How to create Cultures?

Name

• What’s this Culture’s Name?
• What information does it give you?
  • Location
  • Origins
  • Diversity

• Are there other names?
  • In Foreign languages
  • In the different languages of the Culture
• Do they have a nickname?
• What are the Origins of this species?
• What is this Culture’s natural environment?

• Daily Life
• Can you draw typical life scenes of this culture?
• Where do people go to eat?
• Where to they sleep?
• Can you draw a festival?
• Can you draw a public speech?
• What does a standard Town looks like?

Biological characteristics

• Humanoid Species
• If they are Humanoid how do they differ from humans?
• Are they taller?
• Are they thicker?
• Do they have an usual form?
  • Multiple organs?
  • Internal/External organs?
  • The Whole body?

• Non-Humanoid Species
• How do you define Humanoid?
  • Is it Physical only?
  • Is it a matter of Behavior?
  • Which Behavior do you consider non-Humanoid?
• If the species is non-Humanoid how do they look like?
• Do they look like an Animal?
• Do they look like multiple Animals merged together?
• Do they look like a Vegetal?
• Do they look like an Animal-Vegetal Hybrid?

• Mineral Beings
• If these creatures are partly or entirely mineral they may be free from organic needs.
• Do they sleep?
  • Do they dream?
• Do they eat?
  • Do they need to eat?
  • Do they find pleasure in food?
• Do they reproduce?
• Do they have sexual relationships?

• Draw this Species
• What’s their average Height?
• What’s their average Weight?
• What’s their average Lifespan?
• How has this Species anatomy adapted to its environment?
  • Are they adapted to their environment?
  • Do they adapt the environment to their needs?

• Genetics & Parentage
• Are there any Related Species to this one?
• What are its parent Species?
• What Common characteristics do they present?
• Anatomically?
• Behaviorally?
• Can you recognize different members of this species?
• Through which Features?

• Do their body have any usual features?
• What are their physical particularities?
• Do they have any peculiar ability?
• Why is their skin so hard?
  • Because their predators have sharp fangs & claws
• Why do they run to fast & have such a good vision?
  • Because they only eat camouflaged rabbits
• Why does it have a proboscis?
  • Maybe they consumes blood
  • Maybe they can inject toxins or eggs into another animal/vegetal
• Why are they Slender & Elongated?
  • Maybe because they fly
  • Maybe because they live in canopy

• The Culture of Species is the byproduct of their Environment.
• Species evolves to adapt to their surroundings.
• The most fitting practices & customs are preserved.
• Practices & Customs may create paradoxes with the Species original purposes.
• Customs have 4 main purposes:
  • Feed easier & more pleasurably
  • Protect oneself & other members of the group
  • Reproduce & Pleasure oneself
  • Instruct & Educate

Hierarchy & Nations

• What is their Regimen?
• Are they a Monarchy?
• Are they a Republic?
• Are they a Democracy?
• Are they an Anocracy?
• Are they Totalitarian?
• Are they an Anarchy?

• What is their Scale?
• Is it an Empire?
• Is it a Country?
• Is it a Megalopolis?
• Is it a Metropolis?
• Is it a City?
• Is it a Town?
• Is it a Village?

• What are the Main Laws?
• What are the Laws regarding Individuals?
• What are the Laws regarding Families & Groups?
• What are the Laws regarding Property?
• What are the Laws regarding Contracts?
• What are the Laws regarding Financial activities?
• What are the Laws regarding Trade?

• How is the Decision Process?
• A Single head will make the decision process faster but less consensual.
• An Assembly will make the decision process slower but more consensual.
• An Assembly is also the way to represent the different Orientations & Species of your world.
• How Sustainable the decision should be?
• How Adaptable is the Organization?

• How is the Administration?
• Is it Decentralized?
• How Efficient is it?
• How Adaptable is it?
• How Integrated is it?
• How Innovative is it?
• What Services are proposed?

• Are there Martial organizations?
• Is there a Police system?
• Is there an Army?
• Is there a Knighthood system?
• Is Peace promoted?
• Is War promoted?
• Are Military privileged?

• Are Foreigners discriminated?
• How are Outsiders perceive?
• Are they welcomed?

Cults

• Dogma
• Is this culture a Theocracy?
• What is the place of Cult in the culture?
• Are the people interested in Cults?
• Is is popular to be part of a Cult?
• Is is ill-view not to be part of a Cult?
• Are there conflicting view on Cults & their activities?
• Are foreign Cults authorized?

• Organization
• What is the status of monks & priests?
• What is the status of clerics?
• Is there a military order?
• Are there healers & medics?
• Do they possess privileges?

• Words
• What are their Sayings?
• What are their Slogans?
• What are their Teachings?
• Is Peace promoted?
• Is Faithfulness promoted?
• Is Order promoted?
• Is Wisdom promoted?
• Is Temperance promoted?
• Is Patience promoted?

• Summoning
• Do they have Avatars?
• What does these Avatars look like?
• Are they close to them?
• Do they Communicate with them?
• Through which means?
• Which Tools are used to Invoke?
• Which Rites are used to Invoke?

Economy

• What is the Main Economic Orientation?
• What are the Secondary Economic Orientations?
• Capitalism
• Liberalism
• Socialism
• Communism

• How is Money perceived?
• How is it produced?
• Who can produce it?
• Is there any form of Money?
• What is the Form of Money?
  • Coins & Bills
  • Stones/Crystals
  • Shells
  • Computed
• What are the Payment means?
• Is there a Central Bank?
• Is there a Central Reserve?
• Are there Commercial Banks?
• How do Bank Accounts function?
  • Opening/Closing
  • Operations
  • Fees

• Trade & Customs
• Are there non-monetary trades?
• Are there non-financial trades?
• How is the Commercial Balance?
• How is the External Trade?
  • Preferred Partners
  • Default Partners
  • Competitors
• How is the Customs system?
• What the control process on Entry?
• What the control process on Exit?
• What’s the typical length of stay?
• What’s the typical residence time?
• What products are banned?
• What products are limited?

• Taxes & Behaviors
• How is the Fiscal policy?
• What is Taxed?
  • Income/Revenues/Profits/Pensions
  • Production & Innovation
  • Trade & Exchange
  • Property & Property Transfer
• How does it influence Behaviors?
• How do Fiscal policy & Monetary policy correlate?
• What corporations are Targeted?
• What corporations are Privileged?
• What corporations are Discouraged?

Education & Intelligence

• What’s the definition of Information?
• What’s the definition of Knowledge?
• What’s the definition of Intelligence?
• Where is Information stored?
• How is Information protected?
• What is Information’s degree of Volatility?

• How is this Species’ nervous system?
• Is it Centralized?
• Is it Decentralized?
• Is it Shared?
• Can you describe their Cognitive process?
• How are they able to recognize Patterns?
• What Sensors do they use?
• What Emotions do they possess?
• What Emotions do they recognize?

• How are Books?
• Do Books exist?
• Are scrolls preferred to books?
• Are there Material writings?
• Is Information digitalized?
• How are Writers & Authors perceived?
• What Allegories are most used in stories?
• How are the Libraries?
  • Accessibility
  • Personnel
  • Comfort
  • Services

• What are Career paths studied?
• What are the Domain studied?
• Is there a proper Adéquation between Careers & Teachings?
• What are the Diploma & Degrees delivered?
• How pertinent are the Diploma & Degrees?
• How do students qualify?
• How are students examined?

Arts & Crafting

• What’s the definition of Beauty?
• What Symbols are used in Art?
• What is their Idea of Truth?
• What is their Idea of False?
• What is their Idea of Happiness?
• What is their Idea of Pain?

• Architecture & Sculpture
• What is the dominant Architectural style?
• Are there multiple competing Styles?
• What are their main characteristics?
• Are the Cities decorated?
• Are there Landmarks?
• Which type of Landmarks?
• What techniques are used to produces them?
• Are the Sculpture integrated to the Buildings?

• Craftsmanship & Markets
• How does craftmanship develops?
• Is there a Companionship system?
• How are the Local Markets?
• Are they large?
• Are they plentiful?
• Are they supported by the City/Town?
• How is Agricultural know-how displayed?
• Is Horticulture popular?
• How are local Restaurants?
• Is Fine cooking promoted?
• Are Snack bars common?

• Graphic Arts
• How are Visual Artists considered?
• Is it a popular Career path?
• Which medium is most popular?
• What media are used?
• Are some media forbidden?
• How are the Museums?

• Theatre
• How are Actors considered?
• Is it a popular Career path?
• Is it easy to fund a Production?
• Is it easy to become a Director?
• Which Technology is used?
• Are there Popular Plays?
• Is Picture used for National Propaganda?

• Music
• How are Musicians considered?
• Is it a popular Career path?
• Which Instruments are popular in this culture?
• Which Instruments did this culture invented?
• Are there Popular Songs?
• Are there Hymns?
• Are there Anthems?

Games

• What’s the definition of Fun?
• What is considered Funny?
• Are there Jokes?
• Do people enjoy laughing?
• Do children laugh?

• What Games are Played?
• Are there Puzzles?
• Are there Riddles?
• Are there Chases?
• Are there Treasure Hunts?

• What Sports are Practiced?
• What Sports are Popular?
• Are there Water Sports?
• Are there Sky Sports?
• Are there Underground Sports?
• In Lava?
• In Acid?
• In Sand?
• Are there Competitions?
• Where did the sports originated from?

• What Entertainments are available?
• Are there Parks?
• Are there Cinemas?
• Are there Clubs?