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Gyor
Master of Realmslore
1628 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Jan 2014 : 16:27:55
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http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/12/are_hobbits_human_can_elves_and_humans_and_dwarves_interbreed.html
I got this article from Erik's facebook page and it got me wondering where does one species start and another end in FR.
Lets take a look at half-Elves vs. Mul (half dwarf half humans). If being able to produce fertile young is the test for weather one is oc the same species then Elves and humans would be of the same species, but Humans and Dwarves would not be as Muls are sterile.
It gets weirder. Half Dragons means Dragons are human and given half dragons are fertile it means dragons are closer relations then dwarves to humans.
Outsiders can reproduced with any mortal species which really confuses things.
My only conclusion is one can't apply scientific definations to magical worlds which function very differently and follow there own rules, otherwise one gets results that make no sense.
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2014 : 17:29:55
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Well, I haven't read the article, but I have always theorized about a "forgotten race of Ling". I picture a small (brownie-like?) furred-leg (related to fauns?) woodland being. The name itself, of course, would be Shou-ish (Kara-Tur) in origin (and half-fey, so they would be 'spirit folk' to Easterners). There is an oriental legendary creature - the Shojo - that I use as the basis for the original Ling.
In fact, I've always wanted to write a WotC article entitled "The Forgotten Race of Ling". |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 01 Jan 2014 17:32:17 |
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hashimashadoo
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1155 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2014 : 18:36:49
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You're right, fantasy worlds are often completely infused with magic. Dragons aren't humans, they're just so full of magic that they can breed with anything. Half-dragons can have just about any non-dragon parent.
Mul don't exist in the Forgotten realms either, half-dwarves do, but they're fertile - it's just that a half-dwarf is so much like a dwarf that practically no one can tell the difference (until, theoretically, you've had so much dilution of the dwarf blood that you end up with a d'tarig which is basically a small human).
Genetics is a foreign concept in fantasy setting. When someone talks about similarities between the generations, they refer to 'blood' - which in my opinion is probably a more accurate way of explaining it in a fantasy setting than genetics. One's blood doesn't contain genetic code, but the 'strength' of one's blood will determine the appearance of one's descendants. Dragons have amazingly strong blood which is why they their children always have very defined draconic characteristics (and why so many dragons of the same stripe look essentially identical). By that logic, the blood of dwarves must be pretty damn strong as well. |
When life turns it's back on you...sneak attack for extra damage.
Head admin of the FR wiki:
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/ |
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Tanthalas
Senior Scribe
Portugal
508 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2014 : 20:34:26
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Even in the real world, being able to produce a fertile offspring isn't the be-all end-all definition for species.
There are examples of species that can cross-breed and produce fertile offspring, yet are still considered separate species. |
Sir Markham pointed out, drinking another brandy. "A chap who can point at you and say 'die' has the distinct advantage". |
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Zealot
Seeker
USA
59 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2014 : 14:14:15
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| The Liger the most dangerous animal...I really prefer not tongo too much into genetics. There are humans with dwarf blood and even 1/4 elves. It's just a matter of what you want in your game. |
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. |
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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1882 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2014 : 14:51:27
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| No, halflings/hobbits/hin/kender are not human...but that doesn't mean they can't sire/bear children with humans, dwarves, elves, orcs and other species. I read part of the article but kinda lost interest in it about half way through it as it just isn't germane to gaming for me. In the end, it comes down to how you want to approach inter-species mating in your homebrew. Sci-fi/fantasy is filled with examples of compatible species pairings...so have fun with it I say. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2014 : 23:20:38
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The rules we understand - biology, genetics - function very differently in magical D&D fantasy worlds. Anything extrapolated from our rules - natural selection - basically has no validity at all in a fantasy setting.
A biologist on our world would assert that two interfertile species are in fact just two clades or breeds within a single species. If they were truly different species then they could not interbreed, it‘s a fundamental part of the definition for a species. Forget about half-elves and half-orcs and halflings, something like a dragonborn or tiefling is scientifically impossible.
Genetic engineering on our world could be used to combine two (or more) incompatible species, just as magical bloodlines and divine decree can do so in a fantasy world. But these are not strictly natural (supernatural?) hybrids, they are somehow deliberately and artificially contrived. A common assertion in all editions of D&D is that magic-rich environments tend to promote a more vibrant, diverse, and thriving variety of fantastic life forms. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 02 Jan 2014 23:24:53 |
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Are Halflings Human?
