Flora and Fauna. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Flora and Fauna.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dawnstealer
Dec 12, 2003 14:21:24 Here's a flavor-question for the lot of you:

How useful do you think a flora and fauna book would be? Now I'm not talking about Nightmare Beasts and Dune Trappers, I'm talking about trees and all those little things they talk about in the various books. I was thinking a short, small e-book dedicated to these things. All the small plants the Athasians harvest, the trees that are around (that don't try to eat you), the smaller animals that aren't particularly dangerous or agressive, and so on.

Would anyone else find a pure fluff piece like this interesting or useful, or should I just keep it to myself?
#2
Grummore
Dec 12, 2003 14:38:21 Such netbook as already been produced by Gerard Arthur Lewis, which unfortunatly dissapeared from the Darksun planet...

You can find it here
#3
dawnstealer
Dec 12, 2003 15:02:04 That's an interesting read, but not quite what I'm aiming for. There's a great many types of plants mentioned in the DS books, novels and otherwise, that aren't monsters, but are worth noting. The nuts that they eat in Nibenay, for example, or the types of trees that are in the Ringing Forest that ring, what does an agafari tree look like, things like that.

Some of the things listed in that doc were fine (rotting sand), but the goal would be more flavor elements than actual things that would attack you or yield up treasure. In other RPG worlds, the terrain is generally like our own world: there are pine trees, oak trees, grass, gnats, and similar things that are so a part of our world that we don't even notice them any more. But Athas is different on an entirely different level. I think something that shows these off in a book format would be useful.

BTW, the first part of that PDF file is pretty much how I was thinking of starting my doc, so thanks for the link Grummore. It's a pretty cool doc, even it's set up for 2e.
#4
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 15:51:46 Sounds like an interesting proposal Dawnstealer. I couldn't agree more that not every bit of plant life has writhing tentacles or poisonous spore clouds, nor should every animal be capable of devoring a whole village.

There's two ways to go about it though. Either a listed style that simple states a particular plant or creature and gives a little info on it, or a kinda ecological survey done by region where each plant/animal actually 'fits' into the ecology. I'd love to see the latter, even if its a far more daunting task. There's been many who wonder how the fantasy ecology can support so many gigantic predators, and the seeminly barren wastelands of Athas make it even harder to justify their existence above a typical setting. Okay, I'm rambling again.
#5
dawnstealer
Dec 12, 2003 15:59:56 That's good. Keep 'em coming.
#6
jihun-nish
Dec 12, 2003 23:11:58
Originally posted by Mach2.5
There's been many who wonder how the fantasy ecology can support so many gigantic predators, and the seeminly barren wastelands of Athas make it even harder to justify their existence above a typical setting. Okay, I'm rambling again.

After reading your post I'm wondering if you took the time to read The Athasian ecology(PDF) found in here(same as above) It has a good explaination for a lot of thing and how the fantasy ecology can support so many gigantic predators, is one of them.

You'll nead at least 1/2 hour of your time to read it all but I think it's worth it. But if you dont have or wont take the time at least read Making Behemoths Realistic on page 20

Seriously!! Anyone interested in th athasian ecology should read the whole document.
#7
zombiegleemax
Dec 12, 2003 23:55:18 Blame old age . . . blame drugs . . . whichever. I had entirely wiped this doc from memory. Definately a must read.
#8
jihun-nish
Dec 13, 2003 1:23:58
Originally posted by Mach2.5
Blame old age . . . blame drugs . . . whichever. I had entirely wiped this doc from memory. Definately a must read.

You're welcome
#9
Kamelion
Dec 15, 2003 2:37:01 There is also the Dark Sun Netbook (version 3.0A) that is hosted at athas.org:

http://www.athas.org/downloads/darksunnetbookv3.zip

This is also a 2e resource but has lots and lots of fluff that can slot right into a 3e game. There are sections on plantlife, foods and drink etc that might be what you are after...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dawnstealer Dec 12, 2003 14:21:24	Here's a flavor-question for the lot of you: How useful do you think a flora and fauna book would be? Now I'm not talking about Nightmare Beasts and Dune Trappers, I'm talking about trees and all those little things they talk about in the various books. I was thinking a short, small e-book dedicated to these things. All the small plants the Athasians harvest, the trees that are around (that don't try to eat you), the smaller animals that aren't particularly dangerous or agressive, and so on. Would anyone else find a pure fluff piece like this interesting or useful, or should I just keep it to myself?
#2 Grummore Dec 12, 2003 14:38:21	Such netbook as already been produced by Gerard Arthur Lewis, which unfortunatly dissapeared from the Darksun planet... You can find it here
#3 dawnstealer Dec 12, 2003 15:02:04	That's an interesting read, but not quite what I'm aiming for. There's a great many types of plants mentioned in the DS books, novels and otherwise, that aren't monsters, but are worth noting. The nuts that they eat in Nibenay, for example, or the types of trees that are in the Ringing Forest that ring, what does an agafari tree look like, things like that. Some of the things listed in that doc were fine (rotting sand), but the goal would be more flavor elements than actual things that would attack you or yield up treasure. In other RPG worlds, the terrain is generally like our own world: there are pine trees, oak trees, grass, gnats, and similar things that are so a part of our world that we don't even notice them any more. But Athas is different on an entirely different level. I think something that shows these off in a book format would be useful. BTW, the first part of that PDF file is pretty much how I was thinking of starting my doc, so thanks for the link Grummore. It's a pretty cool doc, even it's set up for 2e.
#4 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 15:51:46	Sounds like an interesting proposal Dawnstealer. I couldn't agree more that not every bit of plant life has writhing tentacles or poisonous spore clouds, nor should every animal be capable of devoring a whole village. There's two ways to go about it though. Either a listed style that simple states a particular plant or creature and gives a little info on it, or a kinda ecological survey done by region where each plant/animal actually 'fits' into the ecology. I'd love to see the latter, even if its a far more daunting task. There's been many who wonder how the fantasy ecology can support so many gigantic predators, and the seeminly barren wastelands of Athas make it even harder to justify their existence above a typical setting. Okay, I'm rambling again.
#5 dawnstealer Dec 12, 2003 15:59:56	That's good. Keep 'em coming.
#6 jihun-nish Dec 12, 2003 23:11:58	Originally posted by Mach2.5 There's been many who wonder how the fantasy ecology can support so many gigantic predators, and the seeminly barren wastelands of Athas make it even harder to justify their existence above a typical setting. Okay, I'm rambling again. After reading your post I'm wondering if you took the time to read The Athasian ecology(PDF) found in here(same as above) It has a good explaination for a lot of thing and how the fantasy ecology can support so many gigantic predators, is one of them. You'll nead at least 1/2 hour of your time to read it all but I think it's worth it. But if you dont have or wont take the time at least read Making Behemoths Realistic on page 20 Seriously!! Anyone interested in th athasian ecology should read the whole document.
#7 zombiegleemax Dec 12, 2003 23:55:18	Blame old age . . . blame drugs . . . whichever. I had entirely wiped this doc from memory. Definately a must read.
#8 jihun-nish Dec 13, 2003 1:23:58	Originally posted by Mach2.5 Blame old age . . . blame drugs . . . whichever. I had entirely wiped this doc from memory. Definately a must read. You're welcome
#9 Kamelion Dec 15, 2003 2:37:01	There is also the Dark Sun Netbook (version 3.0A) that is hosted at athas.org: http://www.athas.org/downloads/darksunnetbookv3.zip This is also a 2e resource but has lots and lots of fluff that can slot right into a 3e game. There are sections on plantlife, foods and drink etc that might be what you are after...