Opinion on MoP Tracking Pet Timers?

[starkittens]

I hope these pets are under 4 hours.
I remember my first camp for Loque...
I stayed up for three nights hunting for that cat.
I do not want to do that again.

[SpiritBinder]

Yeah, I'd like between 3-6 hours.

I would be happy with something similar to this also. I think something a little on the lower side as it also coincides with the actual tracking and flushing of the pet out, which can also add more time. I don't mind 12hr+ spawns on spawned mobs, it doesn't take much brain power or talent to just sit there afk with NPC scanner running.

That and as much as these guys are so wonderful, they are still elite spawns none the less, that compared to other rares, they don't drop fancy loot, mounts, etc.

(though there will be no doubt that some of these beauties will be worth a lot more than that for some )

[Ziarre]

I don't want it as short as two hours because I don't want it too easy, but I feel that timer there is short enough to be sane while just long enough to still give a challenge. Longer than that combined with the tracking aspect could lead to some very frustrated hunters--I'll roll with whatever they give us, but I would fully understand the upset of others if the timers are too long, as I wouldn't be entirely thrilled about it myself.

[Novikova]

I would say a shorter timer doesn't necessarily make it *too* easy. You still need to follow tracks, deal with other hunters et al. Call me an ADD addled squirrel, but two hours isn't honestly that short of a time to spend running around following a trail. It's not two hours I can just sit there with NPCscanner and do other stuff.

[Ziarre]

I'm ADHD too. That's why I don't want it longer than 6, because that much is enough of an exercise in willpower-not-to-wander-off for me.

[Taeliana]

Frankly, I think the spawn timer should be very low, approximately an hour. Given that, as other posters have said, they should spawn at a random point on their path to prevent people from just camping the spawn point and waiting for the first track to appear.

First off, tracking these things is difficult. Most of them zig and zag like crazy, some path through level 90 elites (Hexapos!), tracks are frequently spaced too widely or are made invisible due to the terrain (Bristlespine!).

Secondly, the competition for these will be fierce. Already, yesterday, when the servers restarted there were three hunters positioned at the spawn point for Portent when the restart was announced. I was one of them, and had the good fortune to be the first one on, and so got the tame. But if the spawn points are always the same, it will essentially become an NPCscan-less version of the same rare camping we have currently on live.

Third, even though the skins are unique, most of them are not super-exceptional. Aside from Hexapos and Patty, most of the track-tames' skins are very similar to common skins scattered throughout Pandaria. I'm not complaining by any means! The fact that they gave us this mechanic at all is awesome, a fun little mini-game for hunters ONLY. But really, the mini-game is what's important, more so than the skins themselves. I'd prefer to have the beasts up very frequently and spawned randomly so that all hunters can have a chance to enjoy the adventure of tracking these down.

So yeah, my vote is for an EXTREMELY low spawn timer, and random spawn points along the beasts path.

[Kalliope]

I am in complete agreement regarding extra spawn points. Being able to camp a spawn really feels like cheating and it certainly goes against the spirit of the challenge.

[Ziarre]

I agree with random spawn points, disagree with a timer as low as an hour. The only rares that have that short of a timer are super-low level, and the result is that they're almost always up. Even with tracking, where's the challenge in that? Not much, if you know it's almost guaranteed to be there. Besides, the initial timer on beta was around an hour, and they said it was only that short for testing. Wouldn't get your hopes up for a timer that short, imo.

[Taeliana]

I agree with random spawn points, disagree with a timer as low as an hour. The only rares that have that short of a timer are super-low level, and the result is that they're almost always up. Even with tracking, where's the challenge in that? Not much, if you know it's almost guaranteed to be there. Besides, the initial timer on beta was around an hour, and they said it was only that short for testing. Wouldn't get your hopes up for a timer that short, imo.

Well, maybe an hour is a little crazy.

Maybe like, four hours then

My hopes definitely aren't up though. I'm assuming it will be like, 12-24 hours...i like to set my expectations low even while I wish for great things, it prevents a lot of disappointment!

[Ziarre]

Yeah, that's why I'm hoping for 3-6. The lower end of that would still be pretty close to low-level rares, but not as much. The higher end of that would be more in line with most Wrath and Cataclysm tamable rares, but not so much as to make us tear our hair out.

[Novikova]

I don't think an hour or two is unreasonable. Sure, I liked being able to park with NPCscanner and do other stuff, but I seem to be in the minority. Bear in mind, like it was said, competition will be fierce and once it's flared out... someone could easily yank it from you. An hour or two is still a pretty healthy amount of time to do circles. Also, I'm old and grad school will eat my soul.

But I suspect 2-6 is more likely.

[Kalliope]

I'm sitting on a timer that's over 6h now.

[starkittens]

I'm sitting on a timer that's over 6h now.

Same here for Savage. Sat at his spawn point, ran over his entire path (as I don't have flying yet. fuuuu you Jade panthers.)) every thirty min....
nothing yet.
I quite and gave up after 8 hours of doing that though.

[SpiritBinder]

I'm sitting on a timer that's over 6h now.

Same here for Savage. Sat at his spawn point, ran over his entire path (as I don't have flying yet. fuuuu you Jade panthers.)) every thirty min....
nothing yet.
I quite and gave up after 8 hours of doing that though.

Yikes

[Kalliope]

Timer has passed 7h. This is definitely the longest I've sat at one point yet with nothing.

[Ziarre]

Oof. Was hoping it wouldn't go that long.

It still stands that the only rare spawns that go under 2 hours are very low-level. These are 85-90. Heck, the Molten Front spiders are at least 12 hours and they're up all the time on Suramar now that the initial rush is over.

[starkittens]

Timer has passed 7h. This is definitely the longest I've sat at one point yet with nothing.

I Hope you get the timer soon.
If it's over 12 hours, I'm going to scream. I'd be in school by the time MOP is released, and I will not have the time to camp my Savage...
He's currently the only rare that has my interest right now. well, maybe the pink crane too.

[Kalliope]

Welp, I think he may have been confused by the unplanned restart. He showed up pretty close to the 8h mark....and in the color I was looking for.

I'll be able to more steadily report after my nerves settle down. >_<

[Ziarre]

8 hours? Not surprising, albeit slightly disappointing.

[Kalliope]

On the plus side, it's gotta be the high end. I don't recall seeing any of them go this long before.