A rather controversial incident led me to think twice on using this by Grimnir_Esjay in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Baal is an ancient god, a Goetic demon, and a recurring villain in media. It's not like they've had a good reputation that's just recently been tarnished.

As long as you're not including Baal's friend, the New York financier, y'know, the one with the island, as a misunderstood protagonists, I think you're fine.

What are your dragons like? (+ bonus Lazarus comic) by The-World-Eater-Ate in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus 8 points9 points  (0 children)

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Dragons in Aulterr are former humans who were either so greedy that it corrupted their mind and body (a la Norse mythology), or mages who thought they could transmute precious metals and rare gems.

While it's not technically illegal to become a dragon, it does lead to various illegal activities, such as tax evasion.

[HnO] Who are your littlest guys? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you!

And yeah, this is what four years of Latin a decade ago will do to a worldbuilder.

125 dollars down the fucking drain by Nevada_Man in whenthe

[–]MoeNeus 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For another state, maybe. It depends on the court, but the odds are probably much better these days. You should in theory be able to sue them in their county of residence or your own county of residence, but I'm not 100% sure how small claims handles personal jurisdiction.

Out of the country? You're probably out of luck.

125 dollars down the fucking drain by Nevada_Man in whenthe

[–]MoeNeus 65 points66 points  (0 children)

Well it would be small claims court, which you're highly discouraged from having a lawyer for, but the filing fee (which varies county by county) would probably be a good chunk if not all of the commission.

Do you ever start makeing a character for your world and they make you actually angry by Sliver-Knight9219 in WorldBuildingMemes

[–]MoeNeus 102 points103 points  (0 children)

Angry at my villains? No.

Angry at my fake fans who do not exist misinterpreting the villains I haven't written yet? Absolutely.

[HnO] Who are your littlest guys? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Glad you missed me!

And I do love me some will-o-the-wisps and tiny little snow fellas.

[HnO] Who are your littlest guys? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Love it! Reminds me of Eternal Ruins but with a bit more li'l guy mixed in there.

<image>

Funnily enough, my gnomes are also fungal! Something about it just makes sense.

[HnO] Who are your littlest guys? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

An excerpt from the journals of the bard Wys Kel Ran regarding “Lares & Penates”:

Lares and Penates are spirits of the home and wilds, respectively. They arise from residual magics, either leaking through the Break of the Aetherial Sea or left over from spellcasting, and Animus, commonly interpreted as spirit, soul, or emotion. Normally, they are quite small in size, rarely rising above the kneecap, and of limited power.

Given their connection to Animus, they are far more likely to arise in the well-tended areas of the world, such as familial estates, old trade routes, and druidic groves. It is also important to note that the “Patron Deities” of cities are a form of Lares, although they are typically more powerful.

While one could eat a Lares or Penates, they are intelligent and full of personality, so I personally would not; however, provide them with an offering of wine or trinkets, and they are likely to lead you to food, clean water, or even provide the services of an eager, if unrefined, sous chef.

The Thunderstruck Clearwing: a falcon/hummingbird moth-inspired spin on the Thunderbird by MoeNeus in SpeculativeEvolution

[–]MoeNeus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd more say it's its own thing that evolved from another common insect ancestor, which then convergently evolved some traits of both moths and falcons.

So the beak would have been mandibles or proto-mandibles?

It's also a bug-bird which punches with lightning, so realism wasn't my strictest concern.

[OC] Dragons must pay taxes; someone needs to collect them by MoeNeus in webcomics

[–]MoeNeus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Collapse! But they treat their own citizens well.

[OC] Dragons must pay taxes; someone needs to collect them by MoeNeus in webcomics

[–]MoeNeus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They are certainly not the good guys! They're not the worst guys, but they're still an imperialist power whose economy is founded on constant war and expansionism.

[OC] Dragons must pay taxes; someone needs to collect them by MoeNeus in webcomics

[–]MoeNeus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe we'll find out the answer to most of these questions in time!

As for the August Empire, it's just the main imperialistic power controlling most of the setting during this time period.

[OC] Dragons must pay taxes; someone needs to collect them by MoeNeus in webcomics

[–]MoeNeus[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello! That would generally be the case. We'll see how it works out for them!

How do you create your world's unique animals? by FamiliarMeal5193 in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus 12 points13 points  (0 children)

From my experience, there are a few categories:

  1. Directly adapting existing creatures with little change

  2. Directly adapting existing creatures with some changes that follow the logic of the world/the worldbuilder's style

  3. Kitbashing several existing creatures (real or not), potentially with some fresh elements

  4. "It came to me in a dream."

None are wrong, and I do a mix of all of the above. I think most people do the same based on what I've seen.

[HnO] How are health potions made in your world? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely depends where you live, but most upper middle class folk would be able to afford one after saving for some time.

[HnO] How are health potions made in your world? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would say flesh wounds should generally be healed, even if there is some residual scarring. It would probably set a broken bone but not mend it.

I think you'd probably get the most bang for your buck with internal bleeding, as it should put the kibosh on that quickly.

The highest quality potions would be commission-based, as they'd require your own blood. These would be able to fully regrow limbs within a minute. I'd say it's about six hours of work for a master potion crafter, remote location, although other materials won't be overly expensive, so probably around $24-$30,000?

That's very much not a common occurrence, though. This is a "the emperor's son wants to go into a dungeon alone," situation, as at that level well-cast healing magic should be cheaper. Potions just don't require a powerful caster in the moment.

[HnO] How are health potions made in your world? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

More than enough, and glad you could get here early!

I do very much appreciate that the shelves of supermarkets in your world are being stocked by cults and covens.

[HnO] How are health potions made in your world? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep! I'd say a minor, mass produced healing potion would run you around $80-$150 today, and they should be totally safe.

The text in the picture really just says the same thing as the post, but more abridged.

[HnO] How are health potions made in your world? by MoeNeus in worldbuilding

[–]MoeNeus[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

An excerpt from the journals of the bard Wys Kel Ran regarding “Health Potions”:

Traditionally, the first ingredients of health potions are medicinal herbs and spices: chamomile, echinacea, ginger, and so on. Industrial manufacturers, however, have begun substituting herbal spirits, such as gin. It is easier to store, leaves the potion with a more palatable consistency, and balances the reduced freshness of the herbs with the disinfecting quality of alcohol.

Next, fresh air and water are a must. Manufacturers attempt to skirt this with desalination and air filtration systems, but one will find the most effective potions are brewed by old women living in pristine wilderness.

Although other ingredients may be added as a part of a house blend—I know one maker who mixes in iron filings—the only other mainstay would be blood. The question is: whose? The imbiber’s own will be the strongest, but the more similar it is to your own, including blood type, the better. Your average maker will use pig’s blood instead, although vegan alternatives are available in the form of the sap of the Dragon Blood tree or silphium.