With my most recent PC, I finally decided to try out rat training. I was real excited, bought about 4 cages to capture a couple of them to train, went down, captured them.....But then I tried to train one.

To my sadness, it was animal-empathy controlled completely. DC 25 to attempt to train a fat sewer rat. I have no idea if this DC goes up or down later, but it basically means unless you're a druid or ranger, you have no hope of participating in rat training/catching.

I understand it makes sense, but look at it like this.

There are only two classes in NWN that get AE as a class skill, and the DC is so high that only those two classes will ever be able to train rats with any success. These two classes are very under-represented in EFU. Why design something this elaborate that only two classes, that, on average, would not even be particpating in the dirty gangysty Lower area anyway?

My proposal: Make rat training/catching INT/WIS based, and have rat BREEEDING be animal empathy based. This allows everyone to have a little fun with it, while still requiring AE in there somewhere.

I don't really think AE is needed to teach a rat how to chew off another rats face, or to use just plain brawn to teach it to be a viscious rat, by using cruelty and what not. I mean, maybe I've missed something, but I have yet to see rat cages get much use because of the extreme limitations on them.

A great suggestion to greatly increase the interest in rat fights. Related to this: Can two PCs use Rat Fights without a DM?

Although, I do agree that 25 DC is slightly too high it is still within the reach of almost every character. I have not made the attempt to train rats so I cannot say this as fact.

First, a character who cross classes Animal Empathy will be able to reach 25 DC at level 7 with 5 points in the skill. However, that requires a roll of 20.

Second, there is a vast abundance of +Animal Empathy items within the game. Most of them are under utilized, and even with no points spent in AE, simply obtaining one or more of these items should allow you to make the check.

Of course - I have never made the attempt to train a rat. I am not sure how the system works, but achieving the skill check is possible with every character regardless if they cross classed the AE skill or not. They just require the correct items which are fairly common.

I do think the DC should be lowered down to 20 though.

First of all, the rat catching scripts aren't done. I tried to do it, metro had to help us out because you can't put them in the arena or anything without a DM.

Meldread

Second, there is a vast abundance of +Animal Empathy items within the game. Most of them are under utilized, and even with no points spent in AE, simply obtaining one or more of these items should allow you to make the check.

The larger majority of the AE items also require Class: Ranger/Druid also

This is a reference to Vlaid's character and in no way refers to his actual intelligence or wisdom, which is in fact manly in size.

Meldread First, a character who cross classes Animal Empathy will be able to reach 25 DC at level 7 with 5 points in the skill. However, that requires a roll of 20.

Ranger and Druid are the only classes that can take AE. Unless its been modded for EfU no others can even cross class in it.

If that's the case then I stand corrected, and rat training is probably broken. I've never had the need (or a character that required) Animal Empathy.

Also, I find it weird to imagine a Druid trying to train a rat so that it might battle to its death for the amusement of others.

lovethesuit [img]This is a reference to Vlaid's character and in no way refers to his actual intelligence or wisdom, which is in fact manly in size.

Heh. My current character is pretty stupid. I wouldn't imagine him being very good at it, but I would have a -chance- at succeeding if it was INT/WIS based...a very...very...very...small chance.

All the same I am happy about the positive feedback about this suggestion!

I do agree, but the rat training scripts are complicated and I think we'd need the return of Thrawn to active scripting-duty to make it happen.

Howland I do agree, but the rat training scripts are complicated and I think we'd need the return of Thrawn to active scripting-duty to make it happen.

And there was much sadness throughout the land.