size, composition, atmosphere of the planet and any surrounding celestial bodies if it's applicable (trim this down to just orbital period of the planet and it's moon/moons if I'm going for pseudo-earth for the purposes of calendar-making)
oceanic and continental plates, the direction they're moving, and general eyeballing of continental drift for purposes of locating natural resources and paleontology if it's relevant (unless it's a spec-evo, then I map out the continental drift)
land-masses, elevation maps, ocean depth
air and water currents, climate
civilization, starting with a staple grain and resulting fermented products, pottery, domesticated animals, early metal-working, etc. (All if applicable) and going from there
but that’s a bit much for the limited time scale of most fiction.
Wait, I'm supposed to do something with these settings?
Order of operations for me:
Wait, I'm supposed to do something with these settings?
lol make worlds and then abandon them gang