In many fantasy RPGs, the defeat of a monster often marks the end of an encounter. Yet, for thousands of years, real-world cultures have demonstrated a profound understanding that every part of an animal serves a purpose. What if understanding monster biology meant more than just bags of XP?
The Buffalo Blueprint
The relationship between Native American tribes and the buffalo was a cornerstone of their survival. Far from simply hunting for meat, virtually every component of the buffalo was transformed into tools, sustenance, clothing, and shelter. The hide was arguably the most versatile part, processed into robes, teepee covers, shield facings, and even waterproof containers. The meat provided essential protein, often dried into jerky for preservation or mixed with fat and berries to create pemmican for long journeys. Beyond the obvious use as weapons, the bones were carved into tools like awls, knives, hoes, and even elaborate ceremonial objects. Horns became drinking cups, spoons, powder flasks, or decorative elements. The sinews (tendons) were dried and used as incredibly strong thread for sewing, bowstrings, or binding. The stomach and bladder were cleaned and used as cooking vessels or water carriers. Even the brains could be used in the tanning process to soften hides, while the dung (buffalo chips) provided fuel for fires on the treeless plains. In short, nothing went to waste, a far cry from the moldering corpses adventurers often leave behind.The Anatomy of Adventure
Applying the "buffalo blueprint" to D&D creatures transforms every defeated monster into a treasure trove of potential resources. A defeated creature in a D&D campaign can become a source of adventuring gear. With the application of the right artisan's tools, PCs can make craft quite a bit.- Alchemist's Supplies: The often-overlooked hooves and dew claws, when boiled down, yield a strong, basic Adhesive useful for minor repairs to gear with alchemist's supplies. The gall might be processed into a basic yellow pigment for simple paints. The fat or tallow can be rendered down to produce Candles for illumination, basic Soap for hygiene, or a general Cooking Oil for use with a set of Cook's Utensils. Even dried dung (chips) from herbivorous creatures provides a ready Fuel source for campfires in treeless environments.
- Chef's Tools: The meat of a creature, from its various cuts to its edible organs like the heart or tongue, serves as a primary source of protein for survival. This can be processed with chef's tools into standard Rations or Iron Rations for long journeys, eaten fresh for immediate sustenance, or dried into jerky or pemmican for extended preservation.
- Leatherworker's Tools: Properly scraped and treated with leatherworker's tools, a creature's hide can become the core component for crafting a set of Leather Armor or Studded Leather Armor. Thicker sections might be used to create a Shield (often with a wooden frame), while smaller pieces could be fashioned into Moccasins (acting as Boots), a practical Backpack, or even a basic Quiver for arrows. A creature's cleaned and dried bladder or stomach can be repurposed as versatile Waterskins, small Pouches, or even larger Satchels.
- Weaver's Tools: Tough tendons and muscles (sinew), once dried, become incredibly strong Cordage that can be used with weaver's tools to function as basic Rope (Hemp), or can be used as Bowstrings for composite bows, and even Thread for mending. The hair and fur can be spun into simple Blankets for warmth, or used as Stuffing for Pillows or padding armor.
- Woodcarver's Tools: From the more rigid parts, adventurers can craft essential tools and rudimentary weapons. The bones of a creature, varying in size and density, can be sharpened with woodcarver's tools into simple Daggers, fashioned into a Club, or pointed for use as a Spear or Javelin. Smaller bones can be carved into Needles and Awls for repairs, or even used as Bone Dice for games of chance. The formidable horns can be cleaned and polished to serve as Drinking Horns, used for making calls as a Hunting Horn, or even converted into a Powder Horn for those utilizing firearms.
Cultivating the Hunter-Gatherer Mindset
Encouraging players to harvest monster parts fosters a "hunter-gatherer" mindset that means they live off what they hunt. It promotes resource management, as players must decide what to carry, how to preserve it, and where to find skilled crafters who can transform raw materials into valuable items. It also encourages exploration of creature lore, as knowing a monster's weaknesses or unique biological features can directly inform how best to harvest its valuable components.Best of all, harvesting a creature's biology places it in the world itself. Knowing a manticore's spikes can be used to festoon clubs might make local tribes stalk the manticore -- not to kill it, but as a renewable resource for their own weapons. Squeezing the poison out of a carrion crawler, cutting out the eyes of an otyugh, or using the secretions of a froghemoth can all yield valuable treasure of a different sort. Once you know how people use a creature's corpse, it transforms from a monster to a living, breathing denizen anchored in a fantasy environment. Trying this thought experiment even with a simple monster ("stirge blood bladders make excellent waterskins") can make a big impact on your game world.
