by sbszine
SteamCraft wrote:
Interbreeding to supply fertile offspring
Drawback 1: The issue right here is that which means that if people and elves (or any two races) can breed, then they’re the identical species. Wherein case, you possibly can not have elves and people are separate species.
Drawback 2: Ring species – Inhabitants A can breed with B and C can breed with C, however A cannot breed with C. So B is 2 totally different species?
There are hybrids to think about as nicely, although. Horses and donkeys can interbreed regardless of being separate species, likewise lions and tigers. This one is not a showstopper for me.
SteamCraft wrote:
Drawback – What options distinguish one species from one other? Is pointed ear sufficient? What about pores and skin coloration or top?
See above. I believe the variation between horse and donkey or lion and tiger is of an identical order to the variations between human and elf or human and dwarf.
SteamCraft wrote:
Drawback – Hill dwarfs and Dwarfs are totally different species simply attributable to the place they stay
They could possibly be subspecies to account for this. Genus: humanoid, species: dwarf, subspecies: hill dwarf.
SteamCraft wrote:
Drawback – In a world created by gods and dwelling issues created by numerous gods, I do not suppose there’s an evolutionary tree
Genetic – Classification is predicated on genetic similarity, i.e. you probably have X% in frequent it’s the identical species, Y% means the identical genus, and so on.
Agreed, however I believe it means this is not an issue actually. We are able to simply say that the gods created the species as was believed in the true world pre Wallace and Darwin.
SteamCraft wrote:
Hopefully sufficient folks will complain that they may select a greater time period.
I believe species is correct sufficient, and the problem is extra that it is a trendy time period (or early trendy) that does not match with the fantasy tone. Different prospects:
Kin – appears like a household greater than a species, however satisfactory
Subspecies – addresses your entire points above however sounds much more sciencey
Selection – appears like a plant not a humanoid
Breed – correct and previous timey however runs into the problem of ‘half-breeds’ which sounds just like the form of factor WoTC desires to keep away from
Type – previous timey phrase for species, perhaps too generic / summary attributable to trendy utilization
