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.
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.