Guild Wars 2

So I finally decided to get off my thief and just started working on my ranger. As someone who has mained a Hunter in WoW, I gotta say I have a few issues about GW2’s pet management and UI. You might say it is fine but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need improvement. It hinders coordination between the pet and ranger simply due to the limited options. Coordination, management and options are the most important things that every pet-based class needs. Just taking the concept from WoW’s Hunter/Pet relationship…

First off, a button is being wasted on a command. “Attack my Target” and “Return to me!” can be placed on the same button and toggle itself depending on what the pet is doing. This opens up a button space and more options. Next allow shouts to fill that space +1 more button to allow easy access to them.

Next thing is the pet. The pet should also have the ability to choose it’s attacks and the 2 equipped shouts will work. This will not only increase it’s options but free up the Ranger to manage themselves. But hold on! Sometimes a Ranger would rather micromanage everything, in which case I have added more refined behaviors you can switch to.

The UI should look something like this:

F1: Basic Command
While Idle – “Attack my Target!”
While Attacking – “Return to me!”
Target has switched – “Attack my target!”
Hold F1 – “Go!” Ground Targeted guarding of an area without stealth.

F2: Unique Pet Skills
<Unique pet skill goes here>

F3: Ranger Commands
<Shouts go here>

F4: Ranger Commands #2
<Another shout goes here>

Behavior Toggle

1. Aggressive – Pet will focus on the target and attack them. Pet attacks if either the Ranger or pet gets attacked. Skills and commands are used automatically.
2. Tactical – Pet stays by Ranger’s side and provides defense. Will not attack unless enemy is close and is attacking the Ranger or Ranger provides input.
3. Supportive – Pet will stay by your side and provide support. Will not attack for any reason unless commanded. Support skills are used automatically.
4. Passive – Pet does nothing without input from ranger.

Pet Management
Naming and whatnot.

Well there ya go. If this is acceptable to the ranger community hopefully anet implements it.

Looks good. I think F1 is fine. Attack my target and attack are not the same thing. Pets already have trouble attacking moving targets. There is no need to add to this problem by having your pet start running back to you when you simply want to change targets.

I do think guard should be apart of the pet commands and still be a shout not to sure about any of the other shouts.

I like these ideas. There is a fair bit of malleability with the ranger f-skills and i’ll be interested to see if anet incorporate the popular “aspect of the pet” suggestions

I don’t think the dev will ever rework the whole mechanic of the pet, modifying it maybe . But we do need F1-F4 i was thinking of something more simple.

F1- Attack my target and lock on (the way its is)
F2 – Pets ability (the way it is)
F3 – Guard (using the shout Mechanic that is already in the game, the shout is useless 1 sec cast and use in one regen build) casting guard on self would make pet passive mode and attack wen enemy are in your bubble range 360. Also could make this unique and cast on allies Range 1,000.
F4- Pet swap (the way it is)

The pet Nerf over 8 months ago really hurt us, and pets mobility should be 125% movement speed instead of 100% would solve some pet Dps in Spvp.

Zacchary.6183:

The UI should look something like this:

F1: Basic Command
While Idle – “Attack my Target!”
While Attacking – “Return to me!”
Target has switched – “Attack my target!”
Hold F1 – “Go!” Ground Targeted guarding of an area without stealth.

i would really like this actually but instead of
while attacking- “returnt to me!”
i think it should be when u have no target this way the skill wont make ur pet come back to u when switching the target because ur pet is still attacking

I will look over it another time. Boss trains and real life and all.

The only thing about the F1 toggle is the button mash effect.

Hit F1 – Pet replies “I have better things to do right now”
Hit F1 again – “Sorry, what was that? There was a half second lag with the zerg and all”
Smash F1 over and over – “Wait, I’m confused – do I attack or return?”
Player Alt Tabs to complain on forum – “OH! ATTACK NEAREST AND AGGRO EVERYTHING!!!!”

Also as another aside, they really REALLY need to show us what buffs / conditions are on our pet. It is important information which we just dont ever have access to without breaking target to click on our pet, which is obsurd. Particularly if you’re using traits like EB, you do really need to know how many conditions your pet has on, or if you’re running a BM build and depending on your pet for DPS it would be nice to know if its got weakness or swiftness, or if its immobilised how long for? Is it going to be free in a second or should I swap now, etc. We need to know.

buff/condition ui is almost necessary as a ranger.. i dont understand why this hasn’t been implemented since day 1. definitely needed.