EPISODE 21: WORLDBUILDING WALKTHROUGH - PART I

Written By Stephen Slota

Episode 21: Worldbuilding Walkthrough - Part I | 14 April 2026

In this three-episode series, Stephen and Trent walk the walk by collaboratively constructing a storyworld using The Worldbuilding Workshop card deck and design process!

Part I features a brief recap of the 14-substructure worldbuilding framework, examples of how different substructures are expressed in different popular media, and a step-by-step assignment of numerical values to a “from scratch” world. Then, the duo interprets, scaffolds, and contextualizes their world’s substructural values in advance of Part II (determining genre, theme, scope, and sequence) and Part III (generating a diverse population of characters).

Episode References:

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  • Wizards of the Coast. (2014). Dungeons & dragons player’s handbook (5th ed.) [Tabletop game]. Wizards of the Coast.

  • Härenstam, T. (2020). Vaesen: Nordic horror roleplaying [Tabletop game]. Free League Publishing.

  • Lucas, G. (Director). (1977). Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [Film]. Lucasfilm; 20th Century Fox.

  • Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954). The fellowship of the ring. George Allen & Unwin.

  • Spielberg, S. (Director). (2002). Minority Report [Film]. Twentieth Century Fox.

  • Orwell, G. (1949). 1984. Secker & Warburg.

  • Huxley, A. (2010). Brave new world (11th ed.). Vintage.

  • Culliford, P. [Peyo] (Creator). (1981–1989). The Smurfs [TV series]. Hanna-Barbera Productions; NBC.

  • Naughty Dog. (2013). The Last of Us [Video game]. Sony Computer Entertainment.

  • Irrational Games. (2007). BioShock [Video game]. 2K Games.

  • Rockstar San Diego. (2010). Red Dead Redemption [Video game]. Rockstar Games.

  • Le Guin, U. K. (1974). The dispossessed: An ambiguous utopia. Harper & Row.

  • DiMartino, M. D. & Konietzko, B. (Creators). (2005–2008). Avatar: The Last Airbender [TV series]. Nickelodeon Animation Studio; Nickelodeon.

  • Fergus, M. & Ostby, H. (Creators). (2015–2022). The expanse [TV series]. Alcon Entertainment; Alcon Television Group; Hivemind; Amazon Studios.

  • Herbert, F. (1965). Dune. Chilton Books.

  • Groening, M. (Creator). (1989–present). The Simpsons [TV series]. Gracie Films; 20th Television Animation; Fox Broadcasting Company.

  • Blizzard Entertainment. (2004). World of Warcraft [Massively multiplayer online role-playing game]. Blizzard Entertainment.

  • Meier, S. & Shelley, B. (Designers). (1991). Sid Meier's Civilization [Computer game]. MicroProse.

  • Ross, H. (Director). (1984). Footloose [Film]. IndieProd Company; Phoenix Pictures; Paramount Pictures.

  • Scott, R. (Director). (1984, January 22). 1984 [TV advertisement]. Chiat/Day; Apple Computer.

  • Jackson, S. (1948, June 26). The lottery. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery

  • Hawthorne, N. (2015). The scarlet letter. Penguin Classics. (Original work published 1850).

  • Martin, G. R. R. (1996–2011). A Song of Ice and Fire (Vols. 1–5). HarperVoyager.

  • Joy, L. & Nolan, J. (Executive Producers). (2024–present). Fallout [TV series]. Kilter Films; Amazon MGM Studios.

  • Berman, R. & Piller, M. (Executive Producers). (1993–1999). Star Trek: Deep Space Nine [TV series]. Paramount Television.

Stephen Slota
Next

EPISODE 20: TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING