Gamma World (or other mutant post-apoc fantasy) are the only fantasy games where I consider evolution to be an active force, because there are no active gods present. In fantasy worlds with gods, there aren't creation myths per se because the gods talk to their clerics. There may be creation propaganda as different gods tell their clerics different stories, but I would rarely, if ever, include evolution in the mix.

FOR ME, the less real world in my fantasy games, the better.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1135407Gamma World (or other mutant post-apoc fantasy) are the only fantasy games where I consider evolution to be an active force, because there are no active gods present. In fantasy worlds with gods, there aren't creation myths per se because the gods talk to their clerics. There may be creation propaganda as different gods tell their clerics different stories, but I would rarely, if ever, include evolution in the mix.

FOR ME, the less real world in my fantasy games, the better.

And that's fine, I don't really include it in my games, except here and there to explain something away to the players, not the characters, since characters wouldn't have any knowledge of this in a medieval-esque world. But most of the time I just use handvium, and don't explain things and let everybody assume why.

But, when not playing, I often wonder about such things.

My sword and sorcery settings definitely have evolution as a rule. It may be a little more Howardesque than IRL in terms of time scale, but it's there.

High fantasy settings have created races.

Sword and sorcery and post-apoc also have the concept of de-evolution where things and people have slid backwards along the evolutionary timeline.

Quote from: GeekyBugle;1135396Evolution in Middle Earth doesn't necessarily work in a different way than it does in the real world.

And here we are. Drow can have dark skin and not "adapt" to underground environments like they might in the real world, because magic or divine power. Then again Drow might, depending on the campaign.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1135480Sword and sorcery and post-apoc also have the concept of de-evolution where things and people have slid backwards along the evolutionary timeline.

Which is a silly idea, since evolution by natural selection is adaptation to the environment. Nothing "de-evovles". But as a literary device in a piece of fiction, it resonates with the reader.

De-evolution in fiction comes from the idea that as civilization crumbles, man becomes more feral, not just in behavior, but in physical appearance. AKA, a tie between civilization and genetics.

Quote from: Ratman_tf;1135484And here we are. Drow can have dark skin and not "adapt" to underground environments like they might in the real world, because magic or divine power. Then again Drow might, depending on the campaign.

It could even depend on the species. Some underground creatures, like Drow, might develop physiological trails, like dark skin, as a result of their magical nature, while more naturally evolved creatures, like lizards or moles, might become albinos in the same circumstances. It doesn't have to be either/or, it could be both depending on the specifics on a case by case basis.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1135489De-evolution in fiction comes from the idea that as civilization crumbles, man becomes more feral, not just in behavior, but in physical appearance. AKA, a tie between civilization and genetics.

Devolution is still evolution, typically used to describe natural selection for decreased neoteny, lower intelligence etc. The term comes from an erroneously teleological view of evolution as having an intended goal of ever increasing intelligence and refinement.

Keep in mind that the drow do not live in total darkness. They dont even stay underground 24/7. Though Im sure a few surface races withed they did.

Quote from: Omega;1135602Keep in mind that the drow do not live in total darkness. They dont even stay underground 24/7. Though Im sure a few surface races withed they did.

They usually do stay 24/7 underground, though, just not 24/7/365. And even then, not all dark elves participate in raids, and those raids happen only at night. Some stay at home doing magical research or performing priestly duties or other functions all the time, and the degree of lighting in their homes is very minimal and faint, originating from glowing fungi and faerie fire. It's only a small portion of dark elves that really go out in raids, and then only occasionally. And they may alternate between who goes on raids and when.

And? Its still not total darkness. And they still have to travel through areas that are more, or less lit than where they dwell.

Quote from: Omega;1135711And? Its still not total darkness.

So? How does that impact the side discussion about dark elf skin color and evolution? Unless you were referring to something else? Being exposed to fungi light, or maybe to starlight once in a blue moon (taking YEARS sometimes between raids), doesn't affect skin pigmentation as far as I'm aware.

Quote from: Omega;1135711And they still have to travel through areas that are more, or less lit than where they dwell.

Not in FR at least (though, this could potentially vary by setting). At the contrary, dark elf patrols travel primarily through underground tunnels that are completely lightless, relying entirely on infra/darkvision to navigate for hours on end. Stuff like lava flows and glowing fungi are highly uncommon, and they never go to the surface unless they specifically have plans to raid in advance, and only at night and very rarely. There were entire chapters in Dark Elf Trilogy dedicated to this stuff. The vast majority of the Underdark is completely pitch black.

Bad characters do evil things, that is why we call them villains. Evil characters are inappropriate by design, if some of them are racist, that is just to further the story.

Quote from: Tom Kalbfus;1135724Bad characters do evil things, that is why we call them villains. Evil characters are inappropriate by design, if some of them are racist, that is just to further the story.

  What if a good character is racist?