Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Taolil 12-17-07, 04:40 AM	Okay, so, I'm going to preface this by saying that I'd prefer to try and find a NON-MAGICAL solution to this problem, but I'll end up going that route if I have to. That said, I'm busy working on my campaign world (fractured world that some of the folks on here were very helpful with providing some research material for, thanks!) and I'm starting to flesh out things. Anyway, one of the ideas I had was for a forest with trees that are impossibly hard and can't be cut down easily/at all. This has allowed for vegetation to grow and thrive, despite heavy logging/lumber activity in the region. I did some research on my own and dug up some information on petrified wood, which isn't really what I had had in mind, as everything I've read on petrified wood has it being dead and buried. I've also looked up information on ironwood/ironbark trees (some form of Australian eucalyptus tree used primarily in shipbuilding) and found them somewhat lacking. Ideally, I'd like to either find a tree or a condition that renders trees more or less impervious to simple cutting materials while either keeping the tree alive or preserving the integrity of the tree (ie, upright plant like object, rather than buried treasure.) Having one of my players being able to recognise these trees and their nature is a possible advantage that they could rely on for them and I'd rather it be a natural occurrence that could be made with a Skill check, rather than "magic trees." Any ideas? Oddball, I know, but any input would be greatly appreciated! Oh, this occurred to me somewhat belatedly, but if I have any questions pertaining to my specific campaign world, should I continue to make them in that thread or make a new one such as this when I have very specific questions? If it's the former, I'd like to humbly ask a WizO to merge this with my existing thread. Thanks in advance!
Darth Syntax 12-17-07, 04:57 AM	That said, I'm busy working on my campaign world (fractured world that some of the folks on here were very helpful with providing some research material for, thanks!) and I'm starting to flesh out things. Anyway, one of the ideas I had was for a forest with trees that are impossibly hard and can't be cut down easily/at all. This has allowed for vegetation to grow and thrive, despite heavy logging/lumber activity in the region. If the trees are so hard, how is there any lumber industry to speak of? I did some research on my own and dug up some information on petrified wood, which isn't really what I had had in mind, as everything I've read on petrified wood has it being dead and buried. I've also looked up information on ironwood/ironbark trees (some form of Australian eucalyptus tree used primarily in shipbuilding) and found them somewhat lacking. Ideally, I'd like to either find a tree or a condition that renders trees more or less impervious to simple cutting materials while either keeping the tree alive or preserving the integrity of the tree (ie, upright plant like object, rather than buried treasure.) Having one of my players being able to recognise these trees and their nature is a possible advantage that they could rely on for them and I'd rather it be a natural occurrence that could be made with a Skill check, rather than "magic trees." One (admittedly rather outlandish) possibility is to have trees that draw most of their water from ground water with a very high mineral content. These minerals build up in the tissues of the trees, making them unusually hard. The inner portions of the tree (which are no longer involved in water transport) would be especially hard, being more effectively mineralized. The trees may also tend to leak mineral laden sap (probably to prevent the xylem and phloem from clogging with deposits) which would harden in the cracks and crevices of the bark, thus providing additional protection. I can't really come up with much else at the moment, but I'll mull it over.
GoriceXII 12-17-07, 05:48 AM	In that case there would be a very high metal content in the soil as well. Perhaps the whole forest is tainted with this and it also affects some invertebrates and insects.
Delfedd 12-17-07, 06:46 AM	There is one petrified forest that is still erect and petrified, although it's name eludes me. If you can find a picture, it's really quite eerie.
Naderion 12-17-07, 12:08 PM	Another "solution" would be, that the wood is simply not economicaly useable. It's a regular very hard sort of wood, but it loses this trait when cut, for example becoming britle or it splinters easily when cut into shapes. This makes it useless for high quality work, but it's far too difficult to cut and too heavy for low quality works, so no one bothers to try to cut them down.
Anuvrix 12-17-07, 12:24 PM	Not a big biology guy, don't have much to offer there. The "not economically useable" one sounds good, a hard wood, but brittle when cut. Too heavy for use in common objects, not right for any kind of manufacture. Sure, you can just keep posting questions and such here. Be glad to help!:D
Taolil 12-17-07, 06:58 PM	Another "solution" would be, that the wood is simply not economicaly useable. It's a regular very hard sort of wood, but it loses this trait when cut, for example becoming britle or it splinters easily when cut into shapes. This makes it useless for high quality work, but it's far too difficult to cut and too heavy for low quality works, so no one bothers to try to cut them down. That sounds perfect and works for what I'm trying to accomplish. Thanks! And for people asking about the lumber industry, this is just a small area that is affected, which is surrounded by a bunch of other trees. People involved in the industry have to travel through this wood to get to the more lucrative areas. But yes, thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of trees sucking up water that is rich in minerals, too. Great idea.
Eldritch_Lord 12-17-07, 08:44 PM	And for people asking about the lumber industry, this is just a small area that is affected, which is surrounded by a bunch of other trees. People involved in the industry have to travel through this wood to get to the more lucrative areas. But yes, thanks for the suggestions. I like the idea of trees sucking up water that is rich in minerals, too. Great idea. I'd combine the two ideas. Let's say the trees suck up the mineral-laden water, turning harder and more impervious as they age. However, they start out quite soft before they suck up too many minerals, say for the first decade or two of life, so the lumberjacks cut down the young trees before they're too tough to harvest. This could provide plot hooks as well. For example, druids upset with the logging have sped up the process, making trees harder earlier and bankrupting the village(s) dependent on logging. Or perhaps the process slows down, letting more trees get cut down and bringing strange wild beasts in contact with people due to thinner forests. Have fun with that.