Worldbuilding With Monsters pt. 3
Big Foot… Sasquatch… Abominable Snowman… YETI… Does your TTRPG world have its own mysterious yet legendary monster?
Using, adjusting, and crafting monsters is one of the biggest parts of being a gamemaster. In today’s blog, let’s look beyond the stat blocks and deeper into the lore of our monsters so we can lure our players into falling headfirst into their immersion of our campaign settings. This study on Big Foot is a great example of the impact such a monster may have on your world. If your players managed to hunt down such an elusive legend, who will praise them, who will revile them?
Or, will the players decide to fail and allow it to continue its mysterious ways?
Across Earth’s continents and cultures, whispers of colossal hairy humanoids echo through folklore and campfire tales. From the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas to the dense forests of North America, the legend of Bigfoot endures, captivating imaginations and sparking endless debate. While known by various names – Sasquatch in North America, Yeti in the Himalayas, Almas in Mongolia, Orang Pendek in Sumatra, and even the Skunk Ape in Florida – these legends share striking similarities. Descriptions paint a picture of a hulking, bipedal humanoid covered in thick fur, towering between 7 and 10 feet tall. The widespread consistency of descriptions across geographically diverse regions only adds intrigue to the mystery.
Sightings often occur in remote, mountainous regions, shrouded in mist and mystery. Are these creatures merely figments of our collective imagination, or could they be a hidden truth lurking at the fringes of the known world? Despite countless reported encounters, concrete evidence verifying the existence of these creatures remains elusive. Numerous photographs and videos have been captured, but most are blurry and inconclusive. Footprints, often large and impressive, have been documented, but questions of misidentification or hoaxes linger. DNA samples suspected to belong to these beings have failed to provide definitive answers. The lack of physical remains further fuels the skepticism surrounding their existence.
Having that one monster no one can prove or disprove its existence despite scientific or magical investigations adds greatly to a world. Is this creature rightly, or wrongly, accused of happenings? Does circumstantial evidence sway the inhabitants of your world to take sides in the debate? Are there conflicting myths and legends that are incredibly similar despite the various cultures having little to no contact or even agreement on the existence or non-existence of this monster? Such debates can give rise to an array of theories, such as those that exist on Earth about Bigfoot. Are there competing theories in your world as there are on Earth?
Here, many theories abound regarding the origins of Big Foot. Some argue they stem from ancient myths and storytelling traditions, serving as warnings about the dangers of venturing into the unknown. Others propose the wrongful identification of known animals, such as bears or primates, could explain the sightings. Which sort of theories Here are some of the more prominent ones:
RELIC HOMINID THEORY: This theory suggests Sasquatch could be a descendant of an unknown hominid species that diverged from the human lineage before Homo sapiens. Similar theories propose connections to Neanderthals or Gigantopithecus, an extinct giant ape. However, fossil evidence supporting these links is absent, and the vast timescale involved makes this highly speculative.
ISLAND GIGANTISM THEORY: it posits that Sasquatch could be an example of island gigantism, where isolated populations evolve larger body sizes due to reduced competition and abundant resources. While this phenomenon exists in other species, the lack of any known isolated human populations weakens this theory for Sasquatch.
PSYCHOLOGICAL/SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES: These theories suggest Sasquatch sightings could be explained by psychological factors like misidentification, pareidolia (seeing patterns where none exist), or the desire to believe in something extraordinary. Additionally, cultural influences and shared narratives might shape perceptions of these creatures.
INTERDIMENSIONAL/EXTRATERRESTRIAL THEORIES: These fringe theories, lacking scientific basis, propose Sasquatch originate from other dimensions or planets. While captivating imaginations, they fall outside the realm of credible scientific explanations.
ADAPTABILITY OF KNOWN SPECIES THEORY: This speculative idea suggests a known animal, like a bear or primate, could possess unknown adaptations allowing them to reach larger sizes and explain some sightings. However, substantial physical and behavioral differences from known species make this a weak contender.
Ultimately, the lack of concrete evidence makes pinpointing Sasquatch's origin challenging. While these theories offer different possibilities, they remain unproven and require further research and discovery.
What sort of theories will there be in your world? Who hunts them? Who believes in them, who scoffs at the mere thought that they are real? What sort of creature is your elusive legend?
