Random Pet Challenge [v3.0]

[Talaridan]

Name: Raun
Level: 77
Exotics: Yes
Restrictions: None!

[TygerDarkstorm]

Raziella:
Red Devilsaur


Raun:
Turquoise Tallstrider

[thomassando]

Hi I read the thread and I think it looked awesome and I want to try it, especially after reading the reactions!

Name: Shylenia
Level: 85
Exotics: Yes!
Restrictions: No cataclysm rares or spirit beasts, have nearly them all.

[TygerDarkstorm]

Thomassando(Shylenia):
Brown Chimaera

[Frozencold14]

Hello folks I'd like to try this challenge :p

Name: Noxious
Level: 85
Exotic: rather not
Restrictions: None really

[Frozencold14]

Thread closed?

[TygerDarkstorm]

No, but occasionally I do have real life to deal with before I can give out rolls for these. Sorry.

[TygerDarkstorm]

Frozencold14(Noxious):
Green and Red Scarab Beetle

[Frozencold14]

Awesome thanks, I'll get on that soon.

[Ikult]

Ohhh I'd love to try this challenge out this weekend, if possible!

Name: Etona
Level: 85
Exotic: Absolutely - She's been BM spec since day one of WoW.
Restrictions: Etona has tamed every single spirit beast, and has them all in her stables. I am more than happy to write a review on any of them, but for the challenge I'd like a new pet. I have also through the years tamed QUITE a few cats on her (they just go so well with Night Elves!), so maybe none from the Cat family.

Thank you very much!

[Castile]

How cool! I've been trying to diversify my stable!

Name: Castilé
Level: 85
Exotic: yes
Restrictions: Ive done all the challenge tames and spirit beasts (even tho I had to let some go!)

Also...

Name: Soshia
level: 40
Exotic: Not yet up to that talent
Restrictions: none besides level

[TygerDarkstorm]

Apologies for the latecoming rolls, work and SW:TOR have been occupying my time since I no longer play WoW. The lack of incoming reports has also made me a bit lazy about actually giving rolls out too.

Ikult(Etona):
Bronze Crab


Castilé(Castilé):
Orange Shale Spider


Castilé(Soshia):
Green Scorpid

[Ikult]

Excellent, thank you very much! I'm going to quest with my new crab buddy tonight!

[Ikult]

Etona's report on Mikey, the Bronze Crab pet!
Warning: Image heavy!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Adventure

The closest crab with the Bronze skin was in Westfall, so she flew over there and found a small crab scuttling around a few murlocs. Concerned that the Murlocs might be interested in having him as a pet instead, she quickly laid down an ice trap and befuddled the poor crab into being her friend. She promptly named him 'Mikey'.


The first thing she noticed about her new pet was how shiny he is! In the glow of the setting sun, Mikey's claws and carapace were silky smooth with a beautiful sheen. He's as impressive to look at as the new kitties in the Twilight dungeon!
Mikey was immediately affectionate, nuzzling to Etona's legs gratefully and raising his large claw in an attempt to impress her. It worked!


Mikey was more than happy to prove just how strong he was, too. Etona had to sit and think for a few to find a suitable test, and finally decided on attempting to solo the new Christmas boss, The Greench. Etona had tried this boss with a DPS pet earlier, so she knew just how hard he hit.
Amazingly, Mikey was a fantastic little tank! He easily kept aggro with only a single Misdirection at the beginning of the fight, and protected the other people who joined in the fight. Etona was once again rather impressed.


Hyped and excited after their surprisingly easy battle, Etona and Mikey took a long flight to Sethekk Halls to test their mettle against Anzu. It was easy to sneak past most of the guards, and Anzu himself proved to be little challenge. Mikey was very conscientious about keeping the swarming birds away from Etona so she could wear Anzu down and fell him. Anzu didn't leave behind his gorgeous mount, but at least it was an easy success!


The rest of the evening, Etona couldn't resist petting her shiny new pet. He looks absolutely gorgeous in so many different environments and lighting!








~*~*~*~*~*~

The Review

Aesthetic:
I have only tamed one crab in all my years of playing WoW (aside from the temporary crab you used to have to tame for the L10 Hunter Taming Quest Horde-side. I always abandoned the crab the moment I turned in the quest and never thought about them until Cataclysm. With the new Crab models, I decided to try one, and while I liked him, there were many other pets that grabbed my attention. With Mikey, I'm utterly astonished at how beautiful the model skin is. I was not expecting that!

His clattering on the ground as he walks is a pleasing, soft sound. It plays every second or so, and I did not get tired of hearing it at all. His 'aggro' sound as I sent him in to attack was a soft chitter that I came to absolutely LOVE!

His low profile makes him an excellent tank and good for groups, too. I figured since he was so, well, short that I wouldn't like him (I prefer the biggest and baddest pets I can find!), but I was surprised to find he was actually a fairly large pet at L85. He might not be tall, but he's no shrimp at Etona's side!

And he's a completely affectionate little bugger. He rubs on Etona often and waves his claws playfully at her and anyone they met. He's constantly in motion when Etona was standing still, swinging crab-like back and forth and raising his claws. Utterly adorable!

Viability:
I was very pleased with how well Mikey stood up to The Greench. It's not a terribly hard fight, no, but I do know The Greench ate my poor kitty in just a few bites, so I knew he dishes out some pretty heavy physical damage. Mikey tanked him like a boss. AWESOME!

Since all Tenacity pets have Thunderstomp now, Mikey's a good AoE tank. He works especially well for farming in Marksman spec with his special slowing ability for the rare times I gain aggro, or the mob tries to flee at low health. That allows us to farm and fight in a much smaller area than I'm used to, without having accidental adds.

Conclusion:
I had fully expected to release the pet given to me after my review, no matter what. Etona has very specific pets that she keeps, but this little guy... <3 Mikey is just too happy, pretty, and such a great tank that she's going to keep him around indefinitely!

Thank you so much, Tyger! <3

[meepitco]

I don't think I haven't done one of these in a while. I think I'll do one. If I've forgotten to do one in the past, please say and I will do that one!


Name: Magrallea
Level: 85
Exotic: yes
Restrictions: Blue or Green would be nice

[TygerDarkstorm]

Ikult, I love that you found a new friend in Mikey! Even more awesome that he's been a crab color I've always hated so I love the appreciation he's earning from you; I got to see that model in a whole new light.

Meepitco(Magrallea):
Blue Jormungar

[Kitchu/Sknot]

what the hell ill do one
Name:Kitchu
Level: 85
Exotic: yes
Restrictions:no spirt bests or Molten front rares have em all or cats have sambas i hardly use

[Castile]

Shale Spider

Ok i've actually had one before, i tamed jadefang back at the start of cata then ended up setting him free as i didn't see much of a use for him. My raid had a pally so the buff wasn't really needed. But I gave this lil guy a try.



I named him Pyridic with some help from my partner. Apparently its what Iron Ore is called when its on fire (he works on a mine site). I decided to talent him out in full tank spec and compare him to my current tanking pet a turtle. Then off to UP we went!



We pewpew our way through some mobs together. His squeel did get abit annoying but his little run is very cute! I will say in terms of a tanking pet I do prefer the turtle. I could kinda forget it and not heal while the Shale took quite a beating, even with full armour/stam/suvivability talents. I'm also BM so it had the passive heal also.



Our adventure ends with the drake bosses demise. Alas his drake was not to be mine yet but me and lil shale Pyridic had great fun ^.^ might keep him around for a while...

[Ikult]

Ikult, I love that you found a new friend in Mikey! Even more awesome that he's been a crab color I've always hated so I love the appreciation he's earning from you; I got to see that model in a whole new light.

You and me both! I have always passed over that skin in particular because I honestly thought it was a washed-out icky yellow colour. I am so happy I was wrong!
I am definitely signing up for another of these random pet challenges after the New Year. Thank you for letting me participate!

[TygerDarkstorm]

My pleasure! ^_^ Always makes me happy seeing people go home with new friends they never would have thought of taming before.