For all of us who have minipets, I'm sure we've all come across the big decision of "do I keep it or sell it" and "how much do I sell this thing for". Minipets are fairly new to the game and offer a little "bling" to those who have them. Unfortunately, that's all they are; "bling". I say, if you're gonna put them in the game, at least make them worthwhile. Give me a reason to have a minipet, other than trying to barter it away for gold that I'm gonna lose eventually anyways.
My suggestion: let the minipets fight
Here's how it works:
1. Minipets should be able to deal 1-5 damage, similar to the "wonderous" ogre-slaying knife (which, of yet, has no real use in the game). Not overly huge damage that would turn the tide of a fight, but at least it does something.
2. Your minipet does not fight unless you do first. Thus eliminating unwanted or unexpected aggro.
3. Your minipet would target what you are currently targeting (much like henchies). The only exception is, if you don't target anything, it defaults to the closest enemy within your aggro circle, if there is one.
4. Your minipet would have very limited range of movement (behind or beside you) and cannot be sent into battle via the SHIFT+CONTROL+SPACE trick. If your minipet is a meelee type, (aka rurik, etc.), it would be able to leave your side to fight the enemy (once you target it), if the enemy is ranged. If you at any time stop fighting said ranged enemy, your minipet would stop fighting as well and return to your side. Once the enemy is dead, it would return to your side. This keeps people from sending their minipet to do battle while they stay behind and just wait (albeit forever with only 1-5 dmg) for the enemies to die.
5. Minipet remains "untargetable". It's health would be tied to yours. If you die, your minipet dies or goes back into your bag. This eliminates the need to determine minipet health, leveling, or how to rez your minipet
6. Only one minipet is able to be activated at a time. If you try to activate another minipet, the one you are trying to activate replaces the one you have out already (this counters the collectors with 5-6 minipets who would be able to spawn an "army" of minipets to solo farm/pvp/gvg)
Other suggestions
Minipets would not be able to aggro
Give the minipet it's own aggro circle that is much smaller than yours (soemthing similar to "in the area") and would only fight enemies that entered that aggro circle (eliminating #4 above)
All minipets would be a ranged attack (even rurik) and not able to leave your side (eliminating #4 above)
Minipets would have to be equipped (negating most of this), but that opens up a whole world of problems: i.e. is it a weapon, offhand, in the skillbar or other; do we create a special equip spot for minipets; would a minipet trader have to be put in the game for something that can be "equipped"; etc.
T
