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Race Class Combos, Design, Roleplaying and the fear of the new
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<blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 7252970" data-attributes="member: 29398"><p>Note that my comments below are referring to truly alien species - Elves and Dwarves etc., while different to us, aren't as 'alien' as all that.</p><p>Up to this point I think you're pretty much spot on the mark as regards any species. However...</p><p></p><p>This assumes - rightly or wrongly - that the species is by nature competitive rather than co-operative. Here on Earth even those species that are within themselves co-operative (e.g. ants) still compete with other species for territory, resources, etc.; but who's to say that in an alien environment co-operation doesn't extend much further?</p><p></p><p>This one's on even shakier ground. An alien species might for whatever reason never have thought of the concept of spirituality or soul or much metaphysical stuff at all - particularly if said species is steeped in magic which can in effect be used to explain pretty much anything. Another approach may be that a species simply thinks of itself as there to be worshipped by others.</p><p></p><p>Quite likely, yes, but not guaranteed. The creation of what we know as civilization is simply an exercise in co-operative means of helping further each other's existence - a rising tide lifts all boats. Creation of culture, on the other hand, assumes regular and repeated social interaction within the species, and that's not a given at all particularly if the species is very limited in number and widely scattered.</p><p></p><p>Well, Illithids are medium-sized humanoid-built creatures...doesn't mean anything else about them is remotely close to anything we can understand...</p><p></p><p>You missed one other underpinning that in some form will in theory apply to every species in existence with a finite lifespan: the need to somehow reproduce. Even species that self-replicate still need the opportunity to do so; and species that require interaction with another (or more than one other) of the species in order to reproduce (e.g. all mammals) also need to do this as well.</p><p></p><p>Which means, when beaten down, the only true common underpinnings to all lifeforms are the twin needs for nourishment/sustenance and reproduction, in whatever forms those may take.</p><p></p><p>Lan-"only human on the outside"-efan</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lanefan, post: 7252970, member: 29398"] Note that my comments below are referring to truly alien species - Elves and Dwarves etc., while different to us, aren't as 'alien' as all that. Up to this point I think you're pretty much spot on the mark as regards any species. However... This assumes - rightly or wrongly - that the species is by nature competitive rather than co-operative. Here on Earth even those species that are within themselves co-operative (e.g. ants) still compete with other species for territory, resources, etc.; but who's to say that in an alien environment co-operation doesn't extend much further? This one's on even shakier ground. An alien species might for whatever reason never have thought of the concept of spirituality or soul or much metaphysical stuff at all - particularly if said species is steeped in magic which can in effect be used to explain pretty much anything. Another approach may be that a species simply thinks of itself as there to be worshipped by others. Quite likely, yes, but not guaranteed. The creation of what we know as civilization is simply an exercise in co-operative means of helping further each other's existence - a rising tide lifts all boats. Creation of culture, on the other hand, assumes regular and repeated social interaction within the species, and that's not a given at all particularly if the species is very limited in number and widely scattered. Well, Illithids are medium-sized humanoid-built creatures...doesn't mean anything else about them is remotely close to anything we can understand... You missed one other underpinning that in some form will in theory apply to every species in existence with a finite lifespan: the need to somehow reproduce. Even species that self-replicate still need the opportunity to do so; and species that require interaction with another (or more than one other) of the species in order to reproduce (e.g. all mammals) also need to do this as well. Which means, when beaten down, the only true common underpinnings to all lifeforms are the twin needs for nourishment/sustenance and reproduction, in whatever forms those may take. Lan-"only human on the outside"-efan [/QUOTE]
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