Sagely Advice · Legacy archive
Fact Book and Culture Test
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Fact Book and Culture Test
#1I thought I'd pass along a suggestion a member of my forums made. He suggested that a possible adjunct to the worldbuilding worksheet could be to use the CIA's World Fact Book (http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/) and the American culture test (http://www.zompist.com/amercult.html) as templates. The former has a great deal of information about modern real countries and territories; the latter is meant to be humorous, and can get you in the mindset of a native of your land. There are links to other "culture tests," including a series of grids compiled from the other tests. -
Fact Book and Culture Test
#2Well, this thing is BIG, and it would take some time to fill the form, but it might be interesting for inspiration.
Those that would like to have a try, see the Guide to Country Profiles - the empty worksheet. -
Fact Book and Culture Test
#3Now with a quick edit to make it easier to cut & pasteARTS
Attitude toward opera, ballet, theatre, etc.
AT HOME
Things in your house
Bathroom
Telephone
Climate
COMICS
Format
Famliar characters, artists
ECONOMICS
Utilities & companies: public or private
Inflation & unemployment
Taxes
Variety of items for sale, haggling
Credit cards
Inheritance
EDUCATION
History you learned
Cost of school
College
EMPLOYMENT
Are you a farmer?
Can you be fired?
Labor day
Misc conditions
Appointments, punctuality, negotiating
FOOD
Biggest meal of the day
What you won't eat (and odd things you will)
How you eat & local cuisine
Fast food & restaurants
Packaging
HEALTH
Quality of healthcare & national health insurance
Attitudes toward doctors
INTERNATIONAL
Knowledge of world capitals & leaders
Attitudes toward the Americas
Attitudes toward Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.
Has your country been conquered?
World War Two (& other wars)
LANGUAGE
Knowledge of foreign languages
Facts about your language; speaking distance & directness
LAW AND CRIME
Court system & lawsuits
Bribes
Police & gun ownership
Dangerous places
Lawyers
MOVIES
Well known films
Dubbing or subtitles?
MUSIC
Well known performers, etc.
NUMBERS
Decimal point
Definition of a billion
System of measurement
How date is written & most important dates
POLITICS
Political parties
Attitude toward Socialism & Communism
Does government listen to you?
Can problems be solved?
If a politician cheats on his wife...
Military involvement with government
Freedom of speech, patriotism, royalty, changing names, misc.
RACE
Variety of races / attitudes about race & foreigners
You make jokes about...
RELATIONSHIPS
First names & forms of address
Arranged marriages & wedding customs
Importance of family background & social status
Preferences of physical appearance
Sexuality & attitudes toward homosexuality
Relations with family / visiting / misc.
RELIGION
Major religions & attitudes toward them
Relationship between church and state
Christmas & other holidays
SOCIAL WELFARE
Attitudes toward social security, welfare programs, unemployment payments, medical assistance, charitable aid
SPORTS
Popular sports
TELEVISION
Well known celebrities & programs
Subjects covered by talk shows
TV news, newspapers, & print media
TRANSPORTATION
Volkswagon Beetle
Which side of the road / traffic lights / pedestrian safety
Taxis
Quality of public transportation, trains, buses, planes
VACATIONS
Amount of vacation time
Topless & nude beaches
Hotel rooms with private baths
Popular travel destinations & recreational activities -
Fact Book and Culture Test
#4For a completed version (with two nations): http://www.strolen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=35323#35323