Got my Hunter from 83 to 87 since yesterday. Love beast mastery spec, I tried out survival but my pet just feels so weak. It's just not for me. I love rolling with my devilsaur much more. Range with a pet just so easy and a lot of fun.
I got so frustrated with my DK with constantly trying to keep up in heroics (newer 90). It's not a fun experience a lot of the time. I did get him geared up a bit more but I'm still not getting all the drops I need. I'm eligible for 3 LFRs with him but I'd rather level my hunter. I have every intention of getting him geared up. He was my first character and good lord was I the definition of a huntard.
So the story takes place back in 2007 right when TBC released. 1up started a new podcast called Legendary Thread, and I was a big fan of 1up Yours and CGW podcasts so I listened. Hearing and learning about WoW from them and the South Park episode got me to play. So my first character was said hunter. I was amazed and just loved the game, but I knew shit all about how to spec, what stats I should be looking for, or anything really. So as I'm leveling my hunter I started to notice that somehow other hunters pets are able to hold mobs and the hunter is just free to stand there and shoot away. I kept thinking that must be some talent I haven't unlocked or that I needed to get a boar. So I got a boar and still nothing. So because of this I was specing into survival and taking a lot of melee talents. I was just terrible. I would take armor that I thought looked cool, I remember I was obsessed with getting a stereotypical wizard hat because it looked awesome. So around level 30 or so I went to my trainer to buy new talents, and I noticed something called a "pet trainer" right next to him. I thought, huh what's this? So I clicked and saw just an array of pet talents. My mind was blown and I bought them all, but felt like such an idiot for not knowing. If I was ever told by a trainer that I need to go to a pet trainer, I never noticed.
History and connecting like this with your characters is just something that makes WoW so special. Because I was so terrible with him 7 years ago just motivates me all the more to get him fully geared out before WoD. I never raided with him or even level cap'd him during expansions. I did those things with my paladin and shaman instead and he just sat there collecting dust. Not anymore.