Menageries: a pets and animals system

[G S Palmer]

With artifacts coming soon, I'd like to suggest that pets be reworked from a simple character modifier to a full system of their own, with 3D models that could tie in nicely to the Royal Court feature (imagine your dog sitting beside your throne or your cat perched on top of it).

I think it could be accomplished through the addition of two types of script: animals and animal_templates.

Animals would be defined in the common/animals folder, and each animal would follow the format of:

animal_dog = {
    breeds = {
        shepherd = {
            model = gfx/models/animals/dog_shepherd.asset
        }
        greyhound = {
            model = gfx/models/animals/dog_greyhound.asset
        }
        spaniel = {
            model = gfx/models/animals/dog_spaniel.asset
        }
        mastiff = {
            model = gfx/models/animals/dog_poodle.asset
        }
    }
    lifespan = 12
}

Animal templates would be defined in the common/animal_templates folder, and each would follow the format of:

guard_dog = {
    pet = no
    modifier = {
        hostile_scheme_resistance_add  = 10
    }
    valid_breeds = { shepherd mastiff }
    events = {
        animal_event.0001 # Dog scares off robbers
        animal_event.0002 # Dog gets sick
    }
    on_death = {
        animal_event.0003
    }
}

Animals would then be created through an effect like this:

new_animal = {
    template = guard_dog
    breed = mastiff # Optional - if not set, it will be random
    name = "Fluffy"
    sex = female
    age = 2
}

You could see all your animals in a special window accessed through a button on the character screen (kind of like how relics were accessed in CK2).

I feel like this would add a lot of beneficial functionality to the game. In addition to reworking the current pets, it could allow events where a foreign ruler gives you a particularly fine stallion, for instance, or where you buy a herd of pigs, increasing the health of your courtiers due to getting better food.

 

[Makkuro]

I second that. Perhaps would even go a bit further and expand and make these pets have genetics and be breedable too.
Many rulers did dally in breeding pets like horses, dogs etc. The Player could have the possibilty to create a breed themself.
A breed could be considered as one when you reach a certain amount of living specimen with matching traits/genetic range. Different genes and traits will give different boni. You can breed warhorses, runners or especially 'glamerous' mares. For dogs they could be fitted differently as hunting dogs, war dogs or lap dogs according to their size, build, snout, temperament etc.
Big, aggressive dogs will have a considerable prowress of their own, will add to your as well as dread but may take away from diplomacy. Hunting dogs may add to hunting events, feasts, surviving Sieges (by hunting Rats) and are measured more "usefull" and desireable by AI rulers. Lap dogs will add to diplomacy by making you seem more approachable and charming but also to scheme resistance as they are by your side at all times guarding you and sometimes talking the blow like lovers sometimes do. (Guard dogs would be more efficient in that departement.)

The player could be able to gift or sell their bred animal to get a bit of income, prestige and opinion.
The recipent then reacts in different ways, for example if they are callous or rivals they have the option to cook it. XD

 

[budan831]

what can we talk about, if now even military units do not have 3d models of cavalrymen. it's funny to see nomads on foot.

 

[klopkr]

I really support this and think it could also be a good step to making room for herds.

Herds are so fundamental to significant parts of the games map. Cattle Herds, Sheep Herds, Horse Herds, Etc. Using these as a bank/prestige for many Tribal and Nomadic realms would be very historical and cool.