Sentient Life forms

Sentient and Sapient life forms (sometimes referred to as Races or Species) are often used in similar context in Science Fiction & Fantasy. It bestows a degree of intelligence and awareness onto a non-human species that provides it with the ability to be considered on the same social and intelligent level as a human.

There are no boundaries to creating Sentient Life forms. There are sentient life forms that have humanoid characteristics, there are sentient life forms of a mechanical structure, there are sentient life forms with no physical construct.

When creating your sentient life forms, you will want to create life forms that are believable in the conditions you have created for your world. Ecosystems will help to identify various life forms in your world and their interaction with their environment in both natural and unnatural environment. The conditions of your world will also have an impact on the physical shape or size of your sentient beings.

Sentient Characteristics

• Intelligence - social and mental development similar to a human.
• Awareness - of its self and its environment.
• Shared Traits
• Major influence in local Ecosystems.
• Able to use resources for advancement of their social networks and improve their way of life.
• May have evolved from a less intelligent species or have been created by a higher intelligence.

Sentient Life form Categories

If you have multiple life forms, you may want to classify the life forms into specific genres or categories similar to how Fauna and Flora have been categorised.

Sentient Life form Template

Like your Fauna and Flora you may want to create an encyclopaedia or database for your Sentient Life forms if your world has many species. If your world is for a role-play game you may want to include specific game statistics as part of your race sheet.

Scientific Name:
Common Name:
Sentient Life-form Classification:
General Overview:
Personality Traits:
Physical Description:
Clans / Tribes:
Relations:
History:
Alignment:
Race Lands:
Religion:
Languages:
Common First Names:
Common Family Names:
Adventures:
Race Speed:
Other Languages:
Favoured Occupations:
Level of Advancement:
Civilisations:
Famous Characters:
Population statistics:

Variations on the Norm

Many popular forms of fiction such as TrueBlood?, the Vampire Diaries and Twighlight series are breaking down the traditional norms associated with the supernatural and other fantasy races. Creative license is being more readily accepted when creatures we have been used to applying certain characteristics too are displayed in a different light with varied characteristics, this includes the human race.

Mapping

As part of your ongoing mapping project, include a map which shows where your sentient life forms were first discovered on your world. Consider also drawing maps which show:

• where they are located at different stages of their journey including migrations.
• the impact your sentient life forms have upon your world's geography.
• population explosions and implosions. Have their been any predators, diseases or natural disasters that may have thrown out a challenge to their survival?

Interesting Links

Adapting Earth Animals into Alien Life forms
Hypothetical types of Biochemistry
Mechanical Life forms
Seventhsanctum - Fantasy Race Generator
Hubpages - Creating new races in Fantasy Fiction