Curse

entropy · Nov 26, 2005, 04:44 AM // 04:44

The pets run behind me and when I target they get stuck on me

WTF. They really need to work on that.

twicky_kid · Nov 26, 2005, 05:45 AM // 05:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Order Of Thy Sword

looking over your posts on this site makes me think you really dislike this game. If youre always going to be so damn negative about it find something else to play that you can enjoy.

I enjoy this game very much. Think about it. How many other games have teams with AI that give you command options? Just about any shooter off the top of my head has been doing it for years. Why couldn't that be implemented into the AI. Commands let you control how you want the battle to flow instead of resting the battle on teamates that are in automated land. Just give me U2k4's command system for Henches and pets. I'd be a happy man.

The AI has been a constant tweak. Until the AoE AI it has been a long gap between changing.

Plague · Nov 26, 2005, 06:20 AM // 06:20

I only have (and have had ever since I first played) a problem with Beast Mastery's skill limitations.

Charm Animal and Comfort Animal are ridiculous "skills." One lets you USE an attribute line and the other lets you KEEP it.

I suppose the idea is that having a pet is beneficial since you basically get two players. But honestly, no, no you don't. Having a pet with low Beast Mastery is a waste of attribute points. Having very high Beast Mastery is wasted unless you fill up your skillbar with Beast Mastery skills. So, you're effectively left with 6 skills to use opposed to the normal 8 of any other build in the entire game. You can drop Comfort Animal if you'd like, but if the pet dies, your entire skill bar is rendered useless, as this is the only skill in the entire game that can rez a pet. The only thing you can do is use physical attacks.

I can deal with having a pure Beast Mastery build, and basically letting MY PET be the actual fighter (while I sit in a chair and point since my character is now a wimp), but this Charm/Comfort Animal crap needs to stop. It's been a major complaint for months upon months now. Certainly something being a major complaint doesn't make it right, but I'd take a stand and sign a petition on this.

I suppose A.Net is being stubborn about it and refuses to believe they're wrong, or that this simple thing cannot be embettered (as is their belief with many things in the game).

But please:

*Make pets rezzable with normal monk skills, but less effective
*Make Charm Animal have some beneficial affect
*Make Comfort Animal have some beneficial (active) affect
*Combine Charm and Comfort Animal
*do something

Jenosavel · Nov 26, 2005, 02:55 PM // 14:55

I would like to mention to those who complain the pet's damage needs a buff: pets can get a +15% modifier like a bow does... it's called the Dire evolution.

Aside from that, I think my thoughts have already been stated by Ensign and Epinephrine. Mainly, fix the pet AI. That one factor is what makes most people laugh at pets from a competetive stand point. As someone already stated, with the prevalence of IWAY teams out there the time is ripe for a Beast Master team to take the day and possibly be the next flavor of the month. However, that really isn't going to happen. As Ensign noted, the majority of pet skills need to be used tactically, and with the pet AI in its current state that is all but impossible. I've been playing a Beast Master for a long, long time now, and I will say that the only pet attack skills I even consider using at this point are Ferocious Strike, Predator's Pounce, Feral Lunge, and Distrupting Lunge. Unless you plan on sitting on one target, and on target only until it's down, then the rest require control over the pet that we just don't have at this point in time.

Once the pet AI is dealt with, then ANet, if you feel generous, doing something about how inefficient Comfort Animal is would be much appreciated as well. I think this thread was quite interesting on that subject, and even if you disagree it's well worth the read.

jibikao · Nov 26, 2005, 04:51 PM // 16:51

I am sorry but IWAY is really not a pet build at all. I doubt those Warriors have high beast mastery. All they want is Pet's body... just like Smiting Pet.

It's sad that pet shines better through secondary class.

Pure Beast Master is just not competitive enough. Things you can do with pure BM, you can do better with bow and have much better control. When you play in 8v8, most people have Ward against Melee and your pet is melee.

I think Skill Disable and Charm are designed to stop Necro from abusing pets.

jibikao · Nov 26, 2005, 05:11 PM // 17:11

Do you think Beast Mastery will be overpowering if Charm + Comfort are combined? That will save us one more skill slot!!!

Align · Nov 26, 2005, 05:42 PM // 17:42

Maybe if pets attacked with the used skill to the target you have selected, regardless of whether youre attacking the target or not? And also regardless of what the pet is already attacking, if anything. Then you'd have pinpoint control of the little guy(minus the delay for him to get in range and "launch" the attack).
That'd be nice.

Jenosavel · Nov 26, 2005, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibikao

I am sorry but IWAY is really not a pet build at all. I doubt those Warriors have high beast mastery. All they want is Pet's body... just like Smiting Pet.

That was the point... If everyone expects you to have a very bad pet that's only there to be killed, all the better for you if you want that pet to survive. People's reation to IWAY would be a boon to a Beast Master team; hence why I think the natural evolution of the meta-game should see IWAY lead to at least some increase in Beast Master teams. That, however, isn't really happening, and most likely won't with the current state of the pet AI.

audioaxes · Nov 26, 2005, 06:20 PM // 18:20

beast mastery is NOT underpowered.... i have been running some VERY effective builds in 4v4's that i kept secret yet now see many trying to similar builds lately

however it still needs to be "debugged"
they should add an interface that allows you to control your pet more efficiently. Like have 2 commands: attack and follow. This would allow you to lock your pet on a certain target without it trying to run back to you and change targets better.

Align · Nov 26, 2005, 08:33 PM // 20:33

No interface. If there isn't one for henchmen or minions, there shouldn't be one for pets either.

iotc247 · Nov 26, 2005, 08:46 PM // 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Align

No interface. If there isn't one for henchmen or minions, there shouldn't be one for pets either.

I think there should be an interface. You don't own henchman. They are for hire so they can do as they please. However your pet is YOUR pet. You own it. If you want it to bark it should bark. (Get the picture?) And for the reason minions don't have one, how do you expect to control something you just raised from the dead? How would you control the 5+ minions you have, at the same time?

knives · Nov 26, 2005, 09:01 PM // 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Align

No interface. If there isn't one for henchmen or minions, there shouldn't be one for pets either.

Yes, because I want to watch over my 50+ minions with an interface that has a tiny scrollbar. Minions don't have any attacks, they just hit and smash, why do you need an interface? I admit it is a hassle to target a minion for death nova, but that shouldn't really be the problem.

Align · Nov 26, 2005, 09:21 PM // 21:21

Pets dont have any attacks either... you have player skills for that.

jibikao · Nov 26, 2005, 10:54 PM // 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by audioaxes

beast mastery is NOT underpowered.... i have been running some VERY effective builds in 4v4's that i kept secret yet now see many trying to similar builds lately

however it still needs to be "debugged"
they should add an interface that allows you to control your pet more efficiently. Like have 2 commands: attack and follow. This would allow you to lock your pet on a certain target without it trying to run back to you and change targets better.

I think most beast masters don't feel they are "underpowered" but there are certainly a lot of things that need to be improved in order to stay competitive.

I prefer using Beast Mastery in 4v4 than in 8v8 because pets/players block each other in 8v8 situation. 4v4 is just fine. There are plenty of places to run around (except for that Lava stage, on the bridge where pets get stuck very often).

I've been a BM for 6 months now and I do win a lot of games with beast mastery. But you and I know that BM is not competitive enough in 8v8 battles.

I think putting Charm + Comfort Animal together is a great idea. I don't think it would be too overpowering because you still need high BM lvl to make it worthwhile and pets are bad without pet skills.

knives · Nov 26, 2005, 11:25 PM // 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Align

Pets dont have any attacks either... you have player skills for that.

Umm..what were you saying?

iotc247 · Nov 27, 2005, 12:32 AM // 00:32

As knives pointed out, pets do have attacks. They are just activated via the player.

Eet GnomeSmasher · Nov 27, 2005, 01:50 AM // 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Align

Pets dont have any attacks either... you have player skills for that.

Just how ignorant can you get? And stop comparing pets to minions. They're completely different playstyles and mechanics.

It's strange how you said in one post that pets shouldnt get their own interface....then you turn around and say that there are no pet skills because the skills are on the player's skill bar. So you've contradicted yourself in a way.

twicky_kid · Nov 27, 2005, 02:01 AM // 02:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eet GnomeSmasher

Just how ignorant can you get? And stop comparing pets to minions. They're completely different playstyles and mechanics.

It's strange how you said in one post that pets shouldnt get their own interface....then you turn around and say that there are no pet skills because the skills are on the player's skill bar. So you've contradicted yourself in a way.

don't worry about people like this. a simple command interface with the number pad's keys would work wonders and be very simplistic.

no need to start a flame war over some BM. Anet knows what to look at and what not to look at.

Maxiemonster · Nov 27, 2005, 02:13 AM // 02:13

I agree. That would extend the Rangers limits alot, making it a far more intresting class. If you ask me, people saying this game is all about skill. It's true, there's a big difference between people their skill, though, it's still too limited if you ask me.

jesh · Nov 27, 2005, 02:19 AM // 02:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by twicky_kid

no need to start a flame war over some BM. Anet knows what to look at and what not to look at.

Yeah, that's why we're getting an assassin class, and most suggestions have gone to the trash that would greatly improve the game.
Guess what I think? I doubt that Arena Net has barely even played their game. They probably outsource that job to people in India who will tell them what they want to hear for 30 cents a day.
I've seen Gaile Grey in game before, and guess what, she was wearing pre searing armor. So much time invested, I can tell.
Of course they have better things to do.. like advertising, which is non existant, or promising things always around the corner. At any rate, I sincerely doubt we'll see any change to the beast mastery system anytime soon, especially in the AI department, for one simple reason.
People are used to things being like they are; pets are too dumb to be useful. If anyone went and changed this, "omg wtf a bear just ate me! haxx!!!shiftoen!!" People would have a freaking hissy fit, just like the change in the AI for the AoE recently.
So just to reiterate, change BM, ANet. And then ignore us, because you already are.