NEW PLAYERS WELCOME, NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARYWelcome to Part 4 of Part 6, the Open Ocean region of the Fortune: Evolution Game. How to play and archives of our previous sessions can be found on our 1d4chan article linked here.> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Fortune:_Evolution_GameThe rules are simple, the only reason I'm not typing them out here is because I've done so almost a dozen times now and it gets tedious. It's why we made the wiki. Just link there and most of any newcomer's questions will likely be answered.Here you can see a size chart of some of the creatures we'll be evolving for this session. Get a good look at these beauties (and horrors). Details will be given in following posts, but for now, welcome Fortunates to another exciting episode.And don't forget, science-based game, the more detail the better, technobabble is encouraged. "tl;dr" is just about right.
>>19808680> StingerStingers are small jellyfish-like organisms that feed on detritus, plankton, and carrion, serving as the main decomposer for the Open Ocean.They have a parasitic larval stage within the insides of one of varieties of Raveshark (detailed later). If said stage occurs within the gullet of a Ravedragon then the adult Stingers that result will possess stinging tentacles covered in Ravedragon paralytic neurotoxins.For more information their wiki entry:> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Stingers_2
>>19808680> Shadow RavesharkSmall 3-foot piranha-like pack hunters that eat Stingers, Windsails, and Searays. They travel in schools of a few dozen or so.Ectothermic ("cold-blooded"), bony (aka has a skeleton), jawed fish that lays eggs.> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Shadow_Raveshark_2
>>19808680> Bloat WhaleLarge ectothermic herbivorous filter-feeding plankton eater. Gives live birth and breathes air through its blowhole (hence the name "whale"). Lives alone or in a mated pair.Algae often grows on the skin of older specimens, but this causes the whale no pain and is harmless.
>>19808853Forgot wiki entry: http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Bloat_Whale>>19808680> WindsailMigratory carnivorous ectotherm who births live young. Preys on Shadow Ravesharks and Searays, though both species also hunt them back. Possess large fins that catch the breeze and thus conserve energy on long voyages, poking the tops of these fins above the water.Live in "pods" of about 20+ individuals who gather together on the equator every decade to breed.
>>19808853Is their trunk prehensile? so they can reach algae stuck between rocks?
>>19808897godammit, again?http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Windsail_Dolphin>>19808680> Common RavesharkEctothermic 6-8 foot carnivorous bony jawed fish these solitary hunters eat windsails, searays, stingers, and shadow ravesharks. Possesses bio-luminescent dorsal fins on the males, used for sexual display.> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Common_Raveshark>>19808917That's a good question. Yes, the trunk is prehensile, though for now it's a rather short trunk so it won't reach very far.
>>19808680> Common SearayLarge dolphin-sized ectothermic carnivore Possesses small mandibles near its mouth. Large modified fins serve as underwater "wings" propelling it through the water. Gives live birth and lives either solitary or in mated pairs.> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Common_Searay_.28Northern_Ice_Ray.29>>19808897Forgot to mention, the Windsails are cartilaginous fish with vestigial "nubs" where their mandibles used to be and males display a small tan-coloured "horn" used as a sexual display and to fight for mates.
>>19808680> Oceanic RavedragonLarge 12-foot predator that eats Common and Shadow Ravesharks, Stingers, Searays, Windsails, and even Bloat Whales. Dazzling bio-luminescent frill behind skull used by the males as sexual display. Lives in solitude or in mated pairs.Ectothermic, jawless, bony egg-layer that cares for its young for around 4 years at which point it heads out on its own.> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Oceanic_.28Openwater.29_Ravedragon
>>19808680> AquabeastLarge apex ectothermic predator with seal-like fur and a secondary skeleton that serves as armour. Like a whale and dolphins it bears live young and must come up to breathe periodically as it lacks gills.A solitary ambush predator. It's too slow to chase, so it uses the long sticky frog-like tongue* of its Spineback ancestor to reel in prey as well as its vicious tail and tusks.*(covered in a weak venom that stuns its prey)> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Parting_of_the_Ways_(Fortune:_Evolution_Game)#Aquabeast_2
Awesome, just got back, loaded up the discussion thread and one automatic refresh later, the crosslink to this thread gets posted. I'll get to evolving in just a minute, is it alright if I use the discussion thread for some last thoughts I've been meaning to post all day?
Well, that's everyone, have at it, guys and gals! Do enjoy! Also, know that the inclusion of the "Common Spearfish" entry in the Open Ocean section on the wiki is a typo. I'd change it but the links I provided for the wiki entries here would be altered, so I'll wait until after this thread's done to correct it.Also, if you have enjoyed Fortune: Evolution Game there's plenty other stuff like this, some of which inspired it. Here's a "Further Reading" Bibliography-type list of links for you to browse if interested.> http://1d4chan.org/wiki/Primordial_Evolution_GameAnother forum game played right here on 4chan. Run by "Indonesian Gentleman" and "nongent", this game helped inspire Fortune, though both now have their own themes, styles, and background flavor. Much larger and older than Fortune, it's list of creatures is well into the hundreds.> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNLfNe12BKEAlien Planet, a CGI safari through a fictional alien ecosystem produced by the Discovery Channel. Inspired by the stellar art of famous science-fiction artists Wayne Barlowe. Barlowe's previous work includes the creatures of the Harry Potter films, Hellboy (both 1 and 2), John Carter of Mars, Blade 2, the creatures of Avatar (not including the Na'vi), and several designs for the video game "Dante's Inferno".> http://wiki.mydigiview.com/index.php?title=Main_Page> http://sagan4.com/test/A collaborative world-building project much like ours, in that it's a forum game. Unlike Fortune it has it's own site and wiki. Sagan 4 is evolution games writ large, developing all of its plants and animals from a single microscopic unicellular life-form. Sagan 4 is still alive and going strong so feel free to contribute there if you like what you see!
This is still running? Good job fortunehost!I just want to say that it is so great that people can come together and make stuff like this. I know it is just a silly game but still I somehow feel proud of being a part of this. Good job /tg/! Good job FortuneHost!
>>19809353If you would, post it in the discussion thread. Hope that's not too much to ask. For those interested, we sometimes hold discussion threads where you guys can give me feedback about the game as well as toss around ideas for future installments. The current discussion thread is here: >>19751693>>19809404It is cool, isn't it? It's also a crazy amount of fun, too! Refreshing and discovering just what the community of /tg/ has come up with is like opening presents at Christmas for me.Oh, and I forgot, >>19809402. The Primordial Evo game is going on right now, check it out here: >>19774741
>>19809033Common searays grow small dorsal fins in order to move better in the water.
>>19809033Could these guys hold a small sac of water, to use as an impromptu Jet propulsion system for trajectory correction mid-air or an emergency propulsion if stranded in-land?
>>19809744They don't fly, those wings are used like a manta-ray's, they "flap" underwater driving the creature forward. As for a jet-propulsion system... well, it'd have to be an evo that is spread out through multiple posts... that's something that'd take a *long* time to develop. Do be careful, this game is created as a *refuge* from the "rule of cool". That is to say, realism, scientific fidelity, and believability trump "i did it because it looks cool" mentality.First they'd have a bifurcated gill system, then 2) one of those slits would shrink into a sphincter-like opening, forming a fleshy sac, 3) the other end would gain muscle mass around it, to push water forcefully out (perhaps because saltwater withing this membrane causes something akin to an inner ear infection, forcing an adaptation that'd clear it of liquid) then 4)the muscles would become strong enough that they could actually create forward propulsion. That's 4 separate posts right there. If you've got a different way of creating it, go ahead, that was just for example.
>>19809033The searays that remained in the Arctic waters develop a lighter solid colouration, almost white, to assist them in camouflage among sea ice.>Arctic Searay>Offshoot of Common Searay>>19809744Funnily enough, this could benefit the actual predatory flying fish, which were around in the Swamps and may yet be around in the Tropical Sea. If you can justify it, flight's difficult enough without a sac of water.
>>19809162A species of aquabesat, known as the leviathan, move into deeper waters, developing longer fins for quicker movement. While they live mostly further outward, they still return to the shallows in order to breed and raise their young.
Alright, your evolutions look great, Fortunates. Don't forget, your evo is accepted unless I say something. That means if you get no reply it means I find nothing wrong with it!I'm going to have to catch up with you all later, hunger calls me away to the kitchen table.
>>19809978The Arctic Searay's tail shortens, and its fins grow wider. This interferes with their ability to swim quickly, but further aids their camouflage, allowing them to avoid larger predators such as Aquabeasts.
Some of the Oceanic Ravedragons have taken to a new tactic: Ambush. They lie, waiting on the sea floor, then pounce on anything that passes by. To assist them in this, they've gained a new coloration, which makes them look like part of the sandy bottoms of the ocean. This also helps them hide from Leviathins, since even they are prey to those enormous beastsMore evos will be coming for these guys
bumb
>>19812703Thanks Nad. Nevermind on the Discussion thread, folks it just went dark, though you can still read it in the suptg or foolz archives.
>>19808853 Bloat Whales develop a modified rear fin for propelling themselves better.
stingers grow ringed membrane which holds water, upon contraction it squeezes the water out, providing movement.
>>19810529Leviathins develop flaps of skin inbetween the spokes on their tails. This helps proppel the Leviathins faster, and provides more use for the tail, as the spike are much less useful since the Leviathins live underwater, where it's hard to maneuvur to make use of those spikes
>>19813248The ambushing Ravedragons tail fins rotate, to better hide when lurking on the ocean floor
>>19808897sailfins. growing a membrane between their sail...fins... allows for a stronger stroke backwards for more forward propulsion.
>>19808799The shadow raveshark develop stronger jaws, opening upwards and downwards, allowing the rave shark to take in more food, and or larger food. This jaw structure also gives the rave shark a sort of twisted smile.
Well, I'm headed to bed, keep evolving while I sleep Fortunates. For now, enjoy a bump from your lord and mas-I mean... good friend FortuneHost.
>>19813213the bloat whales rear fin over many generations has refined itself for greater speed, as they often fell prey to the equally slow aqua beasts.
>>19813213 Stingers develop a larger capacity for holding prey. This enables them to go longer without hunting.
>>19809517The common searays who have a more pronounced dorsal fin are able to better navigate in the choppier waters of the near surface. This gives them an edge against other species.
>>19813248The aqua beasts begin to rely on their flippers for up and down movement, with their tail transitioning to left and right movement more like a shark, then a whale. This gives them a badly needed boost in speed for chasing down the faster bloat whales.
>>19808940the Common Raveshark has developed a bit of atavism, its display actually becoming quite bright, blindingly so. Right before an attack it will pulse its lights quickly. Some creatures will escape, but there is a good chance that one or two in a swarm will have a seizure, those it eats.
>>19809100the Oceanic Ravedragon's fins have become stronger, and thicker. This allows it to half swim, half crawl in very shallow waters with ease. It now hunts along the shallow waters of the coast, hunting unwary land animals as often as it hunts oceanic prey. This has come at the cost of some speed and maneuverability in the open waters. Now it will trail ravesharks and attempt to steal their kills.------------------------and with that, I stop posting here for tonight. good luck world, and have fun.
>>19816977Alright, thanks for all the assistance and keeping the thread bumped, mate.
>>19814363The shadow rave shark begins hunting in deeper waters. With the lack of light, they rely on their sensory whiskers to track prey. Having needing it for so long has lead them to developing the organ even more so, giving it a thin sensitive membrane which alows the rave shark to sense prey for up to a mile.
>>19809100Some Oceanic Ravedragons develop thicker, stronger, more articulate tentacles near their mouths for grasping prey.
>>19819661I know where this is going, and I like it.
>>19816591Over a few generations, the bloatwhale's pectoral fin slowly moves forward towards the head, improving the bloatwhale's maneuverability and allowing it to better evade aquabeasts and ravesharks.
>>19819661To better facilitate feeding the multiple lobed mouths of the Big-Tentacled Ravedragons fuse together to form a single circular maw, lined with teeth..
>>19813305The sandsharks lose their top fins, to futher aid in hiding on the seafloor
>>19820507Big-Tentacled Ravedragons grow more tentacles. They now completely surround the mouth. The adhesive inner surfaces of the tentacles are a great help in snaring prey.
>>19813248Those big spikes on the backs of leviathans may look intimidating, but they create immense drag, and a creature as big as the Leviathan needs to conserve as much energy as possible. Because of this, they lose those spikes, opting for a more streamline shape
Seems like the discussion thread went down while I was away, I'll wait until the next one to post some thoughts on Tribal and other issues.>>19810783The Arctic Searay's fins cover more of its body, resulting in an extremely flat and wise creature. It spends most of its time either hunting or floating between/hugging the underside of Arctic icecaps.Its smaller flippers are mostly used for steering while the large flaps are used for movement.
>>19820622Some Tentacle-Mouth Ravedragons develop fused teeth with a jagged, saw-like edge. They adopt a method of hunting where they seek out prey, grasp onto it, then bite a chunk out of their victim with their cookie-cutter-like teeth. This hit-and-run strategy enables them to also attack and bite pieces off of larger creatures, instead of being restricted to prey smaller than themselves.This new method of feeding necessitates a bit more stealth than before, which is difficult given the Ravedragons' size. This strain of them begins to decrease in size for such a reason.
>>19821740Well, feel free to post your ideas in the foolz archive. Then again, I suppose people need to see them... I'm worried though that if you post these ideas along with evos, then we'll get off topic. Maybe just link a pastebin for us here?>>1982180212-foot hagfish? No thank you. Great drawings as always, by the way.
>>19821740>flat and wiseWut.Flat and Wide.The Arctic Searay's tail flattens, and it develops a second set of fins nearer to its head to compensate, aiding in steering their bodies.>>19822023I could always just post them some other time, I don't have any immediately relevant or coherent ideas, neither do I have anything written up.
>>19822315I dunno if they could just "spring" a new limb like that. Perhaps their fins separated from the "cape" they have going on?
>>19822368Sure.
>>19820622Another line of Ravedragons develops increasingly large tentacles, using them to grapple and hold onto live prey. They are known as Constrictor Ravedragons.
>>19820579The sandsharks gain a change in facial structure to help them with their new livesFirst, their mouths move upwards, so that the mouth is more on the front of the face, all the better since the sandshark swims at an upward angle towards its prey when ambushing. The eyes also move up towards the top of the head, to aid the sandshark in spotting prey\also, 4chan works again!
>>19824168Your image doesn't seem to be working... when I try to expand it it gives me a 404. Is this something on my end?Also, welcome back everyone.
>>19824287No, it's happening to me, too.
>>19821802Tentacle-Mouths further shrink in size. They develop a much toothier maw, to facilitate the next change in their feeding behaviors. The newly named Lamprey Ravedragons latch onto the skin of a larger creature using their adhesive tentacles and sharp teeth. They then remain attached, largely avoiding notice due to their now smaller size, and feed upon the flesh and blood of their host for a period of time before dropping off and seeking another host. Large creatures such as Bloat Whales and Leviathans are often seen with at least one Lamprey Ravedragon attached to their sides or bottom, slowly eating a small wound into their flesh. The Ravedragons' acidic saliva enables them to get through even the toughest of hides, to feast upon the tender meat underneath.
>>19824347Tried deleting and reposting my own post, since it seemed the picture was broken there too. It didn't seem to work, picture 404s when I try to open in a new window.
>>19824347Here's the picture for my post, anywayshttp://sadpanda.us/images/1072716-MXMZS94.png
>>19824448Well, whatever the problems are, they seem to have been resolved, as the test post and image I uploaded worked. So, please submit a new Sandshark image, >>19824168.>>19824834Ah, thanks, Deus. Perhaps now we can get back on track.
New sandshark you say? YOU SHALL HAVE ONEOr at least you would, if 4chan didn't like file duplication
Harder to see Stingers get more pray, so they out compete their solid colored brethren.along with that, they grow new longer tentacles to reach lower into the more rich plankton layer.
Shadow raveshark evolve stranger fins, which move further upward in order to move the body in the water more quickly.>>19819630Captcha 1984 Elchina
>>19826073Well, that was a noobie mistake...
>>19826077I'm sure you can blame Big Brother for it. Fuck the thought-police!
>>19826133>1984 reference>2012I think we're good.
>>19816977 the shallow waters ravedragon continues to develop stronger crawling fins. it now lives exclusively inland. I shall call it...the krakithan!
>>19819925the bloatwhale's tail contunues to take on a large sideways paddle shape. This allows it to lazily navigate the open waters of the ocean, or make a burst of speed when need be, perhaps even allowing it to break the surface with a jump.
>>19821317The Aqua beast's body slowly becomes more steam lined, with its tail webbing moving up its form spines.
I see my baby stingers are still going. Wonder if this is the same tripcode I used back in part 3 or whenever it was I went on that rock sucker evolution and tree-divergence spree.
>>19816724when you are the common sea ray, life is good. They now swim at the surface, but upside down, giving them a good view of any potential threats that may be lurking below them. no reason to look up. They are an abundant, if somewhat hard to catch, prey species.
>>19821317>>19813453Some Windsails adapt to mainly hunt Stingers, ripping them up with their horn. They shrink in size, becoming only slightly larger than Shadow Ravesharks, meanwhile, the "sails" of these Lesser Windsails become larger, inclined towards each other with a fuller membrane, allowing them to catch the wind despite their smaller size. They develop a mild resistance to the Ravedragon's neurotoxins, but generally try to avoid the Stinger's tentacles.
>>19827025So, what was once bio-luminescent sexual display is slowly becoming an apparatus for skimming the sea floor for food akin to walrus tusks. Interesting.>>19828168> generally try to avoid the Stinger's tentacles.Much like Sam Adams, that's always a good decision.Heading to bed now, can't wait to see what else you classy folks come up with while I'm asleep.
>>19824347The bellies of the Lamprey Ravedragons flatten and become like unto elongated suction cups. Using a pressure seal, they attach their entire bodies to their hosts to make themselves more unnoticeable and make removal more difficult.
>>19825228>>19824168BEHOLD! NEW SANSHARK!The sandsharks tail fin grows larger, and moves further up the tail, to aid in propelling it towards its prey
Bump
>>19827025krakithan' thick stubby fins start to get more boney, their primitive low water scurrying has now become short scrambles across dry land, occasionally catching unwary prey. They still use their modified display to comb the shallow coastal waters for crabs and frogs.Ravedragon is invading your lands and eatin your mans.
>>19831309It's only got gills, so these land-based excursions would have to be quick. I would imagine as it went into the shallows, it became the biggest creature there, meaning there probably wasn't a lot of big prey, forcing it to go after land critters Jaws style.Lastly, instead of just magically growing bones in its fins, they simply become more muscular and rigid. Same effect, just me being anal-retentive I suppose. Hope these "amendments" are alright.
>>19827025Some of the Krakithans that spend long periods of time crawling around in the shallows have their tails re-specialise for balance and stability; they become Crawling Krakithans.
>>19831450> jesus_christ_how_horrifying.jpg.avi.omg.wtf
>>19827123The bloatwhale's tail now is similar to a tadpole's. This lets it store fat when there is plenty, and gradually slim down when there is little.
>>19831441Boney, is in thick and calloused, very thick fins, armored would have been a better world, but its just around the edge of the fin. like a primitive fish, though you are better off then I with the descriptions, and we are spot on with how the creature is imagined in day to day life. live in the shallows, jaws style for short runs. Inspired by the Chinese snake fish.
>>19827224Aqua beast is in a bit of an arms race, trying to keep up with the bloatwhale. Sadly its tail instead makes it an excellent sprinter.
>>19831523Funny, your description of it made me think of just that. Guess that means you were spot on. That, or great minds think alike, meaning we can legitimately call each other geniuses.>>19831540Excellent... evos in response to prey, evo and counter-evo. That's what I like to see. I wonder if the Aquabeast will start to lose armour, seeing as it has no natural predators...
>>19831450The Crawling Crackychans, sorry Krakithans, make the revolutionary discovery that plants don't run away when you try and eat them. They develop down-ward facing maws that instead of grabbing prey, break down plant matter through constant grinding.>>19831484I'm just getting started.
>>19831593Drawbro, is that you? I recognize your style...> plants don't run away when you try and eat them.Plants are polite like that. None of this rude "survivalist fight-or-flight" instinct. How urbane. (You are now imagining a weed or grass with a top hat, monocle, and cup of tea.)
>>19830838Sandsharks tails grow even more powerful. The tail now makes up nearly half their body length, though they've also experienced a slight downgrade in size, so they're not quite "huge"Sand sharks have also taken to scavenging on any food that floats to the bottom of sea, supplementing their diet.Finally, I grant these guys a new name: Sandflappers
>>19831540im struggeling with that one, as one time ecology fag pointed out, legs dont go away, they exist as vestigial bones. such is the case with that secondary skeleton people like to make go away. its a skeleton, it has to be internalized if anything, then they still have those two skeletons...but perhaps going the route of the shark and saying fuck you to bones.slugs, etc. internalized shells. soft shelled turtled maybe, but the shell there isint the same as the ancient demolisher armor actually being so primitive that its exposed bone and nothing more. stupid evolving self into box, making rage machine who cant not rage.
>>19831540Aquabeasts gain an enhanced nose, to help it track down prey, specifically the unique smell of Bloatwhales
>>19827255common sea rays evolve a bit to meet the demands of swimming upside down for their entire lives.
>>19828168Lesser Windsails travel in large groups, and breeding it a messy affair, with little ceremony. As the horn becomes used more in hunting and less in displays, it grows larger and develops a hard, serrated edge.>>19831691It's still there though, just less prominent. Maybe when it eventually goes away it's better to say it's internalized, for now it'd just changed structure.
>>19831691> its a skeleton, it has to be internalized if anythingThat's what I was implying. Apologies for the derp on my part. Here I am being anal-retentive about bones springing from nowhere and then I go and do the equivalent (just backwards). Herpity-derpity-doo.
>>19831670Question: Where is their mouth? Whenever you evolve them next a little red arrow pointing to where their mouth is would be appreciated.
>>19831767I think it's on the upside, between the tentacles. I believe he mentioned it's because they lunge upwards at their prey.>>19822440The Arctic Searay's eyes move to the side, to facilitate their habit of hugging the underside of ice floats.Their pectoral fin also shifts in colour to better match their camouflage.
>>19831765The Lesser Windsail's "sails" becomes increasingly wide and joined together. When the Windsail is forced to move underneath the surface, it can lower the "sail" onto its back to reduce drag. The spot that the "sail" covers when it is lowered becomes soft and lighter in colour.I'm thinking we need some details on the Ocean. What kind of lesser/background species are there? Are there still primitive Wiggles at the bottom? Wiggle reefs?
>>19832077That's a good question and I wish I had an answer. How about this, feel free (and this goes for everyone) to create a few "food" species from any previous aquatic creature. Wiggles, Rock Slugs, you name it... Actually, maybe that'd be better for a discussion thread or something. Let the evolution continue here rather than get off track.
>>19831593Krakithians lose their top sails/fins since they tend to give them away in the shallower waters, and they're also very vulnerable to attack, and can be torn easily, which can cause rapid blood loss.
>>19833252To further avoid attacks, the Crawling Krakithans hunker down and shrink; shuffling around in the shallows, chewing away at plants, minding their own business.
>>19834232The Dragon has become the Manatee. I love it.
>>19834232The Crawling Krakithans' tail is used more and more for propulsion, alongside their powerful facial "flippers", and folds backwards into a rudimentary foot. Their now-defunkt actual flippers becoming mere memories of a fishy past as they make the leapt into the ranks of true pinniped.
>>19834563You and your pinnipeds. What would we do without them? (Be a lot more bored, that's for sure.)
>>19831755LEVIATHAN RETURNS with a slightly extended tail fin on the bottom
>>19832077The Lesser Winsail's "sail" completely merges into one solid block. Also adding a diagram detailing how it folds back
>>19831878The Arctic Searay's fins become larger and flipper-like, compensating for their strange structure.With its new form, the Arctic Searay is unsuccessful as a traditional hunter - it does not chase and bite well. Instead, it adopts a new habit. Using their vast, wide bodies, they wrap around smaller creatures and constrict them, probing for weak spots and applying vast pressure. They possess a unique muscle distribution, strongest on the outer edge of their "cape", allowing them to contract around a creature, encasing them in a tight seal.
The sandflappers grow enlarged gills, for bursts of energy when they rush their prey. The gills also push water on their own, giving the sandflappers even greater speed
A splinter of the Lesser Sailfins begin undergo a shift in their diet. They spend all of their time as the surface with their mouth open to scoop up plankton and algae while being propelled by the wind. The blade like projection on their shouts begin to recede.
>>19835524The Lesser Windsail's vestigial mandibles join onto its "saw", giving it multiple edges. This allows the fish with the ability to shred Stingers completely before feasting, and also provides it with defense against predation. When confronted with a larger threat, L. Windsails will now often lunge at it, attacking first and trying to rip its flesh before it can kill the smaller Windsails.
>>19826077Shadow raveshark's sensory organs develop even more so, allowing the rave shark to emit an electric current similar to how an electric eel does.
>>19836654Ancestors, no. More like cousins, actually. Both creatures developed from the "Sailed Flippers".
>>19836188>>19836190...Intredasting. Sailfins are the ancestors of Spearfish though, my own filename is just a mistake. Then again, it's not like completely distinct groups of animals don't share names all the time.>>19823728The Constrictor Ravedragon's tentacles become longer and thicker, large enough to wrap around a Searay or small Bloat Whale, and strong enough to crush them.Drawing tentacles is a pain.
>>19836685Goddamnit I reposted this and completely forgot to append that the Dragon itself shrinks is size.>>19836670I thought the original Spearfish, before they became Featherscales were called Sailfins and existed alongside the Windsails? I may be wrong, I'll go check though.
>>19836714...I either did that and hoped no one noticed or I completely forgot that there was already a critter named Sailfin. No idea which it was, I no longer recall.
>>19836190The lack of ceremonial duels in Lesser Windsails leads to a form of sexual selection - rather than fight each other with their horns, they instead display their saws, and the female will choose the male with the largest saws. This leads to a evolutionary race among the males, as their saw grow and gain extra blades, growing downwards and forming a "beard". Typically the most extravagant beards are more often selected for.>>19836744I propose we compromise and choose unique names for all three species. I nominate Bearded Sawfin for this one.
>>19835868The Arctic Searay's air sac widens, spreading through their cape, as they spend more time on the surface. They become able to extract tiny amounts of oxygen from them, rather than just storing air.Their "cape" widens to accommodate this, becoming a true part of the Ray's torso, rather than just a muscular flap. Showing the distribution of the air sac on the right. It is relatively thin and wide, much like the rest of the Ray, going between other organs. The Ray's ribs have a unique structure in that they line the top and the bottom of the torso, but are not found on the sides.
>>19836188Oops, forgot to quote. Even though this one's fairly obvious, I should still do things correctly.>>19835524 Also, I guess I didn't realize that the name was changed to Windsail.
>>19837442Eh, call 'em whatever you like. As long as you quote previous posts, I'll be able to follow along. If one of you creates a name that I like or that catches on with others, it'll become canon.
Don't you all disappear on me now. A bump that the thread may live and be seen by others.
Bumping once again. I have to go to bed. Hopefully the thread does not die whilst I rest. G'night, Fortunates, and have a pleasant tomorrow.
>>19816954A freak mutation of the Common Raveshark has proven beneficial for the specie's population. A second pair of fins allow the creature to propel itself through the water at a significantly greater speed, allowing it to easily overtake stunned prey.
>>19831485The Bloatwhale has grown into a more mutually beneficial relationship with the algae that adheres to it. Its skin has grown nearly microscopic grooves that allow the algae to maintain a firmer grip and grow in larger chunks over the Bloatwhale's body, which in turn provides both a slimey deterrent towards predators attacking there and a kind of camouflage.
>>19841446Due to the increased hunting efficiency of the male, the female Common Raveshark has given up its solitary hunting style, and will instead partner with the male with the brightest display (thus the most effective hunter). After the initially flash from the male, the two will quickly descend upon the stunned prey. These partnerships rarely last long, as males continually display to other females, with their current partner fighting away the challengers. Females will also continue to seek brighter males, and will abandon their current mate immediately upon seeing one, although they will return if subdued by a superior female.
>>19831309krakithan continues to make short jaunts onto land several times a day, feeding on land animals, and churning up the mud and silt of the coastal waters looking for hidden snacks with its face fan. While still needing water to live, it will now consume a significant amount of water, and as its walk goes on, will regurgitate it then force it out of its mouth thru its gills. this is beneficial, but provides risk due to dehydration on the skin, or getting too far away from the life giving waters of the ocean. stronger, thicker, more calloused fins allow it to crudely scuttle about on the land.
>>19835511aqua beast experiences a overall lengthening and streamlining of its body. Using less energy and movement to get the same results kicks ass.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PJ3fGMgGgY&feature=related boss battles anyone?
>>19841900the bloat whale has grown a longer snout acting as a snorkel, and aid in gathering seaweed and kelp. This allows it to coast along, just below the surface of the water. The aquabeast has inferior underwater vision and frequently relies on the bloatwhale surfacing, or the telltale blowhole spray to hunt them.
>>19825383Stingers pulsate along with a larger swim membrane. They also have changed their toxins. Now the agent is a nerve toxin that directly affects the smooth muscle motor control of a creature, causing their involuntary muscles to twitch and convulse violently, unto death. the benefit of this is that the thrashing of the creature attracts predators, who for the stinger, are also prey. Its not uncommon to see a transparent stinger carrying a zoo of the dead inside its bell, in various states of digestion.
>>19843736Having nothing meaningful to do with my life I have taken the liberty of creating an alternative Krakithan image.
>>19845004Looks awesome! Thanks, DvM.>>19843861> carrying a zoo of the dead inside its bell, in various states of digestionjesuschristhowhorrifying.png
>>19836068The sandflapper loses its vestigial fins, as they were hardly helping. The result is a new creature, whos entire body is dedicated to the task of moving swiftly from the body of the sea floor.I give you: The sand snake
>>19842143The Male Common Raveshark has evolved a larger dorsal fin to hold a more vibrant display to attract more mates, while the Female has evolved a hardened bony plate on the forehead to help fend of competing females.
>>19846054Nice to see the Common R. getting some love after such a long time of no adaptations.
>>19843799the bloat whale's trunk continues to grow in length, and is a useful appendage indeed. it can grasp food, objects, or even "hug" other bloat whales.
>>19846255Bloat whales learn to secretly indulge in their new favorite past time....murder...it makes them feel powerful.
>>19846279This pleases me. I lol'ed.
>>19846279Dem guys, always juding others.
>>19846054Continued competition has increased the luminance of the male Common Ravesharks, while the size and hardness of the bony plate of the females has grown as well. Due to the males increased luminance, it is able to stun entire schools of prey, allowing it to remain back as its mate goes in to round up the kill for the duo.
>>19834563Adapting to life up river, the Crawling Krakithian changes its skin color to a mud brown, so it can hide in the mud as it sleeps
>>19845568In order to streamline its passage through the ocean floor, the Sand Snake has developed a hardened bone coating for its face tentacles to recede under during travel to reduce drag.
>>19836188The Filterfins develop a visual mating display on their "sail", in the form of large soft white scales, splayed outwards, attempting to catch the attention of potential mates.
>>19837271Some Arctic Searays make short excursions over the surface of the ice, using their proto-lungs to survive up to and hour outside the water. This leads to the development of bumps of the underside of their torso, little more than muscular structures currently, forming caterpillar-like "feet".These bumps also assist in their constriction tactics.You know, we've got 141 posts, but 92/150 images, so I'm thinking we're going to hit the image limit before anything else.
I don't wanna sleep. I wanna look at cool evos on the internetYeah, thats cool >>19846931
>>19854093I know the feeling.
Last bump before I head to bed. Keep evolving Fortunates. Don't let me down now.
a bump form a fellow evolver.
bump
Thanks for the bumps. Alright. EVENT TIME!An especially common plankton begins reacting to very subtle changes in the ocean chemistry, and begins dying off in staggering numbers. This causes a chain-reaction up along the food chain. These pressures put the various critters of the ocean into overdrive.To participate in this event (note: it isn't mandatory) simply roll 1d10. Your result will indicate which adaptation your critter or branch-off will develop.Next post has possible results.
>>19859633> 1. wider mouthBecause there is less food available, as herbivores and their predators die off, this creature can't afford to skip a meal. It's mouth increased 2-3x, allowing it to eat food that was previously too big for it.> 2. turns blueIn order to hide from predators, now even hungrier with the scarcity of food, the creature turns a shade of blue (light blue if it's in the shallows, dark blue for the open ocean) to better avoid those who wish to make a meal out of it. If the creature was already blue, it turns a different shade of blue.> 3. develops hard shellThe creature's back develops a turtle-like shell, making it more difficult to eat. (Hint: predators might later respond to this with stronger jaws or teeth)> 4. catfish whiskersUsing its new facial whiskers this creature looks for clams, molluscs, and other bottom feeders to eat.> 5. becomes thinner/leanerA quick getaway can mean the difference between "that was a close one, Mr. Fish" and "we gather here today to remember the life of Mr. Fish". The creature's form becomes more thin, arrow-like or otherwise reflects the need for speed.(field too long, continued...
>>19859799> 6. shrinks to half-sizeWith less food available, the creature no longer grows to the sizes it once did. Evolution's a cruel mistress at times. Just ask housecats (formerly saber-tooth fucking tigers).> 7. spiked finsPain is the least appetizing thing on the menu (unless you're into that sort of thing...) so this critter develops spiky fins like many of Earth's freshwater fish.> 8. beaked mouthA hard, beaky mouth can crack through mollusc shells and stubborn critters. More food is now available.> 9. turns orangeAs this variety of plankton becomes scarce, some creatures turn to eating an anenome (descendants of the wiggles). Their bodies metabolize their new food by turning a shade of orange. Alt. just orange stripes.> 10. wildcardRoll a ten and FortuneHost will pull some random evo out his ass for your critter.It occurs to me that some of these don't work for the Stingers... if you can find a good explanation for giving the stingers a result that seems not to fit, go ahead. If you're stumped I can come up with something, akin to a roll of 10, or perhaps you and a fellow Fortunate could brainstorm here on how to make it work.
rolled 3 = 3rollan for my sand snakes!
rolled 6 = 6roll for bloatwhales
rolled 5 = 5Rolling for Bearded Sawfins.>>19825383An alternative descendant of the Stinger, named the Torpedo Stinger, develops a more streamlined shape, to take advantage of their propulsion system.
rolled 5 = 5Rolling for Constrictor Dragons>>19836937The Sawfin slims down massively, losing its semi-armoured plates, in order to catch their currently more scarce food. While they still travel by sail, they are now capable of significant bursts of speed when it is folded down, however, this also leaves them more vulnerable to attacks from underneath.
rolled 9 = 9Rolling for Leviathans
rolled 3 = 3Rolling for Lamprey Ravedragons
rolled 1 = 1Rolling for Crawling Krakithans.
rolled 6 = 6Have to pop out for a minute, rolling for Filterfins in the meantime.
rolled 1 = 1>>19861061The Lampreydragons develop a hard shell on their backs. This makes them harder to pry off, and protects their exposed backs when attached to a larger creature.
>>19861199Ignore my previous roll
>>19861131Despite not often feeding on algae, the Crawling Krakithans' mouths begin to alter rather drastically.Where they used to have raspy tentacles to grind away at plants, they now have a proper "mouth" full of rough bumps of cartilage (pictured right) that can strip and chew.The cheeks of this new mouth are made of stretchy skin and muscle, forming pouches for food storage.Their sensitive tentacles recede and multiply over their new faces, becoming whiskers, still maintaining their sensing talents.
So... orange leviathans...
>>19861292The Crawling Krakithans, now called River Kraks, decide to be redrawn for clarity's sake.
Bump action five thousand.
>>19847959The sandsnake gains reapplys its lesson in smoothness from its beak to the rest of its body, to make it hydrodynamic, and to protect it when caught
>>19836685The Constrictor Ravedragon, though powerful, suffers from a lack of speed. To compensate for this, they lose much of the mass of their bodies, while their tentacles gain flipper-like structures on the end, now being used to "row" through the water. Only the lower too tentacles maintain a different, pointed shape, to restrain the new, smaller Bloat Whales' trunks, while the Dragon crushes it.
rolled 3 = 3Rolling for Torpedo Stingers>>19850848>>19861154The Filterfin, suddenly deprived of the plankton which comprises much of its diet, briefly comes close to extinction. Eventually populations stabilize, but the Filterfins which survived are significantly smaller, a foot at most, capable of surviving by eating the other, much less abundant types of plankton.The surviving Filterfins have much grander sail displays, large light scales splayed out, covering the edge of their sail, attracting mates.
bump for the bump throne
The bloatwhales are reduced. A few of their original number remain, but may never return in their former numbers. Some of their cousins however, are more FORTUNate (hehe fortune).These bloatwhales lose much of their weight, and diversify their diets. They begin to consume small fish, and work in groups to corral their new source, scaring the fish schools into tight balls, which they then suck up through their trunks.I give you: Bloatdolphins
>>19860791>>19863421The Torpedo Stinger runs a risk of bumping into objects and damaging itself while using its propulsion system - to prevent damage, it forms a "shield" formed out of hard, chitinous plates. It will now ram into predators for defense.My Windows Explorer or whatever crashed halfway through drawing this, so to save it I had to select a random image to replace out of my Pictures folder, none of which were png's. So yeah, I chose one with a semi-appropriate name and I'll redraw it and save as a png tomorrow
rolled 3 = 3Where is everyone? rolling for arctic searays
rolled 10 = 10>>19868795Harumph. Another shell
rolled 2 = 2Well now, it seems I forgot to specify what creature I wanted to role for. And such a valuable roll!I'll list out the remaining critters, and roll amongst them, then Fortune can give an evo for the lucky critter.1.Common Raveshark2. These Krakithians >>198450043. Consrictor Ravedragons>>198366854. Shadow Ravesharks >>19836346
>>19868899The Common Raveshark's mutli-hued light show eventually starts spreading all over its body. This new creature, Chromaticthyos, has thousands of "pigment cells" called chromataphores all over its body. A Chromaticthyos can appear as *any* colour, pattern, or hue it desires. When wanting to scare enemies it creates a pattern like glowing red eyes, rapidly changing the brightness and vibrancy of these "eyes", making it look like they are flashing or glowing. With quick study the Chromaticthyos can also copy its surroundings, providing camouflage that is unparalleled on Fortune.Basically, cuttlefish colour-changing. Watched a nature program about 'em the other day and couldn't resist.
rolled 4 = 4alright, Cuttlefish Sharks. I like it. I'll just roll for the Carnivorus (Or should I say Karnivorous) Krakithians while I'm at it
>>19870507One shark, two shark.orange shark, rainbow shark.
>>19870507Why'd you delete your post, man? Just 'cause somebody already rolled for them doesn't mean you can't roll for them again. It just means the C. Raveshark split into multiple species.The post, for those who didn't see, was a roll for Common Raveshark, a roll of 9.
The Common Ravesharks newly evolved camouflage ability has made it an incredibly deadly predator in its environment. The males have developed the tactic of disguising nigh perfectly into its environment, slowly approaching an unsuspecting school of prey, before exploding into a vast array of violently flashing primary colors, stunning even the most hardy of prey. This adaption has especially helped in the hunting of Bloatwhales, and even Bloat Dolphins.
>>19870752I forgot to mention it, but the colour-changing abilities of the Chromaticthyos actually extend to both males & females. I suppose the only dimorphism at this time would be the dermal plate on the females.
>>19846604>>19870126The Common Ravesharks newly evolved camouflage ability has made it an incredibly deadly predator in its environment, especially since now box sexes have obtained it. They have developed the tactic of disguising nigh perfectly into its environment, slowly approaching an unsuspecting school of prey, before exploding into a vast array of violently flashing primary colors, stunning even the most hardy of prey. This adaption has especially helped in the hunting of Bloatwhales, and even Bloat Dolphins.
Bumping. Still plenty of evolution that we can do, guys and gals. These guys, here >>19870364 have yet to be illustrated from the Perishing Plankton event.> captcha: Farnsworth xploepGood news everyone!
>>19868899Krakithians will likely not participate in the event for the given rolls, instead the lack of food in the sea will force them to take another step towards becoming land based animals. amphibians ahoy.
>>19872227except we already got land animals, amphibians included. the salt frogs, or whatever. we can't make all our critters go to land, then what'll be the point of having the ocean? besides, there's plenty of food to be had in the brown manatees that one anon drew.
>>19872264Yeah, I kinda feel like the time to crawl up onto land has passed as well, anon.
>>19845004Due to the food shortage, Krackathians have grown desperate in their search for food. A lucky few have developed long, firm attachments to the pack of their tails, which dig up the ocean floor as they swim by, and then rapidly consume any creature upturned.
>>19846604A small group of the Common Raveshark that had not received the advanced camouflage has had to focus their diet upon creatures that consume mostly anenome. This selective food source has caused the Raveshark to develop orange stripes over the entirety of its body, and has been renamed the Tiger Raveshark.
>>19866747Bloatdolphins have begun to grow larger fins in order to further increase their maneuverability, thus increasing their hunting effectiveness.
Great work, tonight, Fortunates. I've got to get me some shut-eye. Tomorrow is errands and the day after is DnD. So, on the off-chance you don't hear from me here for the next two days, remember the first rule of hitchhiking: DON'T PANIC (and don't forget your towel).
>>19868848>>19851613The temporary shortage of food drives the Arctic Searay to travel yet further inland, occasionally hunting on creatures of the Arctic. To facilitate this, their fins gain a jointed structure, allowing them to silently glide along the surface of the snow, unseen, until they use their fins to leap and begin constricting the poor animal, probing for its soft spots and then crushing them.They develop soft, chitinous plates on their backs, to protect their air sacks from damage, including damage from being stepped on by ignorant land animals.
>>19863421The sides of the Filterfin's "sail" begin to face forwards, developing a small, bladelike protrusion. This is used as a defense mechanism against predation by Bloat Dolphins - when they are being sucked up through the Dolphin's trunk, they begin opening up their sail, attempting to slice through the Dolphin.
>>19845004the Krakithan looses its vestigial fin, and develops a calcified spine. life is good when you are the Krakithan. Its been busy eating land animals and mud crabs instead of worrying about plankton.
>>19861514The orange leviathans lose the horns on the sides of their faces, as they were creating drag, and partially impeding their sight.
Another quiet dayBump
>>19879305True, these threads tend to start with a whole bunch of steam and then crawl through the middle, and then another huge boom at the very end. I'm sure if I ponder it for a while I could bullshit some profound analogy about that, but why bother? Hehehe.
I'll admit, I'm pretty much out of ideas for now. I'd continue on the Arctic Rays, but I don't want them interacting with Arctic critters yet.
>>19873262glorious bloat dolphins can be seen riding the wake of the bloatwhale. their bodies have become more adapted to their smaller form.
>>19846255 The few bloat whales that survived soon had little competition from their own kind...so they grew...and grew...and grew. Now Fortune's oceans have a truly whale sized creature. The Bloaty Dick. I realize how it sounds, and i'm choosing to ignore the first impulse many will think of. instead we will all sit down and appreciate a nice moby dick reference.
>>19874577Dude... they can't even breath air, how do they attack arctic critters, most of whom (if i remember the arctic thread correctly) don't go anywhere near coasts or anything
>>19882826That's going to get out of hand exceedingly quick, and I think I'll be giving them an alternate name right the fuck now. Tumiduceti mellevilus and the bloat dolphins can be Tumiduceti minoris. It's Latin for "bloated whale". Now the dolphins have a fine name, but Bloaty Dick is just begging to be trolled... and look, I included the Moby Dick reference.Now that I'm back from errands, I do have a question for you guys, do you feel like I'm too harsh with evo ideas? Do you guys come up with stuff and worry I'll reject it? I have honestly been wondering if that's the case. Or is it that you guys are tired of this game, I notice our comrades in the Primordial evos have slowed down noticably as well? Or is it simply that y'all have actual lives outside this game and are just out being normal. All that weird stuff like social lives and friends. Pfft, lame-oh. (lol, I kid, I kid...)
Meh, I just don't have many ideas I suppose.... You're hardly a hands on GM Fortune
>>19883480Would you guys rather I be a hands-on GM? I can be, but I feel like it's kind of bad taste to bump your own thread twice or three times. I know that there are many who said that they liked my hands-off method, but now I worry the players want something different. That's fine if you do, just tell me.
Well, if you think a more controlled approach would get the threads more lively, then go ahead... I think I'll make an evolution here just to make up for the lack of them today
>>19883671I want to know what *you*, the players want. This game's for you guys, and I am genuinely interested in what you all have to say (unless it's one of Drawbro's perverted jokes, ha ha ha, he knows I kid).That's what the discussion threads are for, if you think there needs to be a change in the way the game is played, then say so, and we'll all talk about it. I'm not the master here, I'm the referee.
rolled 2 = 2Well... I think this about the time in summer that us students begin to get bored, and find the things that were really fun very mundane. So I suppose we might be seeing something like that with these threads.Also, consrticors haven't been rolled for, and I need an evo idea.EVOFORMERS, EVOLVE AND ROLL OUT!
rolled 6 = 6Alright, thats a terrible roll. They're already blue.Lets reroll
>>19883789Fuck it, both those are boring. You want me to just think of something, or do you want to illustrate this?
I already did the size shrink evo, but yes, I would love another evo idea, cause the size one was only marginal changes.So yes, TELL ME MY GOAL IN ILLUSTRATION
>>19883872Turn them into ant lions. They lie in wait at the bottom of the ocean like the sarlacc from Star Wars. When a creature happens near, they raise up their tentacles and stuff it into their gullet. This happens because a mutation has been passed down, once recessive now dominant. It's caused them to be a vibrant blue normally associated with Smurf porn. So they took to ambush tactics, lying in wait and OMNOMNOMNOM.
>>19884104It will be ready tomorrow morning!
>>19884162mfw courtesty of Drawbro.
I'm personally waiting for the return to the Abyss and Desert regions of Fortune. I have dastardly plans in store for certain creatures in those regions. Horrible, nightmarish plans.
>>19884484Given how nightmarish our deep oceans are, I would be disappointed if you didn't. Btw, feel like helping me out illustrating the next region? Hell, I'll let you pick it if you do.
I eagerly await any new region, as it means we move closer to the Valley of the Giants
>>19884637When that day comes, if you don't turn the 3 species into at least 149 different kinds of dinosaur, I will be incredibly disappoint. Listen to Jurassic Park music if you must. If 1 critter (Celeophysis) can turn into the thousands of dinosaurs we've discovered, then we can take 3 and at least triple it.
>>19884484Also, DvM, you've been here a while, what do you think, do you think I should go about this game differently, less hands-off?
>>19884709Fuck the wretches. They think they can evolve into half the species of any given area? Lets see them do what we do in VotG.>Giant Porcupine Lizards>Rocs>FRIKKIN DRAGONS
>>19885149Bronze, you're on the right track. But not just big things. I want critters of all sizes. If the VotG doesn't look like Jurassic Park, Alien Planet, and a death metal album cover had a baby... I will probably cry myself to sleep, ha ha ha.
Alright, small things]>Six legged rats>Dinosaur pigs>Four eyed monkeys
>>19885557
>>19884778Personally I'm not sure I'm much of a reliable source on how hands-on stuff needs to be seeing how I myself still haven't gotten part 3 of my own EvoGame off the ground yet. I myself paid a lot more attention to the events in my own quest but that's because I was trying to focus on the framing story/lore. So that necessitates more preparation than normal to keep up my personal standards of quality and combined with my own laziness and the presence of other EvoGames it put things on a long hiatus. I've made preparations for a reboot and am ready to start a new thread when the time is right but I'm not sure if its been too long since I last dusted it off. Anyway, what I mean is I'd rather try to avoid that happening to Fortune. I don't want to create too much trouble for you and cause this quest to go into limbo for such a long time due to overtly detailed preparation, like my own. I like what you do here, it's easy to pick up in the middle without prior context. I haven't really gotten into the Primordial setting that much, due to the huge amount of background lore and cross-references/in-jokes that I haven't completely caught up on yet, and I suspect Convergence may have the same problem should I continue it. That said, a few random events once in a while aren't bad IMO, if you feel the need to invigorate a thread. They're best used to tie elements of the quest universe together like how the earthquakes in the Primordial setting released nightmarish creatures from the subterranean caverns onto the surface.
>>19885805Ah, true. Although, really, I picked up Primordial in the middle. Yeah, the in-jokes are one thing but storywise, we're on a different continent in there. You aren't going to need to know the grammar and syntax of the language I invented on the last continent. They haven't even discovered farming yet.
>>19885287I'm not going to lie. I've been having a thought tumbling about in regardless to making a tiny giant as it were. That said, I think many, like myself have hit sort of a wall for a bit and just need time to recharge again. I started paying during finals week at Uni, and it was a solid escape. Now I've been doing it for awhile and just need to recharge my collective creative juices. Of course I've been doing this by GMing my real life game and drawing up stuff for the Skullroots.As a further aside. I think you need to find that correct mix of crack the whip and hands on GMing. And beyond that accet some silly things will happen and not everyone writes a novelette like myself and Stooge and DvM do. Different styles, same game of awesome. I think VotG will be a real popular one due to it just getting outlandish at times and really offers a fun derivative, and I'd say the Jungle would be the same, though that's personal bias.
>>19886014And I used the wrong name on that. My mistake.
>>19886014Right... it's been so long since I graduated it's oddly easy to forget that there are people here who might still be in school. Stupid on my part, but true. And I know, not everyone writes a novelette, but I also don't want to end up on the other extreme: appeal to the lowest common denominator. If I wanted that I'd go to /b/. I am trying to appeal to a certain niche, a certain flavour of game, or even of evo game. I can't remember who said it but "if the book you want to read isn't on the market, write it yourself". That's what I'd like to do here, get like-minded people who geek out over the intricacy of a blade of grass.
>>19876855 Due to its new habitat in the shallows, the Krakithan has developed a color more suited to its light-rich environment.
>>19861514orange beast's spinial fin makes a heroic comeback, perhaps a genetic throwback to the days of old.and bump
>>19883093>>19851613>>19883833>>19883872>>19884104Wut. They got slimming down/speed for their roll, which I loosely interpreted here - >>19862746That said, I do like the Sarlacc idea.>>19885805Pretty much this. There really hasn't been a loss of interest on my part, it's just I've been busier for the past couple of threads than normally, and I haven't had any inspiration strike me. That said, my creativity is coming back, slowly but surely. As for region, I think it's time to either come back to the Desert, or start on Volcano Island.And on the topic of GMing, well, I'll have to agree with Father that you'll have to find some balance there. Personally I think everything's going quite smoothly now, a few random events wouldn't hurt, but not too many, some creatures being locked like in Part 6-1 wouldn't hurt either, but again, it shouldn't happen too often. That said, I think we'll need some biome maps for Part 7.
>>19889250The game: it has slowed down becuase of many things, but i think a natural stopping point has been reached here. Your game has gone smoothly, you are still getting your feet, but are doing just fine. The biggest thing that hurts you is your lack of a "buffer" between the game and yourself. It has not happened lately, but ive seen it in the past. At the same time, your caution and feelings work too, or we would probably be up to our ears in yumels.
The sea Sarlaac is ready. Or at least as ready as I can make it with my weak paint fuBEHOLD THE MIGHTY SEALAAC. It grabs anything that passes by and stuffs it into its gullet. Young sealaacs often make their homes in cevices between rocks. Only elder sealaacs are large enough to need to dig out a hole in the seafloor for thier bulk.
>>19889250Yeah, I'm liking the idea of Volcano island as well. A combination of critters from both continents would be cool, I think. I'm also thinking I'll include, as part of the region, the coast, with a few aquatic creatures.
>>19891496>>19891496Yeah, how are we going to do Volcano Island though? Do we just pick out some species that seem appropriate, or do we roll for them? It would probably make sense to restrict it to the regions surrounding the area Volcano Island broke off from. Also, Part 5 or Part 6 era species? It makes sense to use Part 6 for Pickle Island, but Volcano broke off during Part 5, no?Oh, and on the topic of islands, that reminds me, one of the ideas I didn't have time for in the last discussion thread was additional islands as small filler threads. If there's a long delay between threads or we just need to blow off some steam, just plot a small island somewhere in the ocean, grab a bunch of species that already have illustrations/descriptions, plop them down there, and evolve. If it goes well, it can go on for an extra thread, if it's really interesting we can return to it later, and if it's a bit lackluster we can just leave it and pretend it never happened.
>>19891837Actually, why not plan out which critters go into Volcano I. now, so that when I get back from game night I can start workin' on critters right away. Part 5 or 6 species can be allowed. Let's give it two herbivores for every one carnivore/omnivore.I like your idea for "filler islands", maybe it could be a part of discussion threads, something to move thread along. It'd also be great for adding more landmass as some have suggested. Hell, we could even use it as an excuse to develop wholly different lineages, a bunch of sea critters start crawling onto the new island. Totally different forms than those that descend from the original landlubbers.Another thing I've been pondering: maybe instead of descriptive comparative names for these creatures, we should just give them nonsense words for names. Hell, we could go the paleontology route and give 'em Latinate or Greek names, calling them by their genus names. Tumiduceti (TOO-mi-duh-SEH-tee), for the mainline "bloat whales". What do you all think?
I don't know enough latin to do that, nor enough greek. I like descriptive names. They're easy to remember
It doesn't have to be real latin/greek. Fake, latin-sounding words such as bloatimus dolphini or draconius constricticus work fine, for instance.
>>19892344Ah true, but I do worry that making comparisons might give the wrong ideas. Like for the crabs, we could easily forget that their furred and endothermic if we just describe them as crabs.>>19892407True, but as long as I have Google Translate, why not have a little fun with it, you know what I mean?
>>19892033Yeah, that's another thing. It doesn't even have to be based on sea creatures, I wouldn't mind seeing an island populated just by blimpie descendants, for example.
>>19892839>Islands of only blimpie descendantsFUCK YEAH, WRETCHES AIN'T GOT NOTHING ON THAT
>>19893075... Do you guys actually want to do this? Because I can. I'll fast forward a few thousand years and diverge them a bit, but they'll all be blimpie descendants.
>>19893206Sure. It's easy to justify as an island that only blimpies can reach. I don't think they need to be diversified too much, it would be fun seeing them being diversified in the thread itself. That said, I think an island this isolated could benefit from some plants to evolve as well, perhaps descended from the ones the Blimpies brought along on their backs.It could even be two close-by twin islands, so blimpies that lose their capacity for flight would need to adapt to just one, while the aerial variants would adapt for survival on both.
I love it. Blimpies evolve into everything. And everything will have a turnk
I'm all alone.... There's no one here besiiiide me....
Hmm, I just realised I'll probably miss quite a bit while visiting my family in a week. Probably going to be gone for 2-3 weeks. Hopefully I'll have some chances to post. That said, I totally hope that the region I miss is something I'm less interested in, like the Abyss and the Prairie.
>>19873092Due to the superior hunting performance of its more luminescent cousin, the Tiger Raveshark has been forced to turn to the larger prey that is too much work. To cope, they have developed larger front fins to gain the mobility necessary to chase after and stun Bloat Dolphins and the like.
>>19861543The river kraks lose those little stubs that were once its rear fins, removing another trace of its Ravedragon ancestry
>>19870975The Common Raveshark has developed better cooperation with its hunting partner through the new adaption of an additional flap of skin that conceals a hardened plate that can be vibrated to release and receive incredibly low frequency sounds that are well beyond the hearing range of their prey, so that they may be aware of the partner's position even when completely camouflaged.
Bump for bedtime
bumps for the bump throne! Fortune, whatever you do, we will likely play. Make an entire game about nitro beetles! (and now i explode hardest! NO YOU HAVE NOT SEEN MY FINAL FORM! GWAH?!!! His explosion level...its over 9000!)
>>19904212I think you've lost it... carry on.>>19896424Well, I can do the Prairie while you're gone, and use the time it's playing to work on the Blimpie descendant Volcano Island.
Still over 50 posts to go, Fortunates, feel free to continue contributing on any creature, should you have ideas.Le bump.
>>19862676The sandsnake loses its tentacles, and gains a lower beak. It now uses its new beak to crush preys bones, and take huge bites out.
>>19907431Lampreydragons gain smaller tail fins, which are now rotated, as to provide less drag when attached to a host, making their impact on the hosts activities less noticable
>>19908903Excellent, thanks for keeping it bumped, Bronze.
>>19908936One last bump before I let this pass like ships in the night.
>>19904914Well, I figured I actually have two weeks left and then I'll spend the two weeks after mostly without access to a computer.
>>19910237Well, since you said you were less interested in the Plains and the Abyss I can run those while your're gone. You've been a great help in keeping many of these threads alive, and I'd like to extend at least this courtesy to 'ya. All else fails, I can just take a break and derp around in the Primordial
>>19910272I don't particularly want to stall the game for everyone else, just consider my vote cast towards Prairie for the time that I'm gone. Ideally I'll probably leave halfway through a thread and come back halfway through the next thread. If not it's unlikely that I'll miss more than one thread. No need to make everyone else wait for me.For now I'll do a couple of quick evos and I'll finally be out of steam.
>>19910393Alright. That's probably true. I try to be quick about these games but sometimes I wonder if I need a break now and again. Granted, I won't leave without telling you all, and I'll try to tell you guys how long I'll be gone. So unless my PC breaks and I have to go and get a new one, you'll know if I'm leaving.
>>19910625I don't think there's anyone here that would argue that you don't deserve a break.>>19867727The Torpedo Stinger, though not defenseless, is nevertheless hunted by Ravesharks, Tumiduceti minoris, and Bearded Sawfins. In order to be able to fight off predators, Torpedo Stingers band together, into blooms of up to 50. Lacking developed senses, they navigate by sensing movement and vibrations in the water with their tendrils. When a predator approaches a bloom of Torpedo Stingers, the Stingers will actively approach the predator, violently shaking their tentacles to attract others, a primitive form of communication. A spark of intelligence can be seen further in that the Stingers will co-ordinate their movement somewhat, attempting to ram into the predator-turned-victim en masse, and sometimes encircling him, closing off escape routes. If they successfully kill the attacker they will them feed upon his corpse over a matter of 2-3 days. Sometimes this is done to passing herbivores and mainline Stingers, though normally the Torpedoes subsist on carrion and detritus.About the image... Yeah, it's really late here and none of the designs looked quite right to me so I kept drawing new ones and I kept all of them around in the end because I figure it's a good way to show how creepy it would be to be attacked by these things. As for the sliiightly phallic imagery, consider it a failure of design.
>>19874596The Filterfin gains a baleen-like filterfeeding system, with its mouth now affixed open by its mandibles. This serves a secondary purpose of intimidating small potential predators, such as lone Shadow Ravesharks and Sawfins. They rarely close their mouths, though should they need to they can do so over the mandibles.
>>19907431The Sandsnake fins a plentiful, though somewhat risky food source - the tentacles of adult Sealaacs. They will slither up unnoticed, and use its beak to slice off a tentacle and carry it away whole, to consume later.They gain a longer beak for snapping at tentacles and a small neck pouch for carrying them away, to facilitate this hunting habit. It proves useful enough to be carried on.
>>19913412What necessitated the survival of adult Torpedo Stingers was a vast change in their reproductive cycle, taking a small step towards traditional parenting.The Torpedo Stingers are not parasitic, lacking the reliance of their cousins on Ravesharks, and they do not lose the ability to reproduce over time. When the hard eggs of the Torpedo Stingers are released, nearby adult Stingers will "open up" their armoured plates, spreading them, consuming and storing the eggs. The medusae, when they hatch, are incubated inside of the adult Stingers, and sustained by them. Eventually they eat their way out of the adult, consuming him alive.The shorter time spent and less nutrition in a Stinger's digestive tract means that when released they are still immature forms, growing into maturity over time, and no eggs are released, meaning that they develop over time in adult Torpedo Stingers. If the adult host has not released his eggs yet when eaten they are "taken" and stored by a handful of the young Stingers, who will eventually release them along with their own. This sometimes leads to cross-fertilisation, an exception to the Stingers' usual asexual reproduction.A single Stinger's brood is often shared among as many as five others, and during the incubation period the bloom is significantly more aggressive, actively seeking prey to sustain the medusae.
>>19914430> traditional parentingWell... hominid parenting anyway. There animals that have been doing "non-traditional" parenting longer than our species has even existed.
>>19914593Well, it'a not particularly close to hominids, really. Or to any vertebrates. Just, you know, less parasitic and a bit closer to how we expect animals to reproduce.>>19914430>>19913412Oh, forgot to mention, this also means there are no venomous Torpedo Stingers and they're vulnerable to Ravedragon toxins.
>>19890779Due to tentacle predation by Sandsnakes, Sealaacs develop the ability to grow replacement tentacles. New tentacles constantly grow at a regular pace, throughout a Sealaac's life. Even if old tentacles are not bitten off, new ones will constantly sprout to be kept in reserve much like a shark's many extra backup teeth. Should the situation arise that a Sealaac has too many tentacles, making it unwieldy, some of them will remain in immature states, staying shorter than the other tentacles until a sufficient number are lost to trigger tentacle growth.
bumposhka, also, if anyone could archive this with the tag "Fortune Evolution" at suptg I'd be appreciative. i gotta go to work
Blamp
>>19899270The Common Raveshark has developed muscles to open and close its vocal tube, allowing it to both swim faster, and developed a wider range of sounds. Now in addition to its normal extremely low frequency communication, the Common Raveshark has honed a higher, but still extremely low frequency scream that is just within the range to be effective on Torpedo Stingers, which can be used to disrupt its preys attempts of coordination through an audio bombardment.
I want to make an evo for the Orangebeast, but I can't think of any....Fortune, if you're there, give me an evo idea for the Orangebeast.
>>19923515I propose a long neck. Slow, bulky, and bright orange, it needs to be an ambush predator.
>>19925527>Long neckKay
Bump for the Bump God, Posts for the Post throne
Bump, going to get back to work on the flipper evo tree soon. Or, rather, trees. Can't really work with it without splitting it up.
>>19928151I feel the Net overtaking me!>>19930641Excellent. I look forward to it, Stooge. If you guys have any more evos to post, please fell free too, but I'm heading to bed early. I'm exhausted today.
>>19882620>>19882826The bloat derivatives change slightly. the major grows larger fins on its side. the minor's snout thickens and shortens, as it begins to root around in shallow water pulling up plants.
>>19898100The Tiger Raveshark's preference for larger prey has favored the development of a sharp, hardened edge along the back of each tail. It is used to slice at the fleeing prey until they are too weak to fight back and is then consumed.
>>19887253The Krakithan has lost its teeth in favor for a segmented beak, more suited for cracking through the hard shells of the mud-crabs it preys on.
bumb.I wish I could contribute more
>>19934459It's fine, why you cannot is totally understood. Real life comes first and all that. I am really pleased with how this session went. A lot of really interesting evos in this round. So, I'm thinking of doing the Prairie next, how about it, any other suggestions?
I'll probably vote for Prairie. Given that I've got maybe ten days or so left it'll probably start shortly before I leave, and hopefully I'll return in time to contribute to the next thread.
prairieMicrobesa single meadow fed by a spring in the middle of a volcanic desert with everything being the size of bugs.all of these are good to me.
>>19940757> a single meadow fed by a spring in the middle of a volcanic desert with everything being the size of bugs.... do go on
>>19940886its just that, an isolated microcosm of its own, completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, so fragile.a pond thick grass growing around it, and a tall tree providing shade above. the residents of this place could live their entire lives knowing nothing of the outside world, small as they are.swimmers, flyers, colony bugs of several types.
>>19940992I will definitely consider that (and by that I mean, "oh, this is *so* happening).
Perhaps this little microcosm area can be a reward, just as Valley of the Giants is going to be our "end" area?We can go from >Tiny little puddle with a microcosmTo>VALLEY OF THE GOD DANG GIANTS
>>19938745>>19940757So that's two votes for the Prairie, any other takers? While I love the idea of microbes and the bug's life mini-ecosystem, they'll need some work and additional refining before they'll be ready.
I'll vote for prairie
>>19942210>>19942210Alright then. I think that settles it. The Prairies of Beta Continent are our next arena. Unless there are any objections, I'll get working on them. In the meantime feel free to keep evolving here in the ocean.
>>19940757>>19940886This reminds me, we need a sub-biome based on geysers and hot springs somewhere in the future.
>>19942839Hmm, could provide for some very interesting adaptations, especially in the microbial game. Lots of interesting little microscopic beasties in Yellowstone if I'm not mistaken.
Ah, the Prairie. Not a bad place to visit, I've been waiting to do more with the Czar Boars.
