NCsoft delivers a set of new Aion screens showcasing the Spiritmaster, the Mage class specialization that gets to hang out with all sorts of interesting elemental pets.
When a Mage reaches level 10 in Aion, she can choose one of two paths. Those looking to be glass cannons can opt for the Sorcerer class, while those wishing to play with a bit more finesse take on the role of the Spiritmaster. Closely resembling the original Everquest Mage, the Spiritmaster has a selection of elemental pets that have skills and powers based on the element they are bound to. Fire spirits are good up close, while earth spirits are all about defense. Water spirits heal and use ranged attacks. Wind spirits excel at DPS melee attacks.
From the official description:
The Spiritmaster's chief responsibility is to summon and control elemental spirits, powerful forms of nature incarnate, in the midst of battle. Spiritmasters use the power of the Spirits to strike fear in the hearts of their enemies, and have the capability of harnessing fierce pets to turn the tide in combat. While they make deadly opponents in long-rage encounters, Spiritmasters lack the physical strength of other classes. The path of the Spiritmaster is one of the more testing paths to journey in Aion.
I'm not much of a pet person myself. Having played many pet classes in many massively-multiplayer games over the years, I prefer to rely on my own capabilities rather than put my faith in artificial intelligence. Call me a pet skeptic.