Adding Flavour: Creation Myths

For a player in fantasy role-playing games, how the world was created is a very minor detail. It usually had little impact on their plot, or they may not even know. For the games master, however, knowing this can be a wonderful foundation to build out your world.

 

Starting off, you need to consider; is the story you’re writing what people believe how the world was created? If it’s not, is what actually happened going to be important? If the answer is also no, don’t waste time fleshing this out unless you really want to. However, if the answer is yes, think about why it’s significant, why the truth isn’t known. For instance, the material planes were not an intentional creation but simply a mistake, however, the clergy gain power by changing the narrative.

 

The second point you need to decide before starting is, if your world has gods, and if so, were they involved in the creation. If yes, were all involved, or few, or simply one? Are any against the creation? If so, why? Working this out will not only aid you in your myth creation, but will also help you build your deities, relationships, and domains.

 

Designed by Gods

This will be the area we will be focusing on the most, as most fantasy worlds rely on divine intervention; especially those like Dungeons and Dragons and Pathfinder, where people are often bestowed magic by these entities. So, if your world was created by a god or gods, think about how it was made, but in a way that’s easy to understand. For this, play around with common crafting professions, for instance, blacksmithing or weaving. Activities such as gardening or even cooking also translate well into a creation myth. Simplifying it this way not only makes it easier for players to remember, but also makes sense from a community perspective.

 

It could also have far-reaching implications. For instance, how that would being connected to the creation of everything effect that particular job. Is blacksmithing now the work of holy folk, meaning clergy are typically well armed and armoured as a show of faith. Perhaps instead blacksmiths are simply considered holy regardless of their beliefs or practises.

 

Separate from the Gods

If gods had no part in the creation of the world, how did it come to be? A happy accident, fate, or did another being have a hand in it. This can impact many things about your world building. If the gods exist, this could affect how much they are revered. Are there small groups dedicated to the creators that came before, whether that be titans and giants like in Norse and Greek myth, or something aberrant and Lovecraftian. 

 

If the gods don’t exist, are there still many who believe in something otherworldly? And if there are, are these people the majority or the minority? This can give a traditional fantasy game such as Dungeons and Dragons a wholly different feeling.

 

Overall, when coming up with a creation myth, regardless of the route you plan on taking, the important things to keep in mind are; keep your story simple and consider the implications of it on your world's culture and religion. This will keep the foundation you’re working from strong, and create something memorable for your players.

 

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