Patrica C. Wrede's Worldbuilder Questions

Transportation and Communication

• What are the common domesticated animals used for transportation at various levels of society -- e.g., oxen, horses, donkeys, camels, etc.?
• Are there magical means of transportation (teleport spells, magic carpets, dragon-riding)? How do they compare in speed, safety, and expense to non-magical means? How commonly are they used, and for what purposes (industrial shipping vs. travel for fun)?
• For traveling short distances within a city, what are the alternatives? Can people hire a cab, a litter, a rickshaw, or do they have to walk or rely on their own servants or horses?
• How are messages sent when necessary? Is there a public/private postal system, or does everyone of importance have to send messengers? How fast can news get from one point to another?
• Are there magical means of communication -- crystal balls, scrying in a pool of water, telepathy? How common? How reliable? How expensive?
• How available is water transportation?
• How common is travel (for any reason)? Does the concept of travel "to see the world" or for fun, even exist? How dangerous is travel? How large a group is considered safe? How much traffic is there inside/outside the main cities? Which areas are the best/worst?
• What are the fastest means of traveling long distances over land? Over water? Which are the safest?
• What is transportation like? Are there good roads? Who built them? Who is responsible for maintaining them?
• Where would a traveler stay at night? Are here enough travelers to support inns, or do people have to stay at the equivalent of medieval monasteries or in people's homes?
• Are some classes of people (slaves, peasants) not expected to travel at all? Are some (heralds, messengers) expected to travel constantly?
• How do people find out what is happening in the world -- rumor, town crier, newspapers, TV and radio? How slanted is the news they get this way, and in what direction? Is there freedom of the press? If not, who controls/censors it and through what means?
• How are books produced? Are they common (has the printing press been invented), or are they valuable hand-written objects? Where are the great libraries/collections? How accessible are they to scholars, wizards, the general public? Who supports them?

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