Also, this being a fantasy world, you can't rule out the weird plants with odd characteristics. In one of the th Power Goals, Toady mentioned getting tied up in Serpent Vine.
-The lizard man is propelled away by the force of the blow!-
-He slams into a patch of Serpent Vine!-
-He is entangled!-
The game would proceed to give messages each turn to the effect of "The serpent vine tightens its hold on the lizard man!", and "The lizard man struggles against the Serpent Vine's death grip!"
Once, for a role playing session, I invented a plant I dubbed Swordvine. The vines grow in dense patches growing outward from a central stalk. The are covered with venomous spikes. The stalk itself, at least during the spring or summer, is tipped with either a purple and green bud or a large, vibrant purple flower. During the fall, the stalk produces a single fruit, which has powerful anti-venom properties and can counteract the potently venomous oil that coats the plant's spines. During the time that it is producing fruit, Swordvine temporarily becomes harmless (it will normally writhe about when it feels a disturbance, a method of getting at its prey/predators with its spines, but becomes subdued when fruiting) In the winter the vines die off (although the spines are still dangerous as the oily venom still lingers). At this time the stalk (which has no spines on it) can easily be pulled from the dead plant. The stalk is very strong, and sharp like a honed blade; this is where the vile plant gets its name. If one can harvest one of these stalks, they gain a strong, light weapon, as well as the added benefit of a natural venom that is difficult to cure. Naturally, this plant's properties have been taken advantage of by the Elves, who cultivate it around the perimeters of some outposts for protection, taking advantage of its fruit, and the natural weapons it produces (its spines can be used to tip arrows). It's venom causes immediate sluggishness and slowed reaction time/movement, as well as paralysis in high doses. Comas can result if the poison stays in the blood. Otherwise a painful and feverish process of healing follows. Swordvine is a tropical plant that obtains nourishment by preying on passing creatures, making up for the fact that it grows close to the ground, where most direct sunlight is blocked by the broadleafs dominating the canopy, and most ground nourishment is taken by other plants. Each of its fruit produces three large, triangular black seeds.
While that's more detailed than necessary for DF, these types of plants (as well as other exotics; glowing star-fruit?) would add to the fantasy aspect of DF. Assuming it ever becomes possible and I can think of a way to do it, I might mod Swordvine into Dwarf Fortress.
-You trip over a patch of Swordvine.-
-Your right lower leg has been pierced!-
-You feel sluggish.-
-The vines begin to thrash about!-
-Your right lower leg has been pierced again!-
-You are paralyzed and fall over.-
-The vine drags your body closer to its center.-
-It begins to slowly digest you-
-...-
-You have been devoured.-
Hehehe.
[ October 02, 2007: Message edited by: Sylverone ]
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Topic: Thoughts on plants; discussion (Read 740 times)