I would agree that it would probably be best to start out smaller and grow it from there. Specifically I would favor us starting out our characters in a single country, as Seraph said, “full of intrigue”, with a bit of influence from the other local groups we would end up exploring and interacting with later. At most I feel we should start out in an area of small polities, perhaps five at most. This of course doesn’t mean that we would have to create characters exclusively coming from this theoretical country, they could very well come from any of its neighbors, or even further away. I simply think that starting out smaller will also allow for more focus when we’re starting out, allowing the characters to hold their own against the world building as they solidify before expanding outwards.

In terms of setting, I would also prefer a hybrid theme veering away from the traditional European medieval high fantasy theme, although elements of it could still exist for those of us that want it, perhaps as Roavin suggested as an outside group that would not only provide diversity and create interesting dynamics, but also give an impetus for expanding the world outwards when it comes time for that. I also like the suggestion of basing our starting area’s culture on that of our regional theme and with some influences from polynesian cultures, although I don’t ultimately think I lean in any particular direction on what I would prefer. I’m fine with most things so long as it’s sufficiently original in some way. Which I guess means that I am for the archipelago idea.

Another thing I think should be considered is how the climate and the weather should work in this world. While in the way this is going with the tropical archipelago theme it would likely have certain aspects such as having a somewhat narrow, oceanic climate, is it otherwise much like here on Earth, or is it partially or even wholly fantastical/magical? Is it a world of extremes, or perhaps a world largely like our own, but with areas both large and small where nature acts...differently? Determining this could potentially have a large effect on the ways that the societies, cultures, technology, and even foundational aspects of the world’s fantasy will exist, and could create interesting scenarios as well, depending on how it is constructed. I myself would be interested in designing the world so that it is largely like our own, but with perhaps more extreme weather patterns, be it more frequent storms and the like, or less frequent, but more often violent, patterns such as occasional extreme shifts in weather, as well as having areas/regions that are imbued with qualities that causes nature to act differently within them. Although that is (obviously roughly) what I would prefer, I'm also fine with the climate and weather patterns being basically the same as Earth, ultimately I just think that putting some thought into how it would work will help to create a more immersive, full world.