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Use Geography to Inform Culture

Geography isn’t just where a place is—it’s how a place lives. The mountains, rivers, deserts, and oceans that shape your world also shape the people who live in it. It’s more than just terrain; geography determines how societies grow, fight, trade, and even think. When you use geography to inform culture, you’re grounding your world in something that feels natural, connected, and real.

Let’s explore a few environments…

1. Mountains Breed Isolation and Resilience

When a town or city is nestled in the mountains, they’re going to have to deal with the reality of being cut off from the rest of the world. Harsh winters, treacherous passes, and limited trade routes mean the people there are likely self-sufficient, tough, and maybe even a little suspicious of outsiders.

But that isolation also creates a tight-knit community. Everyone knows everyone.

People help each other survive because they have to. The local customs might revolve around seasonal events like the opening of the mountain pass in spring or celebrating the first snowfall of the year with a feast.

And then there’s the question of defense.

Mountain folk are tough—they’re used to defending their homes from raiders who braved the passes or from creatures that roam the high peaks. Think of how dwarves in classic fantasy are portrayed—stoic, resilient, and often a bit insular. That’s the power of geography shaping culture.

2. Deserts Create Nomads and Survivors

Life in the desert is about survival. It’s harsh, unforgiving, and doesn’t tolerate weakness. The people who live in deserts, whether nomads or settled folk, develop a culture that values endurance, resourcefulness, and strong leadership.

You don’t make it through a sandstorm by luck alone.

In these areas, water is sacred, and you can build an entire culture around it. Desert towns might have elaborate ceremonies to celebrate the rare arrival of rain, or complex rules governing the sharing of water among travelers.

There’s also the matter of trade.

Deserts often sit between great civilizations, making their people essential middlemen in vast trade networks.

A nomadic tribe could be known for guiding caravans through the treacherous dunes, or an oasis town could be a bustling hub of commerce.

The geography forces the people to be practical, but it can also lead to a strong spiritual or mystical side. After all, in the vast emptiness of the desert, people look to the stars for guidance.

3. Coastal Cities Live and Die by the Sea

A city by the sea is going to be one that’s shaped by the tides, quite literally. The ocean brings wealth in the form of fish, trade, and exploration, but it also brings danger—storms, pirates, and the unknown lurking beyond the horizon.

Coastal cultures are often adventurous, driven by the need to explore what lies beyond the waves.

They might revere sailors as heroes, have festivals centered around the tides or the blessings of a sea god, and their economy could revolve around fishing, shipbuilding, and trade with faraway lands.

But with that wealth comes vulnerability. Coastal cities are often the first targets of invading fleets or raiders from across the sea. They might have high walls, a strong navy, or be part of an alliance of maritime cities that protect each other.

The people there are likely resilient, accustomed to rebuilding after storms or raids, and they might have a certain pragmatism when it comes to danger—after all, they’ve faced it for generations.

4. Forests and Jungles Foster Connection to Nature

Deep forests and jungles often produce cultures that have a close relationship with nature. Living among towering trees or dense foliage, the people here would have a deep respect for the natural world because it sustains them—but it can also kill them if they’re not careful.

These societies might build their homes in harmony with the forest, relying on sustainable hunting, gathering, and herbalism.

You could have a culture of druids or shamans who speak for the trees, and rituals that honor the spirits of the forest. Their knowledge of the land would be unparalleled—knowing which plants heal and which are deadly, which animals can be tamed and which should be avoided.

However, forests and jungles can be isolating in their own way.

Travel is slow, communication with the outside world might be rare, and outsiders might be viewed with suspicion—unless they prove their respect for the natural balance.

5. Blend Geography and Culture Together

The magic happens when you stop thinking of geography and culture as separate things. They’re intertwined.

A mountain town is its mountains. A desert tribe is the desert. Use the natural environment to dictate not just what a place looks like, but how the people think, live, and fight.

Let geography breathe life into your world by informing the people who live there.

Don’t just describe the landscape—show how it shapes your world’s cultures, and watch your players become immersed in a place that feels like it could truly exist.

Remember, geography and culture are two sides of the same coin. When you understand how a place’s environment shapes its people, you’re not just creating a world—you’re creating a living world.

One where every mountain, river, and forest has left its mark on the people who call it home.

Thanks for reading.

Happy rolls to you!

-Joe

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