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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 6758008" data-attributes="member: 19675">I'm thinking in more general terms; of how the ability to task specialize requires cooperation.  Without task specialization, a society can only progress so far.  Farmers, smiths, masons, craftsmen, and most roles in society are interdependent with each other.  And you REALLY don't get philosophers, scientists, and the like without a vast number laborers in the same society.  The time it takes to master deep calculations takes away from being self-sustaining.Even assuming the species can "sun" there is still the task of obtaining trace minerals and water, as well as the martial tasks of policing and soldiery.  Possibly even hunting.  (Not necessarily for food, but for trade and protection- there ARE big, dangerous herbivores out there, after all.)Highland New Guinean tribes use penis gourds as clothing.  It isn't about protection, it is all about politeness, status and tribal identity.  And in some cases, about carrying goods hands-free.Certainly!  Everything physical in their culture depends at least in part on the details of their anatomy.They could still suffer from exposure, though, especially those who travel.  Too cold, too dry, too hot, too wet, etc.- all extremes have detrimental effects on flora as well as fauna.Also woodpeckers, boring insects, plant blights, and so forth.  Fire?Really?  Really?I'm suggesting "advanced beings" in the sense of being sentient.  All that other stuff about being mobile year round, having no forced hibernation periods, having language, mathematics, science, etc. is just gravy.Hibernation/retreat just makes their communities more vulnerable the more mainstream sentient societies that are fully mobile year round and scrapping for resources.Above ground AND in the Underdark.Think of their environment, not just them.If they are not at least as active as animal species during autumn & winter, they're at a competitive disadvantage.Growing a structure arguably requires greater skill and agricultural sophistication than our methods.If nothing else, your structures would be competing for the same resources as members of your society.  That means some sophisticated irrigation and civic planning.But without straw, wood or coal, you're very limited in what you can craft.  Forget bricks, for one.  And almost any kind of metalworking.Cisterns & silos let you plan for the future and tide you over during  hard times.Bridges give you access to resources, trade partners, and routes of travel/escape.And I find it hard to imagine that plant people would prefer being exposed as opposed to having shelters against droughts or storms.  Why have your leaves whither in the hot sun or be tossed like an oak by a mighty wind when the humanoids around you show you it doesn't have to be like that?</blockquote>

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