Breaking Araga... *Araga loves beware*

[Rhyela]

Why does it have to be one end of the spectrum or the other? Honestly, I would be a little irked if there were suddenly green devilsaur skins all over the freaking place. Right now, I have this green devilsaur by my side and it is a sort of "achievement", so to speak. People get titles and achievements all the time, and no one thinks less of them. You think people do those things so they can sleep more soundly at night? Maybe, but I doubt it. People do stuff like that so that they have a badge of honor, something that people can look at them and go, "Wow, that took a lot of work! Grats to them!" (sort of like the plagued proto-drake you can't get anymore. Awesome to look at, took work back in the day, can't get it anymore.....I say good job to them!). To me, difficult/rare tames are the same thing. But at the same time, I wouldn't abandon Apollyon, either. I'd be aggravated that my hard-won pet was suddenly as common as today's wolf, but the bond is still there regardless. Guess I'm middle of the fence. Yeah, I like people to know that I went through the blood, sweat and tears to get Krush. I had to overcome some challenges to get him. That's my "achievement", since I'm not really an achievement-hunter when it comes to things like the raid achievements, rare-kill achievements, etc. I like the fact that he's my "trophy" pet. But again, he's a trophy pet that I adore the crap out of and I wouldn't ever get rid of him. Does that make me a bad person? Can I not want a trophy pet and a pet I love, rolled up into one? I don't see a problem with that, and I don't know why that'd make me a bad person if suddenly they were everywhere and I got a little annoyed. I like the uniqueness, simple as that. And the fact that he's also incredibly difficult to tame, and everyone knows it, is a bonus. I've had random people congratulate me or clap at Apollyon before. Not me, Apollyon. He's a recognizeable figure, almost the icon of BM, along with Loque'nahak and spirit beasts.....And I congratulate other hunters when I see them, too, because I know it makes them feel good. In fact, many of them open up and start talking about their tame. Even a horde hunter rolled an alliance alt, just to talk to me about our Krush tames. And yeah, I like that. It makes me feel happy knowing that the effort I put in is admired. Heck, it's even spurred people to go do the same thing and tame him for themselves. /shrug I just don't know why it seems you have to be on either one side or the other. I think I'm right in the middle. I don't mind if some hard-to-get skins are suddenly made common, but not all of them. Let me have my achievement the way I like to do it, and let other people have theirs. I don't poop on their parade, nor should they poop on mine.

Hope that made sense.

[cowmuflage]

Ah Rhyela thats fine with me but would you rather have krush common or taken away so noone can get it? like for ever? I mean yeah its good that its rare and i grat you for haveing the patince to tame him( i really do mean that btw) and i knwo it must be a good feeling walking around with him and stuff i mean i love my tan slithid to bits and i'm SO glad the skins not gone for good. I mean yeah sure that mob i tamed is gone but least others can still injoy its niceness. Oh and im not attacking you or anything and i'm sorry if it does come off as it cos if it does ill get rid of this lol

[Slickrock]

Well, as my final rambling for the night to spin this in yet another direction... (but I would like to hear from some others that take a real look at what they have in their stables..)

1) How will the supposed "balancing" of pet dps effect your pet selections? (For the sake of discussion, we'll say that all Ferocity are equal, all cunning are equal, and all tenacity are equal, so you have raiding/instancing pets, pvp pets, and soloing/tanking pets, and all in each tree are equal).

2) How will the expanded stables change your choices? (You can't really have attachments to all of them...)


With the balancing, my red lynx will come back. Not sure what the other impact will be for me yet.

[cowmuflage]

I'm going to get one of each pet family but seeing as i have very bad Obsessive–compulsive disorder and Asperger syndrome i bet i'm just going to use the 5 i have now :S

[Slickrock]

Why does it have to be one end of the spectrum or the other?.... snip... Let me have my achievement the way I like to do it, and let other people have theirs. I don't poop on their parade, nor should they poop on mine.

It doesn't have to be. Achievements and/or tags coming back would help with it. (I think it would be cool for there to be an acheivement for taming all three of the Scholo rares, for example).

Just need room for mutual respect.

Some new skins and models in Cata wouldn't hurt either...

[Ryai]

1) How will the supposed "balancing" of pet dps effect your pet selections? (For the sake of discussion, we'll say that all Ferocity are equal, all cunning are equal, and all tenacity are equal, so you have raiding/instancing pets, pvp pets, and soloing/tanking pets, and all in each tree are equal).

Nada. Won't affect me one bit. Because it wasn't that which made me have to finally bow and take up a wolf, along with MM for Yasindra. It was Ahune and his god damn infernal AoE of ice death.

2) How will the expanded stables change your choices? (You can't really have attachments to all of them...)

This would only be true if I tamed one pet.

My hunters aren't like my warlock. I despise Demo, I really do, I just want my Felpup. I only want my Felpup. Once I got high enough and smart enough to learn how to dot n fear spam, Felpup replaced useless VW on my warlock. I only use my other demons as I see fit, because, I only love my Felpup.

But for my hunters, when I name it, when I keep it, when I can't even abandon it for Krush on live even after doing so on PTR, it's there for life.

my second Skoll will be reobtained anyways he and Landowar are on vacation in Storm Peaks. Harassing the Protos.


-

And no, once I got over the elite tags being removed, honestly I could care less. They brought with them the illusions of Elite pets are better. As that is what a noob hunter thought in a dungeon when I asked him where his pet was. He basically wanted to tame an elite creature from WC as they were evidently stronger or some crap. Ignore he never said this to the party so he came in petless, left petless.

[Kalliope]

2) How will the expanded stables change your choices? (You can't really have attachments to all of them...)

Wanna bet? I haven't filled out my prospective stable yet simply because I refuse to tame any pet I don't feel some connection to. A lot of my tames will be re-tames.

And fair enough, Rhy. Still, you wouldn't ditch Apollyon just because his skin would be common, right?

[Loridon]

Getting a pet shouldn't be about getting a badge, just another notch on your taming stick. It's about having a companion that fits with you and your style, something you can form an attachment to.

Now that's a better argument.

I will admit to getting caught up in taming rares, and there are rare "elitists" around (I might even resemble one from time to time...).

But to be fair, part of the challenge for many here is going out and camping and taming rares. I enjoy that challenge myself. So I'll agree that some take it too far, and will only have "rares" in there stables, but you can't dismiss the work that is put in to tame a rare so easily either.

That's one of the reasons that I started a thread a while back about "What pets would you tame if none were rare" or something like that. Suprisingly, most of the selected pets were not rares. That shows that the value in most of the rares is the fact that they are rare, not the beauty of the model.

Now I do agree with you. But that still doesn't mean that the effort that has been put in should be diminished either.

I understand him.
My first main pet whas ressan the needler(rare bat).I tamed him in pre-tbc at lv 13.Back then there whas only 1 other bat with the same skin and it whas a rare to,blind hunter from RFK.My bat was my main for almost everything,leveling,pvp,farming,...He lost his screeh because of the thing they changed at the end of tbc,so he couldn't keep aggro at more then 1 target.But my biggest dissapointing was when I saw there was a stuppid common bat in wrath:Zul'Drak Bat
Pre-tbc and especially in tbc alot ppl have given me alot compliments that I still had that bat.Now they just think ist that stupid bat from zul'drak.

For me is my bat still speciale.67 lv and more then 4 years later I still have him and I shall never release him.Its maby strange to say but I have bond with him

[Vephriel]

I can definitely understand being disgruntled over a rare pet skin that suddenly becomes common, however I think it's unfair to say that no one should ever be able to tame certain rare/retired pets ever again.

Take Gezzarak for example. It's almost a physical heartache whenever I think of how narrowly I missed getting her. I know people who have her now are proud to own a retired pet, but feeling the regret I do over it I could never subject others to that kind of pain. I don't necessarily want them to put a whole herd of purple warpstalkers somewhere in the game, but just making Gezzarak herself tameable again would be fine. She'd still be tricky to get, and not everyone would go out of their way to complete that quest chain to summon her. She'd still be uncommon, but at least others would have a chance at her.

[Rhyela]

And fair enough, Rhy. Still, you wouldn't ditch Apollyon just because his skin would be common, right?

Heck no! And cowmuflage, no offense taken. And no, I don't think that the green skin should be made retired. I personally probably wouldn't use Apollyon as much as I used to (if it was suddenly a common skin that everyone had), just because I like feeling different. Doesn't mean I'd love him any less, I would probably just run around with somethind different until the green devilsaur craze wore off. I said from the get-go that Apollyon is a pet that I will never ever release, for any reason, and I stand by that. And I certainly don't want a pet skin to be taken away from people who really want it, but at the same time I don't want every single unique skin in the game suddenly made common. Some, okay, but not all. I like the fact that there are unique skins on rare animals. But I certainly wouldn't want Apollyon's skin (or any other, for that matter) to disappear forever, so that no one else could have him. Things like Gezzerak and the Ghost Wolf shouldn't have been removed, in my opinion. If they're super hard to get, and a unique skin, that's fine. The people that really want it will find a way to get it, even if it means spending money and recruiting help if need be. But don't take it away from everyone.

Does that make any sense at all?

[Vephriel]

But I certainly wouldn't want Apollyon's skin (or any other, for that matter) to disappear forever, so that no one else could have him. Things like Gezzerak and the Ghost Wolf shouldn't have been removed, in my opinion. If they're super hard to get, and a unique skin, that's fine. The people that really want it will find a way to get it, even if it means spending money and recruiting help if need be. But don't take it away from everyone.

That encompasses my thoughts perfectly. I realize that I could very well just have a case of sour grapes because I wasn't able to obtain Gezzarak, but even if my position were to be reversed I don't think I'd be quite selfish enough to want retired pets to stay retired just so that I had my uber special pet that no one else could get (Not saying anyone here is like that! Just in general. ^^)

[Kalliope]

You make perfect sense, Rhy! And in all honesty, I'd do the exact same thing with my Krush if the skin suddenly became common for a while.

And Veph, you made the point better than I did. I'd rather not see the truly difficult tames become super-easy (Krush, Gez. spirit wolf), but if a pet (like Araga, OCJ, etc.) was an easy tame, just a long spawn time, then I'm less likely to get up in arms over it. However, I'd rather see any of them become common/easy tames if it was a choice between that and total extinction. Because THAT isn't fair to people, just because they weren't the right level or playing at the time.

(And y'know, if Gez's skin became obtainable again, I'd probably pick up a warp stalker. None of the other skins does anything for me, not even the green one.)

[Ryai]

You make perfect sense, Rhy! And in all honesty, I'd do the exact same thing with my Krush if the skin suddenly became common for a while.

And Veph, you made the point better than I did. I'd rather not see the truly difficult tames become super-easy (Krush, Gez. spirit wolf), but if a pet (like Araga, OCJ, etc.) was an easy tame, just a long spawn time, then I'm less likely to get up in arms over it. However, I'd rather see any of them become common/easy tames if it was a choice between that and total extinction. Because THAT isn't fair to people, just because they weren't the right level or playing at the time.

(And y'know, if Gez's skin became obtainable again, I'd probably pick up a warp stalker. None of the other skins does anything for me, not even the green one.)

Well tbh it's not that I want Krush or the other tames to be belittled [and I would kill for atleast an easier green devilsaur skin], but the replacements could always be made hard to tame [same fear mechanics and all]. Or maybe a summon like Gezz.

._. atleast Gezza could be respawned if some shmuck comes along all OH I WANT TO GANK THIS MOB BEING TAMED.

[zedxrgal]

I know I'm late in replying to this but wanted to take the time to read everything before replying.

For me I'm a bit hypocritical. I will tame a rare that may have a normal skin in another location because there's something about that specific pet. Snort is a prime example. When I released him in error I could have so easily trekked to Thousand Needles to get a purple hyena and named it Snort and 'faked' it. But I didn't. I actually ran around his spawn areas for three hours. I camped Snort that night. Only once have I seen another hunter with his skin but he's certainly common. Does it bug me and make me want to release him .................... absolutely not.

Now with Humar it's a completely different story. Still a Barrens rare and even rarer skin but it's different. I loved and cherished my Humar ................ that is, until I started to see his skin a lot. I was willing to be 'ok' with it until I went to Sholozar and saw Pitch. That totally ruined Humar for me. I cannot explain why fully but it did. To me, at that point, he was no longer 'rare' and was what I call a belly button pet (everybody's got one). So there isn't a single Humar on any of my toons now.

I feel a person yes can have their feelings about it but no one should say what something should be for someone else.

Blizz does what Blizz wants and if it means Araga becoming a more common skin then that's what it means. If her becoming a common skin ruins it for you then maybe you really weren't all that attached to her in the first place. It's ok to have a pet only for the thrill of the hunt but don't be upset or anything the like when it's no longer a rare because someone else can easily get it. You're either attached to a pet or your not.

[Tahlian]

I'm kind of looking at the reappearance of this once very-rare cat skin as a glass half-full thing.

It means Blizzard was listening when we voiced our fears about current pet skins going away permanently in Cataclysm.

They listened to us.

Their solution may not have been optimal for all pet-loving hunters - but they're making the effort to minimize the impact of the Cataclysm on the hunter class, at least so far as variety of pet appearances is concerned. It seems like they're doing quite a lot with the massive changes our class and our pets are undergoing to emphasize the idea of "more freedom of choice, not less." Which means giving us new pet skins AND removing as few of the old ones as they can. There will undoubtedly be a few casualties...and if I could get someone to check on the status of the Scarlet Tracking Hounds in SM, I'd be thrilled...but by and large our old friends may well make it through this relatively unscathed.

(And yes, if the red hyenas end up being a casualty, then Jabberwock may have to take a bit of a holiday so I can go get one. If I do, I think I'll name him Heretic. )

[tramani]

dont worry , bucketloads of new rares will take his place

[Siliverin]

Well i have been reading this thread and just watching what people say. i have seen everything from one side of the spectrum to the other. Good points and bad points. I normally dont write in these kind of threads because most of the time, there will be the few who feel they are right no matter what. This is how i see this whole thing.

For those who spent the the time to get araga. You know you spent the time and effort to get her, shouldnt that be all that matter to you? I mean do you really care if everyone else knew? If you went and won $1000 dollers from the lottery are you gonna get mad if someone else does because they now share the spotlight with you if they didnt have to play as much as you did? Are you saying that, you will hate every hunter who gets a araga type skin because they didnt have to spend hours to get it?
Does something so foolish make you that mad?
i farmed loque skoll and KK for months, and i finally got them. Am i gonna be mad if they ever make more with the same skin and everyone can get it? NO. Why? because i know i spent the time and effort to get them, so what if noone else knows it who care i do. barnabus is a good example i got him but he people couldd of thought he was a reg wolf not a rare/ did that bug me? no. i knew i got a rare. If they were to take araga out so you people can have your rare skin and noone else can. what about the people who just start playing and maybe wanted that skin. or started a hunter to get that skin. They will know not be able to because of all you who B**ch and complain that everyone could get it. Yes that is being jealous and selfish and not fair to any new players. I have been playing since wow has come out ive seen things come and go. i wanted a spirit wlf so bad and when i stpped playing is the time they made them tamable i was a day late. I got on and they stopped them from being tamed the day before. was i sad yes but i didnt care.
I have the blue proto drake on my pally if they were to make it super easy to get would i care? no i know i got it when it was a pain to get and to me thats all that matters is that i know i could care less if anyone else did. the ironbound and rusty proto drakes. many people have them can you honestly tell when they got them? without seeing their achiv with the date? can you? is there any difference what so ever?? No.

i been keeping my mouth shut about this whole thing, but after reading and talking i cant seem to keep my opinion to myself.

if you are gonna B**ch and complain about everyone getting a araga skin, the get rid of her since all u care about is youself and how you look and do not care about any other hunter who maybe just started playing wow or someone who just made a hunter and might want that type of skin. or grow up and stop complain or hey stop playing. People like this give hunters a bad name and make the game horrable for everyone else. if you are gonna QQ about something so silly and foolish.. that is just sad

i need to stop typing now im actully disguysted by people and getting pissed.

[Dvatori]

Would I be miffed if thousands of ghost wolfys or King Krushs turned up as easy to tame, all over the place mobs? Certainly. I worked hard for my stable and I am very proud of it. But goodness, if it was either disappearing for ever or becoming common place I'd definitely pick commonplace.

I'll always have memories of my epic Krush tame, and I'll always have the friends I made in my party to tame the ghost wolf, those would never go away because some mob turned up with the same skin, and I could never abandon my Minty (His smily is minty fresh!) or Nyx now. I would also never want to deny others the opportunity to tame the skins I love and I think it was rotten that Blizz stole the ghost wolf out from under so many of us. For folks with e-peens that need inflating, myself included, there will be plenty of new rare spawns to nosh on, and plenty of stable slots in which to stuff them.

[Arisia]

Thats a hell of a lot greedy saying youd rather have the skin go away than let other new hunters tame a skin they might like just cos you don't want people who may not have the time to camp for ages get it.

Really?.. really?

So you would rather have your stable full of rares made common so everyone can tame them? It doesn't diminish the effort you spent trying to tame them back in the day?

As someone who spent nearly a month, 8 -10 hours a day hunting for Rak'Shiri, and having spent similar time hunting for Skoll, Gondria, and Arcturus my reply is YES.

It honestly does NOT diminish the way *I* love my pet to have others also have tamed it... why should it? Do you know how many people in the real world have tabby cats? *MINE* is super special to me, and I could care less than others are out there who also have a darn brown striped cat JUST LIKE MINE.

It'd be great if, once a hunter decided that adore a pet skin that getting one isn't making them put the universe on hold. I mean hell, we still have to do the same work to get gear as everyone else; why make getting our PET yet another impossible dream?

Personally, it'd make me damn happy if every damn pet did the same damage and the same buffs-- this way any hunter would pick the pet they want walking NEXT to them, making it less an ego thing, more of "Damn, I love this pet"

But hey, that's me-- you want to continue with having a single pet of a skin out there with freaked up timers, putting it also on a list to be part of everyone wanting to kill it for an achievement, at some impossibly long respawn rate for no reason other than you want to be the one and only, just don't say it's for the good of everyone who tamed it before... it's not; it's for your own ego and the ego of the others wanting this pet to remain exclusive.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, but don't try to justify it as an altruistic feeling to everyone who 'worked so hard for their tames'-- some of us really could care less.

[Slickrock]

Hmm... since there is more venting about wanting rares to stay rare... and that I should really take no pride having something that shows that accomplishment, I find that a bit odd.

Perhaps it is too much to say I'd rather see the pet go away than become common, but the problem really is that the rare tames are one of the few challenges in game that a hunter can do solo, and if we aren't supposed to show off the pets we tame, then.. what's the point of rare tames? That's why I really like the idea of a pet-taming version of Frostbitten.

So let's ban all screenshots of rare tames, after all.. that is showing off too..