Maybe something to do with self-reliance versus working with the group? Something involving cooperating with versus rebelling against the humans?
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Would anyone WANT to side with the humans?
Oh wow. I have NO idea how to write that.
I honestly have no other ideas for what could be used for skills.
I still kinda need help with the “skills”. I don’t have any ideas.
If we’re an alpha ratpor then we need to consider skills that would make sense for the species as well as their survival. I know some people mentioned adding dominant/submissive stats into the game but in my opinion it just doesn’t fit the story you’re trying to tell here - you can’t be a submissive ALPHA raptor. If you want to add them then you’re either a regular raptor with a chance to rise up to alpha status or… honestly I can’t think of a reason as to why submissivness would be good here unless you want to stick with the humans and be their toy.
Here’s some ideas for stats:
- Cunning = Deception + Intelligence + Strategy (Coordinating ambushes, leading, etc)
- Agility = Stealth + Speed (Hunting, scouting, etc.)
- Strenght = Raw power + Endurance (Fighting, enduring damage or strenuous activities, etc.)
Personally, I would build it in a way that you can only be good at one, decent at another and terrible with whichever you choose as last. This way people will at least have some form of replayability. A cunning, agile raptor would be good at ambushing its prey and leading its pack with semi-tactical decisions but may prove weak in a direct confrontation or even enduring physical hardships. A strong raptor, agile raptor may be an excellent combantant but may be a bit on the “dumb” side.
A third option would be so you’re only good at one stat and terrible at the other two… it would certanly make it more replayable.
The fourth option is adding all sorts of skills that would befit a raptor.
- Intelligence
- Cunning
- Agility
- Strength
- Endurance
- Survival (includes hunting)
- Leadership
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Alphas (leaders) in real life are submissive to the beta (enforcer) except in times of need or in things concerning food and the hunt.
The “alpha” is also outdated as a term, but if you must, it is certainly not the most aggressive or the physically strongest.
I’m sorry but I disagree.
The term “alpha” in the animal kingdom is used to describe the leader of a pack - the individual who asserts dominance over the others of its kind either through sheer physical strength or social status. They get to choose their favorite foods before the rest of the pack, have special access to certain activities or items, such as choosing who they mate with and ownership of a particular “toy” as well as leading (choosing various locations to eat, bed, drink, immigrate, etc) and defending its group from hostile threats. They also fight others of their kind for their rank, including any subordinates of the clan who challenge them.
To me, that’s an alpha. You can’t be a submissive here because that means you’re adbicating your position to another individual, that you’re weak and can’t compete anymore, you’re too shy/cowardly for it or simply aren’t interested. Most animals in the prime of their life and health, who are in an alpha position, prefer to fight over it rather than letting it go and that is precisely why they’re considered dominant.
PS: Different species may have slightly different behaviours towards their clan members but this is pretty much the gist of it in general.
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Uh, sorry that this has been proven wrong time and time again, but… Lol it’s wrong.
Shaun Ellis, in his book The Wolf Within proved it wrong, there’s a segment on why it’s wrong here; I’ve worked with wolves, raised dogs for over ten years and worked with numerous other pack animals. The dominance myth is a lie.
Alphas only choose who to mate with because they are the progenitors of the pack, and in the end it is the female who decides who stays and goes, because she is the mother. Most if not all of the pack or herd are her offspring and defer to her experience.
Here’s another bit why. Honestly? You’re looking at nearly 50 year old cherry-picked research popularised by werewolf fans.
So you’re saying all the animal documentaries out there who showcase all sorts of animals and their behaviours are wrong too? Just because some dude studied wolves and wolves alone doesn’t mean all animals behave the same. Just because you dealt with wolves, dogs and other similar animals (probably canines) doesn’t mean primates, birds, wild cattle, dolphins, whales, lion prides, etc, behave the same.
“Females who decide who stays and goes?” I’m sorry but this just doesn’t make any sense. Keep in mind we’re talking about animals in general, not just wolves or dogs. Maybe that’s true for some species but what about lionesses for example? They don’t get a say in it when a new lion comes in and detrones the previous leader, in fact, they loose their cubs as soon as that happens just so the new male can assure his lineage. Again, different species have different behaviours.
Lions do not have a united alpha pair. They have lionesses, a harem, and a male lion, a ruler. The lion is not and cannot be an alpha. He does not exist within the same pack dynamics.
I’m a farmhand. The pecking order for chickens has since been proven wrong and herd psychology for horses is also not dominance based at all (follows a similar line as lions, where the female group and male are separate).
EDIT: It’s also worth noting that while it seems likely extinct raptors fed together, we don’t actually have concrete evidence for them hunting together or living together as a pack. Hunting together seems likely, but living like a group is less likely. I’ll link to this because it has the most references.
It’s likely due to their small size, protofeathers and lack of intelligence they were more like a flock of birds than a modern pack of wolves, and would not have so much an “alpha” as just “one big ass bird”. (I asked a falconer about this, he seemed really amused).
Certain species may have their own male/female group dynamics but that doesn’t mean there’s not a designated “leader” among them. Keep in mind that by “leader” I mean the dominant individual of the group. Goats for example have a hierarchy, so do llamas, horses and pretty much any group/herd animal out there be they wild or domesticated. If they’re a leader then then that particular individual can’t be called submissive - that’s pretty much the only point I’m trying to make across here.
Social status is not shown through brute dominance all the time though, social status for the most part works like this (I own goats and psychotherapy horses and for a while helped with the rehabilitation of wild horses, including a wild stallion).
Leader: stays away from the group, quickest of thought, most intelligent and confident, most curious
Enforcer: brute of the group, bosses a lot around, even the leader, but defers to them in hot water. Might not be the physically strongest, but is the one most prepared to “throw its weight” so to speak
Of course, hierarchy is fluid. If one is too old, too weak, or outclassed, it leaves the spot and is immediately replaced. Dominance does play a part - especially around food - but for the most part the alpha plays the part of “binding force”, often being submissive to the beta out of politeness to not cause a problem, rather than out of actual deference.
The alpha keeps the group alive and meshing well, and for that it cannot be aggressive, foolhardy, or selfish. The group knows this, and they defer to it out of choice, not because rights are taken from them via threat. Again, dominant does not equal leadership.
It took my mother over thirty years working in human and animal psychology to actually understand that. It’s ingrained into us as a culture to project human “alpha male” dynamics onto life-or-death situations of animals.
Animals cannot risk being aggressive in a risky situation. They need to think. Thus, the alpha is the one who out-thinks, who mindgames, who studies, who is one step ahead, and is usually cheeky, being one who pushes boundaries.
I don’t want to derail the topic anymore since… I’m actually supposed to be playing Tellius right now… but all are free to PM me…
The alpha cannot be aggresive, foolhardy or selfish to a degree but specially not against his own clan. I’ve seen alpha primates being extremely aggresive and selfish against other individuals and clans that were not their own. Of course every animal values their own survival but that doesn’t mean they won’t defend their females or territory when needs be. Of course if they decide to be prickheads against their own then chances are the clan is going to kick them out.
The whole enforcer thing doesn’t work with all species, in fact, some clans don’t even have “enforcers” because they’re the closest thing there is to challenge the alpha and the alpha doesn’t like that. Certain species kick their young males away before they become a problem in the group… lions are an example and so are some primates.
ACTUALLY…Those are Perfect. I wanted some skills to be represented with the other pack members.
Strength would be Gladiator.
Agility would be Octavia
and Cunning would be Whisper.
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But how do I write the story using stats that are changing?
Write different passages depending on the character’s stats, especially with choices. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.
So, for something that you can succeed with strength or cunning, like getting past a door, the succeed prompt would be different depending on which stat was used to test it. So cunning would have you figure out the lock, but strength would have you break it down. That could in turn effect things down the line as well, if you want to put in the effort of keeping track of variables like that.
So the MC is like Scarface from the orginal Land of the Lost.
Ok so I’m not sure if CoG makes you have a gender neutral character or not, but if they don’t I would suggest not having Whisper gender neutral. I just say this because in reality there is virtually no way a raptor would be gender neutral. If you are forced to make a gender neutral character or you just wanted one than that is fine. I was just suggesting this is something you could change. All of the other characters are pretty good. Also if you don’t become Alpha does that just mean you will have to do assigned jobs the best of your ability to become more respected and in turn gain more influence. I saw that you have that option so just wondering.
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@Chaseeboy
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