Can you shed some light on the goals regarding the changes to:
AI modes Pet_Base and Pet_Ranged
Bite (I am assuming "Smash" above is a typo for "Bite")
For example:
Should Fly Trap charge into melee range less often? At all?
Should Fly Trap be using Bite frequently when it is already within melee range?
Fly Trap testing observations - Open Beta 5 (Level 50 Controller and Dominator, solo testing)
Fly Trap behavior seems somewhat inconsistent, in limited testing time.
At Range, Fly Trap on average appears to be using more ranged attacks according to observation and combat logs.
However, Fly Trap still frequently charges into melee range to use Bite.
In Melee range, Fly Trap does use Bite at times (when already in melee range).
However, Fly Trap often does not use Bite at all when in melee range (instead logs show it using 3-5 ranged attacks from melee range to finish off enemy).
Total number of Bite attacks as % of overall attacks appears to be noticably lower than on Live server in combat logs for a handful of fights on each server. (Caveat: limited sample, various different enemy groups)
The damage resistance improvements seem generally appropriate for a mostly ranged pet (or a bit on the low side if the pet will continue to charge into melee range).
Controller pet controls are a very nice addition - controlling Fly Trap worked well in limited testing.
If possible I'd like to see Fly Trap using Bite (consistently) only when it finds itself in melee range (versus charging in to use Bite). Eliminating the charging into melee, along with the moderate increase in damage resistances, would likely result in a more survivable and competitive Fly Trap compared to other pets.