Grasslands & Plains
Grasslands & plains are vast, open regions dominated by grasses with few or no trees. These landscapes are common in fictional worlds and come in many forms: from endless prairies to fertile croplands, and even fantastical grass seas that mimic oceans in form and function. Often depicted as serene and picturesque (if they aren’t being ravaged by tornado, wildfire, or raider factions), fictional grasslands are often homes for nomadic tribes, fierce horsemen warriors, and agricultural communities. Their grasses come in many lengths and colors, from light greens that ripple in the wind to golden yellows that tower over a persons head. Often fictional grassland regions also have a robust skies element which may feature stunning cloud formations, fictional constellations, or undulating auroras.
| Synonyms: meadows, meadowlands, prairies, prairielands |
| Example Mythonyms: the Great Expanse, the Hapslan Lowlands, the Evermeadow |
| Regions & Biomes |
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Designing Fictional Grasslands & Plains
Grasslands are typically vast, open spaces dominated by grasses. Because of this uniformity, worldbuilders often focus on adding variety through different features. For instance, bodies of water like lakes and rivers, along with landforms such as hills, woodlands, mesas, and rock formations, can break up the monotony and create points of interest. Human-made structures like forts, windmills, and farms can also be incorporated where suitable. Roads and paths can connect these various elements. However, designers and particularly cartographers should not fall into the trap of over-crowding their grassland and plains regions. Large stretches of empty space are a defining feature of large grasslands and realistic maps often reflect that.
Fictional grasslands are commonly portrayed as either flat, offering unobstructed views over long distances, or gently undulating with rolling hills. These grasslands can also be found in diverse environments, including dry, arid regions, and high-altitude plateaus or mountain valleys. The specific type of grassland terrain significantly impacts the overall appearance and tone of the setting. For example, a flat, open grassland can feel vast and exposed, while a grassland nestled among mountains can be used to evoke a sense of seclusion.
Archetypes
Types of Grassland
While the most commonly used grasslands type in fictional worlds is an idealized version of a steppe or prairie, worldbuilders may also wish to consider other types of grasslands to serve as the basis for their fictional settings.
Alpine Grasslands
These high-altitude grasslands are found in mountain regions with cooler temperatures and shorter growing seasons. Examples include alpine meadows and paramos in South America.
Prairie
Characterized by vast stretches of tall grasses, with moderate rainfall and hot summers and cold winters.
Savannah
These grasslands feature scattered trees and shrubs alongside tall grasses. They are found in hot, seasonal climates with wet and dry periods. Examples include the African savanna and the Australian outback.
Arid & Desert Grassland
These grasslands are adapted to arid environments with limited rainfall and sparse vegetation. Examples include shortgrass prairies and shrub-steppe ecosystems.
Steppe
These grasslands are adapted to arid environments with limited rainfall and sparse vegetation. Examples include shortgrass prairies and shrub-steppe ecosystems.
Grasses
Grass is the main feature of any grassland and designers should consider its’ characteristics. This may be an opportunity to insert a fictional plant. The height of the grass (short or towering above head-height), the color (yellows, greens, blues, or others) and additional features like the ability to flower can be considered. If the grass is of sufficient height, labyrinthian paths or tunnels may have formed within the expanse.
| Height | Short grasses or long |
| Color | Green and yellow grasses are common and each will drastically impact the aesthetic and tone of the region. Fantasy and science fiction grassland areas may feature other colors |
| Other Features | -Ability to Flower -Sharpness of the blades of grass -Root systems -Bioluminescence |
Inhabitants
The inhabitants of fictional grasslands are often depicted as being tied to the fauna of the plains. They often use steeds (usually horses or a fictional creature) to better help them cross the vast distances of their homelands. In fantasy worlds these may be fierce warrior clans or kingdoms. In wild west worlds these are often ranchers tasked with protecting their herds of cattle. In science fiction settings the horses or other beasts of burden are often replaced with fictional alien creatures or small fictional vehicles (hovercars, speeders, bipedal mechs, etc). They may be nomadic, or they may have small population centers and towns scattered throughout the region. This is particularly true for fantasy worlds, where the people of grasslands are often designed as fierce horse-riders.
