But why foxes?

I mean, I think it has to do with their reputation as "rogues" of sorts. Curious, troublesome, sneaking, thieving, etc.

Easy: it’s a new pet type that (for the most part) costs $$$, but is doglike enough that the devs didn’t have to do much more than a reskin. Easy dip into the Emporium pool.

Also, the only thing that smells worse than a pirate is a fox…

I could answer the second question but not sure if it’s common knowledge.

Anyway, they’re adorable! Go getcha one!

Still no pig, chicken or snake pets either.. how disappointing.

@galactic-geek said in But why foxes?:

So, we now have foxes for pets. They're cool and all (already picked up 2), but why do we have them? I mean why not, right? But that's not really a good answer, IMO. It's just in the grand scheme of things, foxes don't seem very pirate-like. I'm curious as to the reasoning behind why the devs chose foxes over, well, a lot of other animals that might have been more pirate-centric. I personally have NEVER heard of foxes being anywhere near any kind of pirate fantasy that I have ever heard or read about - is there a connection I'm missing or something?

And more importantly - why can't I dress my foxes!?

🦊

I know the reason.
Money!

Foxes are cute and cuteness sells.

Think about it-foxes are cute, fluffy animals like dogs...and many pirates probably aren't well educated enough to know what it is
I mean, there aren't really any forests in the sea for foxes to live in...
A pirate has therefore probably never seen a fox before ONCE in their life.
So you ship over this cute new animal they have never seen and BOOM! PROFIT!

@galactic-geek Now that’s a fox worthy of a pirate!

To find out what the fox says?

Do they make actual fox noises or is it more like barking?

We definitely need Foxey Lady to be a shanty now.

@galactic-geek said in But why foxes?:

I personally have NEVER heard of foxes being anywhere near any kind of pirate fantasy that I have ever heard or read about - is there a connection I'm missing or something?

Other than the pirate’s life cosmetics not too many things in sea of thieves are pirate like. My guess, which is only a guess, is that foxes are cute (which sells) AND easy to make as it is close to the dogs and cats already in game. Doing crabs like many requested, or aquatic pets like dolphins that would follow your boat, would be more work to accomplish and perhaps not as worth it money wise. Again, just a guess.

@wolfmanbush said in But why foxes?:

Foxes have long been companions for loners. In calm conditions they are playful and dog like so they and humans are often compatible in the way they are with dogs.

Human offers safety and an easy food source and the fox offers companionship. A common tradeoff between animals that aren't extremely aggressive and people

Just don't trust that they will leave the chickens alone.

The lifestyle of some pirates would be compatible with foxes and vice versa

Foxes are far less tameable than wild dogs. It's more akin to trying to tame a Wolf or a Hyena. Loners gaining a long term companionship with a wild animal is more the stuff of movies and fantasy. Roughly speaking it can take around 17-18 generations of Fox cubs before they will be comfortable enough to openly approach a human like a dog would.

And even then a "tame" Fox doesn't necessarily make for a good pet as they still maintain an element of unpredictability. Let's just say you wouldn't want to leave your tankard of Grog unattended near your newfound furry friend, lest you get a slightly tanggier taste the next time you take a sip.

@wolfmanbush said in But why foxes?:.

Literally everything maintains an element of unpredictability

it's not a suggestion for a city kid to go pet foxes in the woods it's an acknowledgment that people that work well with animals can work well with foxes, some pirates would have done well with foxes because they would have the ability to make it work. Just like people that live remote now and deal with wildlife make it work.

Working with a fox is far different than taming a wolf or hyena.

Indeed. But I never said, "it is exactly like taming a wolf or hyena!". I said it is "more akin to..." Within the context of responding to your statement that it would be similar to working with a dog. My meaning was that a wild fox shares more similarities to a wolf than it does to a dog. The hyena might have been stretching the example too far, even though hyena's have also been evidenced to form co-existant relationships with humans.

I've lived in remote areas most of my life and worked in the field of wildlife management. Would I recommend that inexperienced people in this thread go out and mess with wildlife? absolutely not, would the type of people that handled being a pirate be able to pull it off? sure.

Doesn't mean it's a disney relationship it just means it's a workable scenario if someone were to pursue it in a world that pirates pirated in.

They would get them when they were young and like I alluded to before it would be a dependent relationship, one that grew up counting on shelter and food but still something that counts as companionship. Rescue situations and random happenstance scenarios happened then just like they do now.

I doff my hat to your superior level of experience in this field.

The wildlife management that is... Not the life as a pirate ... unless that too. I wouldn't judge 😁

@wolfmanbush said in But why foxes?:

@vakrisone said in But why foxes?:

The wildlife management that is... Not the life as a pirate ... unless that too. I wouldn't judge 😁

I can't even sink a pver or steal from them without feeling bad about it

I would be the worst pirate ever

Still better than ending up like old Captain Quick Dicken, whom never harmed a soul yet was executed on the spot simply to pay for the sins of others.

Purely speculation, but perhaps a nod to the historical aristocratic fox hunts. Pirates enjoyed keeping exotic animals as status symbols. Foxes are intelligent, great hunters, independent, solitary, and full of energy. Sounds like a crackerjack pet to me.

I am extremely disappointed in fox noises. 😞

They fixed are cool, but I think they have a lot more potential

@pithyrumble said in But why foxes?:

I am extremely disappointed in fox noises. 😞

- YouTube

Foxes are dog re-skins and should be in the emporium as such.

Boo Rare👎

@pithyrumble video is unavailable :( did it show dogs and foxes side to side?

@sudsierboar5526

Wild fox noises

@galactic-geek these were my EXACT thoughts like literally spot on.

I’m just devastated that I can’t get a merchant outfit for all of my pets.
All I want is a monocle and a blue and white merchant hat for my cat/dog/bird/monkey and now fox.

But it appears pet outfits are done.

RIP. Ye will be missed.