Possible returning player...Pet questions?

[tombomb84]

Hello. I might be returning and I have questions about pets . Sorry about all the queations. When I left there was talk of pets being about to train up to a pet to 5 slots? Has this happened? Also is a 5 star pet less powerful now than a lesser star? I have a 4.7 rated (UOCraft) Greater Dragon is he now less valuable? Also I see pets can be trained in skills? Anyone explain to me how this works?
Thanks!

 

[Archnight]

Hello. I might be returning and I have questions about pets . Sorry about all the queations. When I left there was talk of pets being about to train up to a pet to 5 slots? Has this happened? Also is a 5 star pet less powerful now than a lesser star? I have a 4.7 rated (UOCraft) Greater Dragon is he now less valuable? Also I see pets can be trained in skills? Anyone explain to me how this works?
Thanks!

Yes it has happened and most love the changes, 5 slot CU's and Hiryu's are among the strongest/most popular pets to train since they're rideable... however the strongest greater dragon can't even compete with them at that level. You should try it and come back

 

[tombomb84]

Thanks @Archnight! So does that mean that the greater dragon isn't the strongest pet in the game anymore? Also does your pet pick up skills now too?

 

[Archnight]

Thanks @Archnight! So does that mean that the greater dragon isn't the strongest pet in the game anymore? Also does your pet pick up skills now too?

Correct, it's been dethroned and just a mild punching bag now... unless you had a high wrestling one that is (120-130). You make ur pet eat scrolls and you have to train it to increase it's skills/slots

 

[Basara]

The Greater is still a usable pet - it's just not the Greatest pet anymore. It's a good generic pet, while you can train other pets up to 5 slots and make incredible specialists (even a 5-slot Giant Beetle can be optimal for some fights - new/released&retamed giant beetles are now 1 slot, and retain the ability to ride and be a pack animal even at 5 slots).

They expanded the displayed skill list for all pets. All pets can train up to their caps in skills they had when they were tamed. However, as part of training you can spend the training points to power-scroll the pet's skills, so you can give a pet that would normally be capped at GM up to a 120 cap. Some skills can be added in training (for example, Poisoning to a Giant Beetle), or you can spend points to add, improve or trade out certain casting skills.

 

[Ansel]

I've been poking around looking for a single, comprehensive guide to taming as it exists today.

I recall there was something akin to that when last I visited but it seemed so radical I decided to leave until the new system was implemented and adjusted for the inevitable howling and "Oops!" parade that would follow.

 

[Pawain]

Read this. Pet Training A-Z Choose the pet type you want. Coma back here for advice on how not to ruin it. Otherwise, make it what you want.

 

[Jesterr]

Read this. Pet Training A-Z Choose the pet type you want. Coma back here for advice on how not to ruin it. Otherwise, make it what you want.

This right here. Saved me from ruining my old 2 slot mare, and now he is a 5 slot force to be reckoned with. Not to mention how great the guides are, you rarely have to wait too long on this forum to get a reliable response to any questions from experienced trainers.

 

[Ansel]

Read this. Pet Training A-Z Choose the pet type you want. Coma back here for advice on how not to ruin it. Otherwise, make it what you want.

This is way beyond what I was immediately looking for. Went to the main UO site and it appears everything is tameable now, except for Ancient Wyrms and Frost Dragons. When I left I'd read that Frost Dragons were going to be on the list of tameables but I digress.

My favorite pet - favorite to work with - the Hiryu seems to be a completely different animal now. We each have our own UO fetishes and mine was high stat, colored pre-patch Hiryus. Yeah, while everyone else was using the curse taming loophole to get wonder-Cus I was curse taming brightly colored Hiryus but, again, I digress

Best I pose some basic questions.

1. Do initial stats matter anymore? Is farming out, along with the UOCraft 1-5 grading scale, or can you simply make any pet most anything you want through the new training system? Basically, has training replaced farming as the tamer's grind?

2. Can you train a rideable pet into an unrideable one through training? In other words, is the five slot limit still in effect?

3. Did the new system, thus, preclude the return of pet combos? Mare and Rune Beetle, Mare and White Wyrm for example?

4. Is the Greater Dragon essentially dead?

5. Do you need to release and retame four slot pets like the Hiryu and the Cu Sidhe to make them trainable and viable?

and, finally....

6. Did the change result in true pet diversity or does it still come down to one or two pet types that everyone uses?

Many thanks, in advance.

 

[Khaelor]

1. Do initial stats matter anymore? Is farming out, along with the UOCraft 1-5 grading scale, or can you simply make any pet most anything you want through the new training system? Basically, has training replaced farming as the tamer's grind?

They matter just as much because the better the stats (or lowerish for ones who spawn in 2 different slot types) the more you can put on it. Think of pets as all having an imbue value now. The higher the pet stats it starts with the better it will turn out in the end.

2. Can you train a rideable pet into an unrideable one through training? In other words, is the five slot limit still in effect?

All rideables retain their rideablity.

3. Did the new system, thus, preclude the return of pet combos? Mare and Rune Beetle, Mare and White Wyrm for example?

Depends. There are still some decent pet combos and dont forget about pack instinct.

4. Is the Greater Dragon essentially dead?

Go to an EM event, Roof, etc. I still see people using GD.

5. Do you need to release and retame four slot pets like the Hiryu and the Cu Sidhe to make them trainable and viable?

Yes. Make sure you are an elf if you attempt to release a CU though.

6. Did the change result in true pet diversity or does it still come down to one or two pet types that everyone uses?

Depends.
My server is flooded with CU, but ask how well CUs did in certain parts of Sorc Dungeon.
I think it's easier to spot lazy tamers now though~
You definitely see more of a variety now. I love being able to use old friends and have them as strong as any other pet.
Certain templates are just more effective than others, but you still see a variety there.

 

[Basara]

This is way beyond what I was immediately looking for. Went to the main UO site and it appears everything is tameable now, except for Ancient Wyrms and Frost Dragons. When I left I'd read that Frost Dragons were going to be on the list of tameables but I digress.

Frost Dragons are most definitely tameable - you just have to spawn one from a level 6-7 T-map in Trammel or Fel, to get them to spawn.

However, as 5 slot pets, a fully trained cold drake from the same maps is often a better pet.

 

[Khaelor]

Frost Dragons are most definitely tameable - you just have to spawn one from a level 6-7 T-map in Trammel or Fel, to get them to spawn.

However, as 5 slot pets, a fully trained cold drake from the same maps is often a better pet.

And both come in over 50 colors and are oh so pretty.

 

[Ansel]

So, basically, folks post replies without answering any of my questions.

Got it.

The Dream Is Over

 

[Pawain]

So, basically, folks post replies without answering any of my questions.

Got it.

The Dream Is Over

@Khaelor Answered all your questions. Posting the questions with the answers below each.

 

[Ansel]

@Khaelor Answered all your questions. Posting the questions with the answers below each.

*Slaps forehead*

Don't know why I didn't see that reply. Actually, I do know how I missed it. I stupidly used the upper right-hand corner flag which, for me, didn't list it, rather than scan the entire thread.

My apologies for my tone. Really....

 

[Ansel]

1. Do initial stats matter anymore? Is farming out, along with the UOCraft 1-5 grading scale, or can you simply make any pet most anything you want through the new training system? Basically, has training replaced farming as the tamer's grind?

They matter just as much because the better the stats (or lowerish for ones who spawn in 2 different slot types) the more you can put on it. Think of pets as all having an imbue value now. The higher the pet stats it starts with the better it will turn out in the end.

2. Can you train a rideable pet into an unrideable one through training? In other words, is the five slot limit still in effect?

All rideables retain their rideablity.

3. Did the new system, thus, preclude the return of pet combos? Mare and Rune Beetle, Mare and White Wyrm for example?

Depends. There are still some decent pet combos and dont forget about pack instinct.

4. Is the Greater Dragon essentially dead?

Go to an EM event, Roof, etc. I still see people using GD.

5. Do you need to release and retame four slot pets like the Hiryu and the Cu Sidhe to make them trainable and viable?

Yes. Make sure you are an elf if you attempt to release a CU though.

6. Did the change result in true pet diversity or does it still come down to one or two pet types that everyone uses?

Depends.
My server is flooded with CU, but ask how well CUs did in certain parts of Sorc Dungeon.
I think it's easier to spot lazy tamers now though~
You definitely see more of a variety now. I love being able to use old friends and have them as strong as any other pet.
Certain templates are just more effective than others, but you still see a variety there.

Many thanks, Khaelor! I missed this reply entirely last night

What's worse, I posted something snarky, believing people were being unhelpful AF.

The hardest part of returning to UO is accepting the developer's abysmal support for the product - a product you pay every month for. In this case, comprehensive documentation.

Like the fabled frog that slowly boils to death, when you've been playing for a stretch of years you grow accustomed to criminally poor support. You even joke about it.

Plus, if you're around as massive changes are under development you pick up all the info you need. It's no excuse really for poor documentation support, especially if you want players to return or, more important, if you want new players to start.

But I digress. I appreciate your help, Khaelor.

 

[Pawain]

In this case, comprehensive documentation.

Many lurkers in the Tamer Forum are glad to help you. Just tell us what pet type, what you want to do with it,and what you are planning to add to it.

If we are not out of town for the holiday, you will get a response.

 

[Ansel]

Many lurkers in the Tamer Forum are glad to help you. Just tell us what pet type, what you want to do with it,and what you are planning to add to it.

If we are not out of town for the holiday, you will get a response.

Many thanks, Pawain! For two decades now, Stratics has proven to be a source superior to most game documentation.....the last really good manual for UO was the one that came with the Renaissance Edition, long, long ago.

 

[celticus]

Many thanks, Khaelor! I missed this reply entirely last night

What's worse, I posted something snarky, believing people were being unhelpful AF.

The hardest part of returning to UO is accepting the developer's abysmal support for the product - a product you pay every month for. In this case, comprehensive documentation.

Like the fabled frog that slowly boils to death, when you've been playing for a stretch of years you grow accustomed to criminally poor support. You even joke about it.

Plus, if you're around as massive changes are under development you pick up all the info you need. It's no excuse really for poor documentation support, especially if you want players to return or, more important, if you want new players to start.

But I digress. I appreciate your help, Khaelor.

Yes and no:

I have seen players that do not want any help, refuse help, and refuse information volunteered. They are in the game to explore things for themselves. Lots of other games have worse documentation than uo. There is some content that is intended not to have documentation, it is there for players to explore. This is an MMO, similar to a MUD old times game, and some of the surprizes are there as intended. I agree that the Stratics is a huge info database, and very helpful to all. Some of the secrets of the game are there for the player to discover themselves, and also interacting with others. So do not get too discouraged. It is that the game has changed a lot last 10 years or so..It is still a lot of fun.
Sme of the docuentation could improve on specific points, and be more accurate, but overall it works..GL and welcome back to the game

 

[Ansel]

Yes and no:

I have seen players that do not want any help, refuse help, and refuse information volunteered. They are in the game to explore things for themselves. Lots of other games have worse documentation than uo. There is some content that is intended not to have documentation, it is there for players to explore. This is an MMO, similar to a MUD old times game, and some of the surprizes are there as intended. I agree that the Stratics is a huge info database, and very helpful to all. Some of the secrets of the game are there for the player to discover themselves, and also interacting with others. So do not get too discouraged. It is that the game has changed a lot last 10 years or so..It is still a lot of fun.
Sme of the docuentation could improve on specific points, and be more accurate, but overall it works..GL and welcome back to the game

Yes, I know just how important discovery is for many players. Been at this one awhile. I've one account that's 19 years old and would be 20 if I hadn't allowed it to lapse here and there over the years