Hello, everyone. I’m the GM for Weal or Woe and I put together this short list of the books, music, and Youtubers that inspired me and helped shape this world that I built. Each item listed below played a major role in my world building process, either by direct inspiration, as with the name of the southern-most, desert continent being named Araku, a combination of the desert planet of Arrakis and the holy desert of Raraku, to music I listened to while world building. I guess I also have to give a big shout out to actual human history as well. The city of Melach is inspired by and based on the ancient North African city of Carthage. Hell, the two cities’ queens even share the same name. My imagination , for what it’s worth, would be nothing without the books and music of myriad authors and artists.

 

I’d also like to point special attention to the Youtube channel DemonAC and the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Ericson. DemonAC’s Tales From My D&D Campaign shows off the greatest example RPG world building I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. If you haven’t checked DemonAC’s channel yet, I cannot recommend it enough. It is funny, entertaining, exciting, and just plain good.  

 

The Malazan Book of the Fallen is the single best example of world building I have ever come across in my life. Ever. I’ve read hundreds, if not thousands, of fantasy books and stories in my life and the world of this series blows the others out of the water. Mr. Ericson crafted the richest, most ancient, deepest, most expansive for his series that has ever been put down on paper. It is a truly awe-inspiring display of the craft of world building. I’ve heard that the world started as part of Ericson’s RPG campaign that he was running and that makes it even more awesome! 

    

I’m sure much of this list will be familiar to all my fellow nerds out there, but if not, I’d urge you to check it out. 

 

Books & Authors

  • Malazan Book of the Fallen, Steven Erikson
  • The Dark Tower series (and all the DT-adjacent books), Stephen King
  • Dune, Frank Herbert
  • The Black Company series, Glenn Cook
  • The Stormlight Archive, Brandon Sanderson
  • The collected works of Robert Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, minus the racism and misogyny 
  • Magicians of the Gods, Graham Handcock
  • Manufacturing Concenter, Edward Herman & Noam Chomski

 

Youtube Channels

  • DemonAc
  • WallyDM
  • Black Dragon Gaming
  • Runehammer
  • Mathew ColVile
  • Ancient Architects  
  • Jim Murphy
  • Acrelelae

 

Musical Artists

  • Zombi
  • Immortal
  • John Carpenter
  • Trio Medieval
  • Bail Poledourisb
  • Towns Van Zandt
  • Pinkly Smooth
  • Dido
  • Amorphis