Rift: Pets

In Rift pets seem to come in two flavors: summoned pets for certain classes (beastmasters, druids, elementalists, necromancers, rangers, and warlocks) that have combat skills (these pets level up to 8 and can be trained further) and companion (or vanity or mini) pets that just follow your character around which can be purchased from the faction reputation vendors.
http://rift.ign.com/wiki/Pets

A player's list of various pets and where to get them.
http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?138521-Vanity-Pet-and-Mount-Guide

Here is a list of companion pets. They can be killed but summoned back from the dead. Note there are also pets exclusive to various chain stores that sold the game. Walmart had the Shambler Hatchling, D2D had the Corpus Kitty, and Gamestop had the Bogling Wastrel.
http://telarapedia.com/wiki/Companion

Photos of various critters and information about where to find these vanity companion pets.
http://telarapedia.com/wiki/Mini-pet

Here's Trion's own vanity pet and mount guide.
http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?138521-Vanity-Pet-and-Mount-Guide

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Rift: Artifact Sets

The artifacts you pick up here and there can be turned into the Artifact Collector (in Meridan and Sanctum).  In return you get Lucky Coins that can be used to buy vanity pets and mounts, and achievements, and various caches.  The caches are random and include gold, potions, and epic weapons and gear.  They are also tiered according to the zone the artifacts were collected in.
http://telarapedia.com/wiki/Artifact_Collector

http://telarapedia.com/wiki/Lucky_Coin

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

BlizzCon Mini Pets Start to Arrive UPDATED

Deathy the Murloc pet is starting to arrive in the email of folks who subscribed to the BlizzCon Internet stream.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/10/blizzcon-2010-mini-pet-code/

UPDATE:  Apparently DirecTv BlizzCon subscribers are starting to get their codes.  I think regular DirecTv subscribers who signed up for the Pay Per View BlizzCon show will get their codes in the mail with their bills.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/10/blizzcon-2010-pets-for-directtv-subscribers-arrive/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Sparkle Pony Has Competition UPDATED

As announced at BlizzCon, Blizzard will start selling moonkin hatchling pets shortly.  Part of the purchase price will go to charity.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/morhaime-says-moonkin-hatchling-available-this-month/

UPDATE:  Blizzard will have two pets for sale but only the moonkin hatchling sales price has a portion going to charity.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/09/lil-ragnaros-and-moonkin-hatchling-pets-preview/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Pet News from Cataclysm UPDATED

In the latest Cataclysm build, pets can become crit immune by using the Grace of Mantis talent.  The article also has info on the new worm Burrow and pet bugs.
http://www.warcrafthuntersunion.com/2010/10/pets-can-become-crit-immune-in-lastest-beta-build/

Mania's Arcania has a way of taming the Oily Coat Wolf so that it doesn't lose its color open taming.  Looks like this works for Alliance only, or at least only for Horde with plenty of Alliance friends to help.  It also may be removed by Blizzard at any time and you can't take the wolf to Arena without losing the coloring.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/10/27/taming-the-oily-coat-wolf/

Looks like eight of the nine parrots available in Cataclysm will be tamable.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/05/parrots-ahoy/

Turtles
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/08/ancient-turtle-volcano-turtle/

Tigers that Phase Away During Quest
http://thebrewhall.com/2010/11/08/crouching-tiger-hidden-tiger/

The Razzashi Hatchling will remain in the game despite its current home being destroyed.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/razzashi-hatchling-to-remain-as-an-in-game-drop-in-cataclysm/

Tamed Worms will Change Appearance
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/16/appearance-changes-worms/

Ravagers Change Appearance
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/17/appearance-changes-ravagers/

Many More Appearance Changes
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/11/20/appearance-changes-the-rest/

Blizzard has nerfed the ways players were able to keep pre-taming effects on pets.

http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/12/14/effect-taming-or-i-should-have-posted-sooner-eh/

Taming Ants
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/12/04/tame-your-own-ant/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

The Fashionable Pet Collector

Kirina pointed out this interview with a pet collector who has matching outfits for each pet.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/10/07/15-minutes-of-fame-a-rare-and-beautiful-collection/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

New Pets and Mounts in Cataclysm UPDATED A LOT

A list of new animals in the latest Cataclysm build.  No pictures except for the tiny dragon pet Deathy.  Sorry.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/cataclysm-beta-new-mounts-and-companion-pets-in-build-12984/

UPDATE:  Videos of Alliance and Horde Guild Mounts
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/cataclysm-beta-horde-and-alliance-guild-mounts/

UPDATE #2:  Worgen are their own mounts.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/09/18/cataclysm-beta-worgen-are-their-own-mounts/

UPDATE #3:  Players will be able to transform into a dragon mount and carry a second player on their back.
http://birdfall.blogspot.com/2010/09/alchemy-mount-or-they-found-it.html

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Cataclysm Safari

Mania's Arcania is doing a safari tour of the Cataclysm beta to find and describe all the pets.  There are spoilers about the changes to the landscape so don't read this if you don't want to know.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/07/27/cataclysm-pet-tour-intro/

http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/07/27/cataclysm-pet-tour-teldrassil-darkshore/

http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/07/28/cataclysm-safari-ashenvale-stonetalon-mountains/

http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/07/29/cataclysm-safari-mulgore-durotar-azshara-northern-barrens/

I'll update this article as the safari continues.

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Soloing that Vanity Pet (Mojo)

How to solo getting the frog vanity pet as a Level 80.  Thanks to Birdfall for pointing this out.
http://warcraftpets.com/guides/pets/solo_farming_mojo.asp

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

BlizzCon Tickets on Sale June

Tickets will be on sale June 2 and again June 5.  They cost $150 each.  There will be multi-channels on DirecTv as well.  Some things will be on the Internet for free.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3179373

Mana Obscura reports the free pet will be a Mini-Deathwing.
http://www.manaobscura.com/?p=690

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Love (and Hate) For Lil XT

Gordon took time out from Flying Spitfires to point us toward this article about the other virtual pet for sal ethis week at the Blizzard store, the little robot called Lil XT.
http://tagn.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/lil-xt-reactions/

There's a download to silence it, too.
http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info16491-SilentXT.html

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Flying Mount and Robot Pet at Blizzard's Online Store

The Celestial Mount and the Lil XT robot pet are now for sale at Blizzard's online store.  Details like pricing for these in-game digital items here-
http://www.wow.com/2010/04/15/celestial-steed-lil-xt-now-active-on-the-blizzard-store/

There's a queue 70,000 80,000 140,000 people long in the U.S. store.  Do the math.  Blizzard made a mint.  Expect more such items in the future.
http://www.wow.com/2010/04/15/queue-for-celestrial-steed-and-lil-xt-is-above-70-000/

If you are curious about the Celestial Mount and the robot pet, there are videos here.
http://birdfall.blogspot.com/2010/04/celestial-steed-buyable.html

UPDATE:  My favorite comment about Blizzard's selling of digital items is at the link below.  I believe folks aren't complaining about buying such expensive digital items now because kids are overrunning WOW. Thoughtful adults are not purchasing such things, especially in such a down economy, but there are few adults left playing the game.
http://www.massively.com/2010/04/16/anti-aliased-shut-up-people-come-buy-my-horse/#comments

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

WOW Pet Included in Starcraft 2

If you buy the fancy collector's edition of Starcraft 2 there is a WOW mini pet code included.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=151843

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Guide to Noblegarden

Noblegarden starts April 4 and ends April 11.  Here are the details of collecting eggs, bunny ears and pets.
http://www.wow.com/2010/04/02/the-overachiever-guide-to-noblegarden-2010/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

2009 Arena Tournament Pet Reward Change

Apparently Blizzard hands out unique pets as rewards to tournament participants after each season.  As of Patch 3.3.3, the murkimus pets that gladiators won will be across all their characters, not just the character who used the code.
http://www.wow.com/2010/03/23/patch-3-3-3-account-changes-for-murkimus/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

New Vanity Pets (Wind Rider Cub and Gryphon Hatchling)

WOW Insider reports that the Blizzard store will shortly start selling new plush stuffed animals (Wind Rider Cub and Gryphon Hatchling) that come with a code to activate the same pet in-game.
http://www.wow.com/2010/02/10/new-plush-pets-with-matching-in-game-pets-coming-soon/

UPDATE:  Photos of the real and virtual pets.
http://kotaku.com/5474899/world-of-warcraft-plushies-on-the-wings-of-cuteness/gallery/

UPDATE #2:  Review from Mania's Arcania of the stuffed animals.
http://www.maniasarcania.com/2010/02/26/my-plush-mounts-have-arrived/

 ***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Pets in the Mailbox UPDATED

People who previously turned their WOW accounts into Battle.net accounts started receiving their penguin pets in their in-game mailboxes last night.
http://www.wow.com/2009/10/15/mr-chilly-is-in-the-mail-on-battle-net-accounts/

This week folks who viewed BlizzCon via DirecTv pay per view in the U.S. started to get little plastic cards via snail mail with their Grunty the Space Merloc pet code.  Log into the website they give you, log into Battle.net, enter the 25 digit code on the back of the card and then Blizzard emails you your Grunty in the in-game email system.

Each character you have gets one of these pets.  As far as we can tell, they are bind on equip so these won't show up on eBay unless someone didn't use their plastic Grunty card code when it arrived in the mail.

UPDATE:  Some folks are not happy they have to switch to Battle.net but a lot of folks are unhappy their penguin pet looks pretty much like the brown blob you see out of the corner of your eye when a mouse runs across the room.
http://www.wow.com/2009/10/18/1-local-the-battle-over-battle-net/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Mandatory Battle.net on 11/11/09 (with Penguins)

MMO Champion has discovered Blizzard is going to require everyone playing WOW to set up a Battle.net account by November 11, 2009.  Blizzard will send all those who have an account set up by then a penguin pet via the in-game mail.  whoopee

Here is what WOW Head says about the switch.
http://www.wowhead.com/?blog=125397

I strongly advise anyone making the switch to set up a dummy email account to use as your login user name for Battle.net.  It might be a hassle but your real email will be more secure.  Anyone hacking Blizzard's Battle.net will have all the email address logins to play with, you know.  You might be interested in reading WOW Head's take on Blizzard security.
http://www.wowhead.com/?blog=101004

UPDATE:  Tobold explains better than I did the issues you face with security if you use a real email address as your user name/login for Battle.net.
http://tobolds.blogspot.com/2009/10/blizzard-sabotages-wow-account-security.html

UPDATE #2:  Here is what WOW Insider says about Battle.net which it doesn't think is a security issue.  I'm old and cynical and I don't agree, but that doesn't mean I am right.  (Just really cute.)
http://www.wow.com/2009/10/15/the-pros-and-cons-of-battle-net/

UPDATE #3:  Cold Comfort analyses the criticisms of the switch and gives good account security information.  It looks as if he is going to discuss how this impacts guilds from a GM perspection in Part 2.  I'll update this when the second entry is available.
http://blog.cold-comfort.org/battlenet-nerdrage-one/

Here's the update from Cold Comfort.  It discusses responding to "nerd rage" comments on forums in general and the Battle.net controversy in particular.
http://blog.cold-comfort.org/nerdrage-deal/

***************************
Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com