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House Rules |
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Animals can be described by
the ecological niche they occupy. The following broad categories
describe effectively all animal types. Note that some of these
definitions overlap, because most animals have several available
feeding behaviors and do what they need to do under the
circumstances to get a meal. For example, Terran baleen whales will
scoop plankton while skimming through the sea (herbivore grazer
behavior), but also take shoals of fish or mollusks from the bottom,
which requires more work and is similar to herbivore intermittent
behavior. Similarly, lions can take live prey as carnivore pouncers
or chasers, but can take another creature's kill, thereby
functioning as scavenger hijackers.
When trying to assign an
animal to such a niche, use its most frequent or typical behavior,
as well as the most vigorous technique which it routinely uses. For
example, the lion would be be listed as a pouncer because it is not
limited to hijacking behavior.
Carnivores
Herbivores
Omnivores
Scavengers
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Carnivores
Animals which prey on other animals by
attacking and killing them in the face of resistance are carnivores.
Carnivores are of five types:
Pouncers: Animals which kill their prey by attacking
from hiding or by stalking and springing are pouncers. Because of
the difficulty of coordinating such attacks, pouncers are usually
solitary animals. In an encounter, pouncers which have achieved
surprise have succeeded in their basic aim and will attack
regardless of range. If they do not have surprise, they will
sometimes still attack. They will flee if they themselves are
surprised. Typical Terran pouncers are cats.
Chasers: Animals which kill their prey by attacking
after a chase are termed chasers. They tend to be pack animals. The
chased prey is not merely large animals, but is typically small.
Typical Terran chasers are wolves (and their typical prey is mice).
Trappers: Animals which passively allow their prey to
enter a created trap wherein they are killed and eaten. Trappers
tend to be solitary and slow, but will attack any animal which
enters their trap. Usually, a trap will not wound or damage the
trapped individual, but will tend to hold the one trapped in order
for the trapper to attack. A typical Terran trapper is the spider or
ant lion. Generally, any character who is surprised by a
trappers at close or short range is trapped (assuming that the
creature is of sufficient size to normally feed on human-size prey).
Escaping is formidable task using Strength.
Sirens: Distinct from the trapper, which creates a trap
for its prey, a siren also creates a lure to draw prey to the trap.
The trap is treated in much the same manner as that of the trapper,
but the lure entails additional consideration. In most cases,
the lure will be specific to some animal but will be unnoticed by
humans. In rare cases (roll 2 or less on 1D20), the lure will be
universal, perhaps a smell or scent, or a mirage or a beautiful
configuration, which will attract characters into a vulnerable
position. Very rarely, the lure will be psionic in nature. Typical
Terran sirens are the angler fish (it's mouth is the trap) and the
Venus flytrap.
Killers: A
killer is a creature which is so powerful within its environment and
well adapted to predation that it shows little fear of other
creatures, regardless of their size. It is able to kill quite
effectively when it is hungry, or when an intruder encroaches on its
territory. Its ability to attack is so well-developed that attacking
forms a relatively larger portion of its range of behavior than with
most animals. Therefore, such creatures are more likely to attack
without apparent provocation (i.e., in response to provocations that
are apparent only to the creature). A Terran example is the shark.
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Herbivores
Animals which eat unresisting food are
generally classed as herbivores. While this usually means plant
eaters, the definition here includes the eating of unresisting
animals as well. Herbivores are of three types:
Grazers: Animals which devote most of their time to
eating. They may be solitary or grouped in herds. Their primary
defense is flight, although such action may result in stampedes
which could endanger adventurers who get in their path. When forced
to fight, they will fight fiercely until killed or routed. Typical
Terran grazers are the antelope and the moose. The baleen whale
(which scoops krill from the sea as it swims through it) is also a
grazer.
Intermittents: Herbivores which
do not devote their full time to eating. They tend to be solitary.
Intermittents usually "freeze" when an encounter occurs, fleeing of
attacked by a larger animal. Sometimes an intermittent will attack
in order to protect territory or young. Typical Terran intermittents
are the chipmunk and the elephant.
Filterers: Herbivores which pass the environment
through their bodies. Unlike grazers, which move to eat food,
filterers move a flow of water or air through themselves in order to
gain food. Generally, filterers suck, trip, push, or pull anything
(even animals) at close range into a digestive sac. A filterer can
absorb an animal up to twice its own weight. Filterers are solitary
and generally slow moving, if they move at all. Terran filterers are
generally aquatic, such as the barnacle, coral, mussel, clam, etc.
Filterers attack differently than other animals. They inflict
automatic wounds of 1D6 per each 150 kilograms of animal mass
(weapons and wound alteration is ignored). They attack through
reflex. Freeing oneself from them is a Difficult task using
Strength. This task represents a prompt struggle by an
adventurer; success secures an escape. Up to four other characters
may assist. Each makes a Formidable roll versus Strength, and each
success lowers the escaping player's difficulty level by one. This
task is hazardous: if a Catastrophic Failure occurs, one of the
characters who was aiding in the escape has also been caught. If no
other characters were helping, ignore any Catastrophic Failures.
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Omnivores
Animals which eat food without regard to its resistance. The bear,
which will eat fruits, berries, and moths as readily as it will hunt
for fish or animals, is an omnivore. Omnivores are of three types:
gatherers, hunters, and eaters.
Gatherers: Animals which display a greater tendency
toward herbivorous behavior. In most respects, they are similar to
herbivore intermittents. Typical Terran gatherers are the raccoon
and the chimpanzees.
Hunters: Animals which display a greater tendency
toward carnivorous behavior. In most respects, they are similar to
small or inefficient carnivore chasers. Typical Terran hunters are
bears or humans. These creatures can also function well as
hijackers.
Eaters: The
true omnivore (in the sense that it will eat anything and
everything) does not distinguish its food and consumes all that it
confronts. Eaters present considerable danger since they do not
avoid anything when encountered. A typical Terran eater is the army
ant (where the entire colony is considered to be one organism, which
it rather resembles, as it has only one reproductive unit — the
queen).
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Scavengers
Animals which share or steal the prey of others
or that take the remains of kills are classed as scavengers.
Scavengers are of four types:
Intimidators: These are
scavengers which establish their claim to food by frightening or
threatening other animals. Their standard procedure is to approach a
kill and force other animals away by appearing to be a threat. A
typical Terran intimidator is the jackal.
Hijackers: These are scavengers which establish their
claim to food by simply taking it They rely on their superior
strength or size to allow them to hijack food because the other
animals present cannot effectively object. This size and strength
also allows them to function as pouncers and hunters. A typical
Terran hijacker is the lion.
Carrion Eaters: These are
scavengers which take dead meat when it becomes available (often
waiting patiently for all other threats to disperse before
beginning). A typical Terran carrion-eater is the buzzard.
Reducers:
These are scavengers which act constantly on all available food.
They reduce the remains of food after all other scavengers are
finished with it by consuming bone and other leavings. Terran
reducers are all microscopic, such as bacteria.
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