As we look upon the planet, we see the first vestiges of life unleashed into the primordial ooze, crazily scurrying about for the chance to consume and reproduce.
Planetary Alpha Species: Comedenti
Species List
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Biopod - A rapidly reproducing but otherwise entirely useless species. They create biomatter within themselves them split into two identical halves every other second. They are entirely incapable of evolving, however it's also safe to say they are impossible to wipe out, as they can survive under any conditions. They will probably always be the most numerous species in existence. Being hunted by: Comedenti, Traits: Incapable of extinction
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Comedenti - A rapidly reproducing species, and the first truely 'living' organism introduced to the planet. What differs them from the biopod is that they require sustenance both to survive and to reproduce. While this is in one way a weakness (They can die off if they have no access to the biopods!), it also means they have the capacity for evolution, as adversity creates a necessity for change. They can tell no difference between themselves and biopods, and comedenti absorbing one another is not particularly uncommon in the primordial ooze. Being hunted by: None, Competitors: Comedenti, Prey: Biopod, Traits: Constant hunger, Blind, absorbs nutrients through tendrils.
What changes shall begin to take place?
Also what you call, The System: How to Actually play, is kind of how I have my game(Cones Rework(shameless plug)) play.
I'll go check out yours for ideas on how to run mine better then :D. Who knows, maybe I'll want to join in, too!
So, how exactly do the Biopods work? Are they just magic, or what?
And what exactly am I supposed to do?
Thank you for asking. I apologize for not being too clear on everything, this is my first time trying to run something like this.
The Biopods: A good way of thinking of it is that they're the lowest form of plankton imaginable. They can't move about on their own accord, they have no sensory system. Nothing. They simply absorb energy from "The sun" (If you're paying attention to the roleplay aspect, from the light cast down by the ship during the planets day time cycle), internalize it and use it to feed themselves. They then split into two identical parts. They exist almost entirely to be fed upon by other low lifeforms. I believe the correct word for them might be phytoplankton?
What you're supposed to do: This is difficult for me to explain beyond what I've already said. Pavellius below you hit the nail on the head though, tell me how things evolved (Or tell me how the alien you're playing made things evolved, if you're interested in the roleplay aspect!), feel free to tell me the why, and what you think would happen because of the evolution. Whether I take everything or just some of what you say and incorporate it depends mostly upon if it makes sense. If you tell me one of the basal, germ-like lifeforms suddenly grows legs, a mouth, eyes and becomes the size of a rhino.. That's not going to fly. However, you could over the course of many turns work towards that, if it was your wish.
TO THE GAME
My post
Some of the comedenti have sensory growths sprout up across their body, allowing them to feel as the liquids around them shift, and tell in which direction there are.. "Things". Whilst they have neither the senses nor intellect to differentiate danger from food, this does allow them to better position themselves so that atleast their feeder tendrils are pointed in the correct direction.
Main Post
While the numbers of the proto Comedenti species bloom, consume and spread across the primordial oceans of our new world, we see two competitors rise from their dust. One offshoot has its feeder tendrils spread across its form allowing it to devour much more biomass in a much shorter time. As a result, it and its offspring grow much larger and fatter than their ancestors. Little to no other single creature would be able to feed off of this new "Devoradenti" as even if they got their mouths on it, it would be feeding off of two or three other things as well as its predator at the same time! ..However, due to the need for much greater sustenance, the Devoradenti's actual numbers would be lower than any other current species upon the world.
As well, a more subtle adaptation. With sensory growths sprouting up over their body, the "Sendenti" were quickly over-consuming and spreading at a tremendous pace. However.. Their own newfound strength wasn't all boon. Not able to differentiate food from predator, they'd often run straight into the Devoradenti, quickly becoming its primary food source. Atleast they were doing better than their ancestors?
Planetary Alpha Species: Devoradenti
Species List
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Devoradenti - Currently the largest and most voracious of all the creatures on the planet, Devoradenti survives by pure force of appetite. The feeding tendrils spread across its body allow it to absord nutrients from any attacker at the same rate at which it is being absorbed, while it also absorbs nutrients from those surrounding it. Being Hunted by: None, Competitors: Devoradenti, Main Prey: Sendenti, Traits: Constant hunger, blind, absorbs nutrients through tendrils, large
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Sendenti - The first creature upon the planet to have any form of sensory track, the Sendenti uses growths across its body to read the changes in the water in order to locate the largest or nearest gathering of biomass, travel there, and begin consuming. While they are reproducing faster than any other creature (Aside from biopods) upon the planet, they are also killing themselves off the fastest, as they run straight into their new cousins, the Devoradenti. Being Hunted by: None, Competitors: Devoradenti, Sendenti, Comedenti, Main Prey: Biopods, Traits: Constant hunger, 1 sense, absorbs nutrients through tendrils, suicidal
Pavellius, your signature text upsets me greatly.
Why there are two evolutions even though only one person posted one: I'm going to be joining in on the 'game', atleast until it picks up traction. Only one evolution at all per turn would make it rather boring for both me and the readers, I think. I wont 'god game' or anything though, don't worry.