Steef Biology
 

Sorry if this is a rediculous topic, but I was wondering if anyone had information on Steef biology.

I read on the forum archives that Glukkons and Muds have a queen that lays eggs (which sort of implies there's a fertile male Mud somewhere). I also heard the Vykkers are asexual. But I'm curious to find out more about the Steefs. They look mamalian, which might mean they have two sexes. I don't know of any asexual mammals. But then, it's OddWorld. Also the horns suggest a seasonal mating season.

I'm just curious to know more about their culture, do they mate for life? Are they polygymous? Do female Steef exist, do they have horns?

Questions, questions...

I don't think there is any information yet. This is probably intentional on OWI's behalf as they want to make Stranger mysterious and that will be hurt the more we know about the Steefs.

My vibe is that they reproduce sexually. This is only based on the fact that Steefs look quite mammalian but I could be wrong.

I agree. Their entire appearance seems very similar to a human, lion, deer, horse, etc., all of which reproduce sexually. Although it's possible that Steef reproduce through other means, sexual reproduction just seems the most likely.

One question I just thought of is whether they have two sexes or are hermaphroditic, like Vykkers. My earlier logic would suggest that they do have two sexes but I can't imagine what a female Steef would look like.

That's simple. They would have a more feminine build to the upper body (smaller shoulder size compared to the hips, maybe smaller horns, etc.) and lest we forget: Boobies.

maybe something like this?

http://www.iownjoo.com/freeimghost/t...e/steeffem.jpg


*** Possible Spoiler ***

BTW, I noticed the wolvarks have navels so they must be at least hermaphroditic like the Vykkers. I actually hope OWI does something a bit more "normal" with the Steef, just because I like the idea that Stranger is male.

Shallow, I know.

Did you draw that?
If so, than you are my new best friend.

Edit: Can I clean this up and color it?
It'll be a gift.

Yeah, I did. It sort of looks crap in .jpg format. I wanted to capture some of Stranger's bad-assedness in female form. Should have put armor on her instead of a tank though. :)

Oh well. I also think it would be nice for the Steef to have typical mammalian reproductive life simply because I'd like to see some *female* characters in the game! Fredya Evrting was a nice change, maybe we could have some more... particularly a female steef.

Well, if he was a hermaphrodite, I would assume he would have a voice like Micheal Jackson, or something of a similar vain. But he has a rather low voice, so I would assume he is male. And for one thing, as Dipstikk implied, he don't got no jiblets.

No, not shallow, logical. (Now I'M being shallow, ay?)

Let me send you a better file if you want to do that.

BTW, he doesn't have to have jiblets (hehe) to be a hermaphrodite. Most female mammals don't have them at all. It's just us oddballs, humans who do.

Yeah, that was an in joke, sonny :p He could have different genitalia. But who wants to know that?

*Looks at everyone*

I do, pops. :D

This is a VERY interesting topic lol...curiousity, it gets the best of us ^_^

On a related topic, I would like to see Stranger fall in love with a female Steef. That would be so romantic. Fighting side-by-side...

Huh? What, me? A pansy? No way! I'm a man's man, man! Huuurgh! Gonna go...lift weights and watch wrestling!

lol :D, that's interesting :)

this is the only info we have about steefs

***Warning: this Link contains a spoiler, plus a little frontal nudity. Don't click it, if you don't want the game spoiled.***

*spoiler warning*Steef Romance*Spoiler warning*

Well, you *do* know the origin of wrestling don't you? hehe

BTW, thanks for the pic, Xavier, I was looking for something like that. I wouldn't have guessed the Steefs were grazers, considering the massive canines they have.

What? I have a navel, I'm pretty sure I'm not hermaphroditic.

Steefs having two sexes? I'm not sure. The dominant model of reproduction on Oddworld is meant to be super species, but they are desperately short in supply for this to be accurate.

And romance? No thank you. Luckily Lorne has made clear that romance will never appear on Oddworld.

Too bad. But I figured as much.

Although it could be dissembling on his part.

I don't know why but I've allways had the feeling romance wouldn't fit on Oddworld

Well, certainly not a soppy romance. But some exploration of gender and identity, odd world style would be interesting. After all romance is inherently tragic, a search for wholeness, through which a part must be lost.

Ah... but you're probably right, romance doesn't really fit into Oddworld. Except for Irwin and Humphery of course. Those crazy love-bugs!

"love" relations between characters will always be twisted, Irwin and Humphrey is just one of those weird relations

The dominant model of reproduction on OddWorld may be super species, but that doesn't mean other schema can't exist.

BTW, what does it mean, "dominant model of reproduction?" Does it mean that the "dominant" species is a super species? So, since mammals are "dominant" on our world, the dominant model of reproduction is sexual? Even though you could argue that there are many more super-species *individuals* on our planet then mammals.

On a world with dominant super species, there could be subordinate sexual species. Which fits right in with the role the Steef play on Oddworld, outcasts. Further, why are the wolvarks isolated in western mudos? Why aren't they seen among the glukkons? They share the same economic system, obviously. Yet they are seperate from glukkon society, finding roles as Outlaws and cannon fodder. Could glukkons find their kind objectionable as well, due to profound differences in biology?

No, it's not the model of the dominate species. It is the dominate model, that applies to the entire range of species. But you are right, that doesn't preclude other methods from existing. I think its safe to assume that the Clakkers use sexual reproduction.

I was wondering... could the admin move this thread to the Spoiler's section? I'm just asking because I want to discuss this further via in game evidence, but I'm rather limited by the no spoilers thing.

No don't. You can start a parallel discussion in Spoilers but I find this interesting, even if its based entirely on speculation.

I also think it might be safe to assume the same about the grubs and the wolvarks, just based on Fredya Evrting and Jo'Mamma. (I assume those aren't spoilers, since the information was available prior to the game.)

If there were female Steef's, they might not be so..... whats the word.... womanlyish? Or a better way of putting it.... they wouldn't need a male to hold their own?

Anyone here ever played Warcraft 3?

Remember the Night Elves? Their women were badasses and could take down a small army on their own. I imagine that Steef may be like this.

I've played it.

I guess it all depends on the angle OWI takes. The sexual dichotomy among the great apes is rather pronounced, a bit less so for us humans. But if Steef are based somewhat on gorillas... female gorillas are half as big as male. The other mammal types incorperated into the Steef design-- horses, dear, big horn sheep, lions-- all have a size difference between the sexes with the males being bigger.

As for a female Steef being bad-ass... This is just personal taste but I'm tired of impossibly strong women kicking the crap out of everything that moves. From a girl who wrestles guys in Jui-juitsu, it's just insulting and rediculous. The strength differential between a guy and me is... well, pretty extreme. Most girls who wrestle know this very well.

In terms of female warriors, I think the recent King Arthur had the best idea when it depicted Guienevere and her cadre of female badasses. Their fighting style wasn't based on strength, but swarming, and it was effective, frighting and totally female all at the same time.

Plus there are many ways to be strong, besides the physical. Steef are supposed to be mystics, so a female steef could have Abe-like spiritual powers.

I think Steef are probably a species that reproduce sexually, but I'm fairly certain we won't see a female steef as a love interest in any game. I'm not sure OWI would raise the issue at all in the Stranger games, as introducing a female steef is sure to complicate the steef situation. How many are there? How have they survived? Where have they been hiding? I think its safe to say there are very few steef left, and the percentage of females small.

I'm not saying its impossible to see them, but the only reason to bring them into the equation at all would be to talk about how the Steef will continue to exist. They're cannon now, they're cool, and they're likely to show in other games. If the issue is dealt with, I'd prefer for it to be dealt with outside of the Stranger series. A habitales game or something.