Pets need more love.

[ZenCoyote]

Combat Pets are awesome. Of course you agree, you're on a Hunter forum. And not just the beasts used by hunters, I think the Warlock's demons and even the Death Knight's limited control over the undead is cool. Frankly, I like having a secondary character I can also control at the same time. But let me get to the point.

I feel that a permanant combat pet system should not be limited to just these classes. Lore, in particular Druidic lore, suggest that the use pets are used by more than just the classes mentioned above. And I can name at least one other class that could use it because frankly it needs more flavor.

Druids are the protectors of nature, using a variety of different forms to get the job done. However the druids would occasionally get help. With Wolf Form a druid would be able to run with nature's creatures, "taming" beasts to form a pack. As for the Wolf Form's abilities besides pet taming, they would probably have to based off of a survival hunter, being unable to use a ranged weapon.

Priests are(in the real world anyway) are the keepers of their God, spreading the great one's word. And keeping the Great message alive through the conversion of others. With the Unique spell Proselytize, priests can tame humanoids to be their disciples (pets).

I'm not trying to steal the Hunter's thunder and of course if these were to become real abilities it would take major changes to the games dynamics, in particular the combat pet system to accomodate them. I'm probably going to get criticism, both good and bad, for the this blaspheme. I just wanted to say this because it's been rolling around in my head for a while now.

[Saturo]

Both priests and druids already have pets. :)

[ZenCoyote]

Both priests and druids already have pets.

I've heard of their channeled spells but I mean permanent pets, with their own combat bar and everything.

[Saturo]

None of those pets are channeled, and they use the pet action bar too. They're not permanent, but they are combat pets for all uses of the word. :P

[VelkynKarma]

I kinda like that the pets are limited to specific classes. It makes it sort of a specialty for them, to be able to have more control over their pets.

I don't mind that other character classes get temporarily summoned pets (like elementals, ghost wolves, etc) but I still like that only locks and hunters really have perma-pets. It makes'em unique.

~VelkynKarma

[Saturo]

You forgot Death Knight's, Velkyn. Unholy DKs get permanent pets just like locks and hunters. Only exception is, the ghouls can't even pretend to be able to tank. :P

[Azunara]

I want to name my ghoul. Seriously. I'm tired of Toothgrinder, or Ratstealer. Ratstealer? Come on.

...Why yes, I do have a DK....Why do you ask...?

[Teigan]

Ratstealer? Come on.

I like that name...hm...what could I name Ratstealer?

[VelkynKarma]

You forgot Death Knight's, Velkyn. Unholy DKs get permanent pets just like locks and hunters. Only exception is, the ghouls can't even pretend to be able to tank.

Aah, my apologies. It's been too long since I've played any DK. The only one I've played 'seriously' is currently 65, and he's blood specced, so I totally forgot about the ghoul.

But yeah, even that's specialized, so you don't see TONS of those. Locks and Hunters are still the only ones that will have a pet regardless of what talent tree you take.

~VelkynKarma

[ZenCoyote]

None of those pets are channeled, and they use the pet action bar too. They're not permanent, but they are combat pets for all uses of the word.

I suppose I should have done more research before saying that, but you get my meaning.

[Cerah]

Ice Mages can summon a water elemental, and with a glyph they can have it out all the time.

Whether or not the other classes' pets are considered "real" compared to Hunters' is a matter of how people play, IMO. My boyfriend has a whole backstory for his Mage's water elemental. For his priest, he likes to pretend she puts a little pink bow on her Shadowfiend's head. My warlock absolutely loves her Voidwalker -- she insists it's a shadow elemental, not a true (i.e. evil) demon, and my Death Knight's ghoul-of-the-day usually calls her "Mama", just like the ones in one of the dk starter quests.

However, even if every other class in the game got a pet (pernament or temporary), that wouldn't diminish the unique status hunters have, IMO. We're the only ones who can name our pets in game, we have the widest variety of different creatures we can tame, and we're the only ones who really take care of our pets, having to feed them, build up their own talent trees, etc. Other classes may have pets, but only we are the Pet Class.

[kamoodle5]

Ever since I noticed how shamans can summon fire and rock elementals, and mages can summon water elementals, I've been wondering about who summons wind elementals. I know it's nobody but I can imagine a balance druid with one.

[Epicfail]

The problem with pets is balance. If you give priests 3 unruly altar boys to sic on unsuspecting mobs, you have to diminish the priests main dps damage to compensate as to not overpower the class . If you give druid the wolf form and allow them to tame other mobs you'll have to balance the true wolf pack of 3 wolves against a wolf leading a pair of Giraffes into battle.

Honestly, if we're going to talk about perfectly good reasons for classes to have pets, I want dragons coming out of my back like Ashton from Star Ocean 2. Best pic I could find of him. Yes, he's emo. Yes, you'd be too if you were cursed to share a body with two dragons.

http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/psx/so2/ ... ashton.jpg

Make it a dragon knight class and make it a dual sword/axe/fist close range melee class with dual breath ranged attacks. yeah. I went there.

[Redith]

The problem with pets is balance. If you give priests 3 unruly altar boys to sic on unsuspecting mobs, you have to diminish the priests main dps damage to compensate as to not overpower the class

But...If the preist let the alter boys out, as opposed to attacking, wouldn't they run away screaming
"Were free! He cant hurt us anymore"