Henchmen Skill Bar Contest/update 8/27/09 - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:32 - 1

Update - Thursday, August 27

Henchmen Skill Bar Contest

Dizhou [Xunlai Pollster] is now in the Great Temple of Balthazar to collect Henchmen skill bar contest submissions. More information on the skill bar contest can be found here.

_______

Wasn't expecting that today.

There's prizes as well, fun stuff. Time to submit something.

I Is Special

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2006

NJ

To Gain Extra Mobility We Play [NUDE]

W/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:34 - 2

Eh...only for pvp?

therangereminem

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

R/Mo

27 Aug 2009 at 22:35 - 3

what happens when 100 people choose the same bars though

asked a gm there answer was

then we randomly pick which of the hundred gets credit

Borat_Best_Player

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2009

27 Aug 2009 at 22:36 - 4

I smell Me/Rt tease hero to win

Puebert

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mo/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:36 - 5

I think the tonic as a reward is lame.

Dzjudz

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz

27 Aug 2009 at 22:37 - 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by therangereminem

what happens when 100 people choose the same bars though

Random winner, as it says on the gw.com page.

So there's no need to be the first with a unique bar. That gives us some time to think and test.

snaek

Forge Runner

Join Date: Mar 2006

N/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:38 - 7

Quote:

Winners will be announced on or around September 24, 2009 and will be posted on www.guildwars.com.

so this is the date of our next content update?

therangereminem

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2007

R/Mo

27 Aug 2009 at 22:40 - 8

those tonics are going to be worth alot of money

dr love

...is in denial

Join Date: Sep 2006

Hyperion

starcraft 2

P/Me

27 Aug 2009 at 22:41 - 9

Quote:
Winners will be announced on or around September 24, 2009 and will be posted on www.guildwars.com.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snaek

so this is the date of our next content update?

you're right, that is exciting news. other than that, this is just a long-winded way of removing heroes from HA, GvG. those henchmen still aren't going to see the light of day except for joke builds

FoxBat

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Amazon Basin [AB]

Mo/Me

27 Aug 2009 at 22:42 - 10

I really wish they gave us some kind of guidelines here. For example, all existing henchmen don't have secondaries, do have a self-heal and a rez (even the monks). Do we have to follow those? Do we have any idea if the henchies can have special equipment considerations, like stonefist on warriors, or maybe crippling daggers? Do we aim for making a well-rounded build that can fit in many places, or a narrow but powerful gimmick? And what exactly is the problem with heroes that henchies will fix, would Anet just reject tease mesmer for being "too annoying"?

20 winners strongly implies that there will be 10 per format. Which also implies every class will be covered. Having to submit just 3 per account kinda sucks, it's hard to decide whether to submit the more essential bars like smiters and tainted, or to take a stab at making the least useless warrior bar just for the prize. (Although W/P spear could be pretty good... but again that secondary thing.)

Joandir

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Europe -ITALY-

R/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:44 - 11

Uhm I hope this don't become a PvX copy/paste
This is the occasion to try new things...I already have my ideas for ranger Skill bar ^^

BenjZee

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

The Overacheivers [Club]

Mo/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:44 - 12

Lets all pick pathetic skills..........

anyway won't this be worse than heroes. Surely they will need to update hencheis with every skill update too

# One Everlasting Henchman Tonic. This unique item will grant the winner the ability to temporarily transform into the image of the henchman that they are named after.

OMG IM SIKED!

zelgadissan

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2008

The Warrior Priests [WP]

Me/Rt

27 Aug 2009 at 22:45 - 13

While this looks fun and all, are we seriously supposed to expect the "judges" on Anet's staff to understand why a build would be wanted in GvG/HA when they consistently give us updates that just scream "this can't be real or else it will be abused to no end?" R/A's for example, or the beauty that was the W/N Weaken Knees build? I'm also interested if we have to limit the skills only to the primary profession.

Of course I'll be participating...just wondering if builds will actually be tested with AI and not just read over.

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

N/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:46 - 14

I really don't see what they hope to achieve. Henchmen are in no way a substitute for heroes and they just won't get used. Their skill bars, stats and equipment will be fixed and I doubt that they'll be changed in response to future skill updates. Their bars could quickly become quite useless.

A henchmen bar needs to be fairly mindless and you cannot micro their skills. You cannot use them in coordinated spikes, etc. This entire thing seems... well, just pointless.

exploiter

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jan 2008

ign Punk Isnt Dead

R/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:48 - 15

Quote:

# Eligibility (location): Entries will be accepted from legal residents of the United States (excluding the State of Rhode Island, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, military installations and commonwealths), Canada (excluding Quebec) and Europe. (Canadian residents will be required to answer an additional mathematical question in order to claim their prize.)

That is epic

Borat_Best_Player

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2009

27 Aug 2009 at 22:48 - 16

DONT PUT SELF HEALS ON YOUR BAR.

What you want to do is submit a hero bar which YOU would run in your GvG/HA team, but that isn't yet already meta...

I've already submitted 2 bars ^^

Symeon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jul 2005

27 Aug 2009 at 22:49 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by therangereminem

those tonics are going to be worth alot of money

Let's hope they're untradeable.

BenjZee

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

The Overacheivers [Club]

Mo/

27 Aug 2009 at 22:55 - 18

well considering they turn into the person with the same name - if thats exactly how it works it would be useless for others maybe . so your very own unique items?
i think i accidently just submitted my pve skillbar too....

Racthoh

Did I hear 7 heroes?

Join Date: May 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Guild Leader (Not Recruiting)

27 Aug 2009 at 22:56 - 19

We need some clarification on this. While the initial line suggests these bars will be for GvG and HA you'll be submitting these bars through an NPC on the Great Temple of Balthazar where the PvE skill versions will be used. In which case it gives the impression that these would be for PvE henchmen, and so does that mean we'll be getting new henchmen as well or replace what we have?

Polgara Val

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Apr 2007

TSR

Mo/Me

27 Aug 2009 at 23:04 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

We need some clarification on this. While the initial line suggests these bars will be for GvG and HA you'll be submitting these bars through an NPC on the Great Temple of Balthazar where the PvE skill versions will be used. In which case it gives the impression that these would be for PvE henchmen, and so does that mean we'll be getting new henchmen as well or replace what we have?

Thats pretty much what most of us would like to know.

Pol

Martin Kerstein

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2007

27 Aug 2009 at 23:04 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

We need some clarification on this. While the initial line suggests these bars will be for GvG and HA you'll be submitting these bars through an NPC on the Great Temple of Balthazar where the PvE skill versions will be used. In which case it gives the impression that these would be for PvE henchmen, and so does that mean we'll be getting new henchmen as well or replace what we have?

This contest is purely for PvP henchmen. Even though the PvE versions of the skills are displayed, we will use the PvP versions.

We will be looking at PvE henchmen skill bars as well, but this is not part of this contest.

BenjZee

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

The Overacheivers [Club]

Mo/

27 Aug 2009 at 23:05 - 22

I don't believe to get the skills on my pve monk to do this

all my pvp slots are full

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

N/

27 Aug 2009 at 23:05 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racthoh

We need some clarification on this. While the initial line suggests these bars will be for GvG and HA you'll be submitting these bars through an NPC on the Great Temple of Balthazar where the PvE skill versions will be used. In which case it gives the impression that these would be for PvE henchmen, and so does that mean we'll be getting new henchmen as well or replace what we have?

From http://www.guildwars.com/events/cont...l_bar_contest/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Above Link

In order to give all players the ability to participate in those formats (even if they can't form a full party with other players) we're replacing heroes with a selection of new, henchmen.

I would say it's for GvG and HA.

Edit: Pah, Martin beat me with an official confirmation.

Nida

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2007

Australia

Rt/

27 Aug 2009 at 23:14 - 24

Yet another promotion/competition that we in the land of Oz are not eligible to take part in. So if someone from Aus enters, and their bar is picked, they dont get a prize? or will their entry be declared invalid?

MMSDome

Raged Out

Join Date: Sep 2005

27 Aug 2009 at 23:16 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Kerstein

This contest is purely for PvP henchmen. Even though the PvE versions of the skills are displayed, we will use the PvP versions.

We will be looking at PvE henchmen skill bars as well, but this is not part of this contest.

Then could you guys make it so gtob is a pvp district? It would make things much simpler.

Darcy

Never Too Old

Join Date: Jul 2006

Rhode Island where there are no GW contests

Order of First

W/R

27 Aug 2009 at 23:18 - 26

@Exploiter - at least it's only a math question to meet legal contest requirements. Be glad you don't live in Rhode Island where we can't get the state government to care about amending the law.

"Eligibility (location): Entries will be accepted from legal residents of the United States (excluding the State of Rhode Island, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, military installations and commonwealths), Canada (excluding Quebec) and Europe. (Canadian residents will be required to answer an additional mathematical question in order to claim their prize.)"

This contest sounds like fun. All the creative build makers should be excited. I do feel bad ahead of time for the winners though. With the new henchmen named after you, everytime you show up in the game with that character, you will get all those comments on your horrible build idea.

pinguinius

Academy Page

Join Date: Oct 2008

27 Aug 2009 at 23:18 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMSDome

Then could you guys make it so gtob is a pvp district? It would make things much simpler.

Just make the bar in your GH. Jeez, people.

.HunTer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2009

W/E

27 Aug 2009 at 23:25 - 28

What about secondary professions?
I always wanted a monk hero with power drain and Waste not want not

@edit
I mean henchmen...

BenjZee

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2006

The Overacheivers [Club]

Mo/

27 Aug 2009 at 23:25 - 29

u get 3 submissions........per character?..pvp ones can be remade too...
They should change the name of the character so slightly because some people may not to be responsible and spammed when a certain build flops in the next skill update

hahaha

Martin Kerstein

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2007

27 Aug 2009 at 23:31 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by .HunTer

What about secondary professions?

Dual profession bars are welcome

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

27 Aug 2009 at 23:34 - 31

Nice to know us Australians have been included in this contest. It's been a LONG time since we've been able to.

Oh wait, no we haven't. Shafted as usual.

Zzzzzzzz.

El Presidente

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Lookout Post #1, Andes Mountains

Custer Was Ganked [7th]

R/

27 Aug 2009 at 23:37 - 32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darcy

Be glad you don't live in Rhode Island where we can't get the state government to care about amending the law.

Was wondering what excluded Rhode Island. Sucks as much to live there as it does Australia for these contests...or Mexico or South America or...

Racthoh

Did I hear 7 heroes?

Join Date: May 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Guild Leader (Not Recruiting)

27 Aug 2009 at 23:37 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Kerstein

Dual profession bars are welcome

All 10 professions as well or just the basic Warrior, Monk, Ranger, and Elementalist that are currently available?

fenix

Major-General Awesome

Join Date: Aug 2005

Aussie Trolling Crew HQ - Event Organiser and IRC Tiger

Ex Talionis [Law], Trinity of the Ascended [ToA] ????????????????&#

W/

27 Aug 2009 at 23:40 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nida

Yet another promotion/competition that we in the land of Oz are not eligible to take part in. So if someone from Aus enters, and their bar is picked, they dont get a prize? or will their entry be declared invalid?

I was going to enter some bars for the benefit of the game, but you know what, screw it. I'm not putting in effort when ANet don't put in effort to allow contests here.

Krazy Kat

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2007

The Rejected Sins/The Remaining Sins [SOF]

27 Aug 2009 at 23:53 - 35

I've got a question.

Do we need to set the attributes too? I already submitted mine but I'm afraid that I did it too soon.

Martin Kerstein

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2007

27 Aug 2009 at 23:58 - 36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krazy Kat

I've got a question.

Do we need to set the attributes too? I already submitted mine but I'm afraid that I did it too soon.

No, setting the right attributes is not necessary

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

28 Aug 2009 at 00:08 - 37

i have a character named "Strong Mcmanhands". if i win the prize, i think everyone will use that henchman

Lishy

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2008

28 Aug 2009 at 00:11 - 38

Uhm... Why is it they need Canadians to answer additional mathematical questions? I doubt they have racist intentions, but I don't see the reasoning.

Could a PR or anyone else tell me why this is?

Neo Nugget

Site Contributor

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

28 Aug 2009 at 00:17 - 39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kain Fz

Uhm... Why is it they need Canadians to answer additional mathematical questions? I doubt they have racist intentions, but I don't see the reasoning.

Could a PR or anyone else tell me why this is?

http://guildwarsguru.com/forum/showt...php?t=10398145

Here ya go.

More specifically, http://guildwarsguru.com/forum/showp...99&postcount=2

Coney

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2008

28 Aug 2009 at 00:17 - 40

Quote:

Originally Posted by FoxBat

I really wish they gave us some kind of guidelines here. For example, all existing henchmen don't have secondaries, do have a self-heal and a rez (even the monks). Do we have to follow those? Do we have any idea if the henchies can have special equipment considerations, like stonefist on warriors, or maybe crippling daggers? Do we aim for making a well-rounded build that can fit in many places, or a narrow but powerful gimmick? And what exactly is the problem with heroes that henchies will fix, would Anet just reject tease mesmer for being "too annoying"?

20 winners strongly implies that there will be 10 per format. Which also implies every class will be covered. Having to submit just 3 per account kinda sucks, it's hard to decide whether to submit the more essential bars like smiters and tainted, or to take a stab at making the least useless warrior bar just for the prize. (Although W/P spear could be pretty good... but again that secondary thing.)

I agree completely with this post, as I was thinking more-or-less the same thing myself. I mean, for certain classes, there are pretty robust and fairly OP builds - but is that really desired, or is something more middle-of-the-road the goal? And as to secondaries, it seems going something like */Rt and using [flesh of my flesh] could be quite advantageous, yet perhaps not desired?!... Does the class determine the role - as in, support -vs- DPS (spike/maintained)?!... What happens if you have the typical build, where only 7 of the skills really matter, and the 8th is a floater. What do you do when you see the winner had the same build as yours, only differing in that insignificant slot (/cry!)?

I really don't see how they will be able to fairly judge the builds, either. It seems they'd be forced to take a sample of the submissions for further review, while simply discarding the vast majority... A bot_hench -vs- bot_hench ladder might be viable, but each build would be penalized or promoted by the other builds on the bot_hench team...

Also, this opens "unfavorable" advantages for winning the 20 EL tonics, to those owning 20-30+ accounts, giving an obvious edge over single account owners...