I am looking for a list or some information on the type of trees/plants/herbs that grows in the D&D world. Also, if possible, the different areas where these different types of plants are found. The list of beasts/animals are easy to get, but I am also wondering if there are certain types of animals not found in different types of areas in the world. (for example, what will be considered a rare animal in the Neverwinter Woods)
I am busy preparing my first ever DM game that will be in and around Neverwinter and started research on the types of plants available to harvest poison from or if there are certain trees growing there with special characteristics for manufacturing weapons. Online I could not find much. If there are any publications out there I haven't found yet, please lead me in that direction.
Well met, Kiwi, assuming that's Wellington, NZ. If you are looking for "fantastical" flora, the product Stormknight has referenced is an excellent start. Aside from compiling references to flora from previous Realms/Toril publications, it adds a few goodies as well. The format is straightforward with all the necessary metagame crunch specified for appropriate checks to identify and utilize the plant.
Plants and their ecosystems is my vocation. As such, plants (and animals) play a big part in my narrative and supply ample uses to the players resourceful enough to use them. I like to find real-world parallels to the ecosystems of my campaign settings. I don't run Toril though but years of running games in the Gnarly Woods of the Flanaess (Greyhawk) I found equivalent trees to match the fantasy ipps and roanwood trees Gygax created. You can do the same if you want to take a little extra time. The US Department of Agriculture maintains a Plants Database that is obviously North America-centric, but there are tons of non-native plants and trees in the database as well. Just put the search parameter to "Common Name" and type in "pine" and a zillion different herbs, semi-woody shrubs, shrubs, vines, and trees pop up. Wow, there's a lot. If you get yourself down to the genus "Pinus" there's the real pines. Click on the name and it will show you where they grow by US state but also have lots of good info and pictures too. This would be a good place to start as I doubt Mr. Greenwood had southern hemisphere ecology in mind when creating the Forgotten Realms.
As for fauna, again, assume Mr. Greenwood had European/North American ecosystems in mind. The US Department of Fish and Wildlife Service have several different routes you can follow for critters you may want to incorporate. It depends on what you want to get added details for. Birds alone would take a long time to digest. If you want some different species of squirrels, that's easier.
If you'd like to keep the flora and fauna familiar to your players (again assuming NZ), looks like there's plenty of options too.
I always believe the devil is in the details, or the lack there of... I am a story teller by nature and I need to create the world before I can write (and now DM) about it, and I did assume the most details will have to "made up" along the way. I would like to keep within the borders of previously published content to make the realism so mush better...
By the way, I'm a Safa from South Africa, not a Kiwi from NZ :P
By the way, I'm a Safa from South Africa, not a Kiwi from NZ :P
+1 for getting the hemisphere correct? I was born in the Southern Hemipshere (Australia) so like to call out to fellow Southern Cross folks when I notice. Well met, Safa from South Africa! Really diggin' the new tunes from SA's Shortstraw.
Completely agree about the details as well. The more I ground the game in real-world parallels the better grounded the players are in the setting. It helps to keep the fantastical still exciting and anything but mundane.
This could be helpful for poisons.On our Neverwinter Nights server we use a mixture of 'real world' and D&D specific poison, some of which are drawn from plants.
You'll see a link at the bottom of the page to their NWN properties. I actually spent a long time trying to find out what the lore for things like Oil of Taggit and Striped Toadstool actually were, though in the end largely used my imagination. Still, it's a good list to inspire flavourful poisons specific to the Forgotten Realms setting.
I am looking for a list or some information on the type of trees/plants/herbs that grows in the D&D world. Also, if possible, the different areas where these different types of plants are found. The list of beasts/animals are easy to get, but I am also wondering if there are certain types of animals not found in different types of areas in the world. (for example, what will be considered a rare animal in the Neverwinter Woods)
I am busy preparing my first ever DM game that will be in and around Neverwinter and started research on the types of plants available to harvest poison from or if there are certain trees growing there with special characteristics for manufacturing weapons. Online I could not find much. If there are any publications out there I haven't found yet, please lead me in that direction.
...and so it begins!
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
D&D Beyond FoundersYou can find a fair bit of information if you google "Faerun Flora"
There's also a book specifically for this listed on DMs Guild. No idea if it's any good though - review is here.
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Well met, Kiwi, assuming that's Wellington, NZ. If you are looking for "fantastical" flora, the product Stormknight has referenced is an excellent start. Aside from compiling references to flora from previous Realms/Toril publications, it adds a few goodies as well. The format is straightforward with all the necessary metagame crunch specified for appropriate checks to identify and utilize the plant.
Plants and their ecosystems is my vocation. As such, plants (and animals) play a big part in my narrative and supply ample uses to the players resourceful enough to use them. I like to find real-world parallels to the ecosystems of my campaign settings. I don't run Toril though but years of running games in the Gnarly Woods of the Flanaess (Greyhawk) I found equivalent trees to match the fantasy ipps and roanwood trees Gygax created. You can do the same if you want to take a little extra time. The US Department of Agriculture maintains a Plants Database that is obviously North America-centric, but there are tons of non-native plants and trees in the database as well. Just put the search parameter to "Common Name" and type in "pine" and a zillion different herbs, semi-woody shrubs, shrubs, vines, and trees pop up. Wow, there's a lot. If you get yourself down to the genus "Pinus" there's the real pines. Click on the name and it will show you where they grow by US state but also have lots of good info and pictures too. This would be a good place to start as I doubt Mr. Greenwood had southern hemisphere ecology in mind when creating the Forgotten Realms.
As for fauna, again, assume Mr. Greenwood had European/North American ecosystems in mind. The US Department of Fish and Wildlife Service have several different routes you can follow for critters you may want to incorporate. It depends on what you want to get added details for. Birds alone would take a long time to digest. If you want some different species of squirrels, that's easier.
If you'd like to keep the flora and fauna familiar to your players (again assuming NZ), looks like there's plenty of options too.
Good luck!
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
Thanks for the tips!
I'm downloading the PDF now and will have a look.
I always believe the devil is in the details, or the lack there of... I am a story teller by nature and I need to create the world before I can write (and now DM) about it, and I did assume the most details will have to "made up" along the way. I would like to keep within the borders of previously published content to make the realism so mush better...
By the way, I'm a Safa from South Africa, not a Kiwi from NZ :P
...and so it begins!
We all leave footprints in the sands of time.
I have no idea of it.
...and so it begins!
Try useing real life plants and a mix of fantasy mix to bring more to the table