Originally Posted by
Cyph3r
This pretty much hits the nail on the head as to why it's NOT a good idea. So a marksman hunter hits level 10, gets aimed shot, can start using it immediately. A survival hunter hits level 10, gets explosive shot, gets to start using it immediately. A level 10 beast master hunter hits level 10, gets the ability to tame exotic pets... and then has to go level a bit, then go hunting all over the world to find an exotic pet within the level range. The Kurken is really the best option (which you'd still have to wait 2 levels for), and he's deep in alliance territory, what if you're horde?
Furthermore, what if you don't WANT to tame an exotic pet? You initially stated "Anyone who has rolled, and enjoyed being a Beast Mastery Hunter has done so mostly because of the ability to tame exotic beasts." This is not true. Most of us went BM because we love to have powerful pets, not just so we could tame the new shiny. I started playing this game a long, long time ago, and I've always liked BM because it meant my pet was a force to be reckoned with. When they introduced the current 51 point talent, I was personally excited for the extra pet talent points more than the ability to tame an exotic. I already had a pet I loved after all, this was an opportunity to make him stronger.
Which brings me to the current level 10 ability for BM, intimidation. Again, you said it yourself: We love our pets. We want them to be stronger. Intimidation does just that. I think most of the people complaining about intimidation don't fully understand the power of this ability. On the live realms it has a long cooldown and is also on the global, kind of a pain and something we rarely use because well, we rarely have to. But any hunter who truly understands the strength of the mechanic and has ever put it to good use knows how truly helpful it can be to have a stun. Not only that, in cataclysm it's OFF the global cooldown, meaning we can use it as an interrupt on casters as well. This ability may not immediately scream "beast master!", but think about it; our pets can do something that other hunters' can't, it makes our pets more dangerous in pvp, and can come in VERY handy while leveling. How does that NOT fit the theme of a hunter who's more in sync with his bestial companion?