Game Mechanics: Magician pets should not cast spells until May 1999 patch era

[Nirgon]

Earth pet should def cast a little quake spell instead of a root for quite some time

Nice proof findings!

[Dolalin]

Very explicit post that 24+ pet spells weren't available from vendors until this May 1999 era:

5/26/99

I looked for summon spells for magicians over level 24 and found a
few
elemental spells above that level now. That's a good thing and was the
most
important fix Imo. Pets seem the same at level 12. Saw a bunch of staff
spells. I
have no idea what they are. this patch has motivated me to play my 15th
level
magician again though. They do seem to listen to input.

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt....s/MoxEUQWQT9YJ

[Dolalin]

Oops wrong thread! Sorry.

[Dolalin]

More evidence of the Earth pet's old spellcast and the time of change:

11/5/99

>I thought earth pets casted earth quake? I normally use a Water is my Elem.
>of choice but if this is the case I think I will change [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

No, a week or 2 ago it started casting root instead. Kinda funny seeing the flying creatures feet "sinking into the ground".

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt....0/oFLxUCAYSBcJ

And an entire thread about it here:

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/al...hRk/discussion

Edit: This one can also be moved to Green (was created before separate forum sections)

[Dolalin]

Another post here about the earth pet's spell pre-root. Message was "%t stumbles as the ground shakes", same graphics as root, likely a dd with stun component:

6/8/99

My L12 earth elemental casts a spell that gives the report "A [insert mob here]
stumbles as the ground shakes" throughout the combat. It uses the same spell
graphics as root. I have no idea what spell it is, but I'm guessing it
briefly stuns the critter. Whatever it does it seems to have some effect. My
pet takes noticeably less damage during fights now, presumably because the
critters aren't getting quite as many attacks in with the frequent stuns.

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt....Y/Z6K_g91rQmEJ

[Dolalin]

Actually I think I trust this one more:

6/13/99

Elementals have started casting minor spells. I
don't know exactly what they all are, but earth is
throwing an earthquake spell ("X stumbles as
the ground beneath him shakes"), with a visual
effect that looks like Root. Water throws a Shards
of Ice attack, for some unknown (to me) amount of
damage. It's more fun to watch them fight now, but
I haven't noticed any big shift in their power level.
Monsters die about as fast (or slow) as before.
But, the spell choice could well give you a tactical
preference. (In Guk or Splitpaw, for example,
you can really benefit from that Root, if that's
what it is.)

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt....I/ob92Bir1l7YJ

[Nirgon]

ya it was like a lower damage earthquake spell