I'm really curious about the distinction

[Hans.Edward.Trondheim]

In your opinion, what makes the difference between an otherworldly flora and fauna from just monsters? Is it because the latter eat humans? Isn't it the same with some animals?

 

[LyssaFae]

In your opinion, what makes the difference between an otherworldly flora and fauna from just monsters? Is it because the latter eat humans? Isn't it the same with some animals?

For me (because I have flora and fauna in my book and im really proud of them) its reasoning... my animals have a job for the eco system and thats why I dont consider them monsters. Do they eat people? Yes it can happen, but its not done maliciously, its done with purpose. Now would people technically still call them monsters? Yes, but it depends on which side of the fence they are at. If they truly understood the creatures they would understand their reasoning and to me thats what makes something less of a monster. Understanding. Hopefully that makes sense!

 

[Hans.Edward.Trondheim]

For me (because I have flora and fauna in my book and im really proud of them) its reasoning... my animals have a job for the eco system and thats why I dont consider them monsters. Do they eat people? Yes it can happen, but its not done maliciously, its done with purpose. Now would people technically still call them monsters? Yes, but it depends on which side of the fence they are at. If they truly understood the creatures they would understand their reasoning and to me thats what makes something less of a monster. Understanding. Hopefully that makes sense!

Yeah, coz I've been wondering this since I was first exposed to Pokemon. There are familiar animals existing with Pokemon, so what makes 'common' animals different from monsters? Any case, thanks for weighing in with your answer.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Is it because the latter eat humans? Isn't it the same with some animals?

It depends on how often it happens I think. Also, I personally saw in newspapers and whatnot how notorious animals that killed a lot human were called "monster something"; monster shark, monster crocodile, etc. I personally prefer to decide it like this. Monster is an animal or plant that goes out of its way to specifically hunt and eat humans or other fantasy races.

Example. If cockatrice is usually chill and attacks human(s) only when it's been starving for a long time, or human(s) invaded its nest, cockatrice is an animal. If cockatrice primarily eats humans, picking between a wild animal that is easier to hunt and a human picks human, it's a monster.

 

[Kay_Ship]

In a fantasy setting I would think that monsters would be creatures that mostly prey on sentient life.

 

[LesserSarcasm]

A monster is anything driven mad / subsists by nether world juju juice or what ever you call it. Meaning if something typically functions without said juice ita just wild flora.

 

[JordanIda]

Animals and plants arise naturally from ecosystems.

Monsters are imposed on ecosystems.

Monsters occur in nature due to deviance or ab4errance. Some singular fault.

Monsters in stories are merely implausible consrtructs of authors' imaginations.

 

[DismaiNaim]

I dunno, but my MC and his whole unit are spending the back half of the next chapter inside a cavern of a tree filled with orchids.

Their conversation drifts into over-analytical, everything is answered with "that's interesting" and they have no idea what they just walked into until the instructor shows up:

Ahmi sat cross-legged beside a shelf of roots. A cascade of feral white hair framed her sharp face and fell behind her shoulders. “The way it works is that animals come in here, they… stay, and they die. Sometimes their rotting corpses bring scavengers, and they stay, and the cycle begins anew. Soon, the monsoon rains come, and this whole cavern is flooded, and everything is covered in silt. And the worms devour you, and this nourishes the tree. Makes her strong. Allows her to build more caverns like this."
“That's really interesting." Vayance leaned back. The furry yellow creature was on his chest, and he stroked its fur with both hands.
Ahmi giggled lightly. “Yes, it's very interesting! Tell me something, how long have you been here?"
She fought back a smirk and watched as we all wrestled with the question.
"Uh…”
I asked Ajak. "How long have we been here?”
He shrugged. "Did we arrive at some point?”
Montus answered. "I think we've always been here.”
A chorus of affirmation followed, and Ahmi giggled in reply.

 

[Dawnathon]

If I ever had monsters, they would just be undesirable fauna and rarely flora. Danger to humans, sure, but also threats to humans' livestock and property. A monster that destroy a house ruins a family. A monster that destroys a farm ruins a whole community.

There is a degree of relative morality to it, but it's hard to argue the monsters are good or innocent in any way. You probably wouldn't call a man-killing grizzly bear innocent. It's just that their existence being of almost purely negative value to human(oids) is what gives them their label and stigma. In that regard, even things like mosquitos count as monsters. There aren't many people itching to defend the little buggers. Most monsters tend to be the opposite of little, of course.

 

[Alski]

Most distinctions i see in fantasy literature comes down to intent, regular flora and fauna follows real life but may still be dangerous if you get to close. Monsters on the other hand would kill you just for funzies and would climb over a city wall just to eat your kids.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hostility. Plants and animals (and hybrids) that seek to harm or destroy humans for whatever reason are monsters, the rest are "creatures" or "creatures of unknown intent"

 

[MFontana]

In your opinion, what makes the difference between an otherworldly flora and fauna from just monsters? Is it because the latter eat humans? Isn't it the same with some animals?

Honestly, Sentience is the distinction in my book.
Creatures that are sentient would qualify as 'Monsters', as far as Fauna goes. (Yes, Humans fall into this distinction as well).
Creatures that lack sentience would qualify as 'Beasts' or 'Animals'.
Society / Civilization also plays a major part as well in the distinction, but I let the story paint this in shades of grey. I can't give specifics because of spoilers. All I can say is Society and Civilization aren't strictly objective observable states. What is 'Civilized' in the story is portrayed from the perspective of the protagonists.

For example; creatures like Orks and Goblins are intelligent, and while they have their own societies and social hierarchies, they are considered 'Monsters' by the players and the 'Civilized' ancestries (Humans, Dwarves, Elves, etc etc). However, if the story was being told from the perspective of the Orks or Goblins, then those 'civilized' ancestries would be the 'Monsters' and the Orks and Goblins would be the 'Civilized' ones.

 

[Hans.Edward.Trondheim]

I haven't replied to your messages last night coz I have to go to the hospital for treatment. My asthma got triggered coz someone's been burning trash near our village for a few days now, and it affected my lungs.

Any case, thank you for your answers. Most of the consensus say that 'sentience' sets apart the classification of monsters from normal fauna.

 

[Cipiteca396]

"Monster" isn't a set term in my setting. I have a few characters erroneously refer to Dungeon-made beings as "monsters" because... Well, that's just a quirk of language and culture. If it comes from a dungeon, it's a monster right?

To me, a monster is something that is deliberately cruel. Not just plants, animals, or beasts, but also people and spirits can and often are classified as monsters. Not because of their biology, power, or intelligence, but because of their choices and personalities.

 

[MFontana]

I haven't replied to your messages last night coz I have to go to the hospital for treatment. My asthma got triggered coz someone's been burning trash near our village for a few days now, and it affected my lungs.

Any case, thank you for your answers. Most of the consensus say that 'sentience' sets apart the classification of monsters from normal fauna.

Damn. I know that feeling. Hoping for a swift recovery.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

The real monsters are the fiends we make along the way...

 

[MissRiWrites]

In your opinion, what makes the difference between an otherworldly flora and fauna from just monsters? Is it because the latter eat humans? Isn't it the same with some animals?

I think it is because flora and fauna are important everything is connected in a food-chain. Every thing has a meaning but it we take other worldly things they are not a part of our world easily disturbing the delicate nature of our world and in my opinion it will be hard to know about that monster origin isn't it? The way he grows ? The way he reproduce?........"Humans are always scared of things they can't understand"