Outsider Ecology

[nameless]

With the release of Savage Species, a lot of outsiders other extraplanar/supernatural creatures will probably get a lot more scrutiny; PCs obviously need a great deal more detail than most NPCs.

So what ecological considerations should be made for various outsiders and elementals. Do they eat? If so, what do they eat? Do they sleep? If so how, and for how long? How old do they get, or are they effectively immortal? For my money, I say that most outsiders and elementals don't need to eat, and sleep is greatly reduced, maybe once a week if at all.

These questions likely change depending on the type of outsider. From 2E Planescape, you have Faces of Evil and Warriors of Heaven describing the celestials and fiends, but it's slightly vague, and does nothing for covering the various elementals, geniefolk, and oddballs like Modrons and Mephits.

Besides the purely physical stuff, alignment can be an issue. Many outsiders have alignment subtypes, which indicates a real link to the forces of that alignment. They are obviously intelligent and have free will, but how far does that free will extend? A djinn, for instance is [Chaotic] and [Good]. He might try to serve Good by doing certain acts, but is he supernaturally constrained from serving evil on accident? This is a big can of worms, so I think I'll narrow the field to those worlds that use the default Greyhawk type cosmology. Different gods would be okay, but keep the basic metaphysical rules the same.

Whaddya guys think?

 

[dave_o]

And what about half-elementals, Celestial, and Fiendish creatures?

I, for one, as curious, as I'm playing a Human/Air Elemental in a campaign.

How much of the Outsider ecology remains through breeding?

This is way interesting.

 

[s/LaSH]

I have no 'official' answers, but I do have one suggestion.

Outsiders are metaphysical forces manifest as entities, really. They feed on whatever is closest to their 'purpose'. Take Tinkerbell as a (rather odd) example. If Pan is to be believed, fairies 'feed' on belief. I'd suppose fiends would feed on various aspects of evil, celestials would gain sustenance from people doing good, slaadi would just enjoy complex situations that could go in any direction. Elementals (and genies) would require their element for sustenance, which is very easy even on the Prime because the elements are so prevalent (and fire elementals can always set fire to something). Modrons, formians and weird creatures like that probably gain sustenance from order around them, thus making it almost necessary to enslave the Multiverse just to get enough 'food'.

Basically, their agendas dictate their appetites.

Sleep? I'm less clear on that. Genies probably sleep; elementals don't, in my opinion. I'd surmise that, the more humanoid the outsider, the greater their humanoid frailties.

 

[Privateer]

Elementals (and genies) would require their element for sustenance, which is very easy even on the Prime because the elements are so prevalent (and fire elementals can always set fire to something).

First, let me just say I love this idea; it makes sense, and it makes the outsiders suitably fantastic. Second, let me say I love the visual of a Efreet sitting up from the party's camp going, "Mmm, that was the best bonfire I've had in months. Just like mother used to burn."

If I said "cool visual," would people lynch me?

 

[Tonguez]

Undead are healed by Negative energy and harmed by positive enrgy thus indicating the 'sustaining' ability of certain planar energies.

Anyway like s/Lash I take it that most Outsiders are sentient manifestations of the very 'Essence' of their TYPE - Good Outiders are manifestations of the very essence of the 'Heavens' (Positive Energy) whereas Fire elementals are manifestations of the very 'Essence of Fire'. As long as the Essential material (and a link to such) exists the creature is sustained.

I would however make a distinction between Essential Beings and Inhabitants of the Planes (eg I'd consider a Formion to be an Inhabitant of 'Order' not an Essential Manifestation of it)

Now as to Outsiders straying from their nature I'd personally make this a function of how long they have been 'outside' (ie Manifest in the Prime Realm) eg a Djinn who has not been on its home plane for 5000 years (eg because its stuck in a sealed bottle) could easily have developed an independent personality and be an evil sod who likes to guzzle beer and donuts and sleep for 19 hours a day.

Same goes for half-outsiders/elementals. They are not bound to the Outsider plane and thus not subject to its restrictions (although it may be drawn to them) thus IMC anyway a Half-Celestial can be evil

 

[dave_o]

So, if Elementals don't sleep. Does a Half-Elemental? Do they sleep less?

What about physical sustenence? Would they need to eat?

 

[Tonguez]

So, if Elementals don't sleep. Does a Half-Elemental? Do they sleep less?

What about physical sustenence? Would they need to eat?

If I were Dm I'd rule that a Half-Elemental does need sleep and does need to eat for the same reason I gave re no alignment restriction viz

Same goes for half-outsiders/elementals. They are not bound to the Outsider plane and thus not subject to its restrictions

or in this case its benefits

Now I would allow Half-Elemental to use a Feat which allowed it to 'Draw on the Elemental Planes' for healing (in the manner that Undead are healed by negative energy) eg I once had a character (not DnD) who was the son of 'Green Man'. He gained the ability to drain life from plants in order to heal himself (ie the plants would wither at his touch and he would heal)

 

[s/LaSH]

Anyway like s/Lash I take it that most Outsiders are sentient manifestations of the very 'Essence' of their TYPE - Good Outiders are manifestations of the very essence of the 'Heavens' (Positive Energy) whereas Fire elementals are manifestations of the very 'Essence of Fire'. As long as the Essential material (and a link to such) exists the creature is sustained.

I would however make a distinction between Essential Beings and Inhabitants of the Planes (eg I'd consider a Formion to be an Inhabitant of 'Order' not an Essential Manifestation of it)

Good point. So Essentials would be the ones who needed to promote their planar agenda simply to survive, while Inhabitants are more like Prime Material creatures altered by constant exposure to planar energies? I like that. By that definition, I suspect, genies aren't Essentials, they're simply powerful Inhabitants, thus can enjoy the finer things in life. (This makes Iron Bottles an interesting item, because they can hold Inhabitants without sustenance for centuries.)

By that definition, too, I suspect sleep is only necessary for Inhabitants. Essentials can be Slept magically, or even beaten unconscious, but other than that they're kinda like golems except far, far more sophisticated - always going about their Purpose.

 

[LuYangShih]

If you're going to define Outsiders this way, what do you do about Fallen Celestials and Risen Fiends? They are no longer furthering their "purpose", and in fact, are often doing the exact opposite.

 

[megamania]

Savage Species is AWESOME!!!!! In my mind, it has gotten me the most excited to play D&D since the Manual of Planes came out. I do think some Ecology articals should be made detailing further the racies expanded there.