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PostPosted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:58 pm 
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WodenKrait wrote:
Kharille wrote:
Or maybe a bird of prey can do some messenging function and help move armies around a map. Just thoughts.


Are birds of prey suitable for sending messages? Homing pigeons have been used to carry messages for thousands of years (they're not very convenient to carry around on adventures however) but that's because humans have exploited the natural tendencies of pigeons. I've not heard of raptors being used that way.

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Well, its a fantasy rpg. Maybe you can teach these birds to recognize banners and faces. Maybe they can be taught to transport healing potions like drones. Oh, and they're teach them to catch drones in real life situations I hear. Maybe you can teach them to catch enemy messenger pigeons and all.

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PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:31 am 
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Kharille wrote:
Maybe you can teach them to catch enemy messenger pigeons and all.


Thats what falcons were used for in WW1 and 2.

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PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 3:20 am 
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Recognising banners is actually something that you might be able to train pigeons to do; there was something called Project Seahunt in the early 80s (that unfortunately had a tragic conclusion) that trialled with excellent results using pigeons for maritime search and rescue operations, so there's no doubt they have the eyes and brain to pick our things on the ground with alacrity.

Using raptors to hunt other birds is of course an excellent use of their natural abilities and inclination.

As with all animal training, the key is to exploit an animal's natural instincts and not work against them. If the animal's instincts provide almost no leverage (e.g. cats) there's not much you can do with them.

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PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:25 pm 
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WodenKrait wrote:
Recognising banners is actually something that you might be able to train pigeons to do; there was something called Project Seahunt in the early 80s (that unfortunately had a tragic conclusion) that trialled with excellent results using pigeons for maritime search and rescue operations, so there's no doubt they have the eyes and brain to pick our things on the ground with alacrity.

Using raptors to hunt other birds is of course an excellent use of their natural abilities and inclination.

As with all animal training, the key is to exploit an animal's natural instincts and not work against them. If the animal's instincts provide almost no leverage (e.g. cats) there's not much you can do with them.

Cheers,

-Kyle


Fair enough. I guess cats would still make a good ground based alternative for picking off messenger pigeons.

Given that the only three outstanding examples I can recall of successful cat trainers in modern times are an american ex-movie big cat handler applying the same sort of training but scaled down to domestic sized cats, a buddhist monk in Thailand who scouts inquisitive kittens to train, and a russian circus bloke who also uses the monk's scouting method for likely kittens, it seems a matter of finding the right cats and a dedicated enough trainer with the patience of a monk, the courage of a lion tamer and the cheerful madness of a clown to attempt the task in the first place. :lol:

Ah well, there's always ferrets and rats as sneaky thieves, but they don't tend to live as long as cats, and may not be worth the time spent training them, unless the offspring pick up trained behaviors from the parents earlier than ones from untrained parents. I blame the ancient movie Beastmaster for a fondness for ferrets as sneaky little thief assistants.

Crows, Ravens and Magpies are good a grabbing shiny things, collecting them in a central spot, and easy to train with food and a bit of patience. There's a young lady IRL who now gets shiny gifts from the flock she'd been feeding for a few years.


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PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 3:02 pm 
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This is fantasy. What about training gryphons and dragons for mounts? Wonder what else could be used. How would a centaur like to have someone place a saddle on them?

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PostPosted: Tue Feb 21, 2017 3:45 pm 
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Logically I can think of 2 ways characters can get the more intelligent and powerful familiars/creature companions to serve them:
1. Be overwhelmingly powerful, and thus able to compel submission through sheer power or fear.
2. Forming friendships or alliances with the creatures.

Gryphons and dragons probably belong (barely) to the friendship/alliance type of creature companions. If that's even possible.

For centaurs too. I don't expect they will suffer a saddle or bridle which are instruments of control. Best case scenario is they allow friendly characters to ride them barebacked.


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 2:14 am 
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Hm, what are the myths abour riding unicorns? Elf maidens and virgin women? I got a vague recollection of their entry in dragwars. We do have unicorns in Dragwars right? Book 4?

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:26 am 
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Can't find the unicorn reference anywhere. There isn't a unicorn entry in the Bestiary either.

Personally I would say that unicorns are also like centaurs. Noble intelligent creatures whose respect can be earned and who can be befriended. Enough to allow characters to ride them. Barebacked.

Anyways...yeah this is fantasy. So whatever goes if that's the world the GM wants to create. :D


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2017 4:04 am 
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Book 3

p35

Yes, its there.... Unicorn...

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