Cowboy Skills

Branding: The techniques and methods for tethering, controlling and marking, or "branding," animals. A brand is a mark burned on the skin to identify and show ownership of an animal - typically used on horses and cattle, sometimes on humans and D-bee slaves. This skill also includes a basic knowledge of common and notable insignias and emblems. Base Skill: 50% + 5% per level of experience.

Breaking/Taming a Wild Horse: To "break a horse, first the trainer must get the horse used to being around people, then used to having a saddle on its back (this takes 3D4 days), and then you "bit" train it (get's used to having a bit in its mouth and reins). Finally, the trainer must get the horse used to having a rider on its back. Depending on the horse, this can take a couple weeks (making an attempt every day) or several weeks with moderate success. It takes a lot of skill to stay on a wild horse when he wants you off. Some horses are never completely tame, and some will allow certain people to ride it, while bucking and throwing other riders. During this initial training period the rider must hang on for dear life while the horse does everything it its power to throw him. This battle of wills can last hours and take up to 12 weeks. Base Skill: 20% + 5% per level of experience.
  Also includes riding wild bulls (cannot be broken), wild broncos, and other wild animals, as well as steer wrestling, but all at -15%.

Herding Cattle: The techniques and methods of leading, directing and controlling cattle in a contained and orderly herd. Also includes keeping animals calm, basic care and feeding, how to tend cattle, recognize disease and illness, give birth to young, how to survive and regain control of a stampede, gather strays, how best to pen and corral livestock, mend fences, etc. Base Skill: 30% + 5% per level of experience.

Horsemanship: Cowboy: Base Skill: 66%/50% + 3% per level of experience. Not available to most O.C.C.'s.
  Combat: All bonuses are in addition to other combat skills, weapon proficiencies, or attribute bonuses. Applies to the rider, not the horse. he rider gains a combat advantage from the height and speed of being mounted.

Horsemanship: Exotic: Basically the same as the general horsemanship skill, except that the character is experienced in riding "tame" animals other than the horse. This can include elephants, camels, lamas, pegasus, gryphons, dinosaurs, giant insects, and other monstrous beasts trained (or willing) to be riding animals. Wild, untamed creatures cannot be ridden, except by Simvan and others with special animal skills or powers. Base Skill: 30%/20% + 5% per level of experience.
  Note: Characters with the traditional "horsemanship" skill for riding horses and other very horse-like animals can quickly figure out how to ride exotic animals and alien riding beasts, but at a skill penalty of -12% to ride ground/running animals and -16% to ride flying or tree climbing and leaping animals. Similarly, beings from other dimensions not familiar with riding the fast and sleek Earth horse are -10% to ride them.

Lore - Cattle/Animals: This is a general knowledge about cattle, horses, livestock, and other notable animals of the West. This knowledge includes what they eat, where they live in the wild, means of defense, the value of their meat, fur, hides and horns, and their natural predators, as well as the most notable tales about supernatural animals, spirits, gods and magic attributed to or involving animals (including some Indian spirit and totem lore). Base Skill: 30% + 5% per level of experience.

Lore - Indians: Characters with this skill can recognize the different tribes and nations, warriors and shamans, totems, fetishes and warnings, identify the people by their housing, clothing and weapons, and has a fundamental understanding about the Native Americans' society, beliefs, customs and laws - at least the most notable. They also know about Indian gods, spirits, and magic. Base Skill: 25% + 5% per level of experience.

Roping: The rope is the cowboy's most important and famous tool. Characters with the roping skill can expertly throw a rope to snare/lasso a cow's horns, a horses neck, or the hoofs of either, to enable a 140 pound man to capture and subdue a half ton animal! Hitched around the saddle horn, a lariat can be used to pull a mired animal out of a bog, mud or river, as well as keep a hobbled horse or other animal from straying away in the night or rain, and the rope can even be used to create an instant, make -shift corral, when stretched taut by several men, to contain and hold a herd of animals - and even for quick justice at the end of a hangman's noose.
  The roping skill includes knowledge and training in how to use a lariat, lasso, tie knots, expertly handle roped animals after they are snared, bring them to a stop by taking quick turns of the lariat around the saddle horn (known as "dally" or "da la vuelta"), tethering animals, and how to "hog-tie" animals (after the animal has been lassoed, the horse backs up to make the rope taut while the cowboy "tips" over the animal and ties three legs with a half shank; used in separating stubborn animals from the herd, capturing wild animals, and branding). The rope/lariat can be used for the roping and tying of animals, including cattle, horses, similar alien animals, and even small dinosaurs and people. This skill with a lariat can be executed standing on the ground, but is designed and intended to be done from horseback (or hovercycle).
  A failed roll to tie a knot means that it is loose, sloppy and easy to untie, slip out of, or likely to unravel or snap when strained. A failed roll to lasso an animal or stationary target, means it misses its mark or slips off.
  Against human and intelligent opponents, roll to lasso as if it were a combat attack to strike and ensnare. The intended victim can try to dodge; parry is not applicable. A successful strike means the character is caught in the lasso. Ensnaring a foot, leg or hand means the victim can be tripped, knocked down and pulled/dragged by hand or horse. Ensnaring the upper body means one arm is pinned (useless). Two or more lassoes around the upper body means both arms are pinned and attacks requiring the use of one's hands are impossible, and the lassoed individual can be pulled off his feet and dragged. Multiple lassoes can also be used to snare each limb and "spread-eagle" the character. It takes 1D4 melee actions to cut through a lasso, but it is impossible to draw a weapons and cut oneself loose if both arms are pinned or while being dragged. In this combat usage, the roping character is +1 to strike for every 20 points of skill, so a skill of 65% means a +3 to strike/ensnare. Base Skill: 20% + 5% per level of experience.

Trick Riding: Riding bareback, standing on the animal's back, hanging from the side, or under its belly (usually for rodeo tricks or to hide from enemies), side saddle, as well as quick mounts and dismounts, mounting a horse by leaping down from above or with a running start, leaping from the back of a horse onto another horse or wagon, and similar. Skill Requirement: Must know one of the horsemanship skills, or trick riding cannot be selected. Base Skill (Special): The trick riding character can attempt all tricks and stunts without penalty; roll on the first/greater of the horsemanship skill percentages for success.
  Note: Characters without this skill can try any of these tricks, but must roll on the second percentage number of their horsemanship skill after reducing it by half. Roll for each attempt. Likewise, these stunts can be tried while riding mounts other than a horse, but reduce the skill by half, unless the character also has the skill Horsemanship: Exotic Animals.

Next section Cultural Skills.

Skill List.

Cowboy.html -- Revised: 91127
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