*Title*
Hunting
*Summary*
Add a variety of elements into the game to allow nobles to hunt for sport
*Details*
Characters can gain the ability to hunt various animals using various methods and weapons.
Base Option:
Add a hunting skill. All nobles are assumed to have horses, dogs and hawks/falcons to hunt with. Add a "Hunt.." option to the actions page that leads to a hunt sub page. On the hunt sub page you can chose what animal to hunt (Stag, Deer, Bear, Boar, Wolf, Fowl, Rabbit/Hare, Fox or Any), what method of hunt to perform (Falcon or Hawk, Bow and Stable, Dog and Force) and the weapon of choice. Depending on the game selected, only certain hunting methods wil be available. Depending on the method of hunt selected, only certain weapons are available The hunt the commences taking XX hours. A report is then generated describing the hunt and its result.
Hunting Weapons:
Spear
Used in Dog and Force hunts with the jousting skill.
Sword
Used in Dog and Force hunts with the swordsmanship skill.
Bow
Used in Bow and Stable hunts with the archery skill.
Hunting Methods:
By Dog and Force
This is considered an honorable and prestigious method of hunting. Prey found then chased to exhaustion, then cornered (done with the hunting skill). The hunter then kills the prey with sword or spear (done with swordsmanship or jousting). This method of hunting is challenging and dangerous and can result in being wounded badly. You might increase your hunting, swordsmanship or jousting skill. H/P might be gained. Only Stag, Deer, Bear, Boar, Wolf and Fox can be hunted in this manner.
By Falcon or Hawk
This is considered an honorable and prestigious method of hunting. The bird is released into the air. Prey is then flushed by the noble and/or dogs for the bird to attack. Success in entirely based on hunting skill. This hunting is generally safe but quite challenging. There is a chance the Hawk/Falcon will not or can not return. Only Fowl, Rabbit/Hare and Fox can be hunted in this manner.
By Bow and Stable
This is not considered an honorable and prestigious method of hunting though it is also not frowned upon either. Thus is done by flushing game towards hunters waiting with bow and arrow (done with hunting skill). the hunter than shoots the game (done with archery). Best done with a slow and controlled herding of prey. Generally safe method of hunting with high success rate. Hunting or archery skill might increase. Only Stag, Deer, Bear, Boar, Wolf Fowl and Fox can be hunted in this manner.
Game Types:
Stag
The most prestigious kind of game. Can only be hunted by Dog and Force or by Bow and Sable. Very difficult to succeed.
Deer
Fairly prestigious game. Hunter is ok with any dear though would be delighted to find a stag. Higher chances of overall success but lower chance of getting a stag. Can only be hunted by Dog and Force or by Bow and Sable.
Bear
Prestigious kind of game. Can only be hunted by Dog and Force or by Bow and Sable.
Boar
Prestigious kind of game. Can only be hunted by Dog and Force or by Bow and Sable.
Wolf Killed by Sword or Spear
Not very prestigious. Can only be hunted by Dog and Force or by Bow and Sable.
Fowl (Goose, Ducks, Pheasant, Partridge or Grouse)
Not very prestigious. Can only be hunted by Falcon or Hawk or by Bow and Sable.
Rabbit/Hare
Not very prestigious. Can only be hunted by Falcon or Hawk or by Bow and Sable.
Fox
Not very prestigious. Can be hunted by any means.
Any
The hunter is satisfied to catch any kind of game their chosen method allows. Highest chance of success though high prestige game is less likely to be caught than if you hunted for that game specifically.
Advanced Options:
Most of the Base option applies with the following changes/additions:
* By default, only Dog and Force and Bow and Sable options are available
* By default, the noble has no dogs or falcons to aid in the hunt
* Knights can build Kennels on their estate to gain access to dogs
* Dogs can be purchased via the kennels
* Dogs increase the chance of a successful hunt regardless of the kind of hunt
* Dogs can be lost/killed during a hunt, depending on the method of hunt and kind of game
* Knights can construct Mews on their estate to gain access to hawks/falcons
* Hawks/Falcons can be bought via the mews
* Hawks have a numerical rating like captains that add to hunting skill
* Hawks can be named or have randomly generated names
* Hawks can be lost during a hunt
* Knights can build Stables on their estates
* Once built, knights are assumed to have room for horses bred for hunting and gain a bonus to hunts
* Characters can hire a Falconer, Master of Hounds and/or Master of Horses to further add benefit to the hunt
* These people are assumed to train and are for their respective animals
* This extra care/training means higher quality animals and thus the bonus
* An option in which several player controlled nobles can hunt together.
* Every hunt is assumed to consist of the player character leading a group of minor nobility to hunt together though the pc noble is always the one to make the kill.
*Benefits*
Nobles where well known for hunting in the middle ages and hunting was, indeed, considered a noble pastime. This brings that aspect of nobility into the game. Further, this provides knights with something to do during peaceful times. It also gives new knights a way of earning H/P and increase skills.
*Possible Downsides or Exploits*
Players use hunting to buff up skills? Well, this is really a benefit to me - to a certain extent at least. I also think hat making it progressively more difficult to increase a given skill as its level increases should keep abuse from happening.
Players who hunt to gain too much H/P? Nobles could gain a great deal of honor and prestige through hunting. The pastime was highly regarded as where successful hunters. At the same time, care should be taken to ensure that a character constantly fighting in battles gains H/P more quickly that a character that constantly hunts.
