Animal Tactics

[Anders]

I've been thinking about drawing up generic tactics for animals. For example:

Ambush Predator: Felines (with the exception of lions) are the supreme example of this on earth. They use Stealth to remain undetected until the prey is within striking range, trying to achieve Total Surprise. Once they attack, they use All-Out Attack maneuvers as long as the prey remains Surprised, beginning with a Grapple. They usually go for the neck and either use Choke or Neck Snap on their victims.

Something like that. I'm not sure that's entirely accurate, but it's close enough for government work.

Any other ideas? Pack tactics, large herbivore charge and trample, etc.?

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Anders

I've been thinking about drawing up generic tactics for animals. For example:

Ambush Predator: Felines (with the exception of lions) are the supreme example of this on earth. They use Stealth to remain undetected until the prey is within striking range, trying to achieve Total Surprise. Once they attack, they use All-Out Attack maneuvers as long as the prey remains Surprised, beginning with a Grapple. They usually go for the neck and either use Choke or Neck Snap on their victims.

Something like that. I'm not sure that's entirely accurate, but it's close enough for government work.

Any other ideas? Pack tactics, large herbivore charge and trample, etc.?

I do this for felines, canines, ursines (bears), and snakes in Technical Grappling, p. 44-45, for what it's worth.

[Verjigorm]

Ambush predators are also prone to rnning away if their initial surprise attack isn't successful.

[Maz]

Lots of other animals excel at Ambush tactics, just not mammals.

Praying Mantis. (Including fantasy giant-ones or aliens ones).
Toads. (Also again including giant versions).
Chameleons.
Angler -the ugly fish. (And many other fish of that type. Again also perfect for monstrous types in fantasy games).

Just to add in that I think this is an excellent idea that can be used in many types of games. :)

[Anders]

Pack tactics: Surround the prey. The animals in front, right and left do All-Out Defense or Defensive Attacks, while the animals at the back do All-Out Attacks or Committed Attacks.

I think in general, most animals (especially solitary animals) use Defensive Attacks at best, because being hurt is very bad without access to medical services.

[Verjigorm]

Originally Posted by Anders

Pack tactics: Surround the prey. The animals in front, right and left do All-Out Defense or Defensive Attacks, while the animals at the back do All-Out Attacks or Committed Attacks.

I think in general, most animals (especially solitary animals) use Defensive Attacks at best, because being hurt is very bad without access to medical services.

Also, we might want some sort of Perk for pack animals that allows them to transfer feints between each other.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Verjigorm

Also, we might want some sort of Perk for pack animals that allows them to transfer feints between each other.

Setup Attacks do that natively, FWIW. :-)

[Verjigorm]

Originally Posted by DouglasCole

Setup Attacks do that natively, FWIW. :-)

Hm. Where's that at?

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Verjigorm

Hm. Where's that at?

Pyramid #3/52, I believe. (checks) Yah. p. 23.

Proposes an alternate version of Feint where your "feint" is an actual attack, that is also thrown with the design to draw defenses away for a follow-on attack. There's section called "Everyone's Invited," pp. 24-25, that talks about how to give defensive penalties to your friends and allies.

[Skarg]

See GURPS 3e Bestiary, both in the rules before all the animal listings, and in specific listings.