Will we ever be able to select minions?

jcapulet

jcapulet

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2006

08 Feb 2007 at 19:03 - 1
Dear Anet/Gaile:

I am wondering if ANet will ever implement a way for us to select/target minions? I've noticed others have requested this in the past, but am not sure if this is something ANet is considering.

Even with the quickest hands/reflexes/clicking, trying to select a minion (i.e., for death nova) is extremely awkward. Or, your mouse hovers over a minion, you're ready to target it...only to find that the little guy has run off. When you have 20-30 others running around on the screen (allies/npc foes/minions), it's even more difficult to find your undead little friends.

I hope Anet will consider this, because it would improve gameplay for and efficiency of necromancers, ritualist and any others who enjoy "minion bombing."

Thanks.

Franco Power

Franco Power

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2006

UK

W/

08 Feb 2007 at 19:07 - 2
The reason Anet doesn't do this is to not make things so easier for MM, all that most MMs do is spam blood, raise Flesh and heal area, so by not doing this atleast Anet is trying to get people to learn how to play better.

jcapulet

jcapulet

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2006

08 Feb 2007 at 19:11 - 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Legendary Ultimatum
The reason Anet doesn't do this is to not make things so easier for MM, all that most MMs do is spam blood, raise Flesh and heal area, so by not doing this atleast Anet is trying to get people to learn how to play better.
Yes, but Minion Master and Minion Bomber builds are different. As far as I know, Bombers don't usually heal their minions (you want them to die/blow up with death nova ).

Chewbacca Defense

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

667 Neighbour of the Beast

Ttgr

08 Feb 2007 at 19:33 - 4
/not signed

Would make it too easy to play Minion Bombers. I think there's got to be at least some level of difficulty in playing it. Don't get me wrong, I play minion bomber and I would *want* this feature, but I don't think GW *needs* this feature.

Franco Power

Franco Power

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2006

UK

W/

08 Feb 2007 at 19:48 - 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcapulet
Yes, but Minion Master and Minion Bomber builds are different. As far as I know, Bombers don't usually heal their minions (you want them to die/blow up with death nova ).

Yes but heal or kill you still have to put some effort in it, it's like giving a Infuser a auto infuse button to the ally with less health.

RodyPA

Academy Page

Join Date: Jun 2006

Life With The Thrill Kill Kult [Kult]

R/

08 Feb 2007 at 20:40 - 6
All the current method does is make you take a Hero as a necromancer assist MM; that MM takes animate bone minions, death nova and jagged bones. You can quickly get 20 minions that way, so it works better in the long run. You as player can then feel free to spam the heal, so no worries about skill.

Evilsod

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

08 Feb 2007 at 21:26 - 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by Legendary Ultimatum
The reason Anet doesn't do this is to not make things so easier for MM, all that most MMs do is spam blood, raise Flesh and heal area, so by not doing this atleast Anet is trying to get people to learn how to play better.
That doesn't even make sense.

It would be nice... would mean you could actually death nova/jagged bones minions properly for a change. Not to mention been able to use Taste of Death on useful targets...

jcapulet

jcapulet

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2006

08 Feb 2007 at 21:28 - 8
Quote:
Originally Posted by RodyPA
All the current method does is make you take a Hero as a necromancer assist MM; that MM takes animate bone minions, death nova and jagged bones. You can quickly get 20 minions that way, so it works better in the long run. You as player can then feel free to spam the heal, so no worries about skill.
That's an interesting combo, I'll try it...and Olias could probably target the minions better than I could...LOL

Emerikol

Academy Page

Join Date: Jan 2007

Undead Army

E/Me

08 Feb 2007 at 22:16 - 9
Almost nobodys negative ideas make sense on these forums. People will find something to complain about, even if it will help them and improve gameplay.

/signed

Anything to make this game play better and/or make the UI more usefull is great in my book.

Franco Power

Franco Power

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Dec 2006

UK

W/

08 Feb 2007 at 22:20 - 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evilsod
That doesn't even make sense.

It would be nice... would mean you could actually death nova/jagged bones minions properly for a change. Not to mention been able to use Taste of Death on useful targets...

Doesn't make a sense to you, Oh you want to talk about Jagged bones? Example, I've had Ayame from [ftl] guesting MM for my guild once, when he left, one of us tried to do his job, failing miserably, it counts a lot, if Anet does things like this they might aswel show in game tips when to adrenaline spike and which targets are dangerous and infuse aswel while you're in battle.

capeech now?

TheSlyOne

TheSlyOne

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2006

On the other side.

New Order Dexworld

N/Mo

08 Feb 2007 at 23:54 - 11
Anet should at least make them show up on the Ctrl or Alt spots. That would be enough to make me happy. I don't need a minion panel or anything, just let them all show up on Alt or Ctrl.

Quest_techie

Academy Page

Join Date: Apr 2005

10 Feb 2007 at 05:46 - 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chewbacca Defense
/not signed

Would make it too easy to play Minion Bombers. I think there's got to be at least some level of difficulty in playing it. Don't get me wrong, I play minion bomber and I would *want* this feature, but I don't think GW *needs* this feature.
that's like using the logic "we don't need a party window because it makes it too easy to monk"

amnd you are going to say it doesn't because we need monks, but honestly, if no monk had party windows than it would be the same <to find difference is not dissimilar architecture of idea to gamblers folly>

yes, this would make it easier to minion bomb, but,

1. there are more spells being added that target minions, including an elite
2. there is, to my knowledge, no keyboard shortcut to target minions
3. there is not even a key to highlight minions

now, really, these are inadequacies, that if they existed in a less well built theatre <damage dealing\healing> would bring forth screams of brokeness

come on, this is trash that it is this difficult to target minions, minion bombing is possible, it is very much doable, and anyone who wants to do it can, but it is frustrating, making it easier isn't going to imbalance the game, and if it would that needs to be addressed in the skills, NOT THE INTERFACE, the interface is not an aspect of balance and to believe it should be is idiotic

Series

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2006

10 Feb 2007 at 07:12 - 13
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quest_techie
that's like using the logic "we don't need a party window because it makes it too easy to monk"
Quoted for Truth! /signed

JunkHead

JunkHead

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2006

N/

14 Feb 2007 at 11:46 - 14
I've been waiting for sucha feature for ever it seems. Hopefully one of these days the devs will add it.
/signed

zwei2stein

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

14 Feb 2007 at 12:23 - 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Franco Power
Yes but heal or kill you still have to put some effort in it, it's like giving a Infuser a auto infuse button to the ally with less health.
Infuser has party window, MM has no equivalent

Infuser can map hotkeys to each party member for quick selection, MM has no equivalent.

Infuser can alt/ctrl/whatver to highlight party member, MM has no equivalent

Even Rts suffer same thing.

---

All those "adrenal spike tooltips" are very nice strawmans btw.

---

Dificulty of running builds should never ever be about getting around broken interface but about, you know, actuall player skill running it.

SotiCoto

SotiCoto

Banned

Join Date: Jan 2007

Drazach Thicket

Temple of Zhen Xianren [Sifu]

14 Feb 2007 at 12:28 - 16
/signed

Definitely.

I mean even Olias's minions, which are fairly well-controlled by the AI, need a bit of manual intervention on occasion (like trying to direct Tahlkora over to the Flesh Golem to heal it before it dies and gets raised as another Bone Fiend by rampaging Olias).

GraceAlone

GraceAlone

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Phoenix, AZ

Semper Reformanda [SeRe]

16 Feb 2007 at 10:06 - 17
/signed

I just started playing an MM and found myself desperately wanting to be able to target them better. I see that there are changes in the works for pets, so maybe we can get something for minions. Even the ability to ctrl/alt see them would be an improvement!

Alfrond

Alfrond

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2006

The United States

Boston Guild [BG]

Mo/Me

16 Feb 2007 at 18:32 - 18
I agree with the ctrl/alt idea. It would make playing MM a little less annoying, but not totally unbalance the game.

/signed

Chewbacca Defense

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

667 Neighbour of the Beast

Ttgr

16 Feb 2007 at 20:17 - 19
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quest_techie
that's like using the logic "we don't need a party window because it makes it too easy to monk"
Well that's your opinion. I think that there's a huge difference between minions and players. Players make a difference when they die. Minions are like kids at a candy store, they always come back.

So for the sake of argument, party window is a necessity for healers. Minions can respawn time after time even if the bomber has missed enchanting said minion.

/notsigned

jcapulet

jcapulet

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2006

16 Feb 2007 at 20:41 - 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chewbacca Defense
Minions can respawn time after time even if the bomber has missed enchanting said minion.
The way it is now, that seems to be most of the time.

VitisVinifera

VitisVinifera

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

Northern California

HoTR

N/Me

17 Feb 2007 at 04:37 - 21
/signed

it's the lack of this feature which keeps me from putting minion-specific spells in my bar

rohara

rohara

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2006

Rt/

17 Feb 2007 at 18:29 - 22
/signed

i'd also like to see a flag for ranger pets and minions on the minimap UI

BahamutKaiser

BahamutKaiser

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Heightened state of mind.

P/W

17 Feb 2007 at 20:04 - 23
Yeah, the Necromancer Hero can death nova those minions like no tomarrow, and with dual necros working together on your team you can create synergy and double the effect of your soul reaping return, it is rather nice.

Lokomotiv

Lokomotiv

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2005

21 Feb 2007 at 03:30 - 24
If it means we can have a minion/spirit window i totally sign

/signed