Pets and Trained Animals

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Pets and Trained Animals

Ordinary trained animals are property purchased with cash, not advantages bought with points. The GM controls their actions – but the better a beast's training, the more likely it is to do what its owner wishes.

These rules do not apply to unique animal companions, such as familiars. For a creature like that, determine its point total as a character, and then see Allies to find its point cost as an advantage.

Animal Training

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Value of Trained Animals

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Domesticated Animals

Cattle

Although their ancestors were hunted through the Paleolithic, cattle were probably domesticated around 6500 B.C., in the Near East. The stats given here describe typical historical cattle. Those under Oxen (see below) reflect the results of modern ranching.

Live cattle provide both food and extremely useful labor. Effective plow harnesses for oxen (castrated bulls) are unsophisticated, allowing people to use these animals to help till fields starting in very early TL1. Cows produce milk, but significant milk production depends on exceptional pasturage or supplemental feed: 40 gallons per year on typical grazing alone, but up to 200 gallons with excellent grazing land or a supplement of $80 worth of grain per month. The best milkers might give up to 25% more (+1 CF per 5% increased production). Milk is typically turned into cheese at two pounds per gallon. The Maasai periodically bleed their cattle and consume the blood.

When slaughtered, cattle provide a great deal of meat (see Butchering), plus 3-4 square yards of leather.

The drawback of cattle is their great size. Even the relatively small, underfed beasts of centuries past weighed close to half a ton apiece. As inefficient grazers, they required significant land for support. They also packed a great deal of value into a single animal, making them attractive targets for thieves.

ST 23; DX 8; IQ 3; HT 12.

Will 9; Per 10; Speed 5; Dodge 8; Move 5.

SM +1; 800-1,000 lbs.

Traits: Domestic Animal; Quadruped.

Cost: $1,200.

Riding and Draft Animals

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Camels

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Donkeys, Horses, and Mules

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Saddle Horse

An ordinary riding horse.

ST 21; DX 9; IQ 3; HT 11.

Will 10; Per 12; Speed 5; Dodge 8; Move 6.

SM +1 (3 hexes); 1,200 lbs.

Traits: Domestic Animal; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 12); Hooves; Peripheral Vision; Quadruped; Weak Bite.

Skills: Mount-11.

Cost: $1,200.

Elephants

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Oxen

Oxen are steers trained to work in the fields. They are hardier and easier to keep than horses.

ST 27; DX 8; IQ 3; HT 12.

Will 12; Per 10; Speed 5; Dodge 8; Move 4.

SM +2 (3 hexes); 2,500 lbs.

Traits: Domestic Animal; DR 2 (Skull only); Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 8); Impaling Striker (Horns); Neutered; Quadruped; Weak Bite.

Skills: Mount-11.

Cost: $1,500.