Stats & Skills

All cats have a Statblock of statistics and skills. Stats are determined once, and very rarely change during the course of a game. They are mostly used to buff or debuff a cat's chances of success during an event or encounter. Skills, on the other hand, are built up and lost over time, depending on how often they're used. How well a cat does in a skill, and how easy it is to build it, are also often helped or hindered by a cat's stats.

Stamina
Outside of combat, a cat's stamina represents how much energy they have to use throughout the day.

When a cat reaches zero stamina, they are exhausted, and will be forced to rest wherever they are; even if they're not in camp. Sleeping outside of camp presents a significant risk to the player and their Clanmates, and should be avoided. Cats with the Tree-Dweller Clan trait, however, take refuge in the trees, and are considered safe from predators when sleeping outside of camp. Cats with the Hardy Clan trait are considered safe from the elements, and will be at a much lower risk of freezing or getting sick for sleeping outside in inclement weather. Cats with both of these traits have the best chance of survival, but it is not recommended to sleep away from camp at all.

During combat, reaching zero stamina is much more dangerous. A cat will be forced to retreat from battle, if they are able. Chances are, however, that the cat will be killed if they cannot manage to get away from the conflict. Even if they escape, this cat will come out severely wounded, and will still be at risk of death if they are not tended to. It is advisable for a cat to retreat before they reach zero stamina during combat.

Strength
A cat's Strength represents their physical prowess. A high Strength score guarantees a cat's ability to overpower other cats, predators, and prey with brute force alone. Coupled with a high Fighting skill, these cats make for formidable opponents. Low Strength scores, on the other hand, will cause a cat to fail more often at laborious tasks. These cats are considered physically weak, and cannot rely on their own Strength.

Agility
A cat's Agility represents how nimble and flexible they are. Cats with high Agility scores are naturally quick on their paws, and can wiggle themselves into and out of situations with ease. These cats will be naturally talented at learning the Climbing skill. Cats with low Agility scores will be quite the opposite. They're often tripping over their own paws with very little spatial awareness. Low Agility makes learning to climb difficult, if not impossible for particularly clumsy cats.

Intelligence
A cat's Intelligence represents their critical thinking ability. Cats with high Intelligence scores are good at problem-solving, and are very knowledgeable about the world around them, eager to learn. Conversely, low Intelligence cats aren't really fussed with questions like how or why, and don't often bother thinking too hard about things. This makes learning and maintaining skills difficult for them.

Spirit
Lastly, a cat's Spirit represents their intuition. A cat with a high Spirit score will have good instincts, and performs well under pressure. Their gut feelings are usually quite reliable. Cats with low Spirit scores, however, are prone to fumbling under scrutiny, and will often seem as though they lack common sense.

Hunting & Fishing
The Hunting & Fishing skills, while separate, behave very similarly. Cats with high scores in either of these skills will have more success at hunting or fishing respectively, however, a cat that is good at hunting is not guaranteed to be good at fishing and vice versa. Hunting represents a cat's ability to successfully stalk and dispatch of their prey, whereas Fishing only determines how well a cat can catch a fish out of a body of water.

Fighting
A cat's Fighting skill score can be the only thing between victory and death in the heat of battle. A cat that is good at fighting will have a better chance of winning a fight, not just against cats, but against predators as well. Cats without much fighting skill will have little knowledge of how to defend themselves, and may not fair well if confronted with violence they cannot escape from.

Climbing
The Climbing skill determines how good at climbing a cat is. Climbing is the second most difficult skill to learn for the average cat; cats with high Agility stats and the Tree-Dwelling special trait are more likely to be talented at this skill. Cats with low Climbing skill are more likely to fail at attempting to scale trees and other objects, which could result in injuries. This makes it not only difficult, but dangerous as well.

Swimming
The Swimming skill determines how well a cat will fare in the water. This skill is the hardest to learn and maintain for a cat without the Water-Dwelling special trait. Cats that are good at swimming are less likely to be swept up by a current, and can traverse bodies of water with less penalties than a cat with no water sense. Poor swimmers, however, are unfamiliar with the behavior of water and are more likely to be injured, lost, or drowned while attempting to swim.

Herb Lore
The Herb Lore skill is the main skill utilized by medicine cats, though it can be learned by any cat. Cats with knowledge in this skill are familiar with the plants and herbs in their environment, and know which ones are helpful, harmful, and their exact applications. Cats with low Herb Lore skills won't know the difference between one leaf or berry from another, and run the risk of mistreating themselves or another by attempting medicine without the appropriate knowledge.