Fleshcrafting

2018-06-03T03:23:14Z

2602:306:C54E:CF00:442B:76E8:AF:DCCF:

'''Fleshcrafting''', also known as '''Fleshwarping''', is a term used on /tg/ as a catch-all to a specific form of dark magic and/or mad science that revolves around augmenting, transforming, shaping, sculpting and creating life, typically through a horrific amalgamation of alchemy, surgery and, if present, sorcery. Common uses of fleshcrafting include producing grotesque grafted biological augments or weapons, and creating monsters from corpse-pieces or living beings, usually to serve as servants of some description. This field of interest is usually restricted to races and individuals of the evil NPC variety, as it is generally seen as being too morally reprehensible (or overpowered) to allow PCs to have it.

==D&D==
Fleshcrafting has been used in the background of various monsters and even races since [[Dungeons & Dragons]] was first a thing. The [[Flesh Golem]], the [[Broken One]], the [[Bulette]], the [[Owlbear]] and many more are usually said to be the result of mad [[wizard]]s or dark [[artificer]]s playing around with the secret of life. Heck, even [[Mongrelfolk]] have been portrayed as fleshcrafted once or twice; the [[Darklord]] of G'henna has the ability to transform worshippers of [[Zhakata]] he doesn't like into mongrelfolk.

In [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] 2nd edition, PCs were pretty much restricted from using this style, although the Anatomist [[kits]] for the [[Necromancer]] ([[Wizard]]) did eventually allow the player to build flesh golems and, technically, the [[Xixchil]] could touch upon it through its racial ability to self-improve by grafting on armor and weapon-limbs. Several unique NPC monsters also existed to represent victims of flesh-crafting experiments.

In 3rd edition, PCs could actually get involved in this themselves. The principles of creating grafts were first introduced in the 3e [[Fiend Folio]], then expanded upon in "Lords of Madness", which presented the Graft Flesh item creation feat, several new [[aberration]] grafts, and the Fleshwarper, a Prestige Class specialized in augmenting itself and others by grafting on bits of defeated monsters. The [[Half-Golem]] template technically represents one branch of fleshcrafting study.

In [[Pathfinder]], several archetypes for the [[Alchemist]] make use of Fleshcrafting, whilst it is an "artform" mastered and wielded by both the [[drow]] and the [[derro]]. The drow in particular have created a number of unique, horrific monster species through their established procedures for warping living organisms to their liking.

The [[Ravenloft]] fan-wiki divides Fleshcrafting into two branches; Biomancy (magical & psionic fleshcrafting) and Bio-Engineering (mad science fleshcrafting).

==WH40K==
In [[Warhammer 40,000]], there are several examples of this form of artifice.

The absolute champions of it of the [[Haemonculi]] of the [[Dark Eldar]], and several other Dark Eldar units actually represent the fruits of their labor at sculpting flesh into new servile forms.

The Magos Biologis of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] also experiment in this field, as their teachings lead them to prefer bio-grafts and organic augmentations over the traditional cybernetics of their fellows.

The [[Gene-seed]] of the [[Space Marines]] is effectively a form of fleshcrafting, as it uses various genetically cultured biological augments to transform a lowly human into a powerful Adeptus Astartes.

The [[Tyranids]]' entire species is based on fleshcrafting, constantly absorbing new genetic material and analyzing it to provide new ways to modify and augment themselves on a physical and species level.

And, last but not least, let's not forget about [[Fabius Bile|Mr. Fabulous]] who's been <s>desecrating</s> CAREFULLY PERFORMING SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS UPON anyone or anything that had the <s>misfortune</s> PRIVILEGE to get in the same room as him for the last ten millenia in order to create 'the perfect human being'.

==Other Games==
In [[Deadlands]], "Patchwork Science", a primitive form of fleshcrafting that amounts to making [[Flesh Golem]]s is mentioned in the second of its monster manuals, although Marshals are told emphatically that this is NOT to be allowed into player hands as an [[Arcane Background]].

The [[Tzimisce]] from [[Vampire: The Masquerade]] have the [[Vicissitude]] discipline, which grants them the power to shape flesh and bone at low levels, become a puddle of sapient Vitae, do all sorts of weird stuff and even become a monster.

[[Skaven]] [[Clan Moulder]] in [[Warhammer Fantasy]] specializes in this, mostly to create bigger and better breeds of rats.

The [[Phyrexians]] from [[Magic: The Gathering]] are not a wasteful bunch. If you aren't don't need a body part, and it can be used somewhere else, they will take it, and use it. The also have nanobots called glistening oil that turns creatures into phyrexians. MTG also has thrulls which are living creatures made out of corpses.

Fleshcrafter is a character class in [[FAPP]] that specializes in adding and removing assets and mutations to their self or others.

[[Category:Roleplaying]][[Category:Gamer Slang]]

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Fleshcrafting