A great deal of the homebrew work that scares people away from creating their own materials is in the rich detail work of developing a complex living world. It's intimidating to look at a blank page and come up with all the moving parts of an entire world. My trick to getting into it is to pick an idea about life and begin to write about it in terms of my homebrew world. The great thing about this method is that each step makes the next step easier to complete. The more you know about your world, after all, the less complicated it becomes to decide on further details.
Here's an example of how this process works. About a decade ago, I put together an overall profile on my homebrew setting, Evanoch. Part of that process involved creating maps of the setting, which are included in the profile. Years later--only recently--I used those maps to create a guide to what the natural world is like: what plants and animals dominate each part of the world. And then, a short while later, I used that nature guide to figure out what the diets and cuisines of each culture of the world are like. So you can see that a step in one direction allows us to take more steps in other directions as well.
That's why this is a profile on the most important issues being researched in my world--because it will help me to understand my world better and present it with more richness to my players, but also because this information will almost certainly allow me a window to other ideas in my world. So let's jump in and address the current research interests in Evanoch.
Chemistry:
Most chemical research being performed today is being led by gnomes. Yorget Berserger, head of the Chemistry Department at Vestry University, has almost single-handedly led the charge for developing methods of creating compounds which were previously only thought possible by use of magic. Chief among the chemistry efforts is the creation of healing potions through the use of chemical synthesis--Berserger has derived a method which can create healing potions without the use of magic, but it remains prohibitively expensive for now.
Other notable chemistry pursuits include the gnomish effort to increase the effectiveness of fertilizers; the elven program to develop their native mangrove's sap into a disease cure; and the Daltoner plan to create pesticides which are safe for humanoid consumption. Each of these pursuits is still in the early phases of development, and the general consensus amongst most Evanines is that chemistry will be useful one day in the future, but that is is a fledgling science with little to show in the current age.
Biology:
The majority of contemporary biological research has been performed by Faninites and half-elves. Husband-wife team Diedrich and Marian Winnet have together managed to study animals from around the world, and their research shows that every specimen they have studied bears close natural resemblance to similar species. Their speculation is that most if not all animals descend common ancestors, explaining the similarity of bone structure and other internal systems across species. Their theory has been eagerly adopted by many Faninites, half-elves, elves, and halflings, but other groups have been resistant to the change from typical religious beliefs, which have traditionally claimed that the world was created precisely as it is by the gods millennia ago.
Other notable biology pursuits include the dwarven advances in animal husbandry, which has led to the creation of a few new animal species such as the gow, a goat the size of a cow which creates considerably more milk; the orcish development of algae into a crop for both humanoid and animal consumption; and the half-elf study of humanoid genealogy, which many claim is an extension of curiosity about their unique position among the other races. While most all Evanines regard biological study as a potentially beneficial pursuit, and specifically one that can aid in improving the quality of life, a few small communities--mostly Daltoners and elves--tend to view meddling in biology as an affront to nature.
Physics:
The most advanced physics research being performed today happens amongst the elves. The original creators of archery have carefully studied physics for generations--elven generations, specifically--in order to perfect the art of the bow and arrow. Elven physicists were the first to develop an understanding of the laws of motion and to tame the forces well enough to create more advanced forms of projectile weaponry. Not only have classic bows as well as crossbows been the inventions of elves, but the blueprints of noted elven physicist Ellon Rellinor (an early master of physics) were used to create the first working ballistas and catapults. The most sought-after ranged weapons today come from elven manufacturers.
Other notable physics pursuits include the dwarven development of heavy architecture, which relies on careful calculations to construct massive structures which defy apparent physical laws; the halfling research of powerful telescopes and weather probes which can predict weather patterns; and the orcish construction of war machines, which require intricate humanoid-powered engines to move across battlefields. Essentially all Evanines recognize the potential of controlling physical forces, but the most superstitious of the land tend to regard physics as a form of tampering with the natural world.
Mathematics:
Mathematics was the first building block of physics, but it was not the elves who pioneered this branch of knowledge--rather, the gnomes were the first to place numerical values on the world around them. Gnomish mathematicians like Jennery Silpats and Winka Xiss were among the ancient minds who recognized that mathematical relationships could be used for practical purposes, most notably for uses of construction. Because gnomish architecture uses non-rectangular shapes for buildings, most often the hexagon, construction of these homes requires a greater mathematical understanding and more planning than a traditional rectangular building. Gnomes utilized this knowledge for construction, but it soon became the basis of mathematics as it is known today. Gnomish mathematicians are respected for their deep study of numbers and its many applications.
Other notable mathematical pursuits include the gnomish use of advanced math to plan an economy, which is one of the most controversial issues in modern politics; the Faninite use of mathematics to formalize their advanced navigation techniques into what is known today as modern sailing methods; and the unique number system of the orcs--while orcish studies have often steered clear of deep mathematics, it has been observed by a number of mathematics scholars that the simple method of counting used by orcs allows for both easier calculations and more elegant display of mathematical principles. While a few generations ago, many Evanines questioned the practical applications of mathematics beyond basic calculations, the teaching of mathematical skills in school systems in recent years has popularized it with the public.
Medicine:
In the world of medicine, no other group has made the contributions of the halflings. The rainforest in which the halfling homeland lies is rich in exotic plants with effects still being discovered. Despite the wide range of plants which are still largely unknown, halflings have still managed to turn many plants into helpful remedies. Halfling cures are the most sought-after in the land, mostly notable for compounds such as wipsel (a poultice known to cure most any skin condition), bixen (a solution which soothes bodily pains), and apler (a concoction that can enhance perception). Halfling doctor Merro Vint is currently at work on a generic disease cure, and her research has been funded by a coalition of leaders from across the land.
Other notable medicinal pursuits include the Faninite attempt to prevent the spread of hereditary conditions; the orcish use of various mosses to develop a life-lengthening potion; and the Daltoner research towards medicinal soaps, which people have claimed would spread the use of medicinal compounds to everyday citizens. While a few communities of isolationists have resisted the widespread use of medicinal research, most every Evanine supports the development of whatever compounds can improve the quality of life for most people.
History:
The world of historical research is quite fragmented in Evanoch--generally speaking, historians tend to focus their research on their specific community's contributions to history. However, in the last few generations, academics have begun to pursue a more holistic understanding of history. In that aim, historians--particularly orcish historians--have begun to study the works of other cultures to create a more complete picture of history. Orcish historian Rent Gahr, who passed only recently with much lamenting from the historical community, led the charge in assembling a massive book on world history which combined the research of millennia. Today, orcish historians are joined by principled historians from all corners, presenting a view of the world which shares the advances of all groups. Most historians active today embrace Gahr's attitude.
Other notable historical pursuits include the Daltoner attempt to assert political dominance over the other races--they are particularly known for the assertion that Evanoch is a land to which they have sole rights; the dwarven effort to harken back to earlier times by focusing education on the ancient period of dwarven history; and the half-elven research into the period in which Faninites and elves made first contact, which many speculate is an effort to determine the half-elven place in the world. Historical research amongst the common people of Evanoch remains a matter of allegiance to the group being researched, but there is a growing movement, particularly amongst orcs and halflings, to adhere to the new ideas involved in the broader approach to history.
Psychology and Sociology:
The fledgling field of psychological and sociological research has been largely the creation of the half-elves. Nearly 200 years ago, half-elf Priscilla Sienta began teaching a class at Finiel's Playbor University on the topic of "humanoid behavior," and that original concept has since been divided into psychology (individual thought patterns) and sociology (group thought patterns). Sienta's original research sought to explain the behavior of people over time and in the present moment, and while her ideas were initially greeted with derision, today her theories have been expanded on and turned into serious, accepted scholarly research. Key to Sienta's teachings were the principles that people avoid pain, seek happiness, and tend to place themselves in groups, all of which affect basic decision-making. The newest application of these ideas comes in the form of educating city guards on what behaviors to watch for and how to address them, particularly in the northwestern portion of Evanoch (where the half-elves call home).
Other notable psychological and sociological pursuits include the halfling use of Sienta's theories to begin treating emotional distress, leading to the first real use of the research for a purely practical purpose; the elven adaptation of sociological pressures to encourage elves to conform to social laws which are otherwise difficult to enforce; and the orcish use of psychological conditioning to train soldiers to be more fearless and strategic in battles while avoiding excessive stress. Because the field is so young, many Evanines are quite dubious about the wisdom of interfering in people's behavior, but there is a growing interest, particularly amongst young people, in improving quality of life using these ideas.
Creative Arts:
Each culture in Evanoch has its own notable and unique cultural output--their literature, music, and even tattoo art are all distinct. But research into the progression of the creative arts is a different matter. In recent generations, a joint team of elves and dwarves have begun to probe into the history and study of the creative arts as one unified field (where previously, each individual creative art was considered separately). This elven and dwarven team has focused its research on the earliest creative endeavors to try to trace the progression of creative art over time. Their findings have surprised many Evanines--they have discovered that almost every major movement in the creative arts by one group has occurred almost identically in other groups at other times. For instance, the one-person play was first beloved by the elves, but then also later by dwarves, halflings, Faninites, and gnomes--this has revealed that there is as much an Evanine art world as there is an elven art world.
Other notable creative arts pursuits include the revitalization of public murals, which are considered a central part of Faninite communities, but spread across all groups as a way of developing feelings of community; the study of uses of poetry over time, which has led in turn to the popularization of spoken poetry as a form of public communication, especially with dwarves; and the discovery and restoration of hundreds of intricate sculptures carved by halflings and lost in a collapse that buried a whole halfling town centuries ago. There is currently a great divide in Evanoch--about half of people remain absolutely loyal to the cultural output of their own racial group (especially among Daltoners), but the other half is increasingly interested in the creative arts of other cultures as well (especially among halflings).
Education:
Standardized education was first an invention of the gnomes, and they remain the leading education scholars in Evanoch. Initially, the concept of widespread formal education developed from the gnome's political system (a socialist democracy). Today, education scholar Diddilin Goff is hard at work on a universal curriculum for schools which incorporates a mixture of academic and practical knowledge. Graduates of Goff's program are predicted to be well-rounded and open-minded people who will uphold the political goals of the gnomish state, and Goff is quite involved in the political realm of his work.
Other notable education pursuits include the half-elven research into how the humanoid mind actually understands and retains knowledge as part of a joint psychological-educational team, all for the eventual use in changing teaching techniques; the use of some academic skills for use in the military by orcish researchers, most significantly astronomy and geography, resulting in better-trained troops; and the development of religious education by the Daltoners, who have created school programs centered on raising devout Pelorites and loyal citizens. Most groups largely agree that education is a great benefit to society, though the contents of that education is hotly debated. Elves, half-elves, Faninites, and halflings tend to adopt more academically-minded education whereas Daltoners, dwarves, and orcs opt for a more skill-oriented approach, with gnomes using both in fairly equal measure.
Agriculture:
Because Daltoners hail from a very small island with little vegetation, they have always had to learn to create a lot of food with very little space and resources. As a result, they have led an agricultural revolution--Evanines had farmed in the styles of gnomes or dwarves for centuries, depending on whether there were any forests to contend with, but Daltoner methods proved superior on the appearance of the humans on Evanoch. Their use of terrace systems and desalinized irrigation has led to a proliferation of crops across the continent. Today, Daltoner Hoxton Snaitch is leading the charge on a similar revolution in animal husbandry, and his work on increasing the likelihood of twin births shows promise of increasing the supply of meat.
Other notable agriculture pursuits include the halfling introduction of rainforest plants to other areas, where medicinal herbs can be grown and harvested in large quantities; the dwarven development of thick and durable yet lightweight plows which have drastically reduced farm labor; and the gnomish farmers' efforts, which have been able to revitalize tired soil and minimize the fallow time of a field. As the general quality and quantity of food have nearly tripled in the last 200 years, people have more and more clung to efforts to sustain and increase the advancement of agricultural research. Essentially every Evanine passionately supports new methods of farming, a few holdouts of older generations insist that their local methods of farming are best.
Economics:
The leading force in economic research is in the gnomish study and practice of structured economies. Initially, gnomes studied the free market which occurred in most places across Evanoch, and they found that while they could generally predict some outcomes, they were frustratingly unable to explain many economic phenomena. This led them to construct a more structured economy which would ideally be more resistant to instability. Even beyond the gnomish lands, it was Kansky Quintack the gnomish economist who proposed the universal currency in Evanoch, leading to what all observers agreed was a flourishing of trade across the continent. Today, gnomes continue to push the envelope on economic research, most prominently via development of a new device meant to detect the purity of metals, which would reduce counterfeit currency greatly.
Other notable economic pursuits include the dwarven Regent's continued rule, which has been highly expensive and has required a complex system of taxation to support; the Daltoner Imperial Trading Company's role in sustaining the Daltoner Empire, as the wealth created in New Dalton is carried back to Dalton by the Company; and the design by Faninite elders of a blueprint for a community--people could simply gather the right number of people and completely build a functioning, self-sustaining community, very important for settlers. In general, the advances in quality of life made by the widespread changes to the continent's economy (most the universal currency) have given most Evanines a positive impression of non-restrictive additions to the free market, but Daltoners and elves argue that any measure that separates a buyer from a seller is a problem to be avoided.
Political Science:
Political science is a fledgling field in the scope of Evanoch's history--there was some form of monarchy in every racial capital of Evanoch until less than 500 years ago, and the diverse political landscape that exists now is still settling into a more solidified form. [A group of players in one of my first campaigns fought over the fate of a major city's government, turning it from the last monarchy to a democracy, and it fits into the history cleanly, so turbulent are the recent years.] The leading scholars of political science have come from the Faninites. Faninites traditionally live in small communities with no central government, and so they have a completely outside perspective on how formal governments work, giving them an advantage in objectively assessing political systems. Faninite scholar Winnifred Nast has written an encyclopedia of political science, which includes an exhaustive history of each form of government, analysis of the laws and policies of each government, and even entries on forms of government which Nast has proposed inventing. Her work is regarded by most as a major achievement and the basis of modern political science, though less progressive cultures have been slow to acknowledge its value.
Other notable political science pursuits include the halfling art of diplomacy--halfling diplomats are renowned as the most persuasive, and the establishment of a College of Diplomacy has only increased that reputation; the half-elven study of sociology's carryover, heavy research into what aspects of political life serve the citizen versus the government across the continent; and the dwarven research into the history of ancient government, which has been stoked by the dwarven discovery of a perfectly-preserved tomb deep in the capital, allowing the scholars access to millennia-old information. Today, the study of political science is still developing, and not every Evanine is even aware of the existence of the concept. Among the many who are, about half regard it as a growing field with obvious importance (Faninites, halflings, gnomes, most half-elves, and some dwarves), and the other half regard it as a self-involved business with little practical application (Daltoners, orcs, most dwarves, and some half-elves). Most in the know expect political science to be considered a vital field of study by the end of the century.
There you have it: a guide to the major issues of research in my homebrew setting. You may notice that the different groups are not equally displayed in the world of research. Gnomes appear frequently in this profile, in large part because they spend more time than other groups tend to on research pursuits. Daltoners pop up fairly infrequently for a similar reason--their civilization is fiercely practical and expends little effort on academic pursuits. Beyond even this, you may notice that most every idea or research issue is plucked from our real world, past or present. I think that it's fun to mix-and-match elements of history in this way. If you're a purist, I can understand why you'd avoid that, but I like to enjoy the middle ground between historical inspiration and fictional creation.
I have to say as the writer that I'm honestly pretty surprised that so much came out of this idea. I feel like I have a far better grasp of what life is really like in my setting than I did before I sat down to write this. I definitely recommend going through a similar process if you're worldbuilding or just using this guide if you're so inclined.
That's all for now. Coming soon: important reminders from the original Dungeon Masters Guide, why I strive for breadth rather than uniqueness in my homebrew setting, and how developing a random detail from your world can tell you a lot. Until next time, happy gaming!
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