Pet Talk!

Blizzard designer Dave Maldonado took some time recently to answer questions about Hunter pets and some possibilities for Warlords of Draenor.

@snochick_18 Maybe, in a new family. There are (almost) dupe fams already (so precedence!), and with new beasts showing up all the time…

— Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 3, 2014

Sporebats have had an interesting history. They started out as one of the most worthless pets in the history of pets. They were crowned the “best pet for the dps” in Frostheim’s famous video, and then in Mists of Pandaria, they really did become the best pet for the DPS. I don’t know about you, but I take great pride in raiding with a Sporebat at my side, and I love the fact that they’re the only pet with the Spell Haste buff. Mine is named Kitteh!

@JCinDE They would. That said, I’m unhappy with the obviously-Elemental stuff that has already been classified as Beast. But that’s just me! — Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 1, 2014

 Okay, agree to disagree here. I think the elemental type pets such as Skarr and Karkin are some of the best in the game. I’d like to see more, not less of these.

@JCinDE I’m all for special pet groups (undead, mechanical, elemental etc.) w/ appropriate conditions. But shale spider = beast?! OH COME ON — Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 2, 2014

I won’t argue that Shale spiders shouldn’t be classified as beasts, but I’d hate it if they were not tameable.  I like the idea of expanding Hunter pets beyond just “beasts”. We’ve been asking for mechanical pets for a long time now. Fel Reaver pet? DO WANT!

@JCinDE For the same reason priests can’t use swords: BECAUSE REASONS. But seriously, it’s a flavor/fantasy thing. Less logic, more feels.

— Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 2, 2014

@JCinDE Both are 100% shenanigans; arbitrary rules made to create a certain feel/fantasy/design. There’s no reasoning them out beyond that.

— Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 2, 2014

@JCinDE The “reasoning” is arbitrary: Because they were never trained/their religion forbids it/the monarchy outlawed an armed church/etc. — Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 2, 2014

@JCinDE The original design/fantasy is intentional, but can’t be debated on the basis of its (later) made-up rules; it’s working backwards! — Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 2, 2014

I get that decisions need to be based on achieving a level of immersion and “believability”, but those barriers have been stretched over the years. We can tame ghost pets, and other non-beast looking creatures, and I think there’s room to expand this further. Humanoids and oozes are a stretch, but the metallic worms or even pet versions of the mechanical chickens and squirrels are alright by me. Whelps are another pet I’d like to see, but I understand the grey area there.

@Everlongvigil @LucasPuryear @Jamie_WL Been years of talks/jokes about an Ungulate (or?) family including rams, goats, talbuks etc. Maybe!

— Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 1, 2014

When the goat family was introduced I thought for sure Talbuks would included. I would love to see this changed in Warlords of Draenor. Oh, and if you’re doing Talbuks how about throwing in Clefthoofs as well?

@Ryguy_88 I hope so, but that’s me personally. I’ve always been VERY against game-changers @ end-game (e.g. original Arcane Blast).

— Dave Maldonado (@Dave_Maldo) January 1, 2014

I agree with this one. I like getting something cool for hitting max level, but I feel like rotation and abilities should all be acquired prior to that. The With or Without You talent greatly alters how you will play a Hunter. I like the concept, but I wouldn’t mind seeing be available in the early 90’s.