So, I just got through with the quest to get the pet for the ranger. Is there a game mechanic difference between the animals and is there any way to improve them and/or get skills for them? Also, will my pet be a viable tank?
As far as I am aware, the answers to your questions are no, no, no and no The ranger pets aren't full pets like those that the Necromancer and Shaman classes get, they're just minions. They add a little flavour by allowing you to choose which animal companion you have and serve as little more than a visual damage over time ability.
in vanguard rangers are not a pet class, they get to choose a minion which is more like a fluff pet that can basically do three things: 1) stand there and look cute/ugly, 2) die to aoes, 3) do such a minimal amount of damage that you wonder why they exist in the first place. the only real difference between the different ranger minions is how the look and the amount of realestate they occupy, some are small and not annoying (cute like the raki minion) while others take up a good chunk of screen and can stop people from seeing mob animations if you are not careful about positioning them. once you get to 55 and are wielding both your epics, your minion gets upgraded to a pet so you can name it it does a the dps of a cleric and can survive much better. some pets get a graphical change when upgraded turning into a ratagona or vultureman. as for being able to tank with it... no, the thing can't hold agro off an fded afk monk, it is however useful for pulling mobs via pet/minion pull.
You can change your pet later but it will cost you 50g in the ranger area near Ca'ial Brael. I choose the eagle as a role-laying option but the I found that flapping of the wings got very old quickly.
no, the thing can't hold agro off an fded afk monk, it is however useful for pulling mobs via pet/minion pull. Haha, that is too funny!
so every race gets a different ranger pet? i have played much ranger but was very interested in it for a solo explorer class
You can choose whichever one you want, doesn't matter who you are. As mentioned above, the thing cannot tank or do damage. Most pets really don't. I can't see myself in the melee stack when there's a bear, shammy wolf, ranger wolf, etc. etc. standing there doing next to nothing. Don't send those in. Nice thing about bird pets is they spit from range, or I think the ranger one at least swoops. Use those all you want!
No, a few classes can charm certain kinds of mobs and a charmed thing is still fairly strong, but it wears off in a few minutes.
