"Designing Alien Fauna Ecosystems" Topic

In my recent post of my WIP for the alien buffalo analog I was foing, I mentioned my desire to create a sort of "canned" ecosystem to go along with it. this would include other lifeforms that would live along side this beasty.

In the original WIP thread ( TMP link )I posted a picture of a proposed pack hunting predator (shown again below). I have a few others in mind.

I was curious if others like to see this sort of cohesive sort of ecology on the board as opposed to collecting various fauna from here and there.

-Eli

I am interested in food web/chain networks, especially if that is rationalised into threat to an ongoing operation.

I mean just because you are not a carnivore, you are not a threat….

Exactly!

A herd of frightened alien bison will ruin your day faster than a single pack of alien wolf analogs.

-Eli

Yes.

I don't prefer one approach to the other but always interested in seeing what folks develop. Please continue to post your stuff.

In a simple form, the "wolfpack" mentioned above feeds on the smaller/weaker/oldest/youngest of a herd of stumpthings – slowly mobile part flora, part fauna. They are large, with thick bark like skin that the wolves can't easily, if at all penetrate. They migrate like a very, very slow herd of cattle extracting what they need from the soil and plant life, and excreting waste that helps fertilize what they've left behind. The fertilized ground is better than what the stumpers found as it has been treated with the combined, processed waste which included the soil and plant elements that do not break down quickly, along with acids and proteins from the innards of the stumpers – the combination of which is an excellent fertilizer. Parts of it, however, are diseased with a fast acting bacteria.

The target units get hit when they are unable to close ranks quickly enough and join in the community formed "shell" of bark. The shell group isn't worth the time and effort (learned knowledge) so the pack hits what they can, eats, and leaves. The remnants are left for the scavs, that both help clean up the waste, as well as some getting infected, quickly dying and decaying, which in turn both mixes with the excretions fertilizing the land, which encourages growth and multiplication of the stumpers, and giving off odors that keep the wolves at bay temporarily. The stumpers spawn much like maple trees or dandelions do – with an overabundance of "seeds" most of which will not grow up. Of those that do, the ones that get big enough become wolf bait as well as future stumpers depending on how their luck is running. The size of the pack is modulated by the success of the stumpers. The size of the scav population in tern is modulated by both – an abundance of stumper sprouts means more feeding which means more waste, which feeds more scavs which means more of them get infected which means more stumper sprouts, etc.

Great interpretation!

My own has them preying on my alien bison, using hit and run to wound and eventually bleed the bison to death.

-Eli

Yes, I'd like to see that.

I still miss the old "Ecology Of" articles in Dragon magazine, that detailed the whys, wherefores, and environments of various AD&D monsters.

I've always thought that boxed sets of alien lifeforms from the same world would be cool.

I know that the classic boxed miniatures sets of the past have gone the way of the D12 and likely aren't even a viable option for marketing anymore, but I used to love getting a box marked, "Swamp Denizens" or "Creatures of the Deep" or whatever.

I suppose non-boxed sets could still be offered, each providing a set of life forms designed to be found on the same world or even alien habitat.

-Eli

I agree a whole 'worlds' worth of creatures always appeals. Any strange beasties from the land of the Chuhuac lurking in that mind of yours?

Another good analogy to consider is the hippo, which while not carnivorous, is very territorial, and kills way more humans than crocs, which apparently seem to like to eat humans.

So, alien equivalents of those should be considered too.

@Republic – We'll see on that. I've only given some basic thought to the background of the Chuhuac. They did not evolve on their homeworld so really any alien beasts are possible.

I love the hippo! I wrote a Pulp miniatueres scenario that was a raft race down a hippo infested river. Bad guys and good guys racing against one another vs the hippos.

-Eli

Eli, having a small box set with a complete set of Fauna would be very cool. 10-15 figures or 4-5 types would be sufficient I would think, just make sure you fit the roles decently, have available stat cards for common games such as Gruntz, Blasters and Bulkheads, etc would really help your sales.

I do really like your bison creatures, and these wolves are very nice.

I like that idea.

That was really me waxing wistful for the miniatures of my youth. The bison is already slated to go to the SHM line through 15mm.co.uk.

I will keep the idea of "ecology" sets in my head though for possible future exploitation.

My biggest concern is that, despite how cool it is, it may just not be a viable product line.

-Eli

If I had money, I'd buy a pack of 15 – 20 alien creature minis, if there were 4 – 5 very different looking, and nicely sculpted creatures in a pack, e.g. big ones, little ones, long/medium ones, etc.

Then, and option to purchase more of the various creatures individually, would be nice, for people that want to flesh out their herds/packs.

I always want some interesting flora. Venus fly traps, triffids, spore creatures, fungus folk, pitcher plants etc.

But as you say the sales potential is not always there.

A lot can be accomplished by converting other figs too. Seeing as even alien anatomy may follow certain basic body forms, you can go a long way by establishing a set of key anatomical traits that tie your alien forms together and then converting them onto existing animals.

This is a great way to also expand on manufactured alien creatures. No manufacturer will ever be able to deliver the diversity likely to be found on an alien world, so the clever adaptation of fantasy and real world creatures can puff up your ecosystem.

-Eli

Here are some pictures of an old aerofauna project I did converting holiday decorations (eggs, gourds, etc)

Kraken, pod of Yellow Bows, and a Floater

While these were designed to menace VSF airships, they could easily be used in 15mm scale or even 28mm.

-Eli

I have purchased a dozen of the old OOP Grenadier Traveller Alien Animals boxed sets of minis over the years, so, yeah, I'd definitely buy boxed sets of fauna and flora from "Eli's World," or wherever.

Neat thread.

I'd appreciate nearly anything from Barlowe's Expedition: link

Those holiday decorations are superb, Eli!

Finally, something decent looking, and other-worldly, without being a man in a rubber suit.

I would love some truly alien ecosystem.

aliens.wikia.com/wiki/Snaiad

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_IV

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurelia_and_Blue_Moon

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_biochemistry

Found these ones too.

"Stilters" made from spare Tyranid bits and wire. Unfinished and a blurry picture, but you get the general idea.

-Eli

That was really me waxing wistful for the miniatures of my youth. The bison is already slated to go to the SHM line through 15mm.co.uk.

My biggest concern is that, despite how cool it is, it may just not be a viable product line.

Like I said in the bison thread, I didn't want to dictate too much about what someone should or shouldn't do with a personal hobby project; but then I didn't know this had a more commercial side to it. I'll offer another (gentle!) prod towards RL anatomy. (Google images is your friend, and Mini Sculpture has a couple of relevant links too: link )
I like the narwolf and bison concepts, but I think they could be polished a little bit more, particularly at the hip and shoulder; and for creature design in general I think alienness and surface texture only covers up so much. See the real world influence on a couple of Wayne Barlowe's otherwise kooky creatures, for example:

And even though 15mm.co.uk's satisfied (which is perfectly fine), it couldn't hurt sales to try to boost the appeal, if possible!

(Nice aerofauna, too.)

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Warren B.
minisculpture.co.uk

Dang. Looking at Failure16's google search, I just realised I have a book on ceratopsian dinosaurs that Barlowe illustrated. link Never twigged it was the same guy, 'til now.

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Warren B.
minisculpture.co.uk

Warren,

Thanks for the notes.

-Eli