I haven’t had much chance to stay updated on the current Public Test Realm, but I noticed today that MMO Champion reported an update to the PTR patch notes yesterday — complete with handy old-vs-new notations — and a new build (9438) today. So if you’re jonesing for PTR info, swing by MMO Champion, ’cause unfortunately they know more than I do.
I was able to log into the PTR briefly today to verify some unforunate news I’d heard. It’s true: on the current PTR build you can no longer tame the Sapphire Hive Queen in Sholozar Basin. Nor can you tame the three Oracles spirits: the Spirit of Ha-Khalan (aka ghostly croc), the Spirit of Atha (aka ghostly hydradile), or the Spirit of Koosu (aka crocoslime). We were expecting the change to the Spirits, but to be honest I have no idea why the Sapphire Hive Queen would be made untameable.
I happened to have the three Spirits in my stable on the PTR, and all three still exist, still retains their unique looks, and still think that they are crocolisks. In addition, they can still be fed. So for the moment at least it looks like we’ll get to keep previously tamed Spirits. I didn’t happen to have a Sapphire Hive Queen in the stable, though, so I am uncertain what might be happening with that pet if you’ve already tamed her. If you like the look of any of these pets, though, now might be the time to grab them.
Personal note: As you may have noticed, I haven’t been doing well catching up after the holidays. Suffice it to say that while I avoided my husband’s stomach flu, I failed to avoid the nasty head cold/flu-like thing he came down with afterwards. *si- *cough cough cough* -gh*
i dont find the sprit beast roar annoying at all, its actually the thing i like most about this pet atm XD while my white lion out dps it, but its always fun when your group ask who or what is moonspaming, or when it makes horde run about lookin for a druid.
Rikaku – Yes Gezzarak is one of the most annoying yet amusing tames ever XD
First time with priest and pally the tame took 20-30 min!
she switched between us all the time and would toss me about like a dog with a toy.
during that time ive slowly been burning down her hp(not intentionaly) trying to build aggro. in the end she had only about 400 hp left and was so sluggish she would crawl up to me. so slow i managed to get tame down to over halfways before she finaly was up and nibbling me. and poof i had her.
i enjoy tames like the much more than just searching an area hopeing to find the beast before everyone else. not saying its not a great feeling when you do find it and tame it. Just..tames like Gezza and the Ghostwolf feels more like a challenge, and then feels awsome when you do manage to tame it.
for the hydras..yeah id too like to see em as a new petfamily. i dont see why not, just like i dont understand why we cant tame the basilisks and the pterodaxes in un guro. we now can tame rhinos (and two headed dragons! lavadogs!), why not zebras or talbuks. or maybe marsh stalkers.
OK, has anybody tried Wyvern Sting On Gezz? Just curious to know if she is immune to that as well.
The oly reason i can see the Oracle spirit tames not becoming Spirit beats is: They don;t require the 51 point BM talent to tame them. So, witht hat said, stranger things have happened, but I pewrsonally don’t see Blizz making a “regular” tame into an exotic pet.
# Blue Flutterer (9-11, Bloodmyst Isle)
# Royal Blue Flutterer (14-16, Bloodmyst Isle)
bolth are tameable gona be a wicked pet lol
Drina:
I don’t think you understand what I’m saying. When has Blizzard ever intentionally had the skin & model of one known family (Wolves) been in the family of another (like Spirit Beasts, or Cats)? That’s what I’m saying. Look at all the current pet families; if you ignore the currently BUGGED Hydralisk, slime, whatever, no pet models look that drastically different within their families.
I realize Spirit Beast could’ve been ANY beast in the game. However, future Spirit Beasts are 99% most likely going to look just like Loque’nahak’s model. They maybe slightly different, but they will resemble Loque’nahak. And I’m not saying that Loque has a feline model because he prowls. I’m saying that because he looks very anatomically feline-like. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe the next spirit beast will be more wolf looking; for the first time Blizzard changing their models within the family drastically. However, it won’t be a current version of any live models on the game right now. Not a ghost wolf, not a hydra, and not a slime.
The dreadsaber and large saber cats use the riding cat model do they not? Yet they’re in the same cat family as the regular cat models. Worgs and Saber worgs look different then wolves, but they’re still in the same family. However, dreadsabers still resemble cats, and Saberworgs still resemble wolves.
Show me a pet in game that looks like a cat and is in the wolf family, or something similar.
That’s what I’m trying to say. It is unfeasible for Blizzard to change pets that are already owned by Hunters to become Spirit Beasts. How large would the uproar be if someones wolf or hydra became Spirit Beasts, and not the pet they were originally intended?
I think the point that Drina was trying to make was that Spirit Beasts could potentially be drastically different from each other. For example, for all we know, there could be a spirit beast from each family. They’d all share the moonfire attack, but then they’d have a family-specific attack (like how Loque has prowl). The spirit beast family isn’t a cat-specific family.
On that note, I don’t expect Blizzard to make the hydra/slime/wolf into spirit beasts, but the reasoning is because they’re no longer tamable (or will be no longer tamable soon-ish).
Lilita:
The only reason I addressed Drina was because Drina made the connection that Ghost wolves and hydras can potentially become spirit beasts. I’m just saying thats far beyond the realm of reality because none of these pets were intended to be tamed (ghost wolf, ghost hydra, slime etc). Putting a “Spirit Beast” tag on a bugged wolf and “crocolisk” doesn’t change that fact.
Also, I understand that, and I’m not saying Spirit Beasts IS a cat model only. The only reason I even use cat and Loque in the same sentence is because he looks anatomically like a feline creature. Sure, theres a possibility the next spirit Beast looks more canine-like, I said that too. But I also said it’d be the first time Blizzard has ever done such a large difference in models within one family (ie. Going from a feline look to a canine look). Thus, I am merely basing my opinion and thoughts on Blizzards current track record of never doing that before, so yes, I do assume it’s unlikely. However, unlikely does not mean impossible.
And I agree, with your last comment. One must bear in mind that those pets werent ever originally intended to be tamed. Obviously a creature thats not a crocolisk that says its a crocolisk is a bug. Obviously a creature summoned by a npc for 7.5 seconds wasn’t originally intended to be tamed. Just because theyre no longer obtainable doesnt mean they should become spirit beasts. The fact would still remain those creatures are not intended to be pets of any sort.
Trowabarton: cool, thanks! :D
I don’t mind the discussion so much this time. *Scratches his chin* Usually I get aggrivated. The thing is, the spirit beast had it’s own, totally unique model made, just for spirit beasties. Oh, and one goddess kitty. Is it possible that other type’s of beasts will be made ‘spirit beast’? Yes, but it isn’t likely. The only real way I can really see that happening is if Blizzards chronic laziness kicks in. The grim totem guide and spirits of the croc/slime/hydra were never really meant to be tamed, and I don’t really see them ever coming back under any label. They totem guide/spirit wolf especially, since the main reasoning behind it came down to shamans getting a summons almost identical to it. Well okay, they never SAID it, but what they did say was “Sure, you can keep taming it! We think talked about it, and we think its cool that people can bend the rules like that!” to “Uh, it isn’t cool. We think it doesn’t fit the feel of the hunter class, and uh, we’re not going to let you do it any-DON’T ASK WHY!!!!”
To sum it up, it IS possible that other beast types could be labeled as spirit beasts, it isn’t likely at all. The most likely scenario for another spirit beast like family would be Blizzard renaming the current spirit beasts as spirit cats or some such, and then going like that.
Personally, I’ll just be happen when there are more of the durn things to tame.
I was wondering about the change to pet buffs being hunter only. Does that mean Wolves’ howl only counts for the hunter as well? I’m rarely in melee range, how’s that supposed to work?
lol scratch that last question. I haven’t played my hunter in forever. Just read the tooltip on Furious Howl (45 yard cast) so I’d be covered. Still wondered if that move only applies to the hunter tho?
raid wide but might and warrior ap shouts override it
In re: the spirit beast discussion, I actually am more inclined to favor the idea that future models will be released, that they will be modeled on other species, and that their models will be something new – Blizzard has already said in so many words that Loq was added specifically as a prize tame for hunters so obviously a fair amount of programming/design resources have already been allocated, and I expect that means they already have plans to grow the list of tameable spirit beasts as soon as Loq starts to go the way of the ghostsaber and becomes passe in the hunter community, and that each new addition will have its own special design.
I’d go a step further and speculate that they might be using the animal gods in Zul’drak as their guide, i.e. sooner or later the bear god, rhino god or etc just might get replaced with a “souped up” (non-tameable) version, and accompanied by a rare, smaller, tameable cousin showing up in some other zone to become the next “must have”…
Bottom line, I don’t think Blizz is anywhere near done with the spirit beast family nor do I think they will be doing much or any recycling with any new models to be added.