[Peer Review] Tracking [Skill]

[Gillar]

Just a couple things to add to those that have already been mentioned and/or addressed. First, the English spelling as opposed to American spelling of words can still be an issue to some. For me, it isn't a deal-breaker by any sense however it does stand out like Shaquille O'Neal walking around Beijing. Second and more importantly, is the main description of the skill itself followed by the more minute related details. Tracking is the ability to pick up on spoor and follow a trail or movements of someone or something, typically in order to find them or note their course. Trackers know the environment, how to recognise certain animal or human behaviours, and understand that everything has a season. Tracking is not only useful when it comes to pursuing a target, but also evading dangerous animals, people, and places. Trackers are patient, methodical, and observant. This is all true however it doesn't quite lay out all that is involved. Part of tracking also involves knowing the environment; the landscape and how it relates to those things that live and move through it. When first tracking an animal for example, one needs to know about the animal itself that they are trying to track. Tracking a bear would be a heck of a lot different than tracking a rabbit and not just because of the size difference. So first you would need to know something about the animal you are tracking then you would relate that knowledge to the given environment. If the animal is an herbivore, you would want to look for possible food sources. You would also want to know where sources of water are as well as be able to identify possible places to hide or escape. What parts of the terrain are most accessible. Are there obvious animal trails? Can you identify dens, beds, places to lay down and rest? Once you have that down, then you can move on to more of the signs you detailed here: Footprints: Understanding that animals leave different prints, determined by print size, animal weight, speed of travel, and terrain. Markings: Broken branches, scat, clawing on bark, and compressions, etc. Sounds: Footfalls, growling, territorial calls, and talking. Time: Early morning to late in the afternoon before rain or snowfall is the best time to start tracking as animals are more active during these times and prints are fresh. So, for example, looking for animal rubs; places where an animal has rubbed on something while passing through or where they have used say a tree to help with shedding of fur. Then there is identifying more intimate signs of passing such as left over fur or feathers. There are also signs of chewing/eating. If there are trees with obvious grazing on lower branches, you can get a better idea of possible animal size for example. If an animal is a carnivore, you may find signs of left-overs possibly tended to by scavengers. There can also be signs of scratching such as a big cat scratching a tree or some other animal marking an area or even digging. Debris such as broken twigs, disturbed leaves and such would also detail the presence of an animal and the projected path it may have taken. Recognizing tracks/prints and knowing how to determine size, weight, speed and animal number is important. Not all animals have the same kind of print. Felines and canines have obvious differences as do animals such as bears, deer, rabbits and just about any thing else. While scat can provide a wealth of information about a particular animal, one should know that it is usually found in places where the animal feels most secure. Such places would also be where the animal may rest or lay. Learning animal calls and sounds and being able to distinguish certain calls from others is quite useful. Is a certain sound one of distress? Is it one of warning or is it an announcement of presence or that food has been found? Is it a mating call? The problem with just leaving a basic list of things that are important to tracking is that it isn't quite enough. The list of elements to consider that you have provided doesn't tell me how or why they are important. Yes, those things are all important but why? How can I use them? When should I be looking for what and where should I look for it. There is SOME basic breakdowns in the level progression but it doesn't really help me in using this skill to detail out a post where I would be tracking someone or something. There should also be some information that separates tracking animals from humanoids in the wilds. While both will have similar needs such as food, water and shelter, humanoids will be less predictable. Those humanoids that can survive long enough in the wilds to be prime tracking material would also have no small amount of wilderness survival skills. Which by the way is an EXTREMELY valuable skill for use in tracking as it helps you to identify many aspects of the wilderness that can relate to your target. With wilderness survival, someone has the knowledge and skill to intentionally and even unintentionally avoid being tracked. Touching on the idea of avoiding being tracked, someone with the tracking skill would also have the knowledge of how to make being tracked more difficult. They would know how best to hide and/or alter their tracks, avoid or use rubbing and leaving debris to mask their path, use markings or scat to confuse or evade. Added length of an article is not a bad thing if there is a lot of helpful content. I know when I'm looking at a skill write-up to see how it can be used in one of my threads, I want to see enough detail where I don't have to do even more research elsewhere just to be able to make my thread look like my character actually has some clue as to what they are doing. So as far as I'm concerned, you have a very solid foundation with this article but I would like to see more depth like what I've mentioned. Do some showing of the skill as well as the telling.

[Tribal]

Thank you, Gillar. This is all excellent feedback and I agree, will benefit the article. I shall make time in the new year to beef it up and make sure everything is covered.