Architectural Designs

Fantasy World Building Questionnaire # 2. (+BQ)?

Hi, back again. I'm listing 34 more questions (pertaining to magic/religion) for you guys to consider. (Feel free to pick and choose the ones you answer) BQ1: Are there any particular aspects of fantasy world building/creature development, etc that you want more of? If so, let me know and I'll post them BQ2: Have you ever created/used these types of lists to help you write your fantasy novels/shorts? World Building Part 2: {MAGIC:} 1) What things can magic NOT do? How do people get around these limitations? 2) What is required to practice magic? (training, celibacy-YIKES, using life force/memory). Are there ways to get around the price/cost of practicing magic? 3) Do different races/species have/practice/master in different types of magic? 4) How do people tap into their magic? (rituals, rites of passage, investing powers in objects, chosen by Gods, making a link to magical source, etc) 5) What must be done for spell casting? (Design/carry out rituals, recite incantations, mix ingredients, use magical objects, etc) Do practitioners need to make objects/buy them, inherit these things? 6) Is there a limit to the number of magical practitioners? If so, why? 7) Is there a time limit to conduct magic/cast spells? Can spells be stored or are they for instant use? 8) In what ways can spells/magic be abused? How often does this happen? 9) Do animals (real or imaginary) possess magical abilities that can be manipulated/harvested? Plants? 10) Do magical practitioners abide by a certain code of conduct? Are there fashions/fads with them? Are there popular/unpopular types of magic? 11) How has the presence of magic affected weapons technology? (Must you enchant objects?) 12) To what degree does the presence of magic/objects/people replace technology (ex: enchanted ice chest replaces refrigerator, certain healing spells replace medicines) 13) Can spells/items be mass produced? Is magic used to increase efficiency business/society? 14) How does magic affect the political structure of the society? (laws outlawing/protecting/promoting magic). Are certain magical practitioners barred from government jobs? Why? 15) Is magic considered a science? Are magic and science compatible? 16) Are untrained magical users dangerous? why? How long does it take to learn magic? Is there an apprenticeship system? What? 17) How do non-magical beings view magical users? (nuisances, aristocrats, regular working stiff, academic scholars, etc) 18) How do various religions view magics? Do any forbid it? Why? What kinds? Are priests/nuns required to be magical practitioners? {CULTURE:} 19) Are there any Gods? Do they have active roles in temples/churches, lives of people? Which ones are good/evil? According to whom/what culture/species/race? 20) How do religions view non-believers? Foreigners? Non-humans? Which ones support the state/ruler/government/ordinary people? 21) What customs surround birth in a family? Is the mother sequestered for a period? Is the child? Are children formerly presented to parents/overlords/priests/magicians? Is feast/celebration common or do people keep a low profile to detract demons from giving new child bad luck? 22) What customs surround death/burial? Is there as special class of people who deal with death (priests/morticians/untouchables,healers)? Are ceremonies conducted (burning hair, coins on eyes, etc)? Are the dead feared/revered/ignored? 23) Is there a difference between magic and miracles? How are they distinguished? 24) Is there tension/hostility/rivalry between Gods? How does this affect church politics? People? 25) Where does religion fit into this society? Is there a state church? Is freedom of religion the norm? Are churches/temples worshipped or desecrated? 26) What are the biggest social faux pas? (burping loudly at formal event, armed in presence of nobility, asking dwarf if it's male/female?) 27) What are the customs surrounding courtship/marriage/family? Is marriage a civil or religious institution? 28) What are standards of beauty? (clothes/furniture/paintings/hair ornaments/height/weight), how do these impact the other races/species? (adopt standards/etc) 29) What is the ideal life people aspire to? (Retirement/warriors/scholars) 30) Who are the historic heroes/villains? Why are they admired/hated? What does this say about those who admire them? 31) What types of people are rebels/outcasts? How does society deal with them? What actions/ideas will exile you? What happens to outcasts? Are they segregated in towns? Punished? exiled? 32) What customs are enforced through religion? (women not showing ankles/eating left-handed) 33) What are attitudes toward ownership? What constitutes theft? What can be stolen? (gems, reputation/identity, materials). Are thieves independent criminals/members of illegal guilds/licensed businessmen? BAHAHAHA 34) What are controversial subjects in this culture? Taboos? Enjoy :)

Public Comments

1. 1) What things can magic NOT do? How do people get around these limitations? Magic can do ANYTHING, but many people just use it when necessary. 2) What is required to practice magic? (training, celibacy-YIKES, using life force/memory). Are there ways to get around the price/cost of practicing magic? The only thing required is your mind, but you lose energy when doing spells, so the larger spell you do, the more energy you lose and you can die if the magic is too powerful 3) Do different races/species have/practice/master in different types of magic? There are elves and humans in the world and they all practice magic in the same way. 4) How do people tap into their magic? (rituals, rites of passage, investing powers in objects, chosen by Gods, making a link to magical source, etc) They just have to focus 5) What must be done for spell casting? (Design/carry out rituals, recite incantations, mix ingredients, use magical objects, etc) Do practitioners need to make objects/buy them, inherit these things? Some types of magic you can do with your mind, but there are magical objects like horns from unicorns can be used for medicine, same with certain birds' feet and if you are doing a spell for a certain person you have to put something of theirs in to a potion, like bits of hair. I'll probably answer more later
2. ahmm I'm saving this one too... lol :P Maybe one day I'll get around to digging it up again. Possibly. I'm still extremely stuck on my story. I have this strange urge to tear it up, feel sorry, and tape it back together again... though I've been sleeping 6 hrs a night for a week now so I can't think straight :P Not like I have a lot to do, I just have this realllllly bad thing with procrastination. Maybe I'll get around to writing my story in another year... :p -ps I'm a Gemini too :D