Pets or Companions (Gauging interest)

I apologize if I'm pushing this far into the ground in a now demanding context. Not my intention. I have this insane itch with no outlet to cur it right now. This thread is more aimed to those lurking here than with the trio devs so I wanted to gauge people's interest in pets. The most I got out of Red was that we'll be having an NPC Trader from the admin side and to not expect anything fancy until the game is considered completed. That I should look forward to NPC villages instead.

Basically - Do you want pets, or not? Are you interested in taming and having pets? AI partner?
(- From what I can see people don't want pets. Maybe servants, but not pets.)

Edit #7: - I want people to focus their thoughts on this first post without using the rest of these posts as bias points. Just speak your mind as to why you want or do not want 'pets'. Clearly say why you don't want it. Bolded so people see this when skimming.

Yay: 2
Nay: 1
Neutral: 0

I had to delete a big chunk out of my text so I wouldn't scare anybody so I'll say it in this posting to post as briefly a I can, also in reply to Geneo.

1) Feeding: Don't have to feed pets, but would be neat to do so through mods when you have over-stock food to go through. Only appropriate foods for each. I'd happily feed any pets or followers befriended because I'm now used to that.
2) Pet Variety: Pet Bears, Foxes, horses, canines, felines, and bird-types only. Anything else would be silly, as Geneo mentioned. Again, this looks most likely possibly in mods as it wasn't originally planned. There should be limits, just not so much when bears and foxes have and are known to be pets. Same with pigs. If it's been done in real life then should do so in RW, but expected as a mod. I can imagine a pet bear now thanks to Red Alert 3 or so with Soviet Russia and bears.
3) SMP Only: I get your point that you should go online for company, even then people still separate themselves that it goes back to being SP. Don't forget about single-player as if it suddenly magically doesn't exist. There are people who want to play purely SP (Not saying myself) that may be interested in taming or befriending for various assets, or to just keep company. Can't just magically or biasly forget about them. Maybe the environment still is eerie for them to play alone, or maybe they want to make use of a certain creature or entity that they have to friendly interact with them. For me, I'd love something in SP so I wouldn't get spooked by the silent atmosphere, especially when mining. Also #4 as reason.
4) 'Familiar/Servant/AI Partner: I'm only wild about this one a hell of a lot because you have this VAST environment to let loose both yourself and a chance for mine and other people's "Original characters" from their own world into this one. To me, this is just a wasted opportunity NOT to do something like this. I'm however going to wait for modding to add this because it looks grim adding AI companion anything into this game officially. The only place you can do so right now are in RPGs and some RTSs with limits and restrictions, even +18 anime porn games made by a company named "Illusion". Instead of being capped off, or forced into +18 stuff I'd love to see 'OCs' roaming around, even if it's only in appearance using the most retarded AI path-finding ever. Minecraft and Mount & Blade: Warband are my current best bets but I hate blockiness, and two....To mod in companions to M&B is like trying to scale Mount Everest right now without being prepared.

Again, I only expect #4 at least to linger around and be there in presence; At best be able to fend for itself, do loose basic tasks, and to have player's level of customization. Maybe even patrols or path findings as extra. Again, in a mod and not to expect too much. I at the very least also expect them to be customizable, even having mod-packs through accessories and wears equiping the same as players. Once dead, they stay dead....

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Quote from Geneo

Sorry, not into "pets". I figure I'll have my hands full just feeding myself without worrying about feeding a pet too. A pet can't follow you around everywhere, like when you're flying. Also the problem would be people would want to turn not just a dog, but any animal into a "pet". I can't imagine a pet bear or cow. Having a 'pet' would be 'cute' for a few minutes, but after the novelty wore off, just a PITA.

Having an "AI partner" or "servant" (ok, a "slave") isn't something I'm wild about either. If you want a 'partner', that's what multiplayer is for. There would have to be a lot of programming involved (or many menu selections) just to add a 'servant'. Where do you get another one if it gets killed? How are you going to 'protect' him? Besides, what they'd be doing is your job. I know people think it would be cool to sit in your rocking chair on the porch while your "servant" does all that grunt work for you, like mining, farming, etc...... but then why are you playing at all? Are you afraid little pixel-person-you will get a blister?

That's one vote! Thanks for 'voting'! Others, don't be shy!
(Bolded for skimmers.)

Your call and it's been respected and noted. Ya, I also made note of that above. People aren't fond of feeding so I can see if you don't want one in game. Following is a pain so I'd assume someone would mod some basic restrictions, especially with what happened in Minecraft. If they can at the very least follow by keeping chunks active, Skyrim style, then that solve some of the issues. I can imagine a pet bear and pig, just not a cow. I myself want a fox with them actually being known as pets. Need to be a bit open minded on this one.

Again, respected and noted. Not for everybody so they won't have to touch it if they don't want it. That's true, but even on SMP there's this 'eerie' silent presence that requires digital companions to keep one company. There are those that still prefer to be separated, even on SMP, that needing a 'servant' or 'pet' shall keep them company. Can't firmly dismiss it. And I'm aware there'll be lots of programming. I'd expect it to be tons, though rewards should balance it off in the end. Just tame and befriend another, unless you modded in a very special 'entity' to befriend. Just let it die and go for another. Protect? Keep in house like a maid or butler. if it follows, you simply fight it off until it gains combat strength of some sort.

And yes, I'm aware that what they're doing is your job. They should at the very least be allowed to do the basics of your tasks at hand. Wouldn't hurt. You'll still be doing the brunt of the work, no matter how you look at it. Restrictions needs to be made, and it's not always fun and games, even when you do have them. You still do the main stuff even with "Turtles" from Minecraft. You're still babysitting, doing the details, and all the fine touches. People shouldn't expect treating them like black slaves or Chinese slaves.

TL;DR: Just wanting to take advantage of the vast scenery by wanting to add in my own "OCs", for people's Anime & western gaming mods, along with people who might want simple pets. It's also to push any silent 'eerie atmosphere' to the side, both in SP & SMP.

I didn't know you could add polls so I inserted one now. There, you don't have to say anything. Just vote if you feel 'safer' doing so, but I'd love to hear your opinion now. I'll lurk along with you folks now that I don't have to chime in obnoxiously. Hope you can chime in every now and again through posting.

I agree that they should be fed every now and again, just on the basics while eventually given purpose that you speak of. On the same page

[*Still wishing for fox and Arctic Fox to be tamable, even if obvious by now.]