# Easy-Roll D&D setting This guide is an aid to quick worldbuilding for a D&D setting. It is heavily inspired by the setting creation in Ironsworn, but adapted to fit the inbuilt assumptions of D&D, such as being an adventurer battling monsters in dungeons and interacting with different factions represented by NPCs. It is written to be broad and widely applicable to many different campaigns, but generally staying within the framework set up by the mechanics of the Player's Handbook (e.g. no magic-less settings or conflict-free utopias). This approach to worldbuilding focusses on the aspects of the setting that are most relevant to a campaign. It is written to be a fast but comprehensive framework for your setting as a whole, and the countries and regions within it. The goal is to make it easy and fun to make a campaign setting from scratch, possibly even collaboratively with the group ## Truths of this land These are the general truths that describe how your setting interprets some of the main aspects of D&D. They are mostly questions to get you thinking productively in your world-building, with example suggestions vaguely on the law-chaos spectrum. The suggestions are mostly written from the perspective of the society in question, and the **Law** -- **Chaos** answers are seen in relation to the societal norm. Pick the choices you like best or come up with *your own althernative answers* to the Questions. ### Whose ruins are these? - #### Law Legends tell of a tyrannical empire, who conquered this land, stretching out as far as could be seen. They sub-jected our ancestors, their destiny not their own. But one day they rose up, and overthrew their oppressors. The fate of empire is to know collapse, and now theirs has shattered into a thousand pieces. We shall never suffer tyrants again. - #### Neutral This land was once united by a great empire, our empire. Law and peace ruled the land, and many wonders were built. But the splendor of empire fell to chaos, and now their cities have collapses, their roads are overgrown, and only feuding barons and squabbling counts are left to guard the land. Much have we lost. - #### Chaos Terrible ruins scatter these lands. Their purpose and origins are unknown to us, as are the meaning of their inscriptions. Scholars and mystics flock to study them, but most shun them. Dangers lie with those cursed places, and only ill can come of it. - #### __..............................................__ - *Who were these people?* - *What did they achieve?* - *How did they fall?* ' ** ### Who are we at War with? - #### Law Our freedom and independence is in peril. A tyrannical empire is perparing their forces to invade our land. All troops are being mustered to our defence and levies are being drafted. It will require a miracle for us to win, but we will die before we surrender. - *What is the empire?* - *Why did they attack?* - #### Neutral We are at war with our neighboring country. Few seem to know the real reason why. A succession struggle? Land claims? Border conflicts? Who knows. This isnt the first time, and it wont be the last. - *Who is the enemy?* - *What are the consequences of this war?* - #### Chaos The legitimacy of the system has been toppled and the country has turned on itself in a civil war. Factions fight for control, as some struggle to stay in power, while others try to change the world. Both are convinced they are in the right. - *What started the conflict.* - *What are the factions?* - #### __..............................................__ ### What role does magic have? - #### Law Mages are integral to the workings of the civilized world. Most towns have a resident mage, and cities might have magical emporiums. They are educated at the best universities to research the fringes of magic, craft wonderous items, and aid the rulers of the land. - *Magic is advanced and respected, but also heavily regulated. Those outside the system tend to hide from the law or keep to the lawless wilderness.* - #### Neutral True mages are a rare sight in this world now. They are hermits hidden away in faraway towers or councilors at the right hand sides of great kings. Most people have never seen a true mage, only the hedge-wizards and charlatans that wander from town to town, peddling charms and simple trinkets. - *Aspiring mages have to piece together their own knowledge of magic, from trial and error and scavenged texts. Or they can brave the wilderness to seek apprenticeship from a remote mage.* - #### Chaos Black magic and witchcraft is a curse upon the world, a wild and corrupting force. They say it has a will of its own and cannot be controlled. Mages are sought out for desperate aid, but they are feared and possibly even criminal, pursued by witch hunters. - *Mages hide out in secret societies and glamoured hideouts, pursuing forbidden knowledge at great risk. They walk in disguise through the crowds, or flee in exile to the borderlands.* - #### __..............................................__ \page

### What role does faith have? - #### Law There is but one true faith of the land, and it is overseen by the holy church. Their clerics preach the doctrine and the saints' teachings, they heal the sick and perform miracles. Their paladins battle demons, the undead and worst of all the heretics. Their word is law on all spiritual matters. - *The church is a force to be reckoned with. A member of one of its many orders would gain many advantages from the church's power. Followers of other faiths do best however to stay in the shadows to evade the inquisition.* - #### Neutral There is a grand pantheon of gods worshipped by different followers, often in disagreement. Countless conflicts have transpired between different sects. - *Few doubt the existence of the gods, who's might is evident in the power of their followers. But the gods are anything but united and clear in their purpose.* - #### Chaos Some say the gods are dead. Others say civilization has moved past the need for such primitive rituals. The gods are seen as dangerous, and their worship is therefore banned. Belief persists however in hidden altars, small trinkets and desperate offerings in the night. - *Though most clerics still have powers, these are seen as simple magic and old tricks. Still they are feared, as you can never be entirely sure who answers your prayers. No-one doubts the existence of demons.* - #### __..............................................__ ### Where do undead come from? - #### Law A great evil enacted a foul ritual, cursing the land for miles around, and breaking the natural order of life and death. All life perished and then rose again, like macabre puppets. Great armies of corpses now besiege the living, threatening to conquer all of life. - *Who is this great evil?* - *Who do battle against the dead?* - #### Neutral Old lore teaches that the dead do not rest if wronged. Bodies must be properly cleansed and hallowed, violent deaths must be atoned for, offerings given, and tombs left in peace. Sadly too few observe the old ways, and some willfully disturb the dead in search of power. - *What puts the dead to rest?* - *Who still care for the dead?* - #### Chaos A plague is spreading through the land, a plague of the living dead. Some say it is vengeance from nature itself, others see it as merely terrible disease, but all flee from the stink of death approaching. Whole cities lie dead as the people either flee or join the risen. - *How does the sickness spread?* - *Who is trying to stop it?* - #### __..............................................__ ** ### Where do monsters come from? - #### Law Legends tell of an ancient empire that went against the natural order. Through sorcerous experiments they corrupted the creatures of the land. The empire collapsed in time, but the monsters they created live on. - *Where are the empires ruins now?* - *Have their techniques been passed on?* - #### Neutral A magical calamity struck this world in the past, changing its natural order. Large areas are still scarred from this event, and the malformed creatures that spawned from it still roam the world. - *How do these scarred lands look?* - *Did the event have any other effects on the world?* - #### Chaos What we call monsters are remnants of an older world, relics of when nature ruled unchallenged. Now they roam the wild places, guardians against the encroaching taming of the land. - *What kinds of places do they guard?* - *Do the creatures have any cultural significance?* - #### __..............................................__ ### Do we know of other worlds? - #### Law Sages know of many other planes of existence orbiting our own. Their relations are intricate but comprehensible. With careful study, their boundaries can be crossed. - *Travel and trade between the worlds is a known quantity. Markets can contain objects from other worlds, and some can create pocket-worlds.* - #### Neutral The edges of the world are soft and blurry in many places. Legends tell of rituals and old gateways, to the realms of dream, of death, of the world below. But wandering into hell is much easier than returning. - *Other worlds are poorly understood, mostly reached through old rituals, natural gateways and ancient portals. Bizarre places and extraordinary beings are connected to these otherworldly connections.* - #### Chaos There is but one world, and it is this one. Madmen and swindlers will talk of other worlds, but we hardly know our own. - *Achieving travel to them, or even just prooving their existence would be a great feat. Otherworldly beings are rare and connected with various superstitions.* - #### __..............................................__ \page

## Countries Whether it's a city state or an empire, a country will be any Incependent state, and is made up of different regions. The relevance of the country in a setting is mostly its culture and laws, so those will be the focus. Roll **1-3+** countries, where one is your country and the others are its neighbors, who are either hostile or neutral. Name then at the end based on their results. ### Culture #### National Character Roll the Character Traits for the people of this country and interpret how others perceive them. - *E.g. (Brave, Stubborn, Hard-hearted)* #### Virtue What is the highest virtue a person should aspire to in life?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Ambition | | 2 | Honor | | 3 | Truth | | 4 | Hard work | | 5 | Success | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 6 | Sacrifice | | 7 | Balance | | 8 | Might | | 9 | Knowledge | | 10 | Purity |

#### Language (Optional) Giving the country a set language base can help be a touchstone. It gives you a list to draw names from, and acts as a shorthand for your country's cultural connotations. Gary Gygax' Extraordinary Book of Names is a good resource, as are many online tools. Alternatively you could choose dialects from the language you are running your game in. Here are some suggestions of languages:

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Spanish | | 2 | Turkish | | 3 | Polish | | 4 | Irish | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 5 | Japanese | | 6 | German | | 7 | Arabic | | 8 | Hindi |

### Population Roll (*d100*) **1-3+** peoples to be the country's main population.

| | | |:----:|:--------| | 1-20 | Humans | | 21-30 | Dwarves | | 31-35 | Halflings | | 36-40 | Gnomes | | 41-45 | Half-elves | | 46-50 | Elves | | 51-55 | Drow | | 56-60 | Dragonborn | | 61-65 | Half-giants | | 66-70 | Half-orcs | | 71-75 | Orcs | | 76-80 | Goblinoids | | 81-85 | Yuan-ti | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 86 | Aarakocra | | 87 | Loxodons | | 88 | Tabaxi | | 89 | Tortle | | 90 | Kenku | | 91 | Lizard folk | | 92 | Tieflings | | 93 | Aasimar | | 94 | Air Genasi| | 95 | Earth Genasi | | 96 | Fire Genasi | | 97 | Water Genasi | | 98-00 | Even rarer |

'

##### Character Traits - 3d100 |D100| |D100| | D100| | |:---:|:---|:---:|:---|:---:|:--------| | 1 | Stoic | 35 | Dangerous | 69 | Manipulative | | 2 | Attractive | 36 | Quirky | 70 | Relaxed | | 3 | Passive | 37 | Cheery | 71 |Stealthy| | 4 | Aloof | 38 | Disfigured | 72 | Confident | | 5 | Affectionate | 39 | Intolerant | 73 | Weak | | 6 | Generous | 40 | Skilled | 74 | Friendly | | 7 | Smug | 41 | Stingy | 75 | Wise | | 8 | Armed | 42 | Timid | 76 | Influential | | 9 | Clever | 43 | Insensitive | 77 | Young | | 10 | Brave | 44 | Wild | 78 | Adventurous | | 11 | Ugly | 45 | Bitter | 79 | Oppressed | | 12 | Sociable | 46 | Cunning | 80 | Vengeful | | 13 | Doomed | 47 | Remorseful | 81 | Cooperative | | 14 | Connected | 48 | Kind | 82 | Armored | | 15 | Bold | 49 | Charming | 83 | Apathetic | | 16 | Jealous | 50 | Oblivious | 84 | Determined | | 17 | Angry | 51 | Critical | 85 | Loyal | | 18 | Active | 52 | Cautious | 86 | Sick | | 19 | Suspicious | 53 | Resourceful | 87 | Religious | | 20 | Hostile | 54 | Weary | 88 | Selfish | | 21 | Hardhearted | 55 | Wounded | 89 | Fervent | | 22 | Successful| 56 | Anxious | 90 | Old | | 23 | Talented | 57 | Powerful | 91 | Violent | | 24 | Experienced | 58 | Athletic | 92 | Agreeable | | 25 | Deceitful | 59 | Driven | 93 | Hot-tempered | | 26 | Ambitious | 60 | Cruel | 94 | Stubborn | | 27 | Aggressive | 61 | Quiet | 95 | Incompetent | | 28 | Conceited | 62 | Honest | 96 | Greedy | | 29 | Proud | 63 | Infamous | 97 | Cowardly | | 30 | Stern | 64 | Dying | 98 | Obsessed | | 31 | Dependent | 65 | Reclusive | 99 | Careless | | 32 | Wary | 66 | Artistic | 00 | Chosen | | 33 | Strong | 67 | Disabled | | | | 34 | Insightful | 68 | Confused | | |

>#### How do these peoples coexist? - *Do they each have different main regions?* - *Are there social class differences?* - *Is there conflict between them?* \page ### Ruling class and leaders What is the ruling hierarchy that decides the country's fate. This can be expanded into the main villains of the campaign if the party goes against the tyrannical state. But otherwise they are the actors affectiong the high level of the country, creating laws and declaring wars. ##### 1: Monarchy A single dynastic leader, the monarch, rules the country for life, through a court administration and feudal subjects. ##### 2: Theocracy A clerical hierarchy, led by a high priest, who aside from their spiritual power, also administer the country politically. ##### 3: Aristocracy A council or parliament of the country's landowning nobles govern the land, lead by their most influential. ##### 4: Thaumocracy The strongest mages govern the country, their power directly derived from their arcane abilities and knowledge. ##### 5: Federation Many self-governing regions loosely rule the country through their representatives, electing a leader to protect them. ##### 6: Fantastical Being A dragon, angel, giant, or likewise singularly powerful being controls the country through their own might and willpower. #### Who is the leader? - Roll their Character Traits and assign them a name. - *(E.g. Infamous, Clever, Sick. - King Reginald VI.)* #### What do they want?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Secure legitimacy | | 2 | Avenge a wrong | | 3 | Seize power | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 4 | Harm a rival | | 5 | Protect the status quo | | 6 | Secure alliance |

#### Political Titles (Optional) If politics are central to the campaign, more Characters can be put in control of different offices of power. These can also become enemy Lieutenants, if the Ruler becomes a villain of your campaign:

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Faith | | 2 | Magic | | 3 | Espionage | | 4 | Military | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 5 | Treasury | | 6 | Diplomacy | | 7 | Security | | 8 | Law |

Roll for their Character Traits and give them names, motives and relationships. Make one of them a spy or a traitor. - *(E.g. Cunning, Stern, Old. -- Captain Harvey -- Grooming the king's heir to be his puppet)* #### Unwanted Who is guaranteed a bounty on their head?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Deserters and spies | | 2 | Heretics and mystics | | 3 | Former nobles | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 4 | Loyalists and traitors| | 5 | Freaks and mutants | | 6 | A population of people |

### Name The country's name is hard to roll randomly, as only some words sound right as names for countries. Here are some examples of common naming conventions for countries, use them as inspiration for the name that fits your country:

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Region (Spain, Germany) | | 2 | Tribe (France, England) | | 3 | Dynasty (Ottoman em-pire, Habsburg empire) | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 4 | Landmark (India, Egypt)| | 5 | Location (Austria, Japan)| | 6 | Person (Georgia, Bavaria) |

## Regions Regions are the building-blocks of countries. While countries set up the overall high-level frameworks, regions define the lived reality. A country is made up of many different regions, which are areas of land with a defined character. These are here simplified into four types: **Cities, Heartlands, Hinterlands, and Marches.** Regions have been defined through tradition and a long history, but should as a rule of thumb have similar characteristics and the same leader. Regional leaders can be expanded like country rulers, if they become very important . Regions have no set size, and could be in groups, e.g. in twin cities, or as different heartland regions within the same fertile valley, but they should be made different from each other to merit the distinctions. To start with, roll for about **4-9** (*1d6+3* ) regions, devided amoung your countries, weighted towards the most relevant. ### The City Cities are the centerpoints of the countries, being the political seat of power and the industrialhouses of the economies. They are the endpoint of most trade, taking in food and materials in exchange for finished products and minted coins. City life is dominated by trade guilds, craftsmen's guilds, the clergy, and the nobility, who all varyingly have seats at the city council, headed by the mayor. Space is limited with the city limits, and so people live cramped, and the streets are narrow, dark and dirty outside of the rich districts. Crime is organized by gangs who fight for control and either fight or bribe the city watchmen. Those caught are punished publicly. #### Who is the Mayor? Roll their Character Traits and assign a name. - *(E.g. Hostile, Hot-tempered, Ugly - His Honor the Lord Mayor, Maurice Clamp)* #### What is the city famous for?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Arcane university | | 2 | Bazar of wonders | | 3 | Pilgrim's garden | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 4 | Starsteel foundry | | 5 | Gladiatorial arena | | 6 | Hanging prison |

#### What are the people like? Roll for their Character Traits as a group. - *(E.g. Greedy, Selfish, Ambitious)* #### What dangers lurk in the shadows? #### What is the City's Name? #### What are the different districts? \page

### The Heartlands The foundation of a realm is its farmland and those who work it. Sprawled around every town and city and in every fertile part of the land is a network of villages and farms, orchards and pastures. Aside from subsistence farming, regions are often specialized few crops that thrive there. Traders and markets travel between the towns and villages, trading wares and offering specialized services and knowledge. The region is governed from its larger towns, by the nobility in large estates out in the countryside. Reeves and traveling justices settle disputes and uphold the law. The year is centered around the sowing and harvest seasons, with periods of partial leisure in between. #### Who Rules this land? Roll their Character Traits and assign a name. - *(E.g. Relaxed, Wounded, Connected. - Her Grace the Duchess Avella)* #### What does this region specialize in?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Fruits and wine | | 2 | Cattle and cheeses | | 3 | Wheat and beer | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 4 | Cloth and spirits | | 5 | Meats and spices | | 6 | Fish and salt |

#### What are the people like? Roll for their Character Traits as a group. - *(E.g. Experienced, Honest, Violent)* #### What is threatening the Peace? #### What is this Region named? #### What are the different villages called? ' ### The Hinterlands A region nominally within the borders of the country, but too wild and inhospitable to be controlled fully. Small hamlets are nestled around lone roads and rivers, surrounded by wilderness. Threatened by bandits and beasts, settlements often have walls or dikes around them. Larger towns are mostly along trade routes, either in fertile areas or near the specialized industries developed around the region's valuable resources. The local inhabitants are accustomed to the difficult cir-cumstances, becoming experts and adapting their way of life. #### Who Rules this Land? Roll their Character Traits and assign a name. - *(E.g. Apathetic, Greedy, Connected - Overseer General Lukas Moray)* #### What is the rough terrain?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Dark woods | | 2 | Flooded swamp | | 3 | Jagged hills | | 4 | Dense Jungle | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 5 | Cursed badlands | | 6 | Turbulent waters | | 7 | Barren desert | | 8 | Volcanic fields |

** ** #### What is of value here?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Furs and ivory | | 2 | Gems and metals | | 3 | Herbs and medicine | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 4 | Building materials | | 5 | Delicacies | | 6 | Artifacts |

#### What are the people like? Roll for their Character Traits as a group. - *(E.g. Disabled, Vengeful, Stealthy)* #### What dangers lie out there? #### What is this Region named? ### The March Marches are the defensive border regions of a country, defined either by natural barriers, political treaties or ancient ruined landmarks. They are often heavily militarized, and their rulers have a lot of political power because of their standing armies. The inhabitants sometimes have increased rights, to offset the risks and dangers, while they can be harshly repressed by the guards. Marches are sometimes occupied vassal states or fortified no-man's-lands. Smugglers trade across the border and the lawless seek a new life beyond it. #### Who Rules this Land? Roll their Character Traits and assign a name. - *(E.g. Powerful, Stoic, Dying - Marquessa Myria de Nell)* #### What are the people like? Roll for their Character Traits as a group. - *(E.g. Fervent, Armored, Smug)* #### What is the border defined by?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Fortifications | | 2 | Highland pass | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 3 | River crossing | | 4 | Ancient landmarks |

#### What lies beyond the border?

| | | |:---:|:------------| | 1 | Hostile empire | | 2 | Cursed and blighted land | | | | |:---:|:------------| | 3 | Horrendous monsters | | 4 | Gateway to another world |

#### What is this Region named? ### Drawing it all out. This method does not require any maps to be drawn, but a sketch of your countries and their regions can be helpful. Draw out a rough shape for each country *(perhaps drawn around groups of coloured dice)*, making them all border at least two others. Then add in the regions. Capitol cities are typically centrally located in the country, with smaller cities spread around. They are surrounded by heartlands and founded on waterways that run down from the highlands towards the sea. Roads connect cities, crossing borders into other countries. Hinterlands are typically separated from a city by heartlands. Marches are located where the country's borders are crossed, sometimes right up against another march. These are just broad suggestions suggestions, and many exceptions could be thought of, such as a border city within a march.

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