So, I have a world that I've been working on for a while, a setting, and have developed quite a bit of it, but I've kind of floundered when it comes to figuring out how my ideas for the place actually manifest in play, and what some of the more subtle effects would be on the world itself, as well as its peoples, and their habits/religions.
The world is actually just a piece of a larger planet that had been shattered long ago. Its surface is roughly square, and not quite flat (it retains the curvature of the larger world it was a piece of), and would appear to be wedge-shaped if you could view it from afar.
The calamity, in addition to shattering the world, left this chunk affixed to tears in the material plane, connecting other planes to it.
To the east, it connects with the Positive Energy Plane.
To the west, the Negative Energy Plane.
To the north, the Elemental Planes of Air and Water.
To the south, the Elemental Plane of Fire.
My thoughts on some of the effects are as follows (somewhat jumbled):
-the conflicting energies of the planes push against each other, causing an ebb and flow to their emanations, as well as eddies of energies around the world
-light and life energy emit from the east, causing more verdant growth, larger, more vital creatures, to reside in that direction, although most "normal" creatures wouldn't be able to survive living too near this edge, as they would be overwhelmed by the life force
-I have entertained the idea that the world does not revolve around a sun, or at least not close enough to be notable, and instead is lit by the Positive Energy Plane; darkness would fall when those energies are rebuffed by the ones emanating from those of the Negative Energy Plane. The far east would be eternal bathed in light, while the far west would forever lie in darkness.
-the western portion of the world would be largely devoid of life, supporting only those few living creatures that can live with, or harness, negative energy, and there would be plenty of undead.
-the northern portion of the world would be frigid thanks to the cold air and water flowing out of those planes it is attached to there.
-the southern portion of the world would be unbearably hot, and without water--the southernmost portions of the world would be compose of a dry and cracked land.
-seasons would shift as the north/south planar energies oppose each other
So, those are the broad strokes of the idea, but how do those effects play out on a smaller scale? On day-to-day life for creatures and people around the world? In how settlements are established? Culture? Customs? Should there be game mechanic effects evident in the world away from the borders?
And do you think the setting is TOO strange to be immersed in as stated (no sun, a weird day/night cycle, an odd cycle to the seasons, etc...)?
Anybody?
Here are some thoughts:
Where is the elemental plane of earth? south with fire?
I would probably have the elemental plane of earth be down and elemental plane of air be up.
You could have conflicts over a relatively small region of habitable space between the five planes (probably closer to the east). Maybe the PC's culture controls the center now but someone else is trying to take it from them.
Have magic work better when closer to the plane of it's origin, healing works better in the east than the west.
Sounds a lot like the world from Exalted rpg with Posi/Nega replacing wood/water, respectively. North and south were air/fire and earth was the center, the anchor point sort of.