Annoying Henchman Issue

I don't normally moan about things but there's an issue with the henchman has really been annoying me lately. No, its not their skill bars or how they choose to use them but the fact that they always go for the enemy you have selected.

This may not seem like a problem to most and it may actually be a bonus for offensive attackers (warriors, rangers, assasins etc.) but its a pain in the ass when playing a necro or mesmer.

Here's what happens; I call a target that I want the henchmen to attack and then wand him until they engage him. I then switch around and look for offensive casters (if I'm playing a mesmer) in order to interupt key skills/spells. I hardly ever stay on one target and will switch around quite often going between the mages and ritualists looking to interupt things like dragon stomp and ancestor's rage or spirit to flesh etc. Instead of staying on my called target the henchies keep running back and forth between each target I select/interupt and its getting really frustrating.

I have the same problem when I play necro. I call a target for the henchies (normally an offensive caster) and then will start to spiteful spirit and enfeelble the melee enemies. Instead of staying on the offensive caster they run back and forth between the enemies I'm enfeebling and spitefulling and they aren't getting the job done. Its especially annoying when I go to spiteful someone (not the called target) and he ends up half dead by the time I get spiteful spirit on him.

This is something I'd like to bring to Dev's attention and would like to hear your views on the matter.

I think they should change the henchmen so that they only attack your called targets and not run around following the enemies that you select in order to hex up or interupt etc.

I believe they only switch targets if you wand another target. They won't switch if you cast a spell on another target.

They will in fact attack another target even if you called target. They will even go as far as running off to attack another mod.

They only attack if you do something to the enemy, such as a spell or a wand attack, But ONLY if it hits....
Ctrl+space (aka calling) also directs the hench

At least that's what i am experiencing

(they do need to fix the irritating "omg someone's dead i better run back and forth over their body before i finally deside to ress him/her" healer hench .... )

The trampling is to make sure that the subject is dead. You wouldn't want to see the effects of a res spell on a living target.

My fiancée had the same problem when he was playing a mesmer and would complain on a regular basis. We ended up developing a distract and target method to keep the henchies in control so they would do exactly what we wanted them to do. Problem is that you need a play buddy to use this technique.

I agree that this is a problem that should be fixed since A-net claims that you can play solo or in a group (from the fractions manuscript: want to play a difficult mission by yourself? Hire several henchmen who can fill the roles normally taken by your fellow players), if that is so they should make the AI intelligent enough to do so. It does say in the manuscript that the henchmen will attack the target you choose but this is not so. You choose the target you want them to attack but, if you want to target other little red dots in the area, for the purposes already mentioned in this thread, they stop attacking the target you choose and attack the target you are trying to use a skill on.

I have a huge problem with the henchies in Factions. They are really below the dumbness scale. There are sometimes I just cant believe that they are so unbelievably stupidity... in so much as to not enjoy the game. What happened here? The henchies in Prophs are not nearly so stupid but stupid none the less. There will be times that I call a target and they don't attack that target or sometimes they don't attack at all when I begin to attack, why do they run so much slower (it's not like I have a walk option so they can keep up), and , yes, why does it take them so long to rez? Why? Why? Why does it take so very long!?!? I don't seem to have these simple problems with the henchies in Proph... I have others.

~Andi

most of you are missing hte point...the problem is that he wants the hench to not attack what his spell is hitting, and only wants the hench to attack called targets

not sure if this is just me or not but I notice that when I am attacking a mob boss, that the monk will run and stand right next to them and get killed, I have noted this several times. I lose the monk first because she is dumb enough to run right in there, when she normally stands back by me. Weird.

you should try playing a ritualist.. if your carrying ashes when your going on visual (ctrl) and double click the target to call - it says I'm following [enemy] lol- looks like you have to follow thier spacebar rule (does'nt really work for me as I like using the arrow keys to kite).. plus your spirits won't shoot anything until you wand and even then there's no control on what they target!

The problem is that the henchies attack the enemy that I am casting a spell on. I am not wanding or attacking that target (I make sure not to do this).

I want them to just attack the called target and not to follow me from enemy to enemy as I hex up / interupt etc. If I want them to follow targets based on who I use spells on then I can hold ctrl and declare 'I'm using spiteful spirit on Dredge Gutter!' etc.

edit:. I'd like to keep this thread on topic by only discussing this particular issue. We all know that the henchman AI, skills bars and ressing (omg) sucks but there are other threads in which these issues have been raised.

Henchies are relatively easy to control once you get the hang of it.

Attack target w/ weapon = Henchies will attack that target
Call "I'm targeting [target]!" with ctrl+shift+action = Henchies will attack that target
Cast a spell on target = Henchies don't react
Call a non-attack skill on target = Henchies don't react

If you want the henchies to attack one target while you work on another, call/attack one target and then simply change targets and start casting your spells. Keep in mind, you can cast spells on one target and attack another at the same time.

Try using SHIFT + CTRL + SPACEBAR or doubleclick

The added SHIFT key changes from "I'm attacking..." to "I'm targeting...". You can't attack while holding the object, but you CAN target. They will attack that target when it enters their aggro circle, which I understand is slightly smaller than ours.

Try it.

The henchies AI is completely screwed atm. The henchies used to attack the called target...now they attack the called target, then something else, then they run around for a bit, then attack again... when you try to run away, the warrior will most likely run back in and reengage when you are 1.5 aggro bubbles away.. It is bullshit and seriously pissing me off. I ran customers through hundreds of missions with henchies over the past year, and as soon as Factions comes out they start running around like they've been smoking angel dust...

And FFS, program the henchies to use their Rez Sigs during battle... Prot Monk Henchie Rebirth while everyone else is getting their ass kicked F T L.

Henchie's AI is worst than before. They don't listen to your command. For example, i would target and call out one enemy, the rest of the henchies would either run pass that group or aggro something else. Also they don't heal or res on command anymore. The battle has to stop in order for the healer henchie to go near you to res. I barely picked the assassin henchie with me since they would teleport and aggro random group. Like there is two hug group of enemies on at one location. Say if i want to target group A, the moment i run up close (while group B is like few feet away) the assassin henchie would teleport to them to attack.

They have NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER done this. EVER. They simply follow what their AI says. If the AI says to raise dead guy #3, then that's what they do.

Henchies are easy for warriors to control, since all you do is target, smash, and repeat. Casters are definitely much more difficult to use henchies with if you're trying to cast hexes or enchantments on multiple targets. Dont even get me started on trying to hench with a Ritualist. I usually just bring only one melee class, 2 healers (protect, healer, or spirit) and a random assortment of other henchies. The melee guy just runs back and forth until i finish casting all the debuffs or spells and then i focus on one at a time.

Nah rangers/eles have it best really. the second rule of henchmen is they like to stand around you. The problem with warriors and assassins is that means the henchmen through the course of the fight will end up right next to you which is really a problem.

I have never had problems with henchmen running off and attacking the wrong thing. The only sure method I know to keep the henchmen on target is to attack it yourself with normal attacks. (if you are a monk let some staff projectiles fly).

If I am a Mesmer looking to interrupt Dragon Stomp or some resurrect spell, or am just playing a caster, I typically TAB quickly through, and SHIFT+TAB backwards. Cast a spell when on a target like that does not refocus hench-fire.

It's awkward and un-wieldy, but that's how I do it.

yeah instead of dealing with that and having to rebind my keys.. just change my build- not really playable carrying ashes with henches.. think someone even pointed out in another post your pet won't attack either while your holding ashes.. the double click works fine without holding an item- what purpose is there to follow an enemy?

they attack who you click on... if you TAB through enemies instead of clicking on a 2nd enemy, then they will stay targeted. when you "officially refocus", so do they.

eudas