Animal Encounters

[Otaku-sempai]

How does one loremaster an encounter between a hero (or heroes) and one or more dangerous or hostile animals that would not be considered to be monsters? I'm working up an adventure now and I want to have the possibility of the company encountering something like a bear, big cat, a normal wolf-pack, crocodile, wild boar, etc., but I can find no guidance in RAW.

[Rocmistro]

Are you looking for stats for the monsters? Or something more like the shadow consequences of killing them?

[Stormcrow]

I'd treat them as "characters as obstacles." I'm assuming you don't want a drawn out combat; animals generally don't do that sort of thing. Just come up with tasks or tests as usual.

[Otaku-sempai]

Are you looking for stats for the monsters? Or something more like the shadow consequences of killing them?

More as 'animals as obsticles', but also rules for combat when unavoidable. I don't see that Shadow Points would apply unless animals are being killed strictly for pleasure, experience, or with cruelty. Minimal stats for combat would certainly be helpful and would not violate the spirit of Tolkien. After all, folk have to eat and have to be expected to defend themselves when necessary.

I am thinking of creatures that might attack out of hunger or for territorial reasons (or are just that ornery). I am placing the heroes in an area where they might unexpectedly encounter large, aggressive animals in their lairs or defending their territories.

[Majestic]

I was kind of thinking the same thing when I considered that my players might tackle The Helm of Peace (DoM) and encounter the raven Eágbitar (‘Eyebiter’). I would probably make shooting a dodging, flying target as somewhat difficult (perhaps Hard, TN 16?), but how much Endurance would it have? Surely a giant bear would have much more Endurance than an old raven?

It's certainly something that a LM can wing on the spot. But then it might be nice at some point to get some basic stats for some commonly encountered animals. Some I imagine might even have Special Abilities.

[Otaku-sempai]

It's certainly something that a LM can wing on the spot. But then it might be nice at some point to get some basic stats for some commonly encountered animals. Some I imagine might even have Special Abilities.

Yes. It is one thing to say that a hero has passed a test and drives the beast(s) away. The problem comes when the hero fails the check and is attacked.

With a creature such as a boar, the hero(es) might be hunting it for food when it turns and fights.

[Glorelendil]

Great idea for future content. I'd love to see the various animal types treated differently than adversaries; more like Hazards. That is, not necessarily statted out.

[Falenthal]

I remember that in Words of the Wise there's a part where the company are hunting deers. I think they had Endurance.
Maybe you can take some ideas from there.

[Otaku-sempai]

I remember that in Words of the Wise there's a part where the company are hunting deers. I think they had Endurance.
Maybe you can take some ideas from there.

Yes, there is that. However, that doesn't address the issue of beasts that fight back (or the hungry predator with no fear of Man who attacks from ambush). The RAW just seems to assume that this will never happen.

The adventure I'm writing would take place in eastern Eriador where there are few servants of Mordor or creatures that would be considered monsters. I can whip up a few analogs for monsters of Wilderland (treat White Wolves like Wild Wolves for example), but it would be nice to know how to deal with more natural threats--especially if a skill check to drive them off or intimidate them fails.

I am hoping that the Adventurer's Companion addresses these issues.

[Falenthal]

All adversaries have a minimum Attribute Level of 2. Probably all animals that are not trained fighters will have an AL of 1.
In terms of points (to be rearranged as seen fit), lions and tigers could be like wolf leaders. Boars like wolves. For elephants we'll have to wait for Mûmakils or use the trolls stats.