How to design Objects?

Origins

• Who Created it?
• Is the creator known?
• Is it someone you know personally?
• Is it someone you’ve met already?
• Is is a celebrity you’d like to meet?
• Are you indifferent to this person?
• Are you adversarial?
• Did you create it?

• When was it created?
• Was it created recently?
• Was it created during the last generation?
• Was it created prior to a conflict?
• Was it created in an era which is unidentifiable?

• Where was it created?
• Was it created in this Settlement?
• Was it created in this Country?
• Was it created on another Planet?
• What is the particularity of this place?
• Would you like to get there?

• How was it created?
• What Tools were used?
• Are these peculiar tools?
• Are they complicated to use?
• Do they reveal a certain technique?
• What Materials were used?
• Are they rare?
• Are they restricted to use?
• What was the Manufacturing Process?
• Is it a long process?
• It is a painful process?
• Is it easy to follow but long to implement?
• Is it commonly taught?
• Is it secret?

World Integration

• Significance
• What’s the Use of the Object in the Story?
• How does it relate to the Story?
• How did it appear in this World?
• In which Major events has been used?
• In which Major events has been encountered?
• Who used it?
• Who reported its presence?

• Where can it be found today?
• Why?
• Is it Hidden?
• Why?
• By whom?
• Has it been lost in this place?
• Are there people guarding it?
• Are there Creatures guarding it?

Purpose & Function

• What’s the Use of the Object?
• The Use defines the type of Object.
• Is it a Tool?
• Is it a Weapon?
• Is it an Armor?
• Is it a Building?
• Is it a Vehicle?

• What’s the Intention of the Object’s creator?
• The Intention defines the subtype of Object.
• Which Type of Tool?
  • Building
  • Measuring
  • Refining
• Which Type of Weapon?
  • Melee
    • Blade
    • Blunt
  • Range
    • Cadenced
    • Automatic
• Type of Armor
  • Light
    • Infiltration
    • Decorum
  • Heavy
    • War
    • Ceremonies
• Type of Building
  • Defense
  • Entertainment
  • Resources Gathering
• Type of Vehicle
  • Public Transportation
  • Private Transportation
  • People
  • Merchandise

• Who will use it?
• Will it be shared by multiple team members?
• Should it be used by multiple people?
• It is designed for a Specific Class?
• It is designed for a Specific Function?

• Other Functions
• Does it have a hidden Use?
• Does it have an unexpected Use?

Aspect & Appearance

• Colors & Symbols
• Does it have a uniform color?
• Are different parts colored differently?
• Are there patterns on it?
• What do these patterns signify?
• To which entity or group to the refer?
• Are the colors of this object unique?
• Are they Rare colors?
• Are they Discriminative colors?
• Are they Forbidden colors?

• Materials & Components
• What is it made of?
• Has it evolved through time?
• Is it indicative of a specific region?
• Is it indicative of a certain school of crafting?
• Is it indicative of a specific era?

• Fashion
• Who is it made for?
• Someone who want to parade?
• Someone who want to be discreet?
• Someone who want to display agnosticism?
• Someone who want to display devotion?
• How does it fit with the rest of your character’s equipment?
• Where is it particularly fancied?
• Where is it particularly rejected?

Life

• Living object
• Is the object Sentient?
• Is it Consciousness?
• Does it express wishes?
• Does it have a form of Willpower?
• Does it speak?
• What form of Speech?
• Can you understand it?

• Affinity
• Is it particularly effective while being used by a certain person?
• Are there Legends attached to the Item?
• Did it befriended a certain character in the past?
• Was it build to Reunite individuals?
  • The Creator & the Creation
  • The Creators between themselves
  • The Creator & another Being
• Was it design for Remembrance?
• By the creator?
  • To prolongate her life?
  • To pass a message?

• Curses
• Is the object malevolent?
• Does it act in self-preservation?
• Is it faithful to a prior user?
• What Advantages does it bestow you?
• Was it design for Revenge?
• Was it design for Retribution?
• Was it design for Revelation?
• Was it build after a Cataclysm?
• Was it build just before a Cataclysm?
• By the victims of the Cataclysm?
• By the perpetrators?

• Transformations
• Can it modify the shape & form of its owner?
• Can it modify the behavior of its owner?
• Can it modify the identity of its owner?
• Is the transformation desirable?
• Is the transformation reversible?

• Paradoxes
• A Weapon that does not kill?
• Could it be used to torture?
• A hammer that does not build?
• Does it only destroy?
• A fork that can only be used like a spoon?
• A spoon that cuts?

• Feeling
• How does the Object feels?
• Is it warm?
• Is is cold?
• Is it soft?
• Is is rough?
• Does it attach to the skin?
• Does it attach to the flesh?
• Does it resist?

• Reparation
• What Tools are required to repair it?
• Are they the same tools that were used to build it?
• Are these tools still available?
• Can the object be Healed?
• By which type of Healing?
• Is it organic?
• Is it partly organic?

Value

• Selling
• In which State is it?
• For what Base Price?
• How Rare is it?
• What’s its Provenance?
• What are its Dimensions & Specifications
  • Weight
  • Height
  • Girth
  • Length

• Artistic Value
• Does it belong to a certain Movement?
• Does it contain a specific Knowledge?
• Did it belong to a certain Artist?
• Is it a Book?
• Is it a Painting?
• Has it been classified?
• Is it protected?
• Is it considered as part of a Patrimony?
• Is it part of a Private collection?
• Is it exposed in a Museum?
• Is it exposed in a Gallery?
• Is it exposed in a University?

• Stealing
• How rare is this Item?
• How much can it be fenced?
• Which type of fence would buy it?
• Is it easy to disguise?
• Is it unique?
• How likely is it going to become a Target for thieves?