Lifespans and Gestation Periods

* Yes, we know that there are cats out there living to 100 years. However, it would be silly to say "average maximum lifespan," since that sounds contradictory. However, there is an upper age limit at which the vast majority of animals will die. Animals living past that age are exceptions, and aside from being old and wise are also incredibly snappy dressers.

** Take a good look at all these human lifespans. For fantasy roleplayers, specifically look at the medieval lifespan: an astounding, whopping 33 years. What does this mean? Well, for one thing, the likelihood of anyone living long enough to get gray hair was very rare (see above bullet). People living to the point where they begin to get wrinkles and gray hair were almost invariably considered in some way either blessed or cursed. They were given status (ranging from simple respect to full-blown mysticism) that we in the 1990s wouldn't give even our own elderly parents.

Secondly, unless there is some reason to expect advanced medical procedures in a fantasy campaign, players will seldom become and seldom encounter old men and women - the concept of what "old age" means is very different. Disease, famine, war and other factors all contributed to thirty somethings dying off at an alarming rate. That age was almost always 100% fatal. Individuals with a higher standard of living lived longer, but usually not by much.

Think about it. Pigeons lived longer than we did back then.