Animals

[Doug R.]

Animal danger.

The aggression of an animal pack is variable. When a pack has 1/2 of the max allowable animals, the aggression multiplier is 1. At a population of 1, the multiplier is 0.5, and at max population, the multiplier is 2.

Even in the most dangerous location in the game, a character should not die from animal attacks in one day. Granted, the animal system is based entirely on probability, and so long as odds exist, no matter how small, something terrible will happen to someone eventually. However, my calculations are based on an Average Day.

IMO, in the most dangerous location in the game, the average amount of damage dealt by animals at a X2 multiplier should not exceed 50. That would mean, on an average day, a buck-naked newspawn would survive two days if he just stood there and did nothing.

Given that such a scenario arguably wouldn't exist (they'd probably have access to a shelter or at least a bone shield, and there would be other targets besides them), I think that's quite reasonable.

As for "most dangerous" islands, I would list Burgeo, Aki, and western Pangea as the most dangerous areas in the game, though there is an undiscovered island that I've turned into a safari-hunter's paradise, should anyone manage to find it.

However, 50 is my theoretical maximum. That doesn't mean I'm going to make an effort to provide such environments...unless you think I should.

What are your thoughts?

[Majix]

One of my chars is afraid.

She doesn't know the name of the island she lives at. She has not met another living person in 30 years.At he place she calls home, she spent three years trying to work outside to gather what she needed toghether with healing foods. It took her these three years to heal from the wounds. She really tried to be on the outside only when it was needed for work.

I guess it's easier if you are not alone.

[Doug R.]

What animals are around?

[Majix]

She is away from home right now and I'm not sure I remember the animals (in English) Titanus beetle? Leopard. Hippopotamus?

She's a real lousy hunter as well.

[Doug R.]

Oh, yes, the western side of Pangea. I'll keep her in mind. She can be my "worst case scenario".

[EchoMan]

I have chars where there are mammoths, sabre-toots, wolfs, giant beetles and what not. Preparing for death as we speak.

[Snickie]

Don't forget the super bears of the early post-evil-hacker days that did 80-something damage to an otherwise undamaged, not tired, very strong expert hunter with a steel scutum.

[Majix]

I'll keep her in mind. She can be my "worst case scenario".

Is that a good or a bad thing?

She has built a small ship now so she might sail away from the wilderness, who knows.

[Misato]

My late hermit char was alone for 30+ years on Burgeo island in the forest with 100+ animals, many aggressive types, and she was a novice hunter and very weak. It wasn't until she went away for resources to a place she'd never been that she was killed by the animals between the time I signed out for the night and signed back in the next morning.

[Doug R.]

The animals on Aki have been "aggravated". I'll be monitoring the situation very closely the next few days.

For the next phase, I'm looking for a player with a character outside on Burgeo that's willing to send me their observations.

[Doug R.]

I'm interested in feedback concerning animal attacks on Aki. What do you think of the frequency of attacks since the last post? (keep in mind that attack values were doubled for the first day until I dialed them back.)

[Doug R.]

Ok, that's what I thought. I'll bump it up a bit more.

[Doug R.]

Increased attack values by 50%. Double was too high, halved was too low. Hopefully this is the happy medium. If things get crazy, scream and shout.

Setting Burgeo's values now.