This a great, well constructed idea making my mind twirl with thoughts.

Two miles is quite a short distance if they were to plant their tree in the ground.
There was a small hint of the pain of the trimming to stop them from growing. Intriqued, I am.
That paralleled with the thought of the brain damage is great. Does the tree provide anything in return. Long life? Feed the tree, feed the man? Anything to show symbiosis vs. dependability.

I would think there would always be one "Oak" as it seems they are rather fragile and having somebody that could protect them would be rather handy.

Polish and post it. We are ready to vote! Go to Comment

I have to say I really like it. This would perfectly mix with the Garan idea, a form of magic that is similar to a plant.

I would like a bit more detail on the colour of eyes and the roles of their owners in their society - is this a mere belief, or are they really better suited for a particular task; are they raised for the job determined by the colour, or actually forced by tradition or laws? What is of those that resist?

I would be also interested in the legends (or truth) that explain how they came into being, turned from plants into humanoids (of sorts).

Oh, and: how long do they live typically, and if lucky? I can well imagine an ancient Bygnok of hundreds of summers (or winters, they would call a year in some special way), worn by the years, but still standing, cared by his loving family, known far and wide for his wisdom. Go to Comment

Maybe, some of them grow into width, rather than height, becoming the strongarms of their race. One hit with a large wooden fist should dissuade most attackers. Go to Comment

This should be included in the Minor Race codex, but it is still in the working zone.

http://www.strolen.com/content.php?node=1150

As is, it would work as an average sort of post. With a little polishing, it would be great. Go to Comment

Wow! this is a brilliant idea Andimia! It does need some polish, mostly in the form of some spellchecking and spacing with the paragraphs. I like the imagry of the giant's tree being struck by lightning, and those who carry their life seeds on their back so constantly that no one thinks the two are seperate. Go to Comment

Actually, the trees could 're-spawn' Bygnok who have died at a younger age - so, teens could have a very high chance to be reborn amongst the roots of the trees, wereas an elder would most likely not be restored by the plant. Go to Comment

Maybe this race encroaches on the traditional niche of elves as nature folks, but they do not have the baggage the elves have. As described the plant-link seems more a disability, I think the benefits should be described more. If the Bygnok have some kind of plant-magic that makes them masterfarmers, they are probably amongst the most valued citizens of any nation. Go to Comment

I agree with both Scrasamax's comments on the idea, and the work that needs to be done to correct it.

Keep it coming! Go to Comment

Indeed, a little polish and I'm happy to toss my vote and a HOH nomination on this sub.

A nice race to add depth to unexplored regions of the world, although a little detail on northern varieties woudl be excellent. (Given winter woudl either put these people into hibernation aside form the ever green ones, their culture would be someone seasonal in nature.) Go to Comment

I agree with Phaidros in that the life root seems more like a liability. Strolen's idea of one Oak per town seems pretty great. Maybe the advantage is that they can effectively choose their size/weight? Maybe the vain ones spend all day pruning their tree in order to have, lets say, whiter teeth? Do they ever go missing but their tree lives on? Isn't 10 miles a really short distance if you have to have spread out farms and then a central town? Is there anything wacky, like one can fall asleep and the life root awaken as a kick-ass treant? Go to Comment

Overall, I think this is an excellent idea. This is an intriguing race, just alien enough to make interacting with them interesting and quirky.

I would also like to see some detail about how the eye color and affinity aspect works. Perhaps some concrete examples?

What sort of advice are you looking for in order to take it out of Advice Requested?

Go to Comment

It's a good idea. But it could prove extremely challenging. Go to Comment

What's stopping the zealous paladins that haunt all fantasy games from annihilating these guys? Go to Comment

Updated: ok, i submitted this idea really late at night and left a lot of things out and posted it wrong. so i changed it to an "in work" submission Go to Comment

While I am all about political malefesence, there is one thing that really nags at me about the SoN and it is that there is no organization that utilizes their unique services. Are they adjutant to the Crown, kind of like a mystically inclined Gestapo, or are they freelancers? Also, I think it might help if there were some hints on how to use them, and maybe some plot hooks. Go to Comment

Who hires them? The Crown? The Thieve's Guild? Go to Comment

A possible bug-before I voted it had 2 XP,now it has 1. I voted 2 and a half.A bug, or intentonal? Go to Comment

Yes. Low scores subtract from the XP. Exceptionally low scores could result in negative XP... The author is punished for posting so to speak. Go to Comment

I agree with the above, it needs a backstory. Without some background it's just yet another case of just "evil for evil's sake" (which is never particularly satisfying).

A point to remember, nobody EVER calls themselves the "bad guys" (that honour is always reserved for their opponents).

In the real world even the worst organisations in history (the Spanish Inquisition, the Nazi Party, etc, etc) were all run by ordinary (although often somewhat deranged) people who firmly believed themselves to be "doing God's work", "saving the world from Evil", or some other such nonsense.

This doesn't mean you can't have an "evil organisation" in your game-world, you most certainly can, but if you do remember that they think they're the "good guys", and include the rational (however perverse) behind this belief.

It will make the organisation SO much more believable.

As is - nice idea and shows some promise, but NEEDS a backstory - so only 3 I'm afraid Go to Comment

DL you're wrong. There are some people who know they are the bad guy and are proud about it. A la 1984. Go to Comment