These world building prompts come from 3000 World Building Prompts, which you can get at Amazon. This section is focused on creating world figures like heroes and villains.
- What kind of figure are you creating (hero, villain, martyr, etc.)?
- What is their name and does it mean anything?
- What nicknames do they have? How did they earn the name(s)?
- What species or race are they?
- Are you going to use this person as a main or minor character?
- Or are you only mentioning them and they do not appear in the story?
- What kind of person admires this figure?
- What kind of person hates this figure?
- What are they famous/infamous for?
- What significant deeds have they done?
- What event turned them into a world figure?
- Who or what was involved in this?
- Are they a reluctant figure or someone who sought it out?
- What stories about them are true?
- What stories about them are false and in what way?
- What is unknown about them?
- What places have heard of them?
- Do they regret their fame?
- If their fame has faded, how do they feel about that?
Status
- Are they alive or dead?
- If dead, how long has that been true?
- What/who killed them?
- How did they die?
- Is their death indisputable, or is there a chance they’re still alive somewhere?
- How old are/were they?
- Are they free or imprisoned? Hiding? Living peacefully?
- What weapons, armor, or items did they have that are worth people remembering and/or coveting?
- What is special about those items?
- Are any magical?
- Is an item broken, the pieces scattered and awaiting reconstruction?
- If so, where are the pieces?
- Who is searching for this and what do they hope will happen from finding it?
- Was there an animal associated with them, like a steed?
- Did/do they have a ship?
- How is it noteworthy? Just because it is theirs?
- Or does it have unusual speed or weaponry?
- Does it have hidden compartments or other unexpected features?
- Where is it now?
Relationships
- Are their parents still alive?
- If so what, is their relationship?
- Do they have a romantic partner?
- If so, who is/was it?
- Are/were they married/divorced?
- Is that person alive or dead?
- Do they have children?
- Do they know about their children?
- Are the children alive or dead?
- How old are the children, and what genders?
- Do the children know this person is their father/mother or have they heard of him/her?
- What does each person in the family think of this figure?
- And what does he think of them?
- Have any of the people close to them been targeted by their enemies?
- Has this targeting changed the world figure’s behavior?
- Have any of them been kidnapped?
- Killed?
- Held for ransom?
- What effect did this have on the world figure?
- Have any of these people come after the world figure to change their behavior?
- Did it work?
- Did it strengthen or end the relationship?
- What does each race/species in the setting think of this figure, who can be a hero to some and a villain to others?
Abilities
- What is/was their profession?
- What skills do they have?
- Where did they learn their skills?
- Are those who taught them still around?
- If so, what do they think of what this world figure does with his/her skills?
- Would the figure be welcomed back by those trainers?
- Do they have street smarts?
- Book smarts?
- How well-traveled are they?
- What situations can they blend into?
- In what situations do they immediately stand out?
Appearance
- Do they have any identifiable scars?
- What is their hair color and length?
- What is their eye color?
- What is their overall build?
- What impression do they create on sight?
- What impression do they create when they speak?
- What sort of attire do they wear?
- What colors do they wear?