Ranger tracking
Rangers have an innate ability to TRACK normally spawning creatures within hunting grounds. This is done via TRACK {creature} while in an appropriate hunting area.
Using TRACK AREA allows a ranger to display a list of all creatures that will normally inhabit that room for which the Ranger has the possibility of succeeding at tracking. For players with point-and-click enabled, the list is able to be interacted with in that sense.
Rangers can TRACK while hidden in an attempt to sneak up on their target. In doing so, the ranger will stay hidden when they arrive at their target with a successful attempt. When using Camouflage (608) to hide, the AS boost conveyed by the spell will be lost in the same manner as SNEAKing to a different room. If a ranger is leading a group, they can lead their group members to the creature. If the ranger's companion assists the ranger with tracking, it will be brought along with the ranger immediately.
Ranger tracking does not include bandits or Grimswarm. It does, however, include grizzled creatures from the dangerous creature bounty. With grizzled creatures, the ranger should TRACK the creature type from their bounty and TRACK will automatically choose the grizzled foe first. Successfully tracking any creature will move the ranger to a room where a live creature of that type is present and no other players are currently engaged with it.
Rangers can improve their tracking success rate with higher Wisdom and Intuition bonuses, Survival, and Perception. Another factor of success is the level difference between the ranger and the target creature. This level difference scales quadratically. One tip is to consider using Assume Aspect (650), particularly Yierka, for a good boost. Rangers also gain a bonus to successful tracking if they currently have an Adventurer's Guild bounty for that creature. Last, if you find yourself failing tracking attempts frequently against like-level creatures, the primary recommendation is to increase your Survival training.
There is a one minute cooldown period after tracking a creature, regardless of success or failure.
Successfully tracking a creature results in some roundtime, which can be reduced by Survival training and having the ranger's animal companion present to as little as 2 seconds (or 1 second with enough enhancives). At level 48 with 2x Survival and an animal companion, a ranger could get as low as 4 seconds of roundtime. The maximum amount of roundtime for a successful track is 12 seconds. Roundtime reduction is linear in skill bonus. This ability is meant to encourage further training in Survival.
Messaging
Messaging varies significantly depending on whether or not the location is appropriate for tracking, whether or not creatures are present, and various possibilities of success/failure.
TRACK AREA
No creatures are present nearby:
You carefully scan the area but don't notice any distinct signs of passage.
Creatures are present nearby:
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TRACK {creature}
Attempting to track a type of creature from within a town:
>track rolton You don't know how to track creatures within town.
Attempting to track a type of creature that does not live near your location:
>track rolton While you carefully study the area looking for tracks, you find no trace of what you are looking for. You briefly wonder if that can even be found in this location.
Attempting to track a type of creature that does live in your location, but has not passed by your room recently:
>track rolton You carefully study the area, searching for signs of a rolton's presence. You find some evidence that a rolton was here, but the trail is clearly too old to be worth following.
A successful attempt to track a creature:
[Lower Dragonsclaw, Forest - 219] Looking through the trees here in the outskirts of the forest you can barely make out the grasslands in the distance. You also see a velnalin, a trail leading into the woods, an overgrown path and some withered grey trees. Obvious paths: east, south >track rolton You carefully study the area, searching for signs of a rolton's presence. Your keen eye spots the beginnings of a trail and you rush to follow it. [Lower Dragonsclaw, Grasslands - 444] Bright multi-hued patches of wildflowers fill the grassy plain to the south as far as you can see. The simple beauty afforded by the vibrant colors astounds you. You also see a rolton, a long metal-plated wagon, a long metal-plated wagon and a long metal-plated wagon. Obvious paths: north, southeast Roundtime: 10 sec.
A successful attempt to track a creature while hidden:
[Wehnimer's, Exterior - 419] As you progress on this north-south path, the dark forest to the west catches your eye. A little forbidding in its primeval appearance, it is sure to offer a good source of small-game hunting. You also see a reinforced wooden defense tower, a withered patch of grass and a mottled rolton hide tent. Obvious paths: north, south, west H>track rolton You carefully study the area, searching for signs of a rolton's presence. Your keen eye spots the beginnings of a trail and you rush to follow it while taking care to remain hidden. [Wehnimer's, Exterior - 439] Through a crack in the wooden palisade to the north, you can see the bustling traffic of Wehnimer. It is a stark contrast to the open path that you walk. You also see a rolton and a rolton. Obvious paths: east, west Roundtime: 11 sec.
Cooldown
There is a one minute cooldown period after tracking a creature, regardless of success or failure.
Attempting to track a type of creature while still in cooldown:
>track rolton You haven't yet recovered from your previous tracking exploit.
Message you see after your cooldown period ends and you are able to track once again:
You feel refreshed and ready to track again.