Partly for flavor and partly to boost pet performance in certain situations, could primary pet classes possibly receive innate bonuses against thematically appropriate bodytypes for their pets? This bonus could be a raw damage modifier, an improved critical hit ratio, a chance to bypass riposte damage, or any other number of things.
The bodytype bonuses that pets get could, for example, be along these lines:
Would something like this unbalance things among the pet classes, given that bodytypes weren't assigned with such a mechanic in mind? I realize that Magicians, for instance, would benefit disproportionately against planar raid bosses, but their pet ought to outshine the others in high-stakes situations anyway. Shamans receiving a bonus to the common Young Race bodytype would be offset by the fact that their pet is generally regarded as being among the weakest of pets in the first place. (Iksars in Ikisith do tend to be Young Race, right?)
Maybe I'm taking this in the wrong direction, so if somebody has a better idea relating to pets and bodytypes, then post away.
The bodytype bonuses that pets get could, for example, be along these lines:
- Beastlord: Insect/Arachnid + Reptile/Amphibian
- Druid: Chaotic + Monster
- Enchanter: Construct/Clockwork + Magical
- Magician: Lesser Elemental + Planar Elemental
- Necromancer: Nature + Undead
- Shaman: Young Race + Ancient Race
Would something like this unbalance things among the pet classes, given that bodytypes weren't assigned with such a mechanic in mind? I realize that Magicians, for instance, would benefit disproportionately against planar raid bosses, but their pet ought to outshine the others in high-stakes situations anyway. Shamans receiving a bonus to the common Young Race bodytype would be offset by the fact that their pet is generally regarded as being among the weakest of pets in the first place. (Iksars in Ikisith do tend to be Young Race, right?)
Maybe I'm taking this in the wrong direction, so if somebody has a better idea relating to pets and bodytypes, then post away.