Should we be searching for new pets/rares?

[Quiv]

The obvious answer may seem like yes, but hear me out.

Take the 3 SB of 5.2. I don't remember who discovered them, but were they just stumbled upon in random searching on the 5.2 PTR? Or was there some "insider" hint going on? I know we have connections

Basically what I am getting at is, I don't want to waste time if these new things are only discovered after having been tipped off to look for something. If they are discovered by happenstance each time, then I have a shot at finding something. However if it is based on some kind of insider tip, then I have no way of getting said tip, and might as well just wait for those who are getting the tip to find the beast of which the tip is tipping off.

Or something. Does that make sense?

[Kurasu]

However, the multitude of rares discovered in 5.1 were done because of people randomly searching. Not because of an insider tip. Therefore, I think that it's best to do exploraions.

[Quiv]

We had a giant list of NPCs for that hunt, although I don't think it was around for the beginning.

There is a difference in:
1. Happening upon something new while going about normal business
2. Specifically taking time to search for something you don't even know exists.
3. Searching for something you know exists, just don't know where.

I just don't want to sink a bunch of time into #2 if theres nothing to be found. Thats all I am getting at. Ill put in some time to help, just doesn't make any sense to waste time when nothing has been added yet.

[Yoruko]

I doubt there has ever been any insider tips of actual locations. At least, as far as I know.

[Kalliope]

The stable expansion in 5.3 was a total shock across the board. So if that's any indication, go forth and explore.

(That's not a hint, merely encouragement to look without expecting to find.)

[Wain]

It's April 1 here, so I was tempted to say something like "If you catch 3000 fish in an hour a rare hydra appears that you can tame" but somebody would probably believe me and try it

But, no, I know of nothing. It's also early in the patch cycle, so a lot of stuff may not be in yet. Any little extras, like rare tameables, are understandably a lower priority than getting new dungeon encounters straightened out, etc., and are often added toward the end.

[Maizou]

USUALLY, Wain or someone else posts information about beasts that are unknown that popped up in the data files.

Though that tends to happen a couple PTR builds after they were first introduced and no one saw them.

[PorrasouxRex]

The stable expansion in 5.3 was a total shock across the board. So if that's any indication, go forth and explore.

(That's not a hint, merely encouragement to look without expecting to find.)

Indeed, after that buff to the stables, my expectations have risen a bit to surprise me with new tames. Much like the shock of the Direhorns.

[Quiv]

I have often wondered if Blizzard ever put in a beast (say, a trackable or obscure one) and no one discovered it throughout the PTR cycle, would they "drop a hint" to the community or would they let it go live without being discovered.

[Ariamodasu]

Probably let it go live, mean the ghost boar was only discovered tamable in RFK because I'm a complete idiot and beast lore everything that moves.

[Kalliope]

I have often wondered if Blizzard ever put in a beast (say, a trackable or obscure one) and no one discovered it throughout the PTR cycle, would they "drop a hint" to the community or would they let it go live without being discovered.

Why not? The latter certainly happened before Noah lurked here and it's happened since!

Again, I point to the stable expansion, which was a complete and utter shock to discover. It was pure chance I noticed it.

[Maizou]

I have often wondered if Blizzard ever put in a beast (say, a trackable or obscure one) and no one discovered it throughout the PTR cycle, would they "drop a hint" to the community or would they let it go live without being discovered.

http://www.wowhead.com/npc=50967 made it past the PTR without anyone discovering him.

Vephriel found him on live when Wain (I think it was him at least), noted there was a beast in the datafiles added in 5.1 that we had yet to find.

[Zangor]

didnt alot of the names not make it in game anywhere? maybe we should add those in and go searching in zones that didnt recieve new rare love in 5.1......sounds like a good idea just to be safe.

[Kurasu]

didnt alot of the names not make it in game anywhere? maybe we should add those in and go searching in zones that didnt recieve new rare love in 5.1......sounds like a good idea just to be safe.

This was my point exactly: no one gave us warnings about new pets appearing in 5.1, so why not give some exploration in 5.3 and see if anything new and interesting pops up? I mean, maybe that's why the stables were expanded!

[Ziarre]

Well, they HAVE put in patch notes pointing to the existence of new rare tames before...at least twice. 4.2 and 5.2 come to mind!

Edit: Forgot the porcupines aren't technically rare. Still!

[Kalliope]

Well, they HAVE put in patch notes pointing to the existence of new rare tames before...at least twice. 4.2 and 5.2 come to mind!

Edit: Forgot the porcupines aren't technically rare. Still!

We may be at the point of needing to change our terms to "special" rather than "rare" - none of the Pandarian beasts has a silver dragon.

It's just a question of vocabulary, though. They stand out, at any rate.