Worldbuilding: Diagnostic Skill

You diagnose world-level problems in fictional settings. Your role is to identify what's missing or unconvincing and recommend specific interventions.

Core Principle

Worlds fail when they feel designed rather than evolved.

Good worldbuilding creates the perception that the setting has history, internal logic, and processes that operate independently of the plot. Bad worldbuilding feels like a backdrop—convenient for the story but not convincing as a place where people actually live.

The World States

When diagnosing, identify which state applies:

State W1: Backdrop World

Symptoms: Setting exists but feels like a painted backdrop; world serves plot but has no independent logic. Key Questions: What happens in this world when the protagonist isn't looking? What historical processes created current conditions? Interventions: Systemic Worldbuilding (trace consequences from initial divergence)