Well... I had a brainstorming request and came up with this. It isn't brilliant, but may prove useful, I hope anyway. It's pretty self-explanatory. And since I can't get the stupid file to upload, I'm just going to copy/paste it here.

How to construct a premise or setting for a roleplay or a story.

Ideas are funny things. They happen when you least expect them, but not often when you want them to. So… on behalf of everyone who’s ever had brain block, I’ve endeavored to make a useful tool. I can’t promise this will get you the storyline you want or cure writers block, (setting the debate over the existence of writers block aside) but knowing what you don’t want will help you find what you do want.

This tool is actually pretty simple. Just pick something (or in some cases several somethings) from every list that appeals. If you don’t find something you like, fill in something else. Yes, I know I have drawn on stereotypes and clichés. That’s because I’m lazy and it works.

A. Setting-technological
1. Primitive, stone tools, wearing furs, getting et by predators, the works.
2. Mideval, swords, knights, serfs, and all of that.
3. 1800s-ish, horse drawn carriages, occasional steam powered stuff, possibly electricity?
4. Modern, Cars, airplanes, clumsy space travel, and debates over how to not destroy our planet.
5. Near future, Interesting technical capabilities, possible contact with extraplanetary intelligence, hovering/floaty stuff, advanced medicine, commonplace genetic tweaking.
6. Far future, Reliable space travel, artificial intelligence, cyborgs, playing with DNA to an extreme extent, and soforth.
7. A lower level of technology which has had a higher level of technology swiftly introduced
8. A higher level of technology which has been destroyed, and now so unstably resides at a lower level.

B. Setting-spatial
1. On Earth that we know
1.a. In a city
1.b. In the wilderness
1.c. In the suburbs
1.d. In a place of learning
1.e. In a mad scientists lair
1.f. In a hidden government site
1.g. In a typical place of work
2. On another planet/world
2.a. Check with above mentioned spatial settings.
3. In between worlds
3.a. In space traveling between worlds
3.b. In space on a space port or dock
4. In another dimension
4.a. A dimension in which return from the point of origin is impossible or improbable (like some afterlife scenarios)
4.b. A dimension in which travel between it and point of origin is possible but with limits (like other afterlife scenarios, and some sci-fi premises)

C. Setting-societal
1. In a prosperous country/city/area
2. In a prosperous country/city/area with some secrets/unfriendly to the protagonist
3. In a poorer country/city/area
4. In a poorer country/city/area with some secrets/unfriendly to the protagonist
5. In a country/city/area currently freaking out over some minority the protagonist belongs to
6. Fill in the blank with the social issue of your choice.

D. Setting-magical
1. No noticeable magic, though possibly some references thereto from fringe groups
2. From perspective of the fringe groups, psi, telepathy, and a few other things not acknowledged by the society at large and science
3. No noticeable magic to the perspective of the general population, though it exists strongly and is used by groups who keep most people in the dark. Strong but hidden
4. Magic of varying strength acknowledged by the population at large, though only used by a few
5. Magic used by everyone for nearly everything.

E. General plotline/character motivation (I’ll keep this loose and am sure I’m skipping some.)
1. Family
1.a Character’s family is destroyed somehow, be it annihilation, or simply the character moving away
1.b. Character seeks family, be it a mate, or traditional spouse, kids and picket fence
1.c. Fill in the blank
2. Physical
2.a. Character gets deformed/marked somehow
2.b. Character gets some kind of odd powers/abilities
2.c. Character loses some kind of ability
2.d. Fill in the blank
3. Societal
3.a. Character called upon to save the world
3.b. World (or what seems like it) called upon to destroy the character
3.c. Fill in the blank
4. Antagonist
4.a. Enemy appears out of nowhere
4.b. Friend turns into enemy
4.c. Enemy turns into friend
4.d. Enemy appears out of the past
4.e. Fill in the blank
5. Friends and other companions
5.a. Companion has any of the above happen and needs aid
5.b. Companion aids character with any of the above
5.c. Character meets companion
5.d. Character is inherently in a group
5.e. Character is inherently external from group
5.f. Fill in the blank

So… the Harry Potter series would be close to an A.4-B.1.d.-C.2.-D.3-E.1.a.2.a.b.3.a.b.4.d.5.b.c.d.e.f
While the original star wars trilogy would be close to an A.6.-B.2.a.b.d.3.a.b.-C.5-D.4-E.1.a.2.a.b.3.a.b.4.c.d.5.a.b.c.f.

Hmm, kind of alike, eh? Well, that’s the Joseph Campbell thing going on for ya. Anyway, hope this helps in some way, or at least narrows things down for you.


Heh, now I gotta wonder if it'll irk any Star Wars or HP fans. Hope not, but ah, well.

Oh, and Star Wars and Harry Potter are copyright to very wealthy people I don't want to mess with and all that.

This little list is copyright to me, but you're welcome to use/distribute it as long as it's not used for profit but is credited back here.