Today, I find myself in a creative slump. DMs & worldbuilders, how do you find inspiration when naming the peoples & cultures of your worlds? How do you push past indecisiveness & confidently lock something in without second-guessing? #TTRPG #Worldbuilding - ThreadSky

dukeotaku.bsky.social • 5 days ago

Today, I find myself in a creative slump.

DMs & worldbuilders, how do you find inspiration when naming the peoples & cultures of your worlds? How do you push past indecisiveness & confidently lock something in without second-guessing?

#TTRPG #Worldbuilding

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zerhackermann.bsky.social•5 days ago

https://trolllord.com/product/storytellers-reference-bundle/
The storytellers thesaurus and dictionary. Not for picking, but for perusing and stirring the brain soup.

And sometimes a couple "Fuck it" whiskys to give the imposter syndrome a thorough beating before stuffing it back in its cell

dukeotaku.bsky.social•5 days ago

Thank you for the book recommendation. I’ll definitely add them to my library.

Yes, imposter syndrome is a mutual friend.

sea-of-stars-rpg.bsky.social•5 days ago

Naming in a broad or specific sense? Are you talking polity and kindred level? Or people and things within those larger groups?

dukeotaku.bsky.social•5 days ago

Right now, I’m working on naming various cultures of elves—so more at the kindred/cultural level. Any advice on how you approach naming distinct cultural groups within a larger kindred?

sea-of-stars-rpg.bsky.social•5 days ago

[2] and work out how the elves perceive themselves and what they call their various cultures. "No, we are not Red Stag Elves, it is just the first encounter with your people was with members of our Red Stag Warrior Society. We are the Peoples of the Lady of Antlers."

dukeotaku.bsky.social•5 days ago

Great advice! Thank you. That is kind of where I am now.

sea-of-stars-rpg.bsky.social•5 days ago

Well, I would approach it first from an outsider level, which is where most people will be meeting them. So "Elves of the Great Forest", "The Red Stag Elves", things that stand out when they are first encountered and become the default from outside their culture.
Then, later, you can go back [1]

djinngerbreads.bsky.social•4 days ago

Three methods I implore personally.
The first is the "I've had to improve because the players are curious bout a random detail" that I look to either have a plot point be created or further through this npc or give the players a change of emotion. Have they had hardship? Give them a sweet npc.. 1/

djinngerbreads.bsky.social•4 days ago

Is it too comfy and I need suspense. Time for a nefarious npc or one pleading for help. If they bite, use your plot or, the local area and see if you can expand that to be cultural significant or have it connect to a culture down the line the party need to meet as a breadcrumb. 2/

djinngerbreads.bsky.social•3 days ago

Third method. Go for a walk or listen to music/have some nice food. Treat yourself to some self care and that helps avoid burnout but can sometimes help reset your creativity. At the very least it will recharge your battery a little to fight off the imposter syndrome

dukeotaku.bsky.social•3 days ago

All great advice! Thank you so much! I definitely need more of the third in my life.

djinngerbreads.bsky.social•3 days ago

Second method is sitting down with a friend and chatting bout life and experiences through culture. Learning about new topics with kindred spirits I find really helps bring about creativity. There are many times I've joked about with colleagues in the ttrpg space only to then use it in a campaign 3/

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