Archetype

Worlds

Creating Coherent Story Worlds that Persist Over Time

How to use Archetype worlds to define rules, locations and timelines so your stories stay consistent across sessions.

Published 1/15/20257 min readFocus: Story worlds

Worlds in Archetype are containers for everything that makes your universe unique: metaphysical rules, political structures, important locations and long-running character relationships.

Begin with a few clear laws that shape everyday life. What kind of magic or technology exists? What is forbidden? What is scarce? These constraints give your AI characters something solid to push against.

Map out key locations using short but specific descriptions: a foggy harbor district, a glass library suspended over a canyon, a cramped starship corridor. Referencing these places in scenes and conversations instantly adds continuity.

Use timelines to record major events: wars, discoveries, regime changes, personal turning points. When these events are part of the world definition, the AI can reference them naturally as shared history.

Finally, link characters and scenes back to the same world. Over time this creates a feedback loop where every new story reinforces the same canon instead of contradicting it, making your universe feel more coherent and alive.