "play the hits," following established tropes at the cost of innovation. In this session, we'll discuss how to subvert audience expectations and deliver a fantasy world that's both satisfyin...

... both other people's, and YOUR OWN! In this episode Janet sits down with the amazing DOMINIQUE DICKEY - a pro-RPG designer and writer, and also an INDIE designer and writer. They discuss: The advantages - and disadvantages - of writing outside DnD How different systems and game mechanics affect the way you write Tips for getting into designing professionally for RPG Publishers The process to ge...

... both other people's, and YOUR OWN! In this episode Janet sits down with the amazing DOMINIQUE DICKEY - a pro-RPG designer and writer, and also an INDIE designer and writer. They discuss: The advantages - and disadvantages - of writing outside DnD How different systems and game mechanics affect the way you write Tips for getting into designing professionally for RPG Publishers The process to ge...

What makes Epic Fantasy epic? Where did the genre come from? What are the tropes to rely on (or avoid)? And how can we sprinkle a little epic into other genres, too? Expert Celeste Conowitch from Kobold Press unpacks this knotty topic!

What makes Epic Fantasy epic? Where did the genre come from? What are the tropes to rely on (or avoid)? And how can we sprinkle a little epic into other genres, too? Expert Celeste Conowitch from Kobold Press unpacks this knotty topic!

How can worldbuilding help your mental health? And how can you maintain your mental health in the face of imposter syndrome, perfectionism and competitiveness? We're live with art-therapist and artist Christina Christidou unpacking Worldbuilding and Mental Health!

How can worldbuilding help your mental health? And how can you maintain your mental health in the face of imposter syndrome, perfectionism and competitiveness? We're live with art-therapist and artist Christina Christidou unpacking Worldbuilding and Mental Health!

Ever considered worldbuilding a Matriarchy? To celebrate mother's day, Janet from World Anvil chats with her own mommy, archaeologist and ancient historian Professor Lin Foxhall, about matriarchies and gender dynamics, both past and imagined. Glean insights into worldbuilding families, cultures and power structures in this expert discussion!

Ever considered worldbuilding a Matriarchy? To celebrate mother's day, Janet from World Anvil chats with her own mommy, archaeologist and ancient historian Professor Lin Foxhall, about matriarchies and gender dynamics, both past and imagined. Glean insights into worldbuilding families, cultures and power structures in this expert discussion!

What are the challenges and secret super powers of Autistic characters? What do classic or famous representations of autistic characters get wrong? In this episode, Janet interviews author Jonathan Fesmire about all this and more!  Links :  https://www.jonathanfesmire.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jonfesmire/ http://amzn.to/2uLdE1q  

What are the challenges and secret super powers of Autistic characters? What do classic or famous representations of autistic characters get wrong? In this episode, worldbuilding expert Janet Forbes interviews author Jonathan Fesmire about all this and more!  Links :  https://www.jonathanfesmire.com/ https://www.facebook.com/jonfesmire/ http://amzn.to/2uLdE1q  

What is GM burnout? What causes it? How can you prevent or solve it? In this episode, Janet talks with Pro-GM and all round amazing person Dead Aussie Gamer about GMing experiences and how to create a set of DM tools to beat the burn out!  Links:  Website YouTube Twitch

What is GM burnout? What causes it? How can you prevent or solve it? In this episode, Janet talks with Pro-GM and all round amazing person Dead Aussie Gamer about GMing experiences and how to build a set of DM tools beat the burn out!  Links:  Website YouTube Twitch

World building inspired by real world cultures - and how to get it right!? 😅 In this episode, Janet chats with the AMAZING Basheer Ghouse, expert worldbuilder and RPG writer who's worked for Pathfinder, Kobold Press & Wizards of the Coast. Learn all about how to adapt real world cultures to create fasctinating and unique cultures for your own worlds. Links: Guns Blazing Kickstarter Itchio

Worldbuilding inspired by real world cultures - and how to get it right!? 😅 In this episode, Janet chats with the AMAZING Basheer Ghouse, expert worldbuilder and RPG writer who's worked for Pathfinder, Kobold Press & Wizards of the Coast. Learn all about how to adapt real world cultures to create fasctinating and unique cultures for your own worlds. Links: Guns Blazing Kickstarter Itchio

Is your world everything-and-the-kitchen-sink? And is that even a bad thing? In this episode, Janet interviews Peter Chiykowski creator of the award-winning webcomic Rock Paper Cynic, and The Story Engine Deck of writing prompts. They discuss Fantasy Kitchen Sink worldbuilding - what is it, what are the problems it can cause, and how to fix it.  Links: https://lookitspeter.com/ https://rockpapercy...