Breakfast Topic: Non-combat pets
by Jennie Lees 
Feb 24th 2006 at 7:00AM
There are a variety of non-combat pets available throughout Azeroth--ranging
from easily purchased pets to those which can only be obtained through cross-faction co-operation. While some people
see them as annoyances, others are hastily trying to collect as many as they can; after all, it passes the time.I have a few of these pets, including the Sprite Darter Hatchling pictured right. However, I'm not very attached to them--the fact I can only have one out at a time doesn't help. I generally send any rare treats I find to the Auction House--especially on low alts, finding Little Timmy in Stormwind is a great way of making some quick cash.
What's your stance on non-combat pets? Take them or leave them? Gotta catch them all?
Filed under: Items, Breakfast Topics
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
PodMonkeys Feb 24th 2006 7:54AM
My main carries around a siamese, reindeer, and a macaw, just for fun, and she's got a couple more in the bank. One of my alts carries a siamese, and a chicken. I think they can be fun to pull out. They go with my characters' styles.
It would be really nice if you could pull out 2 or 3 at a time. I've always wanted to run with the squirrels.... or cats. :P
FurysWrath Feb 24th 2006 9:14AM
Its kind of a waste of a Bag / Bank Slot to me. I mean they do have somewhat of a cool factor to them. but I guess id like them alot better if they served more of a purpose rather than just a cool factor.
Ricky Feb 24th 2006 10:16AM
Non combat pets are cool. I think how they are handled in the game can use a bit more work.
Using a bag spot for a pet is a waste.
The fact that you have to call the pet after dying, flying, etc. kind of ruins it. Why can't the pet just be there until I make it not there?
Multiple pets would be better. Why not be able to have a small herd of cats following players?
Why can't I name a pet?
My undead warlock has a cat. I have a story that he doesn't admit to liking the cat but it follows him anyway... blah blah blah... it adds to my RP experiece.
Windshadow Feb 24th 2006 10:17AM
I too wish they did something ... even something quite minor like a small faxtion adjustment or perhaps increased detection range for things in the minimam?
I just have the robot chicken and I have made a few silver building them for others when I was just starting out
LC_ Feb 24th 2006 10:26AM
I have a rabbit and an owl.
I am trying to get a tiger, bear and a pig.
That way I can be known as the "100 acre woods gang".
I probably should have named my character Christopher Robbins, huh?
RighteousDork Feb 24th 2006 10:49AM
It just goes to show you that everyone plays this game for different reasons. The ability to collect non-combat pets is one of the reasons why I'm still playing the game. Maybe I'm a dork for doing this but I've always had a goal for my Dwarf hunter. I want him to be a virtual equivalent of Grizzly Adams. I want every pet I get my hands on. My very real affinity for pets is being made manifest via the game. I've already got a virtual equivalent of my orange tabby "Ringo" and I'm on the lookout for a good tortoise shell.
I thought that thing pictured above is called a "Blink Dragon". They are in Ashenvale anyway. I am so psyched knowing that you get to have one someday. I too wish that you could have all of your NCPs out at once but would settle for the ability to name them. I realize they are items that can be sold and whatnot but I don't see why you can't put an additional tag on them. Even AC2 gave you the ability to inscribe weapons, armor, etc. I'm sure a similar system in the game could give you the ability to attach a name to your NCPs.
Well back to the hunt...
BartmanDK Feb 24th 2006 11:18AM
Since i was lucky to get the collectors edt. of WoW i have the choice of a Panda, a mini zergling or a mini diablo when i start a new char and when i remember it i always have it follow me! :)
forzaq8 Feb 24th 2006 11:21AM
i wish they don't waste bag / bank slot
i had a parrot cage / chicken
could have bought cats and one time i found little timmy but didn't know that it was worth a bit more
Mat Feb 24th 2006 11:47AM
I don't care that they don't do anything, but I agree that it'd be nice if you could name them and if they didn't disappear when you die.
I like my snowshoe rabbit a lot :)
haphamage Feb 24th 2006 11:48AM
Murky FTW! I've seen a dancing Murky bring a 40man MC raid to a halt so everyone can watch and listen.
I've gotten rid of all my non-combat pets except Murky. Though I put my jubling in the bank just in case.
Tryst Feb 24th 2006 11:59AM
I think my freakishness is going to be exposed now....
I have a Bombay cat, Siamese cat, a white kitten, a reindeer, a green helper, a red helper, a snowman, a mechanical squirrel, a chicken(not an Anaconda, the one from the mini-quest), an owl, a green macaw, a prairie dog, a rabbit and.....a crimson whelpling.
I have passed up buying a pet, like the Anaconda, but it's a very rare occurence. The only pet I haven't wanted is the cockroach.
Obviously, it's taking up a whole bag/bank slot so that's a bit disappointing but I see it as a fair exchange. I like to choose what mood I'm in and then get the pet to match it before I leave the city for questing. And I only bring out the snowball requiring ones when I'm going to be in a city just doing crafting for awhile.
Burnsie Feb 24th 2006 12:46PM
When I found out that my mage could have a non-combat pet I made it a personal quest to seek one out. A mage needs a familiar! Being a cat lover meant I searched for Crazy Cat Lady outside of Stormwind. I have a Silver Tabby and I call him Poe, after my real-life male Bengal, who has taken to sitting on my shoulders while I play WoW. If I could get my real Poe just to lay down around my neck while I play I would be set.
I also wish that non-combat pets had some sort of bounus that they could impart to the owner. Heightened senses (maybe to see rogues when they get close), slightly faster speed, a slight range increase on the mini-map, something.
crsh Feb 24th 2006 1:20PM
I think one of the only vanity pets that "does" something is the Disgusting Oozeling (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=52469): -20 to all resistances and defense, and paints you sickly green FTW!
Seriously, seeing the price of vanity pets on the AH always makes laugh (crimson whelps going for 100-120g, etc), a waste of cash (not to mention a waste of inventory space); just too stupid for rogue.
slybri Feb 24th 2006 1:26PM
When you're in an instance group as a rogue it helps to have a non-combat pet out. When you're stealthed and scouting, the other players can see you more easily.
My mage has an owl from Darnassus. I think it looks cool for a wizard to have a pet owl, but the flapping sound drives me nuts.
Wordman Feb 24th 2006 1:41PM
Another decent list of these pets is here:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Category:Small_Pets
TCGiant Feb 25th 2006 11:16AM
The only pet I've obtained so far is a Prarie Chicken. The fact that I quested for it made it special enough to keep.