The Context

The context is very important for the creation of your World. We're going to treat of it superficially, but we'll try to enrich this page in next versions of the site. Here are the main contexts you'll have to determine during the creation of your world.

Political Context

One of the question is : what is or what are the governments of your countries?

1) Monarchy : it's the attribute of heroic-fantasy universes. To sum up, the King is the highest Noble and he leads all other nobles. He has the right of life or death on any of his sublects. The King from divine right has a hereditary title which is transmitted to the eldest son. There are Noble castes.

2) Empire : under the domination of the Emperor, an Empire gathers many territories which government may have bben independent or under the control of the Emperor. There are Noble castes.

3) Tyranny : it may be used to create the atmosphere. Like Monarchy, one man has all powers : the Tyrant, but under his domination, individual freedoms are not respected. Police and Army has a very strong reprehensive Power and these organizations may kill anybody arbitrarily. There are Noble castes.

4) Archonship : the Archon leads a province which could be autonomous. Although he has all the powers in this province he is nevertheless leaded by a far Emperor. This title is often mingled with the Title of Gouvernor but in antique Greece, the Gouvernor had only an educational Power. There are Noble castes.

5) Oligarchy : it is a system where a group of privileged which leads a State. They are named Oligarches. There are Noble castes.

6) Gerontocraty : the elders have all powers, because they are supposed to have knowledge and wisdom. It's enerally a tribe system or a system used by primal social groups. There aren't Noble castes. 

7) Republic : the State id leaded by the people and elected agents of the people. The Republic is leaded by a President elected by votes for all. In the Republican system the general interest is more important than the citizen. There aren't Noble castes or the Nobility is only honorary titles without special rights nor advantages.

8) Democraty : the Nation is directly leaded by people gathered in assemblies. The Democratic system becomes Republic when population is too large. In Democracy, citizen is the most important. There's no really notion of State. There aren't Noble castes or the Nobility is only honorary titles without special rights nor advantages.

9) Technocracy : power belong to Technocrats which are high offcials skilled in management and administration and who favour technical aspects to human aspects (clearly, if a city must be destroyed to allow development, the inhabitants will be sacrificied without remorse!). Perfect system for Cyber-Punk or Space-Opera RPGs. There aren't Noble castes or the Nobility is only honorary titles without special rights nor advantages.

10) Anarchy : The system when there is no Governement. The chaos is everywhere and the civil disorder is total. No more central administration nor authorities. This system is perfect for Post-apocalyptic universes. There aren't Noble castes.

11) Theocracy : the power belongs to the clergy. Monks have all powers and are considered as divine beings. They are calle theocrats. There aren't Noble castes.

The Religious Context

Another question is : what are the religions of your countries?

1) Polytheism : it consists in veneration of an assembly of gods also called "Pantheon". Polytheism characterized young civilizations.

2) Monotheism : it consists in veneration of a uique god. Monotheism characterized older civilizations.

3) Cult of Personality : it consists in veneration of a living being who is attributed (true or false) divine powers.This system is the baiss or tyranny to obtain submission from the crowd.

4) Chamanism : it consists in attributing a Chaman magical powers thanks to it's communication with the Spirits. These powers may be real in RPGs where magic exists or fake in other RPGs.

5) Animism : it consists in attributing a soul to everything. There are no clergy because this belief is inscribed in the mentalities.

6) None : no religion in your world. Spirituality is then feeble.

Another question is : what is the degree of religious activity of the common fellow?

1) Total : in this case there's a great probability that the government may be a Theocracy. There's also a great probability that Fundamentalism exists with systematic murder of divergent people who are qualified as "heretics".

2) Strong : Clergy has then a great influence on the Government.

3) Average : Clergy has a strong spiritual influence and don't interact with government.

4) Weak : Clergymen are independent and don't try to increase the popular spirituality. It corresponds more to a personnal choice of the monk who doesn't want to share it especially. No interaction with people nor government.

The Economical Context

Closely linked to geography, it allows he Game Master to assess the standard living of the crowd and the position of Players relatively to the crowd.

1) An isolating geography like a small island or a deep valley in mountains is characterized b a weak economy, few manufactured goods and a system based upon hunting, fishing, picking and agriculture. Population is poor and the technological level is rudimentary. If Players are rich, they might be attacked for their possessions. The goods other than clothing and foods are invaluable.

2) An average geography like plains will be neutral and will have an average economy. Few manufactured goods, but Players will be welcomed for their monyer. Goods are not very expensive.

3) A favourable geography like coasts or crossing of rivers in an alluvial zone will provide a prosperous economy. Manufactured goods are imported and can be found in important quantities. Prices are there fluctuating but generally high because these regions are populous and an expensive good is supposed to be of great quality. This can be explained by the fact that retailers don't have to low there prices because clientele is abundant.

4) An extreme geography like a desert or an icicle relegate Players to survivors like other inhabitants of these regions. No real economy but importation.

Here are the main advices for the contexts. Take it into account for the creation of your world. It might be grim but it will give coherence to your world.

We'll supplement this page with social context, Military context and scientific context in next versions of the site.

Other questions? Send us an e-mail!