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(^Made with rendering help/suggestions from my friend, give her art a look https://instagram.com/c_csarcasmfactory / https://www.tumblr.com/bewareofjabberwock ) Description This has got to be a long shot, but no harm in submitting it. A creature from a conversation I had with my buds one night. Out of all the ark creatures, there's none that you can look at and go "housecat!" The saber is the closest thing, but even that falls short. However, I don't want this creature to just sit around your house and look cute. There are mods for that! So, I'll fire off a list of ideas. I don't expect all of them to make it in -- but it's better to go overboard than to suggest nothing. (You guys are very much welcome to add your own ideas below! + Edit the art if you want, just don't post it without credit.) After thinking about the current 'niches' in the game, I decided to settle on making this a cave creature. Specifically, making the Leptofelis a creature that would encourage people to cave more often. I know a lot of players avoid caving, which is a shame. Imo it is one of the most rewarding parts of the game! Most of its abilities (cave-related or otherwise,) can be traced to its ~~big whiskers~~ advanced senses. On that note, part of its duties as a cave-cat would be to alert you to nearby caves -- and potentially give you hints of where the cave entrance is. Furthermore, it would also be able to track down all kinds of in-game loot for the survivor. As illogical as this is, that would include underwater loot. Like a portable parasaur, it would also use its advanced senses to alert the survivor of enemies. In cluster servers, this could serve as a PVP counter to creatures like the Shadowmane, Desmo, Rock Drake, etc. Taming Methods This, I'm very unsure of. I would appreciate any suggestions that anybody has! I do have some ideas, though. • Kitten-napping In real life, cats are domesticated when they're very young. Therefore, raising them from kittens would be a realistic option. ...Though it would have you play the part of a dastardly villain by kidnapping said Leptofelis kitten. • Assuming that ASA incorporates the dropped item texture concept: Treats Sneak up on a wild Leptofelis in Ghillie, drop some meat nearby, back off, repeat. Might not be too fun but that's how I rehomed a stray Felis Catus in real life, so it is realistic. ...well, if you ignore the difference between stray and wild cats. Alternatively, if ASA doesn't incorporate those new textures, corpse-dragging. Abilities • Lucky Whiskers: Ever been stuck going circles around the pin of an important artifact cave, without being able to find the entrance? Alternatively, have you ever been bested in PVP simply because you couldn't find your enemy's underground base? Well, worry no longer! Your little guide can help you find your way in. (Up to the community below on how this should work.) • Cat v. Bat The Leptofelis would do increased damage to Onycs. • Reflective Nature: It wouldn't be a cave creature if it couldn't help you through the darkest caves. And with those whiskers and reflective eyes, it's no wonder! When mounted on your shoulder, this little guy will act as a type of cave vision. (Up to the community on how this should work) • Artifact Hunter: Your little friend can also help you make the best of every cave! With their advanced senses, detecting the hum of an artifact or loot drop is no big deal for them. 1. Like the Fjordhawk with corpses, the Cave Cat will give you a visual hint on where the artifact or drop is. (Or: 2. ...uh... up to suggestion .) • Treasure Hunter 1. The Leptofelis would alert you of new supply drops above a certain user-chosen quality nearby. 2. It would alert you to the quality of treasure outside your rendering distance, greatly speeding up supply runs. • Primal Hunter: If your modern cat can't help its prey instinct, you can be sure a prehistoric one won't be able to either. When left at home, the Leptofelis's inventory will slowly generate meat. (If ASA fixes the issue of wandering creatures clipping through walls, I'd say this would be an on-wander ability.) • Primal Gatherer: Your cat knows that sharing is caring, though. It will have the option for its inventory to act like a portable feeding trough. That means you can safely take that break without your poor carnivores starving, • Introversion: Your cat might trust you like nothing else in the world -- but not strangers. It's not quite as subtle as other tames, though. 1. Works similarly to the parasaur, showing text on the top of the screen. 2. If it detects an enemy survivor nearby, it will let out a loud yowl. Since this ability is based on smell and vibrissae, this means it can detect invisible shadowmane-riders trying to get the jump on you. Dossier Wild While it's one of the Ark's cuter creatures, it's hard to deny that Leptofelis Vallesiensis is lower down in the food chain. It has adapted to this through spending a majority of its time in the Ark's caves. That isnt the only trick that this cave-cat has up its sleeve, though! Those whiskers aren't just for show. The Leptofelis has extraordinarily acute senses - nothing can sneak up on it. Potentially an adaption to the dark caves they like to call home? Domesticated With Leptofelis being reminscient of Felis Catus, it's no surprise that some tame them just for the company. That, and as backpacks. However, some crafty survivors figured out how to use those big whiskers to their advantage. For one, some train their furry friends to keep an eye out for enemy survivors - and mounts. Seeing as they can detect the stealthiest of creatures, this comes in handy! Of course, that big fur coat also comes in handy for insulation, much like Lutra Peloso. However, other survivors have elected to use the advanced senses of Leptofelis to assist in their cave exploits - earning it the nickname of "the cave-cat." Those big whiskers are sensitive to the vibrations of the ark's technology, a useful trait for the Ark's treasure-hunters - especially when combined with their talent for navigating the darkest caves of the ark. If Felis Catus still retained a prey drive after years of domestication, it is no surprise that the Leptofelis would too. Leptofelis doesn't waste what it hunts, either. If there's too much meat for it to eat on it's own, it will share it with other domesticated animals! (Transparent version)