Beastmaster / Tamer Class

[BlaiseLallaise]

● Should it be called "Beastmaster" or "Tamer" ?
Why not both? "Tamer" can be a class, and "Beastmaster" can be a job.

● Wich monsters should we be able to "Tame" ?
I think it would be interesting to be able to do a quest to 'tame' your very own of almost every non-large or rare beast, and then they would be yours to call at any time (one at a time, obviously). Seems like a more personal way to go about it than the 'catch & release' method used in FFXI.

edit: After thinking again, perhaps it isn't such a good idea to tame the smallest creatures. Who would fear a tiny little rat, or a swarm of bees? So, medium-sized creatures would be about right.

● Should we be able to name our pet?
If implemented like my previous answer, absolutely. Using an FFXI method, probably not.

● Should pets have their own stats allocation system?
I don't think that's necessary. Just a standard base stat distribution per beast type should suffice.

● Should pets be able to equip certain armor?
Probably, but no more than something similar to Chocobo barding.

● Should pets be able to change class?
If implemented as I envision it, each different pet could have its own class, and you could change battle tactics by simply swapping pets.

● What actions should the pet be able to perform?
Initially the beast's native attacks, but it would be interesting to be able to raise them to learn new attacks (within reason).

● Should pets be an optional mount?
Since we will be able to use chocobos in battle, it only makes sense to allow it to go the other way around. (Again, within reason. No marmot mounts, please.)

● Should we be able to run around inside cities with your pets?
Simply a novelty, but not a terrible idea. I have no leanings either way.

[NintenPyjak64]

● Should pets be able to equip certain armor?
Probably, but no more than something similar to Chocobo barding.

● Should pets be able to change class?
If implemented as I envision it, each different pet could have its own class, and you could change battle tactics by simply swapping pets.

First thing that came to mind when reading this was 13-2

[Avisaia]

● Should it be called "Beastmaster" or "Tamer" ?

-I would prefer for Tamer to be another base job added that would branch into Summoner and Beastmaster. TMR + MRD = BST and TMR + (CNJ or THM) = SMN I don't know if Tamer should be a magic based class or a melee class -especially since it seems that FFXIV stresses magic users not using their weapons at all and my memory of SMN in FFXI was that they could beat stuff pretty damn well with their sticks, not just their magic.

● Wich monsters should we be able to "Tame" ?

If the TMR class does have pets (assuming its a base job and not an advanced one) they should be very limited -likely a new pet allowed to summon every 15 levels. So, at 0 you get a rat or marmot, something squishy. At 15 you could be allowed to summon a fungar, etc... The Tamer class could be allowed to summon small sized monsters only while the advanced classes- BST: Can summon medium sized monsters and SMN: Can summon elementals (please for the love of god make them look cooler) and some other base summons (Cait Sith?) that will hopefully be added outside of the primals.

I really hope that they don't combine SMN/BST all in one job like I've seen a few people mention. I would be very cross if I was a summoner who should be magic based summoning pets... when I could be summoning pets and using an AXE!

● Should we be able to name our pet?

I don't think we should be able to name our pets. I enjoyed the cute and creative names in XI's NM-pets. I also hope that a few of the pets we're allowed to summon will have love and attention given to them such as our dear Courier Carrie did. Things as small as additions like that can signify what the pet may be able to do and give it personality. Who wouldn't love to see a medium sized crab pet covered in pots tossing out protect, stoneskin and cures? :)

● Should pets have their own stats allocation system?

No. Let the master be the character with the stats to worry about. The pets should definitely have scaling stats as they level with you as well as their own scaling abilities so pets never become useless. One of the worst things about FFXI was that as you leveled BST or SMN -pets fell out of use completely. Such as hardly ever using Titan or Diabolos except for a few buffs now and again or how the lower tier BST pets were often so useless you didn't bother buying/making/using the jugs for them. I hope they will continue the trend of low amounts of skills being given -yet they remain completely useful!

● Should pets be able to equip certain armor?

Nah. (((If DRG ever gets a wyvern I think they should be able to equip armor))<-I'm newish to XIV still and just last night learned that Dragoons are dragon slayers! So never-mind that comment.), but BST and SMN pets have always been awesomely sufficient on their own. You can heal BST pets and you can re-summon an avatar. DRG however made wonderful use of their pet and in XI they tended to be squishy to AoEs.

● Should pets be able to change class?

Nah, but they should definitely HAVE classes. TMR/BST could have thm,cnj,gla,pug,mrd,lnc,arc and SMN could stick with the class inspired summons or magic based avatars. It would be cute to have a cnj crab and a gla crab -two separate ones at different levels that have different appearance.

● What actions should the pet be able to perform?

Pets will hopefully be as versatile as they were in FFXI. Different pets should be able to do as you said: attack, tank, buff parties, be useful for kiting, etc. Seeing our pets using skills and being able to target them specifically would also be an exciting beginning to the possibility of Blue Mage. I just hope they don't give our pets skills that should be strong and they end up being 1/4 as effective as a mob using it in the wild. I always found that disappointing.

● Should pets be an optional mount?

No.

● Should we be able to run around inside cities with your pets?

While I would find this insanely entertaining... I already hate Ul'dah because of the lag, and ANY major city should remain free and clear of anything aside from NPCs/EventStuff/PCs.

My own ramblings~

I am glad that someone posted something about BST. I know most people are simply excited for SMN, but BST is so precious to me I wanted to think for a while before flash-fire responding to your post. I really really hope that BST and SMN remain their own separate classes with their own amazing storylines and what not. I can envision a lot of great lore for BST. Such as.... A pirate from Limsa got washed up on some island after the apocalypse and was alone stranded on an island with only the creatures to sustain him.. He befriends the opo-opo, they teach him, he lives! He ropes some sea turtles! ... But yeah, he's a MRD, becomes a BST, teaches you in your opening quest after proving you have some affinity for beasts (by leveling TMR and MRD) and he grants you THE SOUL OF THE BEAST!

I would hope they will have access to heavy armor, though it would make more sense in this game for them to be mostly a leather based class that can use shield and one-handed axe, should it ever ever be introduced or... just give it a GAxe. Not as nostalgic, but still nice.

I also hope that it isn't all touchy-feeling-elementally like all of Gridania is. The BST storyline quest in XI always bugged me because it was about protecting and cherishing your pet when every single person who played BST seriously knew it was all about recycling the mobs you used and SENDING LEGIONS TO DIE FOR YOUR CAUSE! ~whatever that may have been. (For leveling and giving yourself a challenge for certain nms) I want BST to be awesome, powerful, sexy, and not focused on the rage of the hedge or elementals and how they influence the animals. Make our critters intelligent and have personality!

My questions :

• What would our AF look like? What stats should be on it?
• How much stronger will the pets be than us? Or will we fight alongside our pet equally such as DRG and its pet in XI?
• Will they introduce a 1H axe or will we be doomed to be a two handed class?
• Will our pets be able to zone with us? Please say it is so.

Most importantly. Where the hell are the rest of you Beastmasters? I know you're out there.