Animal Control
Use: You know how to issue commands to unintelligent animals as well as train domesticated animals with sets of commands. If you encounter an animal in the wild, you might be able to drive it off in a safe manner, or otherwise get it to do something you want. This skill cannot be used with intelligent animals, magic creatures, undead animals, or people. Difficulty: As there are several uses for this skill, some examples have been outlined in the table below:
Example DL Getting an animal to do a command it knows 10 Teaching an animal a normal command 15 Teaching an animal a command that could endanger it, shooing a dangerous wild animal 20 Getting an animal to attack something unnatural or perform a command it doesn’t know 25 Cruel treatment (overworking, etc.), animal is injured +5
Teaching an animal a command usually takes 5-7 days. An animal like a dog can learn a total of 5 commands. Less intelligent animals like lizards can only learn 2 commands. A domesticated animal can learn any of the following commands, or new ones with your GM’s approval. These have a DL of 20 to teach: Sick ‘Em – The animal will attack whatever you point out, but animals will not attack anything unnatural without extra coaxing Guard – The animal will stay and defend itself, you, someone you point out, or an object Track – The animal can track by scent (if capable) These have a DL of 15 to teach: Down – The animal will back off and lay down out of harm’s way Come – The animal will go to wherever you are Fetch – The animal will go get what you point out, or the first thing it sees if no specifics are given. You can point out an object or a person. Heel – The animal will follow and remain close Search – The animal will go where you point and look for anything odd (or something specific if capable of tracking by scent) Stay – The animal will remain where you point until you return and won’t provoke any passersby Spellcasting – Just kidding Tricks – The animal can perform the usual stupid pet tricks Work – The animal will pull or bear a load Time: Teaching an animal commands takes 5-7 days per command. Interacting with an animal during combat generally takes 4 AP. Retry: For training, yes. For wild animals, not without spending a fate point
