- Okay, so predators won. However, we've decided to make it more interesting!
Idea courtesy of Scarlit!
Plot:
In the U.S., where this RP is loosely based, there is an estimated 5,000 tigers kept as illegal pets. The exact number of lions that are kept is unknown, but it can be estimated to be about the same. This means that, before the humans left, there were a lot.
So, what does that have to do with Sanctuary?
Well, the humans are gone. Much like the horses, some of these big cats have died, kept in an area of captivity where they couldn't escape.
But others survived.
Over the past year and a half, they've been preying on little things. Dogs and deer, sheep and other livestock numbers have suffered due to the number of these large predators. But now, there's not enough small prey to satisfy the appetites of the cats.
And they're hungry.
Now, just over a year and a half after the humans disappeared, tigers have established their territories, and lions are starting to form prides. Tigers are now having young and will have to be hunting a lot more to feed them, and to teach them how to hunt. And, with lions decent sized prides, lionesses will start hunting down horses.
Of course, their numbers are small, and the number of successful hunters are even smaller. Most of them were born in captivity, and were never taught to hunt. But others are more than capable of it, efficient and stealthy, they're the ultimate hunters.
And they've just entered Sanctuary...
____________________________________________________________
In the U.S., where this RP is loosely based, there is an estimated 5,000 tigers kept as illegal pets. The exact number of lions that are kept is unknown, but it can be estimated to be about the same. This means that, before the humans left, there were a lot.
So, what does that have to do with Sanctuary?
Well, the humans are gone. Much like the horses, some of these big cats have died, kept in an area of captivity where they couldn't escape.
But others survived.
Over the past year and a half, they've been preying on little things. Dogs and deer, sheep and other livestock numbers have suffered due to the number of these large predators. But now, there's not enough small prey to satisfy the appetites of the cats.
And they're hungry.
Now, just over a year and a half after the humans disappeared, tigers have established their territories, and lions are starting to form prides. Tigers are now having young and will have to be hunting a lot more to feed them, and to teach them how to hunt. And, with lions decent sized prides, lionesses will start hunting down horses.
Of course, their numbers are small, and the number of successful hunters are even smaller. Most of them were born in captivity, and were never taught to hunt. But others are more than capable of it, efficient and stealthy, they're the ultimate hunters.
And they've just entered Sanctuary...
____________________________________________________________
- Rules.
Okay, so we need to add some rules with this, so the predators don't become overplayed and stale.
Rule One: Timing.
- One herd must wait at least three full RP pages before getting attacked again. This includes all horses in the herd - e.g. if 'Stallion McStallion' is attacked, and the attack ends halfway down page 130, not affecting any of his mares, 'Marey McMare', his lead mare is still not allowed to be attacked until page 134, even if she wasn't involved with the original attack.
Rule Two: Odds.
- To keep everything as realistic as possible, we've decided to include odds with this drama. This ensures that 'Mr. Miracle the Magic Stallion' doesn't just keep fighting off tigers on his own.
So, big cats, while they have evolved to be great predators, are not perfect. Not all hunts are successful. The odds for a successful hunt are as follows:
- Lions (Alone): 19%
Lions (Group): 34%
Tigers: 10%
This means that the horses might have a chance of frightening them off, or outrunning them.
So, not all hunts are successful. Sometimes the cats might back down.
However, other hunts are successful. The survival odds for a successful hunt are as follows:
Draft Horses
- Includes:
- Clydesdale Horses
Shire Horses
Percherons
Belgian Drafts
- 50% chance of surviving a lone lioness attack.
30% chance of surviving a group lioness hunt
40% chance of surviving a lone tiger attack.
Other Horses
- Includes:
- Friesians
Draft Crosses with lighter breeds (Clydesdale x Quarter horse, Shire x Friesian, etc.)
All other horse breeds
- 40% chance of surviving a lone lioness attack.
20% chance of surviving a group lioness hunt
25% chance of surviving a lone tiger attack.
Full Herds
- A full herd includes one stallion and two or more mares. If they team up, they will have a:
- 70% chance of surviving a lone lioness attack.
40% chance of surviving a group lioness hunt
55% chance of surviving a lone tiger attack.
Foals
- Regardless of whether their mother is in a herd or not, a foal's chance of surviving a lone encounter with a predator is:
- 30% chance of surviving a lone lioness attack.
20% chance of surviving a group lioness hunt
25% chance of surviving a lone tiger attack.
To ensure the maximum fairness, these odds will be worked out by Scarlit or I, using a Random Number Generator.
Example:
Joe, a quarter horse stallion, has been spotted by a lone lioness. Laurara rolls for odds. If the number is above 19, the lioness will give up. If the number is below 19, she will successfully attack Joe.
Laurara rolls: 18.
The lioness attacks. If the number is under 26, the stallion lives with injuries, of the number is 26 or higher, Joe will be killed.
Laurara rolls:
Joe dies.
All of this is to ensure that having a horse attacked, while dramatic, isn't overplayed, and has an element of danger!
This means that you must let either myself or Scarlit know if you are planning to have a horse attacked!
Any questions, ask either Scarlit or myself.
Thanks again to Scarlit for the plot idea, and thanks to Tauriel for providing us with the hunt success odds idea! c:
