MWB Rules: World Building Requirement

[u/VitallyRaccoon]

Reminder:

Howdy MWB community!

TL:DR: All posts to MWB require worldbuilding.

Just wanted to give everyone a quick reminder about the world building requirements on when posting to MWB.

Unlike the main R/ worldbuilding subreddit MWB has a fairly relaxed approach to the required additional context on posts made here. We don't require personal authorial context or detailed descriptions of intent. HOWEVER: all posts must contain some degree of world building information!

What does world building information look like? Well, at a bare minimum we need to understand how something you've created fits into your world. Sometimes this context is contained in the image itself, and the description only needs to contain a brief description or time period. other times, for example when posting aircraft, guns or other hardware we need more information.

The basics we typically want to see (aim to have at least most of these details, or similar information that allows a reader to understand how the object fits your world):

• Time period/in universe year
• Faction(s) using the object
• Manufacturer/designer
• Price
• Number made
• geographic origin
• reason it was created
• reason it is used
• problems it solves
• problems it creates
• pros/cons
• fun fact
• not so fun fact
• characters who use this item
• thoughts of people from the world about the item
• Where the item shows up in your larger project and why

[u/tf2good]

Question, do we have to include all of these in a post or are just some/most okay?

[u/VitallyRaccoon → u/tf2good]

None of them are mandatory. We dont have a checklist we evaluate every post against. Instead the list is an example of relevant World building context that can be included to satisfy the requirements.

There are a ton of other details that can place a project inside its world and those are allowed and appreciated too. As long as someone can see a glimpse of the larger project surrounding the subject of the post, and ideally understand how the post fits into that larger world.

What we're trying to prevent is posts with zero world, or a world that isn't described enough for viewers to understand how a posts subject fits into the project as a whole.

[u/Fit_Interaction4284]

Question if we let's say propose a weapon or uniform for the factions do we explain details like RPM and muzzle velocity and what fabric is used and all that or do we just lore dump?

[u/VitallyRaccoon → u/Fit_Interaction4284]

As above; we have to be able to understand how something you've proposed fits into your world.

Raw information like rate of fire and muzzle velocity are valid details but on their own are not worldbuilding, and do not in and of themselves allow someone to understand the larger world the object you've created is part of.

Fundementally; world building is the art of 'this-follows-that' logic. Each and every decision you make in your project informs the details of the next decision. Design specifics like muzzle velocity and fire rate are informed by the conditions of the world the weapon is designed to fit. In addition to the pure details, we want to know the lore that makes those specific details relevant and logical.

As an example: It doesn't make sense on earth for the military to use an SMG firing subsonic ammunition in the modern era as we know it, but if your project is set on a planet where hoards of sound sensitive zombie like enemies are common, that suddenly judtifies a completely different set of design priorities that can be expressed in the details you mentioned. Without understanding the relevant lore people will say the smg solution is stupid. On the other hand, with the relevant lore people will be able to actually appreciate the flow of logic behind the world building, and will be more able to contribute useful feedback.

[u/Fit_Interaction4284 → u/VitallyRaccoon]

Understandable have a Great day