FUNCTIONAL FALCONRY

[carmine swift]

FALCONRY

Since the game was launched there has always been interest and this hunting mode has been named, it even appeared on many occasions as an option in surveys...
Personally I think that with the current mechanics (bloodhound) available in the game it could be implemented...
Now I will explain in as much detail as possible HOW I THINK the system would work, trying to make it as realistic as possible and adapting the same functions as the Hound...

NEW ITEMS NEEDED:

Falconry Glove + Bird of Prey (I'll let you discuss the species):
Equippable from the Equipment Box just like the Dog.
Left hand equipped glove / Locks the left hand for use / Only allows the use of Pistols and Monocular/Rangefinder…
(During falconry hunting, it is not allowed to use firearms, however some regulations do not prevent carrying a handgun for defense).

Monocular (New):
Same observation function as binoculars without a rangefinder / usable in the right hand while the Glove is equipped,
Allows you to mark the Attack target (you can also mark it with the Old Rangefinder).

LEVELS:

**EXPERIENCE: **Increases in the same way as the Hound, using it and executing commands.

**APEX: **Increases by hunting and chase animals.

ENERGY: Allows it to stay in flight, once finished it returns to the glove.

**COMFORT: **Shows the comfort of the bird. If Comfort is high, the bird regenerates energy faster. A low Comfort will have the opposite effect. You can increase her Comfort by petting and Feeding her.

TRAITS:

Level 5
LOVING:
It allows the bird to feel more comfortable with you, which increases its overall Comfort.
WATCHFUL:
The bird can detect larger animals (Class 2 onwards) while in flight.

Level 10
6TH SENSE
The bird is more likely to detect when an animal is about to become frightened.
FOCUS
Increases the distance at which the bird can attack marked animal.

Level 15
SCREEM
The bird makes a screem when you command it.
DETERMINED
The bird flies less before attacking the marked prey.

Level 20
VIGOROUS
The bird can stay in the air longer and its ENERGY increases.
SPOTED
The bird has the opportunity to highlight the detected animal while in flight.

Level 25
CLOSE
The Bird is more likely to remain hovering over you.
ATTENTIVE
The bird is more likely to see nearby animals when in flight.

Level 30
AGGRESSIVE
The bird has the ability to scare off predator attacks with its cries.
LETHAL
The bird has a small chance of directly attacking the animal without needing to fly over it.

COMAND WHEEL:

FLIGHT: The bird flies and stays high around the player.

***GLIDE: ***Use the Whistle to make the bird hover over the player

ATTACK: The bird attacks the marked target.

***RETURN: ***Use the Whistle to make the bird return to the glove.

FEED: Feed the bird with small pieces of meat // Makes it recover energy faster and increases its Comfort.

***PAT: ***Play with the bird perched o the glove to increase its Comfort level.

MECHANICS AND BEHAVIOR:

When equipping the bird, it remains perched on the glove on the player's left hand.
-The left hand is blocked to use two-handed elements, it will only allow the use of the Spray and Monocular or Rangefinder that will serve to *MARK *the target animal, this animal can ONLY be class 1 (If you choose to introduce a larger bird it can be extended to class 2) and ONLY to animals that are not floating in the water (since I do not think it is possible for the engine, it is not legal or responsible to send the bird to attack something above the water, in fact Falconry with migratory birds is not legal but that would greatly reduce the possible species, -detail in flight mechanics-) when trying to Mark a large animal the legend "Invalid Target" will appear (like when they try to shoot the dog).
-When the bird is perched it will show the INACTIVE Status.
-The perched bird recovers ENERGY but decreases COMFORT.
-Only when the bird is perched can the FEED and *PAT *commands be executed.
-When the bird is perched it can detect when an animal is about to flee, it will make a series of short trills showing the CRITICAL POSITION State.

--When the animal is MARKED, the ATTACK Command is executed so that the bird takes off and pounces on it.
---Once the *ATTACK *Command is executed, the bird will circle the target a few times in the air before attacking it (the time is reduced with an unlockable ability) and will display the CHASING status.
----When the bird attacks the animal it produces an Insta-kill since currently there are no fighting or agony mechanics for animals.
(If the animal is Fleeing, the bird can chase it to the end of the Render range // it can shoot down the partridges in flight // the GROUNDED mechanic does not apply here, that will encourage its use.
-----Once the animal has been knocked down, the bird will make its screem so that we can find it (in the same way that the dog barks when it finds its prey).

For the bird to take off, the *FLIGHT *Command is executed.
-The outline of the bird can be seen in flight through the vegetation just like the dog (it can still be used between trees).
-When the bird is flying it will circle above the player, staying within a range of 100 meters away from the player (The height will depend on the developers) or gliding over it [There is always wind so this will not be a problem] // when it is flying will display the INACTIVE * status.
-When the bird is in flight it can also attack marked targets.
-When in flight it scares waterfowl (Optional/Realistic), but not partridges/pheasants (they usually remain motionless when spotting a predator). In this way, Partridges/Pheasants can marry while in Flight, and Waterfowl only when Perched on the glove.
-Only when the bird is in flight can it equip/shoot with Handguns (this avoids scaring/damaging the bird with the shooting sound).
-When the bird is in flight its ENERGY *bar is slowly reduced, when it runs out the bird returns to land on the glove.
--When the bird is in flight It will emit a Small Scream when it detects nearby Class-1 prey (It can detect larger animals with its unlockable ability) and will mark the SIGHTING Status (instead of Found Excrement like the Bloodhound).
--When the bird is in Flight, the *GLIDE *command can be executed to make it glide over the player and it will show the GLINING state as long as it remains that way.
---When Gliding you can detect animals that are about to flee.
---(Optional) When he is gliding he can attack the marked target faster without having to circle over it (that would save time instead of making her Take Off from the gauntlet).

Well I think I described everything the best I could, as you can see it is only a modification of the traits and states of the bloodhound, I tried to arrange the traits so that a perched mode can be used for stalking and a flying mode for attacking..
I had this idea in mind since the dog was released xD

[tribal thistle]

Would we get multiple bird species to hunt with or just one species

Species like Red-tailed Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks and Harris Hawks can be used to purse animals like Jackrabbits and Cottontails and under the right conditions Ducks & Pheasants

Goshawks are mainly used for birds but can pursue rabbits though Japanese Falconers used them for geese and crane

The Australasian Harrier of Australia & New Zealand are the only bird of prey allowed for falconry in New Zealand, it is also the only harrier actively used in falconry as a result and are likely used for species like European Rabbits

Then you got a variety of falcons such as the Peregrines, Merlins, Prairie Falcons, Saker Falcons and Gyrfalcons are species I hear about being used

And then you got Golden Eagles being used in Central Asia for Foxes

[carmine swift]

It is a bit problematic to determine which species of bird of prey would be able to take down all the species on each map, especially since we are dealing with a Predator, normally each region has a species adapted to all the animals in its environment, it would be great to have one species for each reserve but it would be a lot of work 😅

[rancid skiff]

I’d also really like to see kestrel for extremely small game at a fast pace from a medium distance.

[carmine swift]

I think is possible name a species of bird for each map, personally I would love to be able to use a Carancho (Caracara plancus) to go after the Cinnamon Teals of Parque Fernando ❤️

[tribal thistle]

Here is a list of species that could be added
• Red Tailed Hawk - Good for beginners
• Harris Hawks - Similar to Red-tails
• Australasian Harrier - A nod to New Zealand’s Falconry laws (without actually restricting the player)
• Northern Goshawks - Good for hunting grouse in thick brush
• Peregrine Falcons - A Classic
• Gyrfalcons - A good all-rounder for bird hunting
• Golden Eagle - A fox killer
• Merlin (Falcon)
• Lanner Falcons - Vurhonga
• American Kestrel

[inland cairn]

maybe a bird per map or a bird per region like a certain bird for wetter maps btw i see caracaras alot where i live so it would be cool to use them in my fav game

[tribal thistle]

From what can be read about caracaras, they are more scavenger then hunter (though they still hunt) so I’m not too certain they make good falconry birds

[thin jackal]

god damn this is well thought out

[leaden ravine]

On the whole, while I have seen this suggested for years, I have not been convinced it is really worth the effort in terms of the development time. This has really changed my mind, and I think it is an excellent suggestion. My only question/comment really is that while I understand (and agree) that this should be limited to Class 1 animals, turkeys and geese probably need to be excluded from that due to weight. (Otherwise, why not foxes, raccoon dogs, and other light Class 2 animals? I am not advocating for that, but only following the logic.) Additionally to simplify this, I really think only one species should be considered, or a few that are essentially just cosmetic variations.

[carmine swift]

They are hunters but lazy and opportunistic with a bad preference for poultry xD.

The only Falconer I knew had one that he only used to hunt when he walked through the streams to attack waterfowl and ibises , according to him he had a bad temper and "talked" a lot when he got bored (I guess he made a lot of sounds xD), but since we have a dog that is perfectly trained, it would not be strange to also have a perfectly trained bird of prey 💪🏼.

They usually use it a lot to scare away birds in churches or airports in Argentina, I have also read in several forums that in the wild they attack and kill other trained birds of prey, they are very territorial :/

[carmine swift]

For now I only suggested class-1 since they are easier and have little life, but I suppose there would be no problem if a species of Eagle were added to also attack class-2 prey, it would be a matter of finding which is the most versatile species of all, but as Moose says, Irl there is a specialized bird for everything and I suppose there will be complaints about it xD

[leaden ravine]

Oh, I agree, a limit to Class 1 is fine, but I was just thinking about the weight issue. I think, as you and MooseDragon have stated, a good general bird, like the Gyrfalcon would be ideal. Another good one (perhaps as a "skin" choice in the in-game mews) could be the Saker Falcon, which is widely used in the Middle East; they're about the size of a Gyrfalcon.

[raw zenith]

I love such a well made posts in the feedback chat. Applause 👍

[arctic gorge]

ABSOLUTELY, I have considered getting into falconry many times myself

[thin jackal]

An entire new idea, but it would still be a bird option, so I add it here. What about vultures to find carnivore feeding zones and shot animals. I think this is not as much a need for me as actual falconry, but I wanted to discuss it here at least.

[inland cairn]

do people do this irl?

[arctic gorge]

Yea

[arctic gorge]

If raptors were a base game feature rather than just a DLC that unlocks them all, here would be the raptors and their respective maps (imo).
Red-tailed Hawk - Layton Lakes
Eurasian Goshawk - Hirschfelden
Australasian Harrier - Te Awaora
Golden Eagle - Rancho del Arroyo (or Parque Fernando?)
Lanner Falcon - Vrhonga
... actually thats about it, honestly I think these are better off as DLC since red tailed hawks are pretty universally used in falconry despite wild ones being native to NA + peregrines are global birds
It woudnt be fair to lock some species to specific reserves (buy the map, get the bird to use anywhere)

[rancid skiff]

Golden Eagle would work better for Yukon,For Parque a better choice for parque could be choice rufous-tailed hawk.

And for Rancho you could get the beautiful aplomado falcon!

[tribal thistle]

I feel a Central Asian Reserve would be better fitting for a Golden Eagle thematically speaking
But Yukon would work to since there are foxes on it

[rancid skiff]

I’d prefer the Steppe Eagle for a Central Asian Reserve (The Eagle that’s on the Kazakh flag) for that purpose

They range pretty far into Africa apparently as well!

[carmine swift]

Harris Hawk for Rancho del Arroyo without a doubt
https://youtu.be/YyRtzLpbeZA?feature=shared

[arctic gorge]

I was thinking golden eagle for rancho because isnt the eagle on mexicos flag a golden eagle

[rancid skiff]

Crested Caracara.

[arctic gorge]

Could work but caracara seems more parque to me

[rancid skiff]

So people believe,although it looks more like a golden eagle.

[arctic gorge]

Ohhhhhh ur talkin about the flag. Huh. Always thought it was a golden

[rancid skiff]

Crested Caracara live all across the New World However except the far north,Pacific Northwest and New England. So really they could also work for a Florida/Caribbean map as well.

[carmine swift]

Another option for Parque Fernando can be the black-chested buzzard-eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) or also called Chilean blue eagle, it is used for falconry but usually to hunt rabbits and hares.
The Caracara in Argentina naturally lives near aquifers and swamps so it is more common for it to attack waterfowl.
https://youtu.be/w7rwhBJb9GY?feature=shared

[carmine swift]

Just today Google Photos showed me a reminder of an old video of vultures during a hunting day...
There is a large private hunting area here in the north of Argentina where hunters go regularly. Due to the high temperatures of the region (between 35° and 40°F), it is not customary to save the liver or other organs or viscera of the hunted animal, therefore, it is left to the scavengers. Taking this into account, there is a population of Red-headed Vultures (Turkey Vulture) ( the species of vulture with the best sense of smell) that comes to an area immediately after hearing a gunshot or sniffing fresh blood from a downed animal and They flutter around the area looking for the dead animal...
On two occasions I have used these vultures to find prey that fled after having been shot, so I can confirm firsthand that they can track downed prey and wait in a tree for the hunter to dispatch the animal and give it the remains, it is obviously a local behavior but it responds to one of the requests from another thread that talked about birds to track downed animals like the dog..
They are not used for falconry hunting but for yes for educational purposes, so it is possible to train them...

[vocal knot]

I Think That Instead Of Having This As A “Different Bird Per Map” Idea, It Could Be A Pack, Similar To The Dogs, With 9 Birds Of Prey To Choose From: Peregrine Falcon, Gyrfalcon, Prairie Falcon, American Kestrel, Eurasian Goshawk, Harris’s Hawk, Golden Eagle, Australasian Marsh Harrier, And Eurasian Eagle Owl.

[leaden ravine]

I think Mr. Schrader's idea is great, but given how much effort goes into animating just one animal, I don't see that happening. However, if there were a range of birds that are generally the same size and overall body shape, then this might work with those species, but not something as radical (e.g.) of American Kestrel to Eurasian Eagle Owl.

[thin jackal]

I think Mr Schrader idea could still work. 1 being an expensive DLC (I would buy it) 2 releasing them 1/2 at the time cause unlike the dog the behaviour doesn't need much change.

[thin jackal]

This i what I meant when I said I wanted vultures to find carnivore need zones and shot animals. They could also just add vultures to maps like Vurhonga and SRP, like they did with birds on Layton. Adding an useful animal which you can't shoot.

[sinful talon]

A Kazakhstan Map for this new fuctional falconry in COTW 🦅

Spain 🇪🇸 Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente

Golden eagle falconer in Kazakhstan 🇰🇿

[merry kayak]

Honestly, I never thought that this was remotely in the realm of possibility for this game, but reading it, it makes sense. Could be super cool, but would prefer other features over this. Creativity is exceptional. Thumbs up