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All right, so far I have:
Places to go from here include:
The Physical World
The Governmental World
Where I’m going first:
Family life: What is the family structure, and how did it come about?
I’ll note here that what kind of upbringing characters have had will color what they expect out of their life — what partners they may or may not be looking for. Is their family (or their government) going to arrange a marriage for them? How do they feel about that? Are they looking for a partner, three partners, a line marriage to join? It may not be their primary consideration, but even the lack of a consideration is worth a note.
- An urban-fantasy post-apocalyptic setting, several generations (probably 2-400 years) after a major catastrophe.
- Magic which is limited in scope but, within that scope can be very powerful. It is only wielded by 5-10% of the population, and only about 10% of them have any formal training. Exactly what it can do is going to depend on the story for the moment, as will how it works.
- The government of [country] is intrusive, totalitarian, and controlling, although it loses some control in the remote areas. It covers a country approximately the size of Texas. It is not necessarily malevolent but it is intent on being in control.
Places to go from here include:
The Physical World
- Geography: what sort of place is it? Are there mountains? Lakes? Islands? Oceans? Is it flat and boring? Hilly and gorgey?
- Climate: How much weather does your main location get, and of what sorts (obviously not an issue on a space ship, unless you want it to be)
The Governmental World
- How much does the government interfere with people’s day-to-day lives? Do they even notice it?
- How granular is the government? Are their regional leaders? How far down (state/town/ village?) do the governments go?
- What are the leaders called and how do they become leader? (Queen, hereditary; Innermost Circle, wealth-boosted meritocracy; President, representative election by proxy votes).
Where I’m going first:
Family life: What is the family structure, and how did it come about?
- Who did your protagonist(s) grow up with? Is this common?
- Who is responsible for child-rearing? Education? Punishment? (are children punished?)
- What age is adulthood?
- Marriage? Does it exist? How does it relate to child-rearing, if at all?
- How much is the state involved in the government?
- Potential family units include:
- Polygynous: One husband, many wives. Common in fantasy. Not my fave.
- Polyandrous: One wife, many husbands. (See Wikipedia). An option that intrigues me here is fraternal polyandry.
- Polygamous: all the spouses, everywhere! Group marriage, in this case, since polygamy covers both of the above options. This includes Line Marriage, a la Heinlein.
- Single-parent households.
- Extended families as a household (Addergoole’s Shahin, for instance, grew up in an extended family of her mother, her mother’s sisters, and her mother’s mother).
...You know, all of these are based on a dual-sexed human species. If you’re going alien… well, you’re well outside of my expertise, but have fun! Five-pointed marriages, anyone?
I’ll note here that what kind of upbringing characters have had will color what they expect out of their life — what partners they may or may not be looking for. Is their family (or their government) going to arrange a marriage for them? How do they feel about that? Are they looking for a partner, three partners, a line marriage to join? It may not be their primary consideration, but even the lack of a consideration is worth a note.
