Physical World Polls

This set of polls has to do with the physical world being designed.

• Shape and size
• What Should the World Look Like
• Mapping Software
• Tech level and tech advancement
• World Age and Creatation
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What should the shape of the world being designed be?

Obviously this does not apply to alternate Earth, historical fiction or urban fantasy settings. Those three settings use our Earth geography except for man made changes such as cities and dams. Most fantasy worlds take place on an Earth sized planet. Some of the great exceptions are Terry Pratchett's Disc World series, Larry Niven's Ringworld and follow on books and Larry Niven's Smokering and follow on books.

• Small planet (Earth's Moon sized)
• Earth sized
• Large planet (Jupiter sized)
• fantasy planet - disc, back of turtle, flying cities, etc
• Sci-Fi World - Dyson sphere, ring world, Alderson Disc, Universe ship

What should the world look like?

This is fairly simple. Should the world be mostly water? lots of islands like Earth Sea? Does anybody in the group need a special geography feature for something they want to do? Is the world going to be unusual such as Larry Niven's MountLookAtThat which is single huge mountain. This does not have to be a poll item unless some people speak up for an usual world.

Special features might include the need for a large steppe such the American Midwest or central Asia for horse based nomads that can raid a major civilization. Or a northern country with mountains such as Norway that will produce sea raiders and explorers like the Vikings. This can be handled by submitting such special needs to the map makers.

It is at this point that the group can start to lay out the world map. The recommendation is to have a bunch of people submit maps in various formats and vote upon which one the group likes.

What software, if any will be used to create maps?

The choices here will depend upon the software avaible at the time the poll is conducted. This is an area I'm weak in so this entry is rather short.

Tech level

This can be both the actual tech level for the top countries of the world, but also the tech feel of the world. If the tech feel is higher than the actual tech level you will have to offer a "vote for two option". The lower tech level is the actual tech level, and the higher choosen level is the effect of magic and magical devices.Alternatively, let people choose the Magic Tech option, and run the poll twice more. The first poll would be for actual tech level, and the second would be a shorter poll for the tech feel supported by magic (or reverse the polls). Notice that a number of tech levels are listed twice, once as progressing and once as stagnent. Stagnent means they have held the same or very similar tech level for hundreds or thousands of years.

• Stone Age - for example or roughly Clan of the Cave Bear novels
• Bronze Age & Stagnent - for example or roughly 3500 BCE to 1200 BCE (Sumer to Ancient Babylon/Egypt/Greece)
• Bronze Age & Advancing - for example or roughly 3500 BCE to 1200 BCE (Sumer to Ancient Babylon/Egypt/Greece)
• Iron Age - for example or roughly Rome 1200 BCE to 600 CE
• Iron Age & Advancing - for example or roughly Rome 1200 BCE to 600 CE
• Midieval Earth & Stagnent - for example or roughly
• Midieval Earth & Advancing- for example or roughly
• Age of Exploration & Stagnent (1400's to early 1700s)
• Age of Exploration & Advancing (1400's to early 1700s)
• Early Industrial Age & Stagnent (mid 1700's to late 1800s)
• Early Industrial Age & Advancing (mid 1700's to late 1800s)
• Middle Industrial / Electrical & Stagnent - for example or roughly late 1800s to WWII
• Middle Industrial / Electrical & Advancing - for example or roughly late 1800s to WWII
• Modern Era & Stagnent - for example or roughly WWII to 1980s
• Modern Era & Advancing- for example or roughly WWII to 1980s
• Information Age - for example or roughly 1980s to present
• Near Future - for example or roughly
• Far Future - for example or roughly Star Wars / Star Trek /
• Magic Tech - for example or roughly magic spells and devices fill the role of mundane tech.

World Age and Creation

How old is the world, and how was it created?

• The world is new (less than 1,000 years), the gods created the world and races.
• The world is young (between 1,000 and 10,000 years), the gods created the world and races.
• The world is old (more than 10,000 years), the gods created the world and races.
• The world is young (less than 3 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are new (less than 200 years).
• The world is medium age (4 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are new (less than 200 years).
• The world is old (more than 6 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are new (less than 200 years).
• The world is young (less than 3 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are old (settled or created between 1,000 and 5,000 years).
• The world is medium age (4 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are old (settled or created between 1,000 and 5,000 years).
• The world is old (more than 6 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are old (settled or created between 1,000 and 5,000 years).
• The world is young (less than 3 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are ancient (natureal developent over millions of years)
• The world is medium age (4 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are ancient (natureal developent over millions of years)
• The world is old (more than 6 billion years), the world was created by natureal or mechanical means. The races are ancient (natureal developent over millions of years)

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