User:Ekko/Sandbox/Pet Speculation

So, I decided to speculate about the pet system a little bit. I thought I'd start with what we know:

• Pet groups (eg. Bears) don't just include animals that actually fit in the category, but creatures that thematically do (eg. Bear-shaped elemental creatures)
• Different varieties of pets in the same category have differing special abilities (eg. Different drakes have different breath weapons and different bears have different roars).
• There will be support, control, and damage pets (we know that moas do support, for example, with differing squawks and drakes mainly do damage. Admittedly, the control bit is a guess, but my justification is here).
• The pet groups we know aren't final - dogs and wolves may be combined, for example/
• The will be 3 aquatic, 3 terrestrial, and 6 aquatic pet groups at release.

Speculation ahoy!

Pet Groups and Roles

Aquatic Pets

• Fish/Armorfish - the control/tanking role. I doubt armorfish will be the complete group (not sure about variety), although it's possible different types have different scales that inflict conditions/boons/effects when they're struck. I don't know what the "group ability" might be - I think this could be one of the most diverse groups, with a whole range of different fish with different abilities.
• Sharks - the damage role. Not sure about the ability here, either, but I can see different bites (although that would be pretty lame) or just "normal" skills (one kind might be able to apply swiftness to itself and another charge and stun something, for example).
• Jellyfish - the support role. I'd guess they have different stings that produce different effects: one might remove a condition, another might weaken an ememy. I'd guess there's some control overlap here.

Terrestrial Pets

• Birds - the support role. Moas make up the majority of the pets here, but things like the White Raven would also be represented. They provide support through cries, calls, and squawks - a moa might give everyone vigor with a "Bolstering Squawk", and a hawk or raven might grant swiftness with "Cry of the Hunt".
• Devourers- ranged damage. Devourers will have different stings/projectiles/whatever that inflict damaging conditions, and will probably be the only pets to attack from range.
• Spiders/Insects - control/tanking. Spiders will probably do condition-based control, while beetles and other insects might fill out the "tanking" part. Bites, webs, etc. will probably be the group ability - a certain spider might immobilize a foe with a web, while a lavastrider might create a fiery web area of effect spell, like an elementalist.

Amphibious Pets

• Drake/Lizard - damage. I can't think of a big difference between drakes and lizards apart from one breathing fire - I think differentiating the two will be difficult. That being said, there's already a huge number of drakes that we know exist. I could see a little tanking overlap, perhaps. I'd guess these would do more sustained damage or damage to groups.
• Canines - damage/support (through buffs). Wolves and Dogs will probably be combined, and they'll provide damage support through howls, barks, and the like.
• Bear - control/tanking. Bears make the most sense out of the aquatic pets for a tanking/control role because they're big and tank-y and we kno things like Icy Roar exist (which probably chills a bunch of enemies). I could see a bear with a Fear-inducing roar.
• Cats - damage. Cats will probably be single-target, "burst" damage. I'm not sure what their ability would be, but the Stalker can stealth, so there may be something there.
• Unknown Group - support. We're missing a support group for aquatic pets, so, whatever it is can fill it. I could see frogs/toads/salamanders filling this, but there's no proof they even exist.
• Unkown Group - damage, probably. I have no idea what else might be here -- crabs/crawlers, maybe?. If canines are a second support role (so there's an 4 of each role), then this will be another control/tanking group.

DLC/Additions?

I could see packs of "themed" pets being available as DLC - get one skin for each pet type with a new ability for ~$10. The best onse I can think of might be pets branded by Kralkatorrik or Icebrood pets, which would be pretty neat.

I doubt entire new pet families will be available as DLC, but I could see new ones being added with expansions.