I have noticed a few requests for the above mentioned class and also noted from other posters that the BL class will probably never be added to the game. I was wondering if an accommodation could be made, such as allowing shaman, druid, or rangers to AA or spec out as a pet focus?
How, other than just a personal desire to play a beastlord, would it benefit and/or improve the game? What aspects about a BL class are not already something that one or all classes do not already cover? What role is missing that you think the BL is needed to fill?
@Vandraad
It doesn't fill a need other than add more variety. But, you could realistically say there only needs to be one of each in the Quaternity also. Warrior/Cleric/DPS/Enchanter. I definitely don't think the class would need to be for launch, but I really enjoyed the beastlord in EQ.
To the OP, I highly doubt we will see "Specs" like WoW, but I'm guessing there probably will be a system ultimately similar to AAs and special specializations like EQ - choosing alteration vs. conjuration etc.
I would love to play the BL. Thematically, it's more fun than the Mage/Conjurer to me; summoning different types of animals or having one animal that grows in power with you is really fun. I loved the BL in EQ and loved that you were similar to a bard in that you were a jack of all trades type of character. You could heal your pet or others in a pinch, use pet to tank a little, melee some, cast spells at range, etc. You couldn't do everything (splitting was tough, tanking a mob without the pet would be rough, etc), but you had a lot of versatility, and you could slide into a group and fill in as a poor man's tank (pet), a melee dps role, a ranged dps role, and decent buffs, too.
+1 for the BeastLord in my opinion.
I really really enjoyed my Black Kajit Beast Lord with his large displacer beast as a pet in EQ2. Fighting like a monk that provided great resource regen for the party with his pet for great DPS or offtanking. I think the BL could easily fit into the DPS category with the summoner as well as bring a lot of support with haste/slows and maybe group healing from % of damage dealt (similar to the BL in EQ2). I'm certain there will be new classes added in future expansions (as long as the game survives more than a year) and I'd look forward to seeing the BL be one of them... as well as a DeathKnight/ShadowKnight type of class (since the DL is more like the Berserker class).