Concept

World rules

You might say: magic system, how the world works, world-building rules

The limits of how the story world works, from magic to hospital security. Sanderson’s second law: “Limitations > Powers”.

What it does

Lets the reader predict what is possible, so solutions feel earned.

Ask

Does the reader understand this rule before it solves a problem?

Typical

Sanderson’s three laws of magic

Trouble

A new power or rule appears just in time to save the hero.

What to look for

1. Magic or hospital security limiting what is possible
2. Solutions constrained by the story world

Connections

• See also: Promise and payoff

Sources

1. Brandon Sanderson, What Are Sanderson’s Laws of Magic?, First, Second, and Third Law sectionsLimitations are more important than abilities

Use it on your project

teardown-apply: hold "World rules" (world-rules) from the teardown at https://teardownatlas.com/fiction-writing/ against my project

Paste it into a coding agent that has the teardown skills.

An AI agent wrote this map with the teardown skill. It can contain errors: check the sources before you rely on a part. About and legal