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Post by Matt on Nov 29, 2011 4:21:02 GMT -5
We are hoping to make a lush background for Wreck-Age, what animals and plants do you expect to come back in a big way?
An example from my brainstorming-
A Pack of Lions: Mountain lions (now often known as mountain screamers) adapted aggressively in the dark times, filling a void left by rampant extinction and becoming an apex predator by year zero, and one that often hunts in packs as well. These hearty beasts can seemingly devour anything, and their hungry calls to each other often indicated the last moments of a lone wanderers life. With the resurgence their numbers have grown, making them a danger to even small groups of armed men, and their fearless nature often makes these clashes commonplace.
Also expect a lot of Kudzu and the Water Hyacinth. What plants and animals do you expect to make a big comeback?
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Post by s1nn3d1 on Nov 29, 2011 6:36:02 GMT -5
I gonna throw in some less dangerous animals.
Northern-Territories Hyenas: a cross breed of former domestic dogs and coyotes. These animals vary in body size an appearance, due to their origin from various canine races known today. These animals can often be found near city ruins and abandoned settlements. Although not aggressive by nature Northern-Territories Hyenas are known to be extremely Territorial animals. This behavior might also be a reason for attacks against lone people/small groups passing through the Hyenas territory. The Hyenas tend to hunt in packs but seem to prefer wounded or already dead pray. They are known to use their size in numbers to scare other predators off in order to get food.
Corvus Corax, the Common Raven:
Due to their natural behavior and intelligence these birds survived the climate changes extraordinary well. It is assumed that during the years that followed the exodus Although their habits, behavior and appearance have not been much affected by the climatic changes prior to the Exodus it is assumed that the ravens populations in dense populated regions came under great pressure. It is believed that a learning process took place in some raven populations which resulted in ravens being extremely aggressive when it comes to defending their nesting places. Raven are considered a nice addition to one’s diet.
I think it sounds a little bit more reasonable after editing the text.
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Post by jturner on Nov 30, 2011 14:16:15 GMT -5
scienceray.com/biology/zoology/hybrid-spider-goats/I read about this a few months back, and it's pretty cool HIghlights: Spider Silk • Is five times stronger (weight for weight) than steel • Can be stretch by a factor of up to 40% without snapping or losing integrity • Does not decay, dry out or become brittle over time • Is completely immune to microbial and fungal degradation • Is completely waterproof • Is extremely light in relation to its strength. • Is compatible with the human body in terms of the reproduction of biological tissues such as tendons or ligaments Read more: scienceray.com/biology/zoology/hybrid-spider-goats/#ixzz1fDZCXKfe
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Post by Anton on Nov 30, 2011 22:13:10 GMT -5
scienceray.com/biology/zoology/hybrid-spider-goats/I read about this a few months back, and it's pretty cool HIghlights: Spider Silk • Is five times stronger (weight for weight) than steel • Can be stretch by a factor of up to 40% without snapping or losing integrity • Does not decay, dry out or become brittle over time • Is completely immune to microbial and fungal degradation • Is completely waterproof • Is extremely light in relation to its strength. • Is compatible with the human body in terms of the reproduction of biological tissues such as tendons or ligaments Read more: scienceray.com/biology/zoology/hybrid-spider-goats/#ixzz1fDZCXKfe One of the people making comments in that article is "Stickman"... Hmm, that might be an omen or something.
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Post by jturner on Nov 30, 2011 22:28:21 GMT -5
Wow. You read the comments. I just read the stuff about biological super-steel coming out of goats ;D
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Post by s1nn3d1 on Dec 1, 2011 4:21:37 GMT -5
IMO it's more interesting and realistic to use it as an alternative fabric for bullet proofed clothing or other things under high stress such as parachutes and ropes. I'm quite sure I read an article about an experiment where they used Spider-Goat-Thread to stitch wounds (in a pig or rat I think).
But I don't think that in a post apocalyptic future many Spider-Wire-Goats will exist or that people will have the patience to milk a spider. Although the fabric it self produced before the collaps would surly have survived the centuries...
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Post by jturner on Dec 1, 2011 12:15:45 GMT -5
Well now hang on! It's a game, right? I mean, what if silk producing goats began to replace regular goats? Look at dairy farms and breeds of cows....you have a huge popluation. As long as the enzymes and stuff that can be used to form silk isn't toxic, it could be that silk producing goats are...common. Course, I am not sure how the milk would be processed, but I am sure if we can grow and transplant organs, this isn't beyond the pale.
speaking of surviving technology though, wouldn't camo capes be cool? What if they could mix the spider/goat thing, and then add in some chameleon genes?
Also, @ Matt: would a group of Mountain Lions be a pack, or a pride?
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Post by Matt on Dec 1, 2011 15:05:35 GMT -5
The trademark name for for the spider silk protein in the altered goats is 'Biosteel', we would have to come up with something kooky ourselves or pay the piper on that one And technically mountain lions are the largest of the small cats (they cannot roar, for example, and genetically is closer to a bob cat or house cat than a lion) so maybe we should be referring to them as a 'comfort'? ha Good call though, there really isn't a term a group of mountain lions because they are solitary animals in present day, so I will probably have to come up with one.
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Post by jturner on Dec 1, 2011 22:41:35 GMT -5
adamantium. It's made up anyway
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Post by s1nn3d1 on Dec 2, 2011 3:51:01 GMT -5
I think Spider-Goats are... strange...they have strange eyes SPIDER-PIG that's the way of evolution ;D It stands to reason that if these "new" goats are more interesting for industrial purposes than normal goats that they will replace the common goat in some regions. But as you said how could this milk/silk be processed? I don't think that it would be as easy as normal silk with a bucket of water/vinegar and a spinning wheel. So the would the difference in the goat's milk be recognizable or usable?
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Post by jturner on Dec 2, 2011 9:44:23 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure the stitchmen knew about this technology and would not only have kept it, but advanced it: • Is compatible with the human body in terms of the reproduction of biological tissues such as tendons or ligaments....druggy super-soldier golems......
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Post by s1nn3d1 on Dec 2, 2011 15:49:03 GMT -5
My goat cheese sandwich says: Bäääääääähh
Other animals I see to have a comeback or which might never have gone at all are snakes. Some kind of snakes might have died out due to climate change but the majority would adept over a period of time and even get new regions where they can live happily ever after.
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Post by Anton on Dec 2, 2011 20:26:58 GMT -5
My goat cheese sandwich says: Bäääääääähh Other animals I see to have a comeback or which might never have gone at all are snakes. Some kind of snakes might have died out due to climate change but the majority would adept over a period of time and even get new regions where they can live happily ever after. Yes to this in the NuRain Forests of Central and South America. Matt wants me to focus on North America first... Perhaps y'all can settle this; is Mexico a part of North America? I say yes, Matt disagrees...
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Post by jturner on Dec 2, 2011 21:51:43 GMT -5
Absolutely Mexico is part of North america! My wife is from Guatemala, which is part of Central America. there are 7 countries in Central America, and Mexico is not one of them. After that comes South America. So if you are north of South America, and you are north of central America..... Bust out the Maracas! Vive Mexico en la epoca destruida!!!!
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Post by demyztikx on Dec 3, 2011 1:52:56 GMT -5
South America starts at Columbia. Everything above that is North America. Central America is a subcontinent of North America that does not include Mexico.
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Post by jturner on Dec 3, 2011 10:32:26 GMT -5
....so Mexico is part of North America.
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Post by s1nn3d1 on Dec 3, 2011 16:00:33 GMT -5
Mexico is part of North America and the northern most part of Latin America. I agree with Matt that it would be good for the start to focus on the region formally known as the USA and maybe Canada. Mexico and the region further to the south could be added as new frontiers with other climate zones and communities. IMO this would already give a nice background for an additional book or storyline. So what I would go for is including regions with a similar climate, flora, fauna and live conditions/history/development after the Exodus. I thought that specially snakes from humid or tropical regions would have suffered from climate change and deforestation/desertification. While other kinds of snakes which were already used to drier climate or changes in seasonal weather would have survived od even spread. I could imagine rattle snakes coming further to the American North or East. Or the copperhead emigrating to California... and so on.
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Post by jturner on Dec 3, 2011 18:52:00 GMT -5
Mexico has a lot in common with a lot of parts of the US, considering a good chunk of the US once WAS Mexico! Also, culture wouldn't necessarily even be that big of a deal when there are a few thousand people in the world. Plus, Mexico city up until recently was one of the biggest cities in the world, and still boasts a huge population. The richest man in the world Lives in Mexico. And, I think, the US should go ahead and add another 12-14 states. Canada and Mexico should become parts of these United States of America, possible with some different regional privileges. I know the EU is in trouble, but considering the trend for continental consolidation now, I think current MX and the US becoming more culturally, politically and economically intimate is a real possibility in reality. Now, considering this is NOT reality...
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Post by Anton on Dec 3, 2011 19:50:15 GMT -5
Mexico has a lot in common with a lot of parts of the US, considering a good chunk of the US once WAS Mexico! Also, culture wouldn't necessarily even be that big of a deal when there are a few thousand people in the world. Plus, Mexico city up until recently was one of the biggest cities in the world, and still boasts a huge population. The richest man in the world Lives in Mexico. And, I think, the US should go ahead and add another 12-14 states. Canada and Mexico should become parts of these United States of America, possible with some different regional privileges. I know the EU is in trouble, but considering the trend for continental consolidation now, I think current MX and the US becoming more culturally, politically and economically intimate is a real possibility in reality. Now, considering this is NOT reality... I want Mexico City to be included in our setting at launch, as well as a couple other locales in Mexico. Matt and I are still in the "negotiation" stage in regards to this, so it may, or may not happen. And reality doesn't need to fit neatly into a little package for it to happen in our game... and some of the most inspired events in history come from people imagining up things that others (often the vast majority) claim will "never happen". Mexico is part of North America and the northern most part of Latin America. I agree with Matt that it would be good for the start to focus on the region formally known as the USA and maybe Canada. Mexico and the region further to the south could be added as new frontiers with other climate zones and communities. IMO this would already give a nice background for an additional book or storyline. So what I would go for is including regions with a similar climate, flora, fauna and live conditions/history/development after the Exodus. I thought that specially snakes from humid or tropical regions would have suffered from climate change and deforestation/desertification. While other kinds of snakes which were already used to drier climate or changes in seasonal weather would have survived od even spread. I could imagine rattle snakes coming further to the American North or East. Or the copperhead emigrating to California... and so on. I dont' want our game to be solely focused on former Canada and the US at launch, because I see these borders as being completely gone in our world. That's not to say that there won't be conflict, because obviously, there will, but the lines will be drawn in very different ways, and I want to capture that feel. The NuRain forests will be propagated with pollution resistant (and scrubbing) trees that were developed with the funds of an eccentric millionaire who now calls them his home. He has convinced the indigenous population that he is a master of "magic", and has used his knowledge and understanding of technology to put himself in a position of ultimate power in the region... More on all that (much) later though...
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ferk
Drifter
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Post by ferk on Dec 4, 2011 11:48:34 GMT -5
don't forget wild pigs. they're already making quite the impact on American agriculture.
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Post by Anton on Dec 4, 2011 12:23:53 GMT -5
don't forget wild pigs. they're already making quite the impact on American agriculture. Don't worry, you'll have wild pigs coming out of your backside. You can see two of the greens for them in another thread on the board.
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Post by jturner on Dec 4, 2011 12:32:44 GMT -5
Pigeons are pretty prolific like...everywhere, right? I remember hearing about passenger pigeons blackening the sky within the last century, before people wiped them out. Food and maybe communication (messages)?
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Post by demyztikx on Dec 4, 2011 19:13:22 GMT -5
I dont' want our game to be solely focused on former Canada and the US at launch, because I see these borders as being completely gone in our world. That's not to say that there won't be conflict, because obviously, there will, but the lines will be drawn in very different ways, and I want to capture that feel. The NuRain forests will be propagated with pollution resistant (and scrubbing) trees that were developed with the funds of an eccentric millionaire who now calls them his home. He has convinced the indigenous population that he is a master of "magic", and has used his knowledge and understanding of technology to put himself in a position of ultimate power in the region... More on all that (much) later though... Find a natural boarder and go with it. Desert, Canal, mountains. I would suggest the Panama Canal or the mountain ranges in El Salvador/Honduras. I believe this would make it US, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala and you just say the mountains have become largely impassible due to whatever reason. From there you can expand to South America in another book fairly easily.
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Post by jturner on Dec 4, 2011 19:25:01 GMT -5
9 of the 15 highest mountain peaks are in Guatemala. Guatemala is like...one big mountain
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Post by demyztikx on Dec 4, 2011 21:42:07 GMT -5
9 of the 15 highest mountain peaks are in Guatemala. Guatemala is like...one big mountain I included Guatemala because it looked like there were accessible plains on the map I was looking at where Honduras/El Salvador was completely separating the land mass.
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Post by jturner on Dec 4, 2011 22:38:23 GMT -5
Guatemala has the largest indigenous population in the Western hemisphere (per capita at least)
They speak like 90 different dialects and *I think* 21 major languages. This would be a very difficult place to homeginize, and probably a good place to work on organic scrubbing technologies.
In game terms, it would be cool to see it as a very resilient area. It has been hard to 'settle' because earthquakes and the mountainous geography, but it would be neat to see technology that takes advantage of the volcanoes, or even harnessing the power of the shifting tectonic plates!
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Post by s1nn3d1 on Dec 5, 2011 8:39:01 GMT -5
I was thinking that way, too. With a lack reduction of natural enemies, which I beleive will be some of the first kinds of birds to disappear due to their size and a lack of natural habitat. And with them (pigeons) rats will also survive... and maybe there could be rumours about rats of the size of dogs
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Post by jturner on Dec 5, 2011 10:01:07 GMT -5
yeah!! Giant rats! disgusting, scary.....tasty?
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ferk
Drifter
Posts: 50
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Post by ferk on Dec 6, 2011 19:25:07 GMT -5
I am very afraid of the jimson weed. It grows around where I live and it's very toxic and hollucinagebtic ( in a bad way). Always have a weird fear that someone is going to put it in my food. Probably guilt for thinking about doing it to somebody else. It could be a interesting flora of note in the Wreck age. A native American saying about it goes; Take a little, sleep take some more, dream take some more, don't wake up.
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Post by Matt on Dec 6, 2011 19:33:01 GMT -5
The flora and fauna will have plenty of poisonous plants, I can promise you that!
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