Do druids and rangers make the wilderness too freindly?

[Janx]

Oddly enough, I have so far been twice almost killed by elephants in my life. The first time I was chased almost a mile across the Arizona desert by an African elephant.

I reckon that might shape your outlook a bit.

imagine a world where you are a D&D adventurer who kind of knows about nature (say me, who ain't an expert, but can survive a weekend with nothing but a knife in the woods).

I for one wouldn't approach any animal I didn't intend to kill. and a really big animal ain't likely on my list without some prep and some friends.

Therefore, I would enjoy watching the hippos and elephants from over THERE, and hopefully not tend to be near enough to agitate them.

Also note, since they are herd animals, I sure as heck wouldn't approach a herd with the intent to kill one. the herd will inherently defend itself by stomping me to death.

I guess what I'm saying is, I got no clue how YOU ended up in big animal trouble, but I would take basic steps to reduce my risk of the same.

 

[Nytmare]

I reckon that might shape your outlook a bit.

It isn't shaping my outlook, and I in no way think that anyone else ever will have to worry about finding themselves in that particular set of circumstances.

I didn't approach the elephant, and didn't even know that it was there till the elephant trainer I had just shouted a hello to started screaming at me to run for my life. I turned and started jogging away, and as I looked back over my shoulder I saw a copse of creosote bushes get torn down by an agitated elephant who was pissed that I was intruding in her personal space, which was unfortunately everything she could see.

 

[Scott DeWar]

I partially disagree, there can still be credible threats to parties over lvl 3. This mainly happens when the party ventures into their territory. A river they are crossing may have a large population of hippopotami (they may look cute from a distance... but no other wild animal has more human victims than hippos. They have been known to attack boats and people without provocation, and conveniently live in groups for extra danger).

ooo ooo! A hippo swarm. that would be bad news!

 

[Hussar]

It isn't shaping my outlook, and I in no way think that anyone else ever will have to worry about finding themselves in that particular set of circumstances.

I didn't approach the elephant, and didn't even know that it was there till the elephant trainer I had just shouted a hello to started screaming at me to run for my life. I turned and started jogging away, and as I looked back over my shoulder I saw a copse of creosote bushes get torn down by an agitated elephant who was pissed that I was intruding in her personal space, which was unfortunately everything she could see.

That's just gotta suck.

 

[Nytmare]

That's just gotta suck.

It felt like a scene out of Jurrasic Park. I'd swing down into a wash and run around a corner, and when I thought I was safe I'd stop to catch my breath and look back and I'd see her trunk poke up over the tree line in the distance and yank it aside.

 

[Dioltach]

It felt like a scene out of Jurrasic Park. I'd swing down into a wash and run around a corner, and when I thought I was safe I'd stop to catch my breath and look back and I'd see her trunk poke up over the tree line in the distance and yank it aside.

That's what is described in Red Dwarf as a "twelve-change-of-underwear trip".