Hail Folks,
I believe the max number of pets which a Tamer could stable has only been raised once. Seven years ago with Publish 16, additional stable slots could be earned for raising Taming, Lore, and Vet skills above Grandmaster skill level. First Tamers would be required to obtain Powerscrolls. IF they were able to obtain a 120 scroll in Taming, AND in Lore, and in Vet, and then only by reaching Legendary in all 3 skills would their stable slots rise from 5 to 14.
So seven years ago Tamers were granted the possibility of gaining 9 additional stable slots for achieving Legendary status in all three taming related skills.
Since that time, Fire Steeds, Hiryus, Lesser Hiryus, Cu Sidhe, Dread Warhorse, Bake Kitsune, Greater Dragons, Rune Beetles, Giant Beetles, Fire Beetles, and a host of other tamables (not including those coming with SA) have been added to UO. Also imprisoned squirrels and dogs, and Grizzled Mares some of which can never be bonded again if transferred.
The number of pets a Tamer may have under their control at one time has not been increased, but has in fact decreased down to the current limit of 5, or less based upon each pets number of control slots.
SOME PvPers and Pkillers use Tamables. However, the vast majority of Tamers do not participate in either PvP nor Pkilling.
Most Tamers in fact, especially those taking all three taming skills to 120, do so only to gain the maximum of 14 stable slots, because they have so many favored pets. While some players detest hued pets, most Tamers love all their pets including some of the hued ones. Some prefer one of every possible color, which is a very large number, much larger than the 14 possible stable slots.
Most Tamers, myself included, simply cannot understand why anyone would be opposed to Tamers being able to have a much larger number of stabled pets.
Prior to seven years ago, non tamers could have 2 stabled pets and Tamers could have 5. During the past 7 years Tamers have been able to stable up to 14 pets.
I have long advocated that Tamers with at least 360 skill points (actual skill points, no jewelry, no talismans, no mask of Travesty) be allowed Arks, such as Noah built, rather than Stables.
Surely, after 7 years, it is long overdue for Tamers to be permitted more stable slots. Chicken coops are included in Stygian Abyss. Two additional stable slots are being given to non-tamers and Tamers alike. Surely, basic fairness demands that those of us who invest the time and resources (scrolls etc) to achieve 360 taming related skill points deserve a much larger increase, if not removal of the cap, on stable slots.
Control slots maxed at 5 limits what pets may come out and play at the same time. Tamers ought not be required to add character after character nor account after account simply in order to increase our stabled flocks.
All the off-topic chatter and rants in this Thread aside. The Devs should either remove the stable cap or greatly increase it for all characters, but especially for Tamers, and more specifically those Tamers who go the entire Path of triple Legendary.
Respectfully,
Elladan of Baja for Dar et al