Society Seed Starter

[jazz_worthing]

Does anyone have a compact little system for designing cities/states/countries? I have one and have been using it for a while, but am always on the lookout for ways to improve. I got it from a high school world history teacher and it's called PRISE.

Political -- Outline any political structure, visible and invisible, that affects life in the area. What type is it (monarchy, dictatorship, democracy, etc.) who are the main forces and if there are any threats to the system.
Religious -- The main religious ideals, theologies, or forces at work and how much they affect the politics, economics, or common person.
Intellectual -- This covers anything from architecture to art. How the society values expression, philosophy, food, or crafts.
Social -- How the citizens organizes themselves or are organized by political and religious forces. Customs, prejudices, and festivals go under this heading.
Economic -- What are the society's main sources of trade, generated wealth, and how much wealth is in how many hands. The units of currency and any kind of economic ties the society has with neighboring cities or nations.

That's PRISE in a nutshell. Anyone else have a seed starter they've found useful?

 

[Avery Moore]

This is a really good system. I have something similar, but it has a few more sections included.

History -- Any important myths or historical events that are in any way relevant to the country or the novel in general.
Languages -- What languages are spoken in this country?
Glossary -- To keep track of key words and phrases in the above languages.
Calendar -- What are the days of the week? What are the months of the year? How many months in a year? How many days in a year? Etc.
Technology -- Though I suppose this would be covered in "Intellectual"
Magic Systems -- What kinds of magic exist in this country? Who can use the magic? How does the magic work? Etc.
Nature -- What kind of animals and plants exist in this country? Are their mythological animals? Are their magical animals? Are their plants with magical properties? How common are said plants and animals? Etc.

 

[Rexenm]

I like both of them. I would say, in the first, I fall under nd associate with the religious faction, but your second one, got gradually more complicated, till I was at last lost. My metric is simple, I write as if the characters are in jail. That way there is separation and perspective. I don’t head there right away. So this could be balanced with comedy-drama, for instance, it is edited with a system I would call my shoulder angels.

New - does the character feel based, or are they misgendered in any way. How does this affect their social standing?
Old - Is there anything on their mind, are they going through the same stuff you do. Are they relatable?

I have not established this at any rate, but it is a reasonably fair assumption.

 

[pmmg]

Well...in my RPG days, I had a lot of stuff for this, including same ready made maps, random building generators, random names....

For stories, I let the story inform. Why is it here? What does it need to actually be here (water, resources, roads...), What history might it have. Who owns it, and how do they keep it.

I dont go making the city first, and then inventing the things around it, like languages...that usually comes right out of the story. If the characters sail around the horn of big continent and encounter some people no one has ever seen before...then its a safe bet the language is different.

 

[Dylan]

Does anyone have a compact little system for designing cities/states/countries? I have one and have been using it for a while, but am always on the lookout for ways to improve. I got it from a high school world history teacher and it's called PRISE.

Political -- Outline any political structure, visible and invisible, that affects life in the area. What type is it (monarchy, dictatorship, democracy, etc.) who are the main forces and if there are any threats to the system.
Religious -- The main religious ideals, theologies, or forces at work and how much they affect the politics, economics, or common person.
Intellectual -- This covers anything from architecture to art. How the society values expression, philosophy, food, or crafts.
Social -- How the citizens organizes themselves or are organized by political and religious forces. Customs, prejudices, and festivals go under this heading.
Economic -- What are the society's main sources of trade, generated wealth, and how much wealth is in how many hands. The units of currency and any kind of economic ties the society has with neighboring cities or nations.

That's PRISE in a nutshell. Anyone else have a seed starter they've found useful?

PRISE is a solid framework, compact but hits all the key aspects of a society. It keeps worldbuilding focused without getting overwhelming. I like how it balances structure (politics, economy) with culture (religion, art, social norms). If you're looking to expand it, maybe add "Technology" (innovation, infrastructure, weapons) or "Geography" (how the land shapes society). But honestly, PRISE is already a great starting point!

 

[Lead=Dragon]

This is what I created for my own use;

Xianxia/Wuxia/Xuanhuan World-Building Checklist for Countries

1. Geography & Environment
   • Type of realm (Mortal, Demi-Immortal, Immortal)
   • Celestial influence: spiritual energy, sacred sites
   • Mystical areas: cultivation caves, spirit beasts
2. Political Structure
   • Government: Sect vs. Dynasty, Immortal Monarch or Martial Law
   • Leaders: Sect Leaders, Immortal Monarchs, Martial Generals
   • Cultivation-based laws: duels, inheritance rights, martial tournaments
3. Social Structure & Culture
   • Divisions: Cultivators (Foundation Establishment, Nascent Soul, etc.) vs Mortals
   • Martial arts traditions and education
   • Spiritual rituals, meditation, martial festivals
4. Economy & Infrastructure
   • Resources: Spirit stones, spiritual herbs, magical artifacts
   • Currency and trade routes (internal & inter-realm)
   • Martial guilds, cultivation schools, and mercenaries
5. Military & Security
   • Cultivation-based military (Immortal Armies, Sect Defense)
   • Protective barriers, spiritual formations, guardian statues
   • Conflict resolution: duels, martial competitions, alliances
6. Education & Health
   • Cultivation training: martial arts, alchemy, spiritual cultivation
   • Medical practices: Qi healing, spirit medicine, immortal elixirs
7. Technology & Innovation
   • Magical technology: flying swords, spirit-enhancing artifacts
   • Rune crafting and energy manipulation
   • Devices for cultivation (spiritual rings, alchemy furnaces)
8. Urban Design & Architecture
   • Sacred landmarks (floating cities, spiritual temples)
   • Sect headquarters, cultivation spaces, defensive architecture
9. Environment & Sustainability
   • Spiritual ecosystems: Qi-rich forests, mystical creatures
   • Sacred gardens, spiritual animals
10. Foreign Relations & Diplomacy

• Relations with other realms: alliances, rivalries
• Diplomatic treaties: immortal oaths, trade agreements
• External threats: demonic invasions, immortal wars

1. Art, Entertainment & Leisure

• Martial tournaments, duels for power
• Spiritual arts: music, dance, art as cultivation tools
• Public festivals and ceremonies

 

[Fidel]

Wow, this checklist is next level, you’ve thought of everything from celestial vibes to immortal politics and even spiritual ecosystems. It’s like a blueprint for crafting a fully immersive xianxia/wuxia world. Seriously impressive.