My group has mixed views on this, so I thought I would bring it to my Gauntlet family and see what the popular opinion is.
Dinosaurs in a fantasy setting. I use them when appropriate (deserts, ancient jungles, lost islands, etc). I tend to stray away from using their usual names. Why would a medieval fantasy villager call a t-rex a Tyrannosaurus? No, that’s a Tyrant Drake or a Dreadmaw. An ankylosaurus? No, that’s a Siege Drake, tamed by the barbarians of Split-Tooth Mountain to be used as living wrecking balls in their attacks on walled cities. That isn’t a brachiosaurus, that’s a Thunderer! Shook my whole hut to the ground just by walking past it!
So what are your stances on using Dinosaurs in a fantasy setting? And what names do you give them when you do?
I like everything you said. I might just alter them a little bit physically to be more fantastical. I almost never use regular ol animals as “monsters.” Again, just a preference.
I like everything you said. I might just alter them a little bit physically to be more fantastical. I almost never use regular ol animals as “monsters.” Again, just a preference.
I completely agree with your approach. I suspect that we would be surprised if we ever got a chance to see living dinosaurs. I think we still don’t know a lot about their skin/hair/feathers. Paleontology is a really cool field with a ton of new information all the time.
I completely agree with your approach. I suspect that we would be surprised if we ever got a chance to see living dinosaurs. I think we still don’t know a lot about their skin/hair/feathers. Paleontology is a really cool field with a ton of new information all the time.
Just used a T-Rex called “Devourer” for a pulpy fantasy expedition. It fit well and went over well with the players.
Just used a T-Rex called “Devourer” for a pulpy fantasy expedition. It fit well and went over well with the players.
In world of dragons, drakes, and wyverns its hard to place dinosaurs and even crocodiles. The upside is that the dino template is available and their ecology is “known” so its easier (I think) to develope a more realistic extensive world. Which is also perfect for a more low-magic campaign.
In world of dragons, drakes, and wyverns its hard to place dinosaurs and even crocodiles. The upside is that the dino template is available and their ecology is “known” so its easier (I think) to develope a more realistic extensive world. Which is also perfect for a more low-magic campaign.
one of the general goals of any fantasy setting should be epic-ness. Whats more epic then riding a triceratops into battle? Massively in favor of dinosaurs dire dinosaurs and partially robotic dinosaurs.
Names: Thunder Tail, Swamp Tyrant, King Chomp
one of the general goals of any fantasy setting should be epic-ness. Whats more epic then riding a triceratops into battle? Massively in favor of dinosaurs dire dinosaurs and partially robotic dinosaurs.
Names: Thunder Tail, Swamp Tyrant, King Chomp
My DW Druid has a fondness for tapping into her inner dinosaur!
My DW Druid has a fondness for tapping into her inner dinosaur!
I think dinosaurs in fantasy settings are fine, but I don’t think they belong in every setting. I suspect the more pertinent question for most GMs is “What does a dinosaur give me that a Magical Bullshit Fantasy Lizard doesn’t?” If you can identify a meaningful differentiating factor beyond “dinosaurs are cool,” then you should put them in the setting. I think they work best in pulpy gonzo settings, where “dinosaurs are cool” is a valid reason to put them in, but if you can explain what they’re doing in your setting, then they belong in your setting, as far as I’m concerned.
Also, that’s a really really cool way to present dinosaurs and I’m totally stealing it. 🙂
I think dinosaurs in fantasy settings are fine, but I don’t think they belong in every setting. I suspect the more pertinent question for most GMs is “What does a dinosaur give me that a Magical Bullshit Fantasy Lizard doesn’t?” If you can identify a meaningful differentiating factor beyond “dinosaurs are cool,” then you should put them in the setting. I think they work best in pulpy gonzo settings, where “dinosaurs are cool” is a valid reason to put them in, but if you can explain what they’re doing in your setting, then they belong in your setting, as far as I’m concerned.
Also, that’s a really really cool way to present dinosaurs and I’m totally stealing it. 🙂
Ray Otus? I’m sure you have opinions on this.
Ray Otus? I’m sure you have opinions on this.
Ha! I do. But it’s complicated. I almost commented earlier, but it would have been a whole essay. I thought I would let other people state all of the good stuff and then maybe chip in with whatever I think was left unsaid. 🙂
Ha! I do. But it’s complicated. I almost commented earlier, but it would have been a whole essay. I thought I would let other people state all of the good stuff and then maybe chip in with whatever I think was left unsaid. 🙂
You could use our universe’s names if a Latin speaking civilization domesticated them.
You could use our universe’s names if a Latin speaking civilization domesticated them.
So, I think the most important thing is the role that dinosaurs play. As Warren Denning said, the typical D&D universe doesn’t really have much room in it for dinosaurs. It already has an ecosystem of monsters. So, your options are like:
1. Lost continent: where a full ecosystem of dinosaurs flourish and most of the normal species are absent. This allows you to have the full range of tiny to huge dinos. (Time Travel also fits into this one – having the players time travel to a land where dinos are the dominant life form in the ecosystem and not just a tiny piece of it.)
2. Relics: a few large dinos living on past their day in outlandish places, probably with lives that have been prolonged magically.
3. Select replacement: take out one niche of the D&D ecosystem (such as birds) and replace them with one line of dinos (pterosaurs).
4. Evolved dinosaurs: (dino men) who have a few breeds of domesticated ‘saurs for riding, meat, etc.
That list probably isn’t exhaustive.
The other thing you have to decide is if dinosaurs can be domesticated at all. IOW, are we talking full on Dinotopia? Land of the Lost?
For me and people of my age group I think we also have to decide whether we want some sort of nostalgic, cold-blooded, tail-dragging dinosaurs or warm-blooded, occasionally feathered, Jurassic Park style dinos. 🙂
So, I think the most important thing is the role that dinosaurs play. As Warren Denning said, the typical D&D universe doesn’t really have much room in it for dinosaurs. It already has an ecosystem of monsters. So, your options are like:
1. Lost continent: where a full ecosystem of dinosaurs flourish and most of the normal species are absent. This allows you to have the full range of tiny to huge dinos. (Time Travel also fits into this one – having the players time travel to a land where dinos are the dominant life form in the ecosystem and not just a tiny piece of it.)
2. Relics: a few large dinos living on past their day in outlandish places, probably with lives that have been prolonged magically.
3. Select replacement: take out one niche of the D&D ecosystem (such as birds) and replace them with one line of dinos (pterosaurs).
4. Evolved dinosaurs: (dino men) who have a few breeds of domesticated ‘saurs for riding, meat, etc.
That list probably isn’t exhaustive.
The other thing you have to decide is if dinosaurs can be domesticated at all. IOW, are we talking full on Dinotopia? Land of the Lost?
For me and people of my age group I think we also have to decide whether we want some sort of nostalgic, cold-blooded, tail-dragging dinosaurs or warm-blooded, occasionally feathered, Jurassic Park style dinos. 🙂
One thing beyond “dinosaurs are cool” is that everyone has a mental image of them. Once the players are clued in, they will have an easy time understanding the scale and features of the creature. Dragons are WAY more open to interpretation and require some negotiation between the players. If you want to get really into describing a cool dragon, that can be fun but dinosaurs can make for a snappy encounter.
One thing beyond “dinosaurs are cool” is that everyone has a mental image of them. Once the players are clued in, they will have an easy time understanding the scale and features of the creature. Dragons are WAY more open to interpretation and require some negotiation between the players. If you want to get really into describing a cool dragon, that can be fun but dinosaurs can make for a snappy encounter.
Ray Otus Sounds like you and I have the same outlook on this subject! I tend to replace horses or some other beasts of burden with saurian creatures (like the giant lizards pulling my lizardman merchant’s cart in the desert, or the barbarians using them in the image of the post as mounts).
Ray Otus Sounds like you and I have the same outlook on this subject! I tend to replace horses or some other beasts of burden with saurian creatures (like the giant lizards pulling my lizardman merchant’s cart in the desert, or the barbarians using them in the image of the post as mounts).
That makes total sense. Like the sand trooper mounts in Star Wars too.
That makes total sense. Like the sand trooper mounts in Star Wars too.
I’m admittedly on the low end of the bell curve on this; I love mundane creatures (even prehistoric ones), and get a lot of mileage out of animals of all shapes and sizes. I tend to ignore 90% of the fantasy creatures, particularly those from D&D, because it’s frankly too absurd to imagine a viable ecosystem that could support all those critters. And don’t even get me started on the sentient races.
As for the topic…Dinosaurs good. And as for names, I make stuff up, or use regional names. We don’t call horses “hard-foot”, so I tend to avoid descriptive names like that, unless it’s in a made-up language that the players won’t immediately recognize. Like “kevek-dongar” might mean “remorseless eatin’ machine” in ancient Mercean, but the players won’t recognize that when the local villagers tell them that’s what’s been devouring the herds.
I’m admittedly on the low end of the bell curve on this; I love mundane creatures (even prehistoric ones), and get a lot of mileage out of animals of all shapes and sizes. I tend to ignore 90% of the fantasy creatures, particularly those from D&D, because it’s frankly too absurd to imagine a viable ecosystem that could support all those critters. And don’t even get me started on the sentient races.
As for the topic…Dinosaurs good. And as for names, I make stuff up, or use regional names. We don’t call horses “hard-foot”, so I tend to avoid descriptive names like that, unless it’s in a made-up language that the players won’t immediately recognize. Like “kevek-dongar” might mean “remorseless eatin’ machine” in ancient Mercean, but the players won’t recognize that when the local villagers tell them that’s what’s been devouring the herds.
Ray Otus Dewbacks!
Ray Otus Dewbacks!
Scott Heyden Not how I roll, but, respect. 😎 Actually sounds like fun to play that way.
Scott Heyden Not how I roll, but, respect. 😎 Actually sounds like fun to play that way.