Hi, rookie worldbuilder here.

I'm the next up to run my friend's TTRPG campaign and I have decided to commit to the challenge of a new experience. I have been a passive enjoyer of worldbuilding and crazy settings for a while now so I settled that I was going to build my own world for my group to explore. As a rookie I would love to hear some of your guys' suggestions!

The basic premise of my world is that it is an archipelago-based kingdom thriving in trade, cultural diversity and spiritual prosperity. The conflict for the group, and for the world, is the new found influence of the 3 merchant guilds that have propped up around the archipelago. The islands function a bit like a planet of hats scenario with their exports and basic layout.

The trouble I am having is that I want to set this period smack dab in the middle of a golden age and I am wondering how I should help that be brought across in the functioning of the world even with the schism between the guilds and the government.

Thanks for making it this far. I'm happy to provide more context and receive any tidbit of advice you guys may have on my problem or worldbuilding as a whole!