Blizzard cracks down on Arena pet naming exploit
by Mike Schramm 
Jan 1st 2008 at 4:00PM
Jagoex over at Warlock Therapy dropped us a note that Blizzard says they'll crack down on Arena fighting Hunters who name their pets after their Arena partners. Apparently some of the higher end Arena players will create macros to target certain opponents in the Arena (though I'm not sure if this is just because they constantly face the same people or because they create the macros quick while waiting for the match to start). And if a sneaky Arena Hunter names his or her pet the same name as the priest on their team, the macro will target the closest target with that name (usually the pet).Blizzard says no dice to that-- though Jago isn't clear how they'll enforce it (and we're not, either), they say that if they find a Hunter naming his pet the same thing as an Arena team member, the pet's name will be forcibly changed. Of course, using macros in the first place is pretty wily-- I could see an argument that if you choose to use macros, then you also choose to realize that they might not work all the time. But Blizzard has spoken, thus it shall be.
Filed under: Hunter, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Arena
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Eli Mar 9th 2008 1:18PM
God I hate when people say something like "Blizzard has spoken, thus it shall be" Blizzard isn't in charge, their job is to make a good game, and cater to us - their customers, and by extension, their parent company's shareholders. Even moreso than any other game developer, because we keep paying even after we've bought the game. I also see people occasionally refer to violations of the terms of service as "illegal"...don't do that.
BaboonNL Jan 1st 2008 4:18PM
It's mostly addons like Proximo and Arenamaster, which show a frame with your opponents, which you can target by clicking.
ryan Jan 1st 2008 6:56PM
heres the simple fix.. we all know the game prevents users from picking a name that is already being used by another user so the fix would be make it that it also applies to pet names making it that you cant give a pet a name that is already used by a player
fLUx Jan 1st 2008 4:26PM
In BGs, while Tabing, you always see druids (?) who are in animal form, and it takes you a split second to work out if its a hunters pet or a player....
But if its a player looking name (i.e. not "WOLF"), and your in a rush to do what your going to do, you end up wasting mana on pets, like I do often in AV....
I like the idea......but I also wish warlocks could name their pets too! :(
Askren Jan 1st 2008 5:49PM
Agreed. This has happened a few times to me in arenas. Not so much in BGs, because I expect player-like names on pets, but since there are so many players, I don't focus on names, like I do in Arenas.
I kinda like the fact that I can always tell a warlock pet when I tab through groups, because it saves me effort, or helps to throw quick Banishes up.
Green Armadillo Jan 1st 2008 4:28PM
There was a hunter in my old guild who was really really fond of replacing his pet on a regular basis, and once named a pet after one of our tanks. Everyone had a good chuckle.... until we went on a raid and started getting CT warnings that the tank had died every time the pet bit the dust to cleave effects. I don't remember if the GM's took any action on the name-change request before he replaced the pet again. :)
yellow Jan 1st 2008 5:15PM
How is this considered an exploit and not just being clever? It's not as much that they are taking advantage of the game itself, but rather is more along the lines that the hunters in question are taking advantage of opponents to gain the upperhand in the arena.
Leiven Jan 1st 2008 5:51PM
Clever use of game mechanics ends where Blizzard says it does, since it is their rules you have to follow - if they don't like the way a mechanic is used, it will be changed only in a matter of time.
Scylloga Jan 1st 2008 6:20PM
I wasnt around for the time perios but on my server one of the old school pvp guilds would have thehunters name thepets the same as the priest, druid and warrior. Its not exploiting I dont care what you say. It is a clever idea to help avoid getting focus fired. Also its no different than a hunter naming his pet the same as himself and having outrageous numbers.
I actually was going to do this last season but the 5v5 team I was on didnt play enough for me to warrant getting a new pet to best friend just so I could rename it.
yellow Jan 1st 2008 7:13PM
Agreed. Just to clarify, I'm not complaining about the change, just at calling it an exploit. Terminology if you will.
hpavc Jan 1st 2008 7:44PM
Reminds me of the people that trained the bot farmers that would farm the Twilight dudes, the people renaming their pets to get the farmer to attack after flaggin /pvp and what not.
Fun
Nanteen Jan 1st 2008 7:50PM
Personally I think Blizzard should find away to disable Addons like Proximo and Arenamaster since they are themselves cheats.
Eternalpayn Jan 1st 2008 9:11PM
How so?
Brasson Jan 1st 2008 8:36PM
I sincerely hope Blizzard doesn't choose to check pet names against player names. I've grown fond of naming my hunter' pets after guild druids.
Heraclea Jan 1st 2008 10:42PM
Wouldn't it just make more sense to simply disallow macros in PvP?
energyvortex Jan 1st 2008 10:42PM
Simple fix - when entering the arena, all pets default back to back to their original names like 'Wolf' or 'Boar'. Or they could even make the name read 'SoAndSo's Wolf' to avoid there being a player named Wolf and a Hunter's Pet Wolf from name-colliding.
When you leave - you get the chosen pet name turned back on
Simple.
Erika Jan 2nd 2008 12:31AM
Exactly what i was thinking.
Wintermere Jan 1st 2008 11:30PM
Actually my wife named her black panther after my druid just to mess with the horde. I tend to have a nice reputation as a ganker with my druid and horde seems to go after her pet more than her.
vildmule Jan 1st 2008 11:59PM
I once named my pet after a real life friend for a little fun doing guild raids. Now he's my arena partner, and I guess I'd be cheating if I hadn't replaced the pet looong ago.
Ridiculous by policy if you ask me, absolutely ridiculous.
Anaughtybear Jan 2nd 2008 2:37AM
Once again, Blizzard seems to be siding with whiny, macro-using knobs who want everything easy and their way. Man it up and play the game. You should be able to name your pet anything you want. If other people are so clever they can find away around this issue on their own.