TVTropes builds a campaign setting!

They don't have unstable genetics, just very variable and semi-bestial.

I was try to touch upon a couple fantasy tropes: The more modern of some semi-bestial and very exotic race (Big one? Draenei. Others, admittedly, touch more on scifi genre actually) and the older one of elves being nature people. Here, nature has simply become animalistic.

And we still have the sylvan, I'm messing with that idea of using multiple stuff with the same name.

The forest was rejected as I remember.

What, really?

It wasn't on the page (oddly the star is) but after checking the voting record it likely should be.

—-

Magician's handcuffs: Aether Eaters

These are not a single item but a term for a group of items. These items tend to be armor or clothing and what it basically does is absorb or eat up a portion of the aether a spell caster uses.

They have various uses and surprisingly are most often used by mages as a kind of Power Limiter. There are various reasons for it, challenge, restraint, denying innate magical powers or even hiding their aura's from creatures which may seek to feed on them like Nighkin.

A simple scarf can be the difference between fighting a frail old-man and the King's Ex-head wizard.

There are two primary versions of these items:

Devourers: These absorb the magical energy, lessening their abilities.

Shells: Theses contain magical energy in a shell btween the item and wearer, only devouring excess energy which it could not reflect. Allowing a magic user to build up energy and release it all at once. Many weaker mages use theses as insurance in case they get in over their heads.

How much energy is reflected or devoured depends on the items. Many times it takes multiple items to hide a mages aether.

edited 11th Feb '12 8:26:31 PM by Vyctorian

"Aether Eaters: for when you want to get rid of that awful Aether smell!"

-*Ahem*

Kidding, I love the idea.

I don't remember the forest being rejected either...? Then again I don't remember what I did last week. Link?

Similar names for multiple creatures is confoozing.

Btw sorry I haven't counted the latest votes yet I'll do it tonight, word.

edited 12th Feb '12 5:19:39 AM by Sijo

So, Anima Elfs are not looking good, eh?

Eh, I think one beastfolk race is enough, honestly.

Thought these might be helpful for building our world:

http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/01/08/writing-excuses-7-2-world-building-flora-and-fauna/

http://www.writingexcuses.com/2012/01/15/writing-excuses-7-3-fauna-and-flora/ (Haven't listened to this one yet but WE hasn't wronged me yet)

Razor berry-

Theses berries are very sweet and juicy but have a hard shell covered in barbs around them. Theses barbed shells are often used as natural caltrops to discourage animals from entering farms. They mostly grow in colder climates so it's believed the shells allow the berries to grow year round.

I really don't consider plants very much. Beasties? Yeah, because you might be fighting or riding or whatevering them. But plants?

I like fantasy (and Sci-fi) flora. It just makes sense that worlds with elements and forces that affect animal evolution would also affect the plants. Plus even if they are not "monsters" they still add color to the setting. Just think of all the plants in the cultures and myths of the real world.

This week's voting results:

• Anduriel, The Sangrophage: 4
• Warlocks: 4
• Ashbleidd, The Blood Guardian: 4
• The Celestial Struggle (between Anduriel and Ashbleidd): 4
• The Tale of The Hero Of Light: 3
• Dragon aspect or The Aspected: 4
• Repair-mages: 4
• The Primal Blade: 4
• Ken, The god of swordsmanship and blades (The Broken god): 4
• Dominion Ethnicity and race: 4
• Orremna: 4
• The Seven Unnamed Isles: 3
• The Nobody Atoll: 3
• The vocal arts: 3
• Musical Magic: 4
• Death Curses: 4
• Dwarves: 3
• Iziko Shajaku "The Rising Tide of Blades": 4
• Ozris Garl'gezmond "Thunder Cry"): 4
• Gabrella Ness VI "Prince of Arms"): 3
• Freybjorn Querk "Dragoknight"): 2

Exel's Dwarves vote confirmed.

I'll update the Main Page ASAP.

edited 15th Feb '12 4:52:00 PM by Sijo

Also, I was trying to make a race that actually had normal stature for once as opposed to being short or giant or operating on a slingshot of the two. Plus, I was trying to repeat the 'stuff that has the same name as something else but wasn't the same thing and makes the world feel organic'.

What were the conditions on the Dwarves?

Do more for them than just giving physiological details and hold off on more races until the project is nearly done and we feel the need to include more for whatever reason, if that happens.

More then physiological details...?

Homeland. Culture of homeland. Migratory paths for dwarf diasporants over history. Everything.

Wait, that against the 'No One Race One Creed' thing. One race can have all kinds of things.

Evolution says that every species has a place of origin. Anthropology says that anywhere with a sufficient number of people will develop a culture.

Not all Scots are Scottish, and not all Scottish people are Scots, but Scots are from Scotland and Scotland is where the Scots are from. Get it?

edited 12th Feb '12 6:16:55 PM by Exelixi

Less Scots, more thinking along the lines of Europeans, norther Europeans at the most specific.

I just use Scotland as an example. For loads of things, really. But you get my point.

Flora and Fauna are just as important to Fantasy as different races and magic.

Scifi, you mean. In fantasy, not so much.

Fantasy more so than sci fi actually. Fantasy has more potential these areas than sci fi due to a foreign force that doesn't exist in our world (aether).

You really think a world filled with gods, dwarfs, talking animals, and the like is just going to have ferns and tomatoes.

edited 12th Feb '12 11:49:40 PM by Vyctorian

Should I do the same to the Anima Elfs?

If they get accepted.

Yes, on account of being earthlike in every way aside from the aether's presence. Mind you, there's bound to be some bizarre stuff, but not everything will be as foreign as it would be on, say, a planet fifth from its violet star in a galaxy adjacent to this one. Think of non-Earth-based sci-fi as taking place on another planet and fantasy as taking place in a different dimension but with the same conditions as Earth. The same spots in different "adjacent" dimensions would (theoretically) have more in common than two planets from different solar systems.

edited 13th Feb '12 3:05:32 AM by Exelixi

Exel: So, is your vote on Goa's Dwarves officially a "Yes" now? I need to know for the update!!

All this talk about flora has inspired me. Here goes:

Sceal's Flora

For the most part, the vegetation in this world is the same (or very similar) to that of Earth: they have everything from pond scum to mighty trees. Some of them might look a bit different, but fill the same niches.

Of course, others have been profoundly affected by the unique forces of this world. In fact, given that most plants ar immobile, they tend to be even more affected, if they grow in highly magical spots.

Here are two more examples:

Magic Fruits: These are exactly what the name implies: fruits (and seeds) of various plants that have magic effects in them due to growing in Ley Nodes. The exact effect depends on the nature of the plant and possibly on other local elements, eg. those growing in a battlefield or a cemetery tend to be naturally cursed. Most fruits however tend to have beneficial effects such as healing or (temporary) boosts to strength or magic. Some even grant visions (TRUE ones, not a "trip".) Of course the cursed ones are harmful. Telling them apart isn't always obvious, which is why Herb Lore is so important in this world.

Deific Trees: Unlike people or animals, most plants aren't truly sentient and therefore, cannot affect the Astral Realm the way they do. They can, however, be affected themselves by the beliefs that others might have about them, if they are widespread enough. In particular, old trees tend to be the subject of awe and worship. This often results in their becoming objects of worship especially by primitive cultures, and in turn this faith creates spirits within them. The actual powers of the trees are limited (because most people don't expect them to do much) but nevertheless, they are sentient and magical, and capable of taking some kind of action when needed. There is even a widespread belief in a World Tree among Sceal's cultures, but no one has found (the real one) yet. It might be located in the New Lands...

All of this doesn't cover the plants that have evolved into mobile forms on their own (eg, plant monsters) or the ones created or mutated by gods, magicians or scientists. Those are covered in a case-by-case basis. The New Lands in particular are said to be full of strange flora...

edited 13th Feb '12 4:30:13 AM by Sijo

That solves that matter quite quickly. Go raib maith agat, Sijo.