So I’m sure this has probably been suggested before, but in case it hasn’t:
All summonings, pets, and minions should take reduced AoE. Probably a good starting place would be a 90% reduction in damage taken from area spells. The problem is losing pets to aoe’s is not the player’s fault. It’s not something we can control, and it’s not something we should be punished for if a boss decides to do a whirlwind attack.
I’ve wanted to play a minion master necro in this game since I first heard necro’s were coming back in GW2, but it’s just not viable for any serious content because they get one shot by bosses/player aoe and then the entire guild is kitten I know there are some people who feel that necromancers shouldn’t be defined by their minions- but necromancy IS communing with the dead, and there’s no reasons minions shouldn’t be at the least a viable build. I’m not saying everyone should have to run MM (the condition build is fun, if you’re into that kinda build), but it should be doable. Ranger pets and elemental summonings also come to mind as needing this. Mesmer summons I could go either way on since they are by nature fleeting.
So please… make pets take reduced AoE damage. There’s no reason not to.
Edit: This is something World of Warcraft chose to do, also. I’m not citing that as a reason GW should (they’re very different games) but it is somewhat applicable. And in WoW players have tailored heals for their pets and they can control where they go directly. I can’t even make mine attack the right things.