To tame or to kill - hunter dilemma

[Quiv]

Long time lurker, first time poster (you know the drill). I like the atmosphere and respect this forum has, and after you made me aware of Terrorpene (whom sits happily smoldering in my stable ), I figured it was time to ask this question that has been plagueing me as a hunter (I must warn you, brevity is not my strong suit )

To kill or to tame. Let me explain.

I have the northrend (and outland) achievement for killing all the rares, yes even Loque and Aotona. Now, if I saw a hunter trying to tame one of these, I am not a dbag, I would let him. I have actually assisted someone in taming Krush (on my priest). So if I show up and someones there, I suck it up. Well I thought those days were over.

Until I learned about Jadefang and that pet it drops. I am a collector of vanity pets and because the green skin, though uniqie, doesn't appeal to me, I want to kill it. After using a backfiring rocket boost and timely disengage, I got into his cave. A few seconds later, another hunter used that quest to get in (or something like a bomb? I havent done it). He wanted to tame, I to kill.

Technically I was first. Jade wasnt up at the time, but it was more of an ethics debate. Since I was there first, should I get priority in my purpose with the mob? It is a bit unfortunate for tamers as I can stop a tamer but a tamer cant stop me from killing. And I am considerate of the tamers, but I dont believe taming is, by default, a more virtuous goal than going for the mini-pet. Or the achievement in the above example.

But while considerate of the tamers, I dont camp these things just to be guilted by a tamer. If I always let tamers take precedence over my intention (even when I put in the work and was clearly there at the moment of opportunity), I would never have that achievement and I doubt I will get this pet. Killing these tameable rares is always going to upset someone. I have made hunters stark raving mad but I dont see much of an option.

I was just curious how the community at large feels about this. Is it truly first come first serve? Does taming by default trump killing for pets/achievements?

[Kurasu]

For me, first is first. If someone got there first to tame, let them tame. If someone got there first to kill, let them kill. It would make me very sad to see a treasured pet get killed, but rares aren't *only* for hunters. We just wish they were.

[Sarayana]

And I am considerate of the tamers, but I dont believe taming is, by default, a more virtuous goal than going for the mini-pet. Or the achievement in the above example.

First of all, I've got to warn you, this type of debate gets tempers up on these forums. That being said, I agree with you. We all pay to play the game, and if Blizz really didn't want anyone to kill tameable rares, they wouldn't put a minipet on one and even a 25g vendor trash item on the others. Yeah, the flavour text is nice but... bottom line is that a rare kill is still worth something. Because not only hunters play the game.

That being said, in your specific example I'd leave and let him have the tame. *shrug* It'll respawn, I'll be back and I'll get my minipet eventually.

[Quiv]

I certainly dont want to start the same kind of meltdowns here that I have seen in Sholazar Basin after I killed Loque 10 seconds before a hunter landed by me. And I have been on both sides of the aisle. I have lost an Aotona tame twice now, so I understand the disappointment.

I guess I have to honor the principle more than the novelty. I do get tired of the backlash though, so I wanted to get some perspective. Thanks!

[Lisaara]

While sad as it is, you were camping him first so.....first come, first serve.

[Theaden]

Now its just a waiting game. You were there first but what happens if Jadefang doesn't spawn in the next hour, 2,3,4. If a Hunter is in mid tame and you kill it thats rude. If you killed it for the vanity pet and he's/she's not on and logs on in the middle or after you kill it his/her loss.

[Acherontia]

I'd personally let the hunter have it, but I wouldn't be angry if I was a hunter and saw someone kill it. It seems to spawn VERY often, and it's quite easy to hold onto the quest item and come back on a day without that quest to tame it.

Considering it does drop a vanity pet, I don't think you'd be a jerk for killing it for it. Heck, -I- did, and I'm a rare-hunter (for taming).

People who kill the Northrend rares are just getting an Achievement which gives nothing, which I don't personally like but won't start fights over--people killing Jadefang are getting a unique minipet so it doesn't bother me personally.

[Branan]

I'm all about first come, first serve... I patiently waited off to the side for a Horde hunter to tame Ashtail (after doing what I could to assure them I wasn't planning anything mean), then sat through my own 90 minute vigil. If the first person in line wants to kill their target, so be it.

However, I would not be OK with someone who (in this case) wanted to kill it first THEN wait another round for the respawn to tame it. You get your shot, you go to the back of the line.

[Phoronid]

I am going to struggle with this one just in my own way. I am an avid collector of minpets, and also like rare tames. Dang.

I will likely kill it the first time, and then tame later, but that's just me..

Good: Blizzard encouraging people to let hunters tame by achievement changing in Cata, and "guilty" grey drops.
Bad: Unique skins with awesome drops. *sigh*

[Makoes]

I am more for first come first serve in this instance. because the mob drops a cool minipet. However, if its a mob that just drops random loot and someone wants to tame it, I'd let them. Gold can be earned anywhere, minipets cant.

But pretty much its at the discretion of the individule to decide kill or let tame.

[Saturo]

People who kill the Northrend rares are just getting an Achievement which gives nothing, which I don't personally like but won't start fights over--people killing Jadefang are getting a unique minipet so it doesn't bother me personally.

How are you reasoning that the achiev is worth less than a minipet? I mean, neither provides any benefit, and both are pretty meaningless. Ten achievementpoints or a rock-bug that follows you around?

[Tudyk]

The hunt is still the hunt, no matter what your intentions once you've found your prey.

I admit I've been frustrated by having a tame killed under my nose, but it doesn't bother me near as much if somebody was actually searching out the mob for the 'chieve (or even the loot!). Getting a "what? i just killed a rare? oh ... yeah i guess that was me. didn't even know what it was .." reply makes me grumble a bit. I also have a habit of sending tells to other hunters in zone "Ya out here lookin' for a pet?" before I settle down to camp something I intend to kill.

But yeah. Hunting rares would have much less of that risk/reward feeling if hunters were the only ones lookin' for them. =D

[Grokan]

IMO, it comes down to first-come/first served if the mob gives something special like a mini-pet or achievement. With other pets that aren't linked to anything special and are just rare mobs that look cool, I believe hunters should have the right-of-way when they want to tame it. The killer has nothing to gain from killing the mob (especially at 85), whereas the hunter is looking for a new companion that they are (well, might I suppose) going to use for a long time.

That's my 2 cents.

[Feydakin]

Never in a million years would I disturb another Hunters tame if he got there first, even opposing faction. It's how I would react to a real life situation... and that's where I'll leave it. If I go farther into my feelings about these sorts of things I know I'm going to say something... passionate.

[pengupuff]

A lot of you will disagree with this, but I tend to go with a "you snooze, you lose" mentality. While I think it's pointless to kill a rare spawn that doesn't yield any relevant reward (such as Sambas) and in such a situation the pet should probably go to the tamer, pets that give achievements or vanity pets are fair game in my opinion. When you break it down, a shiny hunter pet serves the same purpose as an achievement or vanity pet - it's just a fun and exciting way to show off. All other abilities can be acquired from common mobs, with the exception of spirit beasts (although Spirit Mend doesn't exactly make or break a hunter). But these hunter pets are, a lot of times, made desirable due to their rarity.

For example, if Ashtail's skin was common and the white fox skin was the rare mob, wouldn't you have camped it instead? I would have.

When the Shattering first went live and Ashtail was still in high demand, I flew over to his spawn point and saw another hunter clearly afk while Ashtail pathed right beside him/her. While the other hunter was there first, they clearly weren't paying attention, and I tamed the fox without a second thought. Call me what you will, but it's a competitive video game, not a cake walk. All is fair in love and Warcraft.