Provisions and Hunting while on a Journey: A House Rule

[Hermes Serpent]

Bottom of p76 in the AB.

"Both sets of travelling gear include food supplies for one
week of travelling (if the journey is going to last more
than a week, the companions will generally have to rely
on their skills as hunters)."

[Corvo]

Bottom of p76 in the AB.

"Both sets of travelling gear include food supplies for one
week of travelling (if the journey is going to last more
than a week, the companions will generally have to rely
on their skills as hunters)."

Yeah, and every day they rely on the skill of their Scout, yet you don't roll on the Explore skill every day.
I think that it's assumed that the Hunter does his job, exactly like the Guide, the Scout and the Look-Out do theirs, unless you encounter a travel hazard (and here you have to roll on Hunting, Explore, etc)

If, in the rules as written, the Hunter was intended to be so crucial (roll every day!) there would be more explicit rules about it. And imo his importance in the fellowship would be disproportionate.

This is my idea abot RAW. If we are talking about some house rules, I'm fine

[Rich H]

Yeah, and every day they rely on the skill of their Scout, yet you don't roll on the Explore skill every day.
I think that it's assumed that the Hunter does his job, exactly like the Guide, the Scout and the Look-Out do theirs, unless you encounter a travel hazard (and here you have to roll on Hunting, Explore, etc)

I'm inclined to agree with this. For balance, if the Hunter is expected to roll to provide provisions for herself and her companions, then there should really be similar expectations/houserules created for the other journey roles to allow those to shine and give opportunity for character to earn APs.

EDIT: Just re-read this and wanted to clarify... This wasn't posted to say that I don't like the extra rules but because I'd like to see equal development for *all* the journey roles!

[beckett]

But on the other hand, the rules do say after one week the company runs out of food, and must rely on their hunting skills to find food. Which can be read, reasonably I think, as implying that hunting skill checks have to be made.

We've revised the house rule considerably (thanks for all the feedback!) so instead of rolling once per week the roll is now made once at onset of the journey or once during each leg of the journey and the results have no affect on the Travel TN:

At the commencement of a journey the designated Hunter rolls a hunting check. If the journey is long enough to be broken up into individual legs, then the hunting check is made for each leg of the journey.

The roll represents how well the hunter does in getting provisions from multiple hunting and foraging attempts over the course of the journey or that leg of the journey, and thus, how much provisions the Company manages to find beyond their carrying capacity. "Provisions" here refers to enough food (of whatever kind) and water for each member of the Company.

The Target Number is derived from the Region Table (p.34 LMG), and is modified according to season in which the journey takes place and any other circumstances the Loremaster may deem relevant (such as traveling in a Blighted Area, particularly barren land etc.). Other companions with the Hunting skill can provide assistance, with every additional success adding an additional 2 points to the hunter’s total score, and every failed roll subtracting 2 from the total score.

Success

If the Hunter succeeds the Company has enough food to sustain themselves for the journey or that leg of the journey. A Great Success or Extraordinary means the company has managed to gather more than enough food. As a result, uninjured heroes heal using their favored Heart rating per night, rather than just their basic heart score.

Failure

Failure on the Hunting test means that food proves to be so scarce on the journey to sufficiently feed all companions. Consequently, the Company can only recover 2 Endurance per nights rest (except for those with an untreated Wound, who only recover the normal 1 Endurance per nights rest).

If a Gandalf is rolled on the feat die the Company gains 1 Fellowship Point due to especially good food on the journey and an improvement in morale that results.

If an Eye is rolled on the feat die the Company loses 1 Fellowship Point from their pool due to lack of food and a consequent loss of morale among the Company.