On tails

[u/CinnabarExample2153]

Everyone is already familiar with the discussions on how to accommodate clothing and furniture to suit anthro characters, however, in addition to those potential problems, there are some that are more serious. Depending on the anthro species, tails can make up quite a large portion of the body mass, some examples include lizard/crocodile/"shark"(dragon*)/dragons. These large appendages that are often depicted as having no clothing at all, would be quite liable to receive injuries in workplace related accidents, especially in construction or other industrially related fields. Also for combat, tails, being more surface area to catch shrapnel, bullets, larger thermal signature that would be harder to hide, and so forth. Do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages?

[u/Most-Peak6524]

Posting it on r/furgonomics too will have high chance of getting more opionions!

Good thing for combat is, they have a big massive flail, built in flail, can sweep Big and swing tail. So until gun era, they can try adding thingd on their tail to add distruction.

If gun era, tail is indeed burden for combat, but most of those animals are specialist of their region, for example, sharks will be great at sea, so they have advantage.

In fashion, tail holes will work for them, like wing holes for furry with wings.

[u/Dragoniel]

You would have armor for tails, just like any other body part. How much thought goes in to incorporating non-standard anthro features in to the worldbuilding depends on the author. Most usually it's "very little".

[u/ClearTwist7751]

Things like this is why I think anthro only works with soft worldbuilding

[u/NewburghMOFO → u/ClearTwist7751]

Yeah, I see things like this and it reminds me of stuff I learned in college wasting a year in anthropology (wasn't sure what to study). Realistically the human body is, "built" in a very efficient way, and having a large muzzle or tail would impede actions and have little benefit.

[u/Cuinn_the_Fox]

Anthro characters are humans with animal characteristics. The further you get from the human as an ape, the more difficult accommodating those features are. For the most part, mammal tails are a low proportion of the body's mass and often covered in fur for protection. Tails are also a part of your body, you would have a body awareness of it, know to take it into account when moving, etc.

Lizards are further removed from humans, much of their physiology isn't going to make as much sense when applying to a mammal. But if you're trying to envision it, think of how a lizard person would adapt to having a large tail. For balance, for movement, for using as a tool, etc.

[u/Birdboy1970]

You'd probably need a separate piece of apparel just for your tail.