Biomes, Geology and Environments

Create the diverse biomes shaped by geological forces, environments, and natural elements that define life.

Step 2: Biomes, Geology, Environments and Resources

Now that you have your World Overview Document created. You are going to update this document with items that you like from your session with the AI. The goal is to capture any information or ideas that come out of this session in your document. Do not worry about the structure, just capture the information.

This category defines the physical world in terms of its natural landscapes and environmental conditions. It encompasses the biomes, geological features, and natural environments that shape the daily lives of inhabitants. These elements define how people interact with their surroundings, what resources are available, and how societies are impacted by the natural world.

In this step we will cover:

Key physical elements of your world
Questions to consider
Outline map creation process
Provide prompts to consider when developing your world
Identify key resources to build tension around

Outcomes

Update your world overview document with outputs from this prompting session
Determine starting biome(s), geology and environment in your current region
Determine important resources in your world

Key Elements:

Biomes: Different ecological regions, such as forests, deserts, grasslands, and tundras, that shape the resources available, environmental conditions, and overall biodiversity.
Geology: The underlying geological features like mountains, plateaus, caverns, and mineral deposits that influence landforms, resources, and the stability of the terrain.
Environments: Specific local conditions that affect the daily life of inhabitants, including microclimates, soil quality, and proximity to natural features such as rivers, lakes, or coastlines.

World-Building Focus:

Location and Resources: Identify where key biomes, geological formations, and natural environments are located, and the resources they provide.
Environmental Influence: Understand how geology and environments influence human development, agriculture, and settlement patterns.
Adaptation and Survival: Focus on how societies adapt to specific biomes and geological conditions, including the impact on culture, technology, and survival strategies.

Advice: Keep this exercise focused on your starting region or local area. This will help produce more relevant content. Follow these rules on creating world maps.

Questions to Consider

Key Elements

Questions

Describe the climate this society deals with. How severe are their seasons?
What Biome are they located in?
What are the most common flora and fauna? How does this impact the local economy?
What kinds of natural disasters has this society gotten used to?
If there is more than one moon or sun, how does this affect winds, tides, and weather generally?
Are the axial tilt and orbit comparable to those of Earth -- i.e., does the world have similar seasons and length of year as Earth?
How old is the planet and its parent star?
How geologically active is this planet?
How are the continents laid out?
How much land is there, and how much of it is habitable?
How much land is in each of the equatorial, temperate, and polar zones?
More Questions >>

Map Creation Process

Map

Review biomes, climate, weather and plate tectonics processes
Sketch out a local region
Define climate zones based on latitude.
Establish plate tectonics to determine mountain ranges.
Determine wind and ocean currents for moisture distribution.
Add key geographic features like mountains and rivers.
Place major biomes logically based on climate, geography, and tectonics.
Consider altitude for vertical biome variation.
Add transition zones between major biomes.
Populate biomes with appropriate flora and fauna.
Determine key resources to build tension around
Here is a more detailed process >>

Here is a quick sketch of a small region.

Here is the same region created in Inkarnate Maps.

This region is a combination of alpine and savannah biomes with a transitional biome from montane into savannah (green boxes). Somewhat similar to the landscape found in Ethiopia. Two plates slip past each other forming the mountain ranges (red boxes) and making this area a geological hot spot. A great central lake is formed by multiple rivers (red arrows) that flow into it, the central island sits on top of a geothermal magma chamber. A single river flows north into the mountains where it flows under and then out the other side. This will become an important location in this campaign.

Biomes to Consider

Ice Sheet and Polar Desert:
- Found in regions near the poles, like Antarctica and Greenland, these areas are characterized by extremely cold temperatures, minimal precipitation, and limited vegetation. Life is adapted to harsh conditions, often consisting of lichens, mosses, and hardy animals like polar bears and penguins.
Tundra:
- Located in high-latitude regions, such as parts of northern Canada and Russia, the tundra biome has cold temperatures, short growing seasons, and permafrost. Vegetation is limited to grasses, mosses, and dwarf shrubs, and animal life includes caribou and arctic foxes.
Taiga:
- The taiga, also called boreal forest, stretches across northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is dominated by coniferous trees like pines and spruces, and experiences cold winters with moderate rainfall. Typical wildlife includes moose, bears, and wolves.
Mixed and Deciduous Forest:
- Found in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, this biome consists of broadleaf deciduous trees that shed their leaves annually, such as oaks and maples. The climate has four distinct seasons, and the biome supports diverse animal life, including deer, foxes, and birds.
Tropical Rainforest:
- Located near the equator, such as in the Amazon Basin, tropical rainforests are characterized by high temperatures and high rainfall year-round. They have the highest biodiversity on Earth, with countless plant species and animals like jaguars, parrots, and frogs.
Steppe:
- Steppes are vast, grassy plains found in regions like Central Asia and parts of North America. They have semi-arid climates with low to moderate rainfall, supporting grasses and shrubs. Typical wildlife includes grazing animals like antelope and small mammals.
Savanna:
- Savannas are tropical grasslands with scattered trees, found in regions like sub-Saharan Africa. They have distinct wet and dry seasons, supporting species like lions, elephants, and acacia trees. Savannas are known for their large herds of herbivores and apex predators.
Desert:
- Found in regions such as the Sahara, deserts are characterized by extremely low rainfall, hot temperatures during the day, and cold nights. Vegetation is sparse, consisting of drought-resistant plants like cacti, and animals like camels and lizards have adaptations to conserve water.
Montane (Alpine Tundra and Montane Forest):
- Montane biomes occur at high altitudes, like in the Andes or Rocky Mountains. The vegetation includes alpine tundra at higher elevations with low-growing plants and montane forests at lower elevations, dominated by conifers. The climate is cool, with strong winds and snow.
Mediterranean Vegetation:
- Found in regions with Mediterranean climates like southern Europe, California, and parts of Australia, this biome has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Vegetation consists of drought-resistant shrubs, small trees, and herbs, with animals like foxes and birds adapted to the climate.

Blog: Dungeons, Dragons, and AI: Crafting Unique Creatures for RPGs Using ChatGPT & Dalle 3 >>

Prompts for your Flora and Fauna

Resources

Initial Prompt: Please read the following content [Insert World Overview Document], reply with “Ready to chat” when done.

Prompt: Flora and Fauna

Persona: Imagine you are a Game Master creating a unique fantasy location in a world called [insert world name]. This location is set within a [biome] known for its [unique feature (geological, weather, etc.)]. Your goal is to develop distinct flora and fauna to enrich the setting and provide players with immersive, interactive encounters.

Context: "The [region name] in this world is defined by [specific biome details, like high-altitude freezing temperatures, underground lava flows, or dense, fog-covered marshlands]. Life here has adapted to [feature], creating strange and wonderful flora and fauna that thrive in these challenging conditions."

Task: "Suggest 5 common and rare flora and fauna found in this [biome], giving each a name, short description, and explaining the role it plays in the ecosystem. Include cultural or societal impacts if applicable."

Example: "In [insert world name], flora and fauna reflect the core themes of [mystical adaptation, survival against odds, and interaction with magical forces]."

Tone: "Each plant and animal should feel native to this [biome], embodying the resilience or mystery of life in a setting where adaptation is key. Keep descriptions rich yet grounded to allow GMs to expand these ideas, connecting them to the ecosystem and local culture."

Resource Scarcity Conflict

Persona: "I want you to pretend you are a Game Master working on a [low-magic] fantasy world called [Insert World Name] where resources are scarce."
Context: "Your world has [two regions] that rely on the rare mineral [Shadewood] to fuel their economy and magic systems."
Task: "I want to create a conflict where these two regions are on the brink of war over the dwindling supply of [Shadewood]."
Example: "Generate 5 unique ideas for how the scarcity of [Shadewood] might create tensions between [Region A] and [Region B], including political intrigue, trade blockades, and sabotage."
Tone: "The tone should be tense, with an undercurrent of desperation, as both regions are struggling for survival."

Resources to Build Tension

Once you have sketched your map and thought through the prevalent biomes, mountain ranges and flora and fauna, you should now turn your attention to resources. Resources give you reasons to build tension.

Using Resource Scarcity to Build Tension

Scarcity of these unique resources creates natural tension within a fantasy world, as their limited availability leads to competition, greed, and survival strategies. Here are a few ways that scarcity can add conflict and depth to your story:

War and Conflict: As resources dwindle, kingdoms, factions, or individuals will go to great lengths to secure what's left. The scramble for Aether Crystals, for instance, could cause old alliances to fracture as nations turn on one another to secure their magical lifeblood.
Social Inequality: Those who control rare resources like Bloodsteel or Lifestone could become immensely powerful, leading to a rigid caste system where the rich hoard life-extending gems or elite warriors wield nigh-invincible weapons. This inequality can spawn rebellions or create underground movements dedicated to redistributing power.
Black Markets and Crime: Scarcity leads to the rise of black markets, where resources like Shadewood or Starfall Ore are traded at exorbitant prices. Smuggling rings, illegal mining, and dangerous expeditions become common, and criminal organizations gain power by controlling the flow of scarce materials.
Moral Dilemmas: The desperate need for resources can force characters to make tough moral choices. A town dying from disease may need Lifestone to survive, but acquiring it could mean stealing it from a neighboring kingdom where the population is equally desperate.
Exploration and Discovery: The dwindling of natural resources often drives exploration into uncharted territories. Entire adventuring parties or expeditions might be launched to discover new veins of Aether Crystals or hidden reserves of Starfall Ore, leading to encounters with ancient evils or long-forgotten civilizations.

Resources Prompts to get you started.

Don't forget to update [brackets] with your information.

Initial Prompt: Please read the following content [Insert World Overview Document], reply with “Ready to chat” when done.

Prompt: Resources

Persona: Imagine you are a Game Master creating a unique fantasy location in a world called [insert world name]. This location is characterized by its distinctive geological features, such as [unique geological feature (e.g., towering crystal formations, vast underground caverns, or floating islands of rock)]. Your goal is to develop distinct resources that build tension and enrich the setting, providing players with immersive, interactive encounters.

Context: "The [region name] in this world is defined by [specific geological details, like expansive crystal forests, labyrinthine cave systems, or levitating stone monoliths]. Life here has adapted to these geological phenomena, resulting in unique resources that are integral to the ecosystem and local culture."

Task: "Suggest 5 unique resources found in this geologically distinct area, providing each with a name, a short description, and an explanation of its significance. Include cultural or societal impacts if applicable."

Example: "In [insert world name], resources reflect the core themes of [mystical adaptation, survival against odds, and interaction with geological forces]."

Tone: "Each resource should feel native to this geologically unique area, embodying the resilience or mystery of life in a setting where adaptation to geological features is key. Keep descriptions rich yet grounded to allow GMs to expand these ideas, connecting them to the ecosystem and local culture."

Resource Scarcity Conflict

Persona: "I want you to pretend you are a Game Master working on a [low-magic] fantasy world called [Insert World Name] where resources are scarce."
Context: "Your world has [two regions] that rely on the rare mineral [Shadewood] to fuel their economy and magic systems."
Task: "I want to create a conflict where these two regions are on the brink of war over the dwindling supply of [Shadewood]."
Example: "Generate 5 unique ideas for how the scarcity of [Shadewood] might create tensions between [Region A] and [Region B], including political intrigue, trade blockades, and sabotage."
Tone: "The tone should be tense, with an undercurrent of desperation, as both regions are struggling for survival."

Tools of the Trade

These are the key tools that I use to create, manage, and run my RPG sessions

Biomes, Geology and Environments

Step 2: Biomes, Geology, Environments and Resources

Questions to Consider

Map Creation Process

Biomes to Consider

Resource Scarcity Conflict

Resources to Build Tension

Using Resource Scarcity to Build Tension

Resource Scarcity Conflict

Tools of the Trade

ChatGPT

Midjourney

Game Master Platform