Changing the way pet powers work - adding a single 'power' command

It's entirely true that pet power use can be horribly inefficient. While the game lacks the UI capabilities to implement any kind of advanced 'pet command' system, the kind often seen in other MMORPGs, I think the following can work for pets.

First off, in everyone's setting for 'gameplay', there should be a toggle that inhibits pet use of powers entirely unless you command them to use their power, or you can leave it so where the pet will randomly use powers at their own discretion.

Second, in order to command the pet to use the power, another function needs to be fixed. The command for unsummoning a pet is supposed to be holding down that power's function for a second, causing the pet to vanish. Right now it's not working correctly, and the pet will vanish if you tap the power. Once corrected, tapping the power (and not holding) would then be used to command the pet to use their power ability. This will allow pet users the ability to coordinate pet attacks. This will also help with pet power generation issues, as (far as I can tell), the only power type that can directly feed their pets power is sorcery, meaning other power types cannot refill the energy of the robot sidekick, brick, crystal, the lil' icy sprite, nature's swarm, or the suppressor turret, or trinket pets. Pets with more than one power will unfortunately have to choose one on their own, unless another function can be implemented.

Love this idea. I hated it when my fury blew off his transmutation before i applied the pi to max its damage.

I really like this idea, but if it were to be implemented we probably wouldn't see it until after all powers got their Advanced Mechanic.

Yea, Rather not fair for Sorcery to not being able to control their AM.

^ Or earth dps. Crystal is their awesome mechanic. (Who was it that heard 'Earth' and thought a pet should be their AM? I hear Earth and envision mountains shattering on enemies, not.......pet....... :S )

I really like this idea. Even for other pets other than earth and sorcery could be used to tell the RS or turrent to use their special attack.

Swarm does not use any Power nor does, last I checked, Snow Devil. All of the trinket pets are the same in not using Power. Only Robot Sidekick, Brick, Crystal, Watcher, Guardian and Fury actually use Power they receive.

Having played pet classes in other MMOs unless the action/trait of that pet consumes a very long cooldown on their end (not yours) for maximum potential you typically don't want to command it like that. Since you would have to provide Power to your pet regardless of if you command it not providing Power should be consistent in your rotation already. You gain more time for your own rotation instead of micromanaging your pet and commanded in this way.

In a system between obey and auto typically your pet never uses certain actions/traits until you literally command them. In theory this works out except when you forget a step in your rotation (everyone will typically do this). At this point it would be better to keep them on auto.

That said it would be nice to be able to command the use of a trait/action when on auto at any given point. In the past I have seen suggestions of this being added to Offering. When you use Offering it would provide the Power needed to use the trait/action and then immediately command it to use it. This would keep the auto mode that you will ultimately want your pet on (to keep a turret of sorts without relying on you when you forget or not to do something else).

For pets I have found you don't want them to take up a step in your rotation. You want them to act almost independent of you acting as free damage/healing. If you don't give them this independence they lose effectiveness as soon you are occupied which becomes a problem if you rely on their support.

I would personally ask for the Offering (adapt it to Earth too) idea I mentioned instead of a full obey/auto system.

I'm a big fan of this idea.

I think it'd work with auto simply because of how ...simple... dcuo's mechanics are. With only six powers, and most players only worrying about rotations with maybe 4 or 5, I don't see it being a major issue. Pet heavy classes like those in FF14 (Arcanist, summoner, scholar, etc), those are tricky beasts and definitely require 2-3 loadout swaps to manage correctly with intense rotations. DCUO is lamens. (If that can possibly be said in a non insulting way - if not, oh wells )

Hey all. Im still fairly new to DCUO but iv always played alot pet classes in other games. I love sorcery the pets are alot of fun and haveing a pet for different situations, aka tank (well somewhat) the dps and healer pet is very nice. Like you say though them blowing all thier power is a pain and the fact we have to take an abiltiy to give them power just seems....well dumb no offense lol. The pets perform melee attacks or in fury or some other cases perform range attacks all based off weapons we use...so why not have it to when they are doing thier weapons/combos they gain power back just as we do in the same maner i mean seems like if they can do it for players why not pets? Also if that didnt work have them recieve a percentage of the power we get from our combo's or a troll ( dont actually take away from the power we recieve just each time we get power thiers goes up based of a % of what we get). Just tossing some ideas out there but i mean if they had some way of gaining power back other then us haveing to take an abiltiy to give them power and take up a loadout spot would fix alot of this issue i think. I love how the pets are auto and i dont have to worry about em combine that with a way for them to regen thier own power they would be great especially in those long boss fights and the likes i hear about. Anwyho like said still really new so i dont know much yet but thought give some ideas.

This would be awesome because crystal likes to use all her power within 3 seconds of the fight.

Really that is what you want them to do though. You don't ultimately want them to not be using those attacks and you manually command their every action because you will eventually lose damage due to your personal interruption for whatever reason. The longer your pet waits on full Power the more damage you potentially lose.

Feel free to ask for the option but just understand the downside to having it.

Not really. You can setup macros that can handle the commands with use of your personal rotation. You could get it down to a single bar with support and utility on secondary bars if you want. I do this exact thing. If you want to know how feel free to PM me about it.