Skill Scale Down 2021

This skill has been impacted by the Skill Scale Down. The impact of this for this skill is as follows:

• This skill remains.

• Knowledge from Butchering may be counted as Hunting knowledge - or as Field Craft or Cooking.

• Knowledge from Trapmaking may be counted as Hunting knowledge - or as Field Craft or Engineering.

• Knowledge from Fishing may be counted as Hunting knowledge.

• For how to deal with XP, please see the page Skill Scale Down 2021 for links, information, and a player guide.

• The scope of this skill now includes what was previously covered by Fishing, and appropriate aspects of what was previously covered by Butchering, Trap Making. Please ensure that you take this into account going forward.

Overview

Hunting is the trade of killing, trapping, and tracking animals. It is used for not only survival, but for sport. Those that live off of the land can use the basics of Hunting to kill their own food, and often have meager means of making all parts of a kill useful, making Hunting imperative for basic wilderness survival. The nobler of birth, however, use hunting as a means of glory, typically hunting for trophies rather than for basic needs. Hunting has been a cornerstone of life in Idalos, from tribal societies, to civilized rangers hunting for trade in a city: making it an unlikely field of expertise to be made obsolete.

Types of Hunting

Survival Hunting

The survivalist is not worried about tracking the largest game, nor will they go after predators for food. This style of hunting is focused on easy to catch meals that can be found all across Idalos. With the focus on small to medium game the staple of this field are; Rabbits, Deer, Squirrel, and other similar animals. The survivalist cares not for the more dangerous of animals, and learns to hide from them as time continues, though the most skilled can form plans and construct traps, that can ensnare even the largest of game. These are generally solo hunters relying on stealth and wit to catch prey.

Though not required, skills that complement this class of hunters are; Field Craft, and Stealth.

Trophy Hunter

The Trophy hunter is generally of noble birth, and will go out for sport as a hobby. This class of hunter is known to go after larger game with overwhelming force. Parties will go off to hunt for the largest animal they can, or a single individual with the largest weapon they can use. With the focus on medium to large game the staple of this field are; Deer, Elk, and other large herbivores. The Trophy hunter is about showing strength, and may form part of rituals. These hunters do not generally know how to use every part of the animal, as they are only after the head or exotic parts of the animal, as proof to show off of having killed dangerous prey.

Though not required, skills that complement this class of hunters are; Tactics, and Ranged Combat.

Hound Hunter

The Hound hunter is a subsection of Trophy hunters, though the use of animals to assist in the hunt is what separates them. These hunters go after smaller prey items with a mass of hunting animals. The animals they use can vary, with examples including; Dog, Wolf, Ferret, Weasel, and some predatory birds. Though the list provided is not the end, it is a good example of what animals you can expect from these hunters. They generally go after small to medium prey with expensive pelts such as; Foxes, Rabbit, Mink, Beaver. Though the most skilled hunters can go after much larger prey items. These hunters teach their animals not to bite down hard on the game, that way the pelt will not be damaged as much.

Though not required, skills that complement this class of hunter are; Animal Husbandry and Mount.

Predator Hunter

This is the most advanced class of hunter, as these are the people that go after the most dangerous of game. These hunters are at least an expert in the field, the animals they go after are a threat to civilization, as such they are tracked by the greatest of hunters. The animals tracked by these hunters are; Wolf, Bear, Lion, and other Predatory animals that have a taste for mortal beings. These hunters go after bounties in order to pay their rent, or are hired by the state to keep the roads safe. A area with a large amount of skilled Hunters will have safer roads as far as animal attacks go.

Though not required, skills that complement this class of hunter are; Stealth, Tactics, Combat, Detection, and Meditation/ Discipline.

Fishing

Overview

Development Credit: Aegis

Fishing is one of the oldest skills in Idalos, a cornerstone of many civilizations. At the simplest of terms, it is the act of catching a fish, through a variety of means. But fishing is so much more than that. Fishing gives life to coastal areas, allows people to settle in places where farming and hunting are scarce. Fishing allows the oceans to become food sources, turns ponds into sanctuaries, and rivers into buffets. Fishing is not to be confused with hunting of aquatic creatures. Sometimes it is difficult to discern which is marine hunting, and which is fishing, but usually gut feeling is the guide.

Techniques

Fishing contains many techniques, many of which were developed in several areas independent of each other. Some of these, such as a fly fishing and ice fishing are adapted to specific terrains and weather. Earliest forms of fishing were primarily spear fishing and trapping through the use of primitive nets and baskets. It didn't take long for fishing poles to follow, thus creating angling. When boats became more prevalent, deeper waters, and less used waters became available.

Location, Location, Location

The most important aspect of Fishing is the selection of location, no matter which technique is used to physically acquire the fish. A fisherman must recognize when a lake is dead and stagnant, when a river is too swift or flooded, when a spot on the ocean is barren or flourishing. Locations of fish change due to a wide variety of reasons, so a fisherman must be able to adapt or go home empty handed. Everything from time of day, weather, temperature, recent or scarce rainfall, time of year and much more directly affect where fish go to feed. Just plopping a hook down into water is something novice fisherman might do, but those that take it seriously must be able to read every aspect of where fish live.

Angling

Angling is the most well known of the fishing techniques as it is one of the simplest methods for anyone to learn. Angling, the use of a fishing pole, gives access to deeper waters than the previous netting and spearing techniques. It also comes with the more advanced tool, the fishing pole. A fishing pole is made up of three basic parts, the first of which is the rod, or pole, itself. Fishing poles are usually carved from springy, flexible woods. Flexible woods don't break as easily. More rigid ones might be needed if fishing for heavier fish, but even then, flexibility is incredibly important. While many fisherman swear by making their own poles, others have carpenters of their own to craft them. A few bone ones have shown success, and rumors of metal ones exist, but most seasoned fisherman balk at that idea.

The second basic part is the line. The line is what allows the fisherman to increase the range and depth of his fishing. It gives him access to further reaches from shore lines, as well as to deeper areas in the oceans. By allowing the fisherman to adjust the distance and positioning from which he can catch fish, it opens up nearly every fish he'd like to catch, every body of water. It also allows the fisherman to not worry about scaring away his own prey, being too far away to be noticed. Early lines were made from a wide variety of things, some from naturally existing vines, to braided hair. Braided silk is only now being used, but it is rare, and expensive.

The third and final basic part is the hook. The hook is often baited with something the fish would eat, then with a flick of the wrist, can be pulled on in order to snag on the fish's body, preferably the mouth or throat. The hook is what catches the fish. The earliest hooks were wood and bone. Metal is more commonly used now. Hooks come in a variety of sizes, to match the fish you wish to catch. If a hook is too big, smaller fish can't swallow it. If it is too small, it will rip free of the fish.

There are several other accessories and tools that go along with angling.

Baiting - The use of insects, food, and other substances to attract fish into biting on your hook. Baiting is one of the biggest points of contention among anglers, everyone has their preferences. Some swear by local bait only, insects or smaller fish and creatures, found in and around the desired fishing hole. Others say live bait is best. Some like nonstandard substances like cheese and peanut butter, saying the unusual scents attract more curious fish.

Luring - The use of artificially crafted objects to attract fish that hunt using their vision. Many of these are wood, bone, and metal, often carved and painted. Lures aren't just about initial appearance, but also how they move. Just as in bait, there are many different preferences in lures, and a massive variety in types.

Sinkers - Sinkers are stones or metal weights tied to the line to let it reach greater depths, as well as maintain its general position in currents. Since certain fish live at different depths, this can greatly affect what can be caught. On the other hand, it presents other difficulties, too much weight can cause your line to drag upon the bottom of the watering hole, so no fish can find it, or even worse, get snagged and need to be cut free.

Floats - Whereas sinkers pull the line down, floats keep the line suspended. They are often coupled with sinkers so as to be more precise about the depths an angler wishes to reach. It can also help reach inaccessible areas by allowing the line to follow a current. They can also serve as bite indicators for fishermen. Early floats were made of twigs, feathers, and rolled leaves. Wooden floats are much more commonly used.

Reel - A fishing reel serves as storage for excess line. This is a less commonly found tool. It spins in order to stow and wind in excess line. Due to the intricacies of making a reel, it is the least used part.

Shore Fishing - This is the most common style of Angling. It involves standing on a shoreline, be it on the banks of a river, shore of a lake, or beach into the ocean. This style is often considered the least specialized but requires a great knowledge of the various techniques associated with angling. Location is just as important as bait selection which is as important as casting technique.

Boat Fishing - This is the second most common form of Angling. Simply put, it is angling from a boat. While casting isn't as important, location is more key. Boat fisherman often have to seek out and track schools of fish, and have access to greater depths, so a wider variety of fish than shore fishing. It takes more preparation though, as a boat is much more work.

Fly Fishing - Fly fishing is a specialized form of angling for fishing in shallow rivers and fast moving streams. It's purpose is to catch the more elusive salmon and trout that reside there. This form of angling puts the most focus on casting. Each cast puts the bait/lure and hook in the water for only a brief moment, to simulate flying or falling insects, in order to lure the fish into lunging for it.

Ice Fishing - Ice fishing is the most specialized form of angling, and really requires the least amount of skill in the core concepts. The angler finds a thick patch of ice, usually over a lake or bay, cuts through the ice using a variety of tools, and drops a line. The fish are usually so desperate for food, they'll bite at anything.

Net Fishing

Net Fishing is the most commercialized form of fishing. It involves dropping a webbing of rope, string, and other types of line and mesh into the water, and corralling the fish, trapping them in the net. This is most commonly done via a large fishing boat, with massive nets dragged behind the ship as it sails, and once the net is full, it is pulled in with a series of pulleys and tackle. This style of fishing is most common for fisherman that feed entire villages and cities.

Some net fishing is done as a form of shore fishing as well. A small, lightly weighted net is thrown into a body of water, and pulled back into shore. It requires a bit more strength while having a potential higher yield of fish.

Spear/Harpoon/Bow Fishing

Spear, harpoon, and bow fishing are often done as an alternative to angling, in all of its specialties. It involves using a spear stabbed into the water, or a harpoon on a rope thrown or an arrow attached to line shot at a fish. Usually these are barbed so as to better hold the target to be pulled into the boat or shore. This is often reserved for the larger, less agile fish, as a way to not kill them directly, but rather to tire them out until a kill is possible. Some spear fisherman also swim amongst the fish, looking for prey to stab. Bow fishing tends to be in shallow, fresh water areas, such as slow rivers.

Trapping

Fish trapping combines Trapmaking with Fishing in order to acquire fish while not being physically present. This is often done through creating current traps. By using rocks or other barriers, one can create a trap where what flows in through a large entrance, and flows out through a small exit, often trapping fish in the space in between. Others are triggered fishing lines, cages, and stationary nets

Clamming

Clamming is a unique technique in fishing, often combined with Detection and Field Craft. This is done through the use of various gathering tools such as spades and forks. These tools are used to dig clams and other bivalves and mollusks out of the sand, surf, and other places clams might be found.

Complimentary Skills

Woodworking - Often fisherman like to make their own custom tools to fit the fish or location they seek. This can be used to make fishing rods, harpoons, traps, and the like.

Cooking - Being able to make your hard earned catch into a dish worth eating.

Field Craft - Using one's surroundings to gain an advantage in fishing. This can involve finding ones own bait, recognizing patterns of insects or other creatures that affect fish's decisions, and using geography to the fisherman's advantage.

Navigation - Finding ones way around the wilderness or ocean to find an ideal fishing spot.

Seafaring - Using a boat to reach fishing locations.

Swimming - Where there's water, there's people who will go in it.

Basic Skills

Information Gathering

Tracking

The most basic of hunters need to find their prey, tracking is the first part of that process. Animals leave many clues to where they are going, or where they have been. Most obvious of which are their tracks. Even the Novice hunter can follow a fresh trail, but the older the trail the harder to find. Sometimes the animal does not leave a foot trail. In those cases, droppings and disturbed foliage may be the only clues. It is usually only the more competent hunters can keep track of those trails.

Identification

Anyone can find a track, but a hunter can tell you what made it. The hunter gathers as much information as he can about the animal, the identification of a track, or of other remains. Novices can tell you the general family of the animal, but Experts in the field can tell you the exact species of the animal, and a master can go as far as tell you if it is male or female. This is the most basic and advance of hunting skills, as most knowledge will come from here.

Behavior

This is a more advanced skill, as it requires a hunter to take their time and watch animals. This is to learn the temperament of an animal, the territorial range, and even when their mating season takes place. They will have knowledge of even such peripheral aspects as the possible impact of local foliage on the creature's behavior. This is where the hunting skills goes into the academic field, and how Expert and master hunters show their knowledge.

Taking Down Prey

Soft spots

Even a Novice could tell you to aim for the head, though that is not always the best spot. Some animals require more precise shots to other areas. Deer require you to hit their sweet spot getting lung and heart. Lions are harder to take down without going for the eyes. Every animal has their spot and it is the hunter that has to learn this.

Traps

Not every trap goes with every animal, some require a bit more forethought to what you are doing. A novice knows to not use a rock fall trap on a bear, though past that he would not have a clue. Once competent in the hunting skill one can figure out the right trap for the perfect situation. Trap-making is as much a craft as it is a skill. One's skill in trap-making dictates not only how well their traps will work, but how well they may be placed, timed, and executed. From environmental warfare, to field-trapping of a hunter, to the dungeon traps of a maniacal dungeon keeper, there are a great number of applications and uses for trap-making, that are exponentially varied when one considers the number of different forms of triggers, forms, and execution methods of each trap, and the way those might be combined together.

Mechanisms

Mechanisms that make up a trap are many and varied in utility, intent, and sophistication. They are broken into three separate categorized methodologies here: Triggers, Form, and Execution.

Triggers

The function of a trigger is often dependent on the intention of the trap designer. Whether they wish for it to fire based on a specific set of circumstances, or to keep it dormant until manually triggered. The following are examples of types of triggers, and sub-types that exist, but that's not to say that other forms of triggers couldn't also be devised. Trap-making is as much a skill as it is a craft and science, rife with possibilities for invention and innovation.

Manual

Triggers which require an end-user to activate in order to fire correctly.

Levers/Buttons/Plates/Switches/portable traps (Caltrops and banana peels).

Automatic

A form of trigger which is designed to fire when certain conditions or sub-triggers are activated.

Prescriptive/Proscriptive: A conditional mechanism that is implemented in order to activate a trigger, depending on various factors/stimuli. Prescriptive being meant to exclude certain stimulation, and Proscriptive meant to include certain forms of stimulation. Such as with heat/cold triggers, or pressure/weight triggers that only fire once a weight has been removed, as opposed to when the weight has been applied.

Pressure/Weight Sensor: A conditional mechanism that typically fires its trigger after a certain amount of weight pushes down on a lever, pressure plate, or another surface activator.

Rhythmic Sensor: A conditional mechanism that fires a trigger when it detects a certain pattern of movement over its mechanism. Such as a pressure plate that needs to be stepped on at certain intervals before it will fire.

Heat Sensor: A mechanism that fires conditional upon exposure to a heat source. This can be inverted as well to read to cold. Bear in mind this involves medieval technology, barring any highly skilled engineering trappers. So a hot/cold sensor could involve a cube of ice that slowly melts and thus releases a mechanism once it's melted to a certain point. Or alternatively, a heat sensor could be a metal bowl of water that when it evaporates, releases its mechanism.

And much, much more that are just waiting for the innovative trap-maker to invent/discover.

Form

There are many form designs of traps, and not all of them are detailed here. Bear in mind, that designs can be combined one with the other. For instance, baited traps often have concealed elements, so that the danger of it isn't made obvious.

Baited: A trap design that is meant to lure it's victims with the promise of a meal, treasure, or anything else it might need or desire.

Concealed: A trap design that is typically set in a particular spot and hidden from view, in order to catch the unwary by surprise when it fires.

Threatening: A trap design that is meant to deter, distract, or else scare victims toward a general direction (usually away from the trap).

Sprung Traps: Traps that are activated by slight pressure applied to activate a spring-based execution. The execution styles for this form of trap include but are not limited to cages, snares, and mouse traps.

Alarms: Traps that are meant to cause alarm or alert allies to intrusion.

Execution

Snares: There are a few different kinds of snares in terms of mechanisms, triggers, bait styles, and each tends to be geared toward a specific type of victim. The result of these snares is that the victim ends up tied in place. Depending on the tension in the trigger, the size of the victim, and the type of snare, it may prove more or less deadly to its victim.

Cages: A trap that is designed to keep the victim alive and intact, in an enclosed space, at least until it can be retrieved by the trapper for whatever purpose.

Armed: A trap that is designed to cause direct injury it's victim, with the intent to kill or maim them. This runs the gamut from conventional blades, spears, and axes and clubs, to fire or poison spewing jets and dart guns.

Pits: A trap that can be deadly depending on the depth of the fall and the fragility of the victim that falls into it. It is useful to trappers that wish to keep their victim in one piece, but not necessarily to spare their life.

Sticky: A relatively simplistic trap that is available with the use of various grades of adhesive. More often used to trap rodents and other pests, it often consists of a strip or flat surface that is covered with both bait and adhesive material.

Crushing: From simple woodland rocks propped up by a small stick and a trigger, to pressure plate-activated blocks that fall to crush hapless adventurers, this form of execution is varied in its applications.

Hiding

A hunter is required to think of if the animal can see them first. Though not every animal relies on sight as much as most hunters do. Some use smell and can sniff out the hunter's perfume well before they can be found. Some can hear for miles and a single broken twig will send them running. It is up to the hunter to know what sense the animal has honed the most.

Luring

Not every hunt requires you to go out of your way, sometimes a more subtle approach works. Setting out a bait can work in fishing as much as it can in hunting. Using the right bait for the right animal is important, as you cannot catch a rabbit with a steak. Setting out bait and hiding up a tree is the easiest way to get a meal.

Skill Ranks

Novice (0-25)

This represents the point where the hunter has barely grazed the surface of entering the profession. The hunter will struggle to find prey, but may occasionally have a lucky break where prey wander into their vicinity or into one of their traps. At novice, the hunter is able to recognize tracks and at times the direction the tracks are leading, but little beyond the obvious passage of a creature. The type of creature or person that the tracks belong to, as well as other details will often escape them. In addition, a novice has only a minimal idea of what a particular animal can do. They may have some vague awareness of weak points in a common animal's anatomy, but rarely will it be precise enough to engender easy kills. The hunter in this stage if they rely on their skill for food will go hungry more often than not.

A Novice fisherman is capable of occasionally catching a fish, with little to no pattern of recognizable success. While any level of fisherman can use any of the main forms of Fishing, Novices typically find the most success with Angling. Novice Fishermen are able to find standard fishing locations, use simple bait, and know the most basic of casting techniques. Often they go breaks between successful catches, and will typically have more failures in the form of lost bait, tangled lines and nets, and loss of tools.

Competent (26-75)

At this level the hunter can both follow game trails to find prey, and also approach animals with increasing confidence in their ability to get in a position to take them down. They can follow the tracks of a individual creature for a few miles and hours before he trail will go cold or losing track of their quarry. The Hunter can now reliably catch food for their self. The hunter can reliable hunt medium prey, anything larger is a risk to the hunter without assistance. Of the more common animals in their preferred hunting grounds, a hunter will have a good awareness of the vital targets of their prey, and know how to put them down mercifully and without trouble so long as their combat skills are on par with the threat level of the creature.

At Competent, Fishermen typically have found a few favorite fishing spots, recognizing that they have a higher rate of success there. They've learned that changing bait for different types of fish is ideal, as is the weather and time of day. Competent Fishermen have gained the ability to Fly Fish as well as use nets for commercial fishing. They are able to recognize when a new location is working, when a bait is popular, and other such patterns. They've learned how to use different casts to achieve different results, be it for a distant cast, beaching cast, curved casts, etc.

Expert (76-150)

These hunters can track a trail that is a few trials cold, and are able to identify most common animal tracks as well as those they have encountered before. They also have gotten good enough to determine the gender, provided they have awareness of the creature's physiology. There are few animals and creatures they're incapable of stalking, or making a safe enough approach to get in a position to bring them down. They have absolute precise knowledge of their typical quarry's weak spots and vital targets, and their ability to put down their quarry is now only bottlenecked by the danger posed by the creature and their combat skill. The only animals that the hunter has trouble with, are truly massive animals that are scattered across the land, which for whatever reason are capable of enduring the blows of a singular hunter's weapon.

At Expert, fisherman can adjust their techniques to not only catch a specific species of fish, but also chase after specific individuals. These might be particularly large fish that have been spotted, or those of an unusual coloring for their species. At this level, recognizing patterns in their own success and failure is second nature, and they have begun seeking out more specialized and difficult fishing locations. They're able to cast further and more accurately, almost never get a snagged line or net, and are just as much a part of the water as the fish themselves. Net fisherman will often find their nets full at this level, and anglers throw back the smaller ones to catch them later when they've grown.

Master (151-250)

A Master hunter can find a trail that has gone cold for even a good portion of the current season. Few quarry can evade their attempts to track them, and persistent masters will rarely be thrown from the trail unless exceptional circumstances such as supernatural abilities or other mitigating factors come into play. Even animals they aren't familiar with will give up some of their secrets and nuances to the master hunter, which are visible in their tracks and the way they leave their trail to follow. By now, the natural world has little in the way of secrets from the hunter, and they can very nearly intuit the position of vital targets on any creature that is of natural origins. While their skill is still bottlenecked by the combat ability of the hunter, their lethality is greatly enhanced by their skill at hunting, and can carry the day in a dangerous hunt.

At Master, the fisherman is unparalleled in their ability to capture any fish. They seek the largest, most elusive fish in the most dangerous of locales. These fishermen are invisible to fish, their hooks always unseen, their bait always specially picked for the target. A master Angler can reel in enough fish in a day to feed a village, and a master netter can feed an entire town. They know the importance of conserving fish populations, of mentoring lesser fishermen to not destroy habitats, and that fishing is just as much about meditation and becoming one with the waters as it is to feed oneself and others. These men and women have caught named fish of legends, though some might call them sea monsters, and saved areas from starvation. Their names inspire entire generations to take up the rod, the net, and the spear.

Credit: Wald Lowca

Progressing Hunting

• Capstones
• Grandmasters
• Tier 2 PCs

Hunting Knowledge

The collapsible below has examples of Skill Knowledge for this skill. If you are unsure of what Knowledge is, please check the Knowledge Primer for details. Please remember that our Peer Reviewers will be checking to make sure that your Knowledge claim is appropriate to what you have learned in the thread and ensuring that you are not duplicating knowledge.

A guide to knowledge can be found here (this link takes you to the site) and the person reviewing your thread will do so following the steps laid out in the Peer Reviewer Guide. If you wish to use one of these knowledge in your request, please ensure that it is appropriate to your thread.