Pelagoforge: The Art of World-Building & Game Design.

PelagoForge: Class Overview & Teaching Approach

What will be taught?

PelagoForge teaches game design, world-building, storytelling, strategic thinking, and collaboration. Members will learn how to develop factions, characters, and mechanics, create immersive worlds, and implement rules for a fully playable game. The program also introduces economy systems, resource management, quest development, and playtesting techniques.

What topics will you cover?

The curriculum covers the following key areas:

Faction & Character Creation – Designing unique factions, leaders, and champions.
World-Building – Developing maps, environments, and cultural aspects.
Game Mechanics – Establishing combat systems, resource management, and quests.
Economy & Trade – Creating in-game currencies, bartering systems, and resource gathering.
Storytelling & Lore – Writing compelling histories, myths, and events that shape the world.
Strategic Thinking – Learning diplomacy, alliances, and war mechanics.
Play testing & Game Refinement – Testing game elements, balancing mechanics, and improving the experience.
Expanding the Game – Adding new features, updates, and long-term growth strategies.
How is your class structured?
Each session follows a structured yet flexible format:

Discussion & Review – Members present new ideas and vote on game elements.
Creative Development – Hands-on world-building, character creation, and storytelling.
Game Mechanics Design – Implementing rules, combat, economy, and quests.
Mini-Games & Challenges – Interactive exercises to test mechanics and strategies.
Play testing & Refinement – Members test and adjust their game elements.
Expansion Planning – Setting up new quests, updates, and faction events.
Members also participate in weekly polls to decide the direction of the game, allowing for a highly interactive and community-driven experience.

How will you teach?

PelagoForge is project-based and interactive, meaning members learn by creating and doing. The teaching approach includes:

Hands-on Game Development – Members actively design, write, and build their world.
Collaborative Decision-Making – Polls and discussions shape the game’s development.
Creative Writing & Brainstorming – Members develop characters, quests, and stories.
Mini-Games & Challenges – Engaging activities to reinforce mechanics and ideas.
Play testing & Feedback Loops – Testing mechanics, identifying balance issues, and refining game play.
Rather than passive lectures, members are constantly engaged in creation, strategy, and problem-solving.

What's your teaching style?

The teaching style is highly interactive, creative, and student-driven. Instead of a traditional classroom approach, PelagoForge operates like a game design studio, where members are:

Encouraged to explore their creativity
Challenged to think strategically
Guided through hands-on world-building and game design
Supported in collaboration with peers
This approach empowers members to take ownership of their ideas while learning critical thinking, teamwork, and design skills in a fun and engaging way.

How much will learners get to interact with you?

Members will actively engage with both the instructor and fellow participants through:

Live Discussions & Brainstorming – Members present ideas and receive feedback.
Game Development Sessions – Direct guidance in faction-building, mechanics, and storytelling.
Polls & Decision-Making – Members vote on game mechanics, expansions, and world changes.
Mini-Games & Group Challenges – Engaging exercises to test mechanics and strategies.
Play testing & Iteration – Live testing sessions where members interact with their creations and refine game play.
Image Requests & World Visualization – Members submit image requests for their factions, characters, and game world.
PelagoForge is highly interactive, ensuring that every member actively contributes to shaping the game. The experience is dynamic, collaborative, and creativity-driven, making it an exciting space for young game designers to bring their ideas to life.

Quest Breakdown (1 Hour Total)

1. Welcome & Recap (5-10 minutes)
Greet members & set the tone for the quest.
Recap key decisions from the previous quest.
Quick updates on any major developments (new factions, mechanics, or lore).
Icebreaker question or creative challenge (optional).

2. Discussion & Polls (10-15 minutes)
Present a key topic (e.g., world-building, combat mechanics, quest design).
Members share ideas, brainstorm, and ask questions.
Live poll or voting quest for game mechanics, story elements, or faction decisions.

3. Creative Development & Game Design (20-25 minutes)
(Hands-on creation time where members contribute to the game world.)

Depending on the focus of the quest, members will:

Design & refine factions, characters, and lore.
Build & test mechanics (combat, economy, quests).
Work on world-building (map, landmarks, resources).
Develop role-playing elements & faction interactions.
Test play new ideas through mini-games or scenario challenges.

4. Play testing & Interactive Challenges (10-15 minutes)
Test new mechanics, abilities, or strategies.
Mini-game or scenario challenge (e.g., a faction duel, trade negotiation, or quest simulation).
Members give feedback on what works and what needs improvement.

5. Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5-10 minutes)
Summarize key takeaways from the quest.
Announce upcoming polls, creative assignments, or expansion plans.
Assign optional at-home tasks (e.g., refining lore, designing artifacts, sketching maps).
Allow time for final questions or additional input.



PelagoForge: 4-Month Curriculum

A structured 16-week program guiding members through character creation, world-building, game mechanics, and final game development. Each month focuses on a key phase of game design and storytelling, ensuring a fully playable and expandable game by the end.

April: Month 1: Faction & Character Creation (Weeks 1-4)
Goal: Establish unique factions, characters, and lore.
Week 1: The Birth of Factions
Introduction to PelagoForge & Game Design Principles
Members create their faction name, symbol, and core beliefs
Faction Alignment: Noble, chaotic, mysterious, or warlike?
Poll: World Structure (continents, floating islands, underground realms, etc.)
Image Requests: Faction emblems & banners
Milestone: Each faction has a name, theme, and visual identity.

Week 2: The Rise of Heroes & Leaders
Members create their faction leader & main champion
Define character attributes, abilities, and weaknesses
Personality & Motivations: What drives them?
Image Requests: Character portraits of faction leaders
Poll: First game mechanic—combat or economy focus?
Milestone: Faction leaders & champions are fully developed.

Week 3: Building Faction Lore
Members create a short history of their faction
Allies & Enemies: Which factions are rivals or allies?
World-Building: First territories claimed on the world map
Poll: First resource types for trade & economy
Image Requests: Faction settlements & territory landmarks
Milestone: Factions are officially part of the game world.

Week 4: First Faction Challenges & Mini-Games
First mini-game: Test character abilities & interactions
Review poll results & implement first game mechanics
Adjust faction strengths, weaknesses, and relationships
Image Requests: Faction war banners & trade items
Milestone: First mini-game completed, faction strengths/weaknesses refined.

May: Month 2: World-Building & Economy (Weeks 5-8)
Goal: Create an interactive world and establish economy & resource systems.
Week 5: The World Map & Territories
Expand the game world map (continents, cities, sacred sites)
Members claim additional faction land & define environments
Define unique terrains (floating islands, lost valleys, arcane ruins)
Poll: How do factions gain resources—through trade, war, or discovery?
Image Requests: World map, territory markers, and mystical landmarks
Milestone: The world map is official with faction territories.

Week 6: Resource Gathering & Trading
Define resource types (metals, herbs, mana crystals, rare gems)
Each faction specializes in a resource
Establish bartering, black markets, and special trade routes
Poll: What is the first legendary resource? (Example: Phoenix Ash)
Image Requests: Resource depots, market hubs, & trade caravans
Milestone: A functional resource & trade system.

Week 7: Creating Faction Economies & Currency
Decide currency types (gold, mana essence, rare relics)
Introduce trade-based vs. conquest-based economies
Poll: Should there be hidden treasures factions must discover?
Mini-game: Test trade & resource gathering mechanics
Image Requests: Faction-specific currency & treasure chests
Milestone: Factions now have economies, currency, and trade systems.

Week 8: Special Events & Ancient Mysteries
Introduce hidden temples, lost ruins, secret portals
Members create one ancient myth about their world
Poll: What magical event happens every season? (Eclipse, Meteor Storm, Awakening Rituals, etc.)
Image Requests: Temples, celestial events, hidden artifacts
Milestone: Mystical elements and ancient secrets are added to the world.

June: Month 3: Combat, Quests & Mechanics (Weeks 9-12)
Goal: Implement battle mechanics, quest systems, and faction interactions.
Week 9: Combat Systems & Faction Conflicts
Poll: Should combat be turn-based or real-time?
Introduce dueling systems & battle strategies
First training battles between faction champions
Image Requests: Battle arenas, dueling grounds, spell effects
Milestone: Combat system is chosen & initial duels take place.

Week 10: Quests & Missions
Define quest types (exploration, assassination, diplomacy, artifact recovery)
Players create their first quest story line
Poll: How do factions gain influence—through war, alliances, or secret deals?
Image Requests: Quest scrolls, mission boards, quest markers
Milestone: Quest system introduced; first faction quests assigned.

Week 11: Advanced Mechanics & Special Abilities
Introduce special abilities & ultimate faction powers
Poll: Should factions have unique summonable creatures?
Test multi-faction battles & strategic alliances
Image Requests: Summoning portals, faction relics, final form transformations
Milestone: Special abilities & alliances are finalized.

Week 12: First Official Game Test
Run the first major faction battle event
Gather feedback on mechanics & adjust game balance
Poll: Which game feature should be expanded next?
Image Requests: Finalized battlefield designs & faction war maps
Milestone: First test battle complete, game mechanics refined.

July: Month 4: Play testing & Game Expansion (Weeks 13-16)
Goal: Play test, expand, and prepare for long-term game play.
Week 13: Finalizing the Core Game
Implement all mechanics & finalize lore details
Poll: Should we add dungeons or seasonal events next?
Image Requests: Dungeon entrances, seasonal event areas
Milestone: Game enters full play testing mode.

Week 14: Play testing & Refinements
Play test faction battles, trade, and quests
Introduce role-playing and character interactions
Poll: What expansion should come next?
Milestone: Game adjustments made based on testing.

Week 15: Official Faction War Event
The first major faction-wide event takes place
Test team-based battles & alliances
Award faction achievements & honors
Milestone: The world and factions have meaningful histories and events.

Week 16: Next Steps & Long-Term Plans
Poll: How will we expand the game next?
Members decide whether to create a new expansion, add lore, or refine mechanics
The game becomes an ongoing, evolving experience with new content!
Final Milestone: PelagoForge is fully playable, with expansions planned.