So now that Artis have pets...

[AmatsukaIncarnate]

Call me a purist but...
Can rangers get a similar animal companion? (and druids too when they come out )
And paladins can have their mounts?
And how about familiars?

Well okay, mounts might provide a problem (mounted combat? squished areas? maybe only for explorer areas?)
and familiars can just float around like ioun stones (lol) or they just sit on your shoulder or something...

Okay maybe a little difficult to implement but I would LOVE to see something like this in the future...

[dkyle]

We've been told that the dogs are another piece of the puzzle for Druids. I'd expect Rangers to get pets whenever Druids come out.

[Calebro]

We've been told that the dogs are another piece of the puzzle for Druids. I'd expect Rangers to get pets whenever Druids come out.

I wouldn't, unless they want to redo Rangers in the process.
Rangers were given both combat chains to make up for the fact that they lost their animal companions, so logic dictates that they will lose one of them if they later receive animal companions.
As many people are upset that they don't have their animal companions, even more will be upset if they have to choose between TWF and Archery after getting both for free for 5+ years. Couple that with the fact that a Ranger's animal companion is only a fraction of the strength of a Druid's animal companion, and both combat chains are strictly superior to a craptastic animal, which means animal companions lose this battle.
I suppose it's possible, but I don't expect it.

[AmatsukaIncarnate]

We've been told that the dogs are another piece of the puzzle for Druids. I'd expect Rangers to get pets whenever Druids come out.

It'd be great if you could choose your pet as well. Like how sorcerers take out spells every three days, a Ranger/Druid/Paladin could "rent" their companion every week or two or something.

I'm looking forward to when Druids come out THAT much more!

[Calebro]

d20srd, Druid's animal companion

At 4th level, a ranger gains an animal companion selected from the following list: badger, camel, dire rat, dog, riding dog, eagle, hawk, horse (light or heavy), owl, pony, snake (Small or Medium viper), or wolf. If the campaign takes place wholly or partly in an aquatic environment, the following creatures may be added to the ranger’s list of options: manta ray, porpoise, Medium shark, and squid. This animal is a loyal companion that accompanies the ranger on his adventures as appropriate for its kind.

This ability functions like the druid ability of the same name, except that the ranger’s effective druid level is one-half his ranger level. A ranger may select from the alternative lists of animal companions just as a druid can, though again his effective druid level is half his ranger level. Like a druid, a ranger cannot select an alternative animal if the choice would reduce his effective druid level below 1st.

A Ranger's companion has always sucked, and would be especially weak in DDO.
Both combat chains are far more useful than a weak pet.

[dkyle]

I wouldn't, unless they want to redo Rangers in the process.
Rangers were given both combat chains to make up for the fact that they lost their animal companions, so logic dictates that they will lose one of them if they later receive animal companions.

I don't know if that was the original intent or not (I thought it was just speculation, not something confirmed), but I don't see any good reason to stick with it.

The pet is a minor bonus, and Rangers aren't exactly the greatest to begin with. I don't see a problem with just giving them a pet in addition to what they already have. Fealty to 3.5 rules is not something the devs should be especially concerned about.

Couple that with the fact that a Ranger's animal companion is only a fraction of the strength of a Druid's animal companion

Give them 1 AP per level instead of 2, and I think that would work out fine. Weaker than Arti and Druid pets, but not useless.

[Calebro]

Give them 1 AP per level instead of 2, and I think that would work out fine. Weaker than Arti and Druid pets, but not useless.

Follow the link and see how much they would suck.

[Emizand]

more will be upset if they have to choose between TWF and Archery

If they sorted out ranged it wouldn't bother me. (note ME, I am not claiming to speak for anyone else).

[Calebro]

I don't even know why people want them. They sucked in PnP and they would be even worse here in DDO. Both chains are far better. A Druid's animal companion was useful. A Ranger's animal companion was almost useless.

[dkyle]

Follow the link and see how much they would suck.

I understand how much they suck in 3.5. But I don't really care how they worked in 3.5. The Devs should implement whatever they think works well in DDO, as they've done with Arti pets.

Artificer pets are already vastly different than Artificer homunculuses in 3.5. I expect Druid companions to look very similar, instead of following their 3.5 rules. I was recommending that Rangers get a somewhat weaker version; same as whatever Druids get, but with half as many AP. I don't think an Arti pet with half as many AP would be terrible, in comparison to the current pets. The enhancements aren't that great.

I don't even know why people want them. They sucked in PnP and they would be even worse here in DDO. Both chains are far better. A Druid's animal companion was useful. A Ranger's animal companion was almost useless.

People like pets. And as I've been saying, I don't think Rangers should need to give up the dual chains, and I think the pet could be significantly closer to Druids' pet, without being OP. Just because Ranger pets suck in 3.5 doesn't mean they have to suck in DDO.

[TekkenDevil]

I wouldn't, unless they want to redo Rangers in the process.
Rangers were given both combat chains to make up for the fact that they lost their animal companions, so logic dictates that they will lose one of them if they later receive animal companions.
As many people are upset that they don't have their animal companions, even more will be upset if they have to choose between TWF and Archery after getting both for free for 5+ years. Couple that with the fact that a Ranger's animal companion is only a fraction of the strength of a Druid's animal companion, and both combat chains are strictly superior to a craptastic animal, which means animal companions lose this battle.
I suppose it's possible, but I don't expect it.

Rangers will keep their current combat chains to make up for the fact that crossbows are way more powerful than Longbows will ever be.

[Gnorbert]

I don't even know why people want them. They sucked in PnP and they would be even worse here in DDO. Both chains are far better. A Druid's animal companion was useful. A Ranger's animal companion was almost useless.

I want a cool animal companion for ... *drumroll please* .... FUN.

Shocking, I know.

[KreepyKritter]

I want a cool animal companion for ... *drumroll please* .... FUN.

Shocking, I know.

I love you...

Because nothing would be more hilarious than 6 rangers running around with a pack of Razor Cats.

[testing1234]

artificer with reconstruct can barely hold their pets alive, cant imagine how a ranger would be able to heal their pets.
and a healer who now needs to heal a ranger pet that is harder to target and is a 7th to heal ... not seeing much love here for rangers

[kmau]

While I do like the idea of more PnP stuff being possibly implemented, I don't want every second player to run around with a pet.

[TekkenDevil]

artificer with reconstruct can barely hold their pets alive, cant imagine how a ranger would be able to heal their pets.
and a healer who now needs to heal a ranger pet that is harder to target and is a 7th to heal ... not seeing much love here for rangers

I can easily heal my Pet, don't know what you're doing...

[licho]

As many people are upset that they don't have their animal companions, even more will be upset if they have to choose between TWF and Archery after getting both for free for 5+ years. .

This.
For me both lines for rangers are one of the perk of ddo ranger, something what was progress with transition from dnd to ddo. It creates unique flavor of versality warrior, it will hit the class if the remove versality, especcially since ranger Pres have rather long list of prequescences. (who else pick mobility?)

And pets... its nice to have puppy, but it how much real addicion to dps is to no gimp toon?
Also xoriat beholder is also cute.