Overview
Here’s general information about how to RP as the wolf! You’re not obliged to follow anything in this guide! It’s just here because I’ve noticed many people playing as a wolf refuse to die at all!
So, what is the wolf?
The wolf is a new creature added to Meadow which is unlockable by buying the Symbols comic.
It has a hunched back, a unibrow and chin fuzz, and just generally looks like a depressed old man yet still manages to be an adorable old bean.
The wolf is fast, has pretty much the highest jump of any animal in Meadow, and actually shouldn’t be as powerful as many people potray it as in the RP Grove.
But wait! What do you mean?
I mean that many players absolutely refuse to die or act hurt in any way when an animal fights back.
Essentially, they’re potraying the wolf as an unstopable geezer and won’t even stop when a lynx attacks them several times.
So how should I use the wolf?
The wolf is a highly social animal and most likely will be looking for a pack, but during warmer seasons mated pairs go off to a den site to have and raise pups.
Obviously it’ll be difficult to have realistic behaviour, so suddenly disappearing from the pack will look very strange and confusing.
But, before I get into everything, let’s break down the structure of the pack!
There are no alphas.
Yep! You read it right!
In a wolf pack, there are no alphas! None at all! There is the mated pair who lead the pack and are most likely the parents of all the other wolves in the pack, with the exception of a few loners who might’ve managed to get into the pack.
So, the typically Alpha, Beta, Delta, Omega structure isn’t exactly correct.
Yes, there’s a pecking order similar to that with the mated pair eating first, then in order of dominance the others eat, too, but they no longer have those names assigned to them judging by the order of everything.
So to have a nice RP as a wolf, in a pack there should be two dominant wolves that lead the pack in turn. If one doesn’t know what to do, the other takes charge, and vice versa.
Mated Pairs
The mated pair consists of one male wolf, and one female wolf. They are the parents of most of the pack and are strong leaders, always watching out for the weaker wolves of the pack.
So, let’s say the male wolf froze up in the face of danger, the female would then step in the lead the pack, and once the male got a grip, he’d then resume things and protect everyone with his mate.
But oh no! Both wolves froze up, then what?
I’m actually not to sure what would happen, but I think either one of them would have to snap out of it, or the third most dominant wolf would have to try and help, but it all depends on temperment.
One of the mated pair will always stay with the slower wolves when they travel, so while the other leads the pack to their destination, one of them makes sure no pups, elders, or sick and injured wolves get left behind.
The strongest of the pack will be the protectors, near the front and back, and the leaders will be the first to jump into the fray to save their pack.
But wait! How do I become an established leader?
That’s simple, kind of.
First, be the one to take charge, lead your pack.
If you start walking, unless there’s already an established leader, then most likely wolves will start following you, and once others see a few leaving, they’ll probably follow too, then it will be up to you to lead them. (Tip; Wear a distinctive skin, one that not many others are using, and use the stronger barks.)
It will probably be pretty hard to do the mated pair thing, so most likely in a pack there’s only going to be one definate leader.
Foodchain
The primary food of wolves is deer, though large packs can bring down larger hooved animals, and when they need to wolves will hunt smaller prey.
On that note, wolves are also Omnivores and will eat fruits and berries in very desperate times, though any well-fed wolf will probably turn their nose up at a berry or fruit.
Wolves are an apex predator, though many many things can still kill them easily.
For example, a adult bear (Not in Meadow, but as an example).
A wolf pack would be wary and hostile, but wouldn’t want to risk serious injury, and a lone wolf would probably flee instantly.
Though, sometimes bears will take a friendlier approach and share a kill with a small group of wolves, and the wolves won’t risk injury and let it.
Another example is a lynx.
“But!” You might be thinking “But lynxes are smaller! A wolf could easily kill them!”
Wrong.
An adult male lynx can easily kill a lone wolf, and in almost every single instance where a lynx and wolf fight, the wolf dies.
But, lynxes will not go after a pack of wolves. If there’s more than one wolf, they’ll leave it alone.
But, any type of weakened wolf is fair game to a lynx. Female wolves carrying puppies can be targeted, and so can pups, and lynxes go out of their way to cut down the wolf population, specifically male lynxes. (Source: [link] warning, a few graphic images of dead wolves)
Now, for a basic Meadow foodchain;
Wolf Packs (Can hunt everything, prefers to avoid Lynxes and Badgers)
Lynxes (Can hunt everything, prefers to avoid Wolf Packs and Badgers)
Badger (Can hunt mostly everything, has to ambush Pheasents, Rabbits, and Goats, eats mainly fruit)
Lone Wolf (Can hunt everything but Lynxes and Badgers, not the most successful hunter)
Foxes (Can hunt Rabbits, Pheasents, Cubs, and Frogs)
Bear Cub (Can hunt Frogs, maybe Rabbits, prefers fruit)
Lynx Cub (Can hunt Frogs, maybe Rabbits, can’t eat fruit)
Badger Cub (Can hunt Frogs, eats mainly fruit)
Goat/Deer (Can’t hunt, eats grass, fruit, bushes and flowers)
Pheasent (Can’t hunt, eats seeds, fruit, and insects)
Hedgehog (Note; Hedgehogs are too prickly to eat without extreme caution) (Can’t hunt, eats seeds, fruit, insects)
Rabbit (Can’t hunt, eats grass, seeds, and fruit)
Frog (Can’t hunt, eats insects)
Conclusion
Wolf packs have one or two leaders who are mates and always put the good of their pack first.
They tend to be very wary around Lynxes and Badgers, and even a group of wolves will try to stay away from either of those creatures.
Lynxs can escape a pack by jumping up high, so even if a wolf pack decided to give chase, they shouldn’t be able to climb up even if in-game their jump is higher.
Wolves should not eat fruits and berries unless they haven’t eaten in a very long time, though they can go days without food.
Notes:
I didn’t add eagles in the foodchain because it all depends. Bald Eagles go after fish, but once their claws lock they can’t let go, so often big fish drag them down into the water. So, if you apply that to one attack a wolf, if their claws get locked on, they might be stuck.
Eagles should hunt everything, but only go after the apexes when they’re desperate
Also, if I made any mistakes in this guide, or you think I should change or fix something, please tell me!
Thank You(s)
A section to thank people for replying since I’m not too good with steam comments and replying sometimes makes me panic a little- Sorry!
Thank you to Wolfycatt(Ana) for a suggestion and adding this guide to a reference section in his/her own guide <3
Thanks to Kaija for commenting and sharing his/her own experience with wolves and lynxes (I found it interesting about the two lynxes and the two wolves <3)
Thanks to Jin for commenting <3
Thank you Spillin’ The Spaghetti for commenting and sharing your experience with foxes and wolves! <3
Thank you to j3ssica2008 for commenting!