Pets

Pets are essential to nearly all characters in Ultima Online. Without a mount a warrior cannot hope to keep up with (or escape from!) his foes, and beasts of burden are essential for those who wish to collect resources. Most domesticated animals (such as Horses) require no skill to own, ride or command.

However, only those well versed in Animal Taming can hope to command the strongest of creatures. The dedicated tamer will also practise his Veterinary skill in order to keep his charges in top condition, and an additional dose of Animal Lore not only helps when applying bandages but also when giving commands.

Players may store pets they currently don't need at the stables located in most towns and cities. If a pet is worth keeping for any length of time, it should be bonded in order to preserve it should it die.

• For a comparison of high level hunting pets try Best Pets

• For more information on how to train your pets see Pet Training

Control Slots

Each character has a total of five control slots, a number cannot be increased in any way. Whenever any creature comes under their control, some of these slots will be used up. If the character does not have enough control slots available then they will be unable to take control of the new pet.

With the introduction of Publish 97 and the new Animal Training system you can now train pets with new skills and abilities. Some alterations to pet slot requirements are included in this publish which will affect new spawning creatures, however these changes will not be applied to existing pets unless Animal Training is undertaken. Using Animal Lore on the pet will reveal if, and how, your pet would be affected. Two figures are shown, the first is the pet’s slot requirement at the commencement of training, the second is its potential maximum if all possible training is completed. If the shown lower figure is different to the pet’s current requirement the pet will adjust to the shown figure when, or if, training is commenced.

Most animals (such as Horses and Pack Horses) require only a single control slot, meaning that the character may command up to five such creatures at a time. However, many monsters can also be tamed, and most require multiple slots.

For example, a Bake Kitsune requires two slots, while a Rune Beetle requires three. Hence a tamer may journey with one of each of these creatures at the same time, making for a powerful combination.

The Nightmare is a popular two slot, as it is not only powerful but ridable as a mount.

More powerful creatures require yet more slots. The Cu Sidhe (the only creature with the Healing skill) requires four, as does the Hiryu and Reptalon. Such pets are usually used as "tanks"; somewhat less damaging then a two-pet combo but typically much easier to keep alive in combat.

Most summoned creatures require spare control slots as well, including Ethereal Mounts. Those raised via the Necromancer's spell Animate Dead are one exception.

If a player has used all their control slots, in order to gain new pets they will need to release, kill or stable the old.

Obtaining a Pet

• From An NPC
  • Most towns have a stable available for the storage of pets, and it's also here where most players get their first steed. NPC Animal Trainers sell mounts (among other creatures) for a small fee. There is a wait of approximately one minute (two? three?) between purchases.

• From Another Player
  • Single clicking a pet will reveal a context menu, from which it's owner may select the "transfer" option before targeting another player. This brings up a standard Trade Window from which the creature can either be payed for or simply gifted - Providing the new owner has a sufficient level of Animal Taming/Animal Lore to command it.
  • If a pet has recently been tamed and has not yet been fed, it may refuse to be transferred even if it is "Wonderfully Happy". Young players may not have pets transferred to them in this way.

• From The Wild
  • The direct use of the Animal Taming skill on a creature can be used to bend it to your will, providing you have the skill required (and perhaps, the strength to survive it's assault!).