Ok, have tried this out. Using Pokebuddy, Pet Swapper.
it sounds like you have the combat bot working, i.e. it will search, then engage a pet while in range.
this is kind of a "directionless" HB mode, which is a good way to test things. it can also mount up or lead towards a pet, which can be off-putting, but you can get used to it.
so let's break down how petarea, and BPC work, as they work in similar ways.
under HB, changing the "bot" to GB2, questing or autoangler/professionbuddy, dungeonbuddy, etc. really anything requiring movement, needs a profile to set boundaries and location and points to navigate to and from.
(exceptions are, Tyrael/raid , combat, non-pool fishing modes in autoangler, don't move, so they don't need profiles to move around.)
PA/BPC are profile changing plugins, they change the GB2 profile, from what is currently loaded, to a profile based on your location or the pet level.
and yes, GB2 does need to be "primed" with a starting profile to collect herbs, farm for pets, etc. after the bot has started, the location will be read from the game, and a new profile selected matching the criteria if BPC is enabled. if using PetArea, it will check the pet level of the first pet slot when PetArea is enabled.
With GB2, you can untick the collect herbs/ore and it will still patrol in the various areas, or you can double-dip and it will do both, choosing between collection and pets... often with complications, but not often enough to be problematic. while you can use Herb /ore profiles for pets, and vice versa, the locations they use will often not match up (just due to the nature of battle pet spawns being in mob areas)
Petarea, will take the current pet level from the first pet, then load a profile that has been listed for that pet level. it's somewhat open-ended, if you're alliance, you may want to choose a new pet area profile, as the default ones are on kalimdor and are horde areas, etc.
BPC is a bit more intelligent, it has a list of profiles depending on the zone you're in, and will push to navigate to a new area to add a bit of variety. it's also designed to obtain the Zookeeper title, collecting 1 of each unique pet, or just rare's, etc. it can also just stick around until you have all the rares in an area, and move around the continent every 20-50 minutes, etc. if enabling this, don't vendor the battle stones... set up a mail target (silly cava/kick's selling these...)
what else ... general advice i suppose.
it's page 90, nobody reads the first few pages of a thread..
if you want to level pets using Battle Pet Collector, i'd suggest teaming it up with Battle Pet Swapper.
Pet Area works fine, it just needs a bit of configuration before using, extra pet zone profiles are available elsewhere if needed, even in the Battle Pet Collector folder under Profiles. those work too. enabling both PA and BPC will most likely end up in BPC winning and changing GB2's loaded profile, so disable both until you want to use either one.
if using BPS+BPC,
setting it to relative/capture will get you player XP,
setting it to ringer/ringer x2 will power level pets.
Ringer usually works better with pets that are within 5-10 levels of the enemy pet. so 10s vs 20's, instead of 10s vs 25s, just because pets don't stay alive when hit for 30% of their health.
ie. more than 10 levels, use ringer x2,
5-10 levels, ringer.
1-3 levels ,and player XP, capture/ringer.
you should also set the low level for the continent if using the ringer settings. i.e. lowest level for EK/Kalimdor is 1-18, Outlands is 6-21, Cata zones are 12-24, MoP areas are 15-25.
you also need to set a lowest and highest pet setting inside Pokebuddy, 25/25 is open ended, but 15/15 is good, this will avoid having level 1's in level 18 areas (or vice versa), it will just fly around in circles and not engage.
also, if using the ringer settings, set the low level range and set favourites only for the ringer pets. set some high level favourite pets that can heal, or can kill 3 pets easily. frog/turtle/spiders do well, some humanoids, some mechanicals, some beasts.
