Bridge Heuristic

A primarily metaphorical thought experiment sometimes used by anthropologists to summarize critical differences in the various Lineages' typical approach to problem-solving. Because it makes generalizations about broadly defined groups of people, it if often denounced by academics and non-academics alike for supporting lazy stereotypes. Nonetheless, the concept is nearly universally known, and is still used seriously, though always couched in very careful terms, especially when in mixed company.  

The Question

The core idea of the heuristic is to consider a hypothetical group of people within a specific Lineage needing to build a bridge across a chasm, as a way of describing the typical way that Lineage addresses problems. The question seldom explains why they need to do this; it merely assumes that they have sufficient motivation to do so, and adequate materials nearby for the purpose. It also assumes they are organized into a community, which lends itself to problems when discussing some Lineages which are less inclined to live together in such a way.  

Why a Bridge?

The construction in question being a bridge specifically is preferred because it is an engineering task of no small difficulty, but because it is likely to be part of a major road, there is often an aesthetic factor to its design. Bridges are also something which almost all of the Lineages discussed are known to build at least some of the time. And unlike something more commonplace such as a house, which will vary widely in its architectural style depending on the status of the person building it (or having it commissioned to be built), a bridge is usually meant to be used by the public, and thus is more egalitarian in its execution, thus reducing social stratification as a factor, since it is not the purpose of the question.  

History

The origins of the heuristic in academic use is unknown. It likely originated as a racial joke, only to be expanded when someone chose to take it seriously. In 6357 BC, Eccau Evalin decided to test its full merit and dispatched a bevy of interns throughout the world to collect real data on as many bridges as they could find. As the reports trickled in, he made refinements on the original doctrine, publishing his final result 89 years after he began. On the whole, he found that the previous descriptions were more accurate than not, but all of them needed to be altered to at least some extent.  

The Results

Dragons

A dragon (or, were such things to be found, a group of dragons) will simply fly over a chasm. This would seem to illustrate a vital flaw in the heuristic as a whole, but proponents argue it says more about the nature of dragons. There are very few obstacles a dragon cannot simply bypass by its own inherent power, and so they are not known for building much of anything, except occasionally nests.

Dwarves

Any properly established Dwarven community will have in its keeping a number of construction protocols inherited by the founders' ancestors. When a bridge is called for, a series of simple measurements can be plugged into a template and construction will begin almost immediately, with little or no government involvement. The result is aesthetically lacking, but imminently structurally sound, and impeccably maintained for as long as Dwarves inhabit the area.

Elves

The standard Elven procedure for creating a bridge starts when a local official summons a committee to assess all aspects of the problem. Experts pore over the site for several months, taking notes on the geology, flora, and fauna, compiling reports on the economic and ecological impact of the potential bridge. Based on the reports, the local government will draw a budget for the bridge, and commission several architects to put forth designs. Choosing a design and fine-tuning it can take decades, after which a meticulous and slow build commences, with frequent checks to ensure it is in budget and not having any unforeseen detrimental effects. In total, the process can take several centuries, but once it is done, the resulting bridge will be aesthetically pleasing and nigh-indestructible. If it does fall into any disrepair, it will be painstakingly fixed, using the same methods and materials used in the original bridge, ensuring that it is impossible to tell how old or oft-repaired it is.

Fairies

If they have the means, Fairies will magic themselves across. If their magic is insufficient, they will go around. As they are not likely to return to the same location, they will not bother to exert any effort to make a return journey any easier. Bridges have been seen in Tir na Nog, but how these are made is a complete mystery.

Goblins

If a handful of Goblins need to cross a chasm (as can happen, even underground), they will scrounge around for nearby materials and pile them up, mainly by trial and error, until they have something adequate to their needs. The bridge will be tested by sending the least valuable member of the troop across. Subsequent groups will add to this construction according to their own needs, and in this way, the bridge will very gradually become more sound, but will never be aesthetically unified. The fortuitous presence of a Gremlin within the group can have a significant effect on this process, depending on the individual's expertise; the main result of this is that the build will take less time and probably involve fewer deaths.

Humans

The Human approach is, unsurprisingly, similar to both the Elvish and Dwarven methods. It also varies considerably by culture. It involves a small team, in some what directed by a government, surveying the area before beginning construction, the scale of which differs dramatically depending on the proximity of any wealthy individuals at the time. Humans pride themselves on long-lasting projects, but only engage in such efforts if they anticipate a long-term need, and as one of the shorter-lived peoples their idea of a long time is stunted compared with their ancestor Lineages. Even when they do think long-term, their imaginations fail to extend beyond a handful of generations, and their works seldom outlive a few centuries unless they happen to have superior materials at hand at low cost.

Lizardfolk

If feasible, Lizardfolk will usually find a way to swim or climb across a chasm. If this is not practical, they will send notice to an official, who will eventually file an inquest to send someone to check it out. The agent will file a report that will gradually make its way back to the official, who will assess the need and file an order for an agent (possibly the same one) to round up some locals and hire them to build a bridge, assuming no one has gotten around to doing it independently. The work will be exactly to the terms dictated, even if a situation emerges that renders part of the instructions moot. If repairs are needed, it's a matter of luck for an inquest to be followed through before the bridge collapses.

Lizzines

A scouting group reports to their leader that a chasm blocks passage to the tribe. The leader reports to the chief, who orders a construction team to go figure it out. The quality of construction depends hugely on the level of technology available to the tribe, and its longevity depends on the sedentary or nomadic nature of the tribe. In any case, the bridge will be built adequate to its needs, because if it collapses while still in use, the construction team responsible will probably be killed.

Orcs

It is not known how classical Orcs approached architecture, and most of their bridges in particular were destroyed in an attempt to stem the onslaught of the Conflagration. However, based on archaeological studies, it seems probable that their methods were similar to those of the Dwarves, favoring hereditary styles that were deliberately over-engineered so as to last as long as possible. It's also very possible that many of their bridges were in fact under-engineered, because Orcs would have seen them as a military liability at least as much as an asset. Since any such structures would have long since collapsed either way, it is impossible to say for sure. Modern Orcs, of course, build according to the ways of the culture in which they reside.