There's nothing I love more than doing cryptic stuff in the woods and scaring summer campers. Aside from chewing on prompts. They're awfully delicious.— Feral camper's musings
It's that time of year again, feral worldbuilders... the one that we all
love with all our hearts! What a joy and delight it is that we get to gather together to chew on a fresh set of prompts... and make sure everyone leaves with an idea or ten floating in their mind.
You're gonna love these.
This article is still a work in progress! Enjoy the bullet point lists while I get the thematics together!
A celebrity loved by all
We wouldn't have a campsite to terrorize at all, if it wasn't for the fabled Fabricator's hard work. Tonight we feast in his honor!— Prompt Template: Character
There's always a shining star, a fan favorite, or someone who earns the love of the many.
This individual is known and loved...
as a worldwide sensation
No matter where you go, you'll find people who not only
know this individual, but may even love and adore them. Movie stars and rock legends have careers that live in the hearts of people worldwide! Fans around the world gather to cheer for their favorite athletes in the World Cup as we speak, and odd-looking pets build social media followings in the millions just being weird and cute. Sometimes the celebrity is a seal that earned its infamy through a quest to master being a public nuisance.
Not all of these sensations might be positive... think about the fanbases that have been built around serial killers and villainous figures.
I wish to see the baby.— And I do, literally on every surface. Baby Yoda cannot be contained.
MR. WORLDWIDE!— Get those baldcaps ready!
culturally and spiritually
Consider the influence of individuals of a less earthly variety — Gods and deities may have their hands in populations all over the world. Those with the most devoted of followers may see their reach ever-expanding, and that extensive pool of love keeps them growing stronger through the ages. Even the beings of mythology and legend may have a similar grip on worldwide populations! Baba Yaga isn't always the friendliest mythological character, but she's earned her place in the hearts of many around the world.
By Talos this can't be happening— Oh, but it can!
in the family
Some families certainly do have a favorite child, loathe as they are to admit that. Even if we don't jump to that extreme, a beloved family member may act as the backbone of the familial unit. Amazing parental figures, children making their caretakers proud, that suspiciously rich grandparent spoiling all of the kids in the family, and even the family friend who lacks the blood connection but shares in all of the love.
in the community
Communities can range from small to global, but they tend to collect their own celebrities regardless of size! Those who lead and manage communities, and do it well, build strong relationships with their fellow community members. Most communities will have at least one member who earns the people's favor by being helpful, kind, and supportive at every turn. Popular streamers might find themselves becoming a beloved figure in their gaming communities, and the most stellar educators may find themselves awarded by members of their local communities for their commitment to excellence!
This local celebrity may just be the person folks are referring to any time they encounter a situation and state, "I know a guy." Seriously, that guy can handle just about anything.
Get some inspiration from the community here!
A tradition that celebrates love
LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE IS LOVE!— Prompt Template: Tradition
Love is worth celebrating, no matter what form it comes in!
The love we're celebrating...
is traditional or intimate
When two people love each other very much... well, they usually get married! That may not be true everywhere, but that is the tradition followed by much of our world — how do the people of your world mark and celebrate a lifelong bond? Celebrating a marriage usually includes a honeymoon, or a romantic getaway! What do dating and courtship traditions look like?
Dates hold a lot of meaning to our time-bound hearts and minds as well. How do people in your world celebrate the ones they love as anniversaries, birthdays, and other annually-observed celebrations come to pass?
"Mawage is what bwings us together today. Mawage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam..."— May "twu wuv" find us all!
is a shared bond
Love isn't reserved only for romantic connections — we're social creatures, so it's only natural that some of our love is directed at friends, family, and community. What celebrations take place in your communities, centered on things you love? We're celebrating our love for worldbuilding right now, with Summer Camp! What celebrations are held to honor family members, show appreciation for friendships, and even celebrate the adoption of a pet? Think about gift giving traditions, as well... what do people give one another to express love and care?
Think about ways that we turn holidays throughout the year into opportunities to spend more time with the people we care about, like turning Thanksgiving dinners into Friendsgiving gatherings! We can even go so far as to invent our own personal holiday traditions!
can be unifying or divisive
Fourth of July - Independence celebrations
Pride month
Patriotic holidays
New Years rockin' eve
Religious celebrations
Cultist fan conventions for each aspect of a certain deity
is fueled by passions
Hobbies
Loving what you do
Celebrating beloved causes
Renaissance Faires
Fan conventions
Get some inspiration from the community here!
An item associated with a common hobby
Of course I always have my binoculars on hand. I need to keep an eye out for campers with bug nets. They keep trying to catch me in them.— Prompt Template: Item
The tools of the trade aren't just for work!
We use these items to...
facilitate craft and creation
Crafting / Art / Brushes / Pens and pencils / artist glove /
Cooking / Bakewear / Pots and pans / cooking utensils
Smithing / Welding / Metalwork
Musical instruments / vuvuzuela
Film / Cameras / Film / Lights
Special paper types / Inks / Dyes / calligraphy set
support action and adventure
Adventuring / exploring / climbing / pitons /
Active activities / sports / fitness
Archery / Bows / Arrows / Armor
Sailing / Rope
Binoculars for birders / field guides
unwind or have some fun
Leisure activities / relaxation / reading / bookmarks
Wine glasses
Recreation / fishing / hunting
Seating / Comfort Items
be surrounded by our favorite things
Gaming / Peripherals / RGB Lights / Controllers / VR headsets / PC
Nerd stuff / Dice / Playmats / Card sleeves / Collector shelves / Anime figurines
Decorative items / fandom merch
Get some inspiration from the community here!
A famous love story
There is no love story more tragic than the one that tells the tale of the poor camper who dropped their s'more right into the fire pit. That marshmallow was perfectly toasted.— Prompt Template: Myth
Who hasn't had their heart broken by a tale of love at some point in their life? Fictional or lived...
This story spun the tale of a love that...
warms the heart
Romance Tales
Cinderella stories
Sad love stories
is punctuated with tragedy
Tragedies/ Romeo & Juliet
Mythology / Hades & Persephone / Religious stories
inspires those who hear it
Nonromantic love stories - falling in love with Things/Places/Pets/Activities
Girl trying her first pointe shoes - love of a hobby or calling
Finding self love
changed the world
Ancient lore so ubiquitous that its beats are the backbone of widespread story structure in your world
Fandom drama - shipping wars
Crime duos
Get some inspiration from the community here!
A natural phenomenon associated with fertility
If you see me doing weird dances in the woods, don't worry about it. There's just something in the air right now.— Prompt Template: Natural Law
The world works in mysterious ways, and they often say that life always finds a way.
This phenomenon...
supports the fertility of the earth
Environmental factors / Flooding / Monsoons / Rains
Wildfire field clearing
is prompted by fertile conditions
Special plant growth and blooms
Where animals breed/spawn/lay eggs
Bodily function / menstruation / animals in heat
Pregnancy and fertility tests
damages fertility
Aging / bodily degeneration
Radiation
Conditions resulting in increased or decreased births
invites fertility
Courting and breeding calls from animals
Fish moving and spawning with the tides / lunar cycle
Animals shifting biological sex
Natural phenomena making people more suggestible, making their minds fertile grounds for mind control, sleeper agent, brainwashing
Planting an idea in the mind
Get some inspiration from the community here!
A faction that employs questionable methods for the love of their people
Finally got that whole Prompt Chomp set up and ready to go! I only had to bite like ten people in the process. I'd say that's worth it!— Prompt Template: Organization
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but so is the ladder up!
The methods are questionable because...
they break tradition
Breaking tradition
Leaving behind the old ways
New religions - cults?
Demonic sacrifice?
they actually cause considerable harm
CULTS CULTS CULTS CULTS
Inquisition / Protection / Indoctrination
Corporate culture
Ends justify the means
they defy the laws of the land
Revolutionaries / Rebel factions
Vigilante justice
Safe houses for vulnerable populations
Sheltering escaped slaves
Illegal protests
they're a bit confusing
Philosophers questioning all
Arcane and obscure methods
Get some inspiration from the community here!
A job many children aspire to
I always dreamed of being a feral freak who writes about worlds that don't exist.— Prompt Template: Profession
Most kids are born with the capacity to dream bigger than we boring adults could ever hope to!
The children yearn for...
heroics & honor
Heroics / Firemen / Paramedic / Doctors
Adventurers / Heroes / Great Warriors
creativity & self expression
Creativity / Artists / Musicians / Performers / Dancers
exploration & discovery
Exploration / Zoology / Biology / Geology / Astronauts
Science
Adventurers / Great Explorers / Researchers
imagination & joy
Imagination / Fairy / Wizard / Unicorn / Dinosaur / Pokemon trainer
Video game characters
Get some inspiration from the community here!
The language of love in a culture in your world
Okay, but if you look closely at that bite mark, it clearly says "I U."— Prompt Template: Language
Love is conveyed in all kinds of new and interesting ways as we explore just how far we can stretch the meaning of language.
We communicate love...
through the spoken word
"romance" languages / cultural perceptions
by symbolic means
Sending memes
Symbolic languages / flower language
Love languages
Idioms / euphemisms
Body language / language of dance
in code and in secret
Secret codes used for love
Secret symbols of LGBTQIA+
Secret languages developed between friends or siblings
with aggression
Banter between family / partners and bickering (with love)
Jokingly bullying each other
tackleglomping
Controversial methods of showing love in public now banned in most spaces
Cute aggression
Get some inspiration from the community here!
A useful substance known for its sticky properties
Note to self: there is a limit to how many marshmallows you should roast at a time. I'm never de-sticking this fire pit after that mess.— Prompt Template: Material
Hold the blue anvils on this one, folks... they said we're DONE with love with this prompt!
This sticky stuff came from...
someone or something's body
Bodily secretions and fluids / Blood / Boogers (snot as a weapon) / Semen / Saliva / Ear wax
Spidersilk / webbing
Egg whites
some kind of plant or nature
Plant secretions / Tree sap / Rubber / Latex
Stick
Tar / Crude Oil
inside the brain
Ideas as a material/resource - an idea sticks
some hard work & creativity
Foods / Jam / Honey / Sugar / Candy / Molasses
Syrups / Icings / Glazes
Adhesives / Tape / Glue
Cement / Binding agents
Get some inspiration from the community here!
A mysterious work of fiction that's spawned conspiracy theories
We don't know who wrote all of those weird notes, but it's got the entire camp buzzing about cryptids and conspiracies...— Prompt Template: Document
Sometimes fiction inspires folks to go way off the deep end with their theories...
This document's mystery lies in...
the circumstances of its creation or publication
Chain emails promising doom
Creative work published by an (allegedly) dead artist
its connection to real events
Fiction stories that come a little too close to real events or historical events
Urban legends notorious for sending people down rabbit holes
Sumerian tablets about copper
the legitimacy of its author
Tabloids
Books written by alleged criminals about what they definitely didn't do
Falsified studies
Books whose authors' names are lost to time - who wrote it?
blurring the line between fiction and fact
Stories posted to social media - are they real?
Doctored photos
Get some inspiration from the community here!
Hope you found these ideas helpful!
Massive thanks to the community members who joined me in brainstorming many of these ideas during my broadcast following the prompt release! I really had fun putting all of the ideas into writing, and adding even more of my own ideas as my brain conjured them through the creation of this article!
If you can think of some more fun ways to spin these prompts, feel free to share them in the comments below, so you can keep inspiring the community and show that no prompt is immune to being twisted to fit any setting out there! And if you're feeling stuck, and none of these tips helped you push forward, let us know what you're working with and maybe I, or someone else, might figure something out!
See you soon for the GROWTH PROMPT CHOMP!
Glad to have this help!