Recall dog skill

[kem]

I think that “recall dog” skill should be implemented to prevent bad gameplay experience in certain situations.

For example: a generic 3-way fight : a player, merks, and a vampire with some skellies
The fight takes place in the forest, so movement is restricted and there are plenty of bottlenecks.

The player unleashed dogs to win a fight vs skellies and merks..
Seems good so far, yeah?
Nope.

Dogs start to chase teleporting vampire, and it starts to pick dogs one by one. Because it is supposed behavior of both parties.

Basically nothing could be done. Speeds of dogs and vampire so much higher than that of a player, so taunt is ineffective, terrain prevents movement.

So player should spend 23 turns and watch the dogs being slaughtered one by one, and contemplating that there is no basic dog “to me” command?

And only after 23 turns player could, finally finish off that single enemy?

That is bad setup from any point of view.
1) no basic dog “get him” “get back” interaction
2) frustrating 10 minutes time-sink

[Dare Wolf]

I remember calling out dogs already was suggested before same as many other features. Despite of such a command seems quite useful I would like to draw attention to some natural limitations which should be taken into account.

I have very limited personal experience of operating dog in a situation roughly comparable to combat but, as for me, it’s not really much you can do after having dog unleashed. Theoretically, yes, you can call dogs back while they are surrounding target looking for the right moment to launch an attack. But trying to communicate a dog when it’s already engaged in combat is quite silly and rather useless idea.

Second if you have your dogs chasing prey beyond close vicinity to you, without direct visibility and further than bow shot distance then… good luck for you and your dogs. You better count on their ability to hang on by themselves until you arrive and finish the job. If you can’t then you better reconsider the idea to unleash you dogs on a prey you can’t get. Otherwise be ready to have your dogs just distracting enemy with futile and likely suicidal attacks.

As it currently is in the game if I’m not mistake.

"That's it! Run away!"

[Alexander]

Dare Wolf wrote:

I have very limited personal experience of operating dog in a situation roughly comparable to combat but, as for me, it’s not really much you can do after having dog unleashed.

From my experience with police attack dogs, this isn’t really true. Dogs are great at following commands, and can at times be recalled with a whistle. Of course, it depends on the level of training of the dog. I think a “possible” recall command depending on resolve or other stat would work.

As for dogs just being a distraction, that’s not really true, either — in just about every time period, dogs are often able to take down and kill human prey. Not always — but often.

[Author]

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