Branching Out

Tired of Euro-limited fantasy? Try this: Dire Coyote. Oh, you think that wouldn't actually change much? Funny how that works out.

Aesthetic Crossroads

Pick one:
Psychic powers
Psionics
Psycho magic
Mind magic
Magic

Addendum

"But surely those unreasonable double weapons, which are silly on their own, won't be cool if dual-wielded!" Wrong. They will be four times as cool as a single normal weapon. Coolness math resists all efforts to complicate it.

The Steadfastness of Dual-Wielding

You can complain about common fantasy depictions of dual-wielding all you want, but it is, always has been, and forever will be super cool. That doesn't mean you can't go for a more realistic version though. That will also be super cool.

Pseudo-Post-Apocalypse

When people are running around dealing out death with sword and spell while in the background there's what we recognize as advanced technology, the legacy of the civilization of old, we must consider the possibility there wasn't an apocalypse. Everybody just decided the world would be cooler that way.

Addendum

I thought about having it be a status symbol, but the problem with that is soon people with unquestionably high status would write poorly on purpose to show off. We' be back where we are now within a few generations. Here's another suggestion though: Genetic engineering.

Science Fiction Worldbuilding Challenge

Come up with a reason for future people to have generally good handwriting. All I can come up with right now is that it helps with getting through capchas.

Future Mindset

The people of the future will be unable to understand a world in which we didn't give every computer a little hat and a scarf with your favorite bookmarks printed on it. Come to think of it, I don't understand it myself.

Ancient Mindset

The biggest impediement to understanding ancient peoples is that to the modern eye, somebody riding a chariot looks like a dweeb. When Zeus punished a guy in a chariot, it wasn't for presumption in claiming divinity, but to improve mortal fashion standards.

Addendum

A major factor will be if the ships dock at a planet, an orbital station, or neither, instead sitting in deep space and receiving their passengers from shuttles. In the case of the station, probably a plain exterior will be demanded by the port authority, but in the third case, presenting customers with an awesome view during their approach will be advisable.

It's Never Too Early to Start Planning

When we have big interstellar cruise liners, will it be worth it to paint the exterior, or will people not care about the part they can't see? Or will they see it through drones set up so there can be races on the hull for gambling purposes, given that in space, anything goes? Only market research can determine the truth.

Instrumental Reminder

When you're tired of lutes, a condition quickly reached, remember that if your fantasy characters are truly cool, they're probably rocking out with a dulcimer or harpsichord. If you object to sitting down, that's how most people would play any instrument down to the guitar, no matter what dynamic rock and rollers would have you believe.

It's Time to Get Excited About Not Justifying Your FTL Travel Method Again

That's the reminder to adopt a philosophy which eschews self-consciousness with regard to the fantastical elements of the story. Stop watching videos about worldbuilding and start putting in stuff you think is keen, regardless of how nonsensical or depraved it may be and ideally is. What must be maintained is not plausibility but the aesthetic you have chosen.

Addendum

It doesn't have to be top vs. bottom, either. Try some diagonals. Some curves, too. A single mixed field.

On Digital Card Games

Fellas! The cards don't have to look like little cards! Explore the aesthetic space! They can unfold like newspapers, open like pamphlets, just be the monster which ordinarily would be depicted and when you click on it a cartoon speech bubble pops out from it with the rules text, and more.

Grappling with Style

1) Ribbon tied around hilt
2) Ribbon tied around glove holding hilt
3) Ribbon tied around blade
4) Sword is an extended ribbon

It's hard to pick the right look, but whichever you choose, carry it through.

Setting Aesthetics Particulars

If you have masers, is your science fiction necessarily a retro future? Some kind of maserpunk? Do the computers have to be quite large? Or can you just throw those in anything?

On Spaceship Construction

How many external windows do you think the typical spaceship would have? None, right? Zero? They are cool, but consider the advantages of an isolated atmosphere.

Addendum

The wings should also be baleful.

The Core Pegasus Fault

Pegasuses don't look tough enough. They should have eight wings and baleful eyes.