Hunter pet attack speeds normalized in the expansion?Follow

I was reading a post on the official boards and several posts made reference to the fact that hunter’s pets will have their attack speeds normalized. I looked around for an “official” post but I couldn’t find one. Might anyone have a link?

I’m actually rather happy to hear this. Now maybe there will be more perceived PvP options other than a 1.0 attack speed cat or bat. I’m curious if Blizzard will allow us to adjust our pet attack speed via training points. At one point it was stated that Blizzard would not change attack speeds until such an option was provided.

Not again!

First they nerf their damage type to all physical. Then they nerf their stats to the same. Lastly they nerf their movement speed to the same.

And now they want to nerf their attack speed too?

I don't want my cat to hit slower and my boar to hit faster. It's not just boring, it's illogical.

Welcome to the World of Genericraft.

People worry about pet stats?

I've had my same bear since level 12. He's awesome. I never leave town without him.

While I’m all for individuality, which is why I’m saddened about a lack of character customization, pets are a bit different. If one pet (*cough* Broken Tooth *cough*) is the best pet for one type of game play, such as PvP, then there are going to be tons of said pet instead of a wider variety of tamed pets. If Blizzard gives us the option to train attack speed with points then people can have a cat, or bear for that mater, with a faster attack speed if they are willing to give up something else like armor to get it. That would give everyone a choice and open the doors wide for all kinds of pets.

But if Blizzard normalizes attack speeds without an option to customize it, then I’ll agree that it’s a nerf.

I agree with you fully there. I hope oh so much that this isn't true... but, knowing blizzard and their hatred for the hunter class it is. Well, maybe it is time to look at rolling a new char as a main... because I highly doubt if they do that, that I will keep playing my hunter. I can live with the stats being the same, and the movement speed being the same... but the attack speed too? Just delete the ability to tame pets already and make us into a RNG from FFXI, because we are already so damned close to that as is.

<3 Sanders the Chicken (ie, Strider Clutchmother)

Honestly, I've never been much for min/maxing, as I feel there is a point where the decimals just don't make enough of a difference to justify. I don't want to be gimped, but being normal is ok with me.

Where I have always felt Blizzard dropped the ball on hunter pets is by failing to implement widespread unique characteristics for the different pets. Basically, they half-assed it, implementing SOME unique characteristics (like run speed and attack speed) while not balancing it throughout the full spectrum of available pets.

To put it in more WoW-esque speech, they have a bunch of rocks with a couple of scissors and no paper at all. Either they need to have rock/paper/scissors, or they will have to make all rocks. The past year has shown they're fine with the all-rock scenario. That's a shame and they really need to have a drawer full of nifty kitchen utensils, but instead everyone gets a rock.

At least Charlie Brown won't feel so alone anymore.

They'll do more damage the better armor you have. But why would anyone pick a cat if it has the attack speed of a bear, but a sh*tty special ability?

There's no reason not to get a Boar/Serpent now. Boar Charge beats anything in battlegrounds because of the short stun it has. Serpents' special ability does nature damage which bypasses armor.

Prowl does.. what?

Edited, Nov 6th 2006 at 2:18pm PST by Mazra

Theoretically speaking, if all of the pets have the same attack speed, in order for cats, and all of the other high DPS pets to maintain its high DPS stat, that means Blizzard will have to make them hit with more damage per hit, right?

As i said previously the new Kill Command skill helps out the slower attacking pets as you'll get a higher damage instant attack than you would with a fast attack speed. Which is what confuses me, they start to haul in on the gap between fast speed pets and then wipe it out completely. Now instead of attack speed all the damage KC is going to rely on is the attack power of your pet that it gets from you, rather disappointing.

However i agree if they give you the opportunity to change your pet speed yourself it'll be a very good thing. I'm not sure about spending points on it though, i think i'd prefer it if you could find Speed Manual drops (or better yet a '"Walkies!" MkII Lead', 'Marrowboneyliscious Chew Toy', etc) that teach you the ability to change pet speed to a set value. Perhaps green manuals that allow you to change it between 1.6-2.4 speed, blue manuals for 1.3-2.7 and epic manuals for 1.0-3.0, just a rough idea but i think i'd prefer that a bit more. You would still have certain pets with rare attack speeds but they could be any damn animal species you wanted.

Edit: On a sidenote i do have a kitty but he has a 2.0 attack speed and i wouldn't give him up for the world, partly because its puts out some nice numbers on prowl crits (when it bloody works properly) but mainly because he's damn see through and nigh on invisible when prowling and i still cackle with glee every time i bring him out.

Edited, Nov 6th 2006 at 2:54pm PST by Muggins

It is already like this in PvP. Everytime I play I see, on average, more than 1/2 of hunters having one lion (humar I think). Same thing, no different, AKA generic.

I won't say anything about attack speed, other than for a priest it is a B**ch to deal with.

I wish there was a reason to pick something different. I like dash/prowl more than any other skill out there.

I cant wait to tame a viper like the ones from WC. If they have any skill whatsoever, for sure they will become my #1 pet.

Edited, Nov 6th 2006 at 4:02pm PST by lauisifer

PvPers will always min/max, nothing will ever change that~ So regardless of what bliz does, your gunna see alot of whatever pet is percieved to give the greatest advantage~ who knows, maybe the next big pet in BC will be the slowest attack possible to get the most dmg out of kill command...

The much more serious issue is keeping the flavor in a hunter's pet. Any normalization definately needs to be offset with enhanced customization... Making hunters choose how they want to develop their pet, almost how players choose how to develop their character through talents. Want to get the really fast attack speed, or would it be better to increase their run speed? Or maybe some fire damage to their attacks? Would keep the flavor and might even change things up a little on the battlefields

That is the best news I've seen.



Now you tell me he isn't starting to sound more like me and not the opposite as he works on character development.

Edited, Nov 6th 2006 at 8:23pm PST by Barrelhunter