Exploring Moldy Worldbuilding in Fiction
The Most Powerful Type of Worldbuilding đź”—
0:00 Moldy Worldbuilding
Exploring the concept of "moldy worldbuilding," the video highlights how decay and rot can create compelling narratives in fiction, as seen in games like Elden Ring. The idea posits that rot represents a story, making settings feel rich and layered.
0:48 Elden Ring and Rot
The video illustrates how Elden Ring employs 'digestive rebirth,' showing worlds that consume their past to foster new life. This concept is evident in the game's landscapes, which serve as an archaeological dig filled with lore.
2:32 A Ruin is a Question
Ruins in narratives evoke curiosity and invite questions about their history. The video discusses how decay can impart a sense of history without exposition, using examples from Skyrim and A Song of Ice and Fire.
4:26 Sandwich-mode Worldbuilding
Worldbuilding is compared to a sandwich, where layers of history and remnants tell tales of past civilizations. Shows like The Last Airbender incorporate this concept, deepening their settings and themes of loss.
6:16 Star Wars and Scrapyards
Effective worldbuilding involves how societies adapt to their discarded past. In universes like Star Wars and Fallout, cultures emerge from scavenging, demonstrating how ruin can shape identity.
7:45 What the Apes Forgot
The video discusses the alienation characters feel from their ancestors’ ruins, using Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes as a case study. Misunderstandings of history can lead to both humor and tragedy in narratives.
9:18 Even Gods Must Rot
In Elden Ring, the physical decay of gods and their beliefs illustrates how moldy worldbuilding can depict the erosion of values over time, echoing themes found in The Lord of the Rings.
12:13 Battlefields of Ruin
Ruins often symbolize the inevitable decline of empires. The emotional weight of these settings varies, as seen in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where some ruins evoke nostalgia while others remain ambiguous.
13:46 Halo and Mass Effect
This section examines how sci-fi settings often feature the remnants of collapsed civilizations, suggesting that past hubris leads to current decay, as seen in titles like Halo and Mass Effect.
15:25 A House of Cards
The video compares cities like Leyndell in Elden Ring to others in fiction, emphasizing how unstable foundations can lead to collapse. Such environments reflect real-world societal issues of disparity and decay.
17:58 Planet Earth has Moldy Worldbuilding
Earth itself serves as a prime example of moldy worldbuilding, with layers of history visible in modern cities. The video highlights how real-world decay mirrors fictional narratives.
20:35 Do Not Weep Tears of Rust
The connection between past civilizations and their remnants fosters a sense of history. The video suggests that while we cannot reclaim the past, it can still inspire new growth and creativity in storytelling.
22:08 BONUS VIDEO ON NEBULA
The creator teases a follow-up video discussing various settings that may or may not be considered post-apocalyptic, inviting viewers to explore further on Nebula.
What is "moldy worldbuilding"?
Moldy worldbuilding refers to the practice of incorporating decay and remnants of past civilizations into fictional settings, creating a rich narrative environment that evokes curiosity and history.
How does decay serve storytelling in games like Elden Ring?
Decay in Elden Ring symbolizes a cycle of life and death, where the remains of the past nourish new growth, allowing players to explore layered histories and lore within the game world.
Why are ruins significant in narratives?
Ruins prompt questions about their origins and histories, offering a sense of mystery and depth that enriches the story, as seen in various games and literature.