How To: Tame Pets With Appearance Buffs

[Warfish]

Tbh, I'd found the method and wrote the guide.

So when Blizzard looks to lay down the ban-hammer for exploiting and disseminating/promoting what are, obviously, exploit mechanics, they'll know who to talk to now, eh?

You'll may still get all the "credit" you could possibly want....just not sure though it'll be the kind you might have wanted.

[Rhyela]

Here are my thoughts after talking to a friend at work about it (who actually works at work? pfft) - when this "new taming method" gets looked at, I figure one of the following will happen:

1) All pets with any visual effect, buff or otherwise, will be wiped from the owners' stables
2) The buffs/visual effects for all pets will be wiped and the players keep the normal pets
3) Players will be able to keep all of the pets but the "method" (or mob itself) will be fixed to prevent future taming
4) Only the pets that are considered "temp" pets, the ones that can only be obtained with the abandon macro and who lose the effect upon death, will be changed, while the ones such as the oiled pets, lone hunter, flaming boar and glowy carrion bird will remain the same. While still an exploit (or whatever we're calling it), these pets have no damage buffs whatsoever and using only the revive method limited it to 5 or 6 pets we could get.

No offense to Acherontia of course, because I think it's very impressive and fun how the abandon macro was used to obtain such neat pets, but it seems like that one last thing maybe put the nail in the coffin. It seems like prior to that, getting pets with the revive method (or careful timing with despawning) was okay because they were only visual effects. As soon as the abandon macro came into play, all kinds of possibilities opened up, including the ones that can be abused.

Personally I'm hoping either 3 or 4 happens. But I can't say I'd blame Blizzard for just getting rid of all of them altogether. I just wonder how much work it would be. I'm sure there are already a lot of hunters out there who are taming pets with this......this is already probably bigger than the GTSG, Garwal, etc.

We shall see! I'm going to cuddle my burning boar in the meantime and try not to get burned.

[Acherontia]

Tbh, I'd found the method and wrote the guide.

So when Blizzard looks to lay down the ban-hammer for exploiting and disseminating/promoting what are, obviously, exploit mechanics, they'll know who to talk to now, eh?

You'll may still get all the "credit" you could possibly want....just not sure though it'll be the kind you might have wanted.

Are you aware that I've already posted on the EU bug report forums and had it copied over by kind Petopians to the US forums asking whether this is an exploit, and whether it would get people in trouble? Are you also aware that I've told them how it's done and how to fix it without informing the entire forum of how to do it?

Yes, I am laying down my account for banning--as I've already said--if they come down on -me- for this. I accepted that risk because I knew there were other players out there who would get as much joy--even temporary--as I do from finally having my ghost wolf pet. I really don't think they WILL (or maybe it's wishful thinking) all things considered, but the risk is there, no matter how slight.

Do you really think it's fair that, even considering that, other people would take credit? If I get my account permanently banned (and I have a ****ton of 80s, and have invested lots of time into improving this game as well), and yet the -work- I did actually gets overlooked by everyone?

[Prawlakial]

hi sorry i wanted to ask if anyone is able to level those burning boars? i have ran a few heroics and its still level 77.

They reduced the amount XP received from heroics on all pets. Trying killing standard mobs and see if your XP goes up or not.

[Socks]

Tbh, I'd found the method and wrote the guide.

So when Blizzard looks to lay down the ban-hammer for exploiting and disseminating/promoting what are, obviously, exploit mechanics, they'll know who to talk to now, eh?

You'll may still get all the "credit" you could possibly want....just not sure though it'll be the kind you might have wanted.

Honestly, Acher didn't have to go through all this. It was done to make things more interesting and fun for all of us Hunters. I see it as no ban will be made for a first time thing, but if something is done and it keeps happening and staying active, then sure; I see a possible ban or another 'chat' incoming. But again, if you see it as "exploiting" and have a problem with all of Acher's hard work, then wouldn't the best thing to do is to stay out of it ?

[Acherontia]

Here are my thoughts after talking to a friend at work about it (who actually works at work? pfft) - when this "new taming method" gets looked at, I figure one of the following will happen:

1) All pets with any visual effect, buff or otherwise, will be wiped from the owners' stables
2) The buffs/visual effects for all pets will be wiped and the players keep the normal pets
3) Players will be able to keep all of the pets but the "method" (or mob itself) will be fixed to prevent future taming
4) Only the pets that are considered "temp" pets, the ones that can only be obtained with the abandon macro and who lose the effect upon death, will be changed, while the ones such as the oiled pets, lone hunter, flaming boar and glowy carrion bird will remain the same. While still an exploit (or whatever we're calling it), these pets have no damage buffs whatsoever and using only the revive method limited it to 5 or 6 pets we could get.

My suggestion on the forums, if it was an exploit and if the devs want to fix it, was to do one of the following:

* Removing the PetAbandon() script. This would leave previously tamed pets in game but remove the ability to tame more with this method.



* Clear all pet buffs/debuffs (in the ARENA way) every time a pet is stabled or the player logs.



* Put timers on the buffs of the following pets: Blighthound, Tainted Bat/Spider/Bear from Blasted Lands, Spiteflayer. This would fix just the damage-buffed pets.


I'm guessing they will actually wipe pet buffs, now that it's been found and advertised (thanks Zwiggy, for better or worse lol) that some of the buffs are useable in other ways. They may take into consideration the fact that even these damage buffs are wiped on death, but I'm imagining the easy and probably best way for a dev to deal with it is to merely wipe all pet buffs every time the player logs or summons/dismisses/stables a pet.

The problem with simply stopping this method is that this method only makes the pet despawn at tame consistently--another method could very likely be found that does the same mechanic but with a different trigger.

I'm HOPING, however, that they'll just prevent future tames, if anything. I imagine that addressing it is now on the "to do" list


Edit--thanks for the kind words Socks Makes me feel a bit better and the support is a beautiful thing <3

[Socks]

Of course <3 Truely, if Warfish has a problem with all this then there is no need for him (or her) to be posting such negative things. ^.^

[Warfish]

Honestly, Acher didn't have to go through all this. It was done to make things more interesting and fun for all of us Hunters.

Honestly, there is no way that this wasn't obvious as an exploit. It may be "fun and interesting" to break Blizzards programming to get free gold, or to buy mounts for 1 copper, or to force-disconnect other players, but an exploit is an exploit is an exploit.

But again, if you see it as "exploiting" and have a problem with all of Acher's hard work, then wouldn't the best thing to do is to stay out of it ?

Stay out of what, a discussion thread on a forum? Are only Exploit-fans and Exploiters now permitted to hold opinions, or is it ok if I have one too?

This isn;t an issue of "seeing it" as exploiting, it's an obvious and unquestionable exploit. There is no way anyone who used this method couldn't see that they were going around the intended game mechanics and programing to get an otherwise unobtainable/forbidden result.

Trying to pass off my opinion as "negativity" is inaccurate, and rather bad form. An attempt to promote censorship against an opinion you disagree with as an attempt to defend exploiting.

[Acherontia]

hi sorry i wanted to ask if anyone is able to level those burning boars? i have ran a few heroics and its still level 77.

They reduced the amount XP received from heroics on all pets. Trying killing standard mobs and see if your XP goes up or not.

Interestingly, my guildmate's reporting 0 xp gained in heroics on his new corehound (Gomegaz I think?). In his words, "NONE 0 ZERO NULL."

It may be "fun and interesting" to break Blizzards programming to get free gold, or to buy mounts for 1 copper, or to force-disconnect other players, but an exploit is an exploit is an exploit.

Except this, unlike your examples, gives you absolutely no benefit over other players.

[Socks]

Lawl, think of it as exploiting as much as you want. I'm not saying you can't post here, I'm saying that if you don't have anything positive to say on a good side of all the work being done here, rather if its an "exploit" or not, then there is no reason to even post. Didn't your parents ever teach you that? Don't talk if you have nothing nice to say? Eh, guess not. Anyways I'm not about to get in a fight with you. I am proud of all of Acher's work and if Blizzard sees it as an "exploit" as much as you do then they'll fix it asap.
Good day

[Rocheku]

Honestly, Acher didn't have to go through all this. It was done to make things more interesting and fun for all of us Hunters.

Honestly, there is no way that this wasn't obvious as an exploit. It may be "fun and interesting" to break Blizzards programming to get free gold, or to buy mounts for 1 copper, or to force-disconnect other players, but an exploit is an exploit is an exploit.

But again, if you see it as "exploiting" and have a problem with all of Acher's hard work, then wouldn't the best thing to do is to stay out of it ?

Stay out of what, a discussion thread on a forum? Are only Exploit-fans and Exploiters now permitted to hold opinions, or is it ok if I have one too?

This isn;t an issue of "seeing it" as exploiting, it's an obvious and unquestionable exploit. There is no way anyone who used this method couldn't see that they were going around the intended game mechanics and programing to get an otherwise unobtainable/forbidden result.

Trying to pass off my opinion as "negativity" is inaccurate, and rather bad form. An attempt to promote censorship against an opinion you disagree with as an attempt to defend exploiting.

Everyone is free to have their own opinion. Yes, you could consider this an exploit, but not an exploit that might break the game in any way, as it is purely cosmetical. So don't come in here trying to strike fear into any hunter's heart by giving some heavy examples of exploits saying "Honestly, there is no way that this wasn't obvious as an exploit. It may be "fun and interesting" to break Blizzards programming to get free gold, or to buy mounts for 1 copper, or to force-disconnect other players, but an exploit is an exploit is an exploit. "

We have heard your opinion and we understand it. No need to keep rubbing it in. Dont like the exploit? Dont wanna risk a ban (like that ever happend before with pets in the last 6 years)? Then simply dont use it and leave us be.

[Warfish]

Except this, unlike your examples, gives you absolutely no benefit over other players.

Untrue, it allows taming of buffed-skins rule-abiding players cannot aquire. While in most cases that is aethetic, it's still a benefit a rule-abiding player cannot get.

And has been shown, it does also permit taming of beasts with combat buffs that do provide a tangible benefit, no matter how short-lived that benefit may be.

Regardless, it is a way of circumventing the intended game mechanics is a rather obvious way. No matter how little is gained, it's still exploiting the game to do/get something you should not.

Look, kudos to you for your ingenuity, your hard work and for self-reporting your found exploit to Blizz after the fact. But for a community that is so stringent on moral upstanding behavior in-game (to some extents I find almost crazy), it's amazing to me how quickly the worm turns when an obvious exploit is uncovered, and the masses run out to exploit it. Not only that, but the cries of "silence! other opinions will not be tolerated" is all but defeaning.

And Socks, did you realy just raise my parents as an issue? Thats a direct personal attack, something I was led to believe was NOT acceptable here. In any event, in the grand sceme of morallity, I'll take "free and open (even when unpopular) speech" over "cheating" any day.

[Rhyela]

My only feeling is, don't beat Acherontia up about it, eh? We know it's an exploit, but there are tons of exploits in the game. Always have been, always will be. This was one of the more harmless ones. But that doesn't mean it was "okay" to do, either. I'm guilty, I got my boar, but I'm glad to have it, too. Yes, it was fun and interesting. But Acherontia's a really cool person and has helped the community in other ways. Look on the bright side - now that the exploit's been found, it's another way to give Blizz a chance to add more security to prevent future exploits that would have been less harmless (players using them for abusive purposes). At least she's up front about it and posted on the forums. Someone else may have been less honest and used it in a harmful way (to other players) without saying how they did it. That would have been worse, IMO.

Anyhow, what I'm trying to say, is that continuing to harp on Acherontia or anyone else at this point is like beating a dead horse with a stick. It's already been posted on the forums both in EU and US, so why keep picking at it? Just leave it alone. What's done is done, so can we just move on?

Edit: Now that I think about it, aren't third-party mods "technically" against Blizzard's intent as well? Using a non-Blizzard program to modify or otherwise enhance your gameplay experience in a way it was not originally intended? And how many people out there use mods? Even simple ones like NPC Scan and Silver Dragon. Those give an advantage over other players who don't have them. So please, don't treat Acherontia or anyone else like a criminal when mods are so proliferant, and most people don't think twice about using them. This will get handled by Blizz in the manner they see fit. So please don't treat this any differently.

[Socks]

Except this, unlike your examples, gives you absolutely no benefit over other players.

Untrue, it allows taming of buffed-skins rule-abiding players cannot aquire. While in most cases that is aethetic, it's still a benefit a rule-abiding player cannot get.

And has been shown, it does also permit taming of beasts with combat buffs that do provide a tangible benefit, no matter how short-lived that benefit may be.

Regardless, it is a way of circumventing the intended game mechanics is a rather obvious way. No matter how little is gained, it's still exploiting the game to do/get something you should not.

Look, kudos to you for your ingenuity, your hard work and for self-reporting your found exploit to Blizz after the fact. But for a community that is so stringent on moral upstanding behavior in-game (to some extents I find almost crazy), it's amazing to me how quickly the worm turns when an obvious exploit is uncovered, and the masses run out to exploit it. Not only that, but the cries of "silence! other opinions will not be tolerated" is all but defeaning.

And Socks, did you realy just raise my parents as an issue? Thats a direct personal attack, something I was led to believe was NOT acceptable here. In any event, in the grand sceme of morallity, I'll take "free and open (even when unpopular) speech" over "cheating" any day.

Get it in your head hun, no one cares. Like I said, if Blizzard sees it as a serious "exploit" they'll fix it asap.

[Acherontia]

I actually admire you for speaking out against the majority on behalf of morality Warfish.

I just don't think the hostility is warranted, as nobody is losing anything due to this.

A group hug would be nice

[Socks]

/Jumps in for a group huggg <3

[Cialbi]

My only feeling is, don't beat Acherontia up about it, eh?

Or each other, for that matter

Come on people; takes more than two for a group hug

[Acherontia]

*massive hug*

NEED MORE.

...Looking at you here Warfish

[Apathyosis]

Punching precedes talking things out. I learned this, and everything else I know about human nature, from comic books.

THERE IS STILL SOME PUNCHING YET TO BE DONE! THEN WE WILL TEAM UP!

[Socks]

Punching precedes talking things out. I learned this, and everything else I know about human nature, from comic books.

THERE IS STILL SOME PUNCHING YET TO BE DONE! THEN WE WILL TEAM UP!

/Grabs boxing gloves