Anyone know of a setting that. . .

[Aus_Snow]

contains no humans or 'humanoids' at all?

What is it and where can it be found?

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

I've never heard of a setting like this. And frankly, while it might be an interesting intellectual exercise, actually gaming in a setting like this would probably be too much effort. You need some sort of reference point to grasp a setting, and that's usually humans or at least humanoids...

 

[diaglo]

i can't remember the name of it. but there was a Sim board game like this.

you start as an sludge of chemicals and form into a lifeform.

it was rated for school kids. i may have been pulled off the shelves due to the material of evolution it represents.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I've never heard of a setting like this. And frankly, while it might be an interesting intellectual exercise, actually gaming in a setting like this would probably be too much effort. You need some sort of reference point to grasp a setting, and that's usually humans or at least humanoids...

Hm. That's an interesting perspective, and one I imagine many will agree with. . . but to be coimpletely honest with you, I don't quite understand why it need be true. I'm open to the idea, but as it stands, I'm not in agreement.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Hm. That's an interesting perspective, and one I imagine many will agree with. . . but to be coimpletely honest with you, I don't quite understand why it need be true. I'm open to the idea, but as it stands, I'm not in agreement.

Well, if you have only completely nonhuman PCs, there are either two possibilities:

- All sapient beings have thought processes that are exceedingly alien to humans, and thus, the players need to spend a lot of time "getting into character". They need to have a good grasp on G'nek psychology and psychology to properly portray the emotion of glak'arah, for example. Of course, many SF (and many fantasy) games allow for rather alien PCs, but in most of these it is still possible to compare them to humans, or at least to beings who are rather similar to humans, for it is in this comparison in which you will find suspense, mystery, and even humans in your adventures. But without having humans around to empathize how alien these beings are, you loose all points of reference.

- All sapient races, no matter how bizarre they look, basically think like humans, no mater how strange they look. This can work well in humoristic campaigns, but outside of those I think it rather looses the point of having alien species around...

 

[Aus_Snow]

Yes, I see what you mean.

Still, of the two options, the former appeals to me quite a lot, and sums up the kind of experience I'd be hoping for. Tricky to start with, maybe time-consuming too, and probably laden with difficulties along the way. But intriguing and rewarding? Quite possibly, I think.

 

[The_Gneech]

"Bunnies and Burrows," mebbe?

-TG

 

[MrFilthyIke]

TECHNICALLY the setting Talislanta had no humans, though there were a few human-looking races. If you want strange and exotic, its the place to be.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

"Bunnies and Burrows," mebbe?

It still has humans, only as cthonic monsters...

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

TECHNICALLY the setting Talislanta had no humans, though there were a few human-looking races. If you want strange and exotic, its the place to be.

Well, since the Original Poster also mentioned "no humanoids", Talislanta is disqualified...