Finding Food in the Wild (Reisa Rules)
In Reisa, food is found through effort, time, and risk, not skill rolls. The wilderness is not a puzzle to solve but a condition to endure.
Foraging and hunting are procedural choices, not tests of competence.
Hunting in Reisa
Hunting is not safer than foraging.
It is louder, slower, and bloodier.
Predators hunt where hunters hunt.
1. Declare Intent to Hunt
The party declares they are hunting while traveling or halting for the day.
This means:
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Moving cautiously
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Following game trails
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Watching wind and scent
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Spending time in animal territory
2. Normal Encounter Roll
Roll for normal wilderness encounters as usual for the day.
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This represents:
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Rival predators
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Territorial monsters
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Other travelers
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Environmental threats
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If an encounter occurs, it may interrupt or override the hunt.
3. Hunting Check
If the hunt is not interrupted:
Use the best hunting capability in the party:
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Ranger or Barbarian: 5-in-6
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Other characters: 1-in-6 (baseline competence)
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Whole day spent hunting: +1 pip (max 5-in-6)
Success: The party has stalked prey.
Failure: No prey found; the party still risked the day.
4. Quarry Appears
On success, roll or choose an appropriate game animal for the biome.
This creates a specific encounter:
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The party has surprise
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Distance is 1d4 × 30 ft
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The animal reacts normally
This is not automatic food.
It is an encounter the party controls first.
5. Predator Attraction Roll
After a successful hunt, roll 1 additional encounter check.
This represents:
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Blood scent
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Noise
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Prolonged presence
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Carrion draw
If an encounter occurs:
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It arrives during or immediately after the kill
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The party may be:
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Encumbered
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Split up
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Skinning or butchering
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Low on missiles or spells
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Predators get hungry where prey dies.
6. Yield
If the party survives and processes the kill:
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Small game: 1 ration per HP
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Medium game: 2 rations per HP
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Large game: 4 rations per HP
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Extra time spent butchering may trigger another encounter roll at referee discretion
Why This Works
Foraging
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One encounter roll
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Low yield
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Low commitment
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Quiet
Hunting
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One encounter roll for the day
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One roll to hunt
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One extra encounter risk on success
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High yield
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High exposure
Hunting is profitable.
Foraging is safe-ish.
Player-Facing Clarity
Why Hunting Is Dangerous
When you hunt, you are not the only predator.
Blood carries far in cold air.
What hears your kill may arrive before you leave.
Design Outcome
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Rangers still feel valuable
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Hunters feel dangerous
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Survival is not trivialized
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Wilderness stays hostile
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Players must decide:
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“Do we risk a hunt?”
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“Or do we move quietly and eat lean?”
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