As long as these Pokemon/Cyber-Elves don't interfere or change the way I play LD, I is happeh.

Too much. Mah brain wud horrt

Nick, could you please tell me if they will act like "specialized gear" or there will be a system completely different from the knights about these skills? (ex: I can use a gun, sword and bomb even when I'm using a bomber set, although using bombs will be more effective; Will the sprites act like that and have the capability to learn all skills but only master some?).

And a request/suggestion: Could you guys show some more info on how they change both in appearance and on status depending on how we raise them before launching the update? it's just that I (and probably some other knights) wanna know more about the sprite's potential so we can go planning for when the update kicks in.

Turning hateful things into good ones.

Just wondering...Robot pets? or Nature pets?

All i see is more add-on content that isn' the core. OPEN THE CORE!

I had 10 months to decide my new starter for Pokemon Gen 6 and now I also have to decide what starter sprite I am going to use. Thanks three rings for making my life hard. All jokes aside now, I really like the look of this new system and I hope it can make the game more enjoying and difficult.

Points/ Questions
1. Will there be prestige missions related to the sprite would be good.
2.Do they gain levels like the night gains heat and the cap out at level 10.
3. Will the customization options have any affect on the sprites health/attack power and are not purely cosmetic.

Thanks three rings for telling us about this awesome new content.

That was my other point that I forgot and left out, Theopholis. Thank you for making it-

What kinds of things will stop the gap between the beggar-like T1/2 players and the illuminati-like T3/4 players from widening? If pets get better- and they should/will, then what will stop the gap from further splitting the playerbase in two?

And less seriously- What would I have to do to get Missile from Ghost Trick to follow me around and swap objects?

Post 69: If a Battle Sprite mates with a Lost Sprite, do you get a Lost Battle?

Pets have always seemed cluttered and unbalanced (OP or UP) in games, and I prefer being by myself in my massacres. Oh well, I guess I'l get over it and go without one or pick one that works as my footstool. Time to dissect everything Nick said, and pester him with questions and concerns about the future additions.
_______________

E-Class Battle sprites were originally small, mechanical, AI-driven field companions that aided the Spiral Knights in planetary reconnaissance. That was before the crash landing on Cradle. Sprites collected from the crash within the Clockworks appear to be reacting to the Core's energy signal

Great, looks like the standard go deeper and get stronger. Doesn't look like these are too lore rich, but nothing in Spiral Knights is anyway considering all we have are a couple paragraphs at most for the most in-depth storylines.

changing dramatically based on their environment

Hmm, that looks new in theory. I can't think of anything the players have in their arsenal currently that does that, and I'm lost for good ideas on how pets could do it. I hope nothing like an entire status of a pet changing, as the inner role player in me enjoys having one status be my class archetype and I stick with it. It looks like I don't have to worry about that due to Drakon only being associated with fire. Shock one, please?

improving their capabilities even as they remain loyal to their primary directive to support Knights in exploration and discovery.

A possible new form of progressing, hopefully not grindy though. Nothing much to say on this.

Battle Sprites are new combat companions that all Spiral Knights can acquire. Each Battle Sprite has a selection of skills that can be used by the player when the Sprite is equipped. Skills range from direct attacks to party buffs and monster debuffs.

Combat companions? Yeah, pets.

DPS and support, yay. Looks like I'll be finding the most flashy and expensive support one avaliable and beating the crap out of the mobs while it sits back and casts a buff every now and then.

Battle Sprites will continue to level up as you use them. As a sprite levels up they evolve, become more powerful, and develop new skills. Players can feed materials to the Sprites for faster leveling and control the abilities they develop.

Leveing up? Cool. Material sink? Even better! Hopefully it's a continuous one though; I'd like to actually have a market for materials rather than having them being near useless junk that infinitely builds up since the chance of it selling to the few that actually buy materials aren't worth the auction house listing fee.

We hope that Sprites will be fun, providing a new experience in the game. They are also intended to provide players with the ability to specialize their role in a party.

Probably my favorite part of this whole post. Currently, the only roles Spiral Knights PvE has is in FSC with the shivermist and blitz duo. I'm extremely excited that OOO is looking to specialize roles more and maybe add their version of the holy trinity (Of course replacing healers with support) to the game; however, current content has no use. I hope this means we'll be getting harder content that is more favorable to a party with roles with great synergy.

The choices you make for your Sprite will act like a class for your Knight, augmenting your choice of weapons and armor.

Mixed feelings due to conflicts about player freedom and role specialization. Hopefully it's balanced at the least, and there will be only additions to my possible arsenal rather than limiting your choices.

For example, you may choose a Sprite that deals direct damage with attack enhancements or instead choose a Sprite that bolsters your parties defenses.

DPS, defense, or offensive support it looks like so far. No problems, but maybe a possible stealth addition as well?

Once the Battle Sprites are available, a new series of rank missions will be added for players as soon as they reach Haven. These missions will teach players about Battle Sprites and allow them to try out each of the three starter sprites before ultimately choosing one to keep.

Missions. Less clockworks. -___-

Available after rescue camp is nice to newbies and I don't see a problem with it. Three starter sprites. Great, this means that veterans wont be stuck walking with the same battle sprite as that guy over there in proto gear. Always good for e-peens. Also, this means there will be more! Incoming huge costs and a promo methinks?

Of course, these new rank missions will be playable by any player who has already surpassed those early ranks, rewarding you with a Sprite to keep just like new players.

Yay! I'm also noting the lack of any payment requirement like expansion missions. Always good.

Sprites will be a significant part of the Haven Garrison's Laboratory.

Mmmk

The first three Battle Sprites represent three different play-styles. While each has at least one skill that serves as direct damage, they each offer different play-style options:

Role specialization, yay! Hopefully more support and stealth roles too though. :x

The smoldering Drakon resembles a dragon and delivers powerful, fiery blasts to your foes. It's ideal for anyone who favors head-on combat.

Yay, the good old fashioned DPS. I probably wont be using this one, but I think it's going to be the most popular choice as it favors the glass cannon route this game rewards.

The divine Seraphynx resembles an angelic cat-like creature and uses its luminous powers to defend the party from attacks. It's a fine choice for knights who wish to aid their fellow party members.

Defending the party from attacks... ok. So we got ourselves the closest thing to a tank. Will it die? Is the defense an AoE like Lockdown's guardian shield, based on line of sight where the pet has to be between me and the baddie, or just a defense buff that makes us take less? How the heck does this thing work!?!

The shadowy Maskeraith resembles a masked phantom and uses its toxic powers to debilitate enemies. This devious sprite is a perfect choice for those that like to hide in the shadows or cripple their foes before delivering the final blow.

Debuffer is all? Got me excited with the part of hiding in the shadows, but it doesn't look like it will be as awesome as being a recon in the clockworks. Seems nice and all, if balanced. Poison isn't exactly the top choice for status infliction.

Battle sprites are still in development with a planned release date in the first half of the year. Keep an eye on these forums for more info!

Meh :x Could be as late as June, but it's good to see they aren't rushing at least.

You will ultimately be able to own and raise more than one sprite, though your first selection is an important one.

Yay! Hopefully anything your first selection decides isn't completely unchangeable.

You can name your sprite and customize certain aspects of its appearance. The promotional images are just one example of the final form of the three sprites.

Awesome.

The use of sprites in the Coliseum is still up for debate, though we're only going to include them where it makes sense (not Blast Network).

Giving 100% guarantee no blast network, but still not referring to PvP as Lockdown. Interesting, but I'd rather think of facts rather than speculation and conspiracy based on something that might just have been an oversight while typing. As far as sprites in Lockdown, I don't really care about Lockdown, but I don't see how adding sprites could make it any worse than it already is.

Sprites use their skills when you want them to, via a key press.

*Sigh* I was just getting used to all my new controls too. I can always unmap my vials though, who uses those anyway?

Sprites will be equipped similarly to how other equip-able items are implemented. Once you complete the rank missions dedicated to introducing them, you will be able to equip one.

No battle sprite upgrade slot for 9001 CE that lasts 30 days? :| Come on Nick, what's the hidden fee in all of this?

No, everyone can name their sprite Sephiroth.

<3 +1,000,001

Can't say at this time but you'll know more when we do our individual spotlights on each sprite some time in the future.

MOAR >:O

You get a Sprite Sprite.

Well, they went and did it. =_=

Still, this could possibly bring more of them pokemon folks to the table; which more people for me to fight in LD. >:]

I'd rather have seen you guys fix the problems we still have and add more content, but eh, it's your game. The whole "abilities" thing is FAR, FAR better than AI pets, but still... it's just a regular RPG thing, ya know? I don't want to play runescape with adorable models, the gameplay has to actually be there. And as for the "pokemon" thing, this doesn't sound anything like what the actual pokemon scene is like. There's adventure pokemon and then there's competitive pokemon. One is pushing buttons mindlessly while raising a "party" (though anyone who knows ANYTHING about pokemon will tell you that more than one or two pokes for adventure is a bad idea). The other is a really, really hard strategy game. Guess which one has more of a retainable audience?

@Ice-- and I'm not being 'negative' I'm just saying what will probably happen.

I am psychic? O_O

Yay, activateable abilities! More skill-based combat! :D

*thinks about autoaim dragons and is suddenly sad D:*

I hope that^ doesn't happen. Aside from that, though, sounds like a good update. And @Nick, I assume you can't tell us about what else is planned for the Lab? ;)

EDIT/P.S: Will there be more than 3 sprites? Will they be upgradeable?

And you think people won't have excessive use of the same pets in Lockdown?

A very, very large number of names have already been taken, and if Battle Sprite names cannot be repeated (which is what I'm assuming) then there may be a problem. That could probably be fixed by allowing numerals in Battle Sprite names, though.

Otherwise truly excited that OOO has managed to get this idea working, even if I don't want to wait until June.

Actually pets in LD wouldnt be a trouble if everyone played lockdown as how would be... i mean like Team and no skolver clones who want just to get the most damage possible in score..

So basically there will be a few people with defensive sprites since they would be playing lockdown as how must be. but since the skolver clones just want damage pretty sure they will get the dragon to get more damage. idk about the wraith but i guess poison debuff would be another option since they would get more damage in their hits and would make the enemie unable to run back for health.

... for linking me to something I already read and was attempting to address.

Just take all the Dungeon Defenders pets, why don't you. I want a little flying TF2 medic.

Side note: Will this be a Crown or Ce sink?
By the way, By the time it took The Developers to finally release the Guild hall updates I'm guessing it would also take that time for them to release this new *BIG* Update So don't get your hopes up Quite yet

This is more remenicient of Phantasy Star MAGs. Of course, OOO being owned by Sega, the logical leap to a generalization that they peaked over to PSO2 and saw a good idea that players loved through the years is not very difficult to make. Now all you have to do is give our little battle sprites a little super move they can perform maybe once per floor (at the expense of a % of collected heat possibly?) and we'll have a true copy-and-paste Spiral Knights Photon Blast to complete the metaphor.

I wonder now if the evolution will have elemental branching off if you could "feed" them materials to have them upgrade. (like changing debuffs from poison) or getting the dragon to remove that annoying layer of skin and scales so I can install a shadow-modulator on it to breath undiluted umbra on my opponents or plasticize it full of jelly to support spiky attachments. I can't say much for defense, moar defense is more defense and making it better against some and worse against others doesn't work for it as well as it does for offense.

nick, the idea looks great but can u give us some time say in which month?

@Knight-Of-India: Nick said within the first half of the year.

Also, the sprites in FSC don't have names. Maybe at most the guy who talks to you MIGHT have a name, but I don't think so.