The Exercise

I
f you're like me then you constantly find your mind
wandering to other worlds. I love fantasy, I love Step 2: Determine Seeds
adventure, and I love immersing myself in grand Once you've got your category, you then determine two of the
stories and the worlds in which they take place. I also category's asssociated seeds. Seeds are the focus, theme, or
love coming up with my own ideas; designing my most notable characteristics of your category. Your two seeds
own people, places, relics, and worlds. Over the are determined at random, rolling again for any duplicates.
gaming careers of myself and numerous friends, we There are 40 different seeds for each category, so there are a
have come up with several different worlds and enjoy getting huge amount of possible seed pairings.
together to bounce around new ideas or to flesh out existing For example, I could have the "City" category with the
ones. seeds "Island" and "Underground." This does not mean my
A while back my brother and I put our heads together to city must be on an island nor that it must be underground, it
come up with a short world building exercise that would help simply means that "Island" and "Underground," however you
get the creative juices flowing. It took us several months to choose to interpret them, must be somehow included in the
finally complete (and we still toy with it now and then), but city's design. The two seeds can be connected or entirely
now we have created what I think is a fun way to add things separate from each other, as long as they are both somehow
to an existing world, come up with an idea for a new world, or present in the design of your creation.
to just warm up the brain and have fun. We sincerely hope
you enjoy the exercise!
Step 3: Get Creative
Step 1: Choose A Category Once you have your category and your seeds, you are ready to
create something! Using your seeds as inspiration, write,
There are 12 different categories to choose from. The type, or draw something in your chosen category. You can tell
category will represent the broad "thing" you will focus on a story, give a detailed description or summary, or even write
creating. You can choose the category you want, or you can about your creation as though it were a journal entry. We
roll a d12 to choose a category at random. originally designed this exercise as a competition with a 15
minute timer in mind. If you want to challenge yourself, you
Categories can time yourself for 15 minutes right after finding out what
d12 Creation your seeds are to see what you can come up with under
1 City
pressure. However, we obviously encourage you to use this
exercise however it most benefits your worldbuilding.
2 Monster The goal is to come up with something original, so we
3 Religion recommend not settling for the first thing that pops into your
mind. In fact, sometimes I try to think "What would
4 Planet somebody expect me to make with these seeds?" then I try to
5 Monument think of something that takes those seeds in a different
6 Plant/Material
direction. However, the muses speak differently to everyone,
so do whatever works for you!
7 Race
8 Hero What Else is There?
9 Villain The rest of this text contains the 12 category tables with 40
10 Weapon/Item seeds each, as well as a few example entries going through
11 Biome/Environment each step of the exercise. To further show how this exercise
can add to/inspire your campaigns, the example for
12 Culture "Monster" has an original 5e statblock.
Feedback Credits
Do you have an awesome idea for another category or seed? Designers: Glenn Anderson, Alex Anderson
Do you have further questions about how the exercise works Author: Glenn Anderson
or advice on how to improve it? Did you make an awesome
creation that you want to share? Drop a comment on the DMs Art Credits: All art featured in this text is from the hero-
Guild page and we'll try to respond when we can! crafting game Ivion with the express permission of the
creators. You can learn more at: https://www.playivion.com/
Cover Artist: Wasan Techawibulchai
(https://www.artstation.com/wacalac)
Interior Artists: Uros Slivijic
(https://www.artstation.com/sljivic), Dario Marzadori
(https://www.artstation.com/mbanshee)
Special Thanks: This was made using the Homebrewery
(https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/). Special thanks to
everyone who's ever played with us for your creativity and
adventure.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster
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logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are
property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any
reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission
of Wizards of the Coast.
©2018 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-
Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET,
UK.
City Seeds
1-10 City Seed 11-20 City Seed 21-30 City Seed 31-40 City Seed
1 Steam 11 Mobile 21 Natural 31 Poor
2 Water 12 Haunted 22 Isolated 32 Wealth
3 Island 13 Holy 23 Color 33 Dangerous
4 Underground 14 Metropolis 24 Stone 34 Pollution
5 Sky 15 Cold 25 Tree 35 Multicultural
6 Industry 16 Ruins 26 Cliff 36 Volcanic
7 Rural 17 Bridge 27 Animal 37 Fortification
8 Tribal 18 Ancient 28 Segregation 38 Crossroad
9 Wall 19 Militant 29 Agriculture 39 Dock
10 Tower 20 Death 30 Otherworldly 40 Glass

Monster Seeds
1-10 Monster Seed 11-20 Monster Seed 21-30 Monster Seed 31-40 Monster Seed
1 Fire 11 Flight 21 Rot 31 Construct
2 Cold 12 Blood 22 Wild/feral 32 Aquatic
3 Fear 13 Teeth 23 Bones 33 Stealth
4 Death 14 Noise 24 Eggs 34 Weapon
5 Eye 15 Clever 25 Armor 35 Color
6 Tail 16 Poison 26 Life 36 Minions
7 Wind 17 Growth 27 Demonic 37 Rage
8 Spiritual 18 Hunger 28 Horn 38 Pain
9 Appendage 19 Lair 29 Secretion 39 Shapeshift
10 Head 20 Rock/stone 30 Ooze/slime 40 Speed

Religion Seeds
1-10 Religion Seed 11-20 Religion Seed 21-30 Religion Seed 31-40 Religion Seed
1 Polytheism 11 Fate 21 Music 31 Avatar
2 Monotheism 12 Greed 22 Conversion 32 Radical/Fanatical
3 Wrath 13 Prosperity 23 Tithe 33 Prophecy
4 Creation 14 Time 24 Covenant 34 Heaven
5 Destruction 15 Love 25 Purpose 35 Hell
6 Life 16 Cult 26 Enlightenment 36 Exclusive
7 Race 17 Sin 27 Meditation 37 Transformation
8 Reincarnation 18 Ritual 28 Pilgrimage 38 Water
9 Earth 19 Prayer 29 Relic 39 Apocolypse
10 Vengeance 20 Sacrifice 30 Temple 40 Animals
Planet Seeds
1-10 Planet Seed 11-20 Planet Seed 21-30 Planet Seed 31-40 Planet Seed
1 Lake 11 Ring 21 Empty 31 Color
2 Moon 12 Comet 22 Valuable 32 Mountain
3 Non-spherical 13 Alien 23 Fertile 33 Valley
4 Inhospitable 14 Size 24 Waste 34 Island
5 Non-rotational 15 Contested 25 Wind 35 Ocean
6 One biome 16 War torn 26 Magic 36 River
7 Sun/star 17 Abandoned 27 Rain 37 Tree
8 Gravity 18 Monster 28 Storm 38 Fire
9 Divided 19 Core 29 Construction 39 Orbit
10 Gas 20 Used up 30 Disaster/calamity 40 Hazard

Monument Seeds
1-10 Monument Seed 11-20 Monument Seed 21-30 Monument Seed 31-40 Monument Seed
1 Hero 11 Glory 21 Bone 31 Glass
2 Villain 12 Greed 22 Wood 32 Light
3 Bravery 13 Narcissism 23 Animal 33 Defeat
4 Peace 14 Tyranny 24 Forgotten 34 Victory
5 Charity 15 Achievement 25 Love 35 Gift
6 Kindness 16 Defense 26 Height 36 Broken
7 War 17 Natural 27 Landmark 37 Magic
8 Mourning 18 Practical 28 Divine 38 Agony
9 Death 19 Gold 29 Disaster/calamity 39 Mobile
10 Sacrifice 20 Stone/rock 30 Rebellion 40 Public

Plant/Material Seeds
1-10 Plant/Material Seed 11-20 Plant/Material Seed 21-30 Plant/Material Seed 31-40 Plant/Monument Seed
1 Poison 11 Consumable 21 Trickery/deceit 31 Sound
2 Healing 12 Malleable 22 Permanent 32 Vision
3 Strength 13 Composite/hybrid 23 Weight 33 Rampant/plentiful
4 Art 14 Ointment 24 Incapacitation 34 Injection
5 Defense 15 Luck 25 Otherworldly 35 Rot/decay
6 Construction 16 Ritual 26 Comfort 36 Drawback/tradeoff
7 Mind 17 Divine 27 Pain 37 War
8 Hallucination 18 Difficult to acquire 28 Time 38 Sentient
9 Addiction 19 Growth 29 Cosmetic 39 Overused/extinct
10 Legendary 20 Monster 30 Worn 40 Gas
Race Seeds
1-10 Race Seed 11-20 Race Seed 21-30 Race Seed 31-40 Race Seed
1 Scar 11 Death 21 Communication 31 Sixth sense
2 Sight 12 Water 22 Spirit/soul 32 Age
3 Skin 13 Organ 23 Fire/heat 33 Transformation
4 Alternate form 14 Speed 24 Mix-breed 34 Breath
5 Mate 15 Cursed 25 Substance-bond 35 Waste
6 Consumption/diet 16 Blessed 26 Flight 36 Secretion
7 Growth/size 17 Fuel 27 Blood 37 Disease/infection
8 Craft 18 Strength 28 Protection 38 Artificial
9 Mount 19 Purpose 29 Marking 39 Magic
10 Reproduction/birth 20 Travel 30 Talent 40 Darkness

Hero Seeds
1-10 Hero Seed 11-20 Hero Seed 21-30 Hero Seed 31-40 Hero Seed
1 Bravery 11 Death 21 Exploration 31 Protection
2 Vow/oath 12 Punishment 22 Race 32 Leader
3 Honor 13 Love 23 Mercy 33 Teacher
4 Peace 14 Faith 24 Charity/kindness 34 Prophecy
5 War 15 Magic 25 Charisma 35 Art
6 Trickery 16 Revenge 26 Strength 36 Heritage
7 Local 17 Justice 27 Destruction 37 Journey
8 Redemption 18 Savior 28 Rebuild 38 Preservation
9 Sacrifice 19 Wisdom 29 Unlikely 39 Chosen
10 Mystery 20 Intellect/cunning 30 Weapon 40 Rebellion

Villain Seeds
1-10 Villain Seed 11-20 Villain Seed 21-30 Villain Seed 31-40 Villain Seed
1 Hate 11 Chaos 21 Defilement 31 Misguided
2 Cruelty 12 Law/order 22 Greed/covetous 32 Obsession
3 Treachery 13 Myth 23 Lust 33 Hidden
4 War 14 Fear 24 Envy 34 Plan
5 Anger/rage 15 Torture 25 Monstrous 35 Pestilence
6 Destruction 16 Cursed 26 Boredom 36 Eldritch
7 Vengeance 17 Radical/fanatical 27 Madness/insanity 37 Beauty
8 Unholy 18 Leader 28 Pride/ego 38 Comical
9 Trickery/guile 19 Rebellion 29 Forbidden 39 Legacy
10 Merciless 20 Omnipresent 30 Pact 40 Titan
Weapon/Item Seeds
1-10 Weapon/Item Seed 11-20 Weapon/Item Seed 21-30 Weapon/Item Seed 31-40 Weapon/Item Seed
1 Standard issue 11 Divine 21 Ornate 31 Command
2 Siege 12 Versatile 22 Ritual 32 Training
3 Set 13 Primitive 23 Repurposed 33 Riot
4 Wearable 14 Aquatic 24 Messy 34 Psionics
5 Material 15 Stealth 25 Pain 35 Defense
6 Broken 16 Sentient 26 Fragile 36 Hunting
7 Biologic 17 Fuel 27 Weight 37 Discipline
8 Light 18 Mount 28 Alien 38 Fear
9 Bane 19 Nature 29 Purpose 39 Sound
10 Taint/curse 20 Element(s) 30 Duel 40 Deception

Environment Seeds
1-10 Environment Seed 11-20 Environment Seed 21-30 Environment Seed 31-40 Environment Seed
1 Grass 11 Growth 21 Mountain 31 Separation
2 Tree 12 Dark 22 Damp 32 Noise
3 Cliff 13 Nest 23 Tropic 33 Filth
4 Ravine 14 Harvest 24 Plateau 34 Grave
5 Burn/scorch 15 Fog/mist 25 Animal 35 Alive
6 Frozen 16 Food 26 Light 36 Battle
7 Water 17 Hazard 27 Rock 37 Guard
8 Sand 18 Ruin 28 Hole 38 Lost
9 Vine 19 Air 29 Oasis 39 Power
10 Fungus 20 Cave 30 Trail/path 40 Paradise

Culture Seeds
1-10 Culture Seed 11-20 Culture Seed 21-30 Culture Seed 31-40 Culture Seed
1 Music 11 Execution 21 Beauty 31 Worship
2 Dance 12 Love 22 Water 32 Celebration
3 Coming of age 13 Family 23 Ancestry 33 Induction
4 Birth 14 Marking 24 Trade 34 Agriculture
5 Mourn/funeral 15 Game 25 Order 35 Weaponry
6 Hunt 16 Tribute 26 Technology 36 Time
7 Feast/food 17 Home 27 Work 37 Clothing/fashion
8 Gathering 18 Architecture 28 Travel 38 Substance/material
9 Battle/war 19 Animal 29 Dependent 39 Power
10 Elder 20 Punishment 30 Artifact 40 Conflict/dispute
Examples

I
n this section we provide a few example Many predators lurk in the dark woods, though none are as
walkthroughs of the exercise. These examples are eerie as the Breather. If one were to see this creature in
not trying to show the "correct" way to do the broad daylight, it would look the stuff of nightmares: gray-
exercise, but rather a few common ways they can be skinned, tall, gaunt, and with six long needle-like spindles
applied to campaigns. where fingers should be. The tips of the spindles instantly rot
whatever they touch, though the effect seems amplified on
wood. The creatures use this to hollow out trees and crawl
inside them, standing motionless for hours to days. To avoid
Example 1: Flatraft them, listen for the creature's strained, heavy breathing
It was Claire's first time DMing when her players decided to emanating from trees.
ignore her carefully crafted plot and head off in a random When prey is near, they burst from the weak-wood with a
direction. She wanted to acknowledge their agency but also signaling screech, rallying all nearby breathers to do the
needed a location they could visit that she hadn't originally same. Though somewhat fast, the true danger lies in their
planned. ability to launch and regrow their spindles. The trajectory of
Step 1: Knowing she wanted to make a town for the PCs, the launch is akin to a bow, and when it pierces flesh it
Claire chooses the "City" category instead of rolling magically infects the area, making it difficult to heal.
randomly.
Step 2: Claire then rolls 2d40 to randomly determine her
two seeds, rolling "Poor" and "Dock."
Step 3: Claire thinks about her seeds and category and
Breather
Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil
types up a brief description of her creation, hoping to use it in
her next session(s): Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Flatraft used to be part of a large, rich port city. As the city Hit Points 42 (6d8 + 12)
grew, the nobility welcomed more and more trade. The Speed 40 ft.
builders tried to keep up with the increasing demand for
dockage, but eventually the city's horizon was replaced by a
cluster of ships idling off the coast in a ramshackle que, STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
waiting to be admitted to sell their goods. Nobody seemed to 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 7 (-2) 12 (+1) 9 (-1)
mind the unorthodoxy, not until a massive storm obliterated
the fleet of trade vessels. The dawn of the following day, Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
hundreds of poor dock workers raced on 10-minute rafts to Senses blindsight 25 ft., passive Perception 13
the wealth-infused wreckage. Languages -
In an effort to discourage the looting, the nobility decreed Challenge 2 (450 XP)
that the wreckage belonged to them and any man who
returned with trade goods would be criminally charged. In Motionless. The breather is incredibly thin and able
response, none of the treasure-hunters returned. Instead, they to stand completely still. This allows it move
lashed their rafts and dinghies to the wreckage and floated through and occupy a space as narrow as 6 inches
into the sunset. However, over time the lavish, exotic foods wide without squeezing, and confers advantage on
spoiled, the spices were used up, and regal fabrics were torn Stealth checks opposed by sigh-based Perception
and lost in petty squabbles. Now the floating city of Flatraft is checks.
desolate, poor, and filled with desperate criminals... and the
occassional treasure. Actions
Multiattack. The breather makes two attacks using
Example 2: Breathers its spindle, kick, or both.
Jason DMs for a group of players who are currently travelling Spindle. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range
through a dark forest. He wants to really spook them with a 60/120 ft., one target. Hit 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing
monster none of them expect or have heard of, so he decides damage plus 6 (1d12) poison damage. If the target
to try creating his own. is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 12
Step 1: Jason chooses the "Legendary Monster" category, Constitution saving throw or its hit point maximum
knowing that's what he wants to add to his world. is reduced by an amount equal to the poison
Step 2: Jason is looking for a spooky, horror themed damage taken. This reduction lasts until the target
monster. Jason first rolls his seeds randomly, getting finishes a long rest or until they receive a DC 12
"Appendage" and "Aquatic." However, Jason knows his players Medicine check during a short rest. The target dies
are nowehere near water, so he decides to reroll his second if its hit point maximum is reduced to 0.
seed, instead getting "Rot." Kick. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5ft.,
Step 3: Jason thinks about his seeds and category in terms one target. Hit 6 (1d8 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
of a dark forest encounter, then types up a brief description
and takes it a step further by making an associated statblock: