Moose: Revamping an Iconic Game Species

[wraith swift]

I'll let the attached document do the talking, but in summary: I feel that moose need work in-game to make them enjoyable to hunt through behavioral and balancing changes, while correcting some accuracy issues (like movement and sounds), as well as expanding the range of their antler variations and fur types, subspecies differentiation, and more.

Document attached here (Possible trigger warning: there are videos showcasing actual moose hunting. Real moose are shot and killed): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1d9T3iKYIxWUuXi-6OG0jZjrOOpbNx2wKpbUFkM-4Yoc/edit?usp=sharing

This has been a combination of various forms of feedback, feedback posts from several people (including myself), in-game observations, etc. If there are any irl moose hunters that see this, please feel free to share your experiences, feedback (of the game and/or my own suggestion), etc. I'd love for CotW's moose to do actual moose justice and feel better to hunt someday!

[lunar badge]

Good suggestion!

[jolly vine]

i do agree that the moose needs to have more realistic behaviour, and better calls, like the black bear got so can the moose, the caller i think is fine because i think it’s supposed to sound like a moose calf which makes it kinda interesting. I also agree with getting species variation depending on which part of the world you’re hunting, but this is a need for other animals in the game too so i hope they do a update for it

[wraith swift]

I agree, the caller itself is fine (which is really funny bc the caller mimics an actual moose sound, yet the actual moose don't sound like moose)

[jolly vine]

Hahaha yea the moose sound been done the same way the T rexes in jurassic park

[wraith swift]

Fun Fact: nearly every single moose sound in the game comes straight from this video here lol https://youtu.be/7NR2FpsHSfw?si=lfFTj7cH8Z_ceNF1

[jolly vine]

Hahaha man if they aiming for realism they gotta change them, i feel like the sounds they make irl are more intimidating, imagine because i often wander around the map hunting whatever, sometimes i surprise a moose and it becomes aggressive, it would feel so much cooler if they had the sounds from real life in that encounter

Making this post was a good idea i hope they see this, made me realize major issues with the moose that needs fixing

[thorn crest]

I'm don't hunt moose with 4-8 class rifles. Because even after 30.6 and 308 need run of 200-250m if lung shot. 300and 338 don't give good results also.

[frozen nebula]

Moose

[wise crystal]

It will be a cold day in hell when the developers let you effectively hunt moose with .270, no DLC pack sales in that. This is a great idea overall though, and I can hope it comes true.

[wraith swift]

That is actually a big part of why I made this post! A lot of cartridges that are commonly made for moose hunting in real life do exceptionally poorly in-game (even the class 7-9 ammo)

[wraith swift]

Yeahhh, I know this whole suggestion post is a stretch, given how it doesn't really actively incentivize any DLC purchasing (unless you want all of the subspecies I suggested, but that's not the same as a weapon/gear DLC)

[wise crystal]

It's a long shot, but it is nice to see that there are still new-ish (comparatively) players with good ideas, I hope this comes to the game.

[wraith swift]

Relatively speaking I'm "newer" (i started playing back in 2021), and I was here for the original moose TLC lol

[wise crystal]

I'm old, Classic player who moved over after release

But, yes, overall this is a good idea. The tier system as a whole could use a massive overhaul.

[molten pike]

To be fair, these sounds are still more realistic than the old ones (2017-2022). They sounded terrible, like an elk with laryngitis or something. I would still want to see more realistic calls though, more like a groan.

[wraith swift]

idk, from what I can remember they used to sound like the ones from Classic (the same bear sounds for bulls, and a "moo-like" sound for cows). While also not moose sounds, I'd at least take that over what we have now (crunchy red deer sounds that are pretty low in audio quality)

[wraith swift]

Bumping this post with this here :>
Not only do most class 4-8 ammos suck on moose, the Curman seems to especially struggle for some reason, despite hitting other animals (even other class 8 animals) way harder

[molten pike]

I think that’s more of an Ammo issue than a moose issue. Moose are the toughest class 8 animal (honestly with how tough they are I could see them being a class 9).

[wraith swift]

The problem is that they aren't that tough irl. Basically every 4-8 ammo in the game should be capable of punching through both lungs, and most of them barely puncture one lung in-game

if .30-06 performed the same way irl that it does in-game, nobody would be using it, yet it's a very consistent choice for large game hunters in general, including moose

[molten pike]

Irl they are incredibly tough, there’s a reason a lot of people use huge calibers like .338 or .375 on them, but I do agree, a heart shot from a .270, .30-06, or .303 should drop them (which once again I think is more of a ballistics issue than anything).

[wraith swift]

I think you're overexaggerating how tough moose are (or how effective most .30 cal hunting cartridges are). Moose are tough by all means, but you don't need to break out the .338 Lapua Magnum, .375 H&H Magnum, etc. when .30-06 has proven time and time again that it can get the job done efficiently

[molten pike]

No, but to be effective with a lung shot and bring it down quickly most people recommend big rounds such as .338. A .30-06 can work perfectly fine, but it’s like 6.5 with Elk, you simply have to be more precise with your shot.

[wraith swift]

See, after doing some digging I've seen something else. From videos, articles, blog posts, and even just talking with moose hunters, you really don't need to jump up to the big magnum cartridges to effectively hit both lungs and the heart on a moose

I haven't seen anyone say that you need to be incredibly precise (relatively speaking) on your timing and shooting with a .30-06. You just aim where you always do and pull the trigger, and the moose goes down

I've even seen people discuss that at some distances, moose don't seem to react very differently or go down any faster from a bigger magnum cartridge over something like .270, .30-06, etc.

You absolutely can use them if you're comfortable with them, but from everything I've seen, there's not a ton of pressure to require a magnum cartridge

[fickle hare]

People carry the big magnums on moose hunts because moose hunts overlap with grizzly territory in most places and people are scared stupid by that thought of big bears.

Quoting David E. Petzal of field field and stream "Moose may look big and imposing but when shot with a .30-06 the vast majority of them will stand around looking offended until they drop dead"

These are from an article he wrote called the 6 best cartridges for moose, written back in 2020.
.30-06 and .45-70 are 1 and 2 on the list respectively

[wraith swift]

Bumping this with a few Boone and Crockett bulls that could serve as more references :)

[wraith swift]

Bumping this with a link to another feedback post that's also discussing moose toughness https://discord.com/channels/393040947006406657/1387847182211879002

[thorn crest]

The problem is because newbies nothing understand about moose. Base game (usually free) has special nerf rifles and a 338. All of us who don't understand about real rifles and ammo get caught in this trap. All newbies think of moose is a tank. It forces them to buy more powerful rifles (dlc). All guns and animals balance are the cruel management. For money sake. You argue witch each other but not with devs. You hope that they hear up how we do arguing. But devs want only one thing. More money from newbies. Experienced and "who paid for everything" have only one exit. Play or not to play. Paid or not to paid.

[wraith swift]

tbf, there would still be some encouragement to buy DLCs with moose hunting in mind (like Yukon and the High Caliber pack for .300 magnum, the Hunter's Choice pack for the .375, etc.), there just wouldn't be such a massive disparity between one class 8 animal and other class 8 animals (ex.: why are moose tankier than grizzly bears and saltwater crocodiles)

It isn't always about "what will make people spend money," bc some DLCs don't particularly bring anything new (like the newer semi-auto pack, since the M1 and and the ZARZA .308 already existed)

And not many of us are actually arguing with each other. We know for a fact that the devs do listen to the community and have made some requested changes before (like making the .577/450 cartridge ethical for class 9 animals). We're very vocal about what we want changed bc we want to see changes and we know that the devs do read these feedback posts

[thorn crest]

Devs don't want to shift 270 and 6.5 to 3 class because of feral goat, chamois and pronghorn. Most of us bought Solokhin, Moradi, 300 blackout and SKS because of these animals. (4 dlc!). Gandhare is the most powerful rifle in the game. Change to 9 class it was a matter of time. Like a bug with tents. Ouch. I'm not angry or anything else. I see pure management here. Because 9 class got along fine without Gandhare. 7mm there was enough except an african buffalo.

[wraith swift]

I'm not really talking about class 3 animals in this post, this post is exclusively about revamping/updating moose on multiple fronts

[thorn crest]

The problem is the same. Manipulation with "tough" and classes. Which devalue of many rifles.

[wraith swift]

idk what to bump this with, but bump bc I want more authentic moose :>

[woeful zinc]

Here here

[cosmic prawn]

Dude, I've been Hunting Moose since I was 13 They are not that Tough, At close range .270, .303, .308, .30-30 and .30-06 Can Drop them with a Lung shot at Close range

My cousin has Slammed moose at close range with her .243 For crying out Loud XD

[desert sand]

what do you consider close range?

[cosmic prawn]

Under 100 Metres

IRL I normally take moose from Under 100 Metres with a .30-06 and nine times out of ten it drops it which isn't possible In-game

[sharp portal]

Also.. they don't need to immediately bolt off once you shoot them every time. Most videos i've seen of moose being shot is them just standing there dazed and confused, and then falling down and dying. Same with elk. There should be a small chance that they do bolt off, but it definitely shouldn't be 100% of the time

[jolly vine]

Yes this could be cool

[molten pike]

Elk are 50/50. 2 of the 3 cows I’ve shot stood around and fell over within about 15 seconds and didn’t run, and the other one instantly ran off right after I hit it.

[ruby echo]

It's a lot like that on WotH at times.

[jolly vine]

Been switching to it now to take a break from cotw, underrated. Bought New Zealand dlc, very excited.

[ruby echo]

I've got all the maps and DLCs, but honestly haven't opened the Transylvania and NZ maps yet. It's an enjoyable game for sure.

[jolly vine]

Spoiler alert: Transylvania’s awesome so far, i explored half of the map.

[jolly vine]

And even though it’s strange in some parts i really like the long stories as well

[ruby echo]

Lintukoto really makes me want Reindeer on Revontuli, I'll tell you what.

[jolly vine]

Ooh i gotta get on that map too, i agree revountouli needs more scandinavian animals over all, idk if wolverines would fit in but reindeer definetly, roe deer also maybe in the lower regions

[ruby echo]

Wolverines would be awesome on Revontuli.

[jolly vine]

It’d be cool to hunt them but i feel that the ground is too flat for them to fit in