Animal Handling
Name
Animal Handling
Skill Attribute & Difficulty
Int - Average
Defaults
5+Int
Prerequisites
None
Description
This is the ability to train and work with animals. You must specialize in a
category of animals – the more intelligent the animals, the narrower the
category.
Specializations
Examples of interest to adventurers: Big Cats (jaguars, lions,
tigers, etc.), Dogs, Equines (horses and donkeys), and Raptors (eagles,
falcons, and hawks). The default between specialties is -2 within the
same order (e.g., Dogs to Big Cats), -4 across orders (e.g., Dogs to Equines),
and -6 for larger differences (e.g., Dogs to Raptors).
When working with a trained animal, roll against skill for each task you
set the animal. This roll is at -5 if the animal is not familiar with you, -5 if
the circumstances are stressful to the animal, and -3 or more if the task is a
complex one. To put on an entertaining circus act, you must make a separate Performance roll!
This skill can also (sometimes) be used to quiet a wild, dangerous, or
untrained animal. This roll is at -5 if the creature is wild or very frightened,
or -10 if it is a man-eater or man-killer.
Finally, this skill gives an advantage in combat against animals within your specialty. If you have Animal Handling at level 15, an animal’s attack and defense rolls are at -1 against you, because you can predict its behavior. At skill 20, the animal’s rolls are at -2.
Modifiers
None
