new found use for bears as pet?

theory here that might do well for discussion

ok it is universally accepted that bears make the worst ranger pet because of the skill "brutal mauling" which in taking time to activate yet having no benefit, reduces the overall DPS.
But it is a "skill", is it classed as an "attack skill"?
If yes then it would it not trigger many of the new paragon buffs.

example
Anthem of flame
Chant. For 10 seconds, the next attack skill used by each ally within earshot also causes Burning for 1...3 seconds.

I can already see the massive potential a paragon has to a barrage/pet team (the above skill + barrage = group burning), but to have a specialised beastmaster and paragon pairing working in tandem might prove useful to a balanced team.

understanding the distinction between "ally" and "party member" check guildwiki's skill page for other paragon skills for considration
http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Paragon...uick_reference

All it says in Brutal Mauling's description is that it is an "attack." Dunno what it means by that; someone will have to test.

Haha, that would be one well trained bear. Sets people on fire by command.

I wonder if beastmastery attacks count as attack skills when executed by pets.

Mildly off topic: I hope pets get the same sort of controls as hench-heros. And maybe the elite minion as well.

Flourish works on attack skills, and Flourish works on pet attacks.... logic suggests that when a ranger hits a pet attack on his/her bar, their pet counts as using an attack skill.

Whether or not Brutal Mauling counts as an attack skill inherent to the pet.... maybe u should've tested it yourself during the preview

By this logic, could you not just use diversion on the bear, and nerf it for 50-something seconds?

Not really sure about that logic. Sure the ranger uses the skill, but it doesn't show the pet using anything. For example Diversion on pet has no effect on Ranger's pet attack skills. Edit: And the Diversion does not get removed from the pet after the attack.

Should test that I suppose...

That would be SO awesome it's not funny. I'd make a ranger just for that :P

lol yeah ill have to tst this

- off topic but the thing on guildwiki still says that ectos drop in the bloodstonefen mish (is this even true)?

On a side note: They should really allow you to use the hero control options for pets too. That would make pets a lot more versatile and useful.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but Mantra of Flame + Barrage only sets one foe on fire, not upto six. Same as how Splinter Weapon only splinters once per Barrage, not upto six times. Basically the game treats Barrage as several different attacks in quick succession.

i know, its stupid. i had high expectations for splinter weapon barraging.

Yea, but who would bother putting Diversion on a pet? Much less 8 pets if it's set up like that.

I have a feeling Pet controls may never be implemented as during the Nightfall preview the pet trainer said about how they are strong but hard to control and slow to respond but also about how one can use these to their advantage.

Personally the only part of their AI i really want fixed is the bit where they pause afew seconds before attacking a target.
e.g it catches up to a running monk, then half does its attack then pulls out and has too, again try and catch up =/

Strange, my barrage hero ranger was setting whole groups on fire, another ai only advantage?

Hmm. If the bear attack does work as speculated here, I could see Anet nerfing it in about six seconds flat.

Besides, I don't wanna give up my cute Black Moa.

brutal mauling is a bear only attack...i didnt know they had specific attacks for specific pets or what the hell are you talking about...

If it works...
best case scenario is anet include a natural attack skill on all pets
(moa:furious peck? warthog:gorging charge? wolf:jugular strike? crab:annoying pinch? )
If nothing changes then the bear does indeed become useful to r/p, p/r or a p/x and r/x beasmaster pairing.
worst case scenario is if anet remove the brutal mauling skill then that is still a win since many beasmasters have been calling for the removal anyway.

If it doesn't work and anet still ignore the brutal mauling issue then that will be a shame, bears will continue to be used for purely aesthetic or ill-informed reasons only.

If animal skills did set off mantra, your'd still be better off sticking with a lizard - final thrust and no reduced attack speed.