This thread isn't for new pets or pet families we'd like to see - there are other threads for that. This is all about mechanics and systems.
I'll get it started. Feel free to add things as they occur to you, and I'll get a list started
Pet specs:
I feel we really need to switch back to a system where our pets can change specs again. At the very least, *all* pet families should have access to Ferocity, plus at least one other. I can understand if they don't want to allow thin and fragile looking pets to be Tenacity, or gigantic, stocky pets to be Cunning, so I'm not asking for all pets to have access to all three specs (though that would be good too). But all should at least have access to Ferocity. The change away from the flexible system meant that suddenly a lot of pet families dropped out of favour and hunters are avoiding them.
Remove the "Exotic" category on pet families:
In short, I believe strongly that the "exotic" category should be removed and instead ALL families should offer a bonus ability for Beast Masters.
- BM players would no longer feel pressured to use a narrow range of families.
- All families would offer something special for Beast Masters, so BM would become a spec for "getting extra tricks out of any pet" rather than "taming a slightly wider range of pets".
- Other specs could then tame any family they like, they just wouldn't get the bonus ability.
- These days, the "Exotic" category no longer makes a lot of sense. It was different when Exotics were first added and there were fewer families, and even fewer exotic-looking things. Now we're in a situation where any hunter can tame fantastic flaming birds, progenitor wolves, and pink elekks, but for some reason only beast masters can tame mundane clefthooves.
- Spirit Beasts: I propose dissolving Spirit Beasts as a separate family and making each a "Spirit" type within their related families (all existing spirit beasts have regular family counterparts they can join), mirroring how undead types are effecitvely sub-classes of their respective families. Optionally, the ability to tame "Spirit" types could remain BM-only. For abilities they'd get the regular ability of their related family (so a spirit wolf would get the wolf family ability) and an exotic 'spirit' ability that is common to all spirit beasts, for BM players. I thought this proposal would be the most controversial, but the replies in previous threads where this was mentioned have been very supportive.
Following animations:
It would be nice, visually, if pet models that have flying animations use them when in "follow run" mode. if the player is in walk mode, they could default to walk (or run). Some flying models look pretty ridiculous hopping along behind players at high speeds, their ground animations were never designed for that.