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<blockquote data-quote="tglassy" data-source="post: 7603250" data-attributes="member: 6855204">I have no issues with an alien race with multiple genders either.&nbsp; I did want to point out the issues with having such a high birth rate, and the issues of having so many genders.&nbsp; More genders, especially 5, and having all of them needed for the reproductive process is very restricting on the species, which actually could be a contribution to them having such a high birth rate.&nbsp; If they don't &quot;Marry&quot; like humans do, and only all come together when it is time to mate (many creatures only mate when it is time), then reproduction would be fairly rare, and they would need a higher number of births all at once.&nbsp; So if you changed it so their reproductive cycle is more based on when one or more of them are in &quot;heat&quot;, and it is only at certain times, then it might work.&nbsp; Also, you would need to decide how much work it takes to raise the children.&nbsp; With 30 children born at once, 5 parents is not enough to keep them all taken care of if they are like humans.&nbsp; If they are more like other creatures, where they can walk and forage for their own food fairly quickly (horses and such can walk seconds after birth), then it becomes easier.&nbsp; You could also make them naturally not care for their children, like crocodiles or reptiles.&nbsp; They lay the eggs and leave them to their own devices.&nbsp; Not many survive, but some will.&nbsp; Another good reason to have a high number of births at once.&nbsp; The main issue I have is if it really is a family unit, with five parents...I would not want to be those parents.&nbsp; I'd do away with the thought of &quot;Marriage&quot; at all, have them be a society that reproduces based on opportunity, not based on family units.&nbsp; Perhaps two of the genders tend to live together to actively raise the children, while a third gender typicaly lives alone and only comes to the others to reproduce, and the fourth and fifth...I don't know, play the role of aunts and uncles in the children's lives or something.&nbsp; But I don't see a five parent family doing well.&nbsp; I'd also make the children either developed enough to take somewhat care of themselves when born, or so underdeveloped (like marsupials) that taking care of them until they are ready to go out on their own is extremely easy.&nbsp; With that many births, can you imagine five people having to care for 30 babies all at once, every day?&nbsp; It may be doable, but it would be a nightmare.&nbsp; You can also lower the number of children born at once, as well.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="tglassy, post: 7603250, member: 6855204"] I have no issues with an alien race with multiple genders either. I did want to point out the issues with having such a high birth rate, and the issues of having so many genders. More genders, especially 5, and having all of them needed for the reproductive process is very restricting on the species, which actually could be a contribution to them having such a high birth rate. If they don't "Marry" like humans do, and only all come together when it is time to mate (many creatures only mate when it is time), then reproduction would be fairly rare, and they would need a higher number of births all at once. So if you changed it so their reproductive cycle is more based on when one or more of them are in "heat", and it is only at certain times, then it might work. Also, you would need to decide how much work it takes to raise the children. With 30 children born at once, 5 parents is not enough to keep them all taken care of if they are like humans. If they are more like other creatures, where they can walk and forage for their own food fairly quickly (horses and such can walk seconds after birth), then it becomes easier. You could also make them naturally not care for their children, like crocodiles or reptiles. They lay the eggs and leave them to their own devices. Not many survive, but some will. Another good reason to have a high number of births at once. The main issue I have is if it really is a family unit, with five parents...I would not want to be those parents. I'd do away with the thought of "Marriage" at all, have them be a society that reproduces based on opportunity, not based on family units. Perhaps two of the genders tend to live together to actively raise the children, while a third gender typicaly lives alone and only comes to the others to reproduce, and the fourth and fifth...I don't know, play the role of aunts and uncles in the children's lives or something. But I don't see a five parent family doing well. I'd also make the children either developed enough to take somewhat care of themselves when born, or so underdeveloped (like marsupials) that taking care of them until they are ready to go out on their own is extremely easy. With that many births, can you imagine five people having to care for 30 babies all at once, every day? It may be doable, but it would be a nightmare. You can also lower the number of children born at once, as well. [/QUOTE]

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