World of Warcraft - English (NA) Forums -> Pet Defensive stance change

Ghostcrawler

Blizzard Poster

0. Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:21:09 PM PST

We recently changed the way defensive stance works for pets. In the old design, the pet would not attack a target that you were attacking until it did something to generate threat - typically attacking you. In the new design, as soon as you attack a target, the pet will attack the target too. Our thinking was that this made defensive a little easier to use and you still have passive to override that behavior.

However, we have heard from some players (hunters mostly, though this isn't just a hunter issue) that they prefer the old defensive stance. We wanted to get a little more feedback from players on the issue.

In order to keep this readable, please don't stray into other hunter or pet issues that don't directly affect this topic. Also please don't attempt to redesign the feature (such as having four stances).

Shizue

< Serious Business >

Gurubashi

1. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:23:22 PM PST

I really like this change on my hunter :]

Thanks.

Hizu - 70 Priest - Draka
Shizue - 70 Shaman - Draka
Shizue - 70 Warrior - Gurubashi
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Vacus

< Destroyer of Good >

Earthen Ring

2. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:24:23 PM PST

I think I'd prefer the new one. (I'm not certain if it's live yet, but I haven't played my hunter(s) or warlock for a while, so I wouldn't know.)

I never use Defensive because I find it too annoying that the pet would always attack the first thing that attacked me. If it assisted me with priority over attacking the first thing that attacked me, I'd be more likely to use it; I'm not certain that I'd actually use it over micro-managing in Passive, but I'd be more likely to.

Aryxymaraki - 70 shaman
Golnakh - 70 warlock
Aranilin - 70 rogue

Q u o t e:
The difficult we do on schedule; the impossible takes longer.

Kainazzo

< Shadow Syndicate >

Mug'thol

3. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:25:19 PM PST

Good change.

While we're on the subject of pets... what about totem stomping macros with pets?

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Death Knight: Because a caster/melee hybrid with CC would be overpowered if it was Shaman.

Linra

< Anonymous >

Destromath

4. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:26:31 PM PST

Personally I like having the pet attack when I attack in Defensive stance. Mostly because of the reasons you stated already. Easier, and I can set to passive if I didn't want it to react.

Gadsden

< Deus Irae >

Whisperwind

5. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:26:48 PM PST

While it may SEEM like a good idea, it's really a hassle and especially when trying to clear up lower level quests for Achievements to have them auto attack on any aggressive move made by the player.

If a player wants to have the current mode, he can easily macro /petattack to whatever he's doing, but it's virtually impossible to have that same functionally the way it is now.

What you did was make them LESS flexible. I do NOT like this change at all.

[ Post edited by Gadsden ]

Control is more important than DPS -- always.

Dunkoro

< The Dark Army >

Dethecus

6. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:27:07 PM PST

i havent tested it myself, but ive seen complaints of water elemental breaking polymorph, other than that i like it.

Texasbubba

< Armed Forces >

Blade's Edge

7. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:27:16 PM PST

I like the new change, because if I target something I want my pet to attack it without me having to tell it.
If you don't like it, keep your pet on passive then tell it to attack. my two cents......

Kappar

< Ti >

Uther

8. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:27:26 PM PST

Who doesn't leave their pet on passive anyway?

Playing Horde because I prefer a target rich environment!

Kalimdork

< B A T T E R Y >

Firetree

9. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:27:46 PM PST

I like the new setup. I only find a use for aggressive if i'm running lowbies through an instance even then in PvE and PvP I keep my pet on def or passive.

I think however that passive stance should be the old def. stance were the pet won't attack unless u were hit first. But you would have to add a 4th stance to the mix of do nothing. Just my $0.02.

[ Post edited by Kalimdork ]

Alester

Khaz Modan

11. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:30:21 PM PST

I like the change but honestly it doesn't matter either way. Like above said, a simple macro will accomplish the same thing.

(wouldn't a poll work better?)

"We Are Each Our Own Devil, And We Make This World Our Hell" - O. Wilde

Cowyannker

< Baraka >

Gorgonnash

12. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:30:27 PM PST

I enjoy the new stance. If you need more control over your pet, put him on passive and bind /pet attack.

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1. Give us a defense against melee. 2. Fix 51 point talents 3. New Pet 4. Pet Scalling 5. Fix Haste and Crit scaling for DoTs.

Sildaorf

< Assent >

Dunemaul

13. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:30:45 PM PST

I really like the defensive stance personally. Wouldnt mind if aggressive was like the new defensive in its place since the way aggressive works is by far the least used. That might allow people to have defensive how it used to be and those who like this use aggressive for it. However the mechanic to have my pet atk who I atk is pretty nice.

On a raid it is particularly nice. I do not have to worry about pet atk keybind at all so just one less thing have to hit. I can see how it is annoying but definatly would like it kept in some way or another if possible.

Gadsden

< Deus Irae >

Whisperwind

14. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:30:55 PM PST

Q u o t e:
I like the new change, because if I target something I want my pet to attack it without me having to tell it.
If you don't like it, keep your pet on passive then tell it to attack. my two cents......

But that's not very efficient.

Passive means he WON'T continue to attack once the first mob is dead, so if you're grinding multiple mobs, you're forced to constantly switch back and forth. It's a hassle.

If you want your pets to automatically attack on your first cast, then write a macro that includes both your first attack and telling him to attack as well.

Something like

/cast Spell of Uberness
/petattack

It's MUCH simpler than this current change.

Control is more important than DPS -- always.

Detton

< Rotten Luck >

The Scryers

15. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:30:56 PM PST

I honestly don't care one way or the other. Defensive mode .. I just don't really use it for PVE or PVP. It's a solo-only thing.

What's the difference if it attacks when I start attacking, or attacks because I pressed ctrl+1?

I'd like to see the modes be able to be dragged off of the pet bar so I could slip other skills in. Any ability on there, really, not just the modes.

"Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think." - Presumably from a fortune cookie.

Phyraxian

< Exalted With Ur MoM >

Terokkar

16. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:32:00 PM PST

I preferred the old style, and almost always had my pet set to defensive and never had a problem with it. I liked how it wouldn't attack unless I was attacked or i told it to attack. In BG's I have it set on aggressive to help spot rogues and limit my multi-tasking with it.

Fear is your only God

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Gadsden

< Deus Irae >

Whisperwind

17. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:32:13 PM PST

Q u o t e:
I really like the defensive stance personally. Wouldnt mind if aggressive was like the new defensive in its place since the way aggressive works is by far the least used. That might allow people to have defensive how it used to be and those who like this use aggressive for it. However the mechanic to have my pet atk who I atk is pretty nice.

On a raid it is particularly nice. I do not have to worry about pet atk keybind at all so just one less thing have to hit. I can see how it is annoying but definatly would like it kept in some way or another if possible.

Aggressive has it's own uses and I'd damn near cry if it ever changed.

Control is more important than DPS -- always.

Kappar

< Ti >

Uther

18. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:32:22 PM PST

Q u o t e:
I like the new this has been setup. I know many times I said to myself that i want my pet not to run off and fight the world but just the target i'm fighting.

I think however that passive stance should be the old def. stance were the pet won't attack unless u were hit first. But you would have to add a 4th stance to the mix of do nothing. Just my $0.02.

The thing is, it's pretty easy to get the new "improved" behavior by making an /petattack macro. It's impossible to mimic the old behavior.

Either way, I still say any good player will just leave the pet on passive so it doesn't run off after a ranged attacker at a bad time, though I suppose this is less of an issue in PvP.

Playing Horde because I prefer a target rich environment!

Adams

< Fluffy Bunnies of Do… >

Lightbringer

19. Re: Pet Defensive change 11/06/2008 03:32:40 PM PST

Q u o t e:
We recently changed the way defensive stance works for pets. In the old design, the pet would not attack a target that you were attacking until it did something to generate threat - typically attacking you. In the new design, as soon as you attack a target, the pet will attack the target too. Our thinking was that this made defensive a little easier to use and you still have passive to override that behavior.

However, we have heard from some players (hunters mostly, though this isn't just a hunter issue) that they prefer the old defensive stance. We wanted to get a little more feedback from players on the issue.

In order to keep this readable, please don't stray into other hunter or pet issues that don't directly affect this topic. Also please don't attempt to redesign the feature (such as having four stances).

New = better!

Old = using petattack macro.

Hunters don't use defensive in raids or instances, so this is not a raid issue. The new behavior is much better for solo play.

[ Post edited by Adams ]

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