Birnam, a level 66 Night Elf hunter from Moonrunner (US), wrote this week to let me know that Windroc Hunters and Windroc Huntresses have apparently been removed from the live game. After spending a lot of time looking for these lovely owls in Nagrand and not finding them, Birman asked a GM who confirmed that they have been removed.
I imagine it might have been because both Hunters and Huntresses were heavily scripted — flying down to attack talbuks and such — but I had never heard that this caused problems with them as a pet. I’m also curious when this change happened — does anyone know offhand?
At any rate, losing the Windroc Hunter isn’t too terrible — Windrocs and Ravenous Windrocs are the same color and level, and between them have the two skills that the Hunters did. But I do regret losing the Windroc Huntress. The other two black owl choices near that level are both elite: the Windroc Matriarch and Gutripper.
Is it removed completely, or just as a pet? I always thought it was kind of cool how they were scripted to attack talbuks, but did have problems with them “stealing my kills” on occasion when I had to kill those talbuks in Nagrand. x) I always classified it as a minor annoyance though, I wouldn’t have thought it’d be removed completely.
Scripting doesn’t seem like it would be an issue; there’s that entire area in Zangarmarsh where the bog giants run around killing the baby Sporeggar (I’ve always hated that you can’t interfere with the script and save the poor widdle things. Dratted giants will evade until it’s over). And I spend a great deal of grinding time in Nagrand and I’ve never seen a Huntress, and seen the Hunters attack maybe three times. That’s not a lot of processor time being used there. All v. mysterious.
Frankly, they need some different bird skins. I am tired of the Buzzard and Owl skins that they just rehash in every zone.
Gimme a raven that looks like a raven instead of a buzzard, or a cool named bird that doesn’t look like an owl. Apparently Blizz artists only went to the buzzard and owl class days in art school.
What s/he said. I’d love to have a hawk or eagle pet — wouldn’t that be a perfect pet for a hunter on RP grounds if nothing else? As homely as the raven models are, I’d still like to have a trainable one. Just no more freaking owls and buzzards. pleeeeeeeeeeeeasssssssssse
I think there was mention of an eagle in Zul Aman, but sadly not tamable, also the ravens in Blades Edge would be great if tamable, name on after your favourite druid :P. Hopefully there will be some eagles in Northrend.
As far as I could tell, the Hunters and Huntresses were removed completely. I couldn’t find any.
The eagle in Zul’Aman appears to be a one-off model — that is, there are no color variations listed in the model viewer. I’d like to see it join one of the bird families, but it doesn’t seem likely as it’s set up now.