Curse

NatalieD · Nov 20, 2005, 12:03 PM // 12:03

So I tried out a beastmaster build in PVP for the first time.

Wow. Pet AI is really awful. I mean, I'd heard people complain, but I had no idea it was this bad. My pet frequently lost interest in his target moments before the kill and wandered back to my side, or suddenly charged off at someone else I hadn't even targetted.

Also, this isn't quite an AI issue, but I found it difficult to use pet attacks. I had assumed they would work similarly to normal attack skills, i.e., the pet would approach to the proper range while the skill shimmers, and then he'd make the attack, I'd lose the energy, and the skill would start recharging. But instead it seemed like the energy would be spent and the skill would recharge as soon as I pressed the button, whether or not the pet was able to make an attack, and the energy and time would just be wasted if he wasn't in range and attacking.

The build was kinda fun, and it worked well enough for CA, or rather, it would have worked well enough if the dang wolf had cooperated. So, are there any PVP-experienced beastmasters out there who have any tips for managing one's pet? Is there something I'm neglecting to do that would get him to keep attacking? How do the pet attacks work, exactly?

ange1 · Nov 20, 2005, 12:11 PM // 12:11

i think the attack shout gets stored, the next attack it will shine in green. so always activate 1 attack before going into bettle. if u click all ur attack, it will just queue all of them one by one.

tafy69 · Nov 20, 2005, 05:18 PM // 17:18

Your sure pet attack gets stored tho? I was wondering if it did but u could abuse that by spamming attacks before you even met the enemy? I dunno pet AI sucks really...

Al the Dead · Nov 20, 2005, 09:39 PM // 21:39

Pet attacks are not stored, he uses last pressed so time it right (full automode will be archieved in 2 days at max

). After u pressed it the next attack pet will do will be special strike.
Pet control... well just get used to it my pet can pursue targets for eternity while i runnig other way from angry warrior

Basically pet attacks whatever target you attacked and sticks to it for some time. Also he will automatically bite those who strike you (only if he has no other business). But with some experience (it's very hard to explain in words) you can easily call it off, or switch it to other target in almost no time.

imanixon2 · Nov 20, 2005, 09:55 PM // 21:55

The pets were never totally great to begin with, but again, this coming from a monk whose bear "charmin" actually made it through 4v4 matches without even getting targetted, but rarely gets to come out to play.

twicky_kid · Nov 20, 2005, 10:59 PM // 22:59

the pet AI is using the first AI from release. all the monster, henches, and pets used the same AI. the henches and monsters have been beefed a few times while the pet and minion are still retarted.

Al the Dead · Nov 20, 2005, 11:18 PM // 23:18

Too true....

TwinRaven · Nov 27, 2005, 05:49 AM // 05:49

I play Rangers quite a bit as primary and secondary and have tried a variety of combinations, the pet seems to work best when I run a minion/pet build (nerco/ranger)...the sheer volume of critters attacking assures that something will eventually hit my target...If not, I get something else dying that adds to my hordes and plenty of power as they drop off...Having a pet along gives me a few advantages: Something else for mobs to target other than my character, a free corpse from time to time with an easy res, a creature who can inflict conditions through attacks, pets level up to 20 and take a while to kill (giving me time to run away whilst mobs are bashing my poor spider...everyone hates spiders, even mobs)....WHen running a death-necro I just like having the pet around...My next haywire scheme: Monk/Ranger with pet as tank...a strider named "Big Pecker"....loser build? maybe....but fun so far

Nikki Moonlight · Nov 27, 2005, 07:34 PM // 19:34

yeah i was having a go at a pet build..with ferocious strike and disrupting lunge nearly non-stop...man its fun

xcutioner · Nov 28, 2005, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Pets will attack your target, if you are attacking it as well.
Pets will retreat, if you back up and go side to side.
Pets will change targets, only after you have begun attacking the new target, but only when they are good and ready.

Pets can be body blocked, so sometimes sidestepping makes them attack sooner or frees them up.

You have to watch the pet damage output to get a better indication of when the pet attack actually occurs.

Sephir Demange · Nov 29, 2005, 04:44 AM // 04:44

Ugh I share the frustration with the pet AI. There shouldn't be some complicated method of dealing with your pet, they should streamline it so thate it becomes more than just cannon fodder or PvE eye candy. I made a beast master R/W who spiked damage with pet and sword attacks. I even made up a reliable 8 man build utilizing it but it was all for naught because the pet AI was too unpredictable to hold up in a competative 8v8 fight. Another thing is that the devs left the skill descriptions soooooo ambiguious and no one uses the pets enough to find out whether or not the skills are bugged. Case in point, Call of Haste and Call of Protection. The descriptions include the words "animal companionS<---notice the S" does that mean all of your allies companions too? So could 1 beast master carry Call of Haste and another carry Call of Prot and thus buffer all of your pets? That is CRUCIAL to know when putting together an 8 man team. The devs need to quit killing farming and start fixing these pets.