Henchman Claude comes to EotN... - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

tmr819

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2007

W/Mo

22 Mar 2008 at 17:47 - 1

OK. So maybe we won't get seven Heroes.

If you could add a henchman to the Eye of the North lineup (from the three campaigns), who would it be and what would their skill bar look like?

Bear in mind that henchmen

--Don't use PvE skills
--Don't have runes, etc.
--Don't have secondary professions
--Should have "general utility" builds

My vote would be for someone like ...

Claude (Death Magic):
[skill]Icy Veins[/skill][skill]Animate Bone Fiend[/skill][skill]Animate Bone Minions[/skill][skill]Deathly Swarm[/skill][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill][skill]Well of Suffering[/skill][skill]Death Nova[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

I miss old Claude, I really do. Plus, I'd like to see a minion master as a hench option. (Other possibilities might include Taya with a smiting prayers build or Aeson with a Restoration Rit build.)

Come on, ArenaNet. How about adding another henchperson (or even "henchthing" -- like Brutus) to Eye of the North?

EDIT: Dropped one of the nine (!) skills (Soul Feast) from this build. My apologies! [Thanks for pointing this out, Coloneh.]

Stolen Souls

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2006

22 Mar 2008 at 18:02 - 2

Stefan:

...but seriously. I would like to see Brutus make a comeback. Used to like using him in the pre-hero Factions days. Bring him back as an SV necro...muahaha.

Eldin

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

America. How about you, commie?

Fellows of Mythgar [FOM]

R/Mo

22 Mar 2008 at 18:08 - 3

I want Alesia as a wammo (like in the Norn Tourney) because admit it, she DOES pull that off better than monking.

I'd like Little Thom back, I always thought him > Stefan. Plus Devona uses hammer and Talon uses sword, we need an axe henchie!

Sogolon was a good henchie, IMO.

Mod Edit: Lets leave the spoilers out of the thread please

N1ghtstalker

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2007

E/

22 Mar 2008 at 18:11 - 4

Nika and other Factions and NF proffessions

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

22 Mar 2008 at 18:15 - 5

The Rit Healers from Cantha please!!!

two of them with Sabway <3 <3 <3 <3 <3!!!!

But 7 heroes would be better, I guuss we can always dream.

Witchblade

Polar Bear Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

22 Mar 2008 at 18:39 - 6

Sister Tai with tons of useless signets?

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

22 Mar 2008 at 18:42 - 7

One hybrid monk with WoH would be nice, and a warrior with a weapon elite and not just Charge!, but frankly the EotN henches already seem to have pretty good skillsets. It's much worse in other parts of the game.

EDIT: Oh yeah, Sogolon. Much missed in EotN, gotta admit.

Action Jacson

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

The Devil Fish

N/E

22 Mar 2008 at 18:57 - 8

Panaku

Golden Fox Strike
Wild Strike
Shattering Assault
Critical Eye
Critical defenses
Signet of Malice
Shadow Refuge
Resurrection Signet

Jiub

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2006

The Sky Pirates

W/R

22 Mar 2008 at 19:02 - 9

i always kinda liked nika i guess...
all my other favs are there already

Action Jacson

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2007

The Devil Fish

N/E

22 Mar 2008 at 19:07 - 10

Brutus & Sheena

Echo
Arcane Echo
Wallows Bite

Blood Magic 25

Argo
Searing Flames
Glowing Gaze
Liquid Flame
Meteor Shower
Flame Attunement
Aura of Restoration
Resurrection

Energy Storage 12
Fire Magic 12

Note: Argo is win!

angmar_nite

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2007

[SNOW] of [YUM]

E/

22 Mar 2008 at 19:09 - 11

Argo's cry plz!

Crimso

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2006

PCformatforums[PCFF]

Me/Mo

22 Mar 2008 at 19:12 - 12

Little thoms bar

[skill]Decapitate[/skill][skill]"For Great Justice!"[/skill][skill]Lion's comfort[/skill][skill]Agonizing Chop[/skill][skill]Rush[/skill][skill]"to the limit!"[/skill][skill]Protector's defense[/skill][skill]Disrupting Chop[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

He could be called "adrenaline henchman" or something along those lines. Since he's a henchmen character I didn't give him a increase attack speed skill.

Viruzzz

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

22 Mar 2008 at 19:17 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimso

Little thoms bar

[skill]Decapitate[/skill][skill]"For Great Justice!"[/skill][skill]Lion's comfort[/skill][skill]Agonizing Chop[/skill][skill]Rush[/skill][skill]"to the limit!"[/skill][skill]Protector's defense[/skill][skill]Disrupting Chop[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

He could be called "adrenaline henchman" or something along those lines. Since he's a henchmen character I didn't give him a increase attack speed skill.

looking at the pictures looks like all he will be doing is screaming "ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!" form start to finish of an engagement

Eldin

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

America. How about you, commie?

Fellows of Mythgar [FOM]

R/Mo

22 Mar 2008 at 19:23 - 14

Your Little Thom proposal sounds like the kind of build my war usually uses, except my war doesn't have a...well...that's off topic.

The campaigns skipped a lot of nice builds for henchmen, I'd like elementalists for each element, and a SIGNET HENCHIE! >

Sucks if he gets hit by Rust though.

How about a BiP henchie? XD

Remember Nehdukah from Istan? How about he comes back in GW:EN, 3 years after NF, in search of "new creatures and new adventure" and he brings his pig with him? A pet-owning henchie would be...interesting.

[skill]Power Shot[/skill][skill]Hunter's Shot[/skill][skill]Heal As One[/skill][skill]Disrupting Lunge[/skill][skill]Brutal Strike[/skill][skill]Charm Animal[/skill][skill]Apply Poison[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Power Shot is FTW on stupid henchies!

MagmaRed

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2007

Our Crabs Know True [LOVE]

R/

22 Mar 2008 at 19:48 - 15

Little Thom is the only axe hench there is. I'd like to see more axe use from the hench. So bringing Little Thom would be my first option. Build I'd like to see used:

[skill]Triple Chop[/skill][skill]Dismember[/skill][skill]Axe Twist[/skill][skill]Wild Blow[/skill][skill]Tiger Stance[/skill][skill]Lion's Comfort[/skill][skill]Shield Bash[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

My second choice would be a Necro, probably Sheena. I love the support option from Death Magic, and would like to see something like:

[skill]Tainted Flesh[/skill][skill]Death Nova[/skill][skill]Deathly Swarm[/skill][wiki]Putrid Bile[/wiki][skill]Taste of Pain[/skill][wiki]Withering Aura[/wiki][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

And lastly, I'd like to see a class from something other than the core classes. Rit, Sin, Derv, or Para would be nice. Oddly enough, I'd like an Assassin the most. Panaku is my favorite Sin hench, because his build is actually good. I would change it a little though.

[skill]Beguiling Haze[/skill][skill]Return[/skill][skill]Shadow Refuge[/skill][skill]Sharpen Daggers[/skill][skill]Unsuspecting Strike[/skill][skill]Fox Fangs[/skill][skill]Critical Strike[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Eldin

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

America. How about you, commie?

Fellows of Mythgar [FOM]

R/Mo

22 Mar 2008 at 19:53 - 16

My ideal Little Thom:

[skill]Eviscerate[/skill][skill]Executioner's Strike[/skill][skill]Lion's Comfort[/skill][skill]Cyclone Axe[/skill][skill]Wild Blow[/skill][skill]Bonetti's Defense[/skill][skill]Sprint[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Methinks I'm trying TOO hard to make him good.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

22 Mar 2008 at 20:15 - 17

I like to use both Cyclone Axe + Triple chop on my Axe Hero, and AoE hammer is also nice.

AoE Melee = Win in PVE because it doesnt cause scatter

Crimso

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2006

PCformatforums[PCFF]

Me/Mo

22 Mar 2008 at 20:16 - 18

The worst thing about the henchmen bars is that you have to renember they use their skills independantly(thus not too great).

A very small bar would be better then some large ones.

e.g

[skill]"for great justice!"[/skill][skill]Dragon Slash[/skill][skill]Lion's comfort[/skill][skill]Tiger stance[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill].
the henchman would have no choice in attack skills apart from dragons slash, ensuring good DPS.

Tyla

Emo Goth Italics

Join Date: Sep 2006

22 Mar 2008 at 20:21 - 19

Remove Tiger Stance, it fails...
Flail rawks....

MagmaRed

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2007

Our Crabs Know True [LOVE]

R/

22 Mar 2008 at 20:51 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyla salanari

Remove Tiger Stance, it fails...
Flail rawks....

We are talking about HENCH though.

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

22 Mar 2008 at 20:57 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crimso

A very small bar would be better then some large ones.

Agreed. That's the mistake many people make with e.g. Searing Flame heroes, they give them a ton of spammable skills which the hero will cast instead of focussing on spamming SF + Burning Gaze.

I think your bar could be improved without confusing the henchie by giving him Flail instead of Tiger Stance, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagmaRed

We are talking about HENCH though.

Um... yeah? It's a normal skill, and heroes use it well, so I don't see why a henchie wouldn't too?

MagmaRed

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2007

Our Crabs Know True [LOVE]

R/

22 Mar 2008 at 21:08 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

Um... yeah? It's a normal skill, and heroes use it well, so I don't see why a henchie wouldn't too?

But hench are supposed to be less effective than heroes. I tried not to make the builds I designed too good because hench are supposed to be worse than heroes. Although Flail without a cancel stance might work for a hench.

Daenara

Bad Romance

Join Date: May 2006

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Grand Matron

Mo/

22 Mar 2008 at 21:52 - 23

Sogolon <3 - but with a nice cruel spear or stunning strike build, it would rock!

zwei2stein

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jun 2006

Europe

The German Order [GER]

N/

22 Mar 2008 at 21:53 - 24

Sologon, Gai, ... I miss them

Shadowmere

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2007

The Grim Squeakers [REAP]

N/

22 Mar 2008 at 22:55 - 25

I would like to see the non core prof henchies show up in EoTN

I too miss Sogolon

and all the rit henchies in factions, Prof Gai, Aeson
hehe, Emi & Chiyo, admit it you liked the idea of having a pair of canthan twins in your party

VitisVinifera

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

Northern California

HoTR

N/Me

22 Mar 2008 at 23:15 - 26

we need a smiter hench, and i'm totally down for a resto healer

I don't ever see myself using a sin hench, they just can't chain, or shadow step

Chthon

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Apr 2007

22 Mar 2008 at 23:30 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmr819

OK. So maybe we won't get seven Heroes.

If you could add a henchman to the Eye of the North lineup (from the three campaigns), who would it be and what would their skill bar look like?

Bear in mind that henchmen

--Don't use PvE skills
--Don't have runes, etc.
--Don't have secondary professions
--Should have "general utility" builds

My vote would be for someone like ...

Claude (Death Magic):
[skill]Icy Veins[/skill][skill]Animate Bone Fiend[/skill][skill]Animate Bone Minions[/skill][skill]Deathly Swarm[/skill][skill]Soul Feast[/skill][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill][skill]Well of Suffering[/skill][skill]Death Nova[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

I miss old Claude, I really do. Plus, I'd like to see a minion master as a hench option. (Other possibilities might include Taya with a smiting prayers build or Aeson with a Restoration Rit build.)

Come on, ArenaNet. How about adding another henchperson (or even "henchthing" -- like Brutus) to Eye of the North?

I could go for a minion bomber henchman. It would save me a hero slot. But I'm afraid I dislike your build enough that I'd end up running a hero anyway just to get a better build. Maybe something more like:
[skill]Jagged Bones[/skill][skill]Death Nova[/skill]

[skill]Infuse Condition[/skill][skill]Taste of Death[/skill][skill]Animate Bone Minions[/skill][skill]Well of Suffering[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

While we're turning heroes into henchmen, how about a good curse necro hench?
[skill]enfeebling blood[/skill][skill]spiteful spirit[/skill][skill]reckless haste[/skill][skill]mark of pain[/skill][skill]barbs[/skill][skill]weaken armor[/skill][skill]blood ritual[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]

And finally,

Quote:

Remember Nehdukah from Istan? How about he comes back in GW:EN, 3 years after NF, in search of "new creatures and new adventure" and he brings his pig with him? A pet-owning henchie would be...interesting.

If we're going to have (another) beastmaster hench, let's at least give the poor guy enraged lunge.
[skill]enraged lunge[/skill][skill]brutal strike[/skill][skill]predatory bond[/skill]

[skill]call of protection[/skill][skill]comfort animal[/skill][skill]charm animal[/skill][skill]resurrection signet[/skill]

However, there's a problem with making good hench. One that makes me think we'll never see them. The better the hench are, the more anti-social the game becomes. 99% of players run build that are just much less effective than the 2 necro builds above (especially if they're used together so that the minions trigger the curser's barbs/MoP). Heck, 80% of players run builds that are less effective than the beastmaster, and beast mastery is a fricking joke in GW. Why would anyone ever play with live people when the hench are just out-and-out better? Right now I only put up with other players because I like them personally or because the 3-hero limit doesn't cut it in a particular area. If I had access to henchmen like that, it would be like giving me 2 extra heroes, and I'd have even less reason to party with other players.

Trub

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Mar 2006

Sitting in the guildhall, watching the wallows frolic.

Trinity of the ascended [SMS]+[Koss]+[TAM]=[ToA]

22 Mar 2008 at 23:42 - 28

Brutus.
Would LOVE to have Brutus...he's just such a cute.....wallow dude.

Boogz

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2008

Variable Speed Farmers[VsF]

Mo/

22 Mar 2008 at 23:56 - 29

Chiyo / Professor Gai / Aeson

[card]Splinter Weapon[/card][card]Spirit Rift[/card][card]Mend Body And Soul[/card][card]Spirit Light[/card][card]Offering of Spirit[/card][card]Bloodsong[/card][card]Gaze from Beyond[/card][card]Flesh of my Flesh[/card]

Sogolon
[card]Spear of Lightning[/card][card]Vicious Attack[/card][card]Blazing Spear[/card][card]"Go For the Eyes!"[/card][card]Aggressive Refrain[/card][card]Song of Purification[/card][card]Ballad of Restoration[/card][card]Signet of Return[/card]

nbajammer

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

Iowa

Blade And Rose [BaR]

Mo/

23 Mar 2008 at 00:03 - 30

Definitely need the 4 non-core professions represented. And maybe a variety of other professions (i.e. we have fire and earth hench, and factions had an air one too).

Ritualists:

Prof Gai - Restoration
Chiyo - Spirits
Aeson - Channeling

Assassins:

Panaku - Shadow Arts/Daggers (If Emi is Shadow)
Nika - Deadly Arts
Emi - Combination of the two/Daggers (if Panaku is Shadow)

Paragons:

Sogolon - Motivation
(some new guy) - Command

Dervishes:

Gehraz - Earth Prayers
(some new guy) - Wind Prayers

Then for added effect:

Claude - Death Henchman (MM perhaps?)
Headmaster Vhang - Air Henchman (Invoke Lightning)
Sheena - Curses Henchman (Spiteful Spirit)
Little Thom - Axe Henchman
Stefan - Sword Henchman (Crippling Slash)
Odurra - Domination Henchman (literally, Power Block perhaps?)

Nice to see all 3 campaigns represented, but I feel all 10 classes should have (bare minimum) 1 henchman in EotN.

the Puppeteer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2007

23 Mar 2008 at 00:08 - 31

anet could also use this as a money sink - pay more for more henchmen choices?

Eldin

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

America. How about you, commie?

Fellows of Mythgar [FOM]

R/Mo

23 Mar 2008 at 00:50 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagmaRed

We are talking about HENCH though.

So true. We need a ranger hench who:

[skill]Apply Poison[/skill]

Will use that on all the big mobs and then cancel it out for:

[skill]Barrage[/skill]

When one foe is left. :P

MithranArkanere

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Nov 2006

wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo

Heraldos de la Llama Oscura [HLO]

E/

23 Mar 2008 at 01:08 - 33

Claude cannot be.

Claude is replaced with Eve. Eve is already there.

I would bring:
- Emi (Communing build)
- Chiyo (Conditions/Deadly arts build)
- Sogolon (Motivation)
- Gehraz (Vow of Silence build)

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

23 Mar 2008 at 04:26 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

While we're turning heroes into henchmen, how about a good curse necro hench?

I'd replace Mark of Pain - it causes mobs to scatter as if it was normal AoE damage.

Chthon

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Apr 2007

23 Mar 2008 at 06:10 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

I'd replace Mark of Pain - it causes mobs to scatter as if it was normal AoE damage.

Mobs die before they can scatter with a decent curse rank. Try it sometime. Trust me. MoP is the best curse skill for generating damage, and perhaps the best damage skill in the game. Some very knowledgeable necromancer folks even go so far as to take SS off their curse builds and replace it with Assassin's promise just to use MoP more often. I personally like SS too much to do that, but I can see the appeal.

Abedeus

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Jan 2007

Niflheim

R/

23 Mar 2008 at 06:25 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by MithranArkanere

- Gehraz (Vow of Silence build)

,,NOOO YOU STUPID HENCH HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HEAL YOU LOL WTF WTH BBQ!!11''

I want more rit henches ;d

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

23 Mar 2008 at 07:26 - 37

How come nobody said Erys yet?

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

23 Mar 2008 at 13:36 - 38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

Mobs die before they can scatter with a decent curse rank. Try it sometime. Trust me. MoP is the best curse skill for generating damage, and perhaps the best damage skill in the game.

Oh it's good, but I was recently trying to do all of underworld with heroes, and it took me a couple of wipes to figure out why I always lost aggro and got my hero casters bulldozed: MoP.
MoP is near-instant death for adjacent enemies if your minions attack the hexed foe and manage to hit - but if only a few minions attack or they just land a few hits, then you've scattered the mob.
That's why I wouldn't want this skill on a henchman, unless I could disable it. I'd suggest Rip Enchantment or Insidious Parasite instead - not as effective, but there's less risk for messing up.

MithranArkanere

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Nov 2006

wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo

Heraldos de la Llama Oscura [HLO]

E/

23 Mar 2008 at 17:30 - 39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abedeus

,,NOOO YOU STUPID HENCH HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO HEAL YOU LOL WTF WTH BBQ!!11''

I want more rit henches ;d

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Signet_of_Rejuvenation
XDDD

tmr819

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Nov 2007

W/Mo

23 Mar 2008 at 18:01 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

I could go for a minion bomber henchman. It would save me a hero slot. But I'm afraid I dislike your build enough that I'd end up running a hero anyway just to get a better build. Maybe something more like:
[skill]Jagged Bones[/skill][skill]Death Nova[/skill]

[skill]Infuse Condition[/skill][skill]Taste of Death[/skill][skill]Animate Bone Minions[/skill][skill]Well of Suffering[/skill][skill]Resurrection Signet[/skill]

Actually, if I was running a MM necro Hero, I would use a better build as well. My goal in creating the Claude build was to make him viable, not "godly". And I also wanted to give him utility in places where corpses might not be in abundance. :-)

In EotN, I think some of the henchman builds are pretty decent (e.g., Cynn and Herta). Their builds are NOT as good as Hero elementalist builds would be, but they are worthwhile as henches.

On the other hand, some of the builds are very limited (e.g., Lo Sha or [worse still, in my opinion] Aidan) and in my view not worthy of a spot on the team. I never take Eve, for example, whereas I would take Claude.

The problem with some of the builds in EotN is that they are nearly useless. If the builds were a little better, players could "mix it up more", which I think would be fun. Instead, I almost always choose from among the same four or five henchmen (Cynn, Herta, Zho, Mhenlo, and Lina), which is a bit boring. I want henchmen that are all really useful, so that you have a hard choice to make in choosing among them. I sometimes wonder what the developer was thinking who came up with Aidan's build, for example, so I could ask him or her why anyone would choose Aidan over the others.

I really think Seven Heroes would be awesome and better and allow all kinds of experimentation, creativitiy, and variety, but if we can't get that, at least a few additional (and better) henchmen would be an improvement.