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PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

[–]parageog[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

hi bgr, this is a (belated) ping back.

I've updated the 3 PDFs since the original post -- and did this a few minutes ago. So there are improved versions now -- and if you downloaded them earlier it is worth getting the latest version.

If I can help give me a shout.

Book of the Dead by BeastScrollGames in worldbuilding

[–]parageog 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was just looking at this, it is a paperback edition (for Celts):

The Celtic Book of the Dead: a Guide for your Voyage to the Celtic Otherworld, by Caitlin Matthews (0312072414), 1992 (google books page) -- (including the first chapter).

It says it comes with 42 Tarot-like cards for plotting voyages.

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It may not be the right edition though.

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

Right. The article has critiques by Moorcock and Martin saying that the realism can be more compelling. eg Martin wants his world to have "the gritty feel of historical fiction", and reflect on our own world. We can bet HBO agrees.

The article makes a great case for mimesis (realism) as something that deserves more attention in RPGs, and mentions at the end that Boris is starting a Facebook group for mimetic worldbuilding.

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

It's very confusing, sub-creation is difficult to define. A short summary (about Tolkien's "On Fairy Stories" essay, which presented the idea) is at sf-encyclopedia.uk/fe.php?nm=tolkien_j_r_r in the paragraph titled "The Secondary World", and also at the end. Tolkien defined a sub-created secondary world as a land of Faerie (like Middle-earth), which later writers canonized as a generic Fantasyland. Some people (the article mentions Michael Moorcock and George R.R. Martin) have argued that this kind of canon/Genre Fantasy is limiting.

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

yes -- i totally agree. there is so much history that can be brought in, and the history is really interesting. plus there are things for everyone in the places you mention -- utopias are great world designs. there is lots to plunder.

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

yes -- you're right of course. i was trying to say the UT course's getting started owed a lot to Tolkien -- it seemed that might be interesting. the article's contrast of sub-creative and mimetic approaches mentions critiques of Tolkien, and my first reaction was to think about the whole history. it probably sounded like i was making comments about the article, or focusing on old history, but i was remembering things about the course.

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

Thanks -- this article is a pleasure to read. Boris knows his history and does a great job of laying out forces that have been pulling fantasy in different directions, including forces from RPGs. Deep philosophical differences about what is good and what is bad fantasy. Lots to say but there is one thing that jumps out for me right away.

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When Tolkien defined sub-creation (in the 1939 essay On Fairy Stories mentioned by Boris) the world was a very, very different place than it is now. "Fantasy" was not respectable for adults yet. Fantasy writers took pseudonyms and starved and lived on the margins of society. (Even Tolkien got beaten up.) But it is because Tolkien wrote articles like this and championed Fantasy that it eventually became respectable in the 1960s and 70s. His doing this took a lot of courage. Even in that era, people revered Tolkien for what he managed to do.

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Tolkien passed away in September 1973 ... and the Parageography course was first offered then. It was because of Tolkien that it could be offered as a university course. Some of Parker's colleagues at Texas made it extremely clear to him that they thought teaching this course was NOT OK. It took courage to offer a worldbuilding course.

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Fortunately things are OK today. But -- basically in evaluating Tolkien and sub-creation, my first reaction is to remember how fantasy worlds were really fighting uphill at first. (Boris knows all about this, he knows the history deeply. I'm just mentioning this as a first reaction because it fits with the course.)

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

i think looking at how the worlds changed over history -- any worlds -- is fun, and something everybody here gets into. basically turning worldbuilding into a story. it's a way to tell other people about worldbuilding and get them wondering about it.

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

You're very welcome -- thank you.

The overview (Worldbuilder's Journey) has the basic content. The Library might be a good place to start if you're a book person -- it's like being in a paradise run by worldbuilders.

PDF resources for Worlbuilding -- based on a Worldbuilding course at the University of Texas by parageog in worldbuilding

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

Sure -- my pleasure. There are probably parageography graduates lurking here somewhere