Worldbuilding Resources (25 books)

This is a list dedicated to providing useful resources for worldbuilders and dnd players.

This list should include
Encyclopedias (fictional and otherwise)
Reference books
Bestiaries
Anything that focuses explicitly on the craft of worldbuilding or a world that has been constructed.

This list shouldn't include;
- Novels
- Short Stories
- Anything focused on pure linear narrative over worldbuilding

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	On Writing and Worldbuilding, Volume I by Timothy Hickson (Goodreads Author) 4.25 avg rating — 1,628 ratings score: 297, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	Dungeon Master's Guide (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition) by Wizards of the Coast 4.49 avg rating — 7,958 ratings score: 199, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	On Writing and Worldbuilding: Volume II by Timothy Hickson (Goodreads Author) 4.34 avg rating — 417 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding by Janna Silverstein (Editor) 3.95 avg rating — 539 ratings score: 183, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Player's Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition) by Wizards of the Coast 4.57 avg rating — 14,815 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Worldbuilding: From Small Towns to Entire Universes (The Million Dollar Writing Series) by Kevin J. Anderson (Goodreads Author) 3.70 avg rating — 66 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Worldbuilding for Fantasy Fans and Authors (Forging Fantasy Realms #1) by M.D. Presley (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 146 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	The A-Zs of Worldbuilding: Creating Cohesive Magic Systems (The A-Zs of Worldbuilding, #2) by Rebekah Loper (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Fantasy Worldbuilding Workbook (Forging Fantasy Realms #2) by M.D. Presley (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 40 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	Monster Manual (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition) by Wizards of the Coast 4.56 avg rating — 6,221 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	The A-Zs of Worldbuilding: Building Believable Religions (The A-Zs of Worldbuilding, #3) by Rebekah Loper (Goodreads Author) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
10	101 Worldbuilding Prompts (Forging Fantasy Realms #2) by M.D. Presley (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 84 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	Volo's Guide to Monsters (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition) by Wizards of the Coast 4.44 avg rating — 2,516 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
13	The A-Zs of Worldbuilding: Building a Fictional World From Scratch (The A-Zs of Worldbuilding, #1) by Rebekah Loper (Goodreads Author) 4.67 avg rating — 33 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
15	Xanathar's Guide to Everything (Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition) by Wizards of the Coast 4.48 avg rating — 3,619 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
16	Complete Worldbuilding: An Author’s Step-by-Step Guide to Building Fictional Worlds by A. Trevena (Goodreads Author) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction by Jeff Vandermeer (Goodreads Author) 4.33 avg rating — 4,218 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
17	Creating Places (The Art of World Building, #2) by Randy Ellefson (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 72 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
19	185 Tips on World Building (The Art of World Building, #7) by Randy Ellefson (Goodreads Author) 4.03 avg rating — 35 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
20	Creating Life (The Art of World Building, #1) by Randy Ellefson (Goodreads Author) 3.79 avg rating — 148 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
21	Cultures and Beyond (The Art of World Building, #3) by Randy Ellefson (Goodreads Author) 4.18 avg rating — 50 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	New Worlds, Year One: A Writer's Guide to the Art of Worldbuilding (New Worlds, #1) by Marie Brennan (Goodreads Author) 4.32 avg rating — 98 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
23	The Complete Art of World Building (The Art of World Building, #11) by Randy Ellefson (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 30 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Ultimate RPG Game Master's Worldbuilding Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create and Customize Your Own Game World (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series) by James D’Amato 4.17 avg rating — 224 ratings score: 87, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
25	A Fantasy Writers' Handbook by Richie Billing (Goodreads Author) 4.29 avg rating — 98 ratings score: 86, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars