Pet = 1 party member, 8 members total.

[EdenArchangel]

Spread the word of the 'ignore poster function' :O

[Fleur]

I think it could be convenient to be able to use a "pet" to fill a party slot, but of course the pet would not be as good as another player. I can see that being useful for smaller leveling parties especially.

Doesn't sound that strange to me, I believe in a certain upcoming MMO your "companions" will be able to take party slots but they are only like 60% (guessing here) of an actual player.

I agree it could be tricky to figure out how it would work for summoners/dragoons though. I think those would have to be treated differently than other players with their pet chocobos.

[RemVye]

I think it could be convenient to be able to use a "pet" to fill a party slot, but of course the pet would not be as good as another player. I can see that being useful for smaller leveling parties especially.

Doesn't sound that strange to me, I believe in a certain upcoming MMO your "companions" will be able to take party slots but they are only like 60% (guessing here) of an actual player.

I agree it could be tricky to figure out how it would work for summoners/dragoons though. I think those would have to be treated differently than other players with their pet chocobos.

Donkey Knight serves this purpose.

[MartaDemireux]

Instead of recalculating damage for a pet, make it an additional party member with an HP bar and target-able. Obviously an actual PC will always be better, but sometimes people DC or you can't find that 8th person. This would be a way to fill in the party.

Nobody has to be nerfed. 4 people can become an 8 man party, but an actual 8 man party will always be a better fit, because pet's don't fully fill in for a person.

It's probably been said but according to the 2.0 Screenshot chocobo's will fill in a party slot and makes the 8th member in the party. Just didn't feel like reading all the way through it after I saw donkey posting her thread again.

[Lavani]

Instead of recalculating damage for a pet, make it an additional party member with an HP bar and target-able. Obviously an actual PC will always be better, but sometimes people DC or you can't find that 8th person. This would be a way to fill in the party.

Nobody has to be nerfed. 4 people can become an 8 man party, but an actual 8 man party will always be a better fit, because pet's don't fully fill in for a person.

what if one or two players playing a pet class DC? Now you're down two or four members, from the one or two disconnects.

[Brannigan]

Buddies aren't pets. They're more like mercenaries in EQ. I assume a proper pet class would be balanced around having its pet and the pet would not take up a slot.

[Coglin]

if you take a 7 man party in to an ifrit fight and summon a pet as the 8th you deserve to have it die
> :- D

Why, that exactly what your suggesting one do.

Your also trying to limits on classes (pet classes) because you appearently dislike them, thus want to ruin the experience for everyone.

Protip- Pet classes are comming, accept it, adapt to it, don't complain about it.

[kensredemption]

I miss the 5-member parties from XI...I'd like to see another epic alliance encounter in the likes of the Pandemonium Warden fight.

[Engineer]

PVP would be ether single person (pets are a 1+ to a party so you cant call them) or party PVP up to 8 people. 2 PC vs 1 person and a pet, the two actual players are better. Why are we talking about PVP? this isnt even in the game currently and its going to be a optional thing for fun.

Everybody can have a pet whether its a NPC companion, chocobo, dragon, er goobie?, <insert your favorite thing>. You can only call 1 at a time and it is a +1 to a party.

Different pets do different things, so depending on what job is needed in the party you can use a pet to fill in.
as an example

Drake/Dragon = Damage Doing pet

Chocobo = Damage + conditional healing pet (chocobo dance when a party member dips below 30% health)

Mog = party buffing + healing

companion = job class they are currently assigned

I don't want 8 people and 8 pets on screen at once that's so cluttered!

yoshida plans to have both class/job specific pets, as well as +1 pets that anyone can have ala chocobo. your idea is basicaly just canceling out pet class/jobs. i would have to say no, and i want my class pet as well as my +1 chocobo or companion thanks