Animal Herbalism!

[Ruethgar]

I want to be able to train animals to gather herbs for me. This in 3.P with SoP/M. Other third party will be considered but kinda iffy. Silver Marches p40 let’s you gather with Survival, so I can train some ravens to gather the herbs with some success, my problem is that it has no direct value translation for most alchemy.

Are there any rules or reasonable estimates for the gold value of finding herbs this way? Or will I just have to rely on the few that list their herbal ingredients?

I was thinking just Survival -10 equal to Profession(Herbalism) and use the Seek rule of Int check DC 10 with a +2 circ for being trained for it so 40% chance for them to Fetch some herbs. But that’s just a quick and dirty homebrew approximation not really the rules.

[Ashtagon]

They can probably identify herbs with their Survival skill. But actually gathering them requires opposable thumbs for anything that isn't a non-poisonous leaf. And even then, you're getting something that has been broken up and mixed with bird saliva, not a whole stalk. Here's a few examples of actual herbs that a bird will never be able to gather: https://www.urbanmoonshine.com/blogs/blog/root-medicine-herbalist-guide-dig-roots

At best, I'd allow them to do an aid other check to help an actual human(oid) gather herbs.

If you can find a way to grant them mage hand at will, then that opens up more possibilities.

[Malphegor]

If you can find a way to grant them mage hand at will, then that opens up more possibilities.

Hand of the mage. Mummified elf hand on a bit of string, gives the user at-will mage hand. Now, you just need a animal big enough to not get especially weighed down by a necklace or make it a Sizing enhancement Hand of the Mage somehow so it resizes for the creature?

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Ashtagon
Here's a few examples of actual herbs that a bird will never be able to gather….

The OP is probably thinking about aboveground herbs rather than roots. But if the OP does want his birds to dig up roots, blackbirds should do the trick (https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/72127/why-are-blackbirds-digging-the-garden). That post specifically mentions bulbs being pulled up, so anything with small roots should be equally fair game. Never underestimate a beak.

Also, kakapo (http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/kakapo) feed on bulbs, roots and rhizomes, and Pathfinder even has stats for them (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/birds/kakapo/).

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[daremetoidareyo]

Vultures from sandstorm have a great survival modifier. As does the clawfoot dino from eberron.

Here's my survival guide

http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?500214-Survival-Skill-Survival-Guide&p=21901674

Looks like rare herbs are DC 30 from shining south

[Ashtagon]

The OP is probably thinking about aboveground herbs rather than roots. But if the OP does want his birds to dig up roots, blackbirds should do the trick (https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/72127/why-are-blackbirds-digging-the-garden). That post specifically mentions bulbs being pulled up, so anything with small roots should be equally fair game. Never underestimate a beak.

Also, kakapo (http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/kakapo) feed on bulbs, roots and rhizomes, and Pathfinder even has stats for them (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/animals/birds/kakapo/).

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Soil in gardens and cultivated fields tends to be a lot more aerated and easier for birds to dig through that soil where plants grow wild.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Ashtagon
Soil in gardens and cultivated fields tends to be a lot more aerated and easier for birds to dig through that soil where plants grow wild.

Take a closer look at the section on the kakapo’s diet, where they dig up roots, tubers and bulbs. Neither kakapo nor their food plants live in gardens or cultivated fields.

As for soil aeration, it varies so widely between biomes and localities that any comparison with gardens or fields is pointless. And since the OP specifically wants to train ravens, the fine details of soil composition are irrelevant.