create-world

Creates a new world directory with full folder structure and an initial World Overview document. Can run in:

• Interactive mode (default): Asks questions to generate a customized World Overview
• Quick mode (--quick): Creates structure with template placeholders only

Step 1: Parse Arguments

Extract from $ARGUMENTS:

• World name - Required (ask if not provided)
• --quick flag - Optional, skips questionnaire

Check if world already exists at Worlds/[World Name]/. If yes:

> "A world named '[World Name]' already exists. Would you like to:

> 1. Open the existing world

> 2. Choose a different name

> 3. Delete and recreate (WARNING: destroys existing content)"

Step 2: World Name Validation

Ensure the world name is:

• Evocative and memorable
• Title Case with spaces allowed
• Valid as a folder name (no special characters: / \ : * ? " < > |)

If name seems generic (e.g., "Test", "New World", "World 1"), offer suggestions:

> "Would you like a more evocative name? Here are some suggestions based on fantasy naming patterns:

> 1. [Generated name 1]

> 2. [Generated name 2]

> 3. [Generated name 3]

> 4. Keep '[Original Name]'"

---

Step 3: Core Identity Questions

Ask these questions to generate customized content. Present as numbered options where applicable.

#### 3A: Genre & Tone

> "What genre and tone fits your world?"

>

> 1. Epic Fantasy - Heroic adventures, clear good vs evil, grand scale (Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time)

> 2. Dark Fantasy - Grim, morally gray, dangerous (Dark Souls, Warhammer, Witcher)

> 3. Sword & Sorcery - Personal stakes, pulpy action, rogues and warriors (Conan, Lankhmar)

> 4. Mythic Fantasy - Gods walk among mortals, legendary heroes, fate-driven (Greek myths, Exalted)

> 5. Low Fantasy - Subtle magic, political intrigue, grounded (Game of Thrones, First Law)

> 6. Whimsical Fantasy - Lighter tone, humor welcome (Discworld, Princess Bride)

> 7. Horror Fantasy - Dread, cosmic terror, survival (Ravenloft, Call of Cthulhu)

> 8. Other - Describe your vision

Store response in world_tone.

#### 3B: The Hook

> "In one or two sentences, what makes this world unique? What's the first thing you want players to discover?"

>

> Examples:

> - "Magic is dying, and the last mages are hunted as heretics"

> - "Three empires vie for control of the only river in a vast desert"

> - "The gods went silent fifty years ago, and cults have risen in the void"

> - "A floating archipelago above an endless storm-sea"

Store response in world_hook.

#### 3C: Magic Level

> "How common is magic in this world?"

>

> 1. None - Magic doesn't exist; purely mundane

> 2. Mythic Only - Magic existed in legends, maybe traces remain

> 3. Rare - Most people never see real magic; practitioners are legendary

> 4. Uncommon - Magic exists but is notable; mages are respected/feared

> 5. Common - Part of daily life; magical services available in cities

> 6. Pervasive - Magic is everywhere; even commoners have cantrips

Store response in magic_level.

#### 3D: Technology Level

> "What's the baseline technology level?"

>

> 1. Primitive - Stone age, tribal societies

> 2. Ancient - Bronze/Iron age, early empires (Egypt, Mesopotamia)

> 3. Classical - Greek/Roman equivalent, sophisticated but pre-medieval

> 4. Medieval - Feudal kingdoms, castles, knights (standard D&D)

> 5. Renaissance - Early gunpowder, printing press, exploration age

> 6. Industrial - Steam power, factories, early modern

> 7. Magitech - Technology powered or replaced by magic

Store response in tech_level.

#### 3E: Scale & Scope

> "How much of the world do you plan to detail?"

>

> 1. Local - One city and surroundings; tight focus

> 2. Regional - A single kingdom or territory

> 3. Continental - One major landmass with multiple nations

> 4. Global - Multiple continents, world-spanning scope

> 5. Planar - Multiple planes of existence matter

Store response in world_scale.

#### 3F: Central Conflict

> "What's the primary tension or conflict driving events?"

>

> Examples:

> - War between nations

> - Ancient evil awakening

> - Political succession crisis

> - Plague with no cure

> - Planar barriers weakening

> - Resource scarcity

> - Religious schism

> - Or describe your own

Store response in central_conflict.

#### 3G: Inspirations (Optional)

> "What are 1-3 inspirations for this world? (Books, games, movies, history, aesthetics)"

Store response in inspirations.

---

Step 4: Create Directory Structure

Create the following structure in Worlds/[World Name]/:

```

[World Name]/

├── World Overview.md

├── Characters/

├── Settlements/

├── Items/

├── Creatures/

├── Organizations/

├── Concepts/

├── History/

├── Geography/

├── Encounters/

├── Maps/

└── Sessions/

```

Folder purposes:

| Folder | Contents |

|--------|----------|

| Characters/ | NPCs, protagonists, antagonists, familiars |

| Settlements/ | Cities, towns, villages, taverns, shops, temples |

| Items/ | Weapons, armor, artifacts, potions, books, vehicles |

| Creatures/ | Monsters, animals, species, plants |

| Organizations/ | Governments, guilds, cults, military, criminal orgs |

| Concepts/ | Deities, pantheons, magic systems, calendars, currencies |

| History/ | Ages, events, wars, battles, dynasties |

| Geography/ | Continents, regions, terrain features, dungeons |

| Encounters/ | Combat, social, exploration encounters |

| Maps/ | World, continent, region, settlement maps |

| Sessions/ | DM session prep notes and logs |

---

Step 5: Generate World Overview

Create World Overview.md with content filled from questionnaire answers:

```markdown

---

tags:

- world

- overview

- [world_name_tag]

name: "[World Name]"

aliases: []

status: draft

# World Details

genre: [derived from tone]

tone: "[world_tone]"

time_period: "[tech_level era name]"

magic_level: "[magic_level]"

technology_level: "[tech_level]"

scale: "[world_scale]"

created: "[current date]"

---

# [World Name]

> [!info] World Overview

> This is the central document for [World Name]. It tracks high-level worldbuilding details, themes, and relationships between major elements. Use [[wikilinks]] to connect to entities as you create them.

[Expanded version of world_hook - 3-4 sentences elaborating on the unique concept, the current situation, and what makes this world compelling for adventures]

Tone

Primary Tone: [world_tone]

What This Means:

[2-3 sentences describing how this tone manifests - violence level, moral complexity, humor appropriateness, stakes]

Central Themes

1. [Theme 1] - [Brief description derived from hook/conflict]
2. [Theme 2] - [Second theme]
3. [Theme 3] - [Third theme, if applicable]

Inspirations

[List inspirations if provided, or leave as prompt]

-

-

---

Geography Overview

[3-4 sentences describing the world's physical layout appropriate to the scale. For continental: describe the main continent. For local: describe the region.]

Scale: [world_scale] - [What this means for play]

Major Powers

| Power | Type | Region | Status |

|-------|------|--------|--------|

| [Placeholder] | [Government type] | [Location] | [Current state] |

| [Placeholder] | [Government type] | [Location] | [Current state] |

| [Placeholder] | [Government type] | [Location] | [Current state] |

Timeline

| Era | Approximate Period | Key Events |

|-----|-------------------|------------|

| Age of [Myth/Creation] | Ancient past | [World's origin] |

| Age of [Growth/Expansion] | [Time period] | [Key developments] |

| Current Era | Present | [Current situation from central_conflict] |

---

Magic

Magic Level: [magic_level]

[2-3 sentences describing how magic works in this world, who can use it, and how society views it - derived from magic_level choice]

Key Questions to Answer:

• Where does magical power come from?
• Who can use magic and how do they learn?
• What are the costs or limits?
• How does society treat magic users?

Magic System(s): (Create with /create-entity magic system)

• [[]]

Technology

Technology Level: [tech_level]

[2-3 sentences describing the technological baseline - what exists, what doesn't, any anachronisms or unique innovations]

Notable Technologies:

-

---

The Divine

[Placeholder text based on tone - for dark fantasy: "The gods are distant or cruel..."; for epic fantasy: "A pantheon of gods watches over mortals..."]

Pantheon: (Create with /create-entity pantheon)

• [[]]

Key Questions to Answer:

• Do gods exist? Are they active?
• How do mortals worship?
• What happens after death?

Planes of Existence

[Default based on scale - if planar: list expected planes; otherwise: "The material world is the focus of this setting."]

-

Creation Myth

[2-3 sentence placeholder based on tone]

---

The State of the World

[4-5 sentences expanding on central_conflict - who's involved, what's at stake, how it affects common people, what's the ticking clock]

Major Conflicts

1. [Primary Conflict]: [central_conflict expanded]
2. [Secondary Conflict]: [Related or contrasting tension]

Opportunities for Adventure

1. [Hook derived from conflict]
2. [Exploration opportunity]
3. [Faction-based opportunity]
4. [Mystery or discovery opportunity]

---

House Rules

D&D 5e 2024 modifications for this setting:

• [Based on magic_level - e.g., if magic is rare: "Spellcasting classes require DM approval"]
• [Based on tech_level - e.g., if renaissance: "Firearms exist using DMG rules"]

-

Unique Mechanics

Setting-specific systems to develop:

• [If magic is unusual: "Magic corruption/cost system"]
• [If appropriate: "Faction reputation tracking"]

-

Restricted Options

[Based on world - species, classes, or backgrounds that don't fit]

-

---

Priorities

What to develop first (recommended based on scale):

1. [If continental/global: "Main continent geography and 2-3 major nations"]

[If regional: "The primary region and its major settlement"]

[If local: "The main city and its districts"]

1. Pantheon and/or magic system (if magic exists)
2. Central conflict factions and key NPCs
3. 2-3 adventure sites (dungeons, ruins, dangerous locations)

Questions to Answer

Unresolved worldbuilding questions:

1. [Derived from gaps in provided info]
2. [Standard question for the tone/scale]

3.

Session Zero Topics

Discuss with players:

• Appropriate character origins
• Tone expectations (violence, horror, humor levels)
• [Theme-specific topic]
• [Conflict-specific topic]

---

Key Locations

• [[]] - [Description placeholder]
• [[]] - [Description placeholder]
• [[]] - [Description placeholder]

Key Characters

• [[]] - [Role placeholder]
• [[]] - [Role placeholder]
• [[]] - [Role placeholder]

Key Organizations

• [[]] - [Type placeholder]
• [[]] - [Type placeholder]
• [[]] - [Type placeholder]

Key Concepts

• [[]] - [Magic/religion/culture placeholder]
• [[]] - [Placeholder]

---

World Map Concept

Art Style: [Derived from tone - e.g., "Hand-drawn parchment map with aged edges" for classic fantasy, "Dark atmospheric satellite view" for dark fantasy]

Prompt: [To be filled when geography is established]

Iconic Scene

Art Style: [Tone-appropriate]

Prompt: [To be filled - depicting the world's hook visually]

```

---

Step 6: Create Supporting Files

#### 6A: .gitkeep Files

Add .gitkeep to each empty subdirectory for version control:

• Characters/.gitkeep
• Settlements/.gitkeep
• Items/.gitkeep
• Creatures/.gitkeep
• Organizations/.gitkeep
• Concepts/.gitkeep
• History/.gitkeep
• Geography/.gitkeep
• Encounters/.gitkeep
• Maps/.gitkeep
• Sessions/.gitkeep

#### 6B: Create Session Log Template (Optional)

If user seems interested in running games, create Sessions/Session Log Template.md:

```markdown

---

tags:

- session

- log

session_number:

date_played:

date_ingame:

---

# Session [X]: [Title]

[2-3 sentence summary of what happened]

1.

2.

3.

• [[NPC Name]] - [What happened]

• [[Location]] - [What happened]

-

Advanced

-

Introduced

-

Resolved

-

-

```

---

Step 7: Confirmation & Next Steps

Present a summary and clear next steps:

```

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗

║ WORLD CREATED: [World Name] ║

╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣

║ ║

║ Location: Worlds/[World Name]/ ║

║ ║

║ Tone: [world_tone] ║

║ Magic: [magic_level] ║

║ Tech: [tech_level] ║

║ Scale: [world_scale] ║

║ ║

║ Hook: "[world_hook - truncated]" ║

║ ║

╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣

║ NEXT STEPS ║

╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣

║ ║

║ 1. Review and refine World Overview.md ║

║ ║

║ 2. Choose your approach: ║

║ • /generate-world [World Name] ║

║ Auto-generate 80-120 interconnected entities ║

║ ║

║ • /worldbuild [World Name] ║

║ Interactive guided building with Q&A ║

║ ║

║ • /create-entity [description] for [World Name] ║

║ Create entities one at a time ║

║ ║

║ Recommended first entities based on your scale: ║

║ [Scale-specific recommendations - see below] ║

║ ║

╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

```

Scale-specific recommendations:

| Scale | Recommended First Entities |

|-------|---------------------------|

| Local | Main city → Key district → Central tavern → 3-4 NPCs |

| Regional | Region overview → Capital city → 2 other settlements → Government |

| Continental | Continent → 3-4 regions → Major nation → Capital city |

| Global | World geography → 2 continents → Major nations overview |

| Planar | Material plane → 1-2 key planes → Planar connections |

---

If --quick is in arguments, skip the questionnaire:

1. Create directory structure (same as interactive)
2. Create World Overview with all placeholder text (no filled content)
3. Create .gitkeep files
4. Brief confirmation:

```

World '[World Name]' created at Worlds/[World Name]/

Start by editing World Overview.md to define your world's identity.

Commands to continue:

• /worldbuild [World Name] - Interactive guided building
• /generate-world [World Name] - Auto-generate full world
• /create-entity [type] for [World Name] - Create individual entities

```

---

If Worlds/[World Name]/ already exists:

```

A world named '[World Name]' already exists.

Options:

1. Open existing - I'll read the World Overview and summarize it
2. New name - Choose a different name for your new world
3. Recreate - Delete existing and start fresh (DESTRUCTIVE)
4. Cancel - Abort world creation

What would you like to do?

```

If user chooses "Open existing":

• Read World Overview.md
• Summarize current state (entities created, status, etc.)
• Offer next steps based on world state

---

When generating names for entities in this world, consult these reference files:

| Reference File | Use For |

|----------------|---------|

| Templates/Reference/D&D Species Naming Conventions.md | Species-specific naming patterns (Dwarves, Elves, Halflings, Orcs, etc.) |

| Templates/Reference/Tolkien Naming Conventions.md | High fantasy linguistic patterns (Sindarin, Quenya, Khuzdul, etc.) |

When to Apply

• During World Overview generation: Use naming patterns that match the world's tone and inspirations
• For Major Powers table: Name kingdoms/empires using appropriate linguistic conventions
• For placeholder entities: Suggest names consistent with cultural patterns

Matching Names to Tone

| World Tone | Recommended Naming Style |

|------------|-------------------------|

| Epic Fantasy | Tolkien patterns (Sindarin/Quenya for elves, Norse-inspired for dwarves) |

| Dark Fantasy | Harsher variants, Black Speech influences for villains |

| Sword & Sorcery | Mixed cultural human names, simpler constructions |

| Mythic Fantasy | Quenya (formal/divine), culture-specific for mortals |

| Low Fantasy | Historical human naming patterns (Germanic, Celtic, Slavic) |

| Whimsical Fantasy | Halfling/Gnome patterns, playful constructions |

---

• World Overview uses [[wikilinks]] syntax for Obsidian compatibility
• All YAML frontmatter follows template conventions
• Folder structure matches category mappings in create-entity skill
• Sessions/ folder supports session-prep skill output
• Encounters/ folder supports random-encounter skill output
• Maps/ folder ready for map templates

```

# Interactive creation

/create-world Eldoria

# Quick creation (no questions)

/create-world Shadowmere --quick

# Will prompt for name

/create-world

```