maybe the outdoorsman skill can be used to "tune in/out" to find/avoid certain types of critters.
-if you're trying to find a critter and fail, you should wait untll another check.
-if you're trying to find a critter and succeed, you find that critter in a random* amount of time. (that time is between 0.1-until next check) and encounter begins.
-if you're trying to avoid a critter and fail, you encounter them in a random* amount of time. (see above.)
-if you're trying to aboid a critter and succeed, you're safe from that type of creature until another check.
(*ps: that time should be random (until next check of course) because that way, players can't think "oh great. it's been 5 minutes, now i'm gonna have to wait for 5 more minutes." or "whoa first 5 minutes ok. 2 more seconds, check's made, no scary creatures, sooo yes! i'm safe for another 4:58!" and ofcourse, that "until next check" duration must be concealed from the player too.)
and the frequancy of those checks might be something like 5 minutes maybe? or increasing due to your outdoorsman skill (to a certain point that makes sense ofcourse) if you're trying to avoid. and decreasing if you're trying to find.
now that makes a good amount of sense. but it might be hard to check/uncheck many many tiny boxes for all those critters. maybe, tougher creatures become available as you gain skill? how 'bout that?
but! imagine a big, dangerous deathclaw. they must leave huge marks on the ground. so, they would be easier to track. but they're great hunters. so they should be harder to avoid.
and now imagine a tiny, cute and adorable bunny with pink ears. they can't leave big marks, so they should be harder to find. but it's just a stupid and coward bunny, so they are definetly easy to avod.
great! now i'm searching forums to see if something like this have come up. if not, gonna make a thread. if so, gonna "+1" it. =)
by the way, did i mention that ranger is my favourite class in d&d? =D
