RoundTable
Art Director
UX/UI Designer
Get to the creative stuff
Creating New Worldbuilders
Getting started in the hobby of creative worldbuilding can be a daunting task, often leading many would-be new worldbuilders to abandon the hobby. My goal was to research constructive writing methods and techniques to design a web application that helps transition beginners from fantasy lovers to worldbuilders. Goals:
- Make the transition from player to worldbuilder more accessible
- Create a space for easy collaboration and imagination to thrive
Setting the Groundwork
My initial research surrounded writing and worldbuilding methods to better understand the concept and how professionals tackle these types of projects. In addition to researching writing methods, it was essential to understand the struggles of current creative writers and worldbuilders so that we can meet users where they are and provide a product that is as accessible as possible.
Key Findings
Online Platforms
Cloud-based platforms provide various benefits for worldbuilding. Whether generating ideas or working through the edits, online or cloud-based platforms alleviate many of the frictions of organizing and creating large-scale worldbuilding projects.
Cloud-based platforms provide various benefits for worldbuilding. Whether generating ideas or working through the edits, online or cloud-based platforms alleviate many of the frictions of organizing and creating large-scale worldbuilding projects.
Creative Collaboration
Throughout the research process, the idea of creative collaboration was a recurring theme when trying to find the best methods for efficient world-building. Multiple sources boasted about the benefits of collaboration, from the potential for diverse perspectives in idea generation to the obvious benefit of splitting such a large project across multiple creators. Encouraging a collaborative environment for new creators to get started would help to lessen the potential for project anxiety from facing such an expansive project.
Throughout the research process, the idea of creative collaboration was a recurring theme when trying to find the best methods for efficient world-building. Multiple sources boasted about the benefits of collaboration, from the potential for diverse perspectives in idea generation to the obvious benefit of splitting such a large project across multiple creators. Encouraging a collaborative environment for new creators to get started would help to lessen the potential for project anxiety from facing such an expansive project.
Create Internal Logic
Creating a solid structure for the world helps to keep the internal logic of the project constant. Developing a starting framework is crucial for effective and cohesive worldbuilding. Providing new users with a strong foundation of fundamental concepts can help jumpstart their creative process and facilitate ideation. Allowing them to focus on the creative aspect of worldbuilding and less on organization. This method helps to develop a rich world that does not revolve around a character.
Creating a solid structure for the world helps to keep the internal logic of the project constant. Developing a starting framework is crucial for effective and cohesive worldbuilding. Providing new users with a strong foundation of fundamental concepts can help jumpstart their creative process and facilitate ideation. Allowing them to focus on the creative aspect of worldbuilding and less on organization. This method helps to develop a rich world that does not revolve around a character.
Understanding the Market
Finally, it was key to get a better grasp of the market of new and existing worldbuilders and their struggles to create solutions that reduce the barriers to starting worldbuilding. In order to do this, I conducted surveys consisting of TTRPG players and Worldbuilders to develop an understanding of their wants, needs, and struggles.Ultimately, this solidified my main hypothesis that there was a large portion of people who find it difficult to start on a worldbuilding project. A majority of writers list Time Management, Organization, and Ideation as their main struggles.
Key Survey Findings:
- 49% of current worldbuilders surveyed said that they found it difficult to get started
- 60% of current worldbuilders and TTRPG players use online tools for writing and organization
- 63% of TTRPG players stated that they are interested in creating collaborative worlds
- Time Management, Organization, and Ideation were the top three struggles that current worldbuilders struggle with.
- Brainstorming, Partnerships, and Peer Editing were the three most beneficial forms of collaboration
Secondary Research
World Anvil is a big name within the creative writing space, with a majority of those surveyed listing it as one of the tools they currently use or have heard of in the past. This web application offers a comprehensive multi-tool for worldbuilders of both TTRPGs and novels. They provide tools to write articles for storing the lore and all written aspects for tracking the world. They also have map-marking and timeline tools to keep track of history and geographical locations. Though the site is multifaceted, most of these features are hidden behind paywalls and simply serve to clutter the screen. For those who are not sure where to start, being faced with so many options can be overwhelming.
LegendKeeper is an up-and-coming web application geared specifically to Tabletop role-playing game players. This site combines both the visual and literary aspects of creating an intuitive world. It allows you to link your articles directly to the map while streamlining the organization of large numbers of articles through nesting systems. Though this seems to be a fan favorite in its community, it is presently only available in a beta version and is strictly a subscription-based platform. Though LegendKeeper offers a smooth and clean user experience, usability for new worldbuilders is less than ideal. Being presented with a blank space to write is amazing for established creators who understand how to develop a world. But for those who are just getting started or prefer a more structured ecosystem, it falls short.
Milanote is a note-taking approach to creative writing and brainstorming that many of our survey participants are currently using. Much like Google Jam board or whiteboard brainstorming sessions. Each collaborator can post notes and articles on the canvas to add concepts. Milanote focuses on collaborative writing as it boasts features like project sharing and publishing directly from the site. Though the site is good for brainstorming and ideation, it is not optimal for massive or non-linear formats of worldbuilding.
Creative ProcessDesigning a solution
Understanding the struggles of new and current worldbuilders, as well as the solutions that already exist, helped to develop a perspective on how RoundTable can provide better solutions for worldbuilders. From these, I learned that creators are already using online resources for writing and are interested in working collaboratively with their gaming groups to create fictional worlds. A large portion of new world-builders find it difficult to start creating and will most likely have issues with structuring and organizing their expansive projects.
Given these insights, I found that the primary solution to these wants and struggles would be designing a web application where worldbuilders of any experience level can collaborate, lean on for structural resources, and use as a web application for forming a world organization. Secondly, the need for productive vectors of collaboration and idea generation led me to design a tabletop game that helps to facilitate collaboration between group members regardless of worldbuilding skill or knowledge.
Competitor Analysis
World Anvil
World Anvil is a big name within the creative writing space, with a majority of those surveyed listing it as one of the tools they currently use or have heard of in the past. This web application offers a comprehensive multi-tool for worldbuilders of both TTRPGs and novels. They provide tools to write articles for storing the lore and all written aspects for tracking the world. They also have map-marking and timeline tools to keep track of history and geographical locations. Though the site is multifaceted, most of these features are hidden behind paywalls and simply serve to clutter the screen. For those who are not sure where to start, being faced with so many options can be overwhelming.
Pros
- Affordable Options
- Shareable Projects
- Wide range of tools
Cons
- No phone support
- Confusing and Complicated interface
- Inconsistent Branding
LegendKeeper
LegendKeeper is an up-and-coming web application geared specifically to Tabletop role-playing game players. This site combines both the visual and literary aspects of creating an intuitive world. It allows you to link your articles directly to the map while streamlining the organization of large numbers of articles through nesting systems. Though this seems to be a fan favorite in its community, it is presently only available in a beta version and is strictly a subscription-based platform. Though LegendKeeper offers a smooth and clean user experience, usability for new worldbuilders is less than ideal. Being presented with a blank space to write is amazing for established creators who understand how to develop a world. But for those who are just getting started or prefer a more structured ecosystem, it falls short.
Pros
- Linked map and articles
- Basic collaboration
- Fully searchable map
- More intuitive UI
Cons
- New users are given little direction on where to start
- Organized only if you are
- User needs to create and format templates and articles
Milanote
Milanote is a note-taking approach to creative writing and brainstorming that many of our survey participants are currently using. Much like Google Jam board or whiteboard brainstorming sessions. Each collaborator can post notes and articles on the canvas to add concepts. Milanote focuses on collaborative writing as it boasts features like project sharing and publishing directly from the site. Though the site is good for brainstorming and ideation, it is not optimal for massive or non-linear formats of worldbuilding.
Pros
- Helpful and easy to use
- Seamless user flow
Cons
- Not mobile-friendly
- Only online; not available offline
Designing a solution
Understanding the struggles of new and current worldbuilders, as well as the solutions that already exist, helped to develop a perspective on how RoundTable can provide better solutions for worldbuilders. From these, I learned that creators are already using online resources for writing and are interested in working collaboratively with their gaming groups to create fictional worlds. A large portion of new world-builders find it difficult to start creating and will most likely have issues with structuring and organizing their expansive projects.Given these insights, I found that the primary solution to these wants and struggles would be designing a web application where worldbuilders of any experience level can collaborate, lean on for structural resources, and use as a web application for forming a world organization. Secondly, the need for productive vectors of collaboration and idea generation led me to design a tabletop game that helps to facilitate collaboration between group members regardless of worldbuilding skill or knowledge.
Building an Identity
Logo and Brand
The name RoundTable alludes to the collaborative function and fantasy positioning of the brand. A round table is a discussion of people with differing opinions joining together to discuss a common goal. Additionally, it references historical fiction through its connection to King Arthur’s Round Table. Since the aim is to promote worldbuilding within the niche of TTRPGs, the logo also needed to reference the established aesthetics within the genre.
Flow Chart
Understanding the user journey and functions through a flow chart was essential to creating the best solution that helps users organize and create together. RoundTable provides a useful flow that allows creators to move from brainstorming with others to writing in a natural cadence.
RoundTable provides a valuable structure with templates and creates starting parameters for the world to exist, giving users a strong foundation to build upon. In addition, it provides collaborators with task management tools to more efficiently divide and keep track of the world's progress.
Sketches
The RoundTable website is made to guide and inspire creators in developing their fictional worlds with others. RoundTable focuses on making brainstorming and peer-editing easy for collaborators to share ideas and refine their writing. In addition to these features, the app accounts for the variation of experience with creative writing by implementing a template system or blank page options to suit every form of creator.
Sketches
The RoundTable card game works in tandem with the website. Collaborators who prefer a more tactile experience when generating their world can play a few rounds with others and create a world map while inputting information into the website through its templated articles.
Web Application
RoundTable gives the framework for collaborators to get creative and grow their worlds with a variety of workflows. The app provides creators with the essentials needed to create fictional worlds while allowing them to explore and develop to their heart’s content. This makes RoundTable the perfect web application for curious novice writers looking for an easier way to get started creating legendary stories.
Parameters
Upon creating a new worldbuilding project, users are taken through a series of prompts to help them develop a framework for their world. This initial setting of the world parameters helps collaborators develop how their world functions. Generating a set of parameters also helps to place all future writing into context, establishing a structure for the rest of the project to build on.
Through the task management feature, collaborators can track how their world is developing and even get insight into suggested tasks to keep progressing and grow their worlds.
Easily create, manage, and delegate tasks to collaborators or simply create tasks for yourself as reminders of what to create next. Creators will never feel lost in what to create next with RoundTable’s suggested task feature. Giving them automatically generated tasks based on their previously created content.
The templates offer users a more guided structure to develop and detail their worlds. These templates help collaborators build depth within their storytelling by asking probing questions. Templates allow creators to create quickly and efficiently instead of getting stuck trying to understand what is needed to build a town. Whether it's a sprawling city, a villainous NPC, or an ancient artifact, templates give a needed helping hand when developing these large-scale projects.
Brainstorming gives collaborators the power to bring their ideas together in one space before committing them to their world’s story. When creating collaborative projects, the use of ideation tools is paramount to creating lively and realistic feeling worlds.
Users can create nodes linking articles, write notes to develop their thinking, or plan out the key story points, all within the same system. Creating a seamless flow from imaginative ideation to writing.
Card Game
The RoundTable card game allows collaborators to have a more tactile experience when building their world projects. The game works in tandem with the RoundTable website to make the process of generating a fictional world easy and fun, while being able to be done within a single night.
Each player takes their turn creating stories about the existing work or expanding the landscape with the hand they are dealt. This helps to ensure everyone's voices are heard, and every player has a deep connection to the story later on during actual play.