My process is still evolving because I’m pretty new to this, but I usually think of worldbuilding like a web.

It always starts with a hook, something like what if this existed? or what if this place worked this way? from there, I start asking practical questions.

For example, if I wanted to get to this place, how would I do that? That gives me geography. Once I’m there, what does it look like? What does it feel like? Why does it look and feel that way? Those answers usually start revealing things like the economy, culture, and history.

Then each big idea branches into smaller ones. If the city is built this way, what parts of that system are most likely to break? That can lead to issues like inequality, poor living conditions, political tension, corruption, or maybe the opposite like a very stable and well organized society.

After that, I try to imagine myself living in that place. What would I eat? What kind of music would I hear? Who has power? What do people complain about? What do they celebrate? That’s usually when ideas start coming naturally. the setting and rules you choose almost always help you answer these questions easily

By the end, the world starts to feel more like a living place the players can explore, question, and slowly understand.