🛈 Announcement
Greetings! Far Cry forums are now archived and accessible in read-only mode, please go to the new platform to discuss the game.

View Poll Results: Do you think Cave lions should hunt in packs?

Voters
5. You may not vote on this poll
  • Yes.

    4 80.00%
  • No.

    1 20.00%
  1. #1

    Why do Cave lions not hunt in prides?

    Cave lions and other paleolithic lion species hunted in prides like modern lions and were the most widespread animal species next to ancient man. Why do all the lions in the game hunt solo?

    I think that people would agree that facing a pride of lions would have been the scariest thing to come up against in game, and would be extremely challenging and fun, especially in survival mode. It would require you to keep in mind where specific prides live, and plan accordingly of how to survive among pack hunting killing machines. In north america where saber toothed cats and lions overlapped, the lions actually pushed smilodon fatalis south, meaning that they must have interacted. I think that watching a pride of lions fight a saber tooth would be amazing to watch in game, especially if there was some sort specific animation.

    The balance of power shifting between these two species of cat would be really fantastic, as there would now be another fiercer predator in Oros. It wouldn't just be a giant tamable creature, it would be a team of intelligent animals working as a team, another parallel to the Wenja, Udam and Izilla tribes. This would make cave lions more of a force to be reckoned with, and they could also hunt larger species of animals together, such as woolly rhino, tall elk, and even smaller mammoths.

    I think this could be an easy fix, as the pack hunting is already in the game with the dire wolf. A small, historically acurate change that I believe would make the game even more immersive and fun to play than it already is.
    Share this post

  2. #2
    African lions are a little different. Most large cats are solitary hunters, like Cougars (mountain lions) and such.

    Cave/European Lions likely were also solitary, though some ancient cave paintings suggest cave lions may have hunted in prides, it's difficult to confirm that this was the case.

    While I agree being hunted down by packs of cave lions would be intense, I think them being solitary hunters is more accurate.
    Share this post

  3. #3
    UbiBooma's Avatar Community Representative
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    NCSA
    Posts
    1,715
    Welcome to the forums, mate926. This is very interesting feedback. I'll pass this along to the devs.
    Share this post

  4. #4
    Originally Posted by jimmycliff Go to original post
    African lions are a little different. Most large cats are solitary hunters, like Cougars (mountain lions) and such.

    Cave/European Lions likely were also solitary, though some ancient cave paintings suggest cave lions may have hunted in prides, it's difficult to confirm that this was the case.

    While I agree being hunted down by packs of cave lions would be intense, I think them being solitary hunters is more accurate.
    Thanks for the feedback!

    Unfortunately I have to disagree with you, because it is not just cave paintings that suggest they hunted in prides. The two newly found frozen cubs were found in a den site, which is similar to modern lions. They are kept separate from their family group until they are old enough for pride life.

    http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151...red-in-siberia

    You are correct in stating that most wild cats are solitary, however when looking at the ancient range of the cave lion and how common they were compared to solitary cat species, you have to take their social behavior into account. Lions owe their success due to their ability to use teamwork, just like humans, to overcome obstacles. Where as other cat species may have been larger and better equipped for hunting large mammals, lions seem to have been dominant over them and pushed them out of their range (Smilodon fatalis).
    Share this post

  5. #5
    Originally Posted by UbiBooma Go to original post
    Welcome to the forums, mate926. This is very interesting feedback. I'll pass this along to the devs.
    Thanks and awesome! I'm glad you thought it was an interesting Idea!
    Share this post

  6. #6
    You make some good points Mate926, I agree with what you are saying. I stand corrected!

    It's cool that Primal has generated these sorts of discussions, about prehistoric wildlife and language!
    Share this post

  7. #7
    I voted yes. I think this is an excellent idea one potentially making the cave lions not only more lethal but also more distinctive as an in game species - all good stuff especially if more historically accurate.
    Share this post

  8. #8
    I did not vote, my position is more 50-50... To have them in packs like wolves probably isn't the best idea, as many may have noticed wolf packs usually spawn with a fixed number and have a white rare leading. (I think its 1 white, 2 or 3 average wolves when each "pack" spawns.) Also the wolves run in a tight group, not sure if lions spread out more unless they are going in for the kill?

    In rare cases where cave lions spawned rather heavily I have seen them act almost like a pack, although more spread out and acting as individuals. Did see two of them stalking some Udam the other day, one sneaking up from behind, another coming up from the rear to one side, sneaking as well. Might have been a third nearby as well, was glad I had a saber tooth for a pet at the time. Would be nice to see some more behavior like that from the lions, and maybe even wolves as well... Not just several running side by side and nose to tail. Variation on the numbers would be nice as well, wolf packs seem too predictable once you kill several. To add variation perhaps keep some of them solo, but allow small prides as well, would keep someone more alert when they see one lion as others could be nearby...

    For those worried about fighting a pack of lions, the bait works wonders for dividing and conquering packs or the rare occasions you run into groups, would be nice if it would attract animals a bit longer, seems that once the message that no animals are interested pops up it becomes useless. (Other than picking it up and trying again.) With survival mode it would be nice to have an option to lure some creatures onto traps, either to thin out numbers from a pack or else for hunting in general.
    Share this post

  9. #9
    Originally Posted by vic_must_play Go to original post
    I voted yes. I think this is an excellent idea one potentially making the cave lions not only more lethal but also more distinctive as an in game species - all good stuff especially if more historically accurate.
    Very well put!

    Another way to make them even more distinctive is to have a beast master hunt for a legendary Cave lion. It could have a slight mane and when tamed has another cave lion hunt with you as it's ability, effectively giving you a pride of your own to hunt with. None of the other animals in the game give you the ability to use more than one animal at the same time and this could be a fun game mechanic.
    Share this post

  10. #10
    Originally Posted by Thorbert910 Go to original post
    I did not vote, my position is more 50-50... To have them in packs like wolves probably isn't the best idea, as many may have noticed wolf packs usually spawn with a fixed number and have a white rare leading. (I think its 1 white, 2 or 3 average wolves when each "pack" spawns.) Also the wolves run in a tight group, not sure if lions spread out more unless they are going in for the kill?

    In rare cases where cave lions spawned rather heavily I have seen them act almost like a pack, although more spread out and acting as individuals. Did see two of them stalking some Udam the other day, one sneaking up from behind, another coming up from the rear to one side, sneaking as well. Might have been a third nearby as well, was glad I had a saber tooth for a pet at the time. Would be nice to see some more behavior like that from the lions, and maybe even wolves as well... Not just several running side by side and nose to tail. Variation on the numbers would be nice as well, wolf packs seem too predictable once you kill several. To add variation perhaps keep some of them solo, but allow small prides as well, would keep someone more alert when they see one lion as others could be nearby...

    For those worried about fighting a pack of lions, the bait works wonders for dividing and conquering packs or the rare occasions you run into groups, would be nice if it would attract animals a bit longer, seems that once the message that no animals are interested pops up it becomes useless. (Other than picking it up and trying again.) With survival mode it would be nice to have an option to lure some creatures onto traps, either to thin out numbers from a pack or else for hunting in general.
    Whenever I see cave lions in the area together, they always fight and kill each other. Variation in pack technique and strategy would be very nice to see.
    Share this post