Creating the World

You begin playing a SAVE game by collaboratively creating the world the game takes place in. The first step is to discuss elements that your group wishes to either include or omit from the game. For example, you might want to ensure that the world includes dragons, and might want to prohibit portraying violence against children.

Next, you assemble the important elements of the world by answering a list of multiple-choice questions, and supplying an illustrative detail for each answer. One possible world-building question for a high fantasy game might look like this:

What afflictions has the Doom brought to your realm? Choose three:

• A creeping blight that sickens crops, livestock, and people. [What is the first telltale symptom?]
• A rise of petty, vain, dishonest, xenophobic, tyrannical leaders. [Name one of the worst.]
• A plague of creatures that hunger for the blood of the living. [What do they resemble at first glance?]
• The decline of a critical resource. [What are you losing? Water? Sunlight? Magic?]
• Assassins hunting a list of people. [Who’s being hunted? The Order of Wizards? Heirs to the throne? People possessing a certain rare birthmark?]
• Oppression of the have-nots by the privileged. [What do the privileged have that sets them apart? Noble titles? A religion? A secret society? Just plain wealth?]

The point of these questions is not to establish a deep, encyclopedic knowledge of the world. You’re just choosing a few colorful and important details to illustrate what the world looks like, and providing a few major threats and hazards that the heroes must contend with. The act of creating heroes will reveal more information, and the guide will fill in further details as necessary during play.