How the Birthday Minipets should have been done. - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Imaginos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 19:15 - 1

The way Anet implemented these is not well thought out in my opninon, they are cool little pets though.

Here is how they should have done it.

When you type /age you see your characters creation date to the
day so you know when your birthday is.
When you have a birthday or are a newly created character (thus having a birthday)
you get a birthday gift box that opens up into a birthday voucher, which you can then
turn in to an NPC for the pet of your choice.
Each birthday gift is linked to the character slot so that people can not just
make/delete/make/delete characters for more pets.
The pets would be dyeable
The pet types would be expanded by doubling them for a wider variety.
- Mini Tiger/Panther/Lynx
- Mini Glint
- Mini Tengu
- Mini Devona
- Mini Whirling Blade mob (from Factions)
- Mini Bog Scale
- Mini Bear/Panda
- Mini Gwen
- Mini Griffon
- Mini Moa
- Mini Naga

This would prevent dissapointment on a day that is supposed to be special. This would also prevent someone from making/getting a ton of minipets via create/delete.

Why Anet didn't do it this way I'll never know.

pyrohex

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 19:32 - 2

The pets are character based.

Imaginos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 19:35 - 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyrohex

The pets are character based.

Reading comprehension good sir/madam

Look at my post and the way i think it should have been done, then you'll see why i was saying they need to be character slot based.

pyrohex

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 19:37 - 4

Ah, so you think people really will create a character, wait a year to get a pet, and then sell it off for money?

Not to mention the fact that, according to Gaile, 2nd birthday presents will be something far more to behold.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 19:51 - 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyrohex

The pets are character based.

do you know this to be fact?

and what profession gets which?

what should an ele get?

0siris

Riding the Gravy Train

Join Date: Oct 2005

Chicago Area

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

W/

30 Apr 2006 at 19:55 - 6

The whole purpose of this being a present is that nobody anticipated it. Nobody knew what they were going to get from the present in their inventory. You asking for birthday vouchers that turn into NPC's from which you can buy the pets of your choice would really ruin the whole element of surprise.

I will agree with you that they should have a greater variety of mini-pets. Though I am not sure if this is a valid request because I am sure there are some mini-pets that no one has seen yet. (some more rare than others)

pyrohex

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 19:58 - 7

I don't know if all of this is Gaile speaking, but the bulleted points are.

Quote:

Hey, all,

I'm getting ready to pop into the game, so I apologize for not reading all the posts now (I'll read 'em later), but here is info on the birthday gifts:

* You will receive a birthday gift on any character who is one year old.
* Yes, it's character, not account.
* You may keep that gift forever; it will not expire. (We would not do that to you!)
* You may trade, give, or (I guess, if you're heartless :wink: ) sell your gift(s).
* If you exchange with a player who has a character who is less than one year old, the gift will not go away. (Again, we would not do that to our players -- they are yours to share!)
* If you want to see what happens with your 2nd birthday... time will tell! :grin:

I don't know, I have a feeling that some player somewhere might be muttering, "Why didn't they fix the rock on the third mission instead of giving us birthday gifts?" But I know in my heart that this is a huge thing, and will be well loved by just about every single player, PvEer, PvPer, or someone in between.

And it all started with an in-office birthday party, a My Little Pony birthday hat, and with Mike O'Brien being willing to listen, and to act, during what was probably the most stressful day of the entire development cycle.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3021242

By character based, I mean that the birthday presents appear when a character is one year old. The miniatures are random; as far as I know, ANet did not bother creating a formula to determine the pet any profession combination will receive.

Imaginos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 20:29 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torric Icefist

The whole purpose of this being a present is that nobody anticipated it. Nobody knew what they were going to get from the present in their inventory. You asking for birthday vouchers that turn into NPC's from which you can buy the pets of your choice would really ruin the whole element of surprise.

I will agree with you that they should have a greater variety of mini-pets. Though I am not sure if this is a valid request because I am sure there are some mini-pets that no one has seen yet. (some more rare than others)

The whole point of getting gifts is to get something you like. With the random way anet has done it you end up with that unwanted christmas style gift. You'd like a computer game, people know you want one, you get socks instead. Giving gift certificates is the smarter move and many people do that these days.

ashed

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

30 Apr 2006 at 20:36 - 9

Whats this I hear of mini pets? Is this for collectors edition people or anyone? I read that this is a suggestion on and not the real thing, so how does one actually get a pet?

Chance Folly

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

E/Mo

30 Apr 2006 at 20:46 - 10

They are given to any and all characters who have are 1 year (12 months) old. When your character turns 12 months old, you get a Birthday Present, which is a wrapped box. You open it, and you are randomly given a mini-pet. You can summon the mini-pet outside of towns, and it will follow you.

actionjack

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2005

Kali

W/E

30 Apr 2006 at 21:45 - 11

being a "surprise gift", it would kinda ruin the suprise. Also its a Gift.

I don't see the need for linking it to character slot (I know you are thinking that way you will get 4 of them...) Its a gift to your Character/toon, and not to your account. So if you "kill" your character by deleting it.. well.. kinda too bad.

But I agree the PvP would get shafted too. I would say A.net need to give us another Account-Based Birthday Gift!

Replicant

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/Me

30 Apr 2006 at 22:13 - 12

/signed

yea, would be nice to have 2 "birthdays" and i'll mention why.

1 for the "account birthday" where you would get an item/gift that all 4 of your characters can get. and can be obtained by using the /birthday or a similar function much like the /preorder command. this gift would be mainly to show that you're a veteran of the game and the item would NOT be tradeable/sellable as it would just be a means for people to sell them.

and another birthday for the birth of the character, this would be to show that you have kept that character for a whole year.

Megengo

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2006

The Midnight Hand

R/Mo

30 Apr 2006 at 22:48 - 13

I don't know about you, but when I have a birthday I generally don't get to pick what I want for it..

BahamutKaiser

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Heightened state of mind.

P/W

01 May 2006 at 02:33 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imaginos

The whole point of getting gifts is to get something you like. With the random way anet has done it you end up with that unwanted christmas style gift. You'd like a computer game, people know you want one, you get socks instead. Giving gift certificates is the smarter move and many people do that these days.

Wow this sounds like a direct quote from my half sister, complete brat. The whole point of gift is to show appreciation, not to give you whatever you want. You got something attractive and interesting, a trinket, if your so stuck on a certain gift, then go haggle it off of someone who has it, if you want a different gift that hasn't been made, then suggest it.

Giving gift certificates is the lazy way to get a gift for someone, if you are creative and considerate, you will think of something that person would like instead of buying a gift certificate at a place you know they will shop. And if the receiver is considerate, he will appreciate the gift and the spirit it was given in instead of complain about what he would like to have. Grow UP, no realy, Please grow up.

Just like a child to receive a surprize gift, and then snear and say it isn't good enough. You are the reason they made up the myth about Santa leaving coals in the stockings of bad children, unfortunatly for us, your parents didn't put a few coals in your stocking to teach you a lesson.

Replicant

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/Me

01 May 2006 at 11:07 - 15

love where this thread has gone... it's a video game for crying out loud.. you think anet is gonna sit there and be like "oh, little johnny likes to farm charr... lets give him a Miniature Prince Rurik"...

imho, they did good on the initial idea. although it has been implemented and people have already sold their pets.. so they're not gonna change it.

still /signed on my original post about 2 birthday presents.. 1 account based and 1 character based...

Maxiemonster

There is no spoon.

Join Date: Jun 2005

Netherlands

Mo/

01 May 2006 at 11:19 - 16

The whole Minipet idea can be extended massibly, but that's not what they intended. They could make you able to learn one spell, they could add Minipet fight, they could add 300 different Minipets, they could add Minipet food, they could add Minipet clothing.

But if that's what you want, why aren't you playing Pokémon?

Amok

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australia

01 May 2006 at 11:30 - 17

We get all this cool free stuff that Anet is not obligated to give us, and all people can do is complain. This is as bad as the people whining that they didn't get a Tengu mask cos they weren't online. You sound like spoilt children, just enjoy the game or don't play it.

Sagius Truthbarron

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Animal Factory [ZoO]

A/

01 May 2006 at 13:16 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyrohex

The pets are character based.

This is not true at all. There are 12 pets, not nearly enough for every class. When the bug occured on April 27th that allowed you to get a birthday present every time you made a new character, I managed to get every single type on warriors alone.

Mithie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Rest En Pieces [RIP]

Me/W

01 May 2006 at 15:45 - 19

Do you still get a present if your inventory is full?

Imaginos

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jun 2005

01 May 2006 at 18:08 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by BahamutKaiser

Wow this sounds like a direct quote from my half sister, complete brat. The whole point of gift is to show appreciation, not to give you whatever you want. You got something attractive and interesting, a trinket, if your so stuck on a certain gift, then go haggle it off of someone who has it, if you want a different gift that hasn't been made, then suggest it.

Giving gift certificates is the lazy way to get a gift for someone, if you are creative and considerate, you will think of something that person would like instead of buying a gift certificate at a place you know they will shop. And if the receiver is considerate, he will appreciate the gift and the spirit it was given in instead of complain about what he would like to have. Grow UP, no realy, Please grow up.

Just like a child to receive a surprize gift, and then snear and say it isn't good enough. You are the reason they made up the myth about Santa leaving coals in the stockings of bad children, unfortunatly for us, your parents didn't put a few coals in your stocking to teach you a lesson.

Thanks you just proved my point in your condesending, nasty way.

You see Anet can not be "creative" in giving everyone gifts because they do not know what everyone would like. So your "spoiled brat" sister has more brains then you in giving someone a gift certificate so that they can and will get something that they really enjoy, thus showing your appreciation for them by making sure it is something they desire.

Eviance

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

Eh I forget... o_O

Biscuit of Dewm [MEEP]

R/

01 May 2006 at 19:35 - 21

ok without reading the full thread and only the first four posts I have a small bit to say:

The minipets were a spectacular idea! I do not think ANYTHING should be changed or should have been done different - its random! No one wants to see a bunch of charr running around anymore than they want to get stuck with a stupid plague devourer. But there are some people out there willing to buy them no matter what they are.

Be greatful that out of all the things going to heck lately, this was one huge success!

And it is better to give than to recieve and don't look a friggen gift horse in the mouth.

You tell your old ill granny how much you hated that sweater she bought you for Christmas >_>

pyrohex

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

02 May 2006 at 04:03 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagius Truthbarron

This is not true at all. There are 12 pets, not nearly enough for every class. When the bug occured on April 27th that allowed you to get a birthday present every time you made a new character, I managed to get every single type on warriors alone.

My mistake writing such a vague statement. You'll see I addressed that idea prior to your post.

Quote:

Why Anet didn't do it this way I'll never know.

Mm. Someone's got quite a high opinion of himself.

lordgambit

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

The Gods Favor [US]

02 May 2006 at 04:53 - 23

Pets were a random birthday present, plain and simple be happy you got one, i still have to wait 11 months.

Instead of asking them to enhance birthday present features, why not ask them to put new areas, fix bugs, things that will actually make the game better. I like the idea of birthday presents its a way to show ppl that have been playing for so long that anet cares, take it as the gift was intended and look for game areas that need to be fixed and enhanced..

mega_jamie

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2006

UK

Warlords of Ruin

A/Mo

02 May 2006 at 12:21 - 24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amok

We get all this cool free stuff that Anet is not obligated to give us, and all people can do is complain. This is as bad as the people whining that they didn't get a Tengu mask cos they weren't online. You sound like spoilt children, just enjoy the game or don't play it.

Agreed, its amazing that Anet do all this fantastic stuff, provide us with what i still think is the best MMORPG out there at the moment, for no monthly service charge, and they do stuff they arnt obligated to do, like Day of the Tengu or these Mini-pets and people still find ways to moan and complain about it because its not exactly how they would have wanted it.

Anet can't appease your every whim and fancy, otherwise necessary game fixes woulnt take place. And if your not happy with your pet, sell it, buy a new one with the cash, or exchange it, or worry baout something important.

Going slightly off topic, yes I cmplain about not accessing content with all characters, but thats something we were told we would get, freebies like this shouldnt be moaned about, If i was Anet I'd have stopped doing this sorta stuff a long time ago if all peopel did was complain.

I think the Tengu masks are ugly, I think the mini-pets are pointless, but i appreciate the effor tthey have put in to make our gaming even more enjoyable.

misthero

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2005

I Falchi Bianchi [Puck]

E/Mo

02 May 2006 at 12:54 - 25

When I was a little child my father used to say me: "if someone give you a present, don't look at it, how much it costs, or if you like, just smile and say thank you!"

So.. Thank You A-Net

Vahn Roi

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2006

[HiDE]

02 May 2006 at 13:45 - 26

The infinite supply thing is just rediculous, people are trying to sell the things for 50-200k and they can keep doing so until they flood the market since they will never run out. I really support the character linking bit,.

rollntider

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

anarchy

Me/Rt

02 May 2006 at 17:11 - 27

I like the mini pets , I do like the mini pet fight idea, that would be so funny to watch my necrid horseman scrap with a mini hydra. or mini shiro vs mini rurik LOL good fun. But the pet feeding and such is silly, just a pet fight would be awesome. /petfight * FTW....

KiyaKoreena

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

USA

Kirins of Holy Light

N/

02 May 2006 at 17:22 - 28

I wouldnt mind if they added a few more types in over the next few months. It would be neat to get a mini flame djinn or mini ice golom for my ele. :-) But I still think all the current ones are pretty neat (and one day I will get a Kirin.)

bobrath

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Texas

Scouts of Tyria

02 May 2006 at 17:26 - 29

I see it like giving baseball cards as a gift. You've got a sealed pack and have no idea if you'll get a Ken Griffey Jr or a Roger Clemons. Some folks will really want certain kinds and because these mini-pets are tradeable, anyone can aquire any pet they want IF they can afford to buy it. In the meantime, the rest of us can enjoy a pleasant suprise every 12 months one of our chars is around.

Of course I do hope that my Ranger gets a mini-PS3 for his birthday.

Tien ak

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Crystal Indignation

R/W

02 May 2006 at 17:38 - 30

I love mini pets I got three at the mo which I bought i may add I can't wait for my ranger Tien ak to get one only like in august/november.

Though I do agree it should be account based I mean who are we to know we had birthdays = )
I do think that it won't change tho i mean whats done is done and thats it. And for people saying they should be customised come on guys its bad enough for event hats to be customised

Fred Kiwi

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

[cola]

02 May 2006 at 17:39 - 31

Me Wants A Gwiffin!

Tien ak

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

Crystal Indignation

R/W

02 May 2006 at 17:44 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eviance

You tell your old ill granny how much you hated that sweater she bought you for Christmas >_>

LOL nicely said

Align

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Oct 2005

Protectors of Awesome[AWE]

W/

02 May 2006 at 18:13 - 33

I feel kinda cheated on, because I delete my characters periodically as I feel like trying out a new playing style.

Zhou Feng

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

CATS

Mo/Me

02 May 2006 at 18:21 - 34

EDIT OOps they are tradable my bad...

rancidgoat

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

[XoO] [AX]

N/Me

02 May 2006 at 18:39 - 35

if i were A-Net and i read all your complaining about a free gift that i had given you i would omit your account from getting one. its free, they didnt have to do it,and your probably going to sell it anyways so quit you complaining you spoiled little children.

Darksun

Jungle Guide

Join Date: May 2005

USA

Karr's Castle

W/E

02 May 2006 at 19:12 - 36

Waah. Waah. and Waah.

Jeez.. I don't care if I get a mini Aloe Seed. I think it's cool they thought about giving us anything.

Bankotsu_Lightbane

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2006

Goodyear, AZ

No Flames On Our Cape [EwW]

Mo/

04 May 2006 at 23:42 - 37

Why are there all these posts about suggestions for what a character should get for their birthday? Generally birthday presents aren't something you can pick or polite people dont complain about them later. If you dont like it I say get something from it and sell it for a bunch of money.