Succession

Succession

Succession is a game about building up a biological community, either from scratch or after a natural disaster through the process of ecological succession. 

In nature there are two types of Ecological Succession.

Primary Succession is the formation of a new community on a previously uninhabited structure. Think of ecosystems sprung up from hardened lava flows, or grown from a new landmass uncovered by glacial melt. Primary succession often begins with very Niche pioneer species that make the land more sustainable for larger species.

Secondary Succession pertains to the recovery of a previously established ecosystem after a disaster that destroyed most of the community. Examples of this can be seen in forests regrowing after large fires, or an ecosystem rebuilding after a floor or earthquake. A great example of this is the regrowth of the area around Mt. St. Hellens after its eruption in 1980.

While the primary purpose for this game is to follow and learn about natural processes in our world, there is no limit to how fantastical of an ecosystem you can build! I strongly encourage you to stretch your imaginative muscles after getting the hang of the game flow and think up some wildly unique and different communities! Although make sure that everyone is on board and comfortable with the limits you want to stretch. Never forget to lean on the player pallet and reinforce Lines and Veils during play, strong open communication is the best way to ensure a fun game.