So, I stopped playing for about 6 months after my last assignment. When I came back, I kept putting it off. With Cleaning out my stables I had to let her go. Fortunately, all the pictures I took before I stopped over a year ago. So, here is my report.
I was assigned the yellow classic raptor model.
I decided to tame the Razormaw Matriach cause at the time I was farming the minipets for the gifts for friends. I forget how long it took, but ironically when I tamed her there was a nest up right next to her. It was an easy tame with me being 85 and she being 25.
First thing I do is really look at the model. For being an older model it has weathered very well.
Top - I have to admit the best thing about this model is the stripes. They did an excellent job with the colors and still making it look natural.
Side - Being an older model it is more blocky then new models. You can really see how they prioitized on the model. The arms and the feet are especially blocky, but the head back and tail and a smooth grace to them
Feather Close up - The jewelery is one of the key aspects of the classic raptor models. I was impressed with how good the feathers still looked despite the clipping.
Front - One of the things that really struck me is how they eyes are set more like a prey species than a predator. Predators ten to have forward facing vision, while prey tend towards close to 360 vision as they can. I've read the comments before about the eyes bugging out of the sockets, but that didn't really bother me. Unfortunately the seam where the two textures meet at the front of the muzzle is very evident.
Direct
Front Angled - One of the things about this model is the lips jut out a fair distance from the teeth. Which looks weird to me. It is even more evident in the idle animation.
Idle animation - The raptor opens and closes her mouth sways, her tail back and forth, bobs the head and does the typical raptor claw tapping. I gave up on trying to express it with pictures you just have to see it yourself. You can see what I'm talking about with the lips here.
Tallis was easy to name. It popped into my mind soon after getting her. I also knew I was going to be letting her go. It was pretty obvious she only came along to make sure her baby ended up in a good home. I think she wanted to check out my raptor Borealis to see if he'd treat all my baby raptors ok. I was rather surprised how quickly her personality expressed it self. Classic raptor faces are very stiff and severe. I'd forgotten about body language. Raptors have wonderful animations from there attacks, their running and their idle animation.(only exception is swimming and I'll cover that later) They show a lot of energy and bounciness. Some of it might be because I tamed the Matriach who I always viewed as the queen who ruled that area. What is a group of raptors called?
At anyrate, first thing I did back then with my challenges was take them soloing on dailies in TB. Tank was harder for her then it was for the beatle and turtle I had done previously. But, with mend pet, dps, and gift of Naru we made it though. Here are some pictures of her attack animation.
This is their jump strike which is there basic attack animation. They jump in the air and rack the enemy with all four claws. Blood spurts when they land.
The other main attack animation is when they do rake their family special.
When they take damage their head sort twists to the side and they follow it up with a claw and bite.
Which brings us to the swimming animation. Raptors were one of the last of the classic pets families to receive a swimming animation. It is a shame that it isn't as smooth as the read of the raptor animations. They use there claws and tail to swim. Unfortunately when they lower their head to be stream line they get the kink you see below..
I did find a home for that other baby raptor.
Even though I sorta forgot about her, I like to think she helped take care of all my baby raptors while I was gone. In the end though, she had to go back and take care of her group raptors. So, we took her back and said good bye.
I've always been a fan of the outland's Raptor. But, giving this model a good hard look helped me appreciate the detailing in her skin.
edit: oh and I'd like another.
Name: Akycha
Level: 85
Exotics: yes
Restrictions: not that I can think of at the moment.
Congrats again on the wedding. We look forward to seeing more of your reports here. 
