Individualizing Animals

The GM is not bound by the statistics given to ani-
mals, which describe typical creatures. Individuals
may vary!
Attributes
ST: May vary significantly – perhaps by as much as
20%, for large creatures. High ST is extremely valuable
for draft animals.
DX: Rarely varies by more than a point either way.
IQ: Realistically, this is fixed, as noted in the Domestic
Animal and Wild Animal meta-traits (see Mentality Meta-
Traits, p. 263). Even a one-point increase in IQ makes a
beast a genius of its kind. However, allowing an occa-
sional animal of any species to be IQ 6 makes for some
interesting pets!
HT: May vary by one or two points in either direction.
Secondary Characteristics
Any change in attributes will affect these scores nor-
mally. In addition:
HP: May vary by up to 20% in either direction, espe-
cially on a large creature.
Will: May vary by one or two points either way.
Strong-willed creatures tend to be ornery but hard to
spook – which is desirable for war beasts, less so for
pets.
Per: Rarely varies by more than a point either way.
High Per is greatly prized in hunting animals!
Deer
Deer are swift herbivores, frequent-
ly hunted for food.
Red Deer
A large deer, common in medieval
Europe and still widespread today.
ST 12; DX 13; IQ 3; HT 12.
Will 10; Per 10; Speed 6.25; Dodge 9;
Move 9.
SM +1 (2 hexes); 200 lbs.
Traits:
Hooves; Impaling Striker
(Antlers); Quadruped; Weak Bite;
Wild Animal.
Skills: Running-13.
Dogs
Domesticated dogs are used for
hunting or as pets (or, if large enough,
as draft animals). There are many
breeds; statistics can vary greatly. Cost
ranges from negligible to $10,000+. A
healthy, trained dog – even a mongrel –
is always worth at least $200.
FP: May vary by up to 20% either way.
Speed and Move: May vary a little bit. Even a one-
point increase can grossly inflate the price of a horse or
other mount.
Advantages and Disadvantages: These rarely vary
much – but feel free to give an animal mental disad-
vantages and quirks that reflect its personality. Unique
beasts might have other mundane traits; e.g., a horse
with Danger Sense or Luck.
Meta-Traits: Morphology meta-traits should never
change. However, Domestic Animal and Wild Animal
are interchangeable for a few species.
These are unlikely to vary much without training –
see Animal Training (p. 458).
Any improvement in an animal’s stats will increase
its market value. ST and FP are valuable for draft ani-
mals, Will for war beasts, Per for hunting animals,
Move for mounts, and IQ and skills for any trained ani-
mal. Likewise, inferior stats will decrease value. In the
absence of specific formulas, details are up to the GM.
A normally wild animal with Domestic Animal and
Mount skill would be worth a small fortune!
Large Guard Dog
ST 9; DX 11; IQ 4; HT 12.
Will 10; Per 12; Speed 5.75; Dodge 8;
Move 10.
SM 0; 90 lbs.
Traits:
Chummy;
Discriminatory
Smell; Domestic Animal; Quadru-
ped; Sharp Teeth.
Skills:
Brawling-13;
Tracking-13
(bloodhounds have Tracking-15 or
better!).
Falcons
These birds of prey are commonly
used for sport hunting. A trained fal-
con – or one disturbed by a stranger –
might attack a human. A diving falcon
can reach Move 70!
Large Falcon
ST 3; DX 14; IQ 3; HT 10.
Will 10; Per 12; Speed 6; Dodge 9;
Move 2 (Ground).
SM -4; 5 lbs.
Traits
Skills
Cost
Traits: Acute Vision 3; Domestic (or
Wild) Animal; Enhanced Move 1
(Air Speed 24); Flight (Winged; Air
Move 12); No Fine Manipulators;
Sharp Beak; Sharp Claws.
Skills: Brawling-16.
Sharks
Some sharks are almost docile,
feeding primarily on whatever fish
happen to swim by at the wrong
moment. Those sharks aren’t any fun
at all.
Tiger Shark
A large, aggressive shark.
ST 19; DX 13; IQ 2; HT 12.
Will 10; Per 12; Speed 6.25; Dodge
10; Move 7 (Water).
SM +2 (4 hexes); 900 lbs.
Traits: Bad Temper (9); Combat
Reflexes; Crushing Striker (Snout);
Discriminatory Smell; Doesn’t
Breathe (Gills); Enhanced Move 1
(Water Speed 14; Costs Fatigue 2);
Ichthyoid; Pressure Support 2;
Sharp Teeth; Subsonic Hearing;
Vibration Sense; Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-15; Survival (Open
Ocean)-14.
Great White Shark
An apex predator!
ST 38; DX 10; IQ 2; HT 12.
Will 10; Per 10; Speed 5.5; Dodge 9;
Move 7 (Water).
SM +3 (7 hexes); 7,000 lbs.
Traits: As tiger shark, plus Hard to
Kill 2.
Skills: Brawling-12; Survival (Open
Ocean)-14.
Snakes
Snakes are among the most com-
mon reptiles on Earth; they are found
in temperate or warmer climates on
six of the seven continents.
Python
A large constrictor. Statistics are
for a 15’ Indian python, but lengths
can reach 30’!
ST 13; DX 12; IQ 2; HT 11.
Will 10; Per 10; Speed 5.75; Dodge 8;
Move 4.
SM 0; 225 lbs.
Traits: Cold-Blooded (50°); Constric-
tion Attack; Vermiform; Wild
Animal.