Demonic Theme!
Sangria, the Red Bat
I've actually always been tempted to try out a bat, since I think they're neat, and I actually love them in real life. Unfortunately, my love of wolves and cats, combined with their better special abilities for PvE, kept me within those families for the most part. So this was a great excuse to really give a bat a try.
I'm actually pretty impressed with how well this model has held up over the years. Granted, it could probably use a few more polygons, but compared to some other vanilla-era models, it's pretty damn good! Plus I love how big he is at 85, although I can imagine that could be pretty annoying in some situations, with his wings getting in the way of everything.
There is one thing that bugs me about all bats though, and that's this:
The gap between the front and hind legs where the wing membrane doesn't actually attach to the body. I know it was done on purpose, so bats could be used as taxis, but it still irritates me when I notice it.
I headed to the Molten Front to beat up some of the mobs there and try out my new pets in combat. I enjoy the chittering sound Sangria make when he heads to attack something, but his actual in-combat sounds get really old, really quick. That's unfortunate. Still, he held his own very well against a lava burster; he seems like a nice, sturdy pet who can also dish out some respectable damage.
Arioch, the Red Demon Dog
From way back in vanilla I'd wished the demon dogs were actually beasts instead of demons, so I was thrilled when they were turned into wolves back in Wrath. I used one for a little while, but ended up switching back to a saber worg before long, mostly because back then the demon dog movements didn't seem quite right; they never seemed to run alongside you, only waddle very quickly.
So the first thing I noticed was my new hound actually -shrank- after I tamed him! He ended up downright dinky, even at 85. That was a little disappointing. I love his model though, pretty much everything about it: the big teeth, the mane, his huge paws and their massive claws. It's just a neat look all around.
His animations are great too. While idle, he'll sometimes bounce and snap at the air, as if saying, "Hurry up! Stop standing around! Let's go find some people to bite!" His running animation is a very smooth, bounding sort of gait that I find really appealing. Even his sounds are awesome, the way he snarls as he attacks. It was great fun watching him chew on his former dwarven masters in Blackrock Depths.
Against the Lava Burster, Arioch was less sturdy than Sangria, but definitely still held his own, dishing out some good damage by himself before I stepped in to lend a hand.
I might actually be keeping this little guy around.
Brute, the Red Felboar
Now this is a family that's totally new to me. I've never had a boar pet, and never been interested in one. None of them struck my fancy at all. So this tame was a totally new experience!
Right after I tamed my new Brute, I noticed his idle animations are actually pretty cute and fun. He'll swing his head back and forth, or snuffle at the ground and wiggle his butt. It's surprisingly adorable! And his run just made me laugh; it's this flailing sort of gallop that makes me giggle every time I see it.
Conveniently, right as Brute and I were getting to know each other, a Fel Reaver came wandering by. I immediately sicced my new boar on it to see what he could do, and he kicked that robot's ass, without me ever seeing a change in his health. Then he came galumphing back to me, as smug as you please. I'm finding him a lot more appealing than I thought I would!
I was surprised at how well Brute did against the Lava Burster (poor worm, he just can't get a break from me today). Not only did his Silverback talent (growl heals him) keep him above 85% health the whole time, but he killed the Burster almost as fast as a ferocity or cunning pet. I was pretty impressed!
Reliq, the Orange Ravager
I haven't used a ravager since back in my Burning Crusade days, and I actually ended up hating them, thanks to a rather tyrannical raid leader who forced all his hunters to use them, under the threat of not raiding if we didn't. So I haven't touched a ravager since I left that guild back in early 2008 or so. This is going to be interesting.
The orange and black look is one of the best ones out there. It's very striking! I like it a lot, although my favorite will always be the orange and purple you see on the Gore-Scythes up in Blade's Edge. I'm not sure what I make of all the spikes and big teeth and apparently eternal crankiness, though. And how exactly do ravagers eat?
I actually really like the insectile skittering sound Reliq makes as he runs, as it suits the bug-like look of a ravager. He could do with another set of legs though, maybe.
In battle with that poor, beleaguered Lava Burster... well, unfortunately all I can find to say is that Reliq performed as well as any other cunning pet. I just don't find him terribly appealing as a pet, either because of my experiences back in Burning Crusade, or the family just doesn't strike my fancy.
Ravage, the Fel Raptor
First things first: I love the wicked grin that the spiked raptors seem to have. It's just great and really helps give them some personality.
Raptors in general are another family whose running animation is just so aesthetically pleasing to me. Hell, all their animations are! I've always loved watching the way a raptor leaps up and claws at the enemy with their massive toe talons. And when they walk, they just kind of strut, like they -know- they're cool.
Against our old foe, the Lava Burster, Ravage was a beast. It was really amazing to watch him; he really seemed like a fierce, savage warrior, going up against the magma worm with everything that he had. He was going to disembowel it, and have fun doing it! I think he could be a lot of fun to quest with.
All in all, I was surprised at how much I ended up liking four out of five of these pets, the boar especially. Although I'll be releasing Sangria, Brute, and Reliq back into the wild, I think Arioch and Ravage will be finding a permanent home in my stable.
...I hope Arioch can get along with all my cats...
tyvm!! <3
(the Huntress) 
The one called cat is going to be named Phantom when I log on, because he's the ghost saber =D and the others are actually the sabretooth cat mount-ish model =p
