🌳Family tree tool for stories

Large dynasties should be easy to follow and fun to create. What is a family tree and how to create one?

What is a Family Tree?

A family tree, or genealogical tree, is a visual chart that shows family relationships and connections across multiple generations. You start with either the youngest or the oldest generation, and it branches out at each step, mapping parents, children, grandparents, and extended relatives.

Can you create a family tree tool inside Fortelling?

Yes, you definitely can. The family tree tool is one of the new board types inside Fortelling. Link all your characters together.

How to create links with the Family Tree tool

1

Start with your first character

Tap on the plus sign that's pulsating in the middle.

Select your character or create one on the spot. It's recommended that you start with either the youngest or oldest character, and then you branch out. The tool supports multiple partners and different statuses. Learn more about how to change this below.

2

Start branching

Tap on your first character and start branching out by either adding a parent, partner, or a child.

3

Relationship status/type

Awesome! At this step, you have already created 2 or more generations, which you can see displayed on your right if you are on the web version, and if you are on mobile, you will see it displayed below. By tapping on one of your characters and then selecting one of their relatives, a new tab will open.

You can now edit the relationship status. If it's between a partner, you can select between “active” and “lapsed.” If you check "Officially married," you'll see two other options: "Married" and "Divorced."

For parent/child, you can choose between “Biological, " " Adopted, " and " Foster.

Between each relationship, you can write the perspective from both characters; also, you can change the color of the link together with the line type to better visualize the bloodline, for example.

4

Character options

By opening the settings tab (clicking the three dots), you can open the character page and mark it as dead, swap it, or delete it.

How to track story generations of a family tree with Fortelling?

This part is done automatically when you start linking together your characters in the family tree board. You can see all your generations on the right sidebar if you're on the web and below on mobile.

Tools in the Family Tree board

Drawing pen & Stickers

Have a drawing pen? No? Your fingers also work. You can now draw on boards and add stickers! Quite useful for creating even more visual cues between characters and the relationships between them. It depends on how you want to use it. Go wild!

Sticky notes & text

The lovely sticky note, for that moment when you have to write it down to make things even clearer. A suggestion: make them the same color as the links.

How can I activate other elements in the family tree?

You can convert your family tool into a relationship tool inside Fortelling (for example, “locations, languages, or powers”), which is quite useful, especially for worldbuilding. My favorite is making one for species and showing the whole evolution tree.

1. Tap on Modify Tools ( the wrench icon on the left toolbar below)

2. Tap on any world-building story element you want to use, for example, items or your own that you have created.

3. Tap on functionalities

4. Click on the slider “Enable family tree tool”

5. Done! Now go back to boards, and once you create one, you will see the newly activated story elements available for selection in the Family Tree. Start creating!

Learn more about how to create your own custom tools and story elements

🛠️Custom Tools

Ready to start mapping your own character dynasty?

Create Family tree