IDEAS FOR RYZOM

Having combat pets would indeed make stuff way too complicated. I suggest non-combat pets that would give slight bonuses to their master.

For instance, a Javing would flap around, occasionally disarming your enemies and making them fail more often. An Izam would increase your radar range and allow you to spot aggresive mobs (by showing them as different color). A Yubo would guard you as you dig, issuing a warning cry whenever a dangerous mob comes close. A Yelk would give a prospection range bonus. An Arma would randomly deflect some of the enemy attacks. You can, of course, only have one pet, and you have to keep it for a long time in order to unlock all the abilities in full.

I like Breony's suggestion. :)

They could pretty much re-use current packer mechanics, just this 'packer' would have no bulk but instead give some kind of bonus while it's near you. (Even that 'near you' mechanic is already worked in, seeing it effects from how far you can order a packer to follow you.)

Make the pet have 1 hp and be attackable in PvP so that it doesn't effect PvP much and we avoid that balancing drama too.

I like the idea of a 'possession' affliction too. Control a mob for a short time. After succesful possession the mob becomes immune for a period. (Nothing new, any afflictioner can vouch that mobs already become immune to an affliction after being hit with it X times.) And like any affliction some mobs would just be immune to it.

These are good ideas to have something of a pet system without throwing balance off completely, and without having to introduce a completely new system. They fit perfectly inside already existing game mechanics.

The 'pet buff' is a great idea. Runes of Magic has a similar pet system going they launched a while back. Ryzom could do a SOOOooo much better job of it with their current system. But yeah their system is basically any critter you can fight in-world, also potentially leaves behind a weird magical creature upon death which you can trap (money sink to buy trap) collect the 'pet egg' (money sink - buy / sell the eggs) and then hatch it in your incubator / pet control window.

It is a complete pain in the arse, but basically you pet has it's own set of stats. You feed it, keep it out as often as you can, etc. and in return the more you both battle together the better its buffs become and the more often it throws them (loyalty) - and they will actually fight with you too after a while so... it is a very strange system, but similar to what's been thrown about here towards the end, and I think if it was done PROPERLY - it would really be a cool pet system that was not your run of the mill 'pet / hunter class' type of pets.

Anyway... I would definitely like to see this happen at some point, especially with all of the way cool and crazy critters on Atys!! :)

Take care all,
- Zift

I think it would be nice, and to have a downside it could replace 1 of the packers or mount. You would also need to feed it as it roams with you like a packer. Than if you tamed a carnivore it would not have bag space more than 50 (For food only) but if it would be a herbivore it could have bag space like a packer.