BATTLEDOME - Well, looks like neopets finally added a new twist to the battledome
Petpets! Yes, Petpets now have an additional role other than to keep your pets
delighted; they now multiply your damage in the battledome by its level. For
example, if your initial damage without your Petpet is 10hps, when you use your
level 3 Petpet, your damage will be 10x3 = 30hps. Now, before everyone starts
getting excited about their own Batman and Robin combo, hear me out. It might
not be such a big deal after all.
The King of Petpets - Turmaculus
Consider the only way you can level up your Petpet - the volatile Turmaculus.
He spends almost all his time asleep. Not many will have chance of waking him.
Even if you do, he might just decide to give you a T-shirt instead of levelling
up your Petpet. Therefore, getting your pet up to level 2 is rare. Getting it
to a level enough to cause 5x damage is near impossible.
In addition, Turmaculus has a habit of eating your Petpet if he is in a foul
mood. Let's say that you're lucky enough to get your Petpet up to level 3. Now
you are creating havoc in the battledome by causing 3x the damage with your
previously wimpy Pottery Shard Dagger. Are you willing to risk your Petpet being
eaten up by trying to raise it to level 4? You tell me.
Random Petpet appearance
Another drawback on Petpets are its random appearance. On average, they appear
once every four rounds. However, they can disappear for 10 rounds in one battle
and appear in every other round for another battle. This makes Petpets a rather
undependable sidekick in the battledome. You could cream Cave Chia with your
Petpet in a fight while getting kicked by the Pant Devil while you search for
your Petpet in another.
Transparent Petpet appearance
Battledomers who have fought in Quickfights or Challenges will know that when
your opponent's Petpet becomes available to him, you know about it too! The
same works for your opponent. There is no way you can cause 10hp damage a round
and suddenly surprise your opponent with a 50hp damage with a Petpet aided attack.
When your Petpet appears, your opponent will expect you to launch your fiercest
weapons on him and he will be prepared to defend.
Damage are caused by icons
While a Petpet could multiply the damaged caused, one must remember that icons
cause the base damage. Hence, they could be defended against. As mentioned above,
when you see your opponent's Petpet appear, you could simply Burrow or use some
kind of shield (depending on your opponent's weapons) for the next round to
weather the storm. Your elementary maths tutor will tell you that anything multiply
by 0 is...0! Yes, you (or your opponent) will emerge as good as new for the
next round.
What? No faerie abilities?
Battledomers with Petpets will realize this. When you use Petpets in the battledome,
you can't use any of your species abilities, faerie abilities or attacks such
as fierce or berserk. This means that you can't use Sink, Burrow, Steam Shield
or any other defensive faerie abilities. As most people will want to make the
best use of their Petpet appearance by using their most damaging weapons, this
leaves them open to a counterattack from the opponent. Hence, your opponent
could take the chance to sneak in a double dose of Honey Potions and grab victory
if not a draw.
So, before you start trying to wake Tumuculus with your Petpet every minute.
Think of the above. Are Petpets in the battledome really such a big deal?
I am sure there will be some of you out there who are aspiring to turn your
Pebble Lobber into a Monocerous Claw with help from your Petpet. Do neomail
me if you disagree with my views. Thanks to everyone from Clockworks for their
ideas on the messageboard! | 
