idea for pets.

So i was thinking about why the devs will not let us take a pet without charm animal and I think i get the rational. Basically since we get to have two weapons we have to give up a skill slot. So what if we could chose to take a pet instead of a bow? I'm talking about a two handed item that does no damage (maybe a whip) that would replace the functionality of charm animal.

While this item is equipped any attack command would send your pet running to attack the target and if it is unequipped in a zone without charm animal on the bar all pet skills would show the same as having the wrong weapon equipped and your pet will automatically go into passive mode untill the item is re-equipped. This will prevent people from equipping it then swapping over to a bow to get the functionality of both.

It may not be a perfect solution, but I think it could work.



Moved to Sardelac - Marty

I would like a rethink on animal companions and think there will be changes to how they work in gw2.
I can see your rational where they are taking a weapon slot and that replaces charm once you have the companion.
As long as it doesn't allow multiple companions at one time.

So far my thoughts for changes would be have them on a summoning stone or as heroes.
Either way would give them their own skill bar.
Unfortunately this would remove most of the beast mastery skills and indeed indeed the rational for such a skill list.

Perhaps give players the option of all three methods.
Companions as they are now using skills would give you full control of send return attack passive etc..

Animal heroes slightly less control but you could flag them.

Summoning stones no control at all and put them on a par with animations that just follow you and attack any enemy in range.

I have mixed feelings on the multiple pet subject. I think it COULD be a good idea that might finally make rangers more useful in PvE, but you would have to sacrafice multiple skill slots for it to work. Maybe your BM attribute could be divided between each pet. IE at BM 12 with 2 pets each would have an effective BM of 6. With 3 it would be 4, at 4 it would be 3. etc..... Each time you would have to sacrafice a skill slot though.

But I had no intention of multiple pets in my first post.

And yea with GW2 in the works I doubt rangers in this game will ever see the pet revamp we have been wanting for since beta........

Pets are near 100% useless in pve atm the AI on them is so bad noone in their right mind would.
What this game needs atm is more content not reworking old stuff.

Personally I would rather have a fully functional class without an entire attribute line of pretty much useless skills (with some exceptions). Then another story with cheesy voice acting. And some weapons that do nothing special other than look cool...............

But thats just me.

I agree that the pet AI needs a major overhaul as well.

I don't like the idea you cant combine a pet with a bow anymore. Besides this, this isnt solving the problems around pets at all.. Better fixes would be; improve the AI, make it able to flag, make charm animal res it aswell.

To stay on topic; If that would the change you want to make, people wanne use pets will either be bound to RaO with an axe or a packhunter with a spear. This idea would exclude builds with hammers and bows or staffs (yes I like using a staff and ONLY use my pet lol ) This will do more harm to the pet then actually improving it. Also you cant use a shield anymore, which for me, would in some cases be a reason not to use it anymore.
I might have undedstood your idea wrong, but if i did understand it well, i just find it a big big big failure.


EDIT: I now mention you mean the full 2 weapon slots, which even is a bigger failure. That would make you really bound to Pet/caster lol? Fully pet with ancestors and splinter weapon/GDW would be only not failing build I can think of.

Hell I use something like that now (except Nightmare instead of Splinter) for power levelling my pets on snow wurms...

I never said this would REPLACE charm animal. It would merely be another option. You could take the special weapon OR charm animal and a bow.