Potential new hunter pets in WoD

[Qraljar]

*whispers* raptors

But yeah, Phoenixes don't seem like beasts to me. They're definitely more like elementals. Though if we got to tame Ji-kun, well, you wouldn't see me complaining...

...Have I mentioned I like Ji-kun and all beasts related? Maybe once or twice?

((I just mentioned raptors because this is a conversation we've had a million times on petopia and it's more like an homage))

Raptors are only semi-sentient. I think Phoenixes are higher than them. But I suppose if they did allow it, we're not 'taming', we're 'befriending' or making a pact or something. But yeah I agree. Phoenixes are a bit more elementalish. Now if Shamans could summon one, that's be AWESOME!

Well, that would still leave Pandaren Phoenixes (a rare like Portent like that for the bird family would be uh-mazing. Anyone agree?) and Ji-kun-type birds. That said, birds could use more love. Which is a shame, seeing as there are so many possible models they can give birds. Yes, I know there are a lot of birds. But a lot of new birds? Toucans, ravens and seagulls (critter models, the latter two), maybe. And the undead eagle, maybe. But not really any more regular types of birds. Those all use old models. Which, again, is a shame, because there's the possibility of an unarmored Stormcrow, Pandaren phoenixes, Thunder Isle birds and Dread Ravens that could easily be tameable just off the top of my head.


Not that I'm complaining that we're not getting enough pets. We're getting spoiled again, and I'm certainly a lot happier with WoD (in terms of pets) than with MoP. Not that that'll keep me from requesting more (because that is always welcome), but yeah. We're getting more than enough pets, but if I have to be honest, birds could use some more love in the terms of up-to-date, regular types of birds.


Like I would love to see a new tarantula or regular spider model because we haven't gotten much of such spider love lately. Similarly, there was spider love in general, before, in the form of flame spiders, but those aren't regular/normal.



Unrelated/semi-related: I wish some classes would get special specs with abilities similar to taming. Demonology locks can "tame" (same system, of course not literally tame. Same goes for all other mentions here) demons, and thus get different kinds of demon models as their "pets" (actually minions), shadow priests can do the same to aberrations (oozes, sha, flesh beasts, etc), one mage spec for elemental creatures, or perhaps a shaman spec. Lastly, unholy death knights could do so for undead creatures. That, or they could be special talents for every spec that allows you to "tame" and use those "pets" (aberrations, elementals, demon minions, undead minions), while still being balanced.

[Arthur]

How are they sentient? I've never seen an example. I'm not arguing, I'm asking a question. ;w;

For one, they wear jewelry; not jewelry others put on, jewelry *they* put on, and one would assume made. For another, there are raptors who are living in villages, and defined as such. For another, several of the Barrens quests refer to their intellect in stealing tools and the like.

Honestly, the jewelry is always the big one for me. People always point out that 'they're wearing jewelry'. Which is true: nonintelligent creatures can and will use decoration. But they're not just wearing it. They *created* it. They *made* it.

Don't worry, I wasn't referring to the raptors! I was asking about phoenix.

I love that the raptors are very intelligent creatures, and I think the quests are very interesting, the ones that give examples of their abilities.
^.^

[Kurasu]

Don't worry, I wasn't referring to the raptors! I was asking about phoenix.

OH!
...
...
... Well don't I feel like a silly nit, now.

[PrimalTazza]

Well, raptors are tamable probably in the same way that hippogryphs, gryphons and wyverns are. Raptors essentially fill this roll for the Darkspear (and some other tribes) and worgs, the big wolves the orcs brought to Azeroth (and some were probably here already as well) are described as being much more intelligent than other wolves, and seem to understand speech to a point. I'd wager that just because it's sentient, doesn't exactly mean it's wrong to "tame" it. It'd be like taking a completely feral, wild person that has the capacity and ability to think and sort of civilizing them a little bit, getting them to trust you/others, and building a bond with them. Elemental pets could be sentient as well (to a point) and it seems like the flame spiders and fire hawks in Firelands are less elementals and more like wildlife that are based in that element. Deepholm seems to have similar examples in shale spiders and rock flayers, and I think even some stone bats.

They could have slivers of a true elemental in them that sort of gives them the intelligence of a ghoul or something or are truly wild elementals, kind of like hippogryphs and the other sentient flying beasts. Taming is just a word, it can be used to actually tame a much more simple, wild animal or build a bond with a more intelligent one, or can be used as a word for calming something down, in the case of a destructive semi-elemental. It doesn't mean enslave in any way!

[Vephriel]

Like I would love to see a new tarantula or regular spider model because we haven't gotten much of such spider love lately. Similarly, there was spider love in general, before, in the form of flame spiders, but those aren't regular/normal.

Ahh I've been waiting for an updated tarantula model for ages! D: I love that spiders got so much attention over the years, they have quite a large and varied family when it comes to tameable models, but Blizzard seems to stick with the regular look and skeleton. Tarantulas would be so cute and fluffy with new models and perhaps some tweaked animations.

[Wain]

I think I better nip this in the bud now. Sorry. Please don't bog this thread down with more discussion on presumed sentience of different beasts in WoW. Feel free to open one in the general pets forum, though! Frankly, I think it may be a little fruitless as my experience has been that beast NPCs in the storyline will exhibit more or less intelligence depending on how it suits the story at the time.

[Qraljar]

On another note altogether.. could we possibly be getting centipedes? Oh man, if so, that would be amazing. I've been wanting centipedes in WoW for a long time. Together with Ravagers and Hook Wasps, they'd fit the #savage insects category. Plus, just imagine seeing smaller centipedes lurking through Tanaan or popping out from the ground, only for a huge one to pop up when you kill it. Yes, centipedes really fit Tanaan.


But yes, as pets, they'd be even more awesome. They're really one of those "icky" pets that I love.


But why do I see this happening? Well..


http://wod.wowhead.com/npc=76046#.
http://wod.wowhead.com/npc=76046#.
http://wod.wowhead.com/npc=76057#.
http://wod.wowhead.com/npc=75452#.
http://wod.wowhead.com/npc=82616#.


Not sure on the normal centipedes, but Jabberjaw, Carrion Centipede and Bonemaw are all listed as temp/PH models (only Jabberjaw on WoWhead, but Carrion Centipede and Bonemaw are ingame), so it's possible that we might be getting centipede models.


However, as Carrion Centipedes and Bonemaw are meant to sprout up around the platforms, and going by the fact that they're currently using the Magmaw model, it could be, and I really hope this isn't necessarily true, that they will make them like the Bone Worms and Lava Worms, only a partial body that sticks out from the ground. It could also be that they're going the Jormungar direction and making both a version to sticks out of the ground (half a body) and a full-body. Or they're all full-bodied versions.


I really hope the latter or the middle ones are the case. The idea of tameable legitimate centipede models would be great to me as an insect fan.


Sorry for people I might inadvertently by hyping with this. For the most part, it's a theory, going by the names, and what they're supposed to represent, and the <PH>/<Test model> tags.


(I hope this doesn't go too off-topic. For me, it fits "potential new pets" to a T.)

[Lupen202]

It would be pretty neat to have centipedes, with their own unique model. If, of course, they aren't like Magmaw (though to be honest I'm not holding my breath at this point) they could easily be worked into the worms family I'd think, much like kuchong could be worked into the silithid family. Even though I'm not as big of a fan of insect pets, I'd still be ecstatic to see this happen.

Who knows though, with them "thinking" about a family with talbuks, stags and similar... one can only hope they'll be looking at other, previously untamable beasts.

[SylviaDragon]

I would not hold my breath for a pet centipede even though I think it would be cool to see one scuttling after your enemy. They would look great with an undead hunter.
The IDs that come with a map showing their location look like they are from the dungeon that fatboss ran through not too long ago. The models they came across were that of outland crust busters. Granted they were place holder models but the way the fight and the location are set up makes it clear that the boss and his two centipede adds are meant to be upright monsters hidden half way under the water much like the first boss in BWD rather than something with a full body model.
So I wont get my hopes up for this one even though I hope I'm wrong.

[Kurasu]

Speaking of hydras! Have the golden hydras shown up again yet?

[Qraljar]

I would not hold my breath for a pet centipede even though I think it would be cool to see one scuttling after your enemy. They would look great with an undead hunter.
The IDs that come with a map showing their location look like they are from the dungeon that fatboss ran through not too long ago. The models they came across were that of outland crust busters. Granted they were place holder models but the way the fight and the location are set up makes it clear that the boss and his two centipede adds are meant to be upright monsters hidden half way under the water much like the first boss in BWD rather than something with a full body model.
So I wont get my hopes up for this one even though I hope I'm wrong.

That was my concern as well. But then there are also normal centipedes and the one that currently uses the jormungar model. Plus, jormungars also had two models: one half underground, and the other a full-bodied model. Maybe the same will happen here as well!? Fingers crossed!

[Lisaara]

Kunchong, that is all. Want.

[Qraljar]

Kunchong, that is all. Want.

*fives that high*

[Lisaara]

Kunchong, that is all. Want.

*fives that high*

[SpiritBinder]

I've been waiting for an updated tarantula model for ages! D: I love that spiders got so much attention over the years, they have quite a large and varied family when it comes to tameable models, but Blizzard seems to stick with the regular look and skeleton. Tarantulas would be so cute and fluffy with new models and perhaps some tweaked animations.

This ^

As much as I sometimes find their running animation a bit funny looking at high speed (running next to a mount) with their flurry of whirling tarantula toes, they have never received any kind of upgrade and remain untouched since vanilla and they are so dam cool!

With what they can do with model upgrades these days, I'm just chomping at the the bit for them to do an updated version of these. The variants that are available in RL and what else they could add to them in wow, they could be sooooooooo dam good

Sorry I just cant help my self.....

[Vephriel]

*hugs piles of tarantulas* Yes please! ♥

[Niabi]

Ahh I've been waiting for an updated tarantula model for ages! D: I love that spiders got so much attention over the years, they have quite a large and varied family when it comes to tameable models, but Blizzard seems to stick with the regular look and skeleton. Tarantulas would be so cute and fluffy with new models and perhaps some tweaked animations.

I'll second this notion! Those poor old tarantula models are in desperate need of some lovin'. Hyenas and tallstriders as well! They've been lacking in the love department too.

I don't expect it to happen overnight but eventually, Blizzard should update the pixel count on all vanilla-era beasts.

[Lisaara]

Blue or purple spiders!

[Vephriel]

Ahh I've been waiting for an updated tarantula model for ages! D: I love that spiders got so much attention over the years, they have quite a large and varied family when it comes to tameable models, but Blizzard seems to stick with the regular look and skeleton. Tarantulas would be so cute and fluffy with new models and perhaps some tweaked animations.

I'll second this notion! Those poor old tarantula models are in desperate need of some lovin'. Hyenas as well! They've been lacking in the love department too.

I don't expect it to happen overnight but eventually, Blizzard should update the pixel count on all vanilla-era beasts.

Yeah, I'm sure it's a huge undertaking, but if they can pull it off as well as they did for, say, the new core hound it would be so wonderful! A lot of the Vanilla era mobs are showing their age. I'm not getting my hopes up, but perhaps they'll at least give us updates here and there if a particular model is used in something new and they have reason to make a revamped version.

[tillamooke]

Quick question. I know we all are excited for Azeroth, Thunder Hydras, and Chimaeron. But has anyone been able to check outland hydras yet? I love their look as well.

They are!