[Basic] Skill of the week: Animal Handling

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Calion

...
So how does this relate to my core question: Should I allow generalist Animal Handling in a GURPS Lite campaign that might transform into a GURPS campaign at some point?

Depends on your and your players' preferences.
If they want to use the skill a lot, then they might appreciate specialization regardless of Lite R.A.W.
"You're the dog guy, while I'm the lizard queen!"

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by tbrock1031

There's a story here. What is it? :)

The movie "Snatch's" lecture on body disposal. "Be wary of any man who owns a pig farm."

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

The movie "Snatch's" lecture on body disposal. "Be wary of any man who owns a pig farm."

Because his need for bacon is insatiable?

[sir_pudding]

"A man who rents pigs cannot be stopped" - Augustus McCrae

[Dammann]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Historically, falconry was so much a prestige hobby that I would think it might cover aspects not fully related to falcons. A kind of savoir faire among fellow falcon-ists for starters.
That's if I agreed with such skill bloat.

It might just be skill bloat, but then I wonder about other cases. Is Riding the same as Animal Handling (Equines)? Could it be so? Is Falconry really intended to be a social skill?

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Because his need for bacon is insatiable?

Because pigs are omnivores.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Dammann

It might just be skill bloat, but then I wonder about other cases. Is Riding the same as Animal Handling (Equines)? Could it be so? Is Falconry really intended to be a social skill?


Because pigs are omnivores.

Animal handling: equines is making horses do all sorts of stuff through knowledge. Riding is your butt knowing what to do along with making horse move where you want them to with premade devices.

I think Falconry is merely legacy from earlier editions like how far Filching got before being subsumed into sleight of hand.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Dammann

...


Because pigs are omnivores.

I meant it as a joke. I watched the Snatch clip linked earlier in the thread. And piggies eating people is common knowledge among true crime fans like me.

[Dammann]

Oops, sure. I had forgotten the link, in my fervor for Falconry.

[(E)]

I have just spent the day dealing with animals (dogs,cows and rams today) and it occurs to me that animal handling should provide a large bonus to grappling animals. This is probably in addition to any other bonuses. In the course of work today I have been catching and holding 280lb rams while working on them.

[Cyrilin]

Originally Posted by Calion

So how does this relate to my core question: Should I allow generalist Animal Handling in a GURPS Lite campaign that might transform into a GURPS campaign at some point?

I think this is a really good opportunity to employ Wildcard skills, if GURPS Lite even has those. An Animals! skill wouldn't just let you use animal handling on any animal, but other related skills, such as riding, teamster, perhaps even biology and physiology for animals.