When developing the world for a campaign setting, there are numerous places to start and develop from there. One such approach revolves around developing the Power of the world first, and that is what this guide will follow.
Listed below are the different “Sources of Power”, with short descriptions. Visit the page’s for each to gather more information about each, with possible holder’s of that power, called “Bodies of Power”. Then, figure out what you want to include in your Campaign Setting.
Sources of Power
In any given campaign setting, there are innumerable Sources of Power. These Sources provide a foundation to build off of when developing the areas, inhabitants, or even player characters. They can be magical or mundane in nature, physical to spiritual, or common to esoteric. Common examples of such Sources of Power include the following:
Political Power
The strength of ones or a group’s ability to hold sway over others. It has a lot in common with the Charisma of a nation or group, but also the military power that they hold.
Divine Power
Wonderous, able to conduct miracles beyond the understanding of many humans.
Arcane Power
Provides the ability to use magic to those who tame it. Typically, it is weaved into the fabric and creation of the world.
Natural Power
Similarly to Arcane Power, is weaved into the fabric of the world, and encompasses a wide variety of different Power Sources. It can include power gathered from nature, from other planes, from elements, etc.
Otherworldly Power
Even farther beyond human understanding than Divine Power, but isn’t specifically tailored towards miracles. If one aspires to truly understand Otherworldly Power, they might lose their sanity in the process.
Esoteric Power
Relatively unknown, knowledge of which has been lost to legends. Perhaps an ancient tower grant wishes to those who pay tribute, but records of it are all lost.