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Description
DESCRIBE THE ENVIRONMENT

What is the weather like?

Is it mountainous, more like a plain? Describe the landscape and be as detailed as possible.

What is it rich in? And lacking in?

Anything else you want to add?

SURVIVAL

How do they get water? How often and how much of it do they need? This has to do with evolution of the species. (if your species does not require water to survive, explain)

What is their food source? How do they gather, harvest, or hunt it? Establishing their diet is important in shaping their lifestyle, so be thoughtful with your response.

Are they nesters, building a home in a permanent place, or are they nomadic? If nesters, in what sort of home do they dwell? How are they built or prepared? Where, geographically, do they choose to place their housing? If nomadic, what keeps them on the move? Are they following something or avoiding something? How do they find shelter when they stop to rest?

Are there other species they compete with for survival? (such as for resources) Are there any predators they have to be wary of? (they may hunt others for food, but does anything hunt them?)

What do they use as tools? Do they use material from their environment? If so, how do they create their tools, and why do they use this material? (if they use no tools but rely on their body alone, try to describe this in the second question of the evolution section)

Anything else you want to add?

EVOLUTION

What is their average lifespan?

How has their body evolved to adapt to their environment? (think basic anatomy, don't get too caught up in it yet)

More specifically, how have they evolved to protect themselves and fight against others? (think how a porcupine has sharp quills, how a tortoise has a hard shell, or how a snake has a venomous bite)

How many genders are in your species? One? Two? Three? More than that? (while the thought of more or less than two genders may seem strange at first, take this opportunity to start getting crazy with your species if you get an idea)

Which gender "gives birth"? (or lays eggs, or dispenses seeds, or whatever it is you're planning) Think about how their bodies may be slightly different from the others.

Which gender is the strongest physically? Think about why.

Any other fun gender specifications? (keep thinking strictly evolution, social stuff comes next)

What are the requirements for giving birth? Is a specific environment needed? Is there a pregnancy period? If they lay eggs, how long do they take to hatch, and how must conditions be regulated to keep them alive? How does the "mother's" body change during pregnancy? Do they require anything extra while pregnant? How many children are typically born from one pregnancy? Start being specific.

Briefly describe the anatomy of a young member of the species compared to that of an adult. Then, an adult to a very old member?

Anything else you want to add?

SOCIETY

Do they travel or live in large groups, or do they prefer to live alone? Why is this? (start thinking about mannerisms)

Do they mate for life or do they change mates periodically? If periodically, how often? Do they tend to have multiple mates or just one? (keep your number of genders in mind and have fun with the concept)

What is considered "beautiful" or attractive amongst your species in terms of physique? What are they looking for in a potential mate?

Try to briefly describe courtship and the mating process. Do they have a system of dating and marriage as humans do, or do they simply mate and become partners? (have fun with this)

Do they have gender roles in their society? Is one responsible for caring for the young, or gathering food, etc.? Describe them.

Is one of the genders held in a higher regard than another? Why?

Do they have a hierarchy? What are the requirements of it? How does one rise to the top? Be detailed.

What is considered against the law or "taboo" in their society? (don't get too lost in details yet, just try to come up with some basic concepts)

Is there a punishment for those who break the rules? If there are specific punishments, explain them. If not specific, how do they determine a punishment? (is there a court, one specific person who decides, etc.?) What makes these punishments bad for a member of your species? (for example, if the punishment was banishment and the species was a very social one, this would be a harsh punishment)

At what point is a member of your species considered to be an adult in society? Is it a matter of age, or must a certain task be performed? (like a rite of passage)

What other rites of passage are practiced within the species?

Do they have a currency or a way to trade? If so, what makes the currency or trading items valuable to the species?

Are there rules to trading? Describe the system.

In what regard are elders held in society?

Describe a few basic values of the society and species. (for example, do they particularly value the family unit? Or strength? This will start giving you more reasons for why they do things the way they do)

Think about their relationships with other species. Have they domesticated other species as humans have with dogs and other pets? Do they view another species as their equals? Start thinking, but don't try to be too detailed yet.

Do the citizens have specific occupations? Do they choose them for themselves, follow the family business, or have some way of having their occupation chosen for them? Describe a few of the basic occupations.

Is their society primarily war-based, trade-based, or religion-based? Or something else you can think of?

Who names newborns and decides on their direction in life? The parents? A religious leader? The ruler of the hierarchy? Why?

Anything else you want to add?

WAR

Even peaceful species may be forced into war at times, be it against another city of their own kind or another species. What are their typical reasons for going to war?

What is their basic strategy? (do they march large armies to fight their enemy, focus on a more stealthy operation, or have some thought-out battle plan? Be creative)

What determines a warrior? Can any citizen drop what they're doing, pick up a weapon and go to fight? Or are there specific members designated as warriors for the society? What does this sort of life entail and require? (think training, physical and mental qualities, etc.)

If their society has a leader, what is their role in war? Do they fight with their people, leading the armies, or do they give instructions from the sidelines?

Are there rules to war within your species? For example, are enemy leaders required to meet and declare war? Is war won with the capture of something? Are there things that are forbidden? This is another good place to get creative.

What sort of weapons do they use? What are they made of? If some sort of chemical or substance is used, what does it do to the victim? Have fun with this.

How do the warriors move during war? On foot? With a sort of vehicle? (remember, "vehicles" may even be other living things, remember how they may have domesticated something? Or they may build something. The possibilities are limitless) If a vehicle is used, describe it and its attributes, strengths, and weaknesses.

What gives your species an advantage in war? A disadvantage?

Anything else you want to add?

RELIGION

Is there a shared belief system amongst your species? Is there one designated belief that all of them hold, or are there multiple? Briefly describe the basics of this/these belief/s. Remember, religions often mirror each other, so if you want your species to have a religion similar to one of ours go for it, or create one all on your own.

Are there rituals or ceremonies held for their beliefs? Describe them.

More specifically, how are their deities worshiped? (if they have deities)

Does the religion dictate some things as sacred, but others as evil? Are there good or bad omens? Think about this and describe a few possibilities. (for example, in some older belief systems twins were thought to be evil and were therefore discarded)

If their society has a leader, what role do they play religiously? Do they claim to be themselves a god? Are they close enough to the deities to speak with them and receive their counsel? Or is there a separate religious leader from the one who runs the society? Does the religious leader have more or less power than the leader of the society?

Anything else you want to add?

Congratulations!

You have now defined the basic structure for your species! If you haven't already, give them a name! Well done!

Description
DESCRIBE THE ENVIRONMENT

What is the weather like?

Is it mountainous, more like a plain? Describe the landscape and be as detailed as possible.

What is it rich in? And lacking in?

Anything else you want to add?

SURVIVAL

How do they get water? How often and how much of it do they need? This has to do with evolution of the species. (if your species does not require water to survive, explain)

What is their food source? How do they gather, harvest, or hunt it? Establishing their diet is important in shaping their lifestyle, so be thoughtful with your response.

Are they nesters, building a home in a permanent place, or are they nomadic? If nesters, in what sort of home do they dwell? How are they built or prepared? Where, geographically, do they choose to place their housing? If nomadic, what keeps them on the move? Are they following something or avoiding something? How do they find shelter when they stop to rest?

Are there other species they compete with for survival? (such as for resources) Are there any predators they have to be wary of? (they may hunt others for food, but does anything hunt them?)

What do they use as tools? Do they use material from their environment? If so, how do they create their tools, and why do they use this material? (if they use no tools but rely on their body alone, try to describe this in the second question of the evolution section)

Anything else you want to add?

EVOLUTION

What is their average lifespan?

How has their body evolved to adapt to their environment? (think basic anatomy, don't get too caught up in it yet)

More specifically, how have they evolved to protect themselves and fight against others? (think how a porcupine has sharp quills, how a tortoise has a hard shell, or how a snake has a venomous bite)

How many genders are in your species? One? Two? Three? More than that? (while the thought of more or less than two genders may seem strange at first, take this opportunity to start getting crazy with your species if you get an idea)

Which gender "gives birth"? (or lays eggs, or dispenses seeds, or whatever it is you're planning) Think about how their bodies may be slightly different from the others.

Which gender is the strongest physically? Think about why.

Any other fun gender specifications? (keep thinking strictly evolution, social stuff comes next)

What are the requirements for giving birth? Is a specific environment needed? Is there a pregnancy period? If they lay eggs, how long do they take to hatch, and how must conditions be regulated to keep them alive? How does the "mother's" body change during pregnancy? Do they require anything extra while pregnant? How many children are typically born from one pregnancy? Start being specific.

Briefly describe the anatomy of a young member of the species compared to that of an adult. Then, an adult to a very old member?

Anything else you want to add?

SOCIETY

Do they travel or live in large groups, or do they prefer to live alone? Why is this? (start thinking about mannerisms)

Do they mate for life or do they change mates periodically? If periodically, how often? Do they tend to have multiple mates or just one? (keep your number of genders in mind and have fun with the concept)

What is considered "beautiful" or attractive amongst your species in terms of physique? What are they looking for in a potential mate?

Try to briefly describe courtship and the mating process. Do they have a system of dating and marriage as humans do, or do they simply mate and become partners? (have fun with this)

Do they have gender roles in their society? Is one responsible for caring for the young, or gathering food, etc.? Describe them.

Is one of the genders held in a higher regard than another? Why?

Do they have a hierarchy? What are the requirements of it? How does one rise to the top? Be detailed.

What is considered against the law or "taboo" in their society? (don't get too lost in details yet, just try to come up with some basic concepts)

Is there a punishment for those who break the rules? If there are specific punishments, explain them. If not specific, how do they determine a punishment? (is there a court, one specific person who decides, etc.?) What makes these punishments bad for a member of your species? (for example, if the punishment was banishment and the species was a very social one, this would be a harsh punishment)

At what point is a member of your species considered to be an adult in society? Is it a matter of age, or must a certain task be performed? (like a rite of passage)

What other rites of passage are practiced within the species?

Do they have a currency or a way to trade? If so, what makes the currency or trading items valuable to the species?

Are there rules to trading? Describe the system.

In what regard are elders held in society?

Describe a few basic values of the society and species. (for example, do they particularly value the family unit? Or strength? This will start giving you more reasons for why they do things the way they do)

Think about their relationships with other species. Have they domesticated other species as humans have with dogs and other pets? Do they view another species as their equals? Start thinking, but don't try to be too detailed yet.

Do the citizens have specific occupations? Do they choose them for themselves, follow the family business, or have some way of having their occupation chosen for them? Describe a few of the basic occupations.

Is their society primarily war-based, trade-based, or religion-based? Or something else you can think of?

Who names newborns and decides on their direction in life? The parents? A religious leader? The ruler of the hierarchy? Why?

Anything else you want to add?

WAR

Even peaceful species may be forced into war at times, be it against another city of their own kind or another species. What are their typical reasons for going to war?

What is their basic strategy? (do they march large armies to fight their enemy, focus on a more stealthy operation, or have some thought-out battle plan? Be creative)

What determines a warrior? Can any citizen drop what they're doing, pick up a weapon and go to fight? Or are there specific members designated as warriors for the society? What does this sort of life entail and require? (think training, physical and mental qualities, etc.)

If their society has a leader, what is their role in war? Do they fight with their people, leading the armies, or do they give instructions from the sidelines?

Are there rules to war within your species? For example, are enemy leaders required to meet and declare war? Is war won with the capture of something? Are there things that are forbidden? This is another good place to get creative.

What sort of weapons do they use? What are they made of? If some sort of chemical or substance is used, what does it do to the victim? Have fun with this.

How do the warriors move during war? On foot? With a sort of vehicle? (remember, "vehicles" may even be other living things, remember how they may have domesticated something? Or they may build something. The possibilities are limitless) If a vehicle is used, describe it and its attributes, strengths, and weaknesses.

What gives your species an advantage in war? A disadvantage?

Anything else you want to add?

RELIGION

Is there a shared belief system amongst your species? Is there one designated belief that all of them hold, or are there multiple? Briefly describe the basics of this/these belief/s. Remember, religions often mirror each other, so if you want your species to have a religion similar to one of ours go for it, or create one all on your own.

Are there rituals or ceremonies held for their beliefs? Describe them.

More specifically, how are their deities worshiped? (if they have deities)

Does the religion dictate some things as sacred, but others as evil? Are there good or bad omens? Think about this and describe a few possibilities. (for example, in some older belief systems twins were thought to be evil and were therefore discarded)

If their society has a leader, what role do they play religiously? Do they claim to be themselves a god? Are they close enough to the deities to speak with them and receive their counsel? Or is there a separate religious leader from the one who runs the society? Does the religious leader have more or less power than the leader of the society?

Anything else you want to add?

Congratulations!

You have now defined the basic structure for your species! If you haven't already, give them a name! Well done!