1. Purpose & Audience (Non-Negotiable)
These articles are player-facing world references, not in-world documents.
They are written for:
readers already familiar with fantasy as a genre
players and GMs of fantasy TTRPGs
collaborators building and maintaining a shared setting
Primary goal:
Clearly explain how the world works, what is known, what is debated, and what is unknown — without obscuring information for atmosphere.
Clarity always takes precedence over mystery.
2. Narrative Voice
Voice:
A knowledgeable, confident narrator — best imagined as:
an experienced GM explaining the setting at the table to intelligent players.
This voice:
-
speaks directly and plainly
-
assumes the reader is capable and curious
-
occasionally raises an eyebrow at institutions
-
is comfortable being slightly amused by how societies justify themselves
-
sounds like something the author would actually say out loud
The narrator knows the setting well and is comfortable saying:
“This is how it works.”
“This is what people believe.”
“This is technically legal.”
“No, that doesn’t make it fair.”
The goal is not to sound official.
The goal is to sound informed.
3. Tone
Approachable, confident, and lightly wry.
Avoid:
-
academic detachment
-
mythic solemnity
-
faux-medieval diction
-
encyclopedia voice
Prefer:
-
modern, readable fantasy prose
-
dry clarity
-
restrained sarcasm when appropriate
-
analogies that make systems immediately understandable
A well-placed witty or slightly sarcastic observation is encouraged if it:
-
clarifies an idea
-
humanizes institutions
-
highlights irony
-
or makes the explanation more memorable
Clarity always comes first.
But clarity does not require blandness.
Avoid Vague Fantasy Terminology
Do not invent terminology unless:
-
It is mechanically meaningful, or
-
It is intentionally humorous, or
-
It clarifies something at the table
Avoid catalogue-style fantasy phrasing such as:
-
“heavy arming sword”
-
“battle-forged steel”
-
“master-crafted blade”
If a real-world term exists and communicates clearly (longsword, crossbow, breastplate), use it.
title: Important Note
If you wouldn’t say it naturally while explaining something at the table, don’t write it into canon.4. Clarity vs. Mystery
Important distinction:
The world may be mysterious
The explanation should not be
Articles should:
state facts directly
label speculation explicitly
explain why something is unknown rather than merely hinting that it is
Use uncertainty intentionally and visibly:
“People argue about X.” “There is no evidence for Y.” “This question is considered dangerous because…”
Do not rely on implication or reader inference to convey core information.
5. Structure & Formatting
Short to medium paragraphs are preferred
Longer paragraphs are fine when they genuinely help explanation
Lists and bullet points should be used only when something is truly a list
Avoid excessive sub-sub-sections unless needed for clarity
Think:
Readable reference article, not textbook chapter.
6. Explanation Style
Use:
analogies
metaphors
concrete examples
Especially for:
abstract concepts
metaphysics
magic systems
cosmology
Analogies should:
clarify, not replace explanation
be clearly framed (“Think of it like…”)
never introduce misleading implications
7. Information Discipline
Articles should clearly separate:
What is known
What is believed
What is debated
What is unknown
Avoid:
accidental canonization of theories
implying authorial truth where none exists
resolving philosophical or theological questions unless explicitly intended
When appropriate, explicitly state:
“This article does not attempt to answer this question.”
8. Relationship to In-World Texts
These articles are not:
wizard treatises
holy texts
historical manuscripts
Those may exist separately and may be quoted within articles, but the article itself remains an out-of-world explanatory reference.
Think:
“This is what the setting looks like from above.”
9. Personal Style Layer
Default Authorial Voice (Brad)
The default voice of Aletheia articles should feel like Table-Brad-GM voice:
-
Calm
-
Clear
-
Slightly amused
-
Occasionally dry or gently sarcastic
-
Confident without being grandiose
If an analogy makes something clearer, use it.
If a dry remark makes an institution feel more real, include it.
If a sentence sounds like something you would actually say aloud to players, it is probably correct.
These articles are not solemn historical documents.
They are explanations of a living world.
Risk sounding slightly too witty rather than slightly too sterile.
However:
-
Wit must never obscure mechanics.
-
Sarcasm must never undermine clarity.
-
Jokes must serve explanation, not replace it.
When in doubt, prefer sounding like yourself over sounding like a reference manual.
10. One-Sentence Summary (For AI Prompts)
Write in a clear, player-facing world-building style: an experienced GM explaining the setting plainly at the table, using dry clarity, occasional restrained wit, and modern readable prose, prioritizing understanding over atmosphere.
11. Compressed AI Writing-Style System Prompt
(World-Building Articles – Aletheia)
Write player-facing world-building articles in a clear, approachable style, as a knowledgeable and experienced GM explaining the setting to fantasy TTRPG players. Prioritize clarity over mystery: explain how things work plainly, state what is known, what is debated, and what is unknown, and avoid hinting at information instead of conveying it.
Use modern, readable fantasy prose (high-school to early-undergraduate level), not academic or in-world scholarly tone. Do not frame the article as a manuscript, treatise, or historical document; write from an out-of-world explanatory perspective.
Use analogies and concrete examples to clarify abstract or metaphysical concepts, and keep paragraphs short to medium unless a longer explanation genuinely helps. Use lists only when something is truly a list.
When uncertainty exists, label it explicitly rather than obscuring it. Avoid over-theorizing or resolving philosophical or theological questions unless explicitly instructed to do so.
Optionally include light wry or dry humour to soften heavy concepts, but never at the expense of clarity or tone.