Fictional Flags

Fictional Flags

ELEMENT

Fictional flags are devices used to represent a group, faction, army, or country. Fictional flags are common in fictional worlds where they may be important for fictional civilizations, cultures, or resistances. Flags may be found on capital buildings, palaces, castles, vehicles, or carried into battle by the standard-bearers of advancing armies.

The study of flags is called vexillology and has a long and storied history.

Synonyms: banners, standards, emblems, colors
Example Mythonyms: the Battle Colors of the 9th Republic, the East Imorian Flag, the Banner of House Ironelm

Designing Fictional Flags

General Characteristics

Shape

Most flags are rectangular, but there are exceptions and there is no reason this needs to be the case for fictional countries. Consider triangles, circles, chevrons, or other shapes. If rectangular, consider the relative length and width.

Colors

Flags will typically have 2-3 central colors, though more or less colors are not uncommon. When choosing colors for a flag, consider what these may look like from a distance, and what colors may be important for your fictional country or faction. Often the colors chosen will be symbolic of some aspect of that country, for example its people, its natural resources, or its history.

Example Color Meanings

  • Gold: Natural Resources and Wealth
  • Blue: Nearby Seas, Rivers, or Lakes
  • Green: Forests or Fertile Lands
  • Yellow: Wheat or Fields
  • Red: Blood Spilt to Protect Borders

Those designing flags for a game world may wish to use colors that are easily distinguishable from one another.

For worlds with an audience using yellow, magenta, and cyan may be preferrable as many people suffer from red-green color blindness.

Basic Patterns

Charges & Emblems

Charges and emblems are objects that appear on a flag, such as a star or a leaf. These are important symbols for a country, people, or culture. If there are repeating numbers of charges, for instance two or three stars being present, that number is typically symbolic and representative of some national history.

History