Allow us to use GWEN henchies / Skillbars in all campaigns please?

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

I have to congratulate ANET on the Henchmen skill bars in GWEN. They are really good, although not perfect, but they seem to have at least listened to my cries for an LoD Mhenlo and Interupt ranger in every outpost. Although Aidans skill bar is a bit silly, it doesnt matter cos I'll only be using Zho

Now wouldnt it be nice If we could use these henchmen in the normal campains? Particularly in Tyria where the henchmen suck (Yes Im talking about Charge Warriors and Aidan especially). Would help us an awful lot in HM.

EternalTempest

EternalTempest

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

United States

Dark Side Ofthe Moon [DSM]

E/

I would like this to.

The official response to request like this comes about having to "re-balance" all the zones in that campaign to adjust for the henchmen skill changes - and the focus on new stuff aka they moved on.

dunky_g

dunky_g

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

[SNOW]

tbh there skills in gwen are a bit too pro! makes the game alot easier than it already is.. makes taking a monk hero redundant tbh

Vamis Threen

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Nov 2006

E/Mo

/signed

I think this is a good compromise, given we are unlikely to see 7 heroes. Most prophecies henchies are just plain rubbish. At least one interrupt henchman in all the Proph areas would go a long way to rectifying this.

Omniclasm

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guild Hall

A/

Would prefer Life Sheath instead of ZB. They suck at using ZB.

Voltar

Voltar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

My dog let's me crash at her place.

POB

R/

I'd just go straight for the jugular and say...7 Hero GROUP!

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Omniclasm
Would prefer Life Sheath instead of ZB. They suck at using ZB.
Would prefer an AI update instead so they only use it on allies below 50% health.

Fates

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Kanuckistan

Mirror of Reason [SNOW]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltar
I'd just go straight for the jugular and say...7 Hero GROUP!
I vote for this as well.

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Voltar
I'd just go straight for the jugular and say...7 Hero GROUP!
ofc I vote for this as well, but A-net are being A-holes over that matter.

scottyboysn

scottyboysn

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

USA

Kingdom Of Deities [KOD]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhavv
ofc I vote for this as well, but A-net are being A-holes over that matter.
Indeed. I wonder if the designers are aware of how strongly the community feels about this? Meh...

Anyway, props to A-Net for the henchies. I was in shock when I saw Cynn cast meteor shower!

GloryFox

GloryFox

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Good ol' USA, where everyone else wants to be

Now Plays World of Warcraft on Whisperwind

Heck Id be happy if they added some more henchmen to GW:EN such as Odura, Gehraz, Sogolon, Professor Gui, Danika, Erys Vasburg and Nika. Show some more henchman diversity please.

seut

seut

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Europa

i would like to see Assassin, Dervish, Paragon & Ritualist henchmen in EotN

Red Sonya

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2005

Can we have the cultist henchie/heroes stop blood renewing her/himself to death also please? They need to be set where they won't renew if they are below 60% health. I have to deal with this every major battle cause they will blood renew EVERYBODY until they are dead.

Same goes for MM Necros with Blood of the Master. They rediculously keep using this when they are well below 50% life. Once again I'd like to see them stop this activity at say 60% life.

Also can you fix the Necros to not cast Death Novas until we are in a battle. Olias and Whispers just constantly cast Death Novas everytime we stop. Death Nova is a wonderful skill for the MM Hero Necros because they are so accurate in which minion to cast it on (I could never cast death novas that well because you have to select a minion and then cast, heroes do it without a second thought), but, out of battle castings gets a bit rediculous and keeps the necros very low on energy.

I am happy to see you made heroes cast their focus enchantments regularly now. It was annoying that Zhed's first spell at the start of every battle was Fire Attunement.

I would also like to see Heroes cast their spells or use their skills according to the position in their skill bars. I've always been an advocate of this because there is a certain pattern I would like them to use. They aren't the best at synergizing the usage of ALL their skills as I would be.

Shyft the Pyro

Shyft the Pyro

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2005

NYC, USA

E/Mo

As I've said countless times before, henchies and heroes are tools. If you see that the way your tools perform isn't to your liking, work around their limitations or replace them. If you know the AI can't handle a particular skill (Death Nova), either use it yourself or don't use it at all.

And why would sacrifice skills ever be a problem in a party with hero/hench monks that autoheal injured allies?

stueyman2099

stueyman2099

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

Clan W A S D [WASD]

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Omniclasm
Would prefer Life Sheath instead of ZB. They suck at using ZB.
While ZB isn't perfect, Life Sheath is garbage whether it's in the hands of a pro or a hench. Keep that crap away from Lina

Omniclasm

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guild Hall

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by stueyman2099
While ZB isn't perfect, Life Sheath is garbage whether it's in the hands of a pro or a hench. Keep that crap away from Lina
How exactly is it crap? ZB heals for 180, Life Sheath negates 150. Both have the same Divine Favor bonus. If ZB is used incorrectly, which it is, it costs 10 energy. Life Sheath always costs 5 energy. ZB granted is more useful in RA, since more than likely, you will be the only monk, so you can reliably use it when you are under 50%, and it heals you, which is the only way your red bar is going to go up. In a group of 8, you will have 2 monks, most likely one heal one protection. In this situation, the other monk is most likely going to heal someone before they get to 50%, meaning that most of the time, ZB is just a heal other. Also, negating 150 damage works, because the other monk can make your red bar go up, so healing for 150 instead of negating 150 is about the same.

Is the extra 30 worth 5 energy?

Edit: Yes, I did put the wrong numbers.

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Omniclasm
How exactly is it crap? ZB heals for 180, Life Sheath negates 150. Both have the same Divine Favor bonus. If ZB is used incorrectly, which it is, it costs 10 energy. Life Sheath always costs 5 energy. ZB granted is more useful in RA, since more than likely, you will be the only monk, so you can reliably use it when you are under 50%, and it heals you, which is the only way your red bar is going to go up. In a group of 8, you will have 2 monks, most likely one heal one protection. In this situation, the other monk is most likely going to heal someone before they get to 50%, meaning that most of the time, ZB is just a heal other. Also, negating 150 damage works, because the other monk can make your red bar go up, so healing for 150 instead of negating 150 is about the same.

Is the extra 30 worth 5 energy?

Edit: Yes, I did put the wrong numbers.
Except for one thing - heals cover any kind of damage, while absorbtion/negation doesn't cover life steal (I think) and degen (definately). So, ZB is better, period. Oh yeah, not to mention enchantment removal.

Omniclasm

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guild Hall

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by arcanemacabre
Except for one thing - heals cover any kind of damage, while absorbtion/negation doesn't cover life steal (I think) and degen (definately). So, ZB is better, period. Oh yeah, not to mention enchantment removal.
The LoD monk deals with the degeneration. I'm not claiming that Life Sheath is stronger than SoR or ZB, it is weaker. However, it cannot be screwed up. Hero monks fail at using ZB, they use it without meeting the condition, and they over-heal with it, wasting loads of energy. SoR is very hard on energy management, and to use it, they need to be able to use energy management skills correctly, such as Glyph of Lesser Energy, which they also use incorrectly, which means they drain themselves in about 10-15 seconds, or 20-25 with the increased recharge. They cannot screw up with Life Sheath. They cannot over-heal with Life Sheath, and they cannot fail to meet the condition, since there is none. They do not need to make use of energy management skills to afford the 5 energy spell. While it may not have as much potential as ZB or SoR, it is a lot more hero friendly.

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Oh no, I don't disagree with that, but then again, an easy dev fix would be to make hench/hero to use ZB effectively. Just saying overall, ZB is better. Still, I prefer Shield of Regen on my prot monk hero along with GoL. They do use the glyph pretty good now, which means 14 seconds of +10 regen (with a 20% longer enchant mod) for a total of 280 health (plus DF bonus) and +40 armor - if used to maximum potential for only 5e after glyph.

Etta

Etta

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2006

Mancland, British Empire

I set 1 as RC Prot the other as Healing Light, work great for me. And agree with the OP, Henches in EotN are great. Funny when I saw MS and thought to myself: "My ele heroes havnt got MS! there're no ele enemies, who cast it?". Cynn: "Me! it was me, I finally farm enough gold to upgrade my skill bar after 2 years, I'm still trying to cap SH or Mind Blast tho"

Omniclasm

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guild Hall

A/

Yeah, I swear by SoR when I'm playing my monk. I have tried to run it on my heroes before, they just didn't do well with it. Mine always use their glyph for RoF and Dismiss Condition, then spam SoR to heal. I'm not a fan of ZB when theres 2 monks, but that is just personal preference I guess, but heroes do not use ZB well at all.

Back on topic....
I love the new skillbars, besides Aidan, his is just sort of wtf material. Love Mhenlo's LoD, double ward ele, knockdown Devona, Eve's changes are good. However, they would make the previous campaigns even easier, which isn't really needed. They could use some slight improvements, but not as good as the GW:EN versions, and no Nightfall skills in Prophecies.

artay

artay

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

Australia

The Agony Scene

E/

AHHHH Irrellivent!

Anyway, yes please let us *squints at thread title* " Allow us to use GWEN henchies / Skillbars in all campaigns please"

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

For those of you that love Cynns new bar, try it on your heroes with Fireball replaced to Rodgorts invocation and aura of res changed to glowing gaze.

The reult is Rodgort spam every 5 seconds while still remaining full on energy, whereas with SF they run out of energy too fast. Also, Rodgorts doesnt need the target to be burning for the damage to occour, so it will work better against enemies that are immune to burning.

I still hate Aidan though. Why do you need both Barrage and Volley on the same Ranger when barrage has a 1 sec recharge? Also what good is debilitating shot when the AI has infinate energy? Remember the lightning drakes on HM spamminng [skill]mind shock[/skill] every 4 seconds and constantly meeting the condition against your elly with 80-90 energy? I do.

The only changes I would personally make to the monk bars if they were used on two human monks is ZB > SoR, Res > Gole, one of the shields > GoH. A res or hex removal can be put in if needed instead of gaurdian.

And on the healer add signet of rejuvenation, Deny Hexes > Cure hex, Divine intervention > Healing Ribbon, Vigorous spirit > Gole.

Also on Herta, try Stone Daggers > Stoning, Aura of res > Ward of Weariness Gole or Glowstone might be needed instead of elly ward though for E management.

Vnewbie

Academy Page

Join Date: Dec 2005

Canada

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by seut
i would like to see Assassin, Dervish, Paragon & Ritualist henchmen in EotN
I already know why they can't do this. Because GW:EN only requires ONE of the 3 campaigns, having those classes as henchmen would be like free spoilers. Come to think about it, I think that all GW:EN henchies use core skills only (though I could be wrong about this). So while you can be staring at a thousand A/D/P/Rt enemies, they won't provide them as henchies because your account shouldn't be able to access them.

Anyways...on to the topic...

Henchmen were designed as group fillers, not group replacers. So while the skill bar should at least be decent (stop flare spamming orion!), having a 1337 pwnzorz lol!!11 build on them would not be good (especially because Anet might decide to nerf that build later on). HEROES are the group replacers.

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vnewbie
Come to think about it, I think that all GW:EN henchies use core skills only
Your very wrong. They use skills from across all three campaigns. You can Check them on wiki under each henchman thats in GWEN.

Yichi

Yichi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Guild Hall, Vent, Guesting, PvE, or the occasional HA match...

Dark Alley [dR]

yes because mehnlo in prophecies has access to LoD... Think before u post please?

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MistressYichi
yes because mehnlo in prophecies has access to LoD... Think before u post please?
Actually, he does. He's been all over the world. Maybe not in the same "timeframe" as he appears as a henchie, but then again, timeframes mean much of nothing when anyone, anywhere can go to those same outposts with all kinds of gear and heroes that are "out-of-place."

Yichi

Yichi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Guild Hall, Vent, Guesting, PvE, or the occasional HA match...

Dark Alley [dR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by arcanemacabre
Actually, he does. He's been all over the world. Maybe not in the same "timeframe" as he appears as a henchie, but then again, timeframes mean much of nothing when anyone, anywhere can go to those same outposts with all kinds of gear and heroes that are "out-of-place."
Your train of thought started out strong, then derailed and caught fire about 100 yards from the station. We aka the players, can go anywhere at any time. NPC's cannot.

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MistressYichi
Your train of thought started out strong, then derailed and caught fire about 100 yards from the station. We aka the players, can go anywhere at any time. NPC's cannot.
Who says? I mean, I can go to Camp Hojanu and there is Mhenlo! Then head to the War Camp in Tyria, and oh look - there he is again! Same Mhenlo, too. Unless, of course, there is a huge Henchman-cloning device somewhere, creating multiple instances of the same henchmen.

Besides, they could give them a different skillbar depending on if the character they are joining has completed certain missions, or visited certain lands to solve this conundrum. It would simply mean that as long as you have progressed through the story, then everyone else must have, as well, no matter where you are. That makes sense. Going "back in time" to when Mhenlo has never been anywhere you have been doesn't.

generik

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by MistressYichi
Your train of thought started out strong, then derailed and caught fire about 100 yards from the station. We aka the players, can go anywhere at any time. NPC's cannot.
And this preserves/breaks story line continuity, how?

Who cares if Mhenlo uses skills not available at his time.

Omniclasm

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guild Hall

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by generik
And this preserves/breaks story line continuity, how?

Who cares if Mhenlo uses skills not available at his time.
Because that breaks Prophecies even more. Prophecies was build around and balanced around proph+core skills. Adding in other campaign skills because they are better sort of throws all of Prophecies out of whack.

arcanemacabre

arcanemacabre

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Feb 2006

North Kryta Province

Angel Sharks [As]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Omniclasm
Because that breaks Prophecies even more. Prophecies was build around and balanced around proph+core skills. Adding in other campaign skills because they are better sort of throws all of Prophecies out of whack.
That is a better reason, and one I'm comfortable with. It would kinda unbalance Prophecies about as much as having a party of 7 heroes. Not that I'm that concerned about that part, but it does make sense, and I can accept that as a reason.

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Omniclasm
Because that breaks Prophecies even more. Prophecies was build around and balanced around proph+core skills. Adding in other campaign skills because they are better sort of throws all of Prophecies out of whack.
I havnt tried vanquishing yet, but with the henchmen in prophecies wouldnt it just be a pain in the butt? I mean they have 5 skills each, healing breeze, charge, practiced stance, Imagined burdened + crippling anguish.....

They could at least put Hundred Blades, Ineptitude, and Barrage in instead.

Omniclasm

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

Guild Hall

A/

Quote:
Originally Posted by bhavv
I havnt tried vanquishing yet, but with the henchmen in prophecies wouldnt it just be a pain in the butt? I mean they have 5 skills each, healing breeze, charge, practiced stance, Imagined burdened + crippling anguish.....

They could at least put Hundred Blades, Ineptitude, and Barrage in instead.
I agree that they could use vastly improved skill bars. Practiced Stance + Kindle Arrows ftw. But really, loading them down with LoD, SF, Reaper's mark and stuff like that, wouldn't really be right in Prophecies, since like I said, it wasn't built to handle skills like that.

One really obvious example, take a Spirit Spammer to fight Glint. She will hardly damage you, since she was not meant to contend with them skills. The rest of the game is basically the same concept, but just to a lesser extent.

Tiny Killer

Tiny Killer

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2006

Oshkosh, WI USA

Exile Champions of Heroic Order [ECHO]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vnewbie
...having those classes as henchmen would be like free spoilers.

So while you can be staring at a thousand A/D/P/Rt enemies, they won't provide them as henchies because your account shouldn't be able to access them.
So, how do you explain getting them as heroes, then?

Frozy

Frozy

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2006

If the excuse is the older chapters not being balanced for these henchmen, then they should at least be available in Hard Mode.
Hard Mode was designed for cross-campaign parties, I don't think letting us use them will break it.

bhavv

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frozy
If the excuse is the older chapters not being balanced for these henchmen, then they should at least be available in Hard Mode.
Hard Mode was designed for cross-campaign parties, I don't think letting us use them will break it.
Im agreed with this. I dont think using LoD, ZB, Sandstorm, Cynns mind blast build, or Zho's BHA build is going to imbalance HM. Prophecies and cantha henchies are balanced fine for NM, but as soon as you activate HM they are like fish in a pool full of sharks. Anet imbalanced the game by introducing HM, Improving henchies with cross campaign skills for HM isnt going to break or imbalance it, its just going to make it more possible.

Granted that even if you have the GWEN skill bars, your still going to have a hard time in Proph and Cantha HM, it will at least be possible to win without constant party wipe outs.

Giving Mhenlo LoD in NF would make him overpowered? How dare he be as good as AI! We must give him WoH

In proph, They could just give him the Gwen bar with Woh instead of LoD and Remove hex instead of deny hexes. Problem fixed. That would make him:

Remove hex
Divine Intervention (lame)
Dwayna's kiss
Healing Touch
WoH
Orison
Res Chant
Vigorous Spirit (lame)

Still a lot better isnt it?

Obey The Cat

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by GloryFox
Heck Id be happy if they added some more henchmen to GW:EN such as Odura, Gehraz, Sogolon, Professor Gui, Danika, Erys Vasburg and Nika. Show some more henchman diversity please.
agree. this would be great!

cellardweller

cellardweller

Likes naked dance offs

Join Date: Aug 2005

The Older Gamers [TOG]

I'd be happy if they just gave prophesies monks some kind (any kind!) of condition/hex removal.

Obey The Cat

Obey The Cat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2007

FFS

Rt/N

hex removal is very bad imho. why? because they heal only +30 when removing a hex. healing is MUCH better than hex removal.

same to condition remove. but some skills heal when removing a condition. these skills are okay for AI but not that good since AI is spamming those skills and get lost of their energy.