Software for world building?

[Yora]

A pencil and paper is an incredibly versatile tool for designing maps, economies, political systems, or anything of that kind. These things develop in very messy ways that are very difficult to fill into blank spaces on existing sheets. A blank paper on which you can arrange and erase things as you go is the most useful tool in my experience.

 

[SergeiMeranov]

If you're just looking to create a world, then I find these mapmaking tutorials to be helpful:

Link to Map-Making Tutorials for GIMP and Photoshop

There is also this:

Link to various generators. Though it looks like he took out his medieval world generator.

As far as the history or other worldbuilding items, I usually just use various word documents.

 

[rktho]

For mapmaking, Inkarnate is free and online.

 

[TheKillerBs]

For mapmaking, Inkarnate is free and online.

It's free if you don't intend to use it for commercial purposes. If you do intend to use it for commercial works, you need to pay a licence.

 

[Tevaras]

Good day Black Dragon,

unfortunately this is not free and does not include map generation (you import images as maps which you can then add points of interest) but (from memory) it does allow creation of notes and cross reference links for places, creatures, organisations, towns, plot arcs, etc. . Is actually intended for those running a role playing game, but generating and keeping track of plots, characters, and places for players should be fairly similar to what you need for a book . Buy Realm Works

Have a look at the tutorials before you decide to buy: Realm Works Tutorial Videos


Good luck,