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[Urist McDagger]

I dunno.. An entire species (1/5 of the standard races) sustaining itself entirely off of stolen shit, with absolutely no way to obtain resources other than through theft.. just seems a little odd..

Yes, even by DF standards.

[G-Flex]

You're aware that parasitic species exist in real life, right?

[Beznogim]

You're aware that parasitic species exist in real life, right?

Among mammals, kleptoparasitism is considered a trait of hyenas and jackals, who steal from other carnivores' kills. But that doesn't mean that these species cannot hunt themselves, if the opportunity presents itself.

[Loud Whispers]

Why is it a problem that kobolds subsist off parasitism? That can work perfectly fine as long as they're good at it and there are enough of them.

Thieves rely totally on thievery for survival. Why not kobolds?

They do. That's why they rarely survive for more than 4 years on world gen.

They don't steal enough food to live.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Maybe kobolds should be able to steal from animals as well as civs...somehow...

Also bear in mind that kobolds are carnivores. That makes things...harder.

[Putnam]

Maybe kobolds should be able to steal from animals as well as civs...somehow...

Also bear in mind that kobolds are carnivores. That makes things...harder.

You can steal food from animals! You just have to kill and butcher them, then steal the meat off their bones and the organs from their body!

Oh, heck, they're BONECARN, they can eat the bones, too!

[Teneb]

Oh, heck, they're BONECARN, they can eat the bones, too!

And then choke on those.

[G-Flex]

Why is it a problem that kobolds subsist off parasitism? That can work perfectly fine as long as they're good at it and there are enough of them.

Thieves rely totally on thievery for survival. Why not kobolds?

They do. That's why they rarely survive for more than 4 years on world gen.

They don't steal enough food to live.

I know they don't, but that's a problem with worldgen, and it can be fixed. One reason here is that their sites are placed too randomly, without enough regard for whether they're in a reasonable location.

You're aware that parasitic species exist in real life, right?

Among mammals, kleptoparasitism is considered a trait of hyenas and jackals, who steal from other carnivores' kills. But that doesn't mean that these species cannot hunt themselves, if the opportunity presents itself.

Okay, sure, but kobolds aren't jackals or hyenas. Who's to say that kobolds don't just plain suck at hunting/gathering food? It's entirely plausible that they do hunt small, easy prey, but mostly subsist via parasitism.

[jaxler]

how about this they survive of of pests, now bare in mind that if a dog could kill about 50 of these things if they were unarmed i don't think that they could really hunt anything larger than a cat. now if the could hunt vermin fish eat moss and plants and grow them they probably could survive

[knutor]

I'd imagine a kobold could kill and eat any thing's offspring.  Even a dragons.  That strategy isn't so much parasitic its more sinister and evil.  Survival at all costs.

That's how coyotes survived for so long.  Feeding on the youngsters of other things.  Scavenging.  But also murdering larger beasts when they were young.  Taunting with nibbles, until that youngster got far enough from its parent to suffocate with one well placed bite to the windpipe.  Game over.  Suffocation favors the small.  If you have my throat and I have yours, the one of us who can still squeeze and stay conscious long enough lives.  That is the smaller more oxygen economical one.  The larger one has to use more o2, to fuel its larger muscles and organs, just to stay conscious.

This is how coyotes coexisted for a dozen million years with wolves.  Its small frame, and sufficient bite, made it more lethal in 1v1.  Its interesting to note, that all apex predators have more than one weapon to rely upon.  Even the venomous ones.  A kobold could have its stealth, AND its cunning.  Hard to say.  But in survival, there is nothing gained from overkill, but the attention of other killers.  Size is a penalty, outside the porn industry.

What was I smoking when I wrote this? LOL!

Sincerely,
Knutor

[Loud Whispers]

I don't know. Although Kobolds stealing eggs from nests sounds like a lovely idea.

~Loud Whispers

[jaxler]

so vermin hunting baby killing egg snaching and stealing = breaking even on food?

[UnHerpers]

Have you never played an RPG before? Based on my experience with them I'm surprised that the thieves/bandits don't outnumber the other people.

[knutor]

Before ya ask what they eat, ask how much they eat.  Caloric intake of a kobold is?  Then decide on if its sustainable in a biome.  I would think their belly is tiny, but they tend to over eat.  Mostly powering nimble feet and nimble fingers, then its above avg brains and its of course excellent night vision.  Something more than a squirrel, but less than a raccoon diet.  Vermin alone should keep a kobold fed.  A few bumble bees, here and there. 

Its the water that irks me.  Cloaked enemies should starve.  The creepers need to move about and drink, or they become godly over time.  I can understand the reason for not putting thirst penalties in for the visible enemies, heck there are so many of them, it'd take Toady forever.  But creepers need to visit the watering holes in a timely fashion, or die, just like a dwarf.

Sincerely,
Knutor

[G-Flex]

then its above avg brains

What's "average" here? They're a hell of a lot dumber than the other humanoid races (they can barely speak or use tools, and have totally horrible memories), although much smarter than most animals.

and its of course excellent night vision.

Wait, since when do kobolds have excellent night vision?

Something more than a squirrel, but less than a raccoon diet.  Vermin alone should keep a kobold fed.  A few bumble bees, here and there.

There is an incredibly good reason why animals about the size of a small person don't survive on "a few bumble bees, here and there". That's really pretty ludicrous.