Can someone convince me to keep the water pet?

[Inuki1]

<DIV>After logging in last night after the LU31 download, I notice the Hydro pet's summon time has been changed from 2.5 sec (with E: Summoning 5) to now the standard 7 second summon time like all the other pets.  The short summon time has always been a huge appeal to me, in a group.  I can Sac my pet and quickly get the water pet out and healing if the group gets into trouble.  Now, with the 7 sec casting time that won't be as feasible.  Also, I possessed it again last night while struggling with the decision to respec or not, and I noticed the recast time on the heals: 10 sec.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>That's a long time between heals.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So I'm sitting here going back and forth...I do like the added utility a healer type pet offers, and it is nice to have to whip out if the need arises for it...but when will that be?   </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am really torn, as I'd really love to grab E:BP and E:EV for the extra added damage.  Does this add up to a great difference, having these?  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Right now I'm feeling like I have 16 wasted AP points, since the Hydro pet is so situational.  Plane Shift 5 is nice to have, but the 15 points required to get it just doesn't seem worth it anymore with the change to the water pet casting time (hence E: Summoning is no longer useful).  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Can anyone convince me to keep this thing?</DIV>

[Xal]

With the current casting time - no. Sorry, the pet has become utterly worthless to me. I used it as a quick-cast when things looked grim and I really loved it for that purpose. Can't say I remember a single evening when i didn't had to pull the hydro at one point or another. Well... say goodbye to another great feature...

[Eniwyn]

<DIV>As the OP stated: This WAS a really nice treat to the Conjy, but i tried it yesterday, and it made me sad. With the extremely long castingtime, theres no way that this pet is doing any good anymore. And i tried to plan-shift it too. Didnt make any difference, and it looks like a tiny cobra(Waterform) found in the SS. </DIV> <DIV>That was that. Fun as long as it lasted tho.. Thanks, SOE.. :smileysad:</DIV>

[Ankle Biter]

<DIV>Nope, not worth the points imo, pre patch or post patch.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Yes - putting points in BP or the other dmg spells AA's will make a big difference. </DIV>

[boosted]

<DIV>Ouch, that sucks.  Can't believe they changed the heal cast time, it was no where near being overpowered before, just a useful tool when the need arrised.  Now we have to take the extended time to cast it, then while its out its healing effectiveness has been severly crippled and we loose alot of our dps.  The AoE avoid was nice, but it was really hit or miss unless you possessed minion right before the AoE went off and did it manualy.  It would be nice if the healer pet gave us additional spells for the pet so we can control its spells, thereby greatly increasing the effectiveness of the pet.  Well, not really worth it anymore.  Funny how the necro ooze crawler isnt really effected by this though.  Sucks for us.</DIV>

[Wikfizb]

<DIV>I had been planning on working toward the hydo pet, and I realize this hurts some of its functionality, but is it still useful in a group with no healer?  Would the hydro pet still be useful in any of the following situations? (not raiding, but doing group/dungeon encounters that a group with no healer would wipe on). </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Ber, Monk, SK, Conj (me)</DIV> <DIV>Ber, Warlock, Conj (me)</DIV> <DIV>Conj (me), Conj (groupmate), Nec, Ber</DIV> <DIV>Conj (me) duo with a necro or another conjuror</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[InsertNeko]

You guys crack me up. I tanked one of the names in halls of Seeing this week with my Hydromancer until the Tank was back up and rebuffed. Also saved one of the healers in my group with it in Inner Sanctum. Stop crying, and give it another chance. hyndromancer is one of the best things to ever be given a conj. <img src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f201/Catpants1972/misc/title-rx_suicide.gif"> <div></div>

[Neiloch]

Considering that it only costs 1 point and I like all the AA before it (making main pets and plane shift better) I'll keep it. But I must admit I definitely used it when my pet would get killed to save my butt long enough to get the heck out of there. I'll probably still do that, just with less success.