Jeff Rients shared a list of 20 questions to help DMs flesh out their campaign settings. I’ve used it for planning, but haven’t posted it online. Here is a player friendly, AKA no spoilers for my players, list.
- What is the deal with my cleric’s religion?
It is rare to worship specific deities. Most worship generalized Powers and Great Ones. The powers of light honor life and oppose undeath. The powers of dark offer their followers eternal life in undeath. This is the central struggle in the campaign world. - Where can we go to buy standard equipment?
Most towns near the frontier/border or known adventure locations, will have the usual weapons, armor, and other adventuring supplies. - Where can we go to get platemail custom fitted for this monster I just befriended?
That will be an adventure in itself. It will depend entirely on what the monster is and how far you are from a smith willing to do the job. You may have a long wait for them to get to your spot on their work log, in addition to requiring a large payment. - Who is the mightiest wizard in the land?
The first true archmage since the long ago collapsed of the Dulmar Empire is Urman the Great. He lives on Ogre Island, and any adventurers who have never faced more than one ogre at a time should probably heed warnings not to go there. Urman is interested in one the ruing of one of the great cities of the ancient Dulmar Empire, now infested with ogres. I have created an adventure that I ran at Marmalade Dog a few years ago to help me flesh out this area. I plan to publish it in the future. - Who is the greatest warrior in the land?
Many lay claim to that title, very few close to reality. The wisest don’t claim such an honor to avoid having to kill or injure another fool. Different towns and cities often have a champion or town bully. - Who is the richest person in the land?
Probably a king of one of the kingdoms, perhaps even one of the claimants to the title of Emperor of the Dulmar Empire in The Fractured Kingdoms, near its ancient capital. - Where can we go to get some magical healing?
There are clerics and shrines where cure light wounds is available for a donation. Alchemists have concocted their version of a healing potion. It is like a super energy drink. It heals like a healing potion, but in a few minutes after drinking it, you fall exhausted. It is best taken after a fight, or before a close fought fight is over. - Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath?
The more severe an affliction, the more likely travel to the interior is required at one of the temples in a city. Some large towns might be blessed with a powerful enough cleric, or a druid might inhabit a grove near the players. You may come upon a group of pilgrim monks, Followers of The Way, who travel between holy sites and shrines giving honor and repairing them. They also erect new sites, as wonders never cease. They are welcoming to all and are sworn to serve and protect travelers. Some healing and often other aid is available from them - Is there a magic guild my MU belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells?
While Urman the Great has trained many of the powerful wizards of today, efforts to establish a guild similar to ancient times have not yet been successful. - Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC?
Alchemists tend to be in cities and larger towns, and perhaps may travel to set up shop near known adventure locations. - Where can I hire mercenaries?
Many towns along trade routes have mercenaries who look for work before the merchants do the return trip, or don’t want another long journey. - Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?
Cities towards the more civilized and stable areas tend to frown on open display of weapons and disruptive magics. The Fractured Kingdoms have a confusing set of laws, one or more of them have some sort of law to ban something. - Which way to the nearest tavern?
Even most small villages have at least a small tavern for farmers and laborers to gather. - What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?
Undead, bandits, humanoids, and giants have caused troubles around Farthorpe after the earthquake. There has been one unreliable person talk of a two-headed giant. - Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?
The far off Fractured Kingdoms are always fighting for dominance and undisputed right as the true Emperor of The Dulmar Empire. There is a proverb about those adventurous or foolhardy enough to sign up: Go a fighting in the Fractured Kingdoms and your mother will soon be a weeping o’er your grave. - How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?
It is rumored that the orc tribes and their ilk do such things with some of their prisoners. However, there is no reward but living til the next match. - Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?
Those who serve the dark powers and seek to evade death through undeath are always looking for new recruits. The party has discovered an ancient cult that follows/worships The Necromancer, whose tomb they discovered and sealed. He’s not completely dead. They managed to spoil the plans of one who calls himself, The Son of The Necromancer, and has a flying carpet the party really wants. - What is there to eat around here?
Ogre bites refer to large meat pies that can fill those around a table. - Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?
Lots of legends and rumors. The player characters hold a letter/map indicating that there is a treasure beyond bearing. They think it might be in the area near the starting town. - Where is the nearest dragon or other monster with Type H treasure?
That’s a very good question. There are lots of rumors of dragons in the mountains to the north.
