The Domesticated Animals of Fantasy | Worldbuilding

Episode 28: Domestication Part 1
In this video we discuss worldbuilding domesticated animals, looking at the introduction of mounts, livestock, and how you can design your own version of man’s best friend.
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WORLDBUILDING CORNER: www.worldbuildingcorner.com
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All music, images, and other media used in this video are available for commercial use with Creative Commons licensing, found on www.pixabay.com and www.pexels.com.

[@Kadesx1]

My man single-handed dropped the best season of worldbuilding episodes of all time and then left us at a cliffhanger for the next season. Thanks for all the content!

[@kylejohns2288]

Any news about where he went I am really learning a lot from him and want more

[@lordbeetrot]

@@kylejohns2288same here

[@0rcblorg]

WHERE ARE YOU BRO? We needed you, you were the chosen one, the one who'd uplift us all and turn us into awesome world creators "but when we needed him the most he disappeared" (nah I rly hope you're doing fine if you don't come back knows that this series of videos is one of the best I've seen and one of the most useful and maybe the most original and easy to understand on that subject and if you ever comeback we're all eager to see your next video 👌🏾)

[@funwithmadness]

This is only a semantic argument, but I would use the word "resource" over "food" as a reason for domestication. For example sheep. While they can be, and are, use for food, I think it's safe to assume the bigger value is their wool. I just think this distinction would help broaden how people look at the possibilities for domesticated creatures. Those "pathers" you mentioned... Perhaps there's a breed that sheds its segments of its exoskeleton periodically. Those sheds could be useful in some fashion, I'm sure, as bowls or even armor. Maybe it's heated and soaked like horn then flattened into sheets which in turn is used as material for something else.

[@clintcarpentier2424]

Work animals can be deemed a resource. Sheep would fall into this category. Much like Human Resources, even though most of us wouldn't think to eat humans. All three categories are covered by "Resource"; sometimes it's best not to be a try hard.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Great point! And you are definitely correct, when I talk about animals domesticated for food, it includes animals involved in food production, even if they are not eaten themselves. A well known example is egg laying hens. Great idea for the Pathers! That's a likely development that at least some cultures would utilize. Thanks for the input! 😊

[@MammothMorals]

​@@WorldbuildingCorner egg laying hens still get eaten at the end of their lives.

[@faarsight]

Sheep were originally domesticated because they were food. Early Sheep did not produce great wool. That was later selected for.

[@georgekerscher5355]

​@@MammothMorals Yee, a better example would have been honeybees producing honey

[@chrispy6276]

I really hope you intend to keep going with this series, I was very much enjoying it. Sad to see no updates for the last 2 months. Hope all is well.

[@electroninja8768]

I agree.

[@princeatie2231]

Me too, been waiting 4months now. Honestly a big big fan

[@jugler07]

Putting my hand in with the ones who want (need?) this series to continue: it's so good! And it really helped me along on my project. Hope all's well!

[@fabulosa2904]

I don't usually comment, but I just got through the entire playlist and I have to say, this is literally what I've been missing. My world is meant to be based on science, as is my magic system, but given my limited knowledge of geography, evolution and all the rest of the things you cover, my worldbuilding really left something to be desired. I didn't set out to make an entire planet when I started, but it seems so much more doable now thanks to you and this series. Thank you so much! I'm waiting to see the rest of what you have in store!

[@sunday1379]

This is the best world building series on KZbin, can’t wait for the next episode!

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Thank you for the positive words! Glad you are enjoying the series 😊

[@faarsight]

No it's not. Not by a long shot.

[@sunday1379]

@@faarsight In my opinion and for me it is. Apologies I didn’t realise I needed to clarify that. Of course there is no world building series that’s the best for all people at all times. It’s subjective but this is my favourite

[@TheBrickMasterB]

Ever since this video was about a month old, I've been binging this whole playlist repeatedly at work. I've internalized many of the things laid out so far in my own worldbuilding, and I would *SUPER* love an update. I hope you're doing well! We look forward to the next exciting chapter of Locus' history!

[@jamesadamsfl]

Having seen the military episode, it’s likely the Na’qwuil also breed powerful war beasts. Large animals to serve as living battering rams, Magic-using animals to serve as living tanks or artillery, high speed cavalry creatures, stealthy or well-armored defensive and/or ambush animals, plus aquatic and flying animals to serve similar purposes, etc.

[@andrewthorpe3377]

Considering the Na'qwuil are parasitic creatures who take other creatures as hosts, if they bred powerful beasts it would probably be to create more powerful host bodies rather than simple (when compared to the Naq'wuil's intelligence) war beasts.

[@commandereclipse5373]

I just realized the Na'qwuil are pretty much akin to the Yeerks from Animorphs. Relatively helpless parasites that take the forms of bigger stronger creatures against their wills as host bodies.

[@SomethingEternal]

I love how listening to this reminds me of discussions with a game developer friend. It really points out to me that the secret to good world building is just to care about your world, and to personally want to know more about it as the author of it. Because if you do, you'll wind up with entirely too many details just from the countless brainstorming sessions you got into out of being excited to add something.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Definitely! A lot of my work is condensing my thoughts and research into a palatable 15-20 minutes of cohesive video. Otherwise it would go on forever!

[@SomethingEternal]

@@WorldbuildingCorner aka the part I'm no good at xD. I'll leave all the organization to you and keep watching as I work.

[@frederikpamp1916]

Just binged the whole series in the last week and now there is nothing coming? This series is one of, if not the, best videos on worldbuilding I have seen so far. I hope you are fine man!! Hopefully we will see more of you soon.

[@LagiacrusHunter]

Instant click, I love this series so much. Found you a couple weeks ago and binged the whole thing

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Welcome! And thank you for the kind words, very glad you are enjoying the content! Stay tuned for more 🙂

[@GillumTyler]

One thing you didn't mention is that neotonous traits often show up as unconscious traits in domesticated animals.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

This is true, especially extended immaturity!

[@Axiie]

Hey, hope the series is still good; its a fantastic resource and really great walkthrough for everyone. Either way, hope all is good and stay cool!

[@1Kapuchu100]

I have now watched all of your videos in this series. Eagerly awaiting the next one! They're good to listen to while exercising!

[@graysonm.8736]

I only recently discovered this series and I just realized how long ago this video was posted! I hope all is well and we see more content from you soon!

[@ndalemmataram]

Please make more!! Your series is amazing!

[@CCartman69]

Awesome video. I can't believe I didn't consider what the squid-yeerks might do to their sentient slaves, the idea they breed them into a whole new submissive species, maybe even crossbreeding different sentients, is a thought experiment I hadn't considered. Just a question, when the squids mind control someone, do they disappear into the head of the Taken, or are they visible outside the body of a Taken and thus are easier to remove?

[@clintcarpentier2424]

The first thing that came to my mind about the squid's mind control, was how the domesticated sentients would develop a culture around it. It was tongue-in-cheek, but very poignant... "Bobby. You have come of age. It is time. You will walk out into the serf and submerge yourself until you are bonded. Upon your return, you will be a man. You will be granted work, and a mate. Go forth and make us proud." I think the most interesting question, is how often the squids will attempt to crossbreed sentients with other animals or other sentients. You can't say that they won't, because our own human history is replete with fucktards getting their kyuks off and inflicting upon us STD's we're forever stuck with.

[@alsatusmd1A13]

The whole mind control aspect of the squid-yeerks struck me as a horror version of the concept of human “self-domestication” the first time I heard it!

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

I imagine the Na'qwuil piloting a creature to be external, with their barbed piercer that they use to penetrate through the skull of a creature to access their brain the only part that is internal. I also imagine 'removing' a Na'qwuil could (and likely does) cause extreme catastrophic damage as the barb is forcibly removed, almost certainly killing the parasitized creature. Perhaps a method could be developed to coax the Na'qwuil to remove its barb safely itself? I'm kind of imagining like the way smoke is used in beekeeping, or how fire can remove a splinter.

[@sketjtheinkle8268]

@@WorldbuildingCorner or maybe, and this has morally ill implications, the Na'qwuil can remove the barb safely... if they want to. The Life or Death of a parasitized creature is in the hands of it's parasite. Are you a valuble specimen, or did you fail your controller in some way? Id your parasite benevolent enough to let you live after you have served well, or are you nothing more than fodder to an indifferent parasite? Its entirely down to the Na'qwuil you are a host to. Better hope Ka'sano is nice to it's host bodies.

[@NearQuasar]

@@WorldbuildingCorner Perhaps the Na Quil could take control of enemy rulers to use as a bargaining chip in negotiations and release them only when they come to an agreement.

[@David_Fellner]

I like the way you're setting up the octopus people (Na'quil?) to have a naturally antagonistic relationship to the other sapiens this early in the world's development. Their parasitic nature makes them natural villains, and the general distrust of the "Returned" adds the possibility of a third faction when (presumably) a war breaks out between the all the races of Lotus against the army of Taken.

[@tillydavvers]

Have binged this whole series over the last couple days. This has been so incredibly inspiring for me and I have just learnt so damn much about geography, biology, chemistry, physics, history, politics and wow you have a brilliant ability to simplify it all to be so palatable! Can't wait to hear 'my name is Matthew, at least...' again when you're back from your break! I cannot wait to learn so much more!

[@ChasePhillips7]

Thanks so much for this entire series! I've binged the entire thing in the past three days, and will probably binge it again soon for inspiration. I have two worlds I'm working on for TTRPG campaigns (one Egyptian deity meets gothic fantasy, the other sci fi cold world colony) and this has been really helpful in focusing how I think about each.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Glad to hear you have enjoyed the series and that it has been helpful! Good luck with your projects, they sound very interesting! 😊

[@stolidfox7528]

I stumbled across a random video in this series about a week ago. Since then, I went back to the start and watched all of them. Great series so far. I've never done any world building myself, but I'm looking forward to learning more and more about the fascinating world you have created.

[@zooker7938]

Okay, the concept of sapient species becoming domesticated by others is absolutely terrifying

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Absolutely, the Na'qwuil are staying true to their lovecraftian inspiration haha

[@christianschwietzke8959]

@@WorldbuildingCorner - As creepy as the Na´qwuil are, I would not be surprised if, as soon as the technological basis exists to project sufficient amounts of force over long distances, all or most other civilisations band together to wipe out the Na´qwuil. Or to try, at least.

[@StoryGirl83]

You do such a good job of clearly explaining how and why things happen in worldbuilding. Thank you.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Thank you! I'm really glad to hear that, I put a lot of effort into making the understanding process as easy as possible. Glad you are enjoying it 😊

[@StoryGirl83]

@@WorldbuildingCorner It shows. Thank you.

[@fernandozorin204]

I'm waiting for the dragons, that early in series you say that is your favourite creature...

[@JadeDragonNight]

I've been looking forward to this video and finally found time to sit down and watch. I'm so glad you included discussion of domestication! Great video and I can't wait to see the next one on agriculture!

[@kellyautry841]

Thank you so much for all this great content Matthew! It's a spectacular outline for worldbuilding interconnected systems and it's got my brain flooded with ideas. The way you tease out building Locus with these principles at play shows others how to apply the outline so perfectly. I hope you and yours are doing well. Let us know if there's any way we can support you and I'll look forward to your next video. All the best!

[@TheGeniziz]

your world building videos are truly top tier!

[@ShaggBaggins]

Sweet! New video! Awesome, thanks. I've been following this series and binge watching it to create my own science adjacent fictional world.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Glad you have been enjoying the series and it's been helpful! Good luck with your own project 😊

[@JasonSmith-ww2np]

Great video! Thanks!

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@deamonkink11]

I am so glad, my feed actually suggested your first video about how to start world building, I ended up binging everything two days ago.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Welcome! I'm so glad you have enjoyed the content so far, stay tuned for more! 😊

[@TheGeniziz]

still very much looking forward to the next video in this series!

[@therealdoomsage]

We must be brothers; we both have cats, love world building from a scientific perspective and are Australian.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

🙌😃🐈

[@bjorncorvin4568]

I to am an Aussie worldbuilder with a cat

[@joshcox5668]

Best series

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying it :)

[@davnc5795]

Really dope video series it’s helped me a bunch I hope the series keeps going

[@owenspears3114]

Been loving your vids lately

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying them 😊

[@MrBlack0950]

The wild thing is, we are still domesticating new species. This process never stops, so you can easily end up in a rabbit hole of adding domesticated species to your world

[@intelligencecube6752]

Yeah! We’ve got domesticated foxes, so I see no reason that given enough time and effort, anything COULD be domesticated. Just comes down to what we’d get out of the animal after a certain point.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Absolutely! Domestication, like many other processes, has only increased over time.

[@MrBlack0950]

@@intelligencecube6752 its arguable that weve already domesticated certain zoo species too, tho more for the preservation of a species than to get something out of it, but its still technically within the definition of donestication.

[@baguettegott3409]

This was really interesting, lots of inspiration :) I haven't really done much with domesticated animals in my world so far. Only decided that we have "housewolves" instead of dogs, because I have a phobia of dogs and since D&D is just imagination, calling them housewolves makes me not scared of them lol. They're also all extremely friendly and would never ever attack or bite anybody, since I'm uncomfortable with that, which my players have exploited numerous times. But I think it's funny, I've embraced it.

[@nyx234]

Very nice i was just thinking about getting back to this.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Welcome back then! Glad you are enjoying it 😊

[@DMCreator1123]

Just binged the whole playlist for the 3rd time, when will you continur?

[@sketjtheinkle8268]

Been working on mapping out my own world for a few years, finally got around to making a climate map and a Biome map thanks to your videos. The Continent totally doesn't make sense but now i at least understand why it doesn't make sense. Also, I would love to do some art and design for your world at some point! As an aspiring Graphic Designer, i'm always looking for opportunities to flex different muscles, and this would flex my inner nerd and designer greatly.

[@kentario1610]

Listening to this as I headbutt my cat. Alright, fpcusing back on the video. Having recently rewatched the climate zone videos the animals were fresh in my mind, and it was so cool seeing them being brought back in, especially the Perilux! When they didn't become a sapient species I was sad to see them go, but here they are! I'm so glad.

[@powerofanime1]

Smolcat wanted to be part of a video. This was not what he was intending. XD The Pathworms are awesome, and I love the image of Centipede-Riding Humans! And once again, the Tarna'qwua are an utterly baffling race. They are seriously the scariest, best race in this series. I love them all! The Silarin tickle my dinosaur-loving side and the Senanatgru have so many special aspects that make me want to live among them (though the ritual cannibalism is a little worrying o.o) but those parasitic octopi are just a phenomenal example of developing distinct cultures. I can't wait for part 2!

[@magnarcreed3801]

I’d say there are other sapient species. Whales, dolphins, some birds, etc. Not even including other great apes. The real issue is our difficulty to communicate with them though we do get closer as time progresses.

[@marinomusico5768]

Waiting for next video ❤

[@Nils_Backlund]

Hmm... I think I am starting to notice a pattern here... "Okay, so we are done with the humanoid animals and actual humans, now let us take a detour to the spacefarer-relic given, electric powers having, psychic, mind control octopi!"

[@Imagikid]

I really do enjoy watching these videos I hope he is doing well

[@teaartist6455]

"Domestication syndrome" does NOT refer to unforseen negative health consequences but to a series of traits that tend to come with selecting for being more tolerant of humans and less flights (specifically floppy ears, spots and more varied coat patterns and so on).

[@kalleendo7577]

Awesome!

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Thank you! 😊

[@Calintares]

My favorite fantasy domestication I've done was having domesticated cheetahs. The tribes who used them had huge hunting advantages, and the cheetahs had a safe environment for bringing up their young

[@ckl9390]

Cheetahs are domesticated, or were in antiquity as hunting animals. Admittedly not commonly, but there were fully domesticated lineages.

[@CooperAATE]

Is he coming back?

[@kovi567]

KZbinr trick: Set your video to be released a few hours after you upload it, so early birds won't need to get by with your pixelated 360p mug.

[@RazorSynth]

In my setting, horses were never domesticated, so it was kind of fun to look up alternatives. Rather simple since oxen and goats are already utilized. Does change military though due to cavalry limitations.

[@midzyblinkonce7716]

I honestly want to go back and start making my world now step by step. Wish me luck lmao

[@SomethingEternal]

Find a friend who also wants to make a world and who you can share your ideas with. It's not even that two heads are better than one. Just that having someone to tell about all your cool ideas will keep you more invested in your own world. It really makes a massive difference.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Good luck with your new project, sounds exciting!

[@alexpfeifle879]

This was excellent! As a less important side to types of domesticated animals, animals may also be used for a specific purpose like science such as lab rats, live among sapient beings intentionally like pigeons, or even be completely reliant on living in sapient creatures homes like bed bugs.

[@bjorncorvin4568]

Can U do a seperate video series, worldbuilding the second universe? Maybe it can be similar to Dnd's Feywild, home to more typical fantasy creatures like Elves, Dwarves, Trolls, Orcs and Goblins?

[@GhazMazMSM]

I jumped when you said that one of your creatures was called Grillus. My worldbuilding project also has a Grillus, although mine are called Gryllus.

[@rmt3589]

Fine. I'll turn the bell on... Really want the plant episode to be out now... In my impatience, I feel angry. For no fault on you, as your content is amazing, hence why I'm impatient.

[@sansoo9497]

hey quick question, will you go into the biodeversity, i mean just because there are multiple biomes doesn't mean all the flora and fauna are the same, for example there might be normal flower sized ultima on the main continent but maybe on the squid continent there are ultima the size of trees pouring out loads more water than what the normal ultima would make creating an oasis, or a version of the mortabello (I think that is what the zombie shroom is called) that instead of feeding off of corpses they feed off of a being's severance/synthesis. I mean the possibilities are Infinet, this goes for separate races as well, for all we know the ursans from the main continent are completely different from the island ursuns in fur coating and magic?

[@blandsalsa8796]

You got recommend to me and I subscribed immediately, your content is so good! Hope you get more subs soon.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Thank you for the positive words! Glad you are enjoying the content :)

[@NoName-yu7gj]

A related topic would be how domestication leads to new diseases. Measles, small pox, influenza, etc all had a major impact on humanity and those viruses started in farm animals. Diseases can easily be its own video topic so maybe more on them will come.

[@kalenproductions6807]

van you make a video on making star maps and constellations?

[@patrickterryjr4764]

I’m still waiting patiently for that part 2 😢

[@requiemlul3140]

The Zel‘sa‘rian Salt crab aka Neyd Zel (Younger Zel) Like their domesticators, the Zel (particularly the northern Zel, the Konchaz), they are crustacean predators evolved in a similar environment, wich made them an easy ally as the two species required similar foods and housing. They are called Salt Crabs because they live in caves in wich the renowned Zel‘sa‘rian salts occur as these give them high nourishment and some act as narcotics. The Zel used them to find those caves to live in as few other predators live in these caves. They would also hunt with them as the Zel are very humanoid and lack the strong pincers of the Neyd Zel. Both species communal nature meant that massive Choirs of Zel and Cohorts of Neyd Zel would form even in prehistoric times, giving them extreme dominance over the areas in wich they lived, as the two could hunt and gather in large hordes covering wide areas. Over the years the Neyd Zel would be bred into a plethora of subspecies like the Vosza kirsho (Iron scratchers) named as such because they were used for manual labor during the Zel Metal Ages like cutting strong ropes and chains with their uniquely powerful pincers. The Neyd Zel also had a massive cultural impact on the Zel. During prehistoric times the Zel would be inspired by them to also cover their shells with similar materials to appear more like them, and using the shells of dead pet Neyd Zel as ornaments would become tradition. Leaders of the Choirs would eventually dress in uniquely ornamented shells. During ritualistic dances and festivals, particularly after Neyd Zel mating season, they would also imitate the behaviors of happy or excited Neyd Zel, leading to literal crab raves as the Zel used instruments specifically designed to cause vibrations wich excited the Neyd Zel. This impact can also be seen in their cave-paintings. The Konchaz paintings portray themselves as more jagged and in grounded poses similar to the Neyd Zel, whereas the southern Zel, who were influenced more by Molluscoid allies portrayed themselves more fluidly and often floating.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

This is so cool! You are developing science adjacent crab raves I love it! Crustacean worldbuilding is one of my favourites, very lovecraftian!

[@requiemlul3140]

@@WorldbuildingCorner Oh Zel lore gets so much more lovecraftian

[@David_Fellner]

Craaab people, craaab people, Walk like crab, talk like people But in seriousness, those are cool ideas.

[@elgordo107able]

Finalmente me puse al día.

[@martinbat1164]

Wonder if you could talk about food chains in fantasy worldbuilding

[@herrbrennholz977]

When I try to enter the calculation formula for the average surface temperature from Episode.7 into my calculator, the result is about 40 degrees Celsius too high. even if I use the same numbers as in the video.

[@1manApocalypse_CP]

Aw, i made it to the end of the playlist and it hasn't been updated in 4 months. Side note i now want a Siheth as a pet.

[@redfox4561]

I definitely could see the other 3 sapient species banding together to wipe out the squid bois in the future.

[@intelligencecube6752]

Yeah, just due to their society, there’d be strong arguments that they’re demons and must be exterminated for the safety of the “Civilized” Races. I can see something like a Holy War braking out like the Crusades 😅

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Absolutely, it is really difficult to imagine a scenario where the other sapient cultures are okay with them, and wouldn't work to eliminate them as a threat. I actually didn't deliberately plan it this way, but I'm really happy the Na'qwuil are mostly separated from the others by either a continent or a vast desert, for that reason haha

[@NearQuasar]

Well I think that would be extemely difficult as the naquil are far more intelligent than any of the other sapient species and they will develop new technology much faster than the other species.

[@Remesayy]

How long do you think this series will go? How many episodes are you aiming for?

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

I have long considered this, and I believe it will continue to a point where I (and I hope others) would be satisfied with the level of detail in the world. At some point, I plan on 'zooming in', and focusing on a more specific area, perhaps a particular kingdom or empire. Whether you would consider that the 'same' series is up to you!

[@royaltycomics]

I think you should do something about virus' and diseases because that would be awesome!

[@cerberaodollam]

In my ancestral culture, horses were livestock, working animals, and companions with more religious than "pet" connotations. Kinda like the mounts of the blue people in Avatar.

[@DavidGlenn]

I’ve come up with a few species that ended up being domesticated. It was kind of fun figuring out which species of dinosaurs ended up becoming domesticated

[@zombie1356]

I have finally catched up to the latest video, and there are a few questions i got while watching thos series: 1. Are there no birds? 2. how do the squidpeople reproduce? If the take over bodies, they would have to change everything related to sex of that bodie so it is suited for mating with every body controlled by an other squidguy.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Great questions! There are birds, I wanted to wait until I had introduced magic and other systems, to allow for magical birds to be present, but since then have focused on other topics. They will come soon in the future though! Regarding Na'qwuil, they themselves reproduce independently of their parasitized creatures. That is, they would remove themselves from any creature they are 'piloting', and mate with another Na'qwuil. However, as we have seen from our own human history when it comes to domestication, the Na'qwuil are likely to experiment heavily with the breeding of other species, including forcing interspecies interactions, and possibly even interactions with themselves. Ultimately however, biology is still a thing, and Na'qwuil cannot breed successfully with other species.

[@zombie1356]

@@WorldbuildingCorner I was just confused about the Na'qwuil because their brain dies if they stay attached to a creature for a long time, so they wouldn't be able to detache themselves.

[@lazulenoc6863]

My immediate thought to the title is that Na'quil would probably raise animals or sapient creatures to manipulate. Glad to see that's gone as expected.

[@ChasePhillips7]

I personally think that a race of "BIG DANG STRONG" creatures for the armies would be a priority for them. It was mentioned in the warfare episode that the leaders try to find the strongest that they can for war, so I fully expect a "royal" line of dinosaur/elephant adjacent creatures that are consciously selected for strength and size (and possibly selected for difficulty to control to "prove one's royalty"). But yeah, it is chilling but true that the sapient laborers would be selected for as well.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Great minds think alike! Or perhaps it is a point of concern for us considering how horrifying the concept is haha

[@tysonbax6230]

Is this channel is alive? Hope your ok and doing well

[@Spiceodog]

Domesticated giant flying cats that knights ride into battle go burrrrrr! For the glory of evening star!!!

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Now that's an image I would love to see art of!

[@Spiceodog]

@@WorldbuildingCorner it’s from a dnd game on KZbin , nights of evening star.

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

Exellent video ! The Nawquil (hope I spelled that right) are creepy. For my worldbuilding, the elves are very particular with their livestock and domestication, since they would see animals we humans value as livestock as better in the wild, nuisances or worthless. That doesn't mean they never eat vertebrae, but they do so with much less frequency than humans. Elves cannot digest large quantities of fat, therefore, are more likely to select arthropodes as livestock. The most northern Ice Elf, living in the North-West, raise Snow Crabs, and it plays the same role in their feeding habits as pork play for many Western cultures. They are bread for size and endurance (most Ice Elves are nomadic), creating quite bulky creatures. This has the negative effects of this, that to support their larger body size, these crabs might attack and eat their owners if food is scarce. Also, as they are nomads living in frigid tundra, they would sometimes go to human or dwarfish settlements that have recently suffered epidemic, famine or other natural disasters, and let their crabs feast on the decomposing bodies of humans and livestock. Elves' ability to use tools allow these crabs to gain access to proteins sources they might otherwise not be able to, such as bone marrow and brain of large mammal (which elves have trouble digesting anyway because of how fatty these tissues are). The feeding frenzy there is a breeding frenzy. Most of these crabs are slaughtered for meat, but Ice Elves always make sure to leave enough to ensure there would always be a next cycle. For the Drow, on the other hand, use domestication for less ill effects. They have domesticated common cave spiders for their silk, and they are strongly selected for intelligence, since it allows elves to communicate their wishes to these spiders and allow to trade off silk in exchange for food. Spider-silk is basically the only fiber available in a cave environment, and thus these spiders are considered very precious. These spiders are sacred to the Drow, and thus they tend to avoid breeding them in ways that would create genetic problems if it can be avoided. Also, the Pyroxene Drows would feed them their own wings, (a ritual made as the persecution forced them to give up the outside environment, and for their wings to grow properly and not necroes, they need moonlight). This traumatic amputation cause some of them to develop PTSD-induced arachnophobia, which is yes, a problem to peaceful cohabitation. To ensure their troglodyte lifestyles, dark elves domesticated certains cats, the catacomb cat which is a naturally occurring variety of cat, and small brown bats. They are essentially kept to fetch things from the surface and bring them to the caves. They are allowed and encourage to eat it themselves if they can. Genetically speaking, these breeds are nearly indistinguishable from their wild relatives, since the main thing the Drow need from them is poop, dead leaves and companionship. Drow try to select for intelligence and discretion, since it allows them to more easily communicate with these creatures who are something as both fertilizer producers and pets. Since hunting mice and eating them in secluded areas is normal behavior for cats and for bats consuming fruits and insects is pretty much their normal behavior, nobody suspects they are actually the companions of Dark Elves. All Dark Elves, cultures present and extinct, would engage in cannibalism and anthropophagy if given the opportunity, and are the only elves who consider this socially acceptable behavior. They rarely do it as a funeral rite, but as a way to get rid of individuals they consider enemies. As long as you don't murder anyone nor try to damage their salt deposits that the primary producers of the cave depend on for survival, you would be relatively safe. Dwarves are pretty much similar to humans in their needs, and thus the kinds of animals they domesticate are pretty much the same. However, spending more time underground than the average human, they also breed spiders, with practically the same desired traits as the Drow.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Fascinating, as always! I love the giant crabs, and you've raised a really cool point in domestication for a trade resource in silk from spiders. I am enjoying learning more about your world through your comments, I love elves and seeing your world of them be drawn even through text is really cool! If you have not already, you should consider putting the world into a novel, it is truly fascinating!

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

@@WorldbuildingCorner I am considering. I have begun a novel with a tragic love story between a human woman and a drow monk. Also, I forgot to mention, but Drow also domesticate blindfish as livestock, for both their skins and their meat.

[@Little-Hill-Comics]

Been a while since your last update. Hope you are doing okay.

[@HenryLoenwind]

There's another distinction that can be useful to consider: "Wild animals bred in captivity" technically could be called domesticated, but are just an early stage of the process. For those species to be called domesticated, some physiological and/or behavioural genetic change should occur. Also, don't forget about self-domesticating species. Rats...

[@Aloofgoblinoid]

So... I'm sure it hasn't gone unnoticed by you, but I was wondering whether you were going to wait till the Iron age to introduce aquaducts and sewage removal systems? I think that most successful civilizations on Earth had water in and waste water out systems in place or at least planned by the beginning of their respective bronze age...

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Absolutely, that is something I will be introducing when we zoom in to a more regional level, talking about building cities themselves. You're definitely correct though, they are crucial infrastructure, and I believe some primitive aqueducts were very ancient indeed!

[@imFruzzy]

Dude passed long ago guys, there's no need to ask for further episodes

[@eustress7428]

WUT really? When?

[@joshuaschmidt3261]

Hope you're doing good!

[@drvonstreusel8171]

where did he go?

[@petersmythe6462]

Re: unconscious selection not always being positive? This is true, however I would also say that you can unconsciously select desirable traits. For example, if you put down breeding stock which kills its domesticators, the animal will lose its lethality, which is probably desirable in most cases.

[@crisantos79]

Can you make a video on how to make 2 cultures Merkin 1 I like your videos have an amazing day week and sentury

[@Lilas.Duveteux]

About fantasy races domestication, I think environment plays a very good role in which species we choose to domesticate. For example, many aquatic animals would be very efficient livestock, the only issue with using them as livestock is that we are not aquatic.

[@Bird_Dog00]

Well, we do that IRL. Fish and oister farms are a thing. And at least oisters - and other bivalves - have been "farmed" for quite some time. Fish were probably a bit more difficult, but those could be caught in quite large amounts in the wild and didn't seem to ever die out until modern industrial fishing ruined it for all...

[@saikq5380]

PLEASE COME BACK I NEED YOU PLEASEEEEEEEE

[@celtofcanaanesurix2245]

the taken remind me of all tomorrows where the men are cattle for future lizard sapients, and the species that are like a hat on bipeds.

[@Flirtz420]

❤

[@LupeFenrir]

Domestication is not exclusive to sapient species. Different species of ants have independently domesticated fungus as well as aphids. There are even slaver ants that that rely on capturing worker ants of other species for their own survival and repruduction.

[@renealbrechtsen9743]

When's the next video ?

[@commandereclipse5373]

I'm...not sure how I feel about giant ridable centipedes. :(

[@brockscanlan8891]

🙌🙌🙌

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

🙌🐈🐕🐎

[@cerberaodollam]

Catcatcat

[@ThomasstevenSlater]

As and archaeologist I must put forward that the overwhelming majority of animals species are functionally undomesticable. Out of the millions of species of animal only a score or so have become truely domesticated. A tragic side effect of this that some area may have little or no domesticated animals at all, putting them at a permanent disadvantage. It our world all the America's pretty much only produced LLlamas and guinea pigs out of all the biodiversity of the amazon rain forest.

[@CarlosRios1]

Hesko tries not to eat toddler challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

This would be an unfortunate reality for their culture, met with mixed reactions. Cultures are never perfect!

[@patriot9487]

The Aztecs used proto-chihuahuas as livestock.

[@kovi567]

6:17 Bold claim. There are also the claims by folks in the profession that goats, sheep or chicken got domesticated first via captive breeding. There isn't much evidence for either your or their claim though, hence it's still contested.

[@minutemansam1214]

It's not a bold claim. Dogs have been domesticated for about 25,000 years. Humans were still hunter-gatherers, so no captive breeding because there were no places to keep animals captive. Dogs are so old that the first people who moved into the Americas and became Native Americans brought old world domestic dogs with them. Contrary to popular view, Native Americans did have domestic dogs. Using genetic evidence though these dogs originated from wolf populations in Eurasia, not North America. This is well established and isn't really debated within scientific circles. Dogs were the first domesticated animals by far. Other domestic animals wouldn't be domesticated for another 15,000 years or more. I don't know what 'professionals' claim that goats sheep and chickens were domesticated before dogs, but unless you give names I gonna put it in 'I misremembered something someone else said' category.

[@kovi567]

​@@minutemansam1214 "no place to keep the animals" Ah yes, because hunter gatherer = sleeps under the sky and doesn't build structures, takes up favourable positions, or as a matter of fact think, and just tie the animals to a place. Or are you on about them being not settled, because then nomads are going to be a headache for you. And the animals will be definitely defiant for thousands of years, the young totally becoming docile as they are raised around humans that apparently don't try to eat them constantly. I recommend you basing your opinion on more than wikipedia. Especially the 25k years claim. Anywhere else it comes up to 15k at most and it's for a reason.

[@minutemansam1214]

@@kovi567 "Ah yes, because hunter gatherer = sleeps under the sky and doesn't build structures, takes up favourable positions, or as a matter of fact think, and just tie the animals to a place." Straw man. Never made such a claim. I said there were no places to keep the animals captive. Most hunter gatherers are nomadic and nomadic hunter gathers generally don't build permanent structures like fences. Hunter gatherers are so named because they *gasp* hunt and gather food and resources instead of engaging in agriculture. I'll admit that I should have used the term 'generally' since people are people and people are complex, but by and large nomadic hunter-gatherers do not build the kinds of permanent structures necessary for the domestication of flighty prey species. If hunter-gatherers raised domestic animals for food they would cease being hunter-gatherers. Tying an animal in place would be a very poor strategy if you are attempting domestication as such an animal would be very vulnerable to predators and would have very limited access to food and water resources. And given that hunter gatherers are generally nomadic with few exceptions leaving an animal tied to a tree and leaving it there would be a very poor strategy. And given these would be wild animals they wouldn't take too kindly to being dragged around. "Or are you on about them being not settled, because then nomads are going to be a headache for you." Modern day semi-nomadic pastoralists are not hunter-gatherers, and funnily enough got most of their domestic animals from settled tribal people and nearby civilizations instead of doing it themselves, with the horse being the notable exception (and by the time the pastoralists domesticated horses other domestic animals were already well established so they would have already had the concept of domesticated animals). So the argument works against you since these people literally did not domesticate these animals themselves. We know where animals like cows, chickens, pigs, goats, and sheep were domesticated from. And the people who domesticated them were already living in settled communities during the Neolithic. Whereas wolves were domesticated in the Upper Paleolithic, before humans began domesticating plants, let alone goats, sheep, and chickens. So yeah, wolves were domesticated long before any other known domesticated organism. So it's not a bold claim. It's just a fact that is supported by multiple scientific disciplines. "I recommend you basing your opinion on more than wikipedia. Especially the 25k years claim. Anywhere else it comes up to 15k at most and it's for a reason." I get my scientific information from scientific papers and other sources. I use wikipedia as a place to gather theses sources as it's convenient, but I don't rely on the articles except when I'm introducing myself to a new concept. You know, how wikipedia is supposed to be used. The 25,000 figure is the maximum, and it's supported by genetic evidence. The first known dog remains was about 15,000 years ago, but here's the kicker: this first known dog was ALREADY a fully domesticated animal, meaning dogs were obviously around for quite a while before this particular one was born. This sets the MINIMUM time from which dogs were domesticated. And this makes sense, given that Native Americans had domesticated dogs, the first people to come to North America did so between 13-15,000 years ago, and these native dogs were not domesticated in North America. So the first peoples to come to America brought their dogs with them. Even if I were to concede that dogs were domesticated 15,000 years ago and not 25,000 years ago, that would still place them within the Pleistocene. Long before any other animals were domesticated. So to conclude, it's still not a bold claim, it's well established that dogs were the first domesticated organism. At least the oldest one that is still extant. "Advances in the isolation and sequencing of ancient DNA have begun to reveal the population histories of both people and dogs. Over the last 10,000 y, the genetic signatures of ancient dog remains have been linked with known human dispersals in regions such as the Arctic and the remote Pacific. It is suspected, however, that this relationship has a much deeper antiquity, and that the tandem movement of people and dogs may have begun soon after the domestication of the dog from a gray wolf ancestor in the late Pleistocene. Here, by comparing population genetic results of humans and dogs from Siberia, Beringia, and North America, we show that there is a close correlation in the movement and divergences of their respective lineages. This evidence places constraints on when and where dog domestication took place. Most significantly, it suggests that dogs were domesticated in Siberia by ∼23,000 y ago, possibly while both people and wolves were isolated during the harsh climate of the Last Glacial Maximum. Dogs then accompanied the first people into the Americas and traveled with them as humans rapidly dispersed into the continent beginning ∼15,000 y ago." -Dog domestication andvthe dual dispersal of people and dogs into the Americas Angela R. Perri et al Remember, you're not the most intelligent person on the internet. Neither am I. But I'll back up what I say with actual sources if asked. I asked you the names of these people who claimed that sheep, goats, and pigs were domesticated before dogs and instead of doing so you decided to be a smartass. Which only works if you're actually smart.

[@kovi567]

@@minutemansam1214 Too long didn't read. If you want a dissertation I recommend not the comment section of a layman teaching surface level history for worldbuilding.

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

For food, sure, goats were the first domesticated animal for the purposes of consumption. The domestication of wolves as hunting partners and companions is exceptionally well documented, and occurred long before the domestication of any other animals.

[@HlootooThunderhammer]

YEEESSSSSSSSSS MOOOOOOORRRRE STUUUUUUUFFFFFFF

[@WorldbuildingCorner]

Haha glad you are enjoying it! 😃