Oh, Warlocks (and other classes, to address the silly argument that some use to disqualify this discussion) definitely need more customization for permanent pets.
I've been advocating for a system similar to Hunter Taming for years.
Back then, I mostly thought about getting recolors for the existing demons, but you're right, Legion introduced new demons that could be used as alternative models, new "forms" for the current ones. I'll refer to the set of current demon + new models as a role.
I see two possible approaches here:
- With your current equivalent pet out, you channel a spell on a target NPC demon of the same role, on success you replace your current demon (who is stunned to prevent taunts etc.) with the target. Lore-wise, you sacrifice your current demon to gain the power to subjugate the target. Functionally, this would be almost identical to Hunter Taming.
- Alternatively, looking at the Barbershop overhaul and the integration of the Druid Forms, you could subjugate demons in the wild to add them to your collection, to be chosen as the current demon for a role at the Barbershop.
This could either involve taming, or crafted/dropped items to unlock them, see what happened to Druid Form 'Glyphs'.
Or even a mix of both, tomes (see the Hunter Pet Family ones) to unlock specific families of demons to be then 'tamed' for your collection.
Expanding on @Highlord Hanibuhl's list of newer demons, here's an idea of what demons could be added to which role:
[current options in brackets]
- [Imp], basic ranged caster with defensive utility for the Warlock: Wyrmtongue, Inquisitor, possibly Gan'arg (have we seen those since BC? Might've been rolled into Wyrmtongue)
- [Felhunter, Observer] melee with interrupt and offensive dispel: Felstalker as Felhunter variant, Vilefiend, Bilescourge
- [Succubus, Shivarra] melee with CC: Aranasi (web wrap instead of the seduce)
- [Voidwalker, Void Lord] tank: Vilefiend in another possible role, Void Hound, Ur'zul, Jailer
- [Felguard, Wrathguard] melee/tank for Demonology: Fel Lord, Mo'arg Brute (one of those was the original wielder of the Maw of the Damned, the Blood DK Artifact)
It should be noted that except Wrathguard, which are Eredar, the above are all members of the Mo'arg race, so closely related anyway.- I don't see good options for Doomguards and Infernals/Abyssals other than recolors themselves. Possibly the Overfiends, which would work for either, but are a bit too flashy, imho.
Not gonna expand on other classes' pets here, as this is a Warlock subforum, but trust me, I have plenty of ideas, and parts of what I speculated here would be applicable for those, too.
Final thoughts on minor issues:
To preserve Macro compatibility, e.g. "Summon Imp" would remain the base spell, and if you have an Inquisitor as your 'caster' demon, the spell "Summon Inquisitor" replaces it, similar to how certain talents replace base abilities, while the name of the base ability can still be used in macros. This also prevents having to rename the summon spells to a generic name (which would still have to be used in other UI elements like the Collection, or the equivalent of the Beast Lore tooltip, though, to convey to players which demons are grouped together)
Demon Abilities would be reused where possible, or given replacements with different names and visuals, but the same effect (see my example for Aranasi above)
Current glyphs that swap pet models should be converted to this system, either removed or changed to non-glyph items. These can still be created by Inscription, just become permanent unlocks. Glyphs should (in my opinion) be for spell visual changes and the like, not model swaps. Although I would like for class customization to eventually be rolled into the Barbershop as well.
Warlock would need new glyphs, of course, most current ones are for demon model swaps.
But your duty to Azeroth is not yet complete. More is demanded of you... a price the living cannot pay.
Personally I'd like an Overfiend the most. I.e. the fiery demons that use the model of Baleroc from Firelands raid. Preferably a purple one. When we had Doomguards they made a good fit for a Doomguard glyph since Baleroc's model used the Doomguard skeleton in the first place, but then they took Doomguards away... No, the "let's give Warlocks useless shit and pretend this is what the community meant by unpruning" Ritual of Doom doesn't count.
And since Warlocks also use Void creatures, Void Revenant would be my second pick. Though all alternate Void creatures are neat. Third pick would be Doommaidens. Then Eredar Twins. Then Jailers. Then, still in order, Aranasi, Inquisitors, Imp Mothers (would make for a funny cooldown for Demonology), Terrorguards and Abyssals.
They could always just add them as cosmetic options through glyphs or whatever. And there is already a neat new skin available for ice elementals, i.e. Jaina's mount. Would make perfect sense.
We already have Eredar pets since MoP. That's what Wrathguards are. And the Demonic Tyrants are Eredar Brutes.
This is a signature of an ailing giant, boundless in pride, wit and strength.
Yet also as humble as health and humor permit.
Furthermore, I consider that Carthage Slam must be destroyed.
I'd be more than happy with the addition of more glyphs that could help achieve this!
Plus.. canonically, the player warlock held the scepter of Sargeras and is still a very powerful warlock. Summoning big demons wouldn't be such a bad idea. If the warlock can maintain the control over a towering infernal and doom guard, a lot more is possible.
Be careful who you chat it up with here on these forums. If you are NOT for WoW and about WoW, people will report whatever you say and get you banned
There is absolutely no reason the demonic tyrant shouldn’t be a pit lord.
Neither are degenerated or unintelligent and Eredar Brutes are outright elite members of the Legion that went through an additional Fel transformation to prove their devotion to Sargeras. With the highest ranked of their kind being Erodus, a Legion general and a member of the Antoran High Command.
It also feels more in line with the class fantasy.
A warlock could continue to study up on demonology and try to summon and bind more and more demons to its will - similair to how hunters venture the worlds taming animal companions.
Demonology-spec should still be the 'all out with demons'-spec, but affliction and destruction could really benefit from some demon love!
Would pay small fortune to replace my imps with something. Even floaty eyes , shooting lasers.
I know what they are, but it has to be said that the Legion does often overvalue brawn. Also he was flanked by two distinctly more intelligent colleagues in that fight.
With degenerated intellect i do not mean that they become unintelligent, i mean that they are reduced in that capacity, or were of lesser quality in that regard beforehand.
This is a signature of an ailing giant, boundless in pride, wit and strength.
Yet also as humble as health and humor permit.
Furthermore, I consider that Carthage Slam must be destroyed.
Its a nice idea for future expansion content, but the question is what design space they'll fill. Just glyphed graphical options? i wouldn't mind. But with a pit lord you're expecting something grand. A cooldown for demonology maybe? (though the current Commander model is kinda neat). I wouldnt mind it as a baseline aoe cd kinda like the demonology pvp giant-felguard looking fella that guards a zone, could work for any specc if you pick the right demon and the proper interaction with spells.
But i think the most room we have is for permament pets. Maybe a pet that constantly reduces a single target's damage? (more useful for pvp but can find lots of interesting cases for Torghast and solo play). A dimension related pet (voidhound perhaps?)that lets you put your circle where its at, and your gateway where its at and instantly?
The possibility to put them to enhance gameplay exists, though i can't fault blizz for shying away from it when the current kit works pretty well.
As cosmetic replacements for existing ones, sure. But warlock doesn't need more utility pets.
Unfortunately, I don't see it happening because Blizzard doesn't like fun.
If it WAS going to happen, Burning Crusade or Legion were the expansions to do it in. Since it didn't happen then, I doubt it ever will. Which sucks.