Elona's Reach + Henchmen

So there I was in Elona's Reach, trying to finish the mission with henchmen. I failed a number of times prior, but each experience is teaching me something new.

This time around, I'm doing DAMN good. Not even 1 henchman has died yet.

I have about 8 minutes left and I have the final crystal (far right area) and I make the decision to run it.

So what ends up happening? THREE groups converge on ONE SPOT right at the gate to the hero.

I get body blocked into an edge and promptly annihilated.

Lina gets to 1/4 life before starting restore life.

Reyna uses a resurrection signet on Lina instead of me.

Wheee.

you can always hire a runner for approx 2k

Oh yeah... Hench AI can be quite annoying at times. I remember when I was taking some henches to go kill the ice imps in mineral spring. I died... then menlo and lina proceeded to start casting restore life in the middle of a maelstorm. And everytime they get interrupted, they start casting restore life again. Finally, all the other members died since they weren't healing, and then they died.

I don't think this mission is really that difficult.
I've done this a few times with only henchies, both mission and bonus.
Just need to be more careful when doing this.

But I have to admit that henchies are really stupid sometimes

I find that on the return left from the last crystal it is easier to cut across to the other gate. (I mean accross the area below the cloases gate, rather than straigh past it)

You should really be able to get a runner at 1k or under in any case.

Take the left hand gate going in, kill the three patroling forgotten to the left of that, and leave by the same gate with both crystals, avoiding the horde on the plain altogether.