How reliable is the evaluation system of world education services (WES?

Fantasy World Building Questionnaire. Will this help?

• Ok, it seems to me that a lot of people on YA are interested in writing fantasy but struggle with certain things pertaining to world building, for instance. So, here are 30 questions regarding World Building to help some of you toss some ideas around and maybe inspire thoughts for your own stories. (Feel free to pick and choose the questions you answer. I know that some of us don't want to give out ideas that we're already using unless we write them vaguely) Let me know if these are helpful or not. If they are then I will post more questions for other things like creatures/religions/folklores/etc to try to help spark some thoughts. World Building: 1) Are the laws of nature/physics different to our world? (ex: gravity, motion, time) 2) Where does magic come from? (ex: mana, Gods, magic items like talisman's, etc) 3) Is Magic an exhaustible resource ( ex: that feeds off of willpower/life-force/ sanity (etc)? 4) Is the world unlike Earth, accessible from Earth (via portal), or an alternate world within Earth? 5) How similar is the history/culture to Earth's history? (Ex: was there a holocaust like in WW2) 6) How does this world differ from Earth physically (Ex: plant/animal life, food chain, size, oceans) 7) What is the style of government (ex: Feudal, aristocratic, oligarchy, etc) 8) What are the social services/obligations of the societies? (ex: taxes, public schools, councils/courts, military) 9) Is there a shared common law or is it divided among races/geography? (ex: civil rights, taxation) 10) Is population shifting from Rural to urban, south-north, mountains to coasts? If so why? (ex: plague, gold rush) 11) Does city layout reflect some philosophy (religion, hygeine, etc)? 12) Are farmers/peasants/yeoman's, serfs tied to their lands by law/custom? Do they own the land or are they indentured slaves to landlords? 13) Are there natural or man-made barriers between rival countries? 14) Is magic illegal in certain areas? Do laws vary widely? Why? (ex: is magic an import/export substance, harmful to health/environment, etc) 15) Is there a single calendar to tell time, make measurements or does it vary with culture? 16) Does the solar system differ from Earths and affect length of days, tides, etc? 17) Are there records of the world's history? How far back do they go? How widely known are the folklore/legends pertaining to this history? 18) Do the animals possess traits often found in plants or vice versa? If so, what? 19) What customs surround death/burial? Weddings? Healing? 20) Are healers rare? Are they expensive? Are they revered or mistrusted? Are they magical/non magical? Are the medicines sold/bartered? How do people compensate healers? 21) What are the types of arts/entertainment available (music? theater? dance? festivals? games?) 22) Is one race of creatures more artistic/talented than another? Are there rivals? Jobs relating to these? 23) What are the most common building material for rural homes/city homes, public buildings, temples/churches, etc. Does social class/wealth/magical ability, etc affect types of materials used to build homes/products? 24) Are wars common enough to warrant large walls and towers? 25) What are modes of transportation (via water, air, land) 26) Is commerce and business conducted capitalistically? Do people barter? Do they work uniformly without compensation? etc. 27) Do manners/diet/fashion/education depend on race/geography/wealth/social status etc ? 28) Are there magical means of rapid communication/transportation/weapon making/protection? 29) Does magical talent/ability change over time? Can magics be combined to form stronger spells? Does magic require a license/degree? 30) Is magic based off of the world religions/legends or vice versa? Or are they interconnected? Or are the origins unknown?

• Answer:

  1) Are the laws of nature/physics different to our world? (ex: gravity, motion, time) A) No, I pretty much keep the basics the same. 2) Where does magic come from? (ex: mana, Gods, magic items like talisman's, etc) A) The Earth? The Gods? 3) Is Magic an exhaustible resource ( ex: that feeds off of willpower/life-force/ sanity (etc)? A) No, but it could be. I prefer heirerarchies if I'm going to have magic. 4) Is the world unlike Earth, accessible from Earth (via portal), or an alternate world within Earth? A) How about an alternate world next to Earth? Or similar to Earth a long time ago? Or similar to what Earth could be in the future? 6) How does this world differ from Earth physically (Ex: plant/animal life, food chain, size, oceans) A) Magical creatures, different kinds of animals, different types of plants, but the same basic rules. 9) Is there a shared common law or is it divided among races/geography? (ex: civil rights, taxation) A) The world is too big for one law. 11) Does city layout reflect some philosophy (religion, hygeine, etc)? A) City? What city? hahahah! 14) Is magic illegal in certain areas? Do laws vary widely? Why? (ex: is magic an import/export substance, harmful to health/environment, etc) A) Nope. Although, certain groups of people aren't allowed to practice (the slaves) because of their station. 20) Are healers rare? Are they expensive? Are they revered or mistrusted? Are they magical/non magical? Are the medicines sold/bartered? How do people compensate healers? A) None of the above, in most cases. Healers save people. It's their job and their calling (depending on what culture you're in) so for the most part, if you can't pay, that's okay. They would hope for payment in favors, not money. EDIT: I wanted to do more, but it wouldn't let me post the answer. :(