Animal Taming is a core skill in Ultima Online, allowing players to befriend and command various creatures. This skill enables the tamer to acquire powerful allies, from basic horses to fearsome dragons. Mastering taming requires patience and understanding of its mechanics.
Understanding the Animal Taming Skill
The Animal Taming skill in Ultima Online is fundamental for players aspiring to become tamers, allowing them to control and command a wide array of creatures. This skill is not simply about befriending animals, but about establishing a bond that allows the pet to follow commands and fight alongside the tamer. The effectiveness of taming is directly linked to the tamer’s skill level, dictating which creatures can be successfully tamed and the pet’s obedience. It is also crucial for pet management, influencing how well you can command and utilize your tamed companions. A higher taming skill increases the range of creatures available to tame, allowing for access to more exotic and stronger pets. Understanding the mechanics is vital for anyone wanting to master this skill.
Initial Taming Training (0-30 Skill)
Starting your taming journey involves training with an Animal Trainer. They will teach you basic taming and Animal Lore, raising your skill to around 30. This is the foundation for all taming endeavors.
Starting with an Animal Trainer
To begin your path as a tamer, your first step should be seeking out an Animal Trainer. These NPCs are typically found in towns and cities, offering initial training in both Animal Taming and Animal Lore. They will guide you through the basics, providing a foundational skill level of approximately 30 in both skills. This initial training usually costs around 300 gold per skill. It’s a crucial starting point, as this initial skill level unlocks the possibility to attempt taming basic creatures. Without this fundamental knowledge, even the simplest taming tasks can prove impossible. Remember this is the base for further progression.
Traditional Taming Leveling (30-90 Skill)
The journey from 30 to 90 skill in Animal Taming is known for being slow. This phase requires a strategic approach, focusing on creatures that provide reasonable skill gain without excessive difficulty.
Taming Creatures Based on Difficulty
Gaining skill in Animal Taming is heavily influenced by the difficulty of the creature you are attempting to tame. It is important to target creatures that are challenging enough to provide skill gains, but not so difficult that your attempts consistently fail; Success is not the only means to skill increase; failed attempts also can contribute towards skill gain. Therefore, always attempt to tame creatures with a taming requirement slightly higher than your current skill, balancing the potential for success with the opportunity for skill improvement. Remember that taming skill gain cannot occur while standing inside a house.
Advanced Taming (90-120 Skill)
Reaching advanced taming levels from 90-120 becomes more efficient with the addition of Skill Masteries. Combat Training is utilized to gain skill, targeting pets and repeating the action.
Utilizing Skill Masteries and Combat Training
Once you reach 90 skill in Animal Taming, the path to 120 becomes more accessible through Skill Masteries. The primary method involves using the Combat Training ability, which is activated through a skill mastery. To train, target a pet and then simply ignore the popup menu. Repeat this process, focusing on consistency to maximize your gains. This method accelerates your progress and makes the advanced taming levels less tedious compared to traditional methods. This technique is a significant improvement, offering a more streamlined way to reach the highest levels of taming proficiency. Remember, this method is specific to those who have unlocked the necessary Skill Mastery for Animal Taming.
Taming Mechanics
Taming requires being within eight tiles of the creature, unobstructed. Once started, you can move up to ten tiles away. If the target is injured or loses sight, the attempt will fail.
Taming Range and Interruptions
The initial taming attempt requires you to be within eight tiles of the target creature, with a clear line of sight, meaning no obstructions between you and the animal. Once the taming process begins, you can move a bit further, up to approximately ten tiles from the target. However, several factors can interrupt the taming process. If the creature takes any damage during the taming attempt, it will immediately stop. If the creature moves out of your line of sight or if you move too far away, it can also cause the taming attempt to fail. Be aware of your surroundings to minimize interruptions.
Taming Skill Gains
Skill gains in Animal Taming are primarily based on the difficulty of the creature being tamed. Attempting to tame more challenging creatures provides a higher chance of skill increases, even on failed attempts.
Gains Based on Difficulty
The core principle of skill gain in Animal Taming revolves around the concept of difficulty. You’ll experience skill increases when attempting to tame creatures that are challenging relative to your current skill level. This means that targeting animals with a higher taming requirement will yield better results. Even failed attempts at taming can contribute to your skill progression. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to consistently try taming creatures that are at the upper end of your current taming skill’s capability. This approach maximizes your chances for gains, as more attempts translate to more opportunities for skill improvement. Remember that you cannot gain skill from releasing tamed pets.
Tameable Creatures
Ultima Online offers a vast array of tameable creatures, each with unique taming requirements. From basic horses to exotic beasts like nightmares, understanding the taming charts is essential for successful training.
Understanding the Taming Charts
Taming charts are crucial resources for aspiring tamers in Ultima Online. These charts detail the minimum skill level required to tame specific creatures. They also provide vital information on the difficulty of taming each animal. Furthermore, some charts may specify the location where these creatures can be found. Utilizing these charts will help you plan your taming adventures, ensuring that you target creatures appropriate for your current skill level. They also help in identifying the most rewarding pets for both combat and companionship. A thorough understanding of these charts is key to maximizing skill gains and acquiring desired pets.
Popular Taming Locations
Certain areas in Ultima Online are known for their fast creature respawns, making them ideal for training the Animal Taming skill. These spots often have a variety of tameable creatures with different difficulty levels.
Optimal Spots for Fast Respawn
Finding locations with rapid creature respawn is crucial for efficient taming skill gains. These areas allow for continuous taming attempts, minimizing downtime. One such location allows you to tame, kill, and have another creature spawn in around 15 seconds, negating annoying interruptions. These locations reduce the time spent searching and increase the time spent training. Knowing these optimal spots can drastically speed up the leveling process, especially when aiming to raise your taming skill from 0 to 90. Remember to always be aware of your surroundings and potential threats while taming. Utilizing such spots effectively can make taming less tedious.
Pet Management
Effective pet management involves controlling your tamed creatures and transferring them to other players. A high Animal Taming and Animal Lore skill ensures better control, as pets require trust for transfer.
Control and Transfer of Pets
Managing your tamed companions effectively is crucial for any aspiring tamer in Ultima Online. Once you’ve successfully tamed a creature, you gain the ability to issue commands, guiding their actions in combat or during travel. A higher Animal Taming skill generally translates to better control and obedience from your pets. However, transferring a tamed animal to another player is not always straightforward. It requires the recipient to possess a sufficient level of Animal Taming skill. The pet’s inherent trust in its current master plays a significant role, and a low skill level may lead to the animal refusing to obey the new owner, as the animal does not trust the new owner. Thus, ensure both you and the intended recipient have the appropriate skill levels for a successful transfer. Remember that a combination of high Animal Taming and Animal Lore will ensure that the pet is truly under your control.
Essential Taming Resources
For successful taming, players will need essential items like bottles, often used to capture and manage pets. Other resources and tools can enhance the taming process and improve your success rates.
Bottles and Other Useful Items
Bottles are crucial for capturing tamed creatures, allowing players to store and manage their pets effectively. While the primary function of bottles is to hold your tamed companions, other items can significantly assist in the taming process. These may include items that improve your taming skill, such as specific clothing or equipment. Some resources might enhance your pet’s combat abilities, aiding in their effectiveness during battles. Having a well-stocked inventory with these helpful items is important for any aspiring tamer. These resources are invaluable for both novice and veteran tamers to ensure a smooth experience and to maximize your taming potential.