ranch hand

Operations

Tools

A successful ranch hand must own:

• a personal saddle, and ideally a couple of horse blankets
• a riding animal, often a horse
• weather-appropriate durable clothing for outdoor living and for long shifts in the saddle
• a brief noisemaking device that carries well across many kinds of terrain, such as a whistle or whirling drum
• multiple coils of rope
• leatherworking tools
• his own survival gear, including bedroll, waterskin, fireproof pot large enough for one large serving of stew, bowl and eating utensil
• clothing repair kit, including finer needles than what would be used on leather and either crochet hook or knitting needles, because no one else is going to volunteer to darn the ranch hand's socks
• a good-quality knife, sturdy enough to chop mesquite branches or bone segments into useful fractions
• a Hat -- only children appear in the strong sun without proper cover.

Just about every ranch hand alive wants to have a Repeating Hand Crossbow of their own, but they are not yet widespread enough to be an inexpensive purchase.

Dangers & Hazards

Most ranch hands are considered near retirement age by the middle of their third decade. Life as a ranch hand is tough on a body. A wise rider with a steady mount might never get dumped on their face, but a ranch hand has to expect to get kicked by an anxious cow during calving season or butted by a calf who doesn't know his own strength. The nicks and dings add up over time no matter how competent the aftercare.

Alternative Names

cowpoke

Type

Agricultural / Fishing / Forestry

Related Locations

• Cottonwood Fog Ranch
• Juniper Flail Ranch
• Larchblossom Ranch
• Longgrass Plains
• Oatman Canyon
• Whippetal Ranch

CR 3

Ranch Hand

Commoner 1 | Expert 4 M humanoid

Defense

HP: 20 1d6+4d8-4

Fortitude: +1 Reflex: +1 Will: +4

Offense

Melee: Bowie Knife +6 (1d6+7) ;
Unarmed Strike +0 (1d3+3)

Ranged: Lasso +7 (entangles on successful hit)

Statistics

Str 17, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 10

Base Attack: +3 CMB: +4 CMD: 15

Feats: Animal Affinity, Armor proficiency (light, no shields), Exotic Weapons Proficiency, Mounted Combat, Weapon proficiency (simple), Weapon Focus (Ranged)

Skills:

• Climb (Str) +7
• Craft Leatherworking (Int) +1
• Handle Animal (Cha) +10
• Heal () +6
• Intimidate () +3
• Know Geography () +5
• Know Local () +5
• Know Nature () +5
• Perception (Wis)
• Perform Sing () +1
• Profession Ranch Hand (Wis) +4
• Ride (Dex) +13
• Sense Motive () +5
• Survival () +5
• Swim (Str) +3
• Use Rope () +8

Ecology

Environment: Grasslands, prairie, and particularly the vicinity of Oatman Canyon but not inside the scorched desert of the canyon interior.

Organization: duo

Treasure: Oatman Hat with attuned Oatman Band (specific ability varies)

Calloused, rough around the edges, a little bit odiferous at the best of times, and creaky in the limbs as they approach their third decade of rough living on the range: the career ranch hand has learned to be a bit remote emotionally, a BUNCH blunt verbally, and given to drift onward when life pushes them. Ranch hands might be considered "coarse-looking" by civilized city folks. They wear their hair tied out of the way but worn long enough to cushion their necks on a long ride. They wear sturdy clothing in layers that won't get bunched around their limbs or their backsides. They eat what they can, when they can, because they never know when they might have to sleep under the stars in lieu of a few nights' supper.

A ranch hand around Oatman Canyon always has a nickname that is better known than the official one their parents bestowed at birth. They always speak at least two languages: Common, also known as Minosh in that area of the Longgrass Plains, and Noru.
The more fortunate ones have had some book learning at a young age.
A ranch hand tries to live by the Ranch Hand Code, and expects their peers to follow the same:

1. The Ranch Hand must never attack first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. They must never go back on their word, or a trust confided in them.
3. They must always tell the truth.
4. They must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. They must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. They must help people in distress.
7. They must be a good worker.
8. They must keep themself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. They must respect nomads, parents, and their nation's laws.
10. The Ranch Hand is quick to forgive but never forgets.