Maybe I've missed something (I did do a few searches for this), but looking at the almanac I'm not seeing where I can enter things like new flora and fauna. I'm not looking for specific ones, but more general species and such, kinda like you'd do for a new type of monster. What's the proper place for that sort of thing? I could place it under "other" but that didn't seem to fit as these are tangible, but non-specific "things".
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- The Lone Wolf Development Team
Flora & Fauna
- Thread starter Asrugan
- Start date
"Species", perhaps? I used to have a Species custom category that contained things like monster and PC races, before I moved them to Mechanics articles. I was just contemplating putting that category back, since it seems like it would be useful to convey non-mechanical information about a species (or for species that don't have any mechanical info, just passing fluff). It could cover plants too, of course.
thedarkelf007
Well-known member
I create a mechanics reference for them and bundle them there.
Such as I have a Monster category for Pathfinder, as well as Poisons, Curses, Afflictions that are all grouped there.
When I have a unique instance I reference the generic one. Such as a named monster.
Such as I have a Monster category for Pathfinder, as well as Poisons, Curses, Afflictions that are all grouped there.
When I have a unique instance I reference the generic one. Such as a named monster.
Substances are a good corner case. I had one of these in my campaign which had no mechanical properties - just a particular type of metal one of the NPCs wanted to acquire. I put it in a generic "setting element" category I'd made at the time, but that was way far back - like before the World Almanac existed. Since the sever was implemented, I think I just deleted the entry out of frustration ^^;
With the current category structure, and the emphasis on that structure being shared, I think it's neecessary to provide for materials/substances like that, as well. I wonder if e can think of a good term that encompasses both species and substances, but it still simple and informative? I'm off to thesaurus dive.
Come to think of it, my entire setting is named after a mineral that really should have its own topic entry.
With the current category structure, and the emphasis on that structure being shared, I think it's neecessary to provide for materials/substances like that, as well. I wonder if e can think of a good term that encompasses both species and substances, but it still simple and informative? I'm off to thesaurus dive.
Come to think of it, my entire setting is named after a mineral that really should have its own topic entry.
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I like your style, enrious! Though in my game world, a couple of PC races genuinely have the mechanical ability "Eat Anything", so I fear I am back at square one 
That said, I have been completely unable to find a good term that encompasses metals, minerals, plants, animals, etc. all at once. Well, except "thing", which is no help since it's already in use. I'm thinking "Species" and "Substance" or "Material" are the way to go right now. Associated tag domains might look something like Animal/Plant/Microbe/Supernatural (the last being for things like angels and demons) and Mineral/Metal/Liquid/Gas/Plastic/Wood/Foodstuff/Fabric/Arcane (et cetera - what would you use?), respectively. I realise there's a bit of overlap between the two categories, especially for things like woods and foods, but you could differentiate based on existing distinctions: "Maple", "Maple Wood" and "Maple Syrup", for example, or "Cow", "Leather" and "Beef".
You could also use creature origins as apply to your setting, like Natural/Elemental/Shadow etc. in D&D, since those would regularly apply to non-sentient plants and substances as well as monsters.
That said, I have been completely unable to find a good term that encompasses metals, minerals, plants, animals, etc. all at once. Well, except "thing", which is no help since it's already in use. I'm thinking "Species" and "Substance" or "Material" are the way to go right now. Associated tag domains might look something like Animal/Plant/Microbe/Supernatural (the last being for things like angels and demons) and Mineral/Metal/Liquid/Gas/Plastic/Wood/Foodstuff/Fabric/Arcane (et cetera - what would you use?), respectively. I realise there's a bit of overlap between the two categories, especially for things like woods and foods, but you could differentiate based on existing distinctions: "Maple", "Maple Wood" and "Maple Syrup", for example, or "Cow", "Leather" and "Beef".
You could also use creature origins as apply to your setting, like Natural/Elemental/Shadow etc. in D&D, since those would regularly apply to non-sentient plants and substances as well as monsters.
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thedarkelf007
Well-known member
Try creating a few categories and seeing how it looks.
Like a section for things that can encounter them, and things they can encounter... as some molds and fungus won't go looking for them, but are still dangerous.
You can split them up further with sub categories or with tags.
Do you have a preference?
the main difference is categories can have a unique symbol, where as tags are something you can search for
Like a section for things that can encounter them, and things they can encounter... as some molds and fungus won't go looking for them, but are still dangerous.
You can split them up further with sub categories or with tags.
Do you have a preference?
the main difference is categories can have a unique symbol, where as tags are something you can search for
I like your style, enrious! Though in my game world, a couple of PC races genuinely have the mechanical ability "Eat Anything", so I fear I am back at square one
That kind of reminds me of a spirited debate I read on the paizo forums about whether a "Purify food and drink" spell would render urine and feces consumable and nutritious, thus allowing the party to avoid buying rations after the first time.
Ew.
What would be spirited about that debate? Sure, it would purify the urine, but you wouldn't get as much out as you put in. Your body uses water in other ways. It doesn't all come out. It help reduce your need to refresh your water skins, but it wouldn't eliminate it.
Feces is a waste product. It's the parts you ate that your body didn't digest. Even if you purified it, the benefits of eating it would, I believe, be dubious. It already passed through once, why would it not pass through again? But even putting that aside, even if there is anything left to digest, you have the same problem you had with urine. You don't get as much out as you put in.
That is indeed one of the positions held, though a secondary one dependant on the primary argument. The main point of contention was whether urine and feces qualified as "food and drink" and thus if they were valid targets for the spell.
I see a new Category type of "Inhabitant" in the latest builds which seems to be intended for plants, animals, and other generic entities -- though perhaps not Hazards, Poisons, Diseases (all Afflictions in Pathfinder). Most other entries ... poisons, drugs, diseases, and curses anyway... are likely to be mechanics articles more than Story/World Categories.
Dr_Automaton
Well-known member
I've lumped these in a Technology category along with topics like Lightsabers, Warp Theory, Flux Capacitors, etc. Potentially another good candidate for the stock categories.
You know, that just might do the trick! It would be less populated in my fantasy setting, but what are mithral and adamantium if not the hand-wavey fantasy version of technology?
Good call.What does your technology category look like? Any need for new tag domains (etc)?
Dr_Automaton
Well-known member
I think I more or less just copied the Inhabitant category and tweaked the section descriptions. There wasn't a perfect match for me in the available icons, but the blue beaker seems to work okay.