Beginnings

I've toyed with the idea of this blog long enough. The time has come.

World Building 101
When creating a new world, I start with planetary science. It doesn't matter that this is for a fantasy world. The more realism you build into your world, the better. Here are some things to consider:

How many stars does your planet orbit? How many stars are in the same system? How many moons, and how big are they relative to the planet? Nearby stars(suns) would effect the seasons, the orbital path, etc. Other stars or planets in the system could have an effect on your planet's eccentricity, wobbles, rotation, etc. Moons would have an effect on tides, on the speed of rotation (length of day), and the stability of orbit/wobble.

What is the land:ocean ratio? Massive super-continent? Several continents? Mostly ocean with multiple island chains? Or is it a snowball world with an ocean beneath the ice? Or a dry world where water is a scarce resource? The geology of your world, and its resources and shortages, will have an impact upon your people and the development of their civilization.

What about gravity? Heavier than earth? Lighter? Air density? Air composition? Just because we breathe oxygen doesn't mean everything does. Features such as gravity and air density might seem minor, but they directly impact what sort of life can evolve on your world.

Is the planet geologically active? Are earthquakes and volcanoes common? Or is the planet old and tired, with erosion in full gear and no new land being made?

Once you have the setting, the next question to ponder is: What sort of animals could come to live here?