The Spirit Beasts are cool and all, but.....

[Rhyela]

.....None of them really tickle my fancy. Loque'nahak (sorry if I misspelled that ) is probably the neatest out of the bunch but still just not my thing. I think it's the swirly blueness going on, and blue isn't my color. Gondria is the cat model that I like (bigger, hunchier), but still just a tiger. Skoll is pretty neat as well, but I don't like the Northrend wolf models. Arcturis is ok, but he's a bear, and I've never been fond of bears as pets.

So, I think a spirit beast model that would be cool to see would be a bird of some sort. We have all these land-lubber spirit beasts but why not give the birds some love? Maybe a neato owl, or a new bird skin altogether!

Are there any beast models out there that any of you would like to see in the future? Sorry if this has been brought up before, I just like reading the opinions of all you good huntery folk.

[Sarayana]

I used to run around with Trachela, and I loved her. That is, until they changed the whole pet system and she got that ridiculous family skill... (Ok ok, it's not ridiculous, but she was much more useful before!)

I'd love to have a bird spirit beast, I love the idea of swooping in and moonfiring. It'd be cool if they used the parrot-model, like Aotona. Or perhaps the emerald skytalon? They're already pretty unique in their look.

I'm sure some of the artists on these boards can come up with much better ideas than I (*hint*)

[Ryno]

I'm sure some of the artists on these boards can come up with much better ideas than I (*hint*)

The spirit beast tallstrider alone was enough to have me foaming for one. Like. Literally. Foaming at the mouth.

Personally, at first I didn't really like the spirit beasts that much. But the longer I consider them, the more I'm tempted to level my baby hunter to go tame them...

[Valinai]

I think the appeal of the Spirit Beasts is their uniqueness. It's a statement. You HAVE to be BM to have them. And you had to WORK to get them. It's like a title or achievement that everyone can see (well, unless you have Gondria, she's kinda hard to see...).

I don't like EVERYTHING about them. I actually think that the SBs shouldn't shrink as much as they do. My Gondria, after one day of playing with her, is nearly level 78. So she's still behind a little, but I am LOVING having her with me. It's way tempting to fill the last slot with one more SB, just to have!

I think the see through SBs are cool, but I have to say that I think Skoll and Loque have the best look. I got to drool over someone walking around with Skoll. The way the lightning just travels along his side is just so pretty! And the moment I saw Har'Koa, I fell in love with her look. The more corporeal spirit beasts offer a bit more in the way of diversity, I guess?

I really like the SB idea. I think as a BM hunter, it might be neat to incorporate something like a SB guardian quest line? I don't know, the idea just came to me. So it might not make any sense to anyone else...perhaps I require more caffeine before forum-posting...

[Sarayana]

I think as a BM hunter, it might be neat to incorporate something like a SB guardian quest line?

Oooooh. Well, I don't think Blizz would make spec-specific quest lines, they've worked hard to balance the specs to get people to play the spec they like, and a quest line would definitely make many people spec BM... but I like it. I like it a lot! I don't know why the hunter quest lines are all about the weapons, they should be about the pets.

[Athulryes]

I have the spirit bear. Not very good at remembering the names of them but happened apon it by chance. Bear happens to be the spirit beast I wanted too. I don't believe Spirit beasts are a real sort of idea of being unique because I see more Spirit beasts then I do even crocolisks on my server, let alone Slithid, SporeBats, NetherRays and even Tallstriders. SpiritBeasts being an achievement though? Yeah, Definately takes a bit of dedication to come across one intentionally : )

[Valinai]

I was told (I don't know from experience) that Warlocks have to go on quests to get their summons? Might be cool to have a Hunter specific quest chain that focuses on pets. Or something like a Patron Spirit of the Wild. All hunters could do the quests, but perhaps BM would have greater benefit, closer connection to?

I just keep going back to the comparison between my two specs. I compare Chimera Shot to "tame Exotics" and yes, I love my SB dearly, but I'm always trying to think of ways to get BM a little bump.

[Rhyela]

I think the way I worded my original post was a bit confusing. I like the Spirit Beasts as a pet type - the racial, the work it takes (usually) to get one. I just don't like any of the models they currently have as spirit beasts. I want to see a bird spirit beast, or a tallstrider , or even a boar (since they've always been one of my favorites). I'd be tempted to get a Spirit Beast if it weren't for the fact that I don't find any of them particularly appealing, visually-speaking. Or maybe I'm just a freak of nature.

And why do they all have to be in Northrend? The arakkoa were all into their birdy spirits, why not make an owl spirit beast out in Terokkar Forest where lower-level BM hunters can get their hands on one? That way we could get a taste of what spirit beasts are all about, before spending hours upon hours looking for Loque'nahak or Skoll.

Hey, a girl can dream!

[Valinai]

I knew what you meant. I agree there could be some diversification. I suspect we'll see more in Cataclysm.

I LIKE that they're all in Northrend. First, think of it as it's the timing of the idea. It's when they implemented it - in the WotLK expansion, so that's going to get all the "new stuff", right? Secondly, they're all RARE and EXOTIC so you have to be high enough level to get them AND be BM spec. It's a reward for those Hunters who stuck it out, I've always figured.

I wouldn't want some level 16s running around SW with a spirit beast...or even a level 56. Maybe I'm just being selfish? I don't want the SBs to get watered down and loose their unique appeal.

There are rares and elites for lower levels to tame in the original game and Burning Crusade, the white devilsaur in Un'Goro being an example of a pretty sweet tameable elite for BMs. And there's Nuramoc in Burning Crusade. And let's not forget old favorites like Old Cliff Jumper.

I agree there could be some really cool OTHER SBs introduced (can you imagine a SB SPIDER - HELLO SHELOB - heebie jeebies thinking about it!!!) and with varied looks. I'd really like to see a fire themed spirit beast collection (DROOL) since most of the beasties right now have whitish-bluish themes which make me think of air/water.

ZOMG FYRETYGER AND FYREWULF.

[Vephriel]

I'd love if they made some elemental based Spirit Beasts next expansion.

We already have Skoll with the lightning, maybe they could continue that theme and have fire, water, etc.

[Athulryes]

I would love to see a SpiritBeast SporeBat.

[Rhyela]

I LIKE that they're all in Northrend. First, think of it as it's the timing of the idea. It's when they implemented it - in the WotLK expansion, so that's going to get all the "new stuff", right? Secondly, they're all RARE and EXOTIC so you have to be high enough level to get them AND be BM spec. It's a reward for those Hunters who stuck it out, I've always figured.

I wouldn't want some level 16s running around SW with a spirit beast...or even a level 56. Maybe I'm just being selfish? I don't want the SBs to get watered down and loose their unique appeal.

There are rares and elites for lower levels to tame in the original game and Burning Crusade, the white devilsaur in Un'Goro being an example of a pretty sweet tameable elite for BMs. And there's Nuramoc in Burning Crusade. And let's not forget old favorites like Old Cliff Jumper.

You have a point there, I didn't really think of it that way. I know I've been BM since day one and I suppose getting that high-level SB is a bit of a reward.

I am very much liking the idea of other "elemental" spirit beasts! Fire birds (named Phoenix, of course), windy wind serpents, earthy boars, water turtles! I didn't even think of that til you guys mentioned it. And actually, with the focus being more on dragons and elementals in Cataclysm, perhaps we will see something like that!

[Valinai]

Hunters are supposed to have that connection to Nature...not the same kind as a Shaman or Druid. But they still have that connection, mostly through the connection with their pet. Yeah, I'm loving the idea of Spirit Beasts that embody forces of Nature in their appearance!

[Vephriel]

The Lava Tarantula is the closest thing we have at the moment excluding Skoll I believe. And I have never seen a hunter with one of those spiders.

It would be so awesome to make a hunter with the sole intention of having a themed stable - all elemental based pets.

[Jakkra]

Funny you should mention that Lava Spider, Veph- it's my favorite skin and I had him running along with me for a while. The face is just too cute.

As for the spirit beasts, I camped and tamed Arcturis (the bear) and LOVED him for about a week. Don't get me wrong, I still like him, just my fixation kind of wore off. I agree that I'd like to see some other colors besides blue, as it's not my all time favorite, either. I'm all for having them representing different elements.

Hmm.. what family, though.. I'd like a spirit raptor, I think. Maybe a whole different model- I love the old world raptors, but I'm not real crazy about the Outland ones.

[Wassa]

I'm a bird person, so if they released a spirit beast bird, any model I don't care, I will be camping it's spawn points for weeks until I get it.

[Saturo]

I'd like a spirit version of an Outland pet, perhaps a Warp Stalker or a Sporebat. I like those models, imagine how cool they could make a spirit version...

[Gigglemonsta]

I like the Spirit Beasts as a pet type - the racial, the work it takes (usually) to get one. I just don't like any of the models they currently have as spirit beasts.

Wait until you get one

I didn't think Skoll or Gondria were that great....but once I tamed them....my mind changed completely. Now they are my two favourites.

Screenshots don't do any of the spirit beasts justice. Capture one and use it in combat and you will find:

- Skoll
HUGE under bestial wrath (and black). His lightning looks amazing with him zipping around after people. I prefer the old world wolf models too, but once u get skoll, see his size and see him in action, you will realize it wouldn't have worked on the old wolf model, and that he is actually the most beautiful of all

- Gondria
Screenshots NEVER do Gondria justice. Id say this is the second best looking SB. Gondria looks AMAZING in combat, darting around almost transparent yet ferocious. This was a huge surprise for me, I like Gondria a LOT MORE in real life than I did in the screenshots.

- Loque
Once you hear Loque's unique roar sound, you'll find yourself stuck wanting any other pet in a raid with you. I have had loque the longest, and whenever I'm using another SB, I want it to roar like Loque. Loque also looks amazing under Bestial Wrath, will all white features going blood red.

- Arcturis
Arcturis also like Gondria looks far better in combat than in the screenshots. He would have to be my least favourite however (however it seems u either love him or u dont - some people are fanatical about him).


Id say tame a few, and see what you think - You will be pleasantly surprised If you do want to see them all in action, feel free to roll and alt on Aman'thul (US) horde and pst Gigglemonsta or Lammiwinks I'll come and show u them all fighting things, and you can figure out which one you like best

If I had to pick another creature to get a Spirit Beast of I'd say a GORILLA!!

IMAGINE a bad ass spectral King Kong!

[Wassa]

http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/owl.shtml

Blizzard needs to make this into the next spirit beast.

[Tahlian]

Heh...after finally getting Kael'thas to cough up my Phoenix Hatchling over the weekend, I was just thinking last night how wonderful it would be if I could get a tamable phoenix pet.

Maybe a Spirit Beast would be a way for the devs to give us that pretty skin that A'lar has without having to tie it to a mount.

Hmmmm....