Training

*This article is about training grounds and how to use them, and training apprentices. For information about the skills themselves, see Stats & Skills.*

The player can train themselves and their Clanmates at their Clan's **Training Ground**. All skills can be raised by using them in the world, such as with hunting and fighting. However, training at the Training Ground offers a safe environment to purposefully practice skills, and allows cats to teach each other skills and abilities.

## Training Grounds

Having a training ground in your Clan's territory isn't mandatory, but it is necessary for practicing skills together with other cats, which is useful when a Clan has apprentices that need mentoring. If the Player Clan does not have a training ground, the player will be able to create one on any claimed tile in their territory.

Ideal training grounds are tiles with trees and access to water; this will allow training in the Climbing, Swimming, and Fishing Skills if desired, which will otherwise be unavailable. All training grounds will be able to offer Hunting, Fighting, and Herb Lore practice.

A Clan can only have one training ground at a time. If the player wishes to choose a new tile for the training ground, the current one must be abandoned first. Training grounds can be abandoned at any time by visiting the training ground and selecting **Abandon Training Ground**. Any cats using the training ground will finish what they were doing, and then vacate the tile.

## Apprentices

When no other duties take priority, mentors will take their apprentices to the training grounds to train. When doing so, they will invite any other mentors and / or apprentices to go with them. These practice groups will either spend one to two hours at the training ground, or cats may leave when they have things to do. While there, they will train one of any assessment-required skills that the training ground has available for the full duration of the training session.

If a Clan does not have a training ground, apprentices will still accrue skills as they go on patrols with their mentors, but it will not be as efficient and apprentices may take longer to be able to graduate.

### Assessments

An **assessment** will be a Task assigned to an apprentice or recruit asking them to prove they've learned the skills necessary to be a warrior. *Both* apprentices and Clan recruits, regardless of age, must complete an assessment to earn their warrior names. They may try the test as many times as necessary.

Once an apprentice or recruit has achieved sufficient levels in the skills required by their Clan, they will be ready for their assessment. All Clans must teach their apprentices and recruits the **Fighting** skill. Most will also be teaching the **Hunting** skill, however Clans with the **Water-Dwelling** Clan Trait will be required to learn **Fishing** instead of Hunting, and additionally **Swimming**. Clans with the **Tree-Dwelling** Clan Trait will be required to learn **Climbing** on top of Hunting and Fighting. Medicine cat apprentices, unlike warrior apprentices, must only prove their **Herb Lore** skill to advance, however it is recommended that they be taught at least the basics of Hunting, Fighting, and any Clan Trait skills.

Some cats may never be able to raise enough skill level to complete an assessment. Cats without the necessary Clan Trait will struggle, but if their Intelligence score is high enough or if they have the **Cunning** trait, they may still succeed. Cats with low Intelligence find it hard to learn any skills, and will certainly fail without the help of innate Clan Traits. These cats may take it upon themselves to seek the path of medicine instead, become a career queen, or leave the Clan in shame.

## Training Skills

* Hunting
* Fighting
* Fishing & Swimming
* Climbing
* Herb Lore

Hunting is a skill that can be practiced alone.

Fighting is a skill that can be practiced alone, but will yield better results with a sparring partner.

Fishing and Swimming require a body of water in the training ground tile, but otherwise can be practiced alone.

Climbing requires at least one tree in the training ground tile. It can be practiced alone, but this is inadvisable in case of a fall and ensuing injury.

Herb Lore is unique in that it *can* be practiced without a training ground, but it can only be practiced with another cat. Medicine is a skill with lives in the balance, its knowledge passed down through the generations. To practice herb lore, the player must either visit the medicine den or bring their medicine cat to the training ground and ask to be shown about herbs. Medicine cats themselves can practice their herb lore skills naturally with the help of StarClan.