Gestation rates

[alsih2o]

Can anyone point out any "Official" word on the gestation rates of the various humanoids?

 

[BrooklynKnight]

BOEF has a large section describing that.

 

[Dark Jezter]

This subject is touched upon in the old 2e AD&D suppliments The Complete Book of Dwarves and The Complete Book of Elves.

IIRC, elves have a gestation period of 2 years, while dwarves have a gestation period of about 1.5 years. I could be wrong on both of these, however.

In mammal species, it's a general rule that the larger the creature, the longer the gestation period is. Since core elves and dwarves are both smaller than humans, you'd think that the gestation periods would be shorter.

 

[Pants]

Since core elves and dwarves are both smaller than humans, you'd think that the gestation periods would be shorter.

But elves r magical and tehy never get stretch marks!!!1111

 

[Alzrius]

In mammal species, it's a general rule that the larger the creature, the longer the gestation period is. Since core elves and dwarves are both smaller than humans, you'd think that the gestation periods would be shorter.

I don't know about biology, but the paradigm there seemed to be that the longer-lived the race, the longer the gestation period, which makes sense, at least to me.

 

[Dark Jezter]

But elves r magical and tehy never get stretch marks!!!1111

Don't forget that elves never have bad breath, never have out-of-place hair, and never fart.

I don't know about biology, but the paradigm there seemed to be that the longer-lived the race, the longer the gestation period, which makes sense, at least to me.

That is true in some cases. For example, house cats have slightly longer gestation periods than the domesticated dog, and they also have slightly longer lifespans (not to mention being smaller), so there are exceptions to the rule. But on a whole, the larger the mammal, the longer the gestation period. Here is a list of sample gestation periods for mammals...

• Mouse: 19 days.
• Rabbit: 31 days.
• Dog: 61 days.
• Cat: 63 days.
• Pig: 112 days.
• Goat: 151 days.
• Deer: 201 days.
• Cow: 284 days.
• Horse: 330 days.
• Asian elephant: 645 days.

So, as mammals get larger, you also begin to see an increase in gestation periods.

 

[Pants]

Don't forget that elves never have bad breath, never have out-of-place hair, and never fart.

Okay... so where's the Bladesinger Core Class and all its 1337 powarz?

I don't know about biology, but the paradigm there seemed to be that the longer-lived the race, the longer the gestation period, which makes sense, at least to me.

Don't forget that with an Elf's lower-than average Con, a 2 year gestation cycle would be... very hard on the mother. Then again, this could also provide a reason for why Elves don't reproduce all the time.

 

[jmucchiello]

That is true in some cases. For example, house cats have slightly longer gestation periods than the domesticated dog, and they also have slightly longer lifespans (not to mention being smaller), so there are exceptions to the rule. But on a whole, the larger the mammal, the longer the gestation period. Here is a list of sample gestation periods for mammals...

• Mouse: 19 days.
• Rabbit: 31 days.
• Dog: 61 days.
• Cat: 63 days.
• Pig: 112 days.
• Goat: 151 days.
• Deer: 201 days.
• Cow: 284 days.
• Horse: 330 days.
• Asian elephant: 645 days.

So, as mammals get larger, you also begin to see an increase in gestation periods.

You left out the human (280 days).

Once while fooling around with an idea I created this chart (don't ask why):

Species Size	Duration	Example
Diminutive	3-4 weeks	rat: 22 days
Tiny		8-10 weeks	cat: 63 days
Small		22-24 weeks	halfling: 160 days
Medium		36-42 weeks	human: 280 days
Large		50-60 weeks	horse: 340 days
Huge		80-100 weeks	elephant: 20+ months

 

[Dirigible]

Can anyone point out any "Official" word on the gestation rates of the various humanoids?

Of course not. That would imply the existance of sex, which D&D does not tolerate.

 

[Interested2]

See 'The Book of Unlawful Carnal Knowledge', or whatever it's called.