Speculation: Number of new species introduced in expansions?

[Vephriel]

I just wanted to take a moment to think on how many new tameable pet families we tend to get with every expansion. TBC started by giving us 6 new species to tame. We were really spoiled in WotLK with a total of 9 new families introduced. Sadly in Cataclysm we dropped back down to only 5. It's hard to make a trend out of those, but I would hope we get at least 5 and not drop down to the lowest amount yet, hard to say though.

The Burning Crusade: 6
•Dragonhawks
•Nether Rays
•Ravagers
•Serpents
•Sporebats
•Warp Stalkers

Wrath of the Lich King: 9
•Chimaeras
•Core Hounds
•Devilsaurs
•Moths
•Rhinos
•Silithids
•Spirit Beasts
•Wasps
•Worms

Cataclysm: 5
•Beetles
•Dogs
•Foxes
•Monkeys
•Shale Spiders

Mists of Pandaria: 6
•Basilisks
•Cranes
•Goats
•Porcupines
•Quilen
•Water Striders


EDIT: Since we now have 6 confirmed new species, it's possible that's all we'll get. It's more than we got in Cataclysm, and on par with TBC. I personally hope we have another surprise beast or two that'll make it in, but at least we have 6 new ones.

For Pandarian beasts you could say:
-Quilin (if not put into a cat or dog family)
-Mushan beasts
-Water striders
-Beavers (maybe in the same family as porcupines?)
-Yaks
-Goats

But we could also have old world creatures such as:
-Hydras
-Basilisks
-Diemetradons
-Pterrordaxes
-Clefthooves
-Kodos
-Thunder lizards
-Mana worms
-Ungulates (Stags, zhevras, talbuks)
etc.

Anyways, just thought it was fun to anticipate there must be more in store for us, with some hopeful speculation on my part. ^^

[cowmuflage]

I was gunna say you where wrong about the moths but no your not XD Could of sworn you could get one in BC

[Vephriel]

Haha, trust me, I originally listed them there myself but then thought a moment and remembered they were late comers.

[Chimera]

whoa moths werent tameable till wrath!?!? @_@

and im reeeeeallllly hoping for beavers, otters, basilisks, pterrordax's, and hydras.

Reeeeeeeealllllyyyy hoping.

<(^_^)>

[Miacoda]

*gets down on her hands and knees and BEGS for Pterrodaxes and Diemetradons*

How much begging do I have to do?!? D:

[Kalliope]

Excellent memory!

Looks good.

[Wain]

Prairie dogs and related rodent critters! Their family special would be "diamond blade" where they slice their opponent open with the sharp edges of their three-polygon heads.

Actually, if I had to purely guess at new families I'd say basilisks, hydras, mushan, mana wurms, quilin. Though quilin may be dogs or cats, quite possibly "foo dogs".

I'd love to see diemetradons in, but not grouped with basilisks. They may use similar models but they're not similar beasts in practice at all. One eats rock and petrifies its target, the other is a fire-breather (at least in some cases). I'd hope they'd both be given their own specials.

Clefthooves would be a very easy addition as rhinos. Not just because of the similar model but because they function in a similar way and basically look like they're meant to be "Outland Rhinos", much as we have Outland basilisks, wind serpents, etc. It'd cost them very little in effort to add them and flesh out a very tiny family.

[cowmuflage]

Well diemetradons are similar in that they are related to em but in saying that they would fit in the croc family that skill fits them.

[Vephriel]

Lolol on the critters.

Oops, you're right, I think while I was filling out the last lists I was thinking in terms of similar models so I grouped them together by habit. I definitely wouldn't want them in the same family either, I'll go list them individually. I could easily see clefthooves in rhinos, and maybe creatures like kodos and mushans together.

[Wain]

Well diemetradons are similar in that they are related to em but in saying that they would fit in the croc family that skill fits them.

Oh has that been established in the game somewhere that they're related? I didn't realize. Do you happen to remember where?

[cowmuflage]

Well diemetradons are similar in that they are related to em but in saying that they would fit in the croc family that skill fits them.

Oh has that been established in the game somewhere that they're related? I didn't realize. Do you happen to remember where?

Eh I'm most likely wrong as I read it on Wowpedia. XD But all their pages say they are related like the diemetradon one was they are ' a finned, primitive relative of the crocolisk" and the Basilisks one says "they are heavily-armored, six-legged lizards which are related to the crocolisk"

:/ Ah well guess I'm wrong

[Wain]

Ah Wowpedia is great, but many of their old articles take their info directly from the RPG sourcebooks, which at the time were assumed to relate to the MMO as well, unless proven otherwise. But Blizzard has now officially said that the RPG is non-canonical. Whatever is in the RPG was made up for the convenience of the RPG and may be completely different to the MMO when the developers decide to address it there.

Having said that, what's the chance that a group of six-legged reptilians evolved not once but three times? So they're probably related anyway. Hmm, although life on Azeroth was created, so maybe the evolution thing isn't a valid argument here

[cowmuflage]

Ah I see I hope one day theres a bit of info on that subject maybe like a archeology fossil or something.

[SpiritBinder]

(Note: Birds of Prey and Carrion Birds were separated in this expansion (if I recall correctly), so I guess you could sort of think of that as a new family as well)

That and even though they are birds of prey, we also got our 1st tamable parrot too in wrath.

I'm guessing also that cranes will fall into the tall strider family, even though they are a very different looking bird to be honest, just the same animations.

Personally I would <3 to see Thunder lizards and Mana Worms. Not the most popular choices that people ask for, but those 2 I have strong memories of seeing for the 1st time and thinking.... Oh wow, I'd love to tame one of those!

Oh the dreams of a young hunter when you thought you could tame the world!

[Kalliope]

(Note: Birds of Prey and Carrion Birds were separated in this expansion (if I recall correctly), so I guess you could sort of think of that as a new family as well)

That and even though they are birds of prey, we also got our 1st tamable parrot too in wrath.

Ooh, and our first eagles! Also birds of prey, but these additions were why birds of prey got renamed to that anyway.

[Wassa]

(Note: Birds of Prey and Carrion Birds were separated in this expansion (if I recall correctly), so I guess you could sort of think of that as a new family as well)

Birds of Prey and Carrion Birds were always different families. You are thinking that the Bird of Prey family was once called the Owl family and was renamed in Wrath to add eagles, hawks, and parrots. So, not a new family. Just a rename.

[Meggers]

Hnnng, hoping for hydras and basilisks myself.

[Miacoda]

OGOD I FORGOT THUNDER LIZARDS/STEGODONS.

*gets down on hands and knees and begs for Stegodons as well*

Thank you for reminding me, Spirit!

[Akyo]

myself im hopeing for mana wurms, peterrodaxes, marsh striders, sharks(what?!) and the serpent dragonkins from Northrend to be switched to tameable beasts, cause...really they come of as very lesser dragons, more beast in nature and mindset than dragon to me.

[Kalliope]

Thunder lizards, stegodons, diemetradons, and pterrordaxes could be folded into devilsaurs, though I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of a dinosaur family (devilsaur at least sounds different, you know?). Still, kind of appropriate....