Artificer Dog Shortcut Bar

[WASNTME]

Change the Pet shortcut bar:

Currently the bar is set up with 6 commands

1. Move/Stay
2. Come to me
3. Do your thing
4. Protect Target
5. Dont do anything unless I say
6. Use/Open

Ok I made up some commands can't remember the real names but they refer to the task

There are 4 empty slots remaining, when you level your pet and choose intimidate or trip etc... the 4 empty slots are filled with one of those features. The problem is you don't really need to have them, your pet will trip or intimidate on his own, to be honest most of the time im so caught up in battle i have no idea were the dog is or if he died until the fight is over, for me that validates this idea even more.

My thought is you open those 4 empty spaces and give the player the ability to drop 4 Pet Modules. This would give you the opportunity to change from a Paralyzing modular to a Ghost Touch or Smiting..... you get the point.

The way it is set up now you and your pet die or get damaged real bad when you try to switch the module.

Using Pet Weapon Modules is not different than changing weapons on the fly.

[Turtlsdown]

This is a pretty cool idea, this module swapping business.

[WASNTME]

I was just thinking.... Since you get penalty unless you take the uncaring master enhancement thats even more reason to let you prepare your dog to fight fire with ice not fire with fire.

Bad analogy probably but you know what I mean

[Tshober]

Okay, not a bad suggestion, but truthfully, I would like to see the buttons that are already on the bar actually work consistently first. Then maybe think about adding some more.

[WASNTME]

Tshober Okay, not a bad suggestion, but truthfully, I would like to see the buttons that are already on the bar actually work consistently first. Then maybe think about adding some more.

Im not sure what you mean... I am not suggesting or asking to add more buttons just reorganized the original.

[Alrik_Fassbauer]

Module swapping ? Via hotbar ?

/signed

[Arakasia]

very definitely signed on this one... module swap on the dogs hotbar... awesome, very cool idea

[Scraap]

Scraapy likey.

[MartinusWyllt]

And if it takes adding, say, 20 inventory slots to the dog that you could access and put all the docent/modules...and maybe spare rezz/heal/reconstruct/components/whatnot...I certainly would not object.

[ssgcmwatson]

From an RP perspective -

Can/should the dog carry and swap out its own modules, or should it return to the artificer to have the swap performed on it? If the artificer needs to perform the swap, should there be a "equipping" bar similar to equipping new armor (but less duration)?

[MartinusWyllt]

From an RP perspective -

Just a UI issue. Clicking on a hotbar to swap a module wouldn't be "RP" different from opening multiple windows and dragging/dropping, would it? Strapping bags to the dog so it could carry some of your stuff seems very "RP" appropriate.

[WASNTME]

MartinusWyllt

Strapping bags to the dog so it could carry some of your stuff seems very "RP" appropriate.

I think the strapping bags Saddle Bags is a great thought. Unfortunately the flaw, is all the whiny people that don't have Arti/Arti Dog would complain how unfair it is to have extra inventory space and they don't.

Thats why I tried to keep it simple: change the Arti Dog Hotbar to accomidate 4 modules or if the person wants to use the intimidate and the trip feature for their pet they would only be able to use 2 of the spaces for modules. Anything above that is a bonus to me.

Thanks for the positive feedback.

[ssgcmwatson]

Just a UI issue. Clicking on a hotbar to swap a module wouldn't be "RP" different from opening multiple windows and dragging/dropping, would it? Strapping bags to the dog so it could carry some of your stuff seems very "RP" appropriate.

Perhaps I wasn't clear in my original comment:

I like the idea of being able to click on my dog's shortcut bar to swap out modules without needing to open my inventory and the dog's and dragging things around. I'm all for anything that can reduce the number of mouse/keyboard clicks to get a job done.

My question is, aside from that convenience, how will the mechanics of it work? The artificer/dog team is already fairly powerful. If the artificer can command a dog fighting on the other side of a room to switch modules and it happens just as quickly as the artificer switching weapon sets, then they as a team become slightly more powerful.

To keep things balanced, I would suggest one of the following options:

1. There would be a delay between clicking the module and it getting equipped, similar to a spell with a long casting time. This action could not be interrupted.
2. There would be a shorter delay than option 1, but the action could be interrupted by enemy attack.
3. The dog must return to the artificer to have the module equipped, during which neither may take another action. Equip time would vary inversely as the artificer's repair skill, i.e. higher repair skill = shorter equip time.

[WASNTME]

ssgcmwatson

To keep things balanced, I would suggest one of the following options:

1. There would be a delay between clicking the module and it getting equipped, similar to a spell with a long casting time. This action could not be interrupted.
2. There would be a shorter delay than option 1, but the action could be interrupted by enemy attack.
3. The dog must return to the artificer to have the module equipped, during which neither may take another action. Equip time would vary inversely as the artificer's repair skill, i.e. higher repair skill = shorter equip time.

Thank you for clarifying; I am in total agreement there has to be some kind of give and take to keep it in balance. I personally think number 3 is the best answer.