Strictly NPC non-humanoid species

from Elemental Forums

A) I dislike the generic fantasy, Tolkin-ish races. Elemental has nothing to do with them, and this is good in my opinion.

B.) This is still a fantasy world though, and there's no reson why we won't see non-human intelligent beings.

C) The entities I describe here are *not* factions, but rather elements that factions can interact with.

Now that the introduction is over, let's start with the bestiary!

 

Non-humanoid species #1: The Empire of the Ants!

Imagine an ant hill. Now imagine the hive, the 'whole', as an intelligent being. Also, just for kicks, imagine the ants as being 10 cm in size (or 1m if you wanna go nuts) instead of a few milimeters (non-metric users can go *censured*, because I don't care). What this gives you?

Ant hills the size of towns and cities, sprawled over, under and through hills and mountains. Empires, magnificent and majestic, that develop alongside the other factions.

These 'empires' are not the same kind of factions as the 'normal' kinds. For one, you are considered in conflict with them until you discover a way to communicate with them. Not that they are necessarily bad/evi/aggressive/[enter misconception]. Anyway, those ants can be a very important force in the region they inhabit, and being able to communicate with them could be a valuable tool.

It's hard for me to put my vision into words in English, so I'll leave it as is. Take the concept (huge, sentient ants), and see where you can get with it. Also, please note that I didn't use the word 'Zerg' and I prefer you guys not to as well.

 

Non-humanoid species #2: Elemental Spirits (nothing to do with the game's name)

The spirit of a peaceful spring, the spirit of a raging volcano. The spirit of an ancient forest and the spirit of a blazing desert. These are all real* beings, that can be interacted with. Mainly through summoning, or 'calling' to be exact, a spirit of a certain area/thing can be asked to manifest itself. The manifestation would change according to the nature of the spirit of course, so the forest spirit would be a treant and the mountain spirit will be a rock elemental.

Now, you ask, after we called to it and it came, what shall we do with it? First of all, I suggest you be nice to it, since you don't want to anger the river that pass through your town. Now, maybe you want to ask it to change its course so it would pass next to your town instead, and free some precious building slots? Or maybe ask it to create another stream so that your town won't get flooded at the winter? The possibilities are endless!

I gave a more freeform example, I'm just a bit tired at the moment and can't be arsed to think of a strategic example. This idea was originaly developed for a pen & paper RP system I'm working on, and even though I don't even hope for it to be implemented in Elemental, I thought it might interest some of you.

 

OK, now you try it! Think of a sentient species that can't possibly be a standard faction. Mermen live in water, but use the exat same rules that human do, for example, so they are bad. Dragons, on the other hand, have potential. I'll write about them tommorow if no one else will take the challenge.

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Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I wanna play

 

Non-humanoid specias #3:  The Commune of the Fungi.

After the cataclysm, there were many holes in the ecosystem to be filled.  In one particular remote area of Elemental, the main preditor nitch was filled by a rapidly evolving form of moss.  These multi-ped beings go through several strages of development that always end their life cycle as a self-aware animal like form.  They began to build towns and shape their own evolution, encouraging the spreading of spores by the leading minds of the commune.  

 

As the humans and fallen began to form new civilizations, the Commune of the Fungi had to learn to defend themselves.  They standardized their own language and started schools to better research.  Observing the channelers, they began to seek ways to harness magic.  They cannot rival the channelers in power, but their seers can still shape primitive nature magic.

Depending on the growth (experiance) of a commune fungus, their bodies very slightly. All of them have radial symetry, and usually have an odd number of limbs.  Their faces point upwards when they walk, but have bulbus "eye stalks' they can move to observe the world around them at a distance.  They have no ranged weapons as they cannot observe very far, but their fighters are very strong with the ability to create growths to crush enemies they are able to grab.  The fungi live by obsorbing the nutrients of other beings, so they gain health from those they crush.  On a battle field they will leave dead victoms behind to be recovered for community food, but if they are damaged they may regenerate limbs quickly by taking from those they are killing.  They are a preditory race, so they benifit more from livestalk and hunting animals than they do from farms.  

(I like how the OP brought up zerg.  So in the case of not automatically thinking of the zerg, like I was when I read it, now its permantly implanted in my brain that they are zerg.   Of course the zerg are 2 times rip-offs (they are influenced by tyranids which are influenced by space trooper bugs) so at this point alien swarming bugs are pretty much standard in any sci-fi universe)

(I was first thinking of the ants from Kings Quest V, for the record:  "we're the ants, of the queen AaaNTony, we're coming to heeelp king gram!")

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

(When I described the ants I was thinking of a book called 'Empire of the Ants' by Bernard Werber. I asked not to mention Zergs because i want original ideas (hey, I can hope :P))

 

Hmm... Carnivorus fungi, interesting idea. Think I'll steal it.

 

Non-humanoid species #4: Dragons.

It is a fantasy game, and therefore there will be dragons in it. The most we can hope for is for them to be awesome. Here's a short list of do's and do-not's for the guy in charge of designing them (sorry if I'm sounding arrogant) :

  1. Individuality - Every dragon should be treated as a lesser hero and not as a standard unit. This means he has a name, a short description, and unique abilities.
  2. Streangh - A dragon *can* wipe out an army. A dragon *can* burn down a well defended city. Dragons don't need a supernatural fear ability, they cause fear because they are just that terrible to behold.
  3. Intelligence - Dragons are intelligent. They won't attack an army they suspect of being powerful, and they would retreat when wounded. On the other hand, dragons can be reasoned with. You can try to bribe a dragon, wether be it with gold or magic. Just don't expect it to keep his word for long...
  4. Unique - In my opinion, dragons *should* be treated differently than other creatures.
  5. Visuals/Vocals - I'm not in a position to make demands, but I would still offer my opinion. When the player sees a dragon for the first time, he should be like 'wow, now *that's* a dragon!'. That's the idea, and I'm sure you have someone with the artistic desgining skills to make it happen.
  6. Crazy idea: an option to make a dragon the personal mount of the channeler.
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

The Commune of the Fungi
End of quote

I'm a North Florida native, and the rainy season is fast approaching. This is a *very* scary idea.

Their champion could be Lord Stinkhorn, and then we'd all be in serious trouble--it's just about impossible to concentrate around those things when they fruit. Yech.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting GW, reply 3

Their champion could be Lord Stinkhorn, and then we'd all be in serious trouble--it's just about impossible to concentrate around those things when they fruit. Yech.
End of GW's quote

oh very yes.  Actually I was thinking of a kind of stink horn when I made it.   Like something like this running around and attacking people.  Of course it wouldn't be stuck in the ground, the "limbs" would be able to support and move it.

 

 That and mold, because some mold is very scary.   (There is a type of slime mold that can solve mazes.   Like the mold grows out to cover the entire maze, but then if you drop 2 pieces of food in, the mold re:grows itself to be a line from one source of food to the other.  Its really creepy)

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I'll see your mobile fruiting bodies and raise you one set of mind-controlling spores (ant 'minds,' anyhow).

And I'd love to see a mod-bit for a walking fungi warrior. It's about time the kingdom started getting fey-thing equal time with the plants and animals.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top


Non-humanoid species #1: The Empire of the Ants!

Non-humanoid species #2: Elemental Spirits (nothing to do with the game's name)

End of quote

Look, Listen and Remember!

When mentioning non-humanoid species, you must mention bears, always. Its a rule!

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

He's right!!  SHAME ON US!

 

Non-humonoid species #5   Bears

Over the centeries bears continued to be the dominant preditor on most of their regions.  Eventually they grew to be so awesome, and their compitition so F***ed, that their stats started spilling over into intelegance.  They cannot quite compete on the same level of intelect as humans and fallen, but it doesn't matter... They are F***ING BEARS!

 

Their society is ruled by the biggest and strongest bear.  The Bear's subordinates have a duty to challange and defeat the Alpha bear in mortal combat should they think he is growing weak.  (these bears sound like Klingons) The bears are extremely warrior oriented, but will show mercy to those who except defeat and surrender by curling into balls at their feet.  

The bears are also particularly good smiths.  They quickly learn to hammer steal into terrible weapons and armor.  Every young bear cub is tought to fight with its claws using training claw hooks at a young age.   Of course they respect scholars and elder bears for their wisdom (native american bear lore ftw) but with age, bears continue grow strong.   Older bears who have been defeated by younger generation or stronger peers, usually retire to training the newer cubs in the ways of war.

Thier special unit is super bear cavalry, that is... bears riding bigger bears.  

A quick mock-up I created to support my race.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Please don't feed the Spawn of Space Ponies  ;P

p.s. Good touch re the hint-o-racoon--those little buggers are much closer to having a competitive opposable thumb than the pony-spawn are. (If you were thinking Pandas, I recant entirely--that is just not a warlike species compared to the rest of their ilk.)

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting GW, reply 8
Please don't feed the Spawn of Space Ponies 

p.s. Good touch re the hint-o-racoon--those little buggers are much clore to having a competitive opposable thumb than the pony-spawn are. (If you were thinking Pandas, I recant entirely--that is just not a warlike species compared to the rest of their ilk.)
End of GW's quote

what have you got against space ponies

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

what have you got against space ponies
End of quote

Nothing serious. Mostly that I'd rather see the energy put into more practical stuff or higher-quality silliness.

p.s. For full disclosure, I should admit that I know next to nothing about the Space Pony business b/c I have no interest in RTS. I've just seen peripheral noise from that saga and also seen a few folks connect it to our Elemental-local 'problem' with ursines. Shouldn't let a good opportunity for mockery go to waste, eh?

Reply #11 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting GW, reply 10

what have you got against space ponies
Nothing serious. Mostly that I'd rather see the energy put into more practical stuff or higher-quality silliness.

p.s. For full disclosure, I should admit that I know next to nothing about the Space Pony business b/c I have no interest in RTS. I've just seen peripheral noise from that saga and also seen a few folks connect it to our Elemental-local 'problem' with ursines. Shouldn't let a good opportunity for mockery go to waste, eh?
End of GW's quote

yup

I think we should aim non-Tolkien fantasy creatures

1.Magic Bears

2. mushroom men/fungi

3. super hive-mind winged humanoid insects (like in the Empire Trilogy)

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Szadowsz, reply 11

3. super hive-mind winged humanoid insects (like in the Empire Trilogy)
End of Szadowsz's quote

Please re-read the thread's title...

Also, the bear faction you described are just big humans covered with fur. As in, humanoids.

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

So no one wants truly "alien" creatures? I only read there races based on real animals of this planet or the usual folklore ones. That there are no spaceships (aka this is not sci-fi) doesn't mean that there could not be crystal based lifeforms just to mention one possibility.

My factions have an already extensive background for them and I am waiting to be able to flesh them in this game. But they are humanoids so...

By the way, Tolkien also had dragons.O:)

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Gazing, reply 12

Quoting Szadowsz, reply 11
3. super hive-mind winged humanoid insects (like in the Empire Trilogy)
Please re-read the thread's title...

Also, the bear faction you described are just big humans covered with fur. As in, humanoids.
End of Gazing's quote

I did not  describe any bear faction.

just because it is in the thread title doesn't mean you cannot move beyond it . also they would work better as a humanoid species especially if you could get them as auxilaries because of the way the unit editor is shaping up.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

just because it is in the thread title doesn't mean you cannot move beyond it .
End of quote

Gazing's the OP and was politely asking you to help the thread stay focused. I threadjack regularly, but I always try to respect an OP as an 'owner' if they try some moderator talk.

Reply #16 from Elemental Forums Top

The Cho'ja are an ant-like race. They can speak both their own language and the language of the Tsurani with whom they are allied. A Cho'ja mine present on Tsurani lands can bring about great trade opportunities from the minerals derived by Cho'ja workers, and new Cho'ja queens often negotiate with Tsurani leaders when deciding where to establish a nest. The Cho'ja originally had magical abilities, though the domination of the Cho'ja by Tsurani magicians drove them underground. The Cho'ja can also make silk of great quality. It is possible to ride a Cho'ja as they have nubs on their lower stomach. Before the destruction of Kelewan, the Cho'ja refuse to leave, and are believed destroyed as of Wrath of the Mad God.

The word humanoid was being used refers to the way they stand nothing more

Reply #17 from Elemental Forums Top

@Wintersong: Aliens is actualy a pretty good word for the subject, since it describes things which are completely non-human. On the downside, I really can't think of many alien species which are not humans wearing masks.

@Szadowsz: I didn't mean to snap at you, I just don't see the appeal in bears most the forum goers seem to have.

@Szadowsz second post: This looks familiar... Also, humanoid means 'standing upright on 2 legs; having another set of freely moving appendages; having the primary sensory organs at the top. Bears are very similiar to humans as they are, with the only difference being the way we walk and the opposable thumbs.

Reply #18 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting GW, reply 10
Nothing serious. Mostly that I'd rather see the energy put into more practical stuff or higher-quality silliness.

p.s. For full disclosure, I should admit that I know next to nothing about the Space Pony business b/c I have no interest in RTS. I've just seen peripheral noise from that saga and also seen a few folks connect it to our Elemental-local 'problem' with ursines. Shouldn't let a good opportunity for mockery go to waste, eh?
End of GW's quote
It should be noted that bears have nothing to do with Pink Space Ponies. People only started to compare them far later.

:(

Quoting Gazing, reply 12
Please re-read the thread's title...

Also, the bear faction you described are just big humans covered with fur. As in, humanoids.
End of Gazing's quote
So, we absolutely positively have to move away from anything with two arms, two legs and a head?

Reply #19 from Elemental Forums Top

Well, I have seen some pretty interesting messing with proportions, but yeah, something completely different would be nice.

An example of a non-humanoid humanoid:

Reply #20 from Elemental Forums Top

***Warning Philosophical argument incoming***

I wonder, since everything factional is created by humans is it even possible for fictional entities to have qualities that aren't human in some way, shape, or form? I mean creating a truly alien idea or design is technically impossible because you would have to not think like a human to create such an idea or design. If you expand this a bit further can the human mind think of an alien that isn't humanoid without actually having encountered an alien?

Humanoid to me suggests something that resembles a human in body, mind, or soul. With the latter two being so abstract (and arguable the most important aspects of being human) that it forces me to arrive at the conclusion once again that a human can't create a truly non-humanoid entity with out having first encountered something that is indeed alien. It would be like trying to assign a color to X-ray or ultraviolet radiation when the human eye isn't capable of detecting radiation of those wavelengths. Can you think of a color that you have never seen before and isn't some shade or mix of red, orange, yellow, green, violet, indigo, or blue? It just isn't possible since the human mind can only think in the visible spectrum of radiation. At any rate that is my opinion on the question of humanoid vs non-humanoid. 

***end of philosophical argument***

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Makes sense. But, then again, people create new things all the time: in the Middle Ages, no-one could have ever considered the idea of communism, etc. The moment we create an idea, it becomes human. Beofre then, it was not. Therefore, even if someone comes up with an alien culture completely different from our own, it would still be human because humans made it. My head hurts.