Lion Hunting -- Needs Baiting, Hound assist, and/or a Companion/Guide.... and Tree Stands

[Secret Squirrel]

First, let me say that I think the addition of this apex predator was a good decision. What I have struggled with is the idea that a hunter goes into an African wildland heavily populated with lions, alone.

I spent some time researching how one would actually hunt lion in real life, and it boils down to three primary methods. The first is track and stalk, which is what is simulated in this game. But where this game misses, is that in real life lion hunts are done with a hunter, a professional tracker/hunter (PH), and a backup shooter. It is the job of the PH to lead the tracking and to make the constant decision of whether the situation is too risky to continue. The role of the backup shooter is, as the name implies, to engage the animal if required in the event of a miss, flesh wound, etc. and the animal charges. This simulation is missing all of that,. One could argue that the player is the PH, and that is fair enough, but still to go at it alone with no backup would be insane.

Ah, but it's just a game. True, but it really is more of a sim than a game, and could become a lot more accurate.

The second method is baiting. I've been wishing that baiting would be simulated for quite some time. Even before the lions were added, bear hunting is usually done with baiting. Who in their right mind is going to track into thick bush to see if there is a bear in there? No. Rather than let the bear draw you in where it has the advantage, the smart hunter will draw the bear out where the hunter has the advantage. Same with lions.

The last method is to use dogs. Lion hunting with dogs is done with a pack of dogs that can not only track the animal, but to kind of coral the lion and hold it back. This would be awesome in a simulation.

Also, I am renewing the calls to add tree stands. With the lions, it just seems smarter to hunt from a tree stand which acts as a vantage point and also keeps the hunter somewhat safe. I suppose lions can sometimes climb trees, but that is not very common.

Those that pay the game with a focus on avoiding hunter deaths, the Africa map has pretty much become impossible. Yes, it is just a game and there are no real consequences for virtual deaths. But just as the majority fly simulators in a way that avoids unsafe operations and crashing, this game/sim should also strive to offer hunting experience that can be approached with the same professional tactics that are used IRL to minimize the chance of hunter death.

[Tommyangelo]

Okay you can have a backup shooter multiplayer, baiting a lion in Africa would be crap shoot what you got first or if they even showed up. dogs you know packs of hyenas will run get there butts handed to them by a lion you want to add a house hold dogs against one goodluck.
There is one idea tree stands in Africa never done this nor would I likely have a snake or something come check it out as for lions climbing not common idk where you get that idea but they climb just fine so well they can take a zebra up a tree in its mouth to escape a small group of hyenas because the lion is a stray rather then in group. I would like tree stands added make no mistake but making us out the fire simple because we up off the ground sounds weak to a hungry lion seeing food dangle there. thankfully we dont need worry about snakes in game so there is that.