| Foundational Member |
 |
 |
Joined: February 16th, 2010, 10:36 pm
Posts: 2603
|
As I was working on my Intense Race Fractalling System post, I started to realize that there was no way a single system could possibly hope to look at every possible facet of creating a race. So I came to the conclusion that it would be beneficial to look at each race through the eyes of multiple approaches for the fullest effect. True, there would likely be some overlap/repetition, but you could skip those parts and focus on the unique parts of each system to help flush your races into living breathing races. What started this was my realization that there are several questions in the 3Literati's Deep Character Fractalling System (DCFS) that could actually be very helpful for developing fantasy races. So I've taken the parts that could be helpful for race development and converted them into race-creation questions! I give full credit for these ideas to Jay, Patrick, and Juliet; I merely converted their ideas to a form applicable to a different subject. All props goes to them. Here's how I've decided to go about doing this for efficiency's sake. I'll quote each part of the DCFS as originally posted by Jay. Whenever you see words [in brackets] that means they're my words edited in, not Jay's. When you see […] it means I deleted something that Jay said. Make sense? Ok then, here we go!  Quote: - 'Who' Stage
This is the first and most foundational of all the stages. This is where you create an abstract [race] to work with. You are mainly creating the material with which to create a [race], if you will. If you have a general idea of your [race], no idea at all, or even if you already have a well developed [race], then this step needs to be your first step (which pretty much exhausts the possibilities, hence our placement of it at the beginning). At the end you will have an abstract, summarial view of what the [race] is going to look like after you are done with the fractalling. But expect this to change: this and all other steps are subject to revision from later steps!
- Who is your [race] as described in one sentence?
Write one sentence giving an overview or summary of your [race]. This is generally pretty hard to do (and that is good), but it is very helpful. It will not cover everything in the [race] by no means. It will simply give you a snapshot view of the [race]. Do not include anything about what the [race] looks like! That is not what this is for. Wait patiently for that. - Who is your [race] as described by several key words?
Take several key words from the sentence in the last step. Now think of some other words that might help describe your [race] abstractly. [Are they] more like Lightning, or more like an Ember? - Who is your [race] as described in one paragraph?
Take your key words and expand them into a paragraph of several sentences. Remember that this is not primarily a description of your [race]'s appearance, but [their] persona, [their] inner self. You can also put some of [their] history in here, if [it is] vital to [their] existence and explaining [them]. - Who is your [race] as described by several key phrases?
Take several phrases out of the paragraph that you just made that seem to be key to your [race]. Stuff like 'fighting for liberty' or 'enveloped in shame' are good. Then make some more that you couldn't fit into the descriptions so far. Make a list. - Who is your [race] as described by several paragraphs?
Now you get to write a whole page or more (or less) about your [race]! Take your key phrases and expand each into a full paragraph talking about that particular aspect of your [race]. If this is getting repetitive, not to worry, that is how fractalling is done! Don't lose your steam: keep right on going! - Who is your [race] as described by several essence maps?
Alright, this is where it gets confusing, maybe. Hopefully not. Understanding essence, meta-essence, and essence mapping is very very useful, and is crucial to these last two steps. If you can do it, do it, because it will help the rest of your development of your [race] tremendously. Anyways, take each paragraph that you wrote in the last step and create one, small (or large if you wish), essence map for it. Each essence map will give you a glimpse into that facet of your [race] that will be invaluable to you. If you really do not get essence and are starting to liken it to a hulking, slimy monster that wants to stir fry your mind in molasses, skip it. Just write down a list of similes or metaphors for each paragraph. - Who is your [race] as described by an essence map?
Now write one big essence map for your [race]. You should already have a bird's eye view of your perception of [it], and so this should not be too hard if you understand essence mapping and meta-essence at all. If you still cannot bring yourself to make an essence map, just give a very artistic description of your [race]'s personality and character and etc. using lots and lots of similes and metaphors (don't let yourself focus on the [race]'s appearance, remember).
The next step in the DCFS looks at the character's personality. With some extra work, I could probably have found a way to apply it to race creation, but I'm taking the coward's route and leaving it out for right now. My brain is tired from my last fractalling system. The next stage looks at a character's worldview and I find the questions very helpful for developing a culture or society. Now ideally, a race would contain several cultures or societies, so you might have to repeat these steps a few times in order to develop your whole race, but I believe it would be well worth it Quote: - 'Why' Stage
Everyone has a worldview: a set of beliefs that defines how they make their decisions. Everyone also has a history of circumstances that works with those beliefs to influence how and why they act the way they do. These two facets of your [race] make up the Why of their actions and decisions. You need to understand this part of your [race] intimately or else [they] will be very shallow indeed. Remember that not everyone is consistent or predictable (actually, no one is), so do not be too picky about making sure that [they] [make] complete sense. The important part is that [they] [make] sense to himself.
- What axioms and definitions influence your [race]'s decisions?
Everyone has certain unique definitions and fundamental assumptions that act as the foundation for [their] beliefs. For example: materialists define science in a way that excludes God, and this affects their use of science dramatically: they will not allow a divine foot in the door. What are the assumptions, dogmas, and biases that your [race] has as an integral part of [their] nature? - What does your [race] believe about origins and how does that influence [their] decisions?
What does your [race] believe about where we all came from? What [do they] believe about creation? How [do they] view [their] beliefs? How does it affect the way [they] [act] and [make] decisions? [Do they] believe that a god created everything, or [do they] believe that everything made itself? Was it long ages ago, or only recently? [Do they] believe that we cannot know? - What does your [race] believe about afterlife and how does that influence [their] decisions?
What does your [race] believe about what happens when we die? Do we just vanish into oblivion? Do we have another chance? Do we reincarnate? Are we faced with a judgment day? How [do they] see this as affecting [their] life? Does [they] care? - What does your [race] believe about law and how does that influence [their] decisions?
What is your [race]'s source of morals? Who [do they] hold to be the authority? Whose commands [do they] respect? [Do they] value authority at all? [Do they] consider the Bible (or whatever is in your world if this is fantasy) to be the revealed Word of God? [Do they] let any of this impact [their] life or decisions?
[Here there were sections on the character’s family and friends that didn’t translate well into race creation so I deleted them. This though would be where you ask questions about how your race views/values family and how friendships typically look in your race.] - What religion does your [race] subscribe to externally?
Not everyone actually believes in the religion that they claim to practice. We have already settled what your [race] believes, but what [do they] subscribe to, or practice? One might be an atheist, but maybe he acts like a catholic because he likes the traditions. Why [do members of your race] act religious? [Do they] act religiously at all?
Quote: - 'If' Stage
This stage will force you to violently separate your [race] from your perception of his circumstances and attributes: from everything that he has no choice about and some that he does. You will need to imagine what your [race] would be like if [they were] in a different place or if [they were] in a different situation or if [they] looked different, etc. You might not know what your [race] really is in many of these questions, but that just makes it easier. Simply try various combinations of these variables and see how your [race] changes, and what stays the same.
- What if your [race]'s religion was different?
If your [race] believed something very different than what [they do], how would [they] act with the other religion? If [they were] catholic, what kind of catholic[s] would [they] be? If [they were] atheist[s], what kind of atheist[s] would [they] be? If [they were] a Christian, what kind of a Christian would they be? Would [they] hold to this or that denomination? Would [they] tithe, go to church, or just act the same as before? - What if your [race] lived in a different world? […]
- What if your [race] had a different history […]? […]
- [This points asks “What if your character was a different gender?” Not really applicable here.]
- [What if your race had different abilities]?
- [this point next point asks “What if your character was from a different race or nation?” which is a moot point to apply to race creation, so I omitted it.]
- What if your [race] looked different? […]
I skipped the "Where" stage as well. The next stage, the "How" stage has some similarities to the "How" stage in my ICFS, but I decided to adapt parts of it as well A lot of the next questions apply more to specific cultures than to an entire race, but I still substituted the word "race" for character for consistency's sake. Quote: - 'How' Stage
How does your [race] look? What are the distinctive characteristics of [their] appearance? This is the last stage, and you can at last have fun with what your [race] looks like. Yes, it is important (just not as important as the rest), so go be creative and artistic!
- How [do members of your race] display [their] various moods?
What are the distinctive mannerisms that show the various moods of your [race]? What [do they] do/say when [they are] pensive, angry, afraid, excited, in love, etc.? Be simple (“whenever [they are] afraid [they stand] on [their] head[s] and [yodel]” is not quite right), realistic (but imaginative), and natural (would [they] really do that?). - How [do members of your race] live normal life? habits/hobbies/normal life
What habits guide [them] during [their] day to day life? What are [common] hobbies and curious interests? […] - What is your [race]'s frame?
What shape is your [race]? [Are they] tall, short, wide, lean, muscular, wimpy? What shape [are their faces]? [Do they] have […] strong jaw[s], […] high forehead[s], maybe […] wide cranium[s]? How well built [are they]? - How does your [race] fight?
What system of martial arts does your [race] use predominantly? [Do they] prefer to keep at a distance and cast projectiles, or use a sword and spear at closer range? [Do they] prefer striking to ground fighting? [Do they] fight at all? What sort of tactics [do they] use? - What are your [race]'s features?
Everyone has certain distinctive characteristics that are unique about his or her face and body. These make up what we immediately recognize as that person, even before we hear their voice. Most people realize this, and spend time filling out endless […] charts of the hair and eye color and etc. of their characters. There is a lot more. George MacDonald said no description of a character was complete until you had described, among other things, their nose. Therefore, we have compiled a short, and by no means exhaustive, list of features to consider in your description of your [race]: hair, eyebrows, facial hair, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, cheekbones, ears, chin, hands, fingers, and complexion. - How does your [race] speak?
[Do members of your race generally] have a deep, high, whiny, cruel, or cold voice? Is there any particular turn of speech that is distinctive to [them]? [Do they] ask questions in a particular way, or [do they] neglect a certain grammatical rule? [...] - What [do members of your race] wear or carry with [them]?
What is your [race]'s choice of clothing? Of course, [they] will end up in situations that will dictate [their] garb, but what about when [they are] able to choose? […] What weapons [do they] carry about with [them]? What heirlooms are important to [them]?
So there you have it! All the wonderfulness of the DCFS converted to help you with race-development! And like I pointed out earlier, a lot of this can be more helpful for developing cultures/societies than for entire races. Have fun!
_________________
~Seer~
"I think armpit hair's pretty intimate!" - Roager
"I am so glad I'm getting locked in the basement today." - Airianna Valenshia
"You are the laughter I forgot how to make." - Calista Beth
"Sorry, I was busy asphyxiating Mama R." - Seer
"I'm a man of many personalities, but tell you what? They're all very fond of you." - Sheogorath from Elder Scrolls Online
|
|
That is tough. But very helpful. Thank you, Seer! 
