Cosmetic Pets

[Ungood]

Personally, I love the idea of pets in a game. No idea why, but just stuff like that is kinda fun. However, I can say I am not so great a fan of purely cosmetic pets. So. I was thinking, (as dangerous as that is sometimes), what would be kinda cool, is each of the "Cosmetic" pets had abilities, or "Boons" or "Buffs" they gave to their controller.

Now if you just hear the pokiemon' theme song start in your head, that sounds like you are on the right track with what I have in mind.

See, as opposed to just being ornamental, each Pet would provide a unique benefit to their owner, and using the above info I have on the pets, I'll make a very short list of ideas:

Winter Wolf (White Wolf): Owners Weapons count as Frost Bursted, +10 Stacking Resistance to Cold to owner. +20% Damage to all Cold Based Spells (for casters)

Spider: Owner is Immune to Poison, Owners Weapons now are envenomed. +10% to all Acid and Poison based spells.

Black Panther: +10 Stacking Off Hand Strikes to Proc their Special Effects, +5% Stacking Melee Alacrity. (Sorry this pet is all melee)

Etc. I am sure the idea at this point is pretty clear what the theme would be. So the pets with the most sought after "Boons" would be harder to find, etc, etc, and give us all something to quest after and get a little something from.

Or such is just my humble idea on what the future could hold for these potential pets.

[Komitulek]

Frost Bursted, +10 Stacking Resistance to Cold to owner. +20% Damage to all Cold Based Spells for casters.

Owner is Immune to Poison, Owners Weapons now are envenomed. +10% to all Acid and Poison based spells.

+10 Stacking Off Hand Strikes to Proc their Special Effects, +5% Stacking Melee Alacrity.

_way_ _too_ _OP_

This is as Pay2Win as selling +5 Ghost Touch Holy Burst Metalline BtA Shard of Pure Good that can be bound to any weapon (including handwraps) to produce a ML1 weapon in the DDO Store.

And yes, I am quite aware that you can't have all those properties on one item...yet.

[Quarterling]

Now if you just hear the pokiemon' theme song start in your head, that sounds like you are on the right track with what I have in mind.

First of all, it's "Pokémon" with the é being accented.

Second, I like the idea of animal companions/cosmetic pets being more than just purely cosmetic; but honestly, your suggestions for what the animals do are a tad too overpowered.

I'm also against the pay-to-win aspect, though I think Komitulek may have been misinterpreting you as not once did you say that these special pets would be available in the DDO Store (you actually said that the most sought-after pets would be the rarest, giving the impression that pets such as these would never be found in the store).

Because we haven't seen the pets on the live server yet, we don't know how bad they will actually induce lag upon others. For all we know, Turbine could have worked some magic so the pets are very resource-light (but I have some doubts for this). If it turns out that the pets really aren't a problem at all, I would say by all means Turbine should go for it. If the pets are causing lag issues, Turbine should rethink things.

As I said earlier, the pet's granted abilities should be toned down; frost burst weapons would be just insane (in addition to the cold resistance and spell amplification). I would think that one pet should do no more than grant what a +1 or +2 price modifier weapon/accessory/armor/whatever can grant.

[countfitz]

Personally, I would like pack animals/kobolds to hold things, like an extra bank space that follows you around, which is not OP, but convenient, cute, funny or creepy, and everyone will consider it because you now have an extra bank space that is right next to you all the time. Yeah, it won't be in quests, but you can put those items you'll need often enough situationally it's helpful, but not the one's you're saving for 10 lives away.

Consider, TP is used on bank space anyway. It's not OP. That'll give people a reason to buy them, no complaints about Pay2Win, and lots of money can be made.

[countfitz]

Also, if Turbine does go the way of bonuses, I would suggest nothing more than those of Familiars from 3rd edition, a +2 or +3 bonus on a skill, save, etc., with Toads giving the "best" the toughness feat (which was SERIOUSLY scaled down in PnP, like 3 HPs or something). Nobody will complain too much.

We also have to remember as of now, they won't even come in quests with us! So, really other than haggle, none of this will matter anyway.

They could alternatively do something like prestigious familiars. VIPs get psuedodragons. Founders get kobolds. Premium players get Unicorns. F2P get wolves. So it's just a prestige thing, then add skins if wanted after.

[Silverwren]

Sounds way too over powered to me.

I thought we were trying to nerf everything?

[ristretto93]

I have to agree with Komitulek in that the effects you list WOULD be really overpowered.

At the same time, I think if we went down a similar road - one less game changing and powerful but something more than just cosmetic then these things might be able to offset their incredibly troubling cuteness with some practical use and functional purpose.

If these pets only appear in the public zones, add effects that can effect characters while they are in public instances.

Examples? Not really sure...but think about the Phiarlan Pendant of Time. What if a pet had a similar effect? Or, a pet that added +10 (stacking?) to your haggle skill so you can load up on pots and scrolls with a little price break. Maybe one that effects crafting (not sure about this one, just throwing ideas out there).

It seems to me there are plenty of useful 'powers' that could be given to add conveniences without adding game balance/power issues. I would hate to see people stop pursuing teh epic l00ts because they have a dumb looking cat (not trying to slam the art or the artists that designed these...) that adds a better ability w/o taking a slot. Again, I am very much for keeping these things public only.

Regarding their cuteness: tone it back! Give them scars, make them snarly and dripping with drool, add a mean look in their eyes. SOMETHING!

I realize DDO is it's own thing and is not Dungeons & Dragons, but coming from being a DM (in my youth) in PnP AD&D who put a lot of emphasis on mood, setting...the FEEL of the world I feel that this cuteness could tip the balance more in favor of there being LESS of a D&D feel in this world. It may not matter to some, but it does to me.

*shrug

Edit: I like countfitz's idea about a pack animal type of thing. Just a few extra spaces for some situational gear so you wouldn't have to run to a bank if there was a party waiting on you.

[macubrae]

...but I don't want them to be OP. They will not follow you into quests, but they will be with you while you run around Crystal Cove and Mabar. I think, no more then a stacking +5 to a single skill or crafting school would be okay. Bluff for the guy towards the end of Delera's, haggle for when it's time to sell to venders, jump during risia, and who doesn't need a few extra points to their elemental crafting skill?

Then again, I just want to see the huge 3TR horc barbarian in a beast armor skin being followed by a kitten, or the Phiarlen Amulet wearing female elf running away from the hairy spider that's chasing her.

I'll just pull up a crate and get a front row seat to the comedy that will follow.

[Ungood]

I'm also against the pay-to-win aspect, though I think Komitulek may have been misinterpreting you as not once did you say that these special pets would be available in the DDO Store (you actually said that the most sought-after pets would be the rarest, giving the impression that pets such as these would never be found in the store).

You would be correct, while I would be for some of these pets being in the store, my intention was for there to be rare and common pets. And while common pets would not offer as much, they would offer their owner something, while rare pets would provide more for their owner, but, equally so, be umm.. well.. rarer.

I would also want them to be part of the game world, not static drops, but rare random finds that make serendipity and in most cases, pure dumb luck, the flavor of a pet owner/seeker.

Another option might be, not so much the pet itself that is rare, but perhaps an augment gem or "Special collar" item/thingy for the pet. That way the pet starts out as pure cosmetic, but, finding something (with the comparable rarity and lack of absolute method to farm, as a pale lavender ion stone) they could offer several augments, from common to rare to give player that have it all, something further to quest for.

As I said earlier, the pet's granted abilities should be toned down; frost burst weapons would be just insane (in addition to the cold resistance and spell amplification). I would think that one pet should do no more than grant what a +1 or +2 price modifier weapon/accessory/armor/whatever can grant.

Agreed, I will openly admit I was a bit on the high end, but it was about getting an idea out, not about making a finished product. To just propose a concept, not an absolute.

[dodger72]

I see where this is going and it could be good; however, as previously stated, watch the over-power. I looked through my 1st and 2nd ed. AD&D (yes yes...this is D&D 3.5 or something...never played it....so...let's just leave it at that) books and found the Find Familiar spell (1st level) blah blah blah.

That being said, the caster/summoner does get some abilities, as does the familiar. This is a fairly rough spell, although could be tweeked to include other critters (elementals for example...and no...not the big honkin ones either) besides the old standby of cat, frog, bat, owl and so on.

As long as these Cos-pets don't get too....well....out of hand in bestowing powers (and taking power from the owner!) I think it could be a good idea. The way the Arti's are set up with enhancement for the humunculous (sp?----lazy) and having Uncaring Master makes sense for the "robots" that the dogs are. This could not be an option for these Cos-pets/familiars.

That's my two cp.