Henchmen Useful or Not???
Malcus
I am curious if anyone else has encountered problems with henchmen and there usefulness. But my biggest question is has something been changed in the game so that henchmen are not as useful to have as members of your party as they had been in the past and during the betas. As of late even traveling in the normal areas where a level 6 or level 8 henchmen are found with myself and just henchmen I am finding that even in small encounters of 3 or 4 enemies the hencmen are getting owned. It is making having them in the party no more useful than a meat shield for a few seconds. Combine that with the fact that drops significantly decrease as the number of henchmen are in your party and its difficult to understand why they are even in the game. They can't help with most enemies you run into when you travel with only them and drops are extremely poor. Is the game moving more in a direction that you have to travel with actual other people to get anything or anywhere. And if so then just remove the henchmen all together as they provide no real benefit.
ManadartheHealer
I have had pretty good experiences with henchmen, except this one time in Mineral Springs. A Frost Wurm killed all the group but Claude, and he was sitting there running to and fro. But I had to map back to rankor (I was DEEP into mineral springs; I had accidently stumbled upon a bug that let's you bypass a bunch of Avacari by dying in the right spot. You go to a rezz altar much later in the EA).
Ollj
Hencheman are in many ways better than humans eg: they dont complain and they dont leave.
In some missions they are so much better, that I wish they would be nerfed.
That would help teamplay
However they fail in making the simpleest decitions, so you have to do them all.
In some missions they are so much better, that I wish they would be nerfed.
That would help teamplay
However they fail in making the simpleest decitions, so you have to do them all.
Dyeeo
I love henchmen! I go around the southern shiverpeaks with my lvl 12 w/mo. Just to give you an idea of what I have been able to do, I went from Droknars to Copperhammer Mines to Granite Citadel with my lvl 12 w/mo with Lions Arch armor with the henchmen. It was intense and I know love alisia and lena.
Caco-Cola
Henchmen are good because the current grouping system sucks.
To find a group you would need to traverse all districts of an area in some places.
Now, missions have a steady supply of player readily available, because if you're there, then it's for either th emission or the bonus. Few people go to missions to dawdle around. (though one would think they do from the way some people act)
But missions in cities, where one is likely to take henchmen, is totally different.
The district you're in could be empty, or just no one willing to go on the mission with you. So you move to another district. Well no luck there. Go to another, ok found a person...but it's not enough for a full group.
So ya'll gotta traverse several districts to get a full group and go.
Meanwhile I've grabbed the henchmen and am half-way done with the quest by that point in time.
To me, henchmen are the best thing ever. Because they're always there, you don't have to put up with their whining (only their poorly programmed AI/pathfinding) and their agenda always suits yours.
So yay to henchmen, boo to the LFG system.
To find a group you would need to traverse all districts of an area in some places.
Now, missions have a steady supply of player readily available, because if you're there, then it's for either th emission or the bonus. Few people go to missions to dawdle around. (though one would think they do from the way some people act)
But missions in cities, where one is likely to take henchmen, is totally different.
The district you're in could be empty, or just no one willing to go on the mission with you. So you move to another district. Well no luck there. Go to another, ok found a person...but it's not enough for a full group.
So ya'll gotta traverse several districts to get a full group and go.
Meanwhile I've grabbed the henchmen and am half-way done with the quest by that point in time.
To me, henchmen are the best thing ever. Because they're always there, you don't have to put up with their whining (only their poorly programmed AI/pathfinding) and their agenda always suits yours.
So yay to henchmen, boo to the LFG system.
Dyeeo
They get really useful around the time when Mrs protection monk comes along.
dragonyy
I didn't finish the game yet (storyline) but I think the usefulness of henchmen depends on the quest or mission. Persoanlly I've only doe 1 mission (i'm at Ring of Fire now) with only henchies. After failing like 5-6 times the Ice cave of Sorrow Mission with humans, guild members told me to use henchmen. I tried, and I discovered that they actually LISTEN to you, unlike humans who don't listen. Most important they won't attack jsut about anything that is a red dot on the radar... Mursaats??
As for a bad experiene with henchies was during the Warrior's Path quest. So I jsut took the teleporter and arrived in front of a bunch of archer centaurs (forgot the exact name). The melee henchies we stuck behind the switches!! Well.... i can only watch as we all got slaughtered one after another.
As for a bad experiene with henchies was during the Warrior's Path quest. So I jsut took the teleporter and arrived in front of a bunch of archer centaurs (forgot the exact name). The melee henchies we stuck behind the switches!! Well.... i can only watch as we all got slaughtered one after another.
PieXags
Henchmen are proof that God wants us to be happy with what we do.
As is beer.
As is beer.
Weezer_Blue
Up until Droknar's Forge, with the exception of: Riverside, Aurora Glade, and Thirsty River, I wouldn't use anything else. To tell you the truth, henchmen are (or were, depending on if they have been recently nerfed) more competant than any human group I've ever had, sadly.
BladeX3I
I had a lot of problems with the hench today. I made a Necro and was strolling around doing skill quests. When I targeted an enemy and started attacking it the fighter hench would charge at a totally different enemy. Sometimes the other hench would attack with the fighter and sometimes split. We hardly ever fought the same mob. It made it real pain to fight mobs with healers. 
Lasareth
For some reason, hencies are more stupid (stupider?) at the beginning of the game, and will play Rambo from time to time.
My only beef, and this one got me pretty POed today, is that if you die and the healers are alive, they will heal themselves, and let their healing take priority over your revival.
It's pretty sad to be the first one to die but know your pt is done for anyway :/
My only beef, and this one got me pretty POed today, is that if you die and the healers are alive, they will heal themselves, and let their healing take priority over your revival.
It's pretty sad to be the first one to die but know your pt is done for anyway :/
Xellos
If henchmen got buffed, alot of people would cry about henchmen being picked over players.
Luggage
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Xellos
If henchmen got buffed, alot of people would cry about henchmen being picked over players.
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KaPe
Their skill choice is somewhat weird(Echanter/Mesmer type hench has no anti-caster spell except drain enchantment - or maybe it was shatter?), but they're still highly useful. They don't complain, bitch, wander of on their own, agro everything and leave in middle of mission. They focus fire when needed and stay close to you. Better than *many* players.
Zexion
Sorry, but I did Riverside with henchies.
And Aurora Glade is indeed possible with henchies.
Iron Mines (infusion) is hard with them though.
_Zexion
And Aurora Glade is indeed possible with henchies.
Iron Mines (infusion) is hard with them though.
_Zexion
KaPe
"Iron Mines (infusion) is hard with them though."
Did it - only thing is that they appearently don't get infused, Spectral Agony sucks their life insanely fast. If I weren't Monk primary, I'd probably fail.
Did it - only thing is that they appearently don't get infused, Spectral Agony sucks their life insanely fast. If I weren't Monk primary, I'd probably fail.
Barak Ironhand
Personally, I love the henchmen. No crying or whining, no dropping in the middle of a mission, and if by odd chance I have to leave suddenly they don't get mad about it.
Only one minor complaint springs to mind-Ms healer simply will not stay back out of AoE range; and heavens forbid she gets attacked by something. She spends the next 2 minutes (or rest of her hp) running around like a headless chicken aggroing everything in sight. -.-;
Only one minor complaint springs to mind-Ms healer simply will not stay back out of AoE range; and heavens forbid she gets attacked by something. She spends the next 2 minutes (or rest of her hp) running around like a headless chicken aggroing everything in sight. -.-;
Xellos
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Luggage
Isn't this the case allready?
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1. General playerbase cannot beat the game with henchies alone.
2. Holy Buddha has not won HoH with a pure henchie team dispite the rumours.
Deagol
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lasaeth
My only beef, and this one got me pretty POed today, is that if you die and the healers are alive, they will heal themselves, and let their healing take priority over your revival./
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I have several times been killed as the first with a henchmen party, and then seen the henchmen get control over the situation, and then revive me.
Agamond The Wise
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Xellos
If henchmen got buffed, alot of people would cry about henchmen being picked over players.
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henchmen are already smarter than most people anyway (even without the ressing and running off and floating)
Orion ran off in the third mission with me and floated back to were we were fighting...he was half way there (still floating...) when we all died. i chased him down with the other henchmen but i lost him over a mountain.
Agamond The Wise
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Deagol
It is often a bad idea to resurrect someone in the middle of a PvE battle, they will start with low health and often be killed right away, accumulating death penalty. Making sure those of your teammates are alive stay alive are usually a priority for a monk.
I have several times been killed as the first with a henchmen party, and then seen the henchmen get control over the situation, and then revive me. |
actually there is a 10 second (i think) grace period where it will not give you DP
just like the 5 second no damage grace period right after you res
Pashet
So far I've played with mostly henchies. I like them better than real players. The one time I played with all real players it was a disaster. I don't know where the team leader got these morons but they were awful. Now I just take one or two real people and mostly henchies or just me and henchies. Works the best.
KaPe
If you die, you can still call target for henchies, that's a big plus for me 
Snipe Kan
Sometimes when i cant find a party to fight with in the dessert ill use henchies and it works really good for me i dont know about anybody but i perfer them for a quick side quest.. (only further on in the game, before the dessert there garbage)
Dragonkin
I've had a mixed time with henchmen.
The good:
Easy way to make a party when you want to do a mission quickly
Healer henches are v.usefull
Only need to use rez signet once on the healer and she/he will rez everyone else
The bad:
Teleport bug in the Crystal Desert where you teleport, and your henchmen don't teleport with you and then if you die (like i did) they get stuck on the other side running between two points
Healer hench getting torn between rezzing a dead party member and healing a member who's fighting and ends up doing neither, just running between the two!
Not being able to use commands to set tactics/strategy for your henchmen.
All in all Henchmen have their uses, but they're no substitute for a real team. =)
The good:
Easy way to make a party when you want to do a mission quickly
Healer henches are v.usefull
Only need to use rez signet once on the healer and she/he will rez everyone else
The bad:
Teleport bug in the Crystal Desert where you teleport, and your henchmen don't teleport with you and then if you die (like i did) they get stuck on the other side running between two points
Healer hench getting torn between rezzing a dead party member and healing a member who's fighting and ends up doing neither, just running between the two!
Not being able to use commands to set tactics/strategy for your henchmen.
All in all Henchmen have their uses, but they're no substitute for a real team. =)
Isaacp
I find that henchmen are sometimes useful, but they also can cost quite a bit of money. I RARELY hire henchmen to help me. I find that you only get a fraction of gold, and a fraction of the items you pick up. When I farm, every monster that I kill usually drops some kind of an item or gold, say... 90% of the time. Whenever I have henchmen hired, out of the total of 200 gold that I should have rightfully picked up I would have 50g.
I see henchmen as more of a Tax in the game than usefull
I see henchmen as more of a Tax in the game than usefull
Dragonkin
They do that so it balances out with how the drops system works, i.e
If you go out with a team of four real players, you'd SEE more drops but drops assigned to YOU would be the same (roughly) as you'd get with henchmen, you just don't see the drops that are assigned to henchmen.
Plus the whole term "Henchmen" means that they're hired help, mercinarys if you will, and mercinarys don't fight for free.
If you go out with a team of four real players, you'd SEE more drops but drops assigned to YOU would be the same (roughly) as you'd get with henchmen, you just don't see the drops that are assigned to henchmen.
Plus the whole term "Henchmen" means that they're hired help, mercinarys if you will, and mercinarys don't fight for free.
KaPe
"Teleport bug in the Crystal Desert where you teleport, and your henchmen don't teleport with you and then if you die (like i did) they get stuck on the other side running between two points
"
They teleport just fine when I use them. Maybe I'm just lucky or it got fixed, but I had no problems on desert(from technical PoV of course, hydras are stil PitA )
"
They teleport just fine when I use them. Maybe I'm just lucky or it got fixed, but I had no problems on desert(from technical PoV of course, hydras are stil PitA
)
dragonyy
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lasaeth
For some reason, hencies are more stupid (stupider?) at the beginning of the game, and will play Rambo from time to time.
:/ |
ScorchedSun
I usually use henchmen for all missions of Old Ascalon and North Shiverpeaks and for some missions of Kryta and Maguuma. Sometimes I just do the bonus with henchmen (i.e. Elona Reach). Most quests I also use henchmen. They're not as bad as people make them out to be. They're wonderful at doing focus fire, which some players still don't understand, and when the female enchanter comes around, she's great.
Did half of Hell's Precipice with henchmen in one run with Devona dying once, which was much better than most real people groups I had gone with prior. I'm sure I could get through it all the way with henchies next time
Did half of Hell's Precipice with henchmen in one run with Devona dying once, which was much better than most real people groups I had gone with prior. I'm sure I could get through it all the way with henchies next time
Snipe Kan
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Isaacp
I find that henchmen are sometimes useful, but they also can cost quite a bit of money. I RARELY hire henchmen to help me. I find that you only get a fraction of gold, and a fraction of the items you pick up. When I farm, every monster that I kill usually drops some kind of an item or gold, say... 90% of the time. Whenever I have henchmen hired, out of the total of 200 gold that I should have rightfully picked up I would have 50g.
I see henchmen as more of a Tax in the game than usefull |
really id say just farm byurself and you will get everything for yourself?
Itbegins
i ran my monk all the way to sanctum cay with henchies just by healing there asses the whole time.
Alderman Sweet
The henchmen are good if you're trying to do things slowly and carefully. Unfortunately, Claude, Dunham, and especially Alesia get much too close to mobs. I have used henches for most activities and have been able to get by if I'm extremely cautious. But there are too many times when they refuse to stay back -- even before I try to pull. They're quite suicidal. The PUGs I join almost never wipe. The henches wipe constantly, partly because their skills and spells are limited, partly because they don't have enough hitpoints to be engaging certain mobs, and partly because they're computer AI. They could be worse, but they could also be better.
Mawgleah
I have used henchies for most of the game so far (I'm a lvl 19 mesmer). Because many times in order to stay alive I used hit and run tactics, so when selecting henchies I leave the warrior out because they won't break off right away and follow as the others. I did Althea's Ashes will just henchmen, but no warrior because of the warrior's tendency to run into the middle of the fray. My guild members are all in Australia and I'm in America, so I get limited playing time with then and because I'm very new to this type of game and don't have a lot of experience I tend to stick to henchman because I don't want to be a liability to a group.
Narcissus
As a Monk, I love my henchies...all of them. I would pay them for their services if I needed to.
Numa Pompilius
It really helps to be a monk when going on missions (e.g. thirsty river, elona...) with henches late in the game. REALLY helps.
So much so that if you're not a monk, and you don't have any other way of effectively healing them (i.e. you're a necro), don't even bother trying.
The crystal desert is *easy* with henches, taking down up to four hydras with three hench helpers no sweat - but Alesias tendency to tank means first frickin Forgotten mob takes her out in the missions. The other henches do fine, but without a healer, how far can one get?
Answer: not very.
So much so that if you're not a monk, and you don't have any other way of effectively healing them (i.e. you're a necro), don't even bother trying.
The crystal desert is *easy* with henches, taking down up to four hydras with three hench helpers no sweat - but Alesias tendency to tank means first frickin Forgotten mob takes her out in the missions. The other henches do fine, but without a healer, how far can one get?
Answer: not very.
kleps
they are good if you are just looking to go place to place. if you want items, you're better off going in pugs.
Creston
Up until Yak's Bend, hechmen suck horribly. Alesia's AI is so drastically broken it's enough to make grown men weep, and since you only have 3 of them, and they're so low level, they will die when a Charr so much as looks at them.
From Yak's on, you get six party members, 5 henchies, so it balances out more. If you are a monk yourself, or a secondary healer, you can pretty easily keep your henchie teams alive.
Once you've Ascended, you get access to Linu, who is a GODDESS. You will fall prostrate at her bare feet and love her with all your heart. Once you've reached Draknor's, I see no reason to take normal people anymore, since the henchies have caught up, and play far smarter than 99.9999% of all players.
So yes, I'd say they're worth it from Yak's, even more so when you are a healer yourself, and they become very good near draknor's.
Creston
From Yak's on, you get six party members, 5 henchies, so it balances out more. If you are a monk yourself, or a secondary healer, you can pretty easily keep your henchie teams alive.
Once you've Ascended, you get access to Linu, who is a GODDESS. You will fall prostrate at her bare feet and love her with all your heart. Once you've reached Draknor's, I see no reason to take normal people anymore, since the henchies have caught up, and play far smarter than 99.9999% of all players.
So yes, I'd say they're worth it from Yak's, even more so when you are a healer yourself, and they become very good near draknor's.
Creston
Attimus
after I accended, a friend and i went with 6 henchies and we both died, but the henchies won the mission for us! Luv em
beckermanex
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Barak Ironhand
Only one minor complaint springs to mind-Ms healer simply will not stay back out of AoE range; and heavens forbid she gets attacked by something. She spends the next 2 minutes (or rest of her hp) running around like a headless chicken aggroing everything in sight. -.-;
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Or figuring out that one of them got stuck behind a chest AFTER your entire party has died and you click on thier full health bar to see them chillin' all by themselves half the map away.