Animal Examples

[Jeff Hopper]

Both the Sireen Geest Worm and the Thunderer have got three descriptors under Behavior and it is confusing. The Sireen Geest Worm is a Carnivore, Reducer, Siren and the Thunderer is an Omnivore, Intimidator, Scavenger.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Things can have more than one trait though. Creatures from ALIEN would have more than one trait, I'd guess.

ADDED:
Behaviours, I mean.

I'm just now noticing how skilled those guys are, for being animals.

 

[Jeff Hopper]

Things can have more than one trait though. Creatures from ALIEN would have more than one trait, I'd guess.

ADDED:
Behaviours, I mean.

It does not say that in the rules.

Behaviour: Animals tend to act in very specific ways
according to their place within an ecosystem, and will aid a
referee in determining its actions. An animal’s behavioural
characteristics are detailed further on page 84.

It also goes against every previous version of Animal creation in the past.

 

[-Daniel-]

It also goes against every previous version of Animal creation in the past.

Is that reason enough to not change things now? Is an animal having more than one behavior a major problem? How will it impact animals in Traveller?

I never thought of it as an issue when I read the animals section, but I would be curious to hear more why you think it is. What have you seen that I missed sort of thought.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Maybe they should be called something else instead of animals, since they seem to do more than the animals before them could? Xeno-something, maybe. I know that going back to Classic Traveller animal index card sheets descriptions with UPPs and all is not going to happen. That is more a Traveller 5.09 life of service path thing.

 

[Jeff Hopper]

It also goes against every previous version of Animal creation in the past.

Is that reason enough to not change things now? Is an animal having more than one behavior a major problem? How will it impact animals in Traveller?

I never thought of it as an issue when I read the animals section, but I would be curious to hear more why you think it is. What have you seen that I missed sort of thought.

Is it reason enough to change things now? Yes.

Yes, I find it important, or else I would not have brought it up. The behaviors are linked to the biological niche that the animal occupies. Look at the Sireen Geest Worm, it is a Carnivore Reducer Siren. Now look at the table on page 84 where you decide whether the animal chooses Fight or Flight. Do you choose the Siren column or the Reducer column? The two columns are different from each other in how the die roll will determine the reaction of the animal. So yes, it is a major problem for animals.

One of Traveller's strengths has always been that while it is science fiction, it does pay attention to the science that we currently know. Avoiding confusion on the animal behaviors is important for game play.

 

[-Daniel-]

Is it reason enough to change things now? Yes.

Yes, I find it important, or else I would not have brought it up. The behaviors are linked to the biological niche that the animal occupies. Look at the Sireen Geest Worm, it is a Carnivore Reducer Siren. Now look at the table on page 84 where you decide whether the animal chooses Fight or Flight. Do you choose the Siren column or the Reducer column? The two columns are different from each other in how the die roll will determine the reaction of the animal. So yes, it is a major problem for animals.

One of Traveller's strengths has always been that while it is science fiction, it does pay attention to the science that we currently know. Avoiding confusion on the animal behaviors is important for game play.

I think you meant to quote me and say "Is it reason enough to NOT change things now?" In that case your "Yes" fits the rest of your post.

I see what you mean about the fight and flight table as an example where they might be in conflict with each other. As I said above,, I was unsure what I had missed that you didn't. Know I know and thus appreciate your answering my question.

I agree with you that it needs to be thought through.

 

[ShawnDriscoll]

Look at the Sireen Geest Worm, it is a Carnivore Reducer Siren. Now look at the table on page 84 where you decide whether the animal chooses Fight or Flight. Do you choose the Siren column or the Reducer column?

The worms are the reducer. The sirene geest (translation from dutch: siren mind) is the carnivore.

 

[Jeff Hopper]

Look at the Sireen Geest Worm, it is a Carnivore Reducer Siren. Now look at the table on page 84 where you decide whether the animal chooses Fight or Flight. Do you choose the Siren column or the Reducer column?

The worms are the reducer. The sirene geest (translation from dutch: siren mind) is the carnivore.

Then you need to create three separate animal listings. One for the worms, one for the Sirene Geest, and one for the gestalt creature they become.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I don't have a problem with a creature having more than one behaviour, but the rules don't say that, they specifically state the opposite.

Beside, a Scavenger is really a type of Omnivore...

 

[MongooseMatt]

Okay, have gone in and changed this. Basically, all animals have a two part Behaviour - what they eat, and how they get it. So, a Thunderer should be Scavenger, Intimidator.

 

[Old Scrounger]

It also goes against every previous version of Animal creation in the past.

Is that reason enough to not change things now? Is an animal having more than one behavior a major problem? How will it impact animals in Traveller?

I never thought of it as an issue when I read the animals section, but I would be curious to hear more why you think it is. What have you seen that I missed sort of thought.

Is it reason enough to change things now? Yes.

Yes, I find it important, or else I would not have brought it up. The behaviors are linked to the biological niche that the animal occupies. Look at the Sireen Geest Worm, it is a Carnivore Reducer Siren. Now look at the table on page 84 where you decide whether the animal chooses Fight or Flight. Do you choose the Siren column or the Reducer column? The two columns are different from each other in how the die roll will determine the reaction of the animal. So yes, it is a major problem for animals.

One of Traveller's strengths has always been that while it is science fiction, it does pay attention to the science that we currently know. Avoiding confusion on the animal behaviors is important for game play.

 

[-Daniel-]

Old Scrounger, other than bringing up the old post, did you want to offer something to the conversation?

Once msprange said it was being changed, I figure we covered it. But maybe you see something we didn't?