TRIHORN ALPS RESERVE

[weary jasper]

Set at the meeting point of three Alpine cultures, Trihorn Alps Reserve stretches across a rugged landscape shaped by three glacial rivers.
Each valley reflects its own identity: the Italian side with its chestnut forests and steep stone terraces, the Austrian high range dominated by glaciers and ibex cliffs, and the French-Swiss forests of dark conifers and red alpine shrublands.

Late October paints the entire reserve in golden larch tones while early snow dusts the upper slopes. From quiet valley meadows to windswept ridges, hunters will navigate shifting weather, drastic altitude changes, and some of the most iconic wildlife the European Alps can offer.

SPECIES
-Eurasian brown bear CL 8
-Red deer CL 6
-Wild boar CL 5
-Alpine ibex CL 4/5 ⭐
-Muflon CL 4 ⭐
-Roe deer CL 3
-Chamois (with a massive rework) CL 3
-European badger CL 2
-Red fox CL 2
-Alpine marmot CL 2 ⭐
-Rock ptarmigan CL 1
-Black grouse CL 1
-Western capercaillie CL 1
-Hazel grouse CL 1
-Woodcock CL 1
-European hare CL 1

CHAMOIS REWORK
The chamois on Te Awaroa and on this map would be the same species but with the difference that the one on Te Awaroa would have a summer coat while the one on Trihorn Alps would have a new winter coat.

Summer Coat
– Short, sleek hair with warm beige-to-gold tones.
– Slimmer silhouette, finer dorsal line.
Winter Coat
–Thick, long, fluffy fur with a bulkier shape.
–Much darker coloration, often nearly black.
–Strong, high-contrast facial mask.

–More accurate body shape with the natural curved back.
–Proper leg proportions built for steep terrain.
–Refined triangular head with correct facial proportions.
–Reworked horns with realistic curvature and natural variation.

The chamois' movement is what needs the biggest overhaul.
– Quick, elastic walking cycles.
– Agile sprint with flexible spine and lateral dodges.
– Small vertical hops from rock to rock.
– Proper downhill posture instead of “sliding.”

Trihorn Alps Reserve is shaped by altitude and divided naturally by water. At its center lies a large artificial lake, fed by a glacial river forming the border between the Italian and French-Swiss sides. From the dam you can see the tallest Austrian peak and its wide glacier. The Austrian region is separated from the others by fast alpine torrents.

All three territories share the exact same wildlife roster across the whole reserve — every species can appear anywhere, regardless of cultural zone — except for the Alpine Ibex, which remains limited to the high altitudes of the Swiss and Austrian sides only and the Brown Bear which would not be present in the Swiss part.

MAP DESCRIPTION
Each national sector emphasizes a different altitudinal biome:

Valley Floor – Italy

Mixed forests of chestnut, beech and oak, warm colors and broad meadows. Italian regions use Italian place-names and highlight the lower-elevation look of the Alps. Here you can find red deer, roe deer, woodcocks, badgers, brown bears, hares, foxes, wild boars and occasionally mouflons and capercaillies.

Conifer Belt – Switzerland

Dark spruce and fir forests, mossy ground and red-cliff ravines. French-Swiss regions use French names and represent the classic mid-altitude Alpine forest. Here you can find black grouse, capercaillie, red deer, roe deer, chamois, brown bears, badgers, foxes, hares, hazel grouse, woodcocks and mouflons.

Subalpine & Peaks – Austria

Pine scrub, stone-pine pockets, rock fields, snow patches and the main glacier. Austrian regions use German names and cover the most rugged high-mountain terrain. The main species present are chamois, ibex, rock partridges, black grouse, hazel grouse and marmots. Sightings of red deer, roe deer, bears, mouflon and capercaillie are not uncommon.

Across the Italian and Austrian sides, hunters may encounter old wartime remains — trenches, barbed wire, bunkers and fragments of early aircraft — while none appear on the neutral Swiss side.

STORY OVERVIEW

Trihorn Alps Reserve has always been divided into three distinct territories—Italian, French-Swiss, and Austrian—each shaped by its own culture, terrain, and wildlife.
For generations, the three regional leaders have maintained an unspoken rivalry over which valley is the true heart of Alpine hunting.

Now, with new conservation policies on the horizon, the reserve’s future depends on cooperation. You arrive as an independent hunter brought in to help document, stabilize, and understand the wildlife populations across all three valleys.

But the moment you arrive, it’s clear:
the three leaders refuse to agree on anything.

You assist each leader in their respective region:
-tracking elusive red deer deep in Italian forests
-studying chamois across the red cliffs of Vallon Rouge
-navigating dangerous ibex territory along Austrian glaciers

Each leader tries to “prove” to you that their valley represents the pinnacle of Alpine hunting.

🇮🇹 Giacomo Rinaldi – Italian Warden
A seasoned Italian forest ranger, practical and rooted in tradition. He knows every ridge of his valley and swears the red deer of his homeland are unmatched.

🇨🇭🇫🇷 Émile Charpentier – French-Swiss Warden
Elegant, precise and analytical. Émile treats hunting like a craft of perfection and proudly defends the chamois and dark forests of Vallon Rouge.

🇦🇹 Anneliese Gruber – Austrian Warden
Stoic and fearless, Anneliese is a master of high-mountain hunting. She trusts skill over pride and rules the glacier heights with quiet authority.

GREAT ONE PROPOSAL
Choosing a Great One for an Alpine reserve requires an animal that represents the region, offers strong visual variety, and remains usable across multiple maps. The Alpine Muflon is the most fitting option for Trihorn Alps for several reasons:

1. Strong Alpine Identity

The muflon is deeply tied to European mountain culture and is present across Austria, Italy, Switzerland and many Mediterranean highlands. It naturally fits the ecosystem and hunting traditions represented in the reserve.

2. Exceptional Trophy Potential

Muflon horns offer enormous artistic range:
– tight spiral curls
– wide flaring arcs
– heavy broomed bases
– Corsican-style long sweeping horns
This allows for multiple highly distinct Great One variants without breaking realism.

3. Cross-Map Compatibility

The muflon can appear naturally in several locations:
– Hirschfelden
– future southern European maps (Turkey, Greece or south Italy)
– future Mediterranean or Carpathian maps
This gives players more hunting options and prevents the Great One from being tied to a single reserve.

Best Balance of Theme and Utility

Other candidates was alpine ibex, brown bear and chamois but:
-Alpine ibex would only make sense on this map and therefore would leave too little choice on where to hunt it
-The brown bear was my second choice but in my opinion it would have been similar to the black bear and I didn't want to "repeat" a great one
-In my opinion, the chamois would have had too few nice ideas to make a worthy great one come out

NEW GUN

The Bergkamm 65 is a lightweight, break-action single-shot rifle inspired by the iconic Blaser K95, built for demanding mountain hunts where every gram matters. Chambered in 6.5x55 SE, it pairs minimal weight with exceptional accuracy, making it ideal for steep climbs, long glassing sessions, and fast shot opportunities in alpine terrain.

In-game characteristics

Caliber: 6.5x55 SE
Classes: 2–6
Action: Single-shot break-action
Weight: Very low
Recoil: Mild and easy to control
Accuracy: Excellent at medium–long range
Handling: Quick shouldering, ideal for uneven ground

Gameplay Role:
Designed for the mobility and precision required in the Trihorn Alps, the Bergkamm 65 rewards careful shooting and offers a perfect balance of penetration and controllability. Its ultra-light frame makes it a top choice for ibex, chamois, roe deer, muflon, and even red deer when shot placement is ideal.

[feral marlin]

Bears aren't found in the French part of the Alps, at least not in France, so putting them there is rather illogical, although I think they are found in Switzerland. Another small illogical point is the absence of the Alpine ibex in the French version, given that the last remaining populations are indeed mostly in Italy, but there was also a last population in France, and it's thanks to these two populations that the Alpine ibex survived and is now found throughout the Alps. Otherwise, it's fine, I like the idea.

[weary jasper]

NEW TRACKING DOG SPECIES
The current Bloodhound model in COTW is one of the oldest animal models in the game, and it shows: stiff animations, outdated textures, and proportions that don’t match real tracking dogs anymore. Adding a new hound would not only refresh the tracking system but also introduce a dog that fits the Alpine environment naturally.

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is the perfect choice for the Trihorn Alps Reserve. It’s a real Alpine tracking breed, used in Italy, Switzerland and Austria specifically for following wounded game along steep, rocky slopes. Compared to the bloodhound, it’s lighter, more agile and built for mountain terrain—making it ideal for chamois, ibex, roe deer and red deer hunts.

A new, modern model would improve animation quality, tracking behaviour and immersion, while giving players a second, more specialized option alongside the aging bloodhound.

[weary jasper]

The map isn't set in France but in French-speaking Switzerland, but the brown bear isn't actually there, so it could be removed. Thanks for the info. As for the ibex, I've put it in both Switzerland and Austria, but not in Italy for two reasons: hunting ibex is prohibited in Italy, and also to add some variety to the map.

[feral marlin]

Ah, okay. I agree on that point. It's not a big deal if an animal isn't strictly game, as long as it fits the chosen environment, it can be included. During a Q&A session, they said something like that: as long as the animal is present in the environment and plays a significant role, whether it's game or not, they include it to make the environment more realistic. If you want, you can include the Apennine wolf or the golden jackal. That's what I did for my idea too. I didn't base it entirely on the Alps, but it's an important part. Anyway, yes, the Italian and Swiss parts are quite significant in the Alps.

[weary jasper]

Yes, I had read the Q&A but it was really more to give variety to the areas and since it is forbidden in Italy I thought it was more logical to remove it there rather than in Switzerland or Austria.

[feral marlin]

Ok

[pallid phoenix]

I would also add in the Italian wolf into this map idea since they do live in the alps.

and have been migrating into both Switzerland and France.

[weary jasper]

Yes, it's a nice idea, but for me, the bear in the mountains is more iconic than the wolf. For example, in Italy, they are more present in the central/southern part of the country (the Apennines) than in the north (the Alps), which is why I chose to only include the brown bear as the main pred