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lfhikaru.bsky.social
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How equal can a society be if some fundamentals are unusable by a third of the population? You can learn a lot about a world by looking at the little details, especially in furry settings!
A series of infographics this page reads as follows: Worldbuilding: How can a furry setting handle size differences? In my setting of Firnus, few countries have attempted to create a society free from disparity. Waizentrum gets pretty close! [IMG: three different anthropomorphic people, a mustel, like a pine marten is the shortest, barely up to the knee of the third person and a little over half as tall as the second who is a pointy eared rat called a Gilter, the third is a big-cat like a lioness with a floofy tail who is a Panthera.] Waizentrum's first currency: the THU12.7 marl. While fit for Gilter, the Mustel have difficulty holding more than one in a hand. Yet if the coin is made any smaller the Panthera have difficulty handling them with their less dexterous fingers. Since this currency has a value determined by it's actual weight and make up, it's important that each coin is the same. [IMG: the hands of the three people, each half as big as the next. A yellow coin rests in each, it fits perfectly in the middle hand.] What else can we use? [IMG: Two paper bills, two yellow rods, coins with holes (cash) and yellow beads on a string.] Paper bills or contracts are easy to print, but don't last long. Even if you're trying to be careful, sticking a piece of paper in your pocket while you have claws can lead to disaster. metal sticks/rods fit most criteria, but are somewhat brittle. While a Mustel can carry them in a bundle, larger folk find they break while in a pocket or grasped in a fist. Cash and beads solve a similar issue but are unwieldy in their own ways. Cash is a repeat of coins, some are too big, some are too small. But beads are almost perfect, those with large hands can keep them on string, but will be at a loss if they slip and scatter... One of these may be perfect for your setting, but Waizentrum went for.. The Serp! [IMG: 5 images of the Serp being carried, the serp is a snake shaped ring with a gap that can be closed. On smaller people it is hung from a chain on a belt and worn on the wrist. For the larger people it is coin sized but can also be worn as a ring or put in a scroll case.] These coins can be stored easily on string or in a standard scroll case. Waizentrum citizens only carry small amounts of money, so 1-3 serps worn as a ring, bracelet, or on a belt. Makes for perfect carrying around money. Easy to manufacture, these coins can be hammered flat or curved. While they have issues, most are not major for the people they are designed for. Larger scale trade uses the flattened serp as well as raw materials. Problem 2!! [IMG: A panthera and mustel use a flight of stairs, the panthera walks easily while the step is as tall as the mustel's legs, they look up as they say 'did you design these??'.] This one plagues even the real world, as we all have places to be! anyone can use a walkway provided it is even, flat, and they have any necessary mobility aids to assist them. But stairs are the tricky part. Most furry settings are contemporary, so escalators are often used to solve the difficulties that small folk would face while travelling alongside taller people. But what if you're outside or low-tech? Ramps! Surely the best option is always a ramp? The stairs we use in daily life are (usually) 50 degrees at the steepest, sitting between there and 30 degrees. But the most widely accessible ramps are 5 degrees or under! [IMG: four diagrams, the first is a chart of angles with 90, 50, 30, 10 and 0 degrees. The next is a 5 degree ramp, then a 20 degree ramp, then 30 degree stairs.] As you can see, it takes three times the distance for a ramp to cover the same height as stairs in this example. So! If depth is not a factor, that's perfect... But say it is? the best solution i've seen in popular media comes from somewhere you may not expect: DARK SOULS anor londo is inhabited by both humans and giants. This graceful solution simply applies multiple sizes of steps. [IMG: artwork of a flight of stairs, it is massive leading to a castle and has three staircases, the middle has large steps and the other two have the same small ones. In the foreground a gilter points at these and says: 'So we just need this! right?'] Yes! But can we do better? The Anor Londo design is very wide, you would need 2-3 staircases to let people walk up and down simultaneously. [IMG: three staircases, the first is like the anor londo stairs, the next has smaller block like steps down the middle of the staircase, and the third has some large and some small steps.] First: Pro: Simple to build, prevents kicking incidents. Con: not ideal for middle-sized folk, very wide. Second: Pro: Takes up less space, Middle-sized folk have half-steps they can use provided the steps are deep. Con: smaller folk put in the prime line of danger and may be hit. Third: Pro: Takes up the least space, possible integrated gentle slope allows for increased elevation. Con: Difficult to build, Could pose a tripping hazard. Ideally, all of these would be accompanied by a ramp, lift, or even teleportation as an option for those with need for them! handrails too of course! [IMG: A mustel and panthera talking, the panthera is sitting casually. The mustel says: 'Honestly, whatever is chosen will exclude someone!' Then the Panthera says: 'Maybe we should choose what works for the most people?' Then the mustel concludes: 'It's better than clambering on all fours!!'] #fantasy #furry #furrysfw #firnus #worldbuilding #fantasyworldbuilding #ttrpgworldbuilding #furgonomics #furryart
January 3, 2025 at 10:55 PM