Henches Combat Chatter

Hey guys,

first off i want to say how much i love the henches combat chatter. It really gives them more life and creates a great atmosphere durning combat.

I especially noticed little thoms chatter, wich is different for every region he is in (shiverpeaks, kryta, maguuma, desert and islands), wich makes the whole experience just great.

But im having 1 great problem, and 2 suggestions:

1) The combat chatter fades away too fast!

My big problem is in reading the lines, as they disappear in 5 seconds, making them very difficult to read (especially the longer ones) in the midst of a fight.

I think this should be fixed into making the chatter stay either a fixed time (say 15sec) or make it individual (3sec per word).

This way we wont miss one of the great features of guild wars.

2) Make chatter shorter!

Whilst its cool when henchmen say a line durning combat, it is not cool when they start saying several phrases, and it is even more uncool when they start making a whole conversation.

I think battle chatter should be confined to 5-10 words, and idle chatter to 15-20.

Would you be able to read all of this durning a fight:
"To think not so long ago Kryta was the sworn enemy of Ascalon. I never thought to see these lands in peaceful times."

Or read all of this whilst walking around:
"These Elonian Elementalists drive me crazy with their babble of peace. I learned better in Surmia, when the Char [sic] came. Magic isn't something you hide and save like a secret. It's something to share... one fireball at a time."

3) Make battle/idle chatter more varied and interactive!

I think its a real shame that little thom is the only one who has about 5 new lines for every place you go to.

Thats why i think that all henchmen should have different chatter for different places.

I also think that they should interact between each other, and with the situation.

For example:

If you have cynn and mhenlo in the party, they will comment when one of them is below 50% health, dies, or makes a special attack.

I also think that it would be cool if they comment on their attack, for instance cynn saying that they shall burn when she uses firestorm, or alesia saying a blessing when she restores someones life over 80%.

I don't give much for the chatter...but found it funny when Alesia (i think it was) shouted "Repent!" in the Maguuma Jungle ^^

Im have to ask how many people read hench combat chat while fighting?

Cant you scroll back up the chat list to read what they said?

I wouldnt really want every line of text that my hench or heroe says, staying on screen. Its bad enough having to compete with that + combat logs (if you show them).

Aslong as it scrolled out of view, so it didnt stay there Im find with this.

The hench comments don't show up in the chat window at all. They only get the little text bubble over their head. So no, no scrolling will bring it back.

Having it appear in the chat so you can scroll back and read it, would how ever solve the problem.

My life wont be the same witout Khim's: "Their healer's a sissy! You hear me? SISSY!"

I'd like two option about hench chatter:
1. Disable it. [On/Off] chehckbox
2. When 1 is enabled:
Make it appear on your own party chat log [On/Off]
Whe 1 is disable, this ption would be grayed.

I think that should make everyone happy. Those who hate and those who love the AI chattings and dialogues.

That just shows how little I even notice it. I must be thinking of NPC comments, when your guiding one of those annoying buggers around a mission.

But yeah, they could just add a "Hench/Hero chat" to the page and let you scroll back up it.

Although wouldnt i get a bit repetitive after a while?

Go to www.guildwiki.org to read them all.

yes i do agree henches need more variety with their chatter and i like it lol

/signed