Help:Describing a creature or species

The Bestiary of the Golden Hypogriph is populated with the creatures that you, I, and all of us create, imagine, and embody in the bestiary. These creatures can be of an infinite variety, but if you need a guide, some advice or some inspiration to make your creatures, here we tell you how.

Evlar spaceships

Feature list method

One method of writing creatures, species, societies, or civilizations is to think of what they consist of. Make a list of how long they live, how they eat, what they do and cannot do. And so on until satisfied. Use the list below as an aid. It is not necessary to fill in all the fields, only the necessary ones until the creature or species is defined.

Creature or species name

Brief summary

Habitat: Milegu dimension, plane, universe, galaxy, galactic sector, planet, country / kingdom, ecosystem, ecological niche.

Biology

1. Anatomy and physiology: Size / weight, BMI (body mass index), complexion, head / body ratio, senses, sensory organs, sexual genders, cells, tissues, Organs, systems.
2. Head: Hair, skin, hair, eye (eyelid, eyelash, eyebrows, sclera, pupil, iris), nose, cheekbone. Mouth (lips, teeth, gums, tongue), ear, neck, shoulders, shoulder blades, arms, hands, fingers. Torso, back, hips, joints, legs, feet.
3. Longevity: vital stages, fertility, maturity, senescence, age.
4. Diet: herbivore, carnivore, teething, digestion.
5. Life Cycles: circadian rhythms, vital rhythms, life cycles (haplodiplon).
6. 'Sleep and other routines:' Amount, sleep habits, nighttime, mode.
7. Race / ethnicity: species, varieties, lines.
8. Evolutionary origins (or creation by another species).

Culture

1. Language: verbal, non-verbal, dialects, language structure, verbal connotations, proxemic, kinetic.
2. Contact and Diplomacy: diplomacy, allies, enemies, conflicts, military behavior, tactics and strategies, ranks.
3. Science: discoveries, knowledge, advances, ... etc
4. Technology: energy, materials, tools, machines.
5. Thought: psychology, philosophy, character, ethics and morals.
6. Art: sculpture, architecture, painting, literature, music, dance.
7. Spirituality: cults, religion, transcendence, aspirations.
8. Skills: abilities, skills, abilities, experience, special abilities, powers, magic.
9. Customs: regarding clothing, popular dances, popular games, leisure, etc.

Society

1. Population characteristics, demography, grouping, cities, urban planning.
2. Uses and laws: Social norms, laws, type of government.
3. Government: Autonomy, self-government, leaders, government system.
4. Education: Literacy, uses and modes in education, officialism / criticism, access to knowledge, cultural waves.
5. Social gender: Gender roles. reproduction, sexuality, love and marriage.
6. Means of transport: land vehicles, maritime, air, spaceships, cosmic / interplane ships, Distances.
7. Communication / es: Media and information, transport of people, transport of matter and energy.
8. Economy: Currency, goods, wealth, reserves, savings, finance, income.
9. Environment: Relationship with the Environment, relationship with the biotope and biocenosis.

Free imagination method

If you are visualizing in your mind, the creature, species or society that you want to describe, try creating a story. As you imagine it describe what you see. Ask yourself questions or let your imagination run wild and write them down before or at the end of the trip.

Is there an immense tower, a dragon, perhaps a volcano or a magician appeared out of nowhere? How big is it, what attitude does it have, how do the beings around it react?

This method requires that you can visualize in your mind what you want to write and that you advance the story with your imagination.

Motive method

Maybe you don't want to create a creature just to create it, or you need a creature or species to move the action forward. In that case the creature or species exists only because it is a "motive" for something. Advance the story in some way.

The reasons can be very varied. for example:

1. Challenge. To attack or endanger the hero.
2. Custody. To save something or someone.
3. Friendship. Companion of some character.
4. Help. A mentor or a magic item.
5. Trade or exchange. Merchants, nomads or other beings.
6. Clothes and belongings. Food.
7. To give color and atmosphere.

Whatever the reason, think about why you want that creature or object. What will it do in the story and what will happen if you give it some characteristics or others. For example if your character is in the desert and has to reach a city. Do you want him/her to arrive fast? create a magic carpet. Do you want his/her path to be tortuous?, Create thieves and steal his mount or his vehicle.

Other pages about creating creatures or species

1. The Five Pillars of World Building http://web.archive.org/web/20140109163328/http://www.malindalo.com/2012/10/five-foundations-of-world-building/