I have one server where I have dedicated to reptile theme. Snakes, komodos, shalebacks, gators, reptile armor illusions for the thralls and the like. It’s pretty cool when you got about 12 lower level animals at your front door all facing towards the enemies…all ready to pounce and most hit with poison.
Hopefully that’s not my server since you recently joined it! 
No I don’t think so. It’s a PVEC server but I was getting bored with it because of how populated it is and I can’t find a thrall to save my life. there are always at least 5 people online at any time of day (even server restart which is just weird…I love my times alone on a server when it restarts)
But to address your server load question, my follower count is below 30 and my base is tiny in comparison to everyone else’s. I used one of the temples which made my work easier and I got the spacing right so that the windows could actually have SG windows…although I am feeling the pangs of dropping the server because I’m playing around on a PVE as a sorcerer again but combat focused (vs thrall). Using corrupted stats with the combat changes and it’s a feasible build and fun to do. 300 HP and 100 Stamina but I hit for over 200 a swing and heal very quickly…come to think of it…I should get some health potions because eventually I will run the Wine Cellar.
lol… well message me some time. I’ll come over and take a peek. Maybe hit a dungeon or do a purge too.
I believe that you have to consider an “Age of the beast masters”.
A total revamp to your pet system and 3 skull bosses be obtainable from players as pets, even dragons.
I know that this looks a bit ark-ish, but i am sure you have the talent to do it Conan-ish. Thanks a million for your reply 
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Well, in addition to having weak stats, pets also have another disadvantage compared to human thralls: Pets can’t wear armor. So unless they have a bucketload of hitpoints, even with same stats pets would still be inferior.
I recommend introducing a potion specifically for pets that increases their armor. Or giving them some to begin with.