Well said. I really resonate with the notion of worlbuilding just for the world’s sake. My wife is the Psychologist type and enjoys populating my world with meaningful characters and the stories they create, but for me the world istelf is the point. And I think Tolkien was in the same camp.

🤯 I thought I was the Architect until I read your comment. Turns out it’s not the setting that drives my worldbuilding. It’s the mechanics - I start with something like the “physics” that govern magic and how that may interact with the astrophysics of planet formation, plate tectonics, etc. I think I may actually be the Engineer. I start with a mechanical system and shape the world around it. I think this has first-class relevance outside of the TTRPG sphere as well. Thanks for the mind-blowing insight!

(I hope you don’t mind my equating Brandon Sanderson with this type. I feel like it’s a good fit)