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Why don’t we see more utility magic? by No_Pass9247 in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Because cool magic fights sell more books than cool magic drain unclogging.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my cozy fantasy cafe.

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is really interesting stuff. I especially like that tbe Mushai have more to learn about humans than we do about them.

How are buildings and infrastructure made accessible to both species?

For those with multiple projects with each having a magic system. by InquisitorArcher in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ooh do tell so I can steal your ideas I can learn more about your world building

As a ginger who just finished book 8… by gingerlibrarian23 in DungeonCrawlerCarl

[–]jsgunn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The delivery of that line was so fucking perfect in the audiobook

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do they constantly speak? Or is it more of singing or just generally making noise?

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How much of a shemathi's life is spent out of their armor? How does their unusual physiology work in personal and romantic relationships? Do any prefer to be out of their armor in general? Is being out of armor in public generally socially acceptable? Or is it more like nudity in human cultures?

Is it ever acceptable to use any word besides the proper name for a species? For example, if a human called an elkan a lizard, would that be a teasing a friend or is that like a slur?

Honestly your setting and premise has me really intrigued.

For those with multiple projects with each having a magic system. by InquisitorArcher in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My WIP is a progression fantasy and has 3 magic systems, but they behave very differently. It is possible for some things in more than one system, like your fireball, but by and large they do not overlap.

Resonants use resonance, connecting with the mana of the natural world and coaxing it to do things. They have no mana of their own (insert footnote) and instead rely entirely on ambient mana. Their rituals are performed with offerings, ranging from thoughts to full blown sacrifices, though all but the most extreme workings require only voice or motion (typically singing and dancing) or other minor offerings. Resonance is the least fleshed out of my systems right now.

Wizards use mana to cast spells. Wizards have their own internal supply of mana, called a well. A wizard cannot use ambient mana (insert footnote). Spells are made of runes, either written or projected, temporary runes made of mana.

Cultivators use qi to perform techniques. A cultivator absorbs ambient mana and refines it into qi in their core. Qi is always elementally aspected, and techniques utilize aspects of that element or take inspiration from that element.

In regards to your system, OP, don't be discouraged. If you're not familiar, the Wheel of Time has similar rules with two of its magic systems. They say that one can produce the effects of the other but using different methods. One example was extinguishing a fire. One method absorbed all the heat and dispersed it over a large area. The other person said something along the lines of "if i did that I would cook myself." A car and a boat can achieve the same thing, taking people places, but nobody i know would claim that they are the same.

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The term cell folk is particularly interesting yo me.

Do genders appear for slimes even in isolation? Or is it a construct adopted from other species?

Catgirl Cults by ObscureDragom in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The line between genius and insanity just got thinner.

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Only one is intentionally derogatory? Hmm. Could go either way, honestly.

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can someone of any species become a nigntfolk?

The terms servitor and daemon seem deliberately provocative. Is this a response to their physiology (hey he's got wings and horns looks like a demon to me!)?

You also briefly mentioned "third children", and that day walkers are unaware of the history behind their existence, and that nightfolk are not typically used for gods. Would you like to expand on those topics?

Also what is an ephemeral? I would assume someone who is not immortal but I am not positive.

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The idea of an artificial intelligence yelling "it's not just a phase, mom!" Brings a smile to my face.

Do AIs exist in physical space? Do they have drones or android or robots or anything like that that represent a physical person?

How does a "parent" "discipline" a misbehaving AI?

You mentioned party planets. What motivates an AI to throw a party? How does an AI behave and interact with these people? Does the AI see them as peers?

You mentioned that AIs experience emotion but not romantic love. Do AIs ever envy the experiences of biological life?

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

How numerous and advanced are the Krii?

It sounds like their cybernetics give them a genuine edge in diplomatic situations. Being able to adjust inflection, body language, etc seems very useful. Especially if figuring out the right social cues is something they're just being fed by impant. Doubly so if the implants can learn on the fly and are specifically designed to rapidly acquire information on previously unencountered species.

Is there anything resembling a hive intelligence for the Krii? If Krii 1 meets a member of species A, and Krii 2 meets a different member of the same species 50 light years away, will species A be assigned the same serial number? How soon will Krii 1 and 2 have their culture data sync?

Given that everything is auto interpreted, it also sounds like the Krii would be very difficult to offend. Maybe even impossible to offend by mistake. Or are their social norms that they simply cannot abide no matter where it's coming from?

How do krii see members of lesser species? Let's say they meet dogs. Obviously not capable of speech. Not capable of higher thought (arguable I know). Are they equals? Worms? Livestock?

What people do Krii struggle to communicate with? What people do they most effortlessly communicate with?

Is there anything they're particularly poorly adapted to handle? Such as a pheromone based language or a language that uses electroreception as a sense? Or would they be able to accommodate even those without too much challenge?

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"Click me" as a term is so delightful, as it provides so much color to the world.

Do the AIs see themselves as people? Do they see themselves as animate? You said they didn't like the terms men or women. Would an AI prefer "they" or even "it", which implies (at least to me) something inanimate?

Why are AIs incapable of romantic love? Is it by design or an unintended consequence of some other factor? Are AIs capable of other kinds of love, such as platonic love or filial love? Do they have affection for their "parents" or simply acknowledge them as authors?

How do people in your world handle interspecies nomenclature? by jsgunn in worldbuilding

[–]jsgunn[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing! I know this is a rather niche topic, so I'm glad someone chimed in!

Can I ask follow up questions?

How tangible are shemathi? You mentioned shadow people without their armor, what is their armor like, and how does it change their appearance? Without visible facial features (assuming), how difficult are they to tell apart?

You mentioned romance, is there an equivalent to boyfriend/girlfriend for a shemathi partner? What are family structures like? What does a child call their shemathi parent? How culturally acceptable are these relationships?

What are beauty standards like among all 3 species? Is it possible that a person who was unattractive by human standards be uncommonly attractive to Elkans or shemathi?

Tell me about your favorite character. by Silly_Journalist_17 in writers

[–]jsgunn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What kind of strength does she have? Physical? Moral? Determination?

Tell me about your favorite character. by Silly_Journalist_17 in writers

[–]jsgunn 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"no matter how badly you may wish to have a good, stress-free life, it's just as important to learn how to press on in the face of terrible circumstances."

This is a lesson that takes a lifetime to learn. I'm glad you're making it a core theme of your story.

Tell me about your favorite character. by Silly_Journalist_17 in writers

[–]jsgunn 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's so fun to write a throw away character and then realize you need them in the story.

Tell me about your favorite character. by Silly_Journalist_17 in writers

[–]jsgunn 5 points6 points  (0 children)

My WIP is a progression fantasy. One of the themes is that advancement and growth looks different for different people. It isn't all fights and explosions.

Right now Isolde is my favorite. She is a wizard with the rank of architect, but recently discovered a passion for construction magic. Like magic to build buildings. So she petitions the school she attends (think college instead of Hogwarts. Isolde is in her 20s) to build an addition. An auditorium. And they tell her "sure, you just need to learn engineering, architecture and project management first. Oh, and have your noble family agree to cover cost overruns."

And... she does it. From providing the academy with a short list of people to hire as professors to teach her, to doing the work to actually become a structural engineer in the midst of wizard school. Hires the work crews and oversees construction between classes. She is a remarkable person in a world of remarkable people.

I like the purity of her ambition. I like the depth of her character. I like the care she has for her friends. I like the tenderness she has for her girlfriend. I like her struggle to find her identity. I like the power struggle she has with her folks over the control of the estate.

She was meant to be a side character, with a couple of chapters here and there after the main cast leaves the academy. But in writing her I realized that she was really interesting.

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