Quote:
Originally Posted by dawnofdeath
Dunno about you guys but I don't really care when I'm fighting a scorpion or whatnot what it's complete origin and lore is  |
Well, I'm not sure what counts as
lore or not, but I'm interested in at least the most basic
data. It would be very hard to create a creature without knowing it's size, for instance
It's up to you if this data is "in-game", "official" or "unofficial" descriptions of the creature (what's known to characters in-game, players, or only the designers respectively), but at least the basic stuff has to be there. If you think the most important thing is that it can fight and be "another monster in another game" (like the scorpion), not much more, then start with combat-specific data (i.e. how it attacks, venom(?), movement, defense) but don't forget the other game-related stuff.
Personally I think it's important to know both how the creature "works" in itself, and to tie it to the world/environment (most of the time attributes <-> world/environment are connected). Before you say that's impossible as you don't know anything about the MO world, please read my questions below to see what I'm getting at, as they are very general. They are just quick example questions but use them as inspiration if you like:
What kind of swamps?
Humid tropical swamps? Frost-swamps? Saltwater swamps in connection to coastlines? Wet marshlands like the moors in northern Sweden? (They are
very different.)
How do they adapt to that climate region?
If cold, do they hibernate during winter? If connected to the ocean, do they swim out there to mate? To a specific location?
How does the life-cycle of a Myrrormr look like?
How long do they live? How do they mate/reproduce? Do they lay eggs? How many? Where? Do they guard them?
Feeding?
What prey do they feed on (except unfortunate humans lost in the wild)? Do they have natural enemies?
Anatomy?
Now how big does a Myrrormr normally get? Do they grow as long as they live? Are they venomous (and if, what kind of venom)? How hard is their natural armor? If you were to make an armor out of its skin/scales, it would be naturally water-resistant, yes? How fast do they move in water and on land? (Most sea snakes are unable to even move on land due to heavy adaption, but some have retained the ability of (limited) land-movement.) Do they have the same kind of paddle-like tails and laterally compressed bodies as sea-snakes? (Good reason to draw the whole creature
)
Perception?
They seem to have rather big eyes, how good is their vision? How good do they see in the dark? Do they have a nictitating membrane (a third eyelid, like crocodiles), meaning they can see perfectly under water? (Or no eyelid at all perhaps, like snakes?) No visible ears, do they hear like snakes? Can they sense heat like snakes? Vibrations? Do they smell with their tongue? Other, special senses?
Mythology?
Apparently they are not very known to civilization, but what kind of rumors exist? If they are really big, I'm sure they would figure in mythology, religion or as symbols. Or at least have a vague reference in some local lullaby used to scare children?
I'm not saying you should write an epic novel about the Myrrormr, although it's nice with an explanation on why creature X has attribute Y. However much of this could be represented in raw data together with the general description, like:
Size: About 4-5 meters
Venom: Fangs injects a neurotoxin causing paralysis
Eyesight: Poor on land, good in water.
etc.