Training & Pets

To train an animal, you must know the appropriate specialty of Animal Handling skill. The level of training an animal can absorb depends strictly on its IQ:

IQ 2

• Average reptile. It can learn to come when called for food and recognize its master, and not to attack him (usually!).
  IQ 3
• Average horse or hawk. It can learn commands appropriate to its work – hunting commands for a hawk, riding or pulling commands for a riding or draft animal, etc. – and general tolerance for all humans or for specific masters (trainer’s choice). It knows its name and comes when called (if it feels like it).
  IQ 4
• Average dog. As above, plus “fetch,” “attack,” “find,” “sit,” etc., as appropriate for the species. It tries to warn its owner of dangers it perceives, and fights – and even dies – for its master.
  IQ 5
• Average monkey. As above, but with more complexity. The GM may allow anything he ever saw a trained animal do in the movies . . .

To teach a specific new trick – if the GM agrees the animal can learn it – allow 14 days for an IQ 5 creature, 30 days for one of IQ 4, or 90 days for an IQ 3 animal.

Value of Trained Animals
Training may affect the value of a domestic animal, as follows:

IQ 2

• can learn so little that training doesn’t enhance their value.
  IQ 3
• are of little use unless trained. Decrease the value of an IQ 3 domestic animal by 1/3 if it is “unbroken” (that is, untrained). Any young specimen is automatically unbroken and therefore cheaper.
  IQ 4
• are assumed to be trained to IQ 3 level when bought; if not, decrease price by 1/3, as above. When an IQ 4 creature is fully trained to IQ 4 level, increase its base value by 50%.
  IQ 5
• follow the IQ 4 rule. In addition, when an IQ 5 creature is fully trained to IQ 5 level, double its base value.

If a domestic animal (anything with the Domestic Animal meta-trait) has higher IQ than normal for its species, it is worth much more when fully trained: multiply by 4 for +1 IQ or by 10 for +2 IQ. For example, an IQ 5 horse is worth 10 times base value.
If a wild animal (anything with the Wild Animal meta-trait) is captured and trained, its value goes up markedly – especially if the creature is intelligent or ferocious. Details are up to the GM. All Animal Handling rolls to train wild beasts are at -5.

War-Training
See Riding Mounts & Draft Animals