Mastermind Pet Themes (and other pet stuff)

This is a suggestion on how to simplify Pet customization for MMs.

Instead of focusing on how to allow players to fine tune 30-35 individual pets; give the player access to pet themes.

The themes would be unlocked in the same way that weapon customization options are unlocked.

The themes would carry across all three tiers of pet.

The available themes would be accessible at the Tailor.

Possible themes could include (but not limited to) Zoot, Banger and/or Punk for Thug; Doughboy, SWAT and/or Guerilla for Merc; with themes also available for Necro [like Vhazilok models], Ninja [Tsoo as one model base] and Robotics.

Themes would be purely cosmetic and would have to fit into how the standard models animate (for powers; initially).

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Would also like to suggest making at least one minion from each pet set a female model (where applicable)

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Would like to see all sets have a unique '3rd minion'; like Mercs and Thugs.

Zombies could be broken up into pure Zombies, pure Skeletons, and the mix we have now.

Bots could give us options for current bots, Steampunk bots, and Androids.

Ninjas would offer us Ninja, Samurai, Warrior Monks, and Sentai.


Defeat badges could unlock...

Mekmen for Robots, Vamypri for Zombies, and Council for Mercenaries
Malta Mercenaries, Titan Robots
Hellion thugs
Skull Zombies (due to power sets, they'd be the dark ones)
Knives of Artemis Ninjas
Longbow Mercenaries (Heroes only, but GR's coming soon enough)
Crey Robots (just because the power sets are most right for Crey)
Circle of Thorns Demons

Etc, etc. Reskins, powers would be unchanged.

You mention the Knives for Ninjas but not Tsoo? Curious - what would a Knives Oni look like?

I SAID etc. That would include Tsoo.

Knives Oni? Yeah, I didn't think that far. I've used Thugs and Zombies and my wife uses Mercs and Bots, but I've never touched Ninjas. I forgot the ninjas has a fire user.

Actually, this idea may not be so speculative. For those who haven't seen the Hero-Con conferences, questionaires, panels whatever you want to call them, the peeps with the big red stamps on their heads were asked whether they would introduce MM customisation. They looked at each other for a moment before one leaned forward into the mic and said:

"No comment."

Therefore I'm seeing such customisation in Issue 19. Although that may be some time after GR.

The 'no comment' was clarified later. They've been working on it but it keeps throwing random issues at them so they've got no idea when it's going to be released. It's something they've said they'll keep poking at, but there's no garuntee it'll happen any time soon, or ever.

That said, it's likely that the first MM customization we'll see, if any, will be recoloring Bots and Demons. The fact that those creatures are built off of unique models rather than made of costume pieces means that one of the big issues they were having (unable to choose separate colors for separate costume pieces and thus turning your zombie/thug/merc/ninja into a smurf if you wanted anything blue) wouldn't apply to those two.

Alright, Ninjas can get away with it, but Mercs and Thugs... No, because it /turns their skin blue./

Decent customisation is in the pipeline. Id rather have something thats had time and TLC put into it, not a half-effort.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zwillinger GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain_Photon NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

I do hope MM pet customization that involves more than just recolouring does come at some point. Power Customization was built because everyone was tired of having their powers look identical, it's even worse for Masterminds. I always get the feeling when I see an evil mastermind that they aren't actually that smart and have had to buy from henchenhams, the only store in the Rouge Isles that deals in minions.

I would also prefer to the 'pre-set model selection' of Pet Customization for AE purposes as well.

I request Nemesis Soldier and Nemesis Automaton themes for Mercs. Then I could make "AlsoNotANemesisPlot" (Mercs/FF MM) to go with "Not A Nemesis Plot" (AR/NRG Blaster)

I want my malta Hercules bot as a replacement for the assault bot, council mech men for the battle drones, and finally a banished pantheon totem for zombies.

If anything I'd just be happy with the ability to change color of my pets... I think you can already change them in AE as I've noticed some odd colored bots. So I'm not sure why that doesn't work for player powers or why it may be disabled.