Survival
(Find Food and Water, Find Shelter, Identify Plant, Identify Animal, Tracking, Navigation)
The Survival skill allows a character to forage for food and water, traverse dangerous outdoor areas safely, and avoid natural hazards. It’s essential for anyone exploring the wilderness or trying to survive in harsh environments.
Find Food and Water
This specialization involves locating edible plants, hunting animals, and finding safe drinking water in the wilderness. The success of these efforts can determine a character’s ability to survive in the wild for extended periods.
| Situation | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Finding food in a resource-rich environment (e.g., forest, fertile plains) | Easy (9+) |
| Finding food in a resource-scarce environment (e.g., desert, tundra) | Hard (15+) |
| Finding water in an area with no obvious sources | Very Hard (18+) |
| Hunting animals for food | Average (12+) |
| Identifying safe food and water sources | Average (12+) |
Potential modifiers:
| Circumstance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| You have appropriate tools (e.g., fishing gear, hunting traps) | (flip+1) |
| The environment is undergoing extreme weather conditions | (shift-1) |
| You have local knowledge of the area’s flora and fauna | (flip+1) |
Results:
- Success: You find sufficient food and water to sustain yourself or your group.
- Failure: You find some resources, but they are insufficient to sustain everyone.
- Failure by a Large Margin: You find no usable food or water, or what you find is unsafe.
Find Shelter
Finding shelter involves locating or constructing a safe place to rest or take cover from the elements. This is crucial for avoiding exposure to harsh weather or dangerous wildlife.
| Situation | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Finding shelter in a forested area | Easy (9+) |
| Finding shelter in a barren or exposed area | Hard (15+) |
| Constructing a temporary shelter | Average (12+) |
| Finding shelter that can protect against extreme weather | Very Hard (18+) |
Potential modifiers:
| Circumstance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| You have tools or materials for shelter construction (e.g., tarp, rope) | (flip+1) |
| You are in a familiar environment | (flip+1) |
| The weather is severe (e.g., heavy rain, snowstorm) | (shift-1) |
Results:
- Success: You find or construct adequate shelter for yourself or your group.
- Failure: You find minimal shelter, but it may not be fully effective against the elements.
- Failure by a Large Margin: You are unable to find or create shelter, leaving you exposed to the environment.
Identify Plant
This specialization allows you to identify various plants, their uses, and potential dangers. It can be critical when determining whether something is edible, medicinal, or poisonous.
| Situation | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Identifying common, non-poisonous plants | Easy (9+) |
| Identifying rare or medicinal plants | Average (12+) |
| Identifying poisonous plants | Hard (15+) |
| Identifying plants out of their usual environment | Very Hard (18+) |
Potential modifiers:
| Circumstance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| You have reference materials or guides | (flip+1) |
| The plant is partially damaged or withered | (flip-1) |
| You are familiar with the local flora | (flip+1) |
Results:
- Success: You correctly identify the plant and its properties.
- Failure: You are unsure of the plant’s properties, and may need to rely on guesswork.
- Failure by a Large Margin: You misidentify the plant, potentially leading to dangerous consequences.
Identify Animal
This specialization focuses on identifying animals, their behavior, and potential threats they may pose. It’s crucial for survival in the wild, as understanding local wildlife can mean the difference between life and death.
| Situation | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Identifying common, non-dangerous animals | Easy (9+) |
| Identifying dangerous or predatory animals | Average (12+) |
| Identifying rare or elusive animals | Hard (15+) |
| Identifying animals by tracks or sounds alone | Very Hard (18+) |
Potential modifiers:
| Circumstance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| You have encountered this type of animal before | (flip+1) |
| The animal is partially obscured (e.g., by vegetation) | (flip-1) |
| The animal is in an unusual or unexpected environment | (flip-1) |
Results:
- Success: You correctly identify the animal and its potential behavior or threat.
- Failure: You are unsure of the animal’s identity, leading to uncertainty in your actions.
- Failure by a Large Margin: You misidentify the animal, potentially putting yourself and others in danger.
Tracking
Tracking is the ability to follow and identify the signs of creatures, individuals, or objects that have passed through an area. The player can use this skill to track their prey, find missing persons, or pursue an enemy. This can be accomplished by studying footprints, broken twigs, bent grass, and other physical signs left behind. The player would need to make a Survival check to determine their success in tracking and the GM can set the difficulty based on factors such as the age of the tracks, the environment, and the presence of distractions.
| Situation | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Tracking across soft ground (e.g., mud, snow) | Easy (9+) |
| Tracking across hard ground (e.g., rocky terrain) | Hard (15+) |
| Tracking in the rain or snow | Very Hard (18+) |
| Tracking several days after the target passed | Very Hard (18+) |
| Tracking a target who is deliberately hiding their trail | Near Impossible (21+) |
| Tracking a very large or small target | Average (12+) |
Potential modifiers:
| Circumstance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| The ground is soft and susceptible to footprints | (flip+1) |
| The ground is hard or rocky | (flip-1) |
| The environment is familiar to you | (flip+1) |
| The target has attempted to hide its passage | (shift-1) |
Results:
- Success: You successfully follow the tracks and remain on your target’s trail.
- Failure: You lose the trail and must spend additional time finding it again.
- Failure by a Large Margin: You lose the trail entirely, potentially leading you in the wrong direction.
Navigation
Navigation involves determining your position and plotting a course to reach a destination, using tools such as maps, compasses, and stars. This is crucial for travel through unfamiliar or challenging terrain.
| Situation | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| Navigating with a map and compass | Easy (9+) |
| Navigating by stars in clear weather | Average (12+) |
| Navigating in fog or heavy weather | Hard (15+) |
| Navigating unfamiliar terrain without tools | Very Hard (18+) |
| Plotting a course through difficult or hazardous terrain | Hard (15+) |
Potential modifiers:
| Circumstance | Modifier |
|---|---|
| You have high-quality maps or navigation tools | (flip+1) |
| The weather is clear and visibility is excellent | (flip+1) |
| The terrain is familiar to you | (flip+1) |
| The terrain is difficult or hazardous (e.g., swamps, mountains) | (shift-1) |
Results:
- Success: You successfully navigate to your destination without getting lost.
- Failure: You are delayed or must reroute, losing time.
- Failure by a Large Margin: You become lost, possibly leading to further complications or danger.