Species You Wish Had Done More

[JangoCoolguy]

(Not sure if this belonged in General or Character Discussion, but I'm trying General. Any Admin who feels otherwise is free to move it)

Are there any species you wish had shown up more, played a bigger part, or had been used differently Here are some I keep thinking about.

Rabbits
You can count the number of times rabbits show up on one hand, they don't stick around very long, and play small roles. And yet they're always interesting, helpful, and have something worthwhile to say.

The weird thing is that series long running gag about many creatures mistaking hares for rabbits, which would (greatly) imply that rabbits are more common, or at least more well known. I can certainly see them among the moles, hedgehogs, dormice and voles as members of the supporting cast. Why Jacgues didn't do more with them I'll never understand.

Bats
Now, some might argue that they're too situational to appear often. But there are so many times a tale of Redwall takes us to a cave, tunnel or subterranean area there's ample opportunity for them to show up and help out. Heck, a lot of bats live outside of caves ya know.

What really interests me is how it was suggested that bats have their own culture in their dark worlds and how they weren't very tough, but still had some fight in them.

Domestic Animals  
It was suggested they existed in the Redwallverse in the first book--right down to showing a horse in action--then never again. Maybe Jacques didn't want to confuse the kids or maybe he just wasn't that creative, but you think some farm animals here and there wouldn't hurt. It's odd to think how they have wagons/carts, but no beasts of burden to pull them. Farming has to be a real pain without some to plow & till with or farmers have small gardens.  And you have to wonder where all that cheese comes from...

Wolves
I mean, COME ON!

Lizards
I know, they showed up often. But they were often random, weak, low level thugs who were easily dealt with. The only ones worth talking about were the Monitors from Pearls of Lutra. To be fair, a lot of the lizards species that are common to the UK really aren't as tough/cool as monitor lizards, but when I think lizards in an adventure/fantasy story, I think of something fast, agile and ferocious. At the very least I really wish he'd let use their tails a lot more and/or that regeneration thing.  

Toads
In early books they were a problem...then they were just random thugs. My main concern is thinking they should've used their tongues to hit animals or used their hopping abilities to body slam/ram into/crush fools.

Giant Invertebrates
Mariel of Redwall had a giant lobster and scorpion. Mossflower, Lord Brocktree, and The Legend of Luke had giant crabs. And I can't help but think of the stag beetle Cluny made his helmet from. Come to think of it, I'm surprised Jacques NEVER had a run in with a  spider or two while he was at it...

Sharks
Them showing up infrequently is awkward enough (though to be fair, them being overused would've been bad too), but Jacques just didn't seem to want to make good use of them. Mind you, I haven't read all the books they've appeared in, but the one from Triss felt more like a nuisance than an actual threat. Hell, Jacques made pike and eels show more common and even scarier!

What about guys? Any animals you wish Jacques had used more often or better?

[Ungatt Trunn]

Um, I think Wildcats can have a better go at being good characters. I know that they are probably the badgers of the bad side, but Gingervier and his wife played pretty good, er, good goys, so why couldn't there be more good Wildcats?

[The Shade]

Um, I think Wildcats can have a better go at being good characters. I know that they are probably the badgers of the bad side, but Gingervier and his wife played pretty good, er, good goys, so why couldn't there be more good Wildcats?

I think so too. I mean, what happened to their family? Did they just turn evil like the rest of 'em.

[Shadowed One]

Remember Squire Julian Gingivere in Redwall? I'm guessing that he was a descendant of them.

[Tam and Martin]

Um, I think Wildcats can have a better go at being good characters. I know that they are probably the badgers of the bad side, but Gingervier and his wife played pretty good, er, good goys, so why couldn't there be more good Wildcats?

I wish there was more about cats too. they were kinda put in at odd intervals every once and a while.

[Ungatt Trunn]

It looks like I have allot of Wildcat supporters!

[naima]

i was about to say that i wish the hedgehogs were used more as heroes than they are, but then i realised that i think i actually rather like the hedgehogs just the way they are, and that may well be the reason i love them so. maybe i just want more of them; want them crammed into the stories until no one can move without impailing themselves

[Vilu Daskar]

Bats

[Ungatt Trunn]

Bats

Why bats?

[Starla1431]

Bats

Why bats?

Because bats are awesome 

[Ungatt Trunn]

Bats

Why bats?

Because bats are awesome 

Really...but Wildcats are better!

[MeadowR]

(Not sure if this belonged in General or Character Discussion, but I'm trying General. Any Admin who feels otherwise is free to move it)

Are there any species you wish had shown up more, played a bigger part, or had been used differently Here are some I keep thinking about.

Rabbits
You can count the number of times rabbits show up on one hand, they don't stick around very long, and play small roles. And yet they're always interesting, helpful, and have something worthwhile to say.

The weird thing is that series long running gag about many creatures mistaking hares for rabbits, which would (greatly) imply that rabbits are more common, or at least more well known. I can certainly see them among the moles, hedgehogs, dormice and voles as members of the supporting cast. Why Jacgues didn't do more with them I'll never understand.

Totally agree here. Didn't make sense to me, either. It does somewhat bother me and when I read a new Redwall book in my mind I was thinking, 'now will there be any rabbits appearing in this one?'. In fact, the choice of my username is in a way trying to make up for the lack of rabbits! Perhaps Brian just didn't like rabbits very much? I know they are known as an 'alien species', but he did include others creatures of that stance more, and the fact he did include them at all, makes me believe there really wasn't a good reason for the lack of bunnies.

True wild cats aren't so common now, but also think there should and could have been more!

Need more of a think about any other species at the mo.

maybe i just want more of them; want them crammed into the stories until no one can move without impailing themselves

Haha - but ouch!

[naima]

maybe i just want more of them; want them crammed into the stories until no one can move without impailing themselves

Haha - but ouch!

one day! one day...

such a shame that they're such a rare sight in london nowadays, and you can see why just walking 5 mins down the road; every street has hedges that've been torn apart. their environment is being destroyed and no one seems to care. . i've not seen a single hedgehog in london yet.

[Skyblade]

I think a shrew hero would be cool.

[Tam and Martin]

I think a shrew hero would be cool.

THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!