Storytelling and World Building
- fatumcards
- Dec 3
- 6 min read
Worldbuilding and Storytelling: What are they?
In storytelling—whether for novels, role-playing games, comics, video games, or simply for creative enjoyment—two fundamental concepts emerge: storytelling and worldbuilding . Both may sound technical, but they actually describe something very simple and profoundly human: the way we bring to life the worlds and characters we imagine .
In this article, we'll explore what these processes mean, how they relate to each other, and what techniques you can use to work through them more smoothly and efficiently. And, of course, we'll talk about a creative tool that can help you along the way: Fatum Cards , illustrated decks designed to accompany you in the art of storytelling.
⭐ What is storytelling?
Storytelling is the art of telling stories. It 's that simple and that complex.
It includes everything related to narrative structure:
the characters,
their motivations,
the conflicts,
the plot,
the tone,
the topics,
the way everything is told.
Storytelling is about how you tell something, not just what you tell.
Why is it important?
Good storytelling makes a story memorable. It can transform a simple idea into an emotional, epic, or inspiring experience. And the best part: it's a skill that can be learned, practiced, and enjoyed.
⭐ What is worldbuilding?
Worldbuilding is the construction of the world where the story takes place. It's not just geography or magic: it includes cultures, languages, legends, ecosystems, politics, aesthetics, technology, creatures, and any element that brings the universe you're creating to life.
Worldbuilding answers questions such as:
How does society work?
What do these people think?
What is the history of this world?
What things are possible here… and what things are not?
In short, it is the invisible architecture that underpins your narrative.
Why is it fundamental?
Good worldbuilding gives coherence, depth, and personality to a story. It makes the reader, player, or viewer feel that the world could exist… even if it's full of dragons, impossible planets, or ancient magic.
⭐ Simple techniques for working on storytelling and worldbuilding
Although both concepts may seem overwhelming, there are practical methods to develop them in a more organized and accessible way.
1. The key question technique
When you don't know where to start, ask yourself:
Who wants something here? (Character and motivation)
What is stopping him? (Conflict)
Why is this world special? (Context and rules)
What's at stake? (Dramatic tension)
Answering these questions already creates a narrative skeleton.
2. Mind maps
Mind maps allow you to develop ideas without forcing yourself to organize them from the beginning. Write a concept in the center and expand it into branches: characters, creatures, places, culture, conflicts, etc.
It's perfect for seeing connections that hadn't yet emerged.
3. Three-act schemes
For storytelling, the classic three-act structure remains one of the most accessible:
Beginning: presentation and trigger
Knot: conflict and development
Outcome: resolution
It helps you maintain clarity without restricting you.
4. Layered construction
In worldbuilding, you don't need to build the entire world at once. Start with what's essential for your story and add details as needed.
Layer 1: basic rules of the world
Layer 2: Cultures and Societies
Layer 3: history, myths, aesthetics
Layer 4: Unique details that set it apart
This approach prevents you from getting overwhelmed and keeps you creatively moving.
5. Techniques based on visual stimuli
Imagination responds very well to sensory stimuli. An image, a color, a symbol, or a drawn character can be enough to unlock an idea or generate an entire plot.
This is where tools like Fatum Cards naturally come into play.
⭐ How Fatum Cards can help you in your creative process
Fatum Cards are illustrated cards designed to inspire stories, characters, landscapes, and elements of fictional worlds.
They function as a creative partner :
✔ They unlock creativity
When you don't know how to proceed, a letter can give you a visual detail that sparks a new idea.
✔ Easy-to-use system
Perfect for game masters, writers, or creators who want to explore new ideas.
✔ They provide coherence
Each deck has its own setting, ideal for building homogeneous and atmospheric worlds.
✔ They function as narrative seeds
A symbol can become a religion. A character, a faction. A landscape, the setting for an epic conflict.
They are simple but surprisingly powerful tools.
⭐ Conclusion: Storytelling is easier when you have support
Both storytelling and worldbuilding can seem like enormous tasks, but they don't have to be. With the right questions, clear structures, visual inspiration, and tools that spark your creativity, everything flows more naturally.
Fatum Cards don't write history for you; but they do accompany you, suggest paths, and remind you that imagination is always available.
And sometimes, that's exactly what a creator needs.
A creative compass for your storytelling and worldbuilding of your fantasy worlds
Creating stories isn't always a straight path. There are days when inspiration flows effortlessly… and others when any idea seems elusive. For those who write, narrate, design, or direct adventures, a small spark can make all the difference. And that's where Fatum Cards become a powerful ally.
They're not just illustrated cards: they're doorways. Small fragments of a universe that you can reinterpret, mix, or transform to build your own.
A helping hand in the art of storytelling
Storytelling isn't just about telling stories; it's about giving them life, rhythm, meaning, and emotion. Sometimes a single visual detail is enough to bring a scene to life. A silhouette, a symbol, a gesture, a landscape…
Fatum Cards serve as a reminder that ideas are there, waiting to be awakened .
When the blank page appears: a card can give you the first push to start a chapter, a dialogue or a conflict.
When the plot stalls: another card may suggest an unexpected connection, a twist, or a new approach.
When you feel like you're repeating patterns: its random system activates new associations and refreshes your way of creating.
Sometimes you don't need a perfect solution: just a stimulus that gets you moving again.
A silent tool to strengthen your worldbuilding
Building a world is an immense undertaking. It requires thinking about cultures, places, creatures, symbols, ancient stories, inner tensions, ways of life, and understandings of magic (if any). It can exhaust even the most passionate creators.
The Fatum Cards then become a kind of embryonic map:
A card can inspire the forgotten history of a city .
Another may reveal the nature of an ancestral being .
A third one allows you to imagine an entire culture based on an artifact or a ritual .
They are seeds, nothing more... but seeds are enough for a world to flourish.
For creators seeking support, not instructions
The most valuable aspect of Fatum Cards is that they don't impose a particular narrative style. Their schematic system and randomness make them an ideal tool.
For writers who need a spark.
For game masters who want to improvise without fear.
For artists who want to explore new aesthetics.
For anyone who enjoys the creative process, even if it's just as a mental game.
They work whether you're looking to organize your story or you want to let chance guide you to discover something you didn't know you wanted to create.
A reminder that creativity is always available
In a world full of distractions, Fatum Cards offer something very simple: a moment of pause and attentive observation. An invitation to explore, imagine, and let ideas connect with one another.
They are the kind of tool you can keep close at hand for those moments when you need a spark, a suggestion, or an unexpected starting point.
Because in the end, it's not the cards that matter. It's what you decide to build with them.
Decks according to setting
Fatum Fantasy
Create characters and epic fantasy stories. Among its 79 cards, you'll find wizards, warriors, castles, elves, and dwarves.
Fatum Dark Myths
For darker, more modern characters and stories. Personality cards will help you uncover your character's psyche.
GM Oracle
The options in this deck will give you the greatest improvisation and diversity, exploiting your fantasy world in your campaign or role-playing game.
Fatum Collection
Enjoy ALL the options and settings. The complete collection of character creation decks in one box. Includes Fatum Fantasy, Dark Myths, Eastern Winds, and the expansions Sci-Fi, Steampunk, Gothic Punk, Epic Paths, and Mythological Races.
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