Curse

Ardus Shadowmane · Jun 08, 2005, 06:25 AM // 06:25

I'm a lvl 14 R/W and my Stalker Temple is lvl 14 as well. I've had the same problem as a couple of you now I'm finally to areas post-sear where I can tame new animals, and now that I'm ready to dump her on a Tamer, I find myself attached to her. Stupid cat. Plus, if I tamed a snow wolf it'd start at 5. I'm sure that it does level up faster until it catches up to me, but how long will I have to run around so that he can level up before I can get back to the game proper?
Ah well, I suppose it doesn't matter too much, as I need to run around solo for a while anyway and get some gold. Good chance to level up pet back in Old Ascalon area if I choose to get a new one.
I'm able to solo with Temple quite well and always have been. It seems to me people are trying to look at a pet as a second character when they decide to dump it as useless. I see it as being a second weapon. Between my bow and my Stalker, I do good damage. Also, just as I have skills tied into my bow, so too do I have skills to make my stalker a more effective weapon. I love being a Ranger.

Phoenix Denfer · Jun 08, 2005, 02:56 PM // 14:56

After reading about "Oink" here I just had to see for myself what it would be like to have a warthog.

Let me say, wtihout a doubt, this pet ranks up there huge on the cuteness scale. I just love how "Pork Chop" head butts the enemy.

Here's my pre searing elementist at Piken Square with her new little friend.

edited to add: I'm not following about feral lunge. It appears to be working for me as I see the cat draw blood much more prominantly after the last update. What clues were you seeing that indicated it was a problem? *plesae don't read that as anything but a geniune inquirey as I would like to understand better how to determine if a spell/attack is working the way it should.* Thank you in advance - Phoenix

Rhedd · Jun 08, 2005, 03:26 PM // 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenix Denfer

edited to add: I'm not following about feral lunge. It appears to be working for me as I see the cat draw blood much more prominantly after the last update. What clues were you seeing that indicated it was a problem? *plesae don't read that as anything but a geniune inquirey as I would like to understand better how to determine if a spell/attack is working the way it should.* Thank you in advance - Phoenix

Adorable pig!

Your question didn't seem like anything other than a question. I don't know why anyone would take it any other way. ^-^

According to the skill description, Feral Lunge, at my level (9 Beastmastery) should make an opponent bleed (slowly lose life, with a pink life bar) for 16 seconds.

I never actually timed it before the lastest update, but I'd say it probably did just that.

The very first time I logged in after the update, I noticed that monsters were ceasing to bleed (life bar went back to red, no slow life degen) after a VERY short time, and I was wondering what they were doing to cancel it all of a sudden.

Well, experimentation has shown that they aren't doing anything, of course. (I don't even know if there is a skill to cancel bleeding.)

The bleeding effect now lasts exactly 3 seconds, regardless of your level. Three seconds just happens to be the minimum time for the spell, so everyone is getting a bleeding effect as if they had a zero in Beastmastery.

As I said, it seemed to work fine before they "fixed" it.

Does anyone have any idea what the percieved problem with it was before the update? Has anyone had a problem in the past? I'd love to know what they thought they were doing. ^-^

And Phoenix, try it out and count how long it lasts. Just watch how long the target's life bar stays pink and drops. Do a number of tests to make sure. If it's lasting longer than 3 seconds for you, PLEASE let us know.

Darkest Dawn · Jun 08, 2005, 04:57 PM // 16:57

Quote:

What I'd like to see is pets using skills that drain their OWN damn energy. Why do I have to waste MY energy so the PET can bleed someone?! Pets need to be rethought and improved or fewer and fewer people will ever use them.

I totally agree. This symboitic relationship with the ranger (with pet)as far as skill slots, attribute points, and 8 second blackouts really limits the desire to continue with my Stalker and Snow Wolf. In order to have them really buff, it will render the character weaker since attribute points and skill slots are not being used to do more bow damage type things. Not to mention the 8 second blackout really hurts if you are using other type of skills like monk skills.

Granted, early in the game, say as far as Kryta, it isn't as big a liability, but since entering Kryta, it just wasn't worth it to me. I understand some want to be a beast master, and buff out their pet, but I think that later in the game it is better to buff yourself out and go with other peeps on the difficult missions. If you're just farming, or want to solo, np. However if you are in a group of humans on a mission, I don't want my pet's death to cause me to become ineffective long enough to get my team killed. Therefore I'm at an impasse.

Ardus Shadowmane · Jun 08, 2005, 11:40 PM // 23:40

I've never found my pet dying to be a big problem. The only time Temple has dropped dead on me is if she got completely mobbed and beat to death before I could heal her. Right now I have four BM skills, two WS and two Marksmanship skills in my tree, and I find myself doing a great job. I (atm) use Feral Lunge, Charm (as I have to, which is the one thing that bugs me. Once I've tamed the pet, I don't see why I have to keep charm in my bar to keep my pet...), Comfort Animal, and the burst of speed one the name of which currently escapes me. Skills I use for myself are Penetrating Shot, Favorable Wind, Ignite Arrows and Pindown. I seem to hold my own in a group, not saying I'm the be-all end-all or anything, but I'm appreciated. Temple on her own did plenty to hold her own in my eyes, and to those I grouped with. If they would ever fix the bleed for Feral Lunge that they broke with the last update, my pet would do even more damage.

Ardus Shadowmane · Jun 08, 2005, 11:43 PM // 23:43

Last night after I had read this thread and went home, I grouped for a bit with my cousin, helped him push through into Kryta. Then, just before going to bed, I took a deep breath, transported to Ascalon, closed my eyes, and gave Temple to Jarrel the Tamer. *le trickle of a single tear* She was a great pet, and a strong companion and will be missed.
Then I jumped back to the Shiverpeaks and netted myself a Snow Wolf. Haven't started working with him yet, was too tired, I'll do that tonight. I'll let you all know if my lingering sadness over the loss of my first pet is a worthy price to pay to switch pets. LOL.
I love being a Ranger.

Rhedd · Jun 09, 2005, 12:17 AM // 00:17

Ardus, congratulations and condolences on your new pet. Just remember, those guys promise that Temple will retire to a nice, new home where she'll be fed every day WITHOUT having to fight ettins. ^-^

Your setup sounds about like mine. I really see no reason to use any of my secondary class skills. Rangers are plenty versitile on their own.

And a big, fat, YAY for the folks at Arena Net! Feral Lunge is now fixed, and it didn't take a month for them to do it! Beastmasters rejoice.

Ardus Shadowmane · Jun 09, 2005, 03:09 AM // 03:09

Thanks, Rhedd, I greatly appreciate it. We need to start a I-traded-my-pet in support group or something. LOL

Yeah, I noticed not long after posting that message that they updated to fix feral lunge. Have you tried it and verified it yet, or going off of the description of the update? I haven't had a chance to yet, just got home. My plan after finishing in the forum is to do just that.

I agree, Rangers are versatile on their own. I've enjoyed playing one thus far.

Phoenix Denfer · Jun 09, 2005, 03:26 AM // 03:26

Ardus, let us know how the wolf is working out. One of my guildmates and I have a matched set of Rangers you might say. We made them originally back during the first WPE, and they are still our favorite characters to role play as.

We have Stalkers right now, but I think we plan to trade for Bear when we start questing in the Shiverpeaks. I'm trying not to get attached to that cat, but it does get very hard when you put the effort into training. I agree the pets don't die nearly as often as they did unless they get seriously mobbed.

I tried to test feral lunge today, but the npc's were too low a level evidently and despite trying to not wipe them out too soon and let the cat deal with it, I just didn't see anything happen on the life bar. Makes me think it was deactivated briefly until they applied the patch.

I'll have to check again tomorrow now that the patch is done. Rhedd's comments are reassuring. ;-)

Ardus Shadowmane · Jun 09, 2005, 07:02 AM // 07:02

I'll keep you guys updated. I keep hearing conflicting views on whether or not different pets have different statistics. *le shug*

I tested feral lunge. While I didn't count to the 16 seconds it says enemies bleed for, it definitely worked for longer than before the patch. It seems to be working just fine and dandy!

Mr. Matt · Jun 09, 2005, 09:49 AM // 09:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhedd

Your setup sounds about like mine. I really see no reason to use any of my secondary class skills. Rangers are plenty versitile on their own.

I generally agree, although I have replaced Troll Unguent with a Monk healing skill, simply because A) It is more effective, B) It is faster to take effect and thus doesn't impede your comat, unlike Troll Unguent which, for some bizarre reason, has to 'charge up' first, and C) It can be applied to other team members as well, including your pet. Other than that, it's all Ranger, with focus on Marksmanship and Beast Mastery.

It is no less funny seeing a Strider take down trolls than it is seeing it take down Charr

.

Nocere Moriari · Jun 09, 2005, 09:57 AM // 09:57

can u get the rabbit??????

Mr. Matt · Jun 09, 2005, 10:37 AM // 10:37

Unfortunately not. I had visions of a rabbit like the one in Monty Python, but alas, 'tis not meant to be...

Rhedd · Jun 09, 2005, 02:23 PM // 14:23

You're welcome, Ardus. Unfortunately, I couldn't join your support group, because I'll live and die without giving up Redwing for adoption. ^-^ I need help. heheh

Don't you hate that Old Ascalon quest where you'd have to give up your pet to complete it? I skipped it, of course. Luckily, I didn't need the skills anyway.

I'm sure this info is a little late, now, but yes, I've verified the Feral Lunge working. Mine lasts 18 seconds now, and I admit to not actually counting it all the way to 18, because nothing has lasted that long, but yeah, I'd say its working. Things bleed until they die. That's all I care about!

Heck with the rabbit, I want to tame a frog in Lion's Arch. heheh

I THINK, as far as I can find out, the only difference between pets is the TYPE of damage they do. Other than that, they're equal at an equal level. No way to verify it, but that's what I believe to be true.

Silmor · Jun 09, 2005, 02:39 PM // 14:39

Quote:

I THINK, as far as I can find out, the only difference between pets is the TYPE of damage they do. Other than that, they're equal at an equal level. No way to verify it, but that's what I believe to be true.

This sounds sensible to me. I'd imagine striders/black widows to pierce (pecking/biting), wolves/stalkers to slash (claws), bears/warthogs to use blunt attacks (pure mass) etc. Blunt would be relatively easy to test for, Elementals usually have very low armour against blunt attacks.

Ardus Shadowmane · Jun 09, 2005, 05:14 PM // 17:14

Rhedd--That quest where you have to give up your pet did have me worried. I finally ended up biting the bullet and decided to complete it. And do you know what happened? I got the XP and skills (Hunter's Shot is awesome), but for some reason Master Ranger Nente didn't actually take my pet from me. It was quite odd. It's a moot point now that I've traded her in anyway, but oh well.

I'm finding that my new pet is levelling up fairly quickly as he started out 1/3 of my level. I guess that makes sense. It makes me feel better about deciding to try another animal. Right now I'm running around getting him levelled up. I don't want to continue with missions until he's competent enough to hold his own.

DrSLUGFly · Jun 09, 2005, 05:28 PM // 17:28

I've seen non-hostile spiders in the Maguuma Jungle (or near there). Has anyone tried to charm Joe? That would be awesome! Also, I don't get the talk of "secret location" for the warthog... I saw dozens of them in pre-sear, mostly near the abby.

When I go post-sear in a few days I'm getting a couple guildies to rush me to the Crystal Desert (avoiding exp, looting and quests along the way) so I can get a lizard who will level alongside me when I go back and do the quests. I don't want to be level 20 with a level 5 lizard fighting level 24+ mobs.

Darkest Dawn · Jun 09, 2005, 05:35 PM // 17:35

BTW, I have a snow wolf as one of my pets. I really enjoy it. Let us know how you fare!

It was tough to turn in a level 13 stalker for a level 5 snow wolf, but now my new pet is up to level 12!

Draven Nasir · Jun 09, 2005, 07:11 PM // 19:11

If anyone needs assistance on getting a Black bear - I can assist and know where to get them.

Ardus Shadowmane · Jun 09, 2005, 07:17 PM // 19:17

Darkest Dawn--Yeah, that was the level my stalker was at when I turned it in. I didn't get much chance to train it last night, only got it up to level 8, but I'll continue tonight probably.

Draven--Where do you get bears? That's my long-term goal, but I haven't seen any post-sear. I'm just at Lion's Arch at the moment, so I guessed that I'm just not far enough along yet.