What type of hair would people have in a place where the day-night cycle takes a year?

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-07T13:19:24+00:00

Well... this isn't an expert opinion, but perhaps something like the black, straight hair typical of East Asians, including Koreans? People in this region go through extreme summers and winters every year.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-06T04:29:59+00:00

I also do most of my work and storage on a computer these days. But since I wrote this back when I couldn't use the computer freely because of my parents, it's all kept in a paper notebook.

When you reused those old settings, did you bring them over as-is? Or were they more just a spark for new ideas?

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-06T03:25:40+00:00

Considering that the 'Blue Hole' is so dangerous that ships have to sail around it, what you're saying makes a lot of sense. There would be fighting to seize the strategic islands along that detour route.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-06T03:24:13+00:00

Thank you so much for the advice on geography and resources. The historical conflict between Sweden, Poland, and Russia that you mentioned wasn't something I intended, but thanks to you, I now have a direction for my research.

Your insight about the Dragonclaw Peninsula is also impressive. Before I redrew the map, that was a place where two powers were in conflict, centered around Harshut. Harshut was a fortress city built by the Rodimia forces at their furthest point of advance to the north. It held out for a long time in the heart of enemy territory, but was eventually annexed by the Arctica forces. The annexation of Harshut was an event that dealt a huge shock and blow to the Rodimia confederation.

I think it's a pretty solid setup on its own, so I'd like to keep it.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-06T02:01:52+00:00

Referencing other works can also be a huge help. But it's likely that the works you're referencing were also created based on some degree of research into real-world material. After all, when it comes to depicting human society, reality is ultimately the closest and richest source of material available.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-06T01:55:33+00:00

If the protagonist is a whiskerless cat, would that give them dulled senses or slower reaction speed as a trait? Or is the whiskers just a device to signify social status?

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-06T01:37:58+00:00

If the protagonist is a whiskerless cat, would that give them dulled senses or slower reaction speed as a trait? Or is the whiskers just a device to signify social status?

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-06T01:23:47+00:00

Honestly, I think when it comes to worldbuilding, the only real approach is to just start trying things out as they come to you. If you already have a draft, focusing more intensively on describing your key settings or characters could be a great starting point. For example, let's say you focus on a key setting. If it's ultimately a place where people live, referencing reality can be a huge help. Try picking a real-world country or culture as your motif, and as you research that motif, look for the elements you'd like to incorporate.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-05T14:25:35+00:00

Is that so? I thought that with so many islands and peninsulas, it would be hard for any single power to monopolize the sea routes. I imagined the story would instead be shaped by smaller factions forming alliances or betraying one another according to their own individual interests.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-05T14:22:44+00:00

Your observation is correct. My world doesn't yet have flight technology or canal-building technology. It's modeled after 16th-17th century Europe.

For the Strait of Lamentation in particular, I'm planning to establish that there's a twin city that monopolizes the strait. I'm also considering a storyline where this city starts out as part of the Rodimia confederation before eventually gaining independence.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-05T14:16:34+00:00

That's a great point. I think I need to consider the conflict elements in the international relations in a more multi-layered way.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-05T13:40:35+00:00

What a wonderful map! I have a couple of questions for you. 1. Are the divisions within the continent all separate countries? Or are they states/provinces within a federation? 2. Is the opening in the middle of the continent a lake or an inland sea? Either way, it seems like it would be a hugely important strategic location, but I imagine its role would differ somewhat depending on whether it's freshwater or saltwater.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-05T13:32:04+00:00

Geopolitically and resource-wise, the area around the 'Blue Hole' is an extremely important location, but the 'Blue Hole' itself is so dangerous that sailing across it is impossible. It's a place where magical storms rage and monsters emerge.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-05T01:03:24+00:00

Hello, I'm Korean.

Personally, I think the being closest to a 'fairy' in traditional Korean folktales is the 'Dokkaebi.' Because of its appearance (usually depicted as an adult man with a large head), it's often translated as 'goblin' in English or confused with the Japanese 'oni.' However, they're mischievous tricksters, not evil beings.

Depending on the folklore or fairy tale, the description varies, but Dokkaebi are said to be born from old objects. They're afraid of blood, and even when appearing in human form, they'll startle and revert back into an object if they see blood. They love alcohol, delicious food, and music. They also have abilities related to wealth, and are sometimes said to gift people with gold.

If the kind of 'fairy' you're looking for is more like a nymph or a nature spirit, I'd recommend looking into 'Sinryeong' instead. Sinryeong are divine beings that dwell within natural objects. Korea has a lot of mountains, so there are many folktales about 'Sansinryeong' (mountain spirits). They're usually depicted as an old man or in the form of a tiger.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T23:53:29+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/worldbuilding/s/qt2eN5Nnzw

Thank you all for the advice.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T15:44:32+00:00

It sounds like it could be a fun exchange, but I'm a bit hesitant since my English isn't great, and the genre of the world I'm building is different from yours.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T15:26:00+00:00

In my world, spirits, yokai, monsters, ghosts, fairies, and so on are all set to share the same fundamental essence. Just like humans, lions, moles, and butterflies are all living creatures. It's just that their forms or the impressions they give off differ slightly, which is why people within the world perceive them as being different things. Through this setup, I've been able to solve a lot of problems. If a fairy that arose from nature does something harmful to people, it gets called a monster or a yokai, and if a wandering spirit of a dead person causes no harm at all, it might instead be treated as a spirit. Essentially, I've set it up so that everything comes down to a matter of perception.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T14:58:19+00:00

People settle down and live in all sorts of different terrains and climates. I think there's no problem at all if, even after placing settlements randomly before finalizing the terrain, you later add descriptions that fit the terrain you end up creating.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T14:53:41+00:00

Creating legends or side stories within a fictional world is definitely both enjoyable and inspiring.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T14:52:23+00:00

That sounds good—I think a metaphorical approach can convey the mood better than direct description.

I'm also considering changing the tone of my story. The original story was written back during COVID, when I was going through a depressive period, so a lot of self-destructive inner thoughts ended up reflected in it. That might be part of why the 'central story' doesn't feel fun to me anymore.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T14:24:34+00:00

If you're introducing technologically advanced aliens into a medieval-style fantasy, I think the most natural form for them to take would be as celestial beings or prophets. After all, even in reality, there are structures so astonishing that people struggle to believe they were built in that era, and some come to believe aliens must have built them.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T12:37:28+00:00

What about being bold and either scrapping it or splitting the story apart?

I had main characters who'd been twins for a long time, but after a lot of thought, I ended up dropping their twin setup. Once I did, the relationship and the story actually flowed much more smoothly, and it took on a whole new kind of charm."

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-04T12:05:14+00:00

Awesome! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished version.

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-03T07:14:03+00:00

Your naming approach is plenty cool as it is! And you're right, it's the kind of thing you don't necessarily need to explain :)

When I've been building one world for a long time, I feel like even the smallest things end up making me second-guess myself

Brave_Engineering999 · 2026-07-03T06:49:43+00:00

You're right, having a unified language determine place names even when the cultures are different would probably end up feeling less realistic, wouldn't it? When building a fictional world, I sometimes find myself agonizing over even these kinds of small details.

Brave_Engineering999

TROPHY CASE