So many stories build cool worlds full of magic, strange creatures, floating islands, and other interesting elements…
But they tend to forget the thing that powers real tension in any society: having something that everyone wants, but not everyone can have.
Today’s post is about super-charging your world with conflict and interest using a simple technique that does a lot of heavy lifting:
Decide what’s scarce in your world.
Then decide who’s willing to fight for it.
That one choice will shape your cultures, your conflicts, your character motivations—maybe even your theme.
Why?
Because where there’s scarcity, there’s power. There’s control. There’s inequality. There’s conflict. And there’s always someone who doesn’t have enough, and is willing to do something dramatic to change that.
Not Just Gold and Water
When we think of scarcity, we usually think of basic resources: food, water, money, fuel.
And yes, those are fair game.
But for an extra-original twist, you can also make more unusual things scarce:
Magic
Clean air
Forgiveness
Freedom
Ancestral knowledge
Longevity
Children
Silence
Suddenly, the world isn’t just different. It’s pressurized and charged with energies.
Scarcity is a Story Engine
Scarcity gives you:
✅ Built-in conflict between groups
✅ Tension inside communities
✅ Moral dilemmas that write themselves
✅ Inequality and drama
✅ Clear stakes for your characters
It doesn’t even have to be dystopian. Just look at our world. (Or wait, is that dystopian by now?)
The point is, every fantasy world needs some friction in order to ring true. Make that friction interesting. The more limited the resource, the more creative—and desperate—people get.
A Quick Example
Let’s say magic in your world isn’t inherited or learned. Instead, it’s harvested from certain living beings (ouch!).
Bam, instant scarcity. Now you have:
A dwindling source of power
A class of “harvesters” with questionable ethics
A rebel movement that wants to restore balance
A “poor” main character who needs magic to save someone they love
One world-building choice, endless cool story options.
A Prompt to Try
Pick a region, culture, or system in your world. Now ask:
What do they not have enough of?
What’s running out—or hoarded—so only a few benefit?
How does this shape how people live, love, lead, fight, and survive?
Work it deep into your story and let it seep into every level.
We’re hard-wired to appreciate and comply with the rules of scarcity, especially in this age. Use it.
If this post sparked something for your next setting, hit the ❤️ and share it with your world-building friends.
Because every great world starts with a need and with someone willing to do anything to fill it.
See you next week,
Tal Kilim