will pets be controllable?

[Diyon]

Hmm... another question just occurred to me. Will artificer pets be able to interact with objects like a hireling? (i.e. turn a lever, use a rune, pick up your soulstone and carry it to a shrine, etc.)

If so this is awesome (and makes sense). Also it means people will say stuff like "WAIT! Come over here let the *insert companion sort* open the door."

[Aerendil]

Arakiel - since we have your attention, is there anything else you can give us regarding the pets at this point in time?
(i.e. types of pets - are they all just iron defenders, or will we have options for further pet types?; and will they have various "roles" (i.e. tanking, stealth / sneak damage, ranged, etc.))

[Noelemahc]

Pets will be controllable in a *similar* fashion to hirelings but they have additional benefits about them that will make that experience better for the players. They also have some customization to them that will allow them to be more effective then your every day hired hand.

Just curious, why didn't you guys do this for Ranger with their Animal Companions? Seeing as how you got pets for artificers now, any chance Ranger could get a pet too? Rangers just don't feel like rangers without little fur balls by their side.

[thegreatneil]

Question i have: Do they spit grease? i really hope not. (or maybe they "can" if you tell them to, or perhaps you give them the ability to via enhancements)

[Aesop]

Correct.

As for your Bonus Feat question, I am unsure. That falls into Eladrin's territory so hopefully he will chime in here.

Thanks for the answer

[Diyon]

Just curious, why didn't you guys do this for Ranger with their Animal Companions? Seeing as how you got pets for artificers now, any chance Ranger could get a pet too? Rangers just don't feel like rangers without little fur balls by their side.

Just to point it out, who says they didn't?

[Razcar]

Sounds good with the control scheme. No pets running away kamikaze-style attacking groups of Epic mobs then

Rangers just don't feel like rangers without little fur balls by their side.

Your Ranger's an eunuch?

...

I'll get my coat. No, I can find my own way out, thanks.

[Letrii]

When will we get a control bar for summons?

Don't artificers create their pets and not summon them? Doesn't make sense augment summon would work on them.

[Asmodeus451]

edit: post below says it better

[Kazasu]

When will we get a control bar for summons?

Don't artificers create their pets and not summon them? Doesn't make sense augment summon would work on them.

If I remember right, augment summons works on hirelings* as well. If randomly hired hands will benefit from your feat which isn't directed toward some type of supreme leadership, why won't something you create and ally with on a long term basis?

Edit: Beat to the punch. Does that make it a 1-2?

[Sillk]

Pets unlike Hirelings won't count as party member slot right ... and they'll be allowed in raids and whatnot ...

Correct

Will pet have ranged attacks? And aggro on crystals, such as in Shroud Part 3?

[Cyr]

Yes, an excellent feat IMO for an Artificer. Don't leave home without it.

Silly question, but does the feat augment summoning apply when you summon the mob or is it a continuos check...in other words Epic Rodericks Wand ftw.

[Coldin]

Will pet have ranged attacks? And aggro on crystals, such as in Shroud Part 3?

Even if they do, since they'll have a command bar you should be able to tell them to stop attacking, or never attack at all.