Within every culture, various subcultures will develop. Every society of any size will have these, and even within these subcultures there will be factions, smaller groups, and even splinter groups. This fracturing of society is so pervasive that it is very likely this is something fundamental to who we are as a species. In the next series of posts, I’m going to discuss several subcultures likely to exist in a fantasy world, how to conceptual them, and using them to enhance the richness of your setting.

Most people will be a part of several different subcultures. I am part of the engineering, writing, fine arts, and roleplaying cultures due to my job and hobbies. Within the engineering tribe, I’m part of the environmental faction, where I’m with the water group, the wastewater group, and the consulting group. Each has their different rules, roles, and even to some extent language. When creating your subcultures, go deeper than a single, homogeneous mass. The wheels within wheels is what makes interaction and conflict interesting to read about or play with.

Another consideration should be tribalism. When people divide themselves into groups, it is natural to form rivalries and alliances among those groups. Some of these may even happen at the same time with the same groups depending on context. In New York City, for example, the police and firefighters will often work side by side during a crisis, but have literally come to blows over who is better, New York’s Finest or New York’s Bravest. The FBI and local police will often fight about jurisdiction, precincts may argue over who gets credit for an arrest, but if an officer is in trouble, they will all unite in common cause, even if they don’t know that officer personally. These rivalries and alliances can become a form of extremism, where joining a particular faction could destroy friendships and families. Don’t discount how far this will go, even if the faction itself seems silly. Remember, it isn’t that rare of a case for people to get into fights or even riot due to the win or loss of a favored sports team.

Within a fantasy setting, you will typically find the following subcultures:

• Mystic World
• Scholastic World
• Fighter’s World
• Underworld
• Artistic World
• Ecclesiastic World
• Mercantile World
• Governmental World

I call them worlds, because they really are settings unto themselves. In the next several posts, I will be delving deep into the creation of each of these, their differences and their similarities, and how to make them unique from country to country.

Thanks for all your support. I really appreciate it. I’ll see you next week!