This is just a simple idea I had. Primalist already has items that affect wolf and raptor, so why not bear?
Item is super straightforward. It only allows you to have one pet (the bear), but it makes the bear slightly bigger and stronger for each pet slot it uses up. And also white fur, cause why not.
how would this work, there is passive points that great buff a companion if you only have one. but dont actually disable the slots. the passives just turn off if you summon another companion.
This design is actually kinda no brainer because you would just pick up the extra slots AND the solo minion passives and it offers no choice really.
I think it would be better to offer it some kinda other scaling that actually makes you make a choice on how to build. like maybe the bear gets stronger the more cold res you have so you build out a stat you normally wouldnt.
I like the idea of changing it to a Polar Bear from an item.
Maybe the following mods:
Converts your Bear to a Polar Bear (Bear’s base damage is converted to cold and the 50 health gain on hit is converted to 100% Bleed chance)
Bear Roar is converted to Pure White Frenzy (or Polar Supremacy) this releases a bloodcurdling roar causing fear to all enemies and granting the bear 30% increased movement speed.
Bear Swipe has no cooldown.
+2-5 Flat Cold damage to minions per Vitality
+10 Strength
+10 Vitality
Now of course this lends to Solo Bear but giving flat generic cold damage opens it up to combo with the other minions as well. Both Sabertooth and Wolves have synergy with cold damage and Swipe, Crows could also be an interesting pick as they have cold synergy as well. Item base would be key here, I wouldn’t want to make it a Helmet, Body armor or Relic, I think Shield, Gloves or Belt would be the best slots.
Why not Frostbite instead of Bleed?
Also Swipe with no Cd in term of Balance sound like a big no-no to me.
Cos Polar bears look Brutal covered in blood and keeps the synergy with Wounded Prey node.
Ehh I don’t think its that bad most of the nodes like claw totem, aspect of panther, mana gain, companion ability on use don’t work with Bear Swipe anyway.
A solo Bear with no CD swipe would still struggle in clear and in terms of single target would still be inferior to Sabertooth or say Lightning Wolves so I don’t see it as an issue in terms of balance IMO.
However, this item could incentivize using it with other companions as a Single target that’s why the skill only affects the bear. Maybe Crows/Wolves/Naal’s Raptors for clear and Bear handles single target. Or maybe add a Spriggan to help with Crit.