So i think the cool down is kinda long, maybe 1 hr rest or hour and half. I also think if you send pets out they should have a good chance of leveling up a stat by 3 at most, such as hp, power, defense, and agility. Maybe even intellect because they are exploring and learning new stuff so yea. Also 6 hours for exploring is kinda long... like why not have it be like 3 to 4 hours at max.
This will also be a good chance to be able to use the weapons and armor stuff. Allow us to put it on the pet and give them a better chance of getting better loot. Have a different thing where you put the gear on instead of taking up space in their inventory. Also make the stats of the pet give better chances for better loot too. There is potential using a lot of stuff that you have but don't do anything with except sell or turn in for quest.
Also think that the pets should be at teenage stage to explore because teens explore a lot! not just adults. But you can also make it to where they baby's can explore as well but give them a max of 2 hours of exploration and a 1 or 2 hr cool down (maybe longer since they are babies). Why you ask?! well its a game mechanic you are locking for newer players and having them wait 30 whole days to do. Should be a game mechanic a new player should be able to do instead of potentially losing them because there's really little to do. Also it kinda is nice to be able to grow your pet at a super early stage and would keep people coming back to check up on their pet.
So also instead of a cool down just make it so they have a limit of times they can explore a day.
Ages 0-14 = 2 times a day
Ages 15-29= 4 times a day
Ages 30+= 6 times a day
which would also means you would have to make exploring take even less time. 2 hours? or 2 and half.
To sum it up:
1. Decrease cool down from 3hrs to 1 and half
2. Exploring shouldn't take up to 6 hours, maybe 4 at max
3. A good chance of leveling up stats for pets such as hp, power, defense, agility, and maybe intellect.(maybe like a 75% chance since the new training system is kinda bad in my opinion)
4. Pet stats also increases chance of better loot. (like a gear score would increase it by 2% each time or something... gear score would be like adding all stats and dividing it.) Hp, Power, Defense, Agility add it up and divide by 4 giving you a gear score and depending on it, gives you a % of bonus. Obviously if you also equip gear like a sword and armor it would also increase GS(gear score).
5. Allow pets to take gear with them and increase chance of obtaining better loot.
6. Allow pets as young as 1 day old to explore to have newer players experience it and to potentially keep them coming back! Should not be kept locked for them till their pet is 30 days old.
7. Maybe remove cool downs and add a max limit to exploring depending on age! Like hatches!