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Simple Worldbuilding System Guide

This guide explains how to use Journeys & Jamborees with the Simple Worldbuilding system, including special considerations and workarounds.

Overview​

Simple Worldbuilding is a minimal system that allows complete customization. However, it has strict limitations on actor types that require special handling for J&J.

Known Limitations​

⚠️ Party Actor Type Not Available​

Simple Worldbuilding only allows actor types defined in its template.json file. You'll see this limitation:

  • The "Party" actor type won't appear in the actor creation dropdown
  • This is expected behavior and not a bug
  • The module works around this limitation automatically

How J&J Handles This​

The module detects Simple Worldbuilding and:

  1. Skips trying to register the Party actor type
  2. Uses an alternative approach for party management
  3. All features still work, just accessed differently

Setting Up J&J with Simple Worldbuilding​

Step 1: Configure Your Attributes​

Since Simple Worldbuilding uses custom attributes, you need to:

  1. Define attributes that represent skills in your game
  2. Common examples:
    • navigation or survival for pathfinding
    • perception or awareness for lookout duties
    • social or leadership for quartermaster role

Step 2: Configure Module Settings​

  1. Go to Game Settings → Module Settings → Journeys & Jamborees
  2. Configure these settings:
    • Movement Rate: Set to your preferred units (default: 1 unit/day)
    • Pathfinder Skill: Select your navigation attribute
    • Lookout Skill: Select your perception attribute
    • Quartermaster Skill: Select your social attribute

Step 3: Create Characters​

Before creating a party:

  1. Create at least one character
  2. Add your custom attributes to the character
  3. This allows the skill dropdowns to populate

Step 4: Working with Parties​

Due to the actor type limitation:

  1. Parties are created through the module's API
  2. Use the provided macros or commands
  3. Party management works normally once created

Here's a suggested attribute structure for Simple Worldbuilding:

Physical Attributes:
- strength
- agility  
- endurance

Mental Attributes:
- intelligence
- perception
- willpower

Social Attributes:
- charisma
- empathy
- leadership

Skill Attributes:
- survival (for pathfinding)
- awareness (for lookout)
- negotiation (for quartermaster)

Configuration Examples​

Fantasy Setting​

{
  movement: {
    onFoot: 20,  // leagues per day
    mounted: 40,
    units: "leagues"
  },
  skills: {
    pathfinder: "survival",
    lookout: "perception",
    quartermaster: "leadership"
  }
}

Sci-Fi Setting​

{
  movement: {
    onFoot: 50,  // kilometers per day
    mounted: 200, // with vehicle
    units: "km"
  },
  skills: {
    pathfinder: "navigation",
    lookout: "sensors",
    quartermaster: "logistics"
  }
}

Post-Apocalyptic Setting​

{
  movement: {
    onFoot: 15,  // miles per day
    mounted: 30,  // with vehicle
    units: "miles"
  },
  skills: {
    pathfinder: "wastelandLore",
    lookout: "danger sense",
    quartermaster: "scavenging"
  }
}

Tips for Simple Worldbuilding Users​

1. Skill System Design​

  • Create consistent skill attributes across all characters
  • Use descriptive names that match your setting
  • Consider grouping related skills

2. Movement Rates​

  • Adjust rates to match your world scale
  • Consider different terrain types
  • Factor in your setting's technology level

3. Resource Management​

  • Define what rations and water represent in your world
  • Could be energy cells, fuel, morale, etc.
  • Adjust consumption rates accordingly

4. Travel Roles​

  • Rename roles to fit your setting
  • Pathfinder → Navigator, Guide, Scout
  • Lookout → Sentinel, Watcher, Sensor Operator
  • Quartermaster → Supply Officer, Resource Manager

Troubleshooting​

"Party actor type not available"​

This is normal for Simple Worldbuilding. Use the alternative creation method.

Skills not showing in dropdowns​

  1. Create a character first
  2. Add attributes to the character
  3. Reload the world if needed

Movement calculations seem wrong​

  • Check your unit settings
  • Verify movement rates match your world scale
  • Remember rates are per day, not per hour

Advanced Usage​

Custom Macros​

Create macros for common party operations:

// Create a new party
const partyData = {
  name: "The Survivors",
  type: "character", // Uses character type as base
  flags: {
    "journeys-and-jamborees": {
      isParty: true
    }
  }
};
const party = await Actor.create(partyData);

API Integration​

Access Simple Worldbuilding data:

const actor = game.actors.getName("John");
const survivalSkill = actor.system.attributes.survival?.value || 0;

Best Practices​

  1. Plan Your Attributes: Design a coherent attribute system before starting
  2. Document Your Setup: Keep notes on your configuration
  3. Test Thoroughly: Try all features with your custom setup
  4. Share Your Config: Help other Simple Worldbuilding users
  5. Be Creative: Adapt the module's features to your unique setting

Getting Help​

If you encounter issues specific to Simple Worldbuilding:

  1. Check this guide first
  2. Verify your attribute setup
  3. Test with default settings
  4. Report issues on GitHub with your configuration