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 Butchery 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.

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, Trap Making, 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 Training 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, Trap Making, Combat, Detection, and Meditation/ Discipline.

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.

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 truly entered the profession. Still, the hunter can find prey with some luck. The successful hunts give the confidence to keep trying. At novice, the hunter has also learned to follow the basic tracks, and only understands the basics of what the animal can do. The hunter can only go after small prey, if going after something larger they will likely fail or get hurt. The hunter in this stage will go hungry some nights, but that is just how life is for a hunter starting.

Competent (26-75)

Now it is decision time. Does the hunter continue to branch off into learning new methods of hunting, or develop more fully those already familiar? At this level the hunter can both follow game trails to find prey, and after failing so often, they learned to approach animals more steadily. The Hunter can now reliably catch food for them self, even if they are not well fed at least they will not starve in the wilderness. The hunter can reliable hunt medium prey, anything larger is a risk to the hunter.

Expert (76-150)

There is no longer any established method of this skill that are difficult for this hunter to succeed at. These hunters can track a trail that is a Trial old, and they can hunt enough food for up to 3 people in a pinch. They have begun to develop their own method of hunting, though sometimes their ideas are too forward thinking. If properly sheltered in the wilderness these people can last Trials on their own. Only needing to return for resupply of certain goods. The only animals that the hunter has trouble with, are the massive animals that are scattered across the land.

Master (151-250)

A Master hunter is unmatched in the wilds. It is only when overconfident that a mistake might be made. This is also where the hunter can vanish for arcs surviving on the fat of the land, and they can take up to 5 people with them to disappear from civilization.

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.