Mastermind REAL Pets

ok so now that Paragon Studios has released a non-combat pet dog what does the future hold? Well as a nearly graduation student studying Animation and Game Design. I would think that they would want to bank on something much more ambitious. So tell me your thoughts on this little idea...


Mastermind Primary Set: Animal Control

Level 1 or 2 - Boomerang: You throw a single boomerang at a foe which has a high chance to stun the target, Ranged, Minor Damage, Foe High Disorient.

Level 1 or 2 - Wolf Pack: You can call forth up to three large wolves (depending on your level) to do your bidding. For each wolf in the pack they gain a bonus to accuracy, damage, and perception. You may only have three wolves under your command at any given time. If you attempt to summon more wolves, you can only replace those that have been lost in battle. If you already have your maximum allowed amount, the power will fail.

Level 2 - Dual Boomerangs: You throw two boomerangs at a single target dealing a good amount of damage and having a change to stun them, Ranged, High damage, Foe Disorient.

Level 6 - Animal Training: You can train your animals so that they are better hunters, wolves will get a confuse resistance and recharge rate increase. lions will get a stealth ability as well as a stealth strike ability, and bears will gain a resistance bonus to all damage as well as increased damage.

Level 8 - Fury of Boomerangs: You unleash a whirlwind of boomerangs that surround you, this is a point blank area of effect attack that has a 20 foot radius from the mastermind. It has a chance to knock down opponents that are struck by it. Point Blank AoE, High Damage, Foe Knockdown.

Level 12 - Lion Pride: You can call forth up to two large cats (a lion and a lioness depending on your level) to do your bidding. They only deal lethal damage but they have attacks that will immobilize their prey. You may only have two lions under your command at any given time. If you attempt to summon more lions, you can only replace those that have been lost in battle. If you already have your maximum allowed amount, the power will fail.

Level 18 - Soothing Demeanor: You can choose one animal minion and heal them for a good amount of health as well as make them immune to fear, hold, sleep, confusion, knockdown, and disorient for a short time. Ranged Moderate Heal Minion, +Res Status effects.

Level 26 - Big Bear: You can call forth a large bear to do your bidding. This animal is highly resistant to all damage as well as dealing high amounts of damage, they also have knockdown on most of their attacks. You may only have one bear under your command at any given time. If you attempt to summon more bears, you can only replace those that have been lost in battle. If you already have your maximum allowed amount, the power will fail.

Level 32 - Specialized Training: You can train your animals they specialize in working in harmony, wolves will get increased defense as well as a vengeance power when one of their number is defeated. lions will get a pounce type teleport attack as well as a placate ability, and bears will gain a status resistance bonus and a fear status effect power.

This could hold in much more buyers for the Paragon Market as well as players eager make some kind of circus animal or zookeeper type characters.

Thoughts?...

/signed!!!! This sounds like a lot of fun....


and I don't even like MM's

Thank you for the reply, I hope to one day work on a major game (since it will be my field of study) but for now I'd be happy with just doing suggestions for this game.

Ah yes thank you! Paragon Studios

I like it, but I think they would probably capitalize on the existing animations for whip attacks to just use those. Even though a boomerang would be cooler.

@Rorn ---- Blue Baron ---- Guardian

General thoughts on the set as a whole. I think the basic selection of animals and power themes is cool (I'm not a huge fan of the boomerang, I'd think a whip would better but demons already has that).

Overall though I'd say the set is probably going to be on the low end for MM performance. It's similar to Ninjas in that you've got melee pets and stalker style Lts but a lack of control or buffs to keep everything alive.

I'll also add that the pet upgrade powers probably need to add more actual attacks. Your current versions are focused on passive buffs which are going to leave the pets short of attacks (also as a side note, recharge buffs don't work on MM pets, it's an AI thing).

If I was going to do the set, I'd probably imagine it along these lines. The Wolves are your "support" pets. You already discussed giving them a pack buff which is thematic but instead of having it as their base power make it more like the leadership powers Enforcers have in the Thugs set and affect all of your pets (although weaker because there are three of them instead of two). So something like:
Base Power: Bite (single target melee) & Fury of the Pack (dmg aura)
1st Upgrade: Claw (single target melee) & Defense of the Pack (defense aura)
2nd Upgrade: Swipe (melee cone attack) & Coordination of the Pack (to hit aura)

The Lions are basically Stalkers and I think that works. As with the wolves I'd probably give them slightly more attacks. If you look at the Jounin in Ninjas they fill a similar role in the set and have 6 different attacks. I'd probably do something like:
Base powers: two single target melee attacks one of which is also an immobilize/slow power
1st Upgrade: Stealth and Pounce as high damage knockdown attack
2nd Upgrade: A Spring Attack style power

For the Bear I'd rearrange their powers in a similar manner to the Demon Prince. Conceptually they deal some damage but aren't your primary damage dealers (the Lions do that). Instead they help keep the rest of the pets via control, debuffs and drawing aggro to themselves. To that end I'd give them something like:
Base Powers: Swipe (single target melee with knockdown) and Rise to the Challenge (like the Willpower power but without the Taunt aspect since MM pets taunting is not a good idea)
1st Upgrade: Claw (melee cone attack), Stun (single target stun power) and a Dull Pain style power (since MM pets don't get recharge it should be permanent or close to it without recharge but the actual healing and max HPs would be lower)
2nd Upgrade: A PBAoE attack and knockdown power (similar to Spinning Strike form Street Justice).

/sign me up for the pets MM!

They've always said that animation costs the most time and energy and now that they've got a pretty good looking German Shepard, who's to say that they can't make a "Wolf" set? They've even got Animal Pack with good animal skins.

Instead of fusing together Thugs and Demons like Adeon suggested? Let's do something like this.

[Wolf Whistle]
Creates Pet Wolf (x3)
Power - Resistance: +15% to all Defenses
Bite - Standard, Lethal Damage, 10% chance for 0.67 Knockdown
Howl - Standard, Smashing Damage, Ranged, 10% chance for mag 2 Stun.
Feral Howl - Pet Buff 1, Smashing Damage, Cone Ranged, 10% chance for mag 2 Stun.
Feral Bite - Pet Buff 1, Lethal Damage, 10% chance for 0.67 Knockdown
Rabid Howl - Pet Buff 2, Smashing Damage, PBAOE, 10% chance for mag 2 stun.
Rabid Bite - Pet Buff 2, Lethal Damage, 10% chance for 0.67 knockdown

[Cat Whistle]
Creates Pet Large Cat (x2)
Power - Resistance: +20% to all Defenses
Beyond this, standard claw attacks, including Focus, Shockwave, and Spin for a mix of fast single target and AoE would be good. Additionally a thematic minor lethal DoT would be glorious.

[Bear Whistle]
Creates Pet Bear (x1)
Power: Resistance: +15% to all defenses, +15% to Smashing/Lethal/Fire/Cold Resistance
For this, I'd suggest one unique thing; an AoE taunt aura that gives the bear scaling +DEF/RES/+Max HP, to make it a pseudo-tank. Weaker than a standard tank aura (thusly, something like RttC) so the pet isn't at any serious risk.
Beyond that? A good deal of PBAoE and Cone attacks, likely with Knockdown components. It wants to try to keep aggro off the other pets.

Finally, I'd strongly suggest a Temporary Pet Power. Probably something like Posse, that summons a variety of animals. Primarily, this would be for the Pet Auras.

Well I figured that with something like Animal Control there would be hardly any kind of ranged attacks due to real animals not really having a ranged type of attacks. This is why the main attacks of the Mastermind are ranged. Your animals are meant to get in close and tear up the enemy. But the howl is a good idea for wolves and it might be something more along the lines that it reduced the enemies damage potential slightly. I'll have to put pen to paper and see if I can make feasible powers for each pet.

I like it but don't care for the boomerang idea. I would think a Hunting Rifle would be more appropriate and easier to port over some of the Assault Rifle attacks for it.

So with some of the feedback I got from others I have decided on modifying what would be in the set.

Mastermind Primary Set: Animal Control/Hunting Rifle

Level 1 or 2 - Tranquilizer Shot: You fire a tranquilizer dart from your hunting rifle at a foe which has a high chance to put the target to sleep when the target awakens they will have reduced defense from being groggy, Ranged, Minor Damage, Foe High Sleep, Foe -Defense

Level 1 or 2 - Wolf Pack: You can call forth up to three large wolves (depending on your level) to do your bidding. Wolves gain effectiveness as their numbers increase. You may only have three wolves under your command at any given time. If you attempt to summon more wolves, you can only replace those that have been lost in battle. If you already have your maximum allowed amount, the power will fail.

Level 2 - Single Shot: You fire a high powered shot from your hunting rifle which can injure an opponent and reduce their resistance to damage. Ranged, Moderate Damage, Foe -Damage Resistance 5%

Level 6 - Animal Training: You can train your animals so that they are better hunters.

Level 8 - Line Up Shot: You fire a single shot from your hunting rifle which penetrates your foes and will reduce their Damage potential and Defense. Narrow Cone, Ranged, High Damage, Foe -Damage, Foe -Defense

Level 12 - Lion Pride: You can call forth up to two large cats (a lion and a lioness depending on your level) to do your bidding. They are powerful hunters that use stealth to devastating effect. You may only have two lions under your command at any given time. If you attempt to summon more lions, you can only replace those that have been lost in battle. If you already have your maximum allowed amount, the power will fail.

Level 18 - Soothing Demeanor: You can choose one animal minion and heal them for a good amount of health as well as make them immune to fear, hold, sleep, confusion, knockdown, and disorient for a short time. Ranged Moderate Heal Minion, +Res Status effects.

Level 26 - Big Bear: You can call forth a large bear to do your bidding. This animal can taunt your foes and is highly resistant to damage. You may only have one bear under your command at any given time. If you attempt to summon more bears, you can only replace those that have been lost in battle. If you already have your maximum allowed amount, the power will fail.

Level 32 - Specialized Training: You can train your animals they specialize in working in harmony.

~ Animal Powers and Abilities ~
-= Wolf Pack =-
Base Powers:
Razor Fangs (Single Target Melee, Moderate Lethal Damage, -Foe Speed)
Howl of the Hunt: (Single Target Ranged, -Foe Damage)

Animal Training Powers:
Feral Claw (Single Target Melee, Moderate Lethal Damage, Minor DoT)
Pack Protection (Point Blank AoE, Wolves +Defense 2% Per Wolf)

Specialized Training Powers:
Tearing Bite (Single Target Melee, High Lethal Damage, -Foe Damage Resistance)
Pack Hunting (Point Blank AoE, Wolves +Damage 3% Per Wolf)

-= Lion Pride =-
Base Powers:
Vicious Bite: (Single Target Melee, High Lethal Damage, -Foe Recharge)
Mighty Roar: (Single Target Ranged, -Foe Defense)

Animal Training Powers:
Vicious Swipe: (Cone Melee, Moderate Lethal Damage, Foe chance to Immobilize)
Shadow Prowl: (+Self Hide, +Self Defense 6%)
Stealth Strike: (Deals a critical hit if lion is in stealth)

Specialized Training Powers:
Coordinated Attack: (Point Blank AoE, Lions +Accuracy 3% Per Lion)
Deadly Pounce: (Teleport, Targeted AoE, Moderate Damage, Foe chance to Knockdown)

-= Big Bear =-
Base Powers:
Mighty Swat: (Single Target Melee, Moderate Smashing and Lethal Damage, Foe chance to Disorient)
Deafening Roar: (Cone, Minor Damage, Foe small chance for Knockdown, Foe small chance for Disorient)
Feral Toughness: (+15% Resistance against Smashing and Lethal damage, +8% Against Fire, Cold, Energy and Negative Energy)

Animal Training Powers:
Terrible Mauling: (Single target, Moderate Lethal Damage, Foe chance to Knockdown, foe chance to Disorient)
Impenetrable Hide: (+Resistance 5%, +1.5% for every 15% health lost) [i.e. the more hurt the bear is the tougher it gets]

Specialized Training Powers:
Ground Slam: (Point Blank AoE, Moderate Damage, Foe high chance for knockdown)
Intimidating Roar: (Cone ranged, Foe Fear)

Sounds like a good idea.

This sounds like a really good idea. There has been numerous good suggestions for the Mastermind set within the forums. Unfortunately, all those good suggestions have fallen on deaf ears. I can't remember the last time the MM set has received some developer love.

TB

I actually liked the boomerang idea, but only if you change the wolves to dingoes, the lions to crocs, and the bear to a boxing kangaroo. I could really get behind a Crocodile Dundee /Steve Irwin type character

Is there anyone to put a ranged attack in? Please correct me if I am wrong, but all the MM pets now have at least one range attack. I suppose the wolves could have a Spring Attack/Shield Charge type power?

Yeah Animal Control would be much like Ninjas, but with a tad bit more survivability because of the debuffs and Buffs they would get... maybe.

I think it's standard for Pets to have at least two fast recharging ranged attacks to partially cycle through for the sake of not being Totally Screwed if something goes airborne or is otherwise impossible to reach.

Do NOT force a Mastermind to take their (terrible) personal attacks as a way to 'counter' the weakness of their pets not having reliable ranged attacks. That will, in turn, make the set a few kinds of worthless.

I can't put enough emphasis on the logic of a melee-only pet set. We have one of those. It's a joke. It's a joke not just because of it's survivability, but how insanely fruity Ninja AI gets against enemies it can't reach. If nothing else, all of the pets should have a ranged -Fly attack, if only one, to knock things out of the air so they can promptly lunge in on them. If. Nothing. Else.

Hmmm... maybe put monkeys into the LT spot. They could throw... something... as a ranged -fly power.

Or cobras. It wouldn't be hard to alter the snakes model for them, and they could use a spitting venom attack for toxic damage with a debuff attached.