Description:

Animal breeders can be found in any part of Gothic Earth in any culture. Most of them take a business like approach, carefully recording bloodlines, and breeding animals to improve the favorable traits. Animal breeders will specialize in a particular species: horse, cattle, sheep, dogs, goats, chickens, pigs, minks, falcons, etc. For each additional proficiency slot they devote to Animal Husbandry, they can add another species to their skills, but most breeders are devoted to one species. The different between the animal breeder and the rancher (cowboy settled down) kit is the animal breeder is focusing more on quality than quantity while the rancher is typically pursuing quantity over quality. Animal breeders raising animal for pelts may also do their own tanning.

Role Playing: Animal breeders tend to be methodical in their breeding research and record keeping. They are typically enthusiastic about their profession and conversant with the latest theories and research such as the natural selection research of British scientist, Charles Darwin. (Note the term genetics does not yet exist in the 1890s, for although it was based upon the work of the Austrian monk, Gregor Mendel, published in 1866; it is not rediscovered until 1900.) The breeders might discuss the relative virtues of mass, pedigree, family or progeny selection methods of breeding and decisions about in-breeding and out-breeding. Many animal breeders will show their best animals in contests for prize money. Such contests also serve as an advertising venue. Horse breeders may race thoroughbreds or quarter horses.

Special Benefits: Animal breeders have an extensive knowledge about care, handling, and attributes for the species in which they specialize. They can discern the general health of the animal from its appearance and may be able to guess the identity of likely breeders if in their part of the world. Breeders will be able to control and usually calm excited animals of their selected species if they make a proficiency check (+2 bonus). They can always recognize the tracks, fur, feathers, etc. of the species they raise.

Special Hindrances: These individuals tend to be very focused towards their animals and suffer a penalty of -2 to charisma checks in dealing with the general public who are not particularly interested in those animals. They also suffer a -2 penalty on any knowledge checks on topics that do not involve animals.

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