I’ve always liked Life-shaping, the simple idea that all objects in a society are creatures designed to fulfill all the functions of daily life is something I don’t remember having seen in other fantasy worlds.
However, on a functional level it has too many problems, starting with the fact that each piece of equipment and each object requires special care due to things as simple as the deterioration of time and diseases. Now add to that the fact that the Rhul-thaun have been slowly losing the knowledge of their own technology due to their own highly ritualized society.
This indicates that sooner or later this technology will be lost forever and with it the oldest and perhaps most sophisticated culture of Athas will die with it, if the mutations of the Misty Border or political problems don’t do it first.
And in the hypothetical case that the halflings ventured beyond what they know, their creations simply could not survive the harsh climate that prevails on Athas and would have a negligible impact, unless Oronis or the Pyreen could do something about it.
But anyway, with that said, I’m curious how the rest of you deal with this issue.
Is there life-shaping in your campaigns? Did you know of any key uses for it or is it a lost technology?