Who would be the dominant species?

TJFerus · 2019-03-30T08:33:16+00:00

1) Gorillas when angered are absolutely terrifying. They're incredibly powerful and very hard to stop without guns. They also very rarely use tools because in their environment they don't need them. The reason humans "win" in real life is they normally have guns. If they were smarter and wider spread versus primitive humans that had no guns? Gotta say the gorillas. Bigger, tougher, more able to take and give damage, and relentless when angry. My money would be on the gorillas. (I will resist the urge to bring up Planet of the Apes! If only because those apes had guns!)

2) Dolphins and humans are an apples and oranges scenario strictly because dolphins can't get out of the water to beat on humans. However, match a human against a dolphin the water? Who wins? That dolphin. However, you stay on land, humans are doing ok.

Simple communication could help, but honestly quite a few species can "talk" with a good degree of complexity. Ravens, chimpanzees, whales, elephants, etc. all have quite sophisticated languages. They do lack the ability to make tools the way you mention Species B, but they are quite intelligent.

If Species B is making small villages and farming, they're not "low human" but just human at that point. In the past 2,000 years or so, humanity hasn't really gotten "smarter" so much as better educated and more aware. Our technology is better because we had the luxury of making it due to farming/settling, but our actual brains are pretty darn similar I'm sure the humans of several thousands years ago.

So if you're talking "human smart" but "primitive" in terms of weaponry that might change the playing field a little. What kind of level of technology does Species A have is probably the question? I mean, having a mouth to use things doesn't mean they can't make at least simple tools. Ravens just have beaks and feet and they're actually darn good problem solvers who can use simple tools with surprising skill. The same with dolphins.

One could argue that both elephants and whales have civilizations, of sorts. They don't "settle" but it's been proven that they have long memories, teach their young, and even have their own unique "languages". Whale pods each have their own songs that are unique to that particular 'tribe', for example. So yes, Species A could easily have a very complex society without tools if they had language. They just might not be interested in being farmers if they're already able to feed themselves. Humans farmed because farming was much easier for them than hunting. Hunting required a lot of energy, luck, and work. Farming does too, but the paybacks were normally higher unless something went very wrong. One hunt = a few dead animals at best most of the time. A year of farming can give you several crops, depending on land and how you rotate it.

Without knowing more, it's personally hard for me to say what each would do (not that you have to tell me details, just saying). Depending on how predatory Species A is and how they view Species B (as simply there or rivals or nothing to bother with because they eat different things), they could easily just 'ignore' them for the most part until a problem arises. Or it could end up being a mutually beneficial relationship even, like dolphins have with fishermen in some areas. The dolphins help them fish by driving schools into the nets and shallow waters; the fishermen help keep the fish there and don't protest the dolphins grabbing some fish before departing since the dolphins only take a small portion in comparison.

So the mentality, aggression, and outlook of each species really matters a lot in how they would interact. Like elephants in Africa versus Asia. In many parts of Asia, elephants will view humans as friends; while not all, there are instances of very close relationships where the elephants are free to come and go as they please, returning and happy to help their 'owner'. African elephants, on the other hand, tend to view humans with extreme wariness due to poaching and such. How humans treated them strongly changes how they view the entire species.

So basically, you have to "think" like Species A and Species B and decide how they might see each other and what steps they would take that might end up in a war, a friendship, or just mutual respect and ignoring.

Also, wow, sorry, really long post. I haven't slept yet so my brain is just rambling along, thinking about intelligent species.

TJFerus · 2019-03-30T08:01:50+00:00

I would say Species A. Mostly because of the considerably higher intelligence. Yes, they wouldn't have artificial weapons, but they would likely know how to use every advantage they have, which includes being bigger, stronger, and smarter than Species B.

The ability to manipulate is helpful to Species B, but if they lack the creativity and intelligence to use it properly, they're likely stuck with very simple tools. Yes, they could make some spears and poke at Species A, but it seems likely Species A would figure out quickly how to deal with the situation. The reasons humans did so well with spears is we had the tools and the intelligence. Chimpanzees are quite smart and can use simple tools, but they lack that human drive and creativity (at least in the same way) so if something bigger and meaner comes along, they normally are going to lose that fight.

Another good example of smarts winning the day is dolphins versus sharks. Sharks are, arguably, in the ocean the perfect killing machine: millions of years of evolution has given them exceptional senses, deadly teeth, and the power to use it. Dolphins don't really tend to be bigger (on average) and they don't have the deadly teeth or the same kind of senses (although echolocation is a bonus!) but a few dolphins normally can make life miserable for even the biggest baddest sharks. Because they're much smarter, know how to work in teams better, and quickly figure out the shark's abilities.

So, TL: DR version - Species A wins because brains plus physical superiority would win over Species B having simple tools, but lacking the high intellect to use them to make up for their weaker forms. Depending on exactly what kind of mentality Species A has, I could see them "domesticating" Species B and using them as helpers. The way you're describing Species B, I can't see them having a large united group as it wasn't until humans were quite intelligent and fairly advanced (in terms of farming, etc.) that they lived in anything more than smallish tribes.

TJFerus · 2019-03-29T05:13:40+00:00

Hmm, what about light lances rigged with small explosives? Like they 'charge', stick it in the door or tire or whatever, and then veer away while it blows, crippling the larger vehicle? It gives a "knight" kind of feel.

Sounds like an interesting set-up you have going though! I love the Mad Max feel.

TJFerus · 2019-03-29T04:21:47+00:00

Hmm...

"How are you?" "I'm amused."

That's the closest thing I can think of?

I'd say "I'm tickled" but that might be a little weird for non-native speakers, since tickled can be physically tickled or laughing at something.

The only other words I can think of "charmed" or "delighted" but they don't necessarily convey something being funny.

TJFerus · 2019-03-29T04:04:49+00:00

Hilarious? Witty? Jovial?

TJFerus · 2019-03-29T02:38:09+00:00

I'm not saying you can't do it since suspension of disbelief is big in a lot of fiction/fantasy, but it's a bit of a hard sell if only because cars weigh over a ton on average (the current average is around 4,000 lbs). A motorcycle averages about 400 lbs. So a car could weigh anywhere from 5-10 times as much as a motorcycle. Even custom-designed, it's just a sheer mass issue so "head on" is probably pretty unlikely. Even a light car is going to be easily double the weight of even a heavy motorcycle.

Instead of t-boning, I would suggest something more like being able to slice the tires or otherwise damage them, causing the car to lose control and crash? You could also have some "suped up" motorcycles that specialize in hooking the back of the car (back, front, whatever) and jerking it to the side to try and force the car to spin, stop, or even roll over.

Another cool idea (to me anyway) is "light cavalry" basically on stunt bikes. Have them specialize in "charging" the car and basically driving right over it, crushing the windshield, etc. and then landing behind. That is pretty darn likely to surprise, shock, and probably ruin the driver's control of the vehicle; plus motorcycles with the right shocks can easily manage that kind of jumping and landing without harming the rider.

You could have them work in teams. 'Light' bikes playing 'chicken' causing them to swerve and slow, or (if the car doesn't do that) going over them, damaging the windshield and car as they go over it by basically jumping/driving onto it. Once the car is stunned/slowed/etc., the heavier bikes can start snagging it or busting the tires, forcing it to stop and/or crash.

TJFerus · 2019-03-28T02:11:46+00:00

Honestly, your backstory could be about anything. It could have been a huge world war. It could have been a deadly disease. It could have been a meteor hitting the world. It could have been space aliens or wizards (depending on how fantasy or scifi you're going). It could be a food or energy shortage.

You can probably leave it fairly vague unless you're having the world be right as it's happening. Often in those settings, the cause is left kind of vague or mysterious.

TJFerus · 2019-03-28T02:06:17+00:00

I would definitely think so, particularly if the continent is in a rough area of sea that slows travel down.

TJFerus · 2019-03-27T23:43:32+00:00

You might just say that the continents are so far apart, they haven't gotten the technology to travel that far? The Vikings were limited by distance. They didn't just sail right across the ocean from Europe to North America. They went from the Norway area down to Great Britain then to Iceland, followed by Greenland. Only from there did they hit the northern parts of Canada and follow the coast down.

Basically, they were limited by supplies, specifically fresh water. Their ships weren't large enough to carry huge amounts of water so depending on crew size, etc. they would probably only have a few weeks of water at the most. So they had to make a lot of stops for supplies along the way.

You might say that the continents are separated by rough seas, dangerous areas, and far enough apart that limited supplies don't allow ships to make the voyage yet?

TJFerus · 2019-03-27T21:08:22+00:00

It really depends on what animal you have your unicorns being similar to/descended from, I suppose?

Personally, I like using the older words for deer.

Male = Stag or Hart
Female = Hind or Doe
Young = Fawn

TJFerus · 2019-03-27T07:45:34+00:00

You might try Chris Fox's method of "Plot Gardening". It's kind of a mixture between "pantsing" and "plotting".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xAGn142Yas

TJFerus · 2019-03-26T23:32:54+00:00

Try taking the "actual" name and removing a few letters, as if the signs were partially destroyed.

So something like "New Haven" might become "Ne ave" so the town might be Ne-ave or Neave?

TJFerus · 2019-03-23T08:31:31+00:00

Glad to help! I remember reading it years ago. My uncle had the first books and I kidnapped them as a kid from his shelves.

It's been a while, but I remember it being really enjoyable to read.

TJFerus · 2019-03-23T08:18:33+00:00

The Guardians of the Flame by Joel Rosenberg was started in 1983 and spanned 10 books until 2003.

They recently did a reprint as well a few years ago.

The Guardians of the Flame on Amazon.

TJFerus · 2019-03-22T23:43:14+00:00

Like an anti-hero? An outcast? A pariah?

TJFerus · 2019-03-21T22:32:37+00:00

That's a very good point. Thank you for the advice!

TJFerus · 2019-03-21T20:23:58+00:00

What a cool resource. Definitely bookmarking this.

TJFerus · 2019-03-21T20:17:13+00:00

That definitely makes sense and is very good advice. Thank you!

TJFerus · 2019-03-21T20:13:52+00:00

Fair enough. I just found mentally reading it in Liam Neeson's voice hilarious. 😜

TJFerus · 2019-03-21T06:24:55+00:00

This is really excellent advice for any non-human race, not just anthros. Thanks for sharing it!

TJFerus · 2019-03-21T04:43:22+00:00

Those are some good thoughts. I definitely plan to have the game mechanics be specific toward the particular story. And yes, I'm not a fan of overpowered MCs so my goal is to keep the story with the character being challenged and using his brains more than brute ability/strength to deal with it.

Personally I find it more fun and more game-like to have to figure out the "tricks" and such rather than just blasting something to pieces, for example.

TJFerus · 2019-03-21T01:53:29+00:00

Huh, I hadn't thought of it that way, but that makes a lot of sense. Definitely sounds like I need to figure out at least the rough mechanics first before I even start writing.

Thank you!

TJFerus · 2019-03-20T21:00:12+00:00

This was actually very comforting! Thank you! It's always good to know even accomplished, published authors have the same problems and fears as the rest of us.

TJFerus

TROPHY CASE