Oni reliably using fire breath wasn't nerfed per say. Oni reliably using other powers was buffed.
"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Lord Acton
Madam Enigma's History
[ QUOTE ]
7 months ago, I was able to reliably get the oni to use his fire breath if I placed him a little outside melee range of his target, thus being able to plan a critical fire breath when I hid him. Now, it seems he uses a random attack at that range. Why was oni reliable fire breath nerfed?
[/ QUOTE ]
Yup I've noticed this too and it's really pissed me off. I use to open every attack on a mob by first Smoke Bombing my Oni and then placing him just outside of melee range and unleashing his massive critting Breath of Fire which would melt a mob to 1/4 health 
But now it's hit or miss if he uses BoF as his opening salvo which is VERY annoying but was changed at the expense of mixing up his attack list so that he uses more attacks more often.
It's too bad we can't actually pick what powers our pets will use or open up with but I bugged it anyway hoping that maybe we can get it fixed in a coming patch but I doubt it. It's just a by product of their 'fix' and the odds of them putting BoF back in as the alpha is slim.
[IMG]http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2886/coxboardsig.jpg[/IMG][B][SIZE="3"]
The shining world of the seven systems. On the continent of Wild Endeavour. In the mountains of Solace and Solitude there stood the Citadel of the Time Lords. The oldest and most mightiest race in the Universe. Sworn never to interfere. Only watch...[/SIZE][/B]
It seems that he rarely even uses Fire Breath anymore. So much for AE damage <_<
[ QUOTE ]
It seems that he rarely even uses Fire Breath anymore. So much for AE damage <_<
[/ QUOTE ]
Mine still uses fire breath frequently. In fact (JOY!) he's using more then just the swords in melee range now.
"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Lord Acton
Madam Enigma's History
Does he 100% reliably use it withing 5 seconds all the time?
Video please 
.
My oni may wait upwards of 30 seconds to use his damn breath. Hence, Castle broke it.
Edit: Also, I don't think you are quite getting what I mean to argue. He doesn't start with it NOR does he use it whenever he can. Test it and play close attention.
No, he doesn't start all the time with it, but then I noticed he never did. For me, he either starts with breath of fire, or rain of fire if he's close enough at battle start. Either way it's yummy. Especially if I remember I currently have smoke flash.
"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Lord Acton
Madam Enigma's History
He DID start with it before Castle's AI changes 10 or 7 months ago. You had to have him right outside melee range, which I usually did by hiding him. or moving him in, keeping him passive. Before the MM AI spree, he did it ~100%. Now he's starting with the ST immob or hold most of the time, followed by rain of fire, and maybe not Fire Breath for 20 or more seconds :
Edit: He really, really, did use Fire Breath every time he could before. As his starter when in proper range, too. Now he rarely uses it, let alone cooperate with me to have it crit on a spawn.
Not sure why we're seeing two completely different behavors. For me, him using fire breath 100% of the time if close enough just didn't happen. He'd use it, or sometimes charge into melee (gah) and only use the swords.
For me, he now either uses fire breath or rain of fire (unless he's too far for fire breath). He only opens with char if he's out of fire breath range initially.
"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Lord Acton
Madam Enigma's History
7 months ago, I was able to reliably get the oni to use his fire breath if I placed him a little outside melee range of his target, thus being able to plan a critical fire breath when I hid him. Now, it seems he uses a random attack at that range. Why was oni reliable fire breath nerfed?