Raven Crowking's Nest

Raven Crowking · May 29, 2011

Removed

Dannyalcatraz · May 29, 2011

If the wolves are doing what the sparrows are doing, though...

"M'Lord- do mine eyes deceive me, or are yon wolves carrying coconuts westward?"

"Nay, good squire, thine eyes deceive you not- 'tis merely that Marley the Grower of Coconuts could not afford the costs of air freight, so he delivereth his goods overland by Yeoman Brown's Wolf Express. Its slower, but by God's eyes, its safe! THAT is what Brown can do for you!"

Scott DeWar · May 30, 2011

Need to spread the apple butter on the toast before ordering more eggs for Danny Alcatraz.

DragonLancer · May 30, 2011

JustKim said:
I'm a biologist and my players have historically asked me to please stop describing flocks of birds and get to the dragons. Over the years I've come around to oblige, despite my deeply-felt need to wax prosaic about migratory patterns. There is an elusive wisdom in the truism that boring stuff is boring.

I can agree with this. Many years ago a friend of mine ran a few D&D 2nd edition session and it was more like playing Discovery Channel the RPG. After a certain point with descriptions of rock layers, bat guano and types of grasses we had to ask him to cut it down a bit.

Dannyalcatraz · May 30, 2011

Welcome to Mutual of Øerth's Wild Kingdom!

On today's episode, we'll be visiting the Great Jungle to see a magnificent flocks of Anthropomorpic McCaws to listen to their poetry... Later, we'll witness the majesty and horror of the Fall migration of the Striped Equicephs when they must cross the Mirelands, facing the fierce tribe of Blackscale Lizardmen...

Finally, we'll frolic alongside Dire Puffins as they dive for food in the icy Southern Sea...

Dausuul · May 30, 2011

Love the article, and totally agree. (And the hardgrapple biteybears made me burst out laughing.)

DragonLancer said:
I can agree with this. Many years ago a friend of mine ran a few D&D 2nd edition session and it was more like playing Discovery Channel the RPG. After a certain point with descriptions of rock layers, bat guano and types of grasses we had to ask him to cut it down a bit.

Well, obviously there is a balance to be struck. Wildlife, landscape, and culture can do a lot to add depth to a world; they are nevertheless background, not the main event, and the DM must keep that in mind.

Raven Crowking · May 30, 2011

Removed

enworldatemylogin · May 31, 2011

Dausuul said:
Love the article, and totally agree. (And the hardgrapple biteybears made me burst out laughing.)

Quick! Someone stat up the hardgrapple biteybears!

BriarMonkey · May 31, 2011

Dausuul said:
.... (And the hardgrapple biteybears made me burst out laughing.) ...

Ditto.

I agree that the flora and fauna can give a feel of the lands one travels through, and that they should definitely be used to convey a sense of such. The noting of occasional goings on is a good thing, as is the basic description of the terrain - of what ever form it is.

The impact of their descriptive use I think really depends on the party though. If the characters are involved at such a level that they want to know where the oak grows for their furniture making business, or where to trap the fur bearing critters for their hat business, then it takes on a lot more importance. For those that only care about making their survival check as they pass through because they didn't stock up on traveling rations, it matters little to them.

Weather is another huge element that seems to be overlooked too. And tying into weather, calendars. But then, like so much else, if the DM and party don't care, it's of little use. But for those that do care, it can shape the campaign timeline, and even the events within them. In my last campaign, the party spent their careers far north. When winter came, it was cold and harsh - lots of snow and freezing temps. Effectively, any wars or trade halted during the winter months due to the inability to move freely (or at all in some cases). Even the PCs planned their adventuring season such that they would be "home" for the winter. The "world" didn't start moving again until spring when everything started to thaw.

Adding in a mix of critters and weather and all the bits that tie in, and you can have a very active and immersive world - and the DM doesn't even have to be terribly in depth about it. A note at the begining of the session, or during changes, and that's normally enough. (Unless of course environmental Fortitude checks need to be made.) More detail can always be added as the players ask.

Anway, just my two shekels. (Yeah, sorry. Got kinda rambly there...)