My theory on the blue aura.

Tactical-Dillusions

Tactical-Dillusions

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Grimsby, UK

R/

"The aura is blue...why?" i thought to myself.

Here is my speculation...and it is only "speculation" but would be fun anyhow.

The mission zones are going to be invaded by "The Red Team" and the blue team must defend them.

Sound plausible?

Lasareth

Lasareth

Aquarius

Join Date: Jun 2005

Somewhere between Boardwalk and Park Place

I'm not really sure why the change was made. My only guess can be that some people had difficulty differentiating the henchmen from the regular players, and sometimes erroneously invites PCs to join the team. Adding an aura would definitely help telling the difference.

Not entirely sure though

EF2NYD

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

Storage persons have the blue aura as well.

Omg Kthxbye

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

Mo/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lasareth
I'm not really sure why the change was made. My only guess can be that some people had difficulty differentiating the henchmen from the regular players, and sometimes erroneously invites PCs to join the team. Adding an aura would definitely help telling the difference.

Not entirely sure though
Like the [Healer Henchman] after their name isn't enough....I identify people by their name/class, not by their appearance. Most times, I don't even know what someone looks like until the mission starts. Personally, I think it's a graphics glitch, I don't think they did it on purpose.

Zaklex

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2005

San Jose, CA, USA

Remnants of Ascalon

Quote:
Originally Posted by Omg Kthxbye
Personally, I think it's a graphics glitch, I don't think they did it on purpose.
Not a graphics glitch, it was done intentionally as was stated above, to differentiate them from human players(it's also on the NPC's if you didn't notice) for those people that don't use [alt] to identify who they are selecting.

Barinthus

Barinthus

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2005

California

(TRUE)

R/Me

Oh man, take that aura thing off. It's ugly.

There's already a way for players to differentiate NPCs from humans - using ctrl key. If a player is too stupid to figure that out, that's not my problem.

IceD'Bear

IceD'Bear

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2005

Awoken Myth [MYTH]

Mo/

I'd guess it's a bug. At least I hope it is

Carinae

Carinae

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

Inside

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zaklex
Not a graphics glitch, it was done intentionally as was stated above, to differentiate them from human players(it's also on the NPC's if you didn't notice) for those people that don't use [ctr] to identify who they are selecting.
Can Anet confirm this? Because I DON'T see the blue aura. No henchies or NPC's are blue, in town or out.

I DO see a new graphic for the Wells and Wards, not sure if that's a glitch or not.

Pevil Lihatuh

Pevil Lihatuh

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Yorkshire, UK

R/Me

i hadn't noticed the blue aura either... BUT I always pick up henchies with alt from a long distance...

Snowman

Snowman

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wales, UK

Devils Scorpions

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zaklex
Not a graphics glitch, it was done intentionally as was stated above, to differentiate them from human players(it's also on the NPC's if you didn't notice) for those people that don't use [alt] to identify who they are selecting.
No its not done intentionally, there was never any issue with people mistaking hench for real players.

and if it was the case why would storage peeps have it.. you cant even invite them.

Plus, as has been stated.. its not on all towns, its not even in all districts some dists have them some dont.

Its clearly a bug... yes its ugly.. and I hope they fix it after they figure out how they messed it all up in the first place

I predict an update soon which will fix all the new bugs in one go

quickmonty

quickmonty

Ancient Windbreaker

Join Date: May 2005

They are not blue in all towns/outposts. Someone suggested that it was for the benefit of newbs, but they aren't blue in Ascalon City ..... the place where you find most newbs.

Lasareth

Lasareth

Aquarius

Join Date: Jun 2005

Somewhere between Boardwalk and Park Place

All the NPCs sans-merchant are colored in Mission outpost areas. I can't seem to find any places where one district is different from another in this manner.

Snowman

Snowman

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wales, UK

Devils Scorpions

W/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lasareth
All the NPCs sans-merchant are colored in Mission outpost areas. I can't seem to find any places where one district is different from another in this manner.
thats the thing about bugs, they are un-predictable... er, thats why they are called bugs

Tactical-Dillusions

Tactical-Dillusions

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Grimsby, UK

R/

The mission zones have the blue aura but the outposts and cities such as Ascalon/Amnoon/Denravi etc do not either.

Why only the MISSION towns? If (as mentioned by various members here) it is to distinguish henchmen from players...why are the storage agents/ghostly heroes etc also blue?

I still stand by my theory because i had already thought about those possibilities before i started the thread.

Bring on the invasion Anet! I'm betting it's a Halloween weekend invasion event!

nightrunner

nightrunner

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

San Francisco

W/Mo

I thought the auras were bad enough on the bosses... now we have them on the NPC's too

Sir Skullcrasher

Sir Skullcrasher

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

California

15 over 50 [Rare]

W/Mo

everyone have colors now! oh god.. i'm going color blind