User talk:Bathory/Suggestions/Other/FactionsHenchmen

Factions Henchmen

Warrior

Devona

Pulverizing Smash for blank slot for its flawless synergy with Earth Shaker. ^_^ --Falconeye 21:41, 23 May 2009 (UTC)

Core/Factions skills only - except for Prophecies-borne henchman. Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Gwen is -technically part- of Prophecies. And consider this, any newbie Faction-only player who loves hammer who sees Devona using this baby might be motivated to purchase the campaign/expansion. I personally think Anet could have added a few skills in all campaigns to make the trek more worthwile (like adding a dozen Faction-themed Paragon & Dervish skills to Kaineng Center skill trainers.) As a Ritualist, Gwen made up the fact that continent of Tyria offered little incentive... I completed/vanqued/ect both Elona/Cantha by the time Gwen came out. ^_^ --Falconeye 07:52, 2 June 2009 (UTC)

Land wise, yes - GW:EN is part of the Tyria map. However, skill-wise they are seperate simply because of players access (Prophecies doesn't allow you to use GW:EN skills) and time-wise none of the core characters have been to GW:EN and won't be for a few years. Just like it's a year until Nightfall, so they wouldn't know Elonian skills. However, Elonian and Canthan-only heroes weren't around on earlier continents and therefore don't know Tyrian spells. Just think of it as spells known to certain areas - and GW:EN northlands, Charrlands and the Asura are discovered after Nightfall but they're the ones that have the GW:EN skills. These henchman don't have access to that. Bathory talk 09:36, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

YAY! Devona got herself a makover in all 3 campaigns. Got herself Balanced Stance and Enraged Smash instead of Earth Shaker in Factions, but no Irrisistable Blow.

Lukas & Seaguard Eli

Knee Cutter for synergy with Hamsting in addition to powering both Dragon Slash & Sun and Moon Slash? --Falconeye 21:39, 23 May 2009 (UTC)

Talon Silverwing

Watch Yourself! or Savage Slash for blank slot? --Falconeye 21:41, 23 May 2009 (UTC)

Ranger

Aidan

Replace Kindle Arrows with Seeking Arrows due to Practiced Stance synergy, and add Lightning Reflexes. ^_^ --Falconeye 18:10, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

That is a better idea they could do for Factions... Kindle Arrows is maintainable by itself and pretty weak anyway - I don't know why they put it on every early Ranger henchman ever. Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Aurora

Add Feral Aggression or Brambles?

Daemon

Add Lightning Reflexes or Poison Tip Signet?

Yuun

Add Serpent's Quickness or Poison Tip Signet?

Zho

Add Antidote Signet?

Monk

Redemptor Karl & Seaguard Gita

Add Rebirth and Guardian?

Taya

Get rid of Resurrect. More useless than an empty skill slot, because it wastes energy and cast time. Crimmastermind 09:43, 7 April 2009 (UTC)

Resurrect is a skill she already has. All I did was add Word of Healing. Whenever I've played with Henchmen, they seem to wait until the battle is over to use Hard Rez skills - and giving her Resurrection Chant would introduce good rez skills too early in the game, but I'm not sure if they can split anything else besides Elites for Hard Mode... Bathory 07:02, 10 April 2009 (UTC)

If you die (at least, with only heroes/henchies and no players), your heroes/henchies always immediately try to resurrect you. Still, if you die so many times that they've all run out of rez sigs, your probably pretty bad so you shouldn't be playing hard mode anyway.Crimmastermind 09:17, 10 April 2009 (UTC)

Um. I agree with you. But, Resurrect was already on her bar. All I'm really suggesting is that Word of Healing be added for people in Hard Mode. >.>; Your problem with resurrect doesn't stem from anything I've done. Bathory 20:37, 10 April 2009 (UTC)

Add Protective Spirit. Also, this version for Tanya would resolve "inferior" issue. ^_^ --Falconeye 18:38, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

• Resurrect -

5 6 6 - (Protection Prayers) - Spell. "Resurrect target party member. Target party member is returned to life with 50...90...100% Health and 25% Energy." Your Protection Prayers skills are disabled for 5 seconds.

I think the current Resurrect is fine. It fills the niche of an easily accessible, weak, reusable rez. I'd never use it because I often have access to other resurrection skills, but it has fewer limitations than others (Resurrection Chant is half-ranged, Flesh of my Flesh drops your health.) Since she's in Shing Jea all I was concerned about was the lack of Elite skill in Hard Mode. Her build works fine for people starting new Factions characters (I've had several). Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Necromancer

Brutus

This begs Putrid Bile, Withering Aura or Death Nova. ^_^ --Falconeye 08:46, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

I use those skills on builds such as this, but he has no access to EotN skills, and NPCs use Death Nova too liberally for that to help his build. Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Eve

Blood of the Aggressor works nicely with Eve's setup.

She hasn't visited Elona yet. =P Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Su & Sheena

Rigor Mortis in Blank slot?

Elementalist

Argo

Bed of Coals for synerg with Kai Ying? Or Breath of Fire for synegy with Lava Arrows? --Falconeye 08:16, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

Cynn

Mark of Rodgort for synergy with Incendiary Bonds?

Headmaster Vhang

Enervating Charge for additional weakness? --Falconeye 08:16, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

Kai Ying

Earthen Shackles for synergy with Argo? Magnetic Surge or Ward of Stability/Ward of Weakness (Ok, i'll admit that i dislike blank slots. ^_^)

I figured as much. ;) Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Kisai

Chilling Winds since Teinai's Prison the only water hex (minus what the player is packing)? --Falconeye 08:16, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

Assassin

Mai

Seeping Wound is useless. Crimmastermind 09:43, 7 April 2009 (UTC)

I'm not a huge fan of it either - but her build is centered around Poison and Bleeding, as is Seeping Wound. It just makes sense that she would use it. Bathory 07:02, 10 April 2009 (UTC)

Ritualist

Other Suggested Names: Ancestral Henchmen, Binding Henchmen, Chakra Henchmen, Essentia Henchmen, Ghostly Henchmen, Incarnum Henchmen, Mystic Henchmen, Ritual Henchmen, Shaman Henchmen.

Aeson

Labeled as a Channeling Henchman (or "Totem Henchman"). As a Channeler-hybrid, Spirit Transfer is the only 'costly' skill, so add Protective Was Kaolai for the bonus armor/healing and help power CoS should Bloodsong die. On a side note, Clamor of Souls energy cost/gain should scale with Essence Strike (or rather 5-energy / gain 5...10 energy) -- that version would give Aeson near-limitless energy. The only thing that would make this better is Splinter Weapon (but then the player's probably already packing one if they have heroes). Good job! ^_^ --Falconeye 07:05, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

11 Channeling, 12 Restoration Magic

• Clamor of Souls (elite) - Resilient Weapon - Bloodsong - Nightmare Weapon - Ancestors' Rage - Spirit Transfer - Mend Body and Soul - Flesh of My Flesh

What's a totem? I like the way Clamor of Souls gains energy and how it's consistent with Caretaker's Charge's effect. Splinter Weapon is much more powerful than Nightmare Weapon, but I was using the Outcast Ritualists for that, if they have it - and a lot of other health stealing - that must be something Ritualists in Luxon culture focus on. The only reason I didn't want to put Kaolai on any of them is because of how powerful the drop effect is and how well NPCs use it. I wouldn't feel comfortable making these henchman that good. Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

What about Hard Mode only? Most henchmen get a buff or an added skill for it; just want to be able to rampage with a rit squad, and these changes make that possible. As to you question -- Wikipedia -- A totem is any supposed entity that watches over or assists a group of people, such as a family, clan, or tribe. Totems support larger groups than the individual person. In kinship and descent, if the apical ancestor of a clan is nonhuman, it is called a totem. Normally this belief is accompanied by a totemic myth or a religious belief that is frequently associated with shamanistic religions. Like Luxon Totem, the moniker seems to fit with Luxon culture. --Falconeye 06:55, 2 June 2009 (UTC)

In Shing Jea, he'd use whatever stunted version of this + the elite. In the Jade Sea, henchmen don't get a build change. Those only occur in areas where they were originally low level with small builds (Istan, Shing Jea & Post-Searing). There are a lot of oversights on doing that - although I was focusing more on his Jade Sea build. Since that's a max level area anyway the build would remain the same (not attributes though, I don't think). The name really isn't that influential on the henchman, but "Totem Henchman" seems a bit obscure. "Channeling Henchman" would make the most sense, and be easily understandable. Bathory talk 09:34, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

Dropped PwK in favor of RS due to Weapon Spells update. As a side note: Aeson's build now begs for Spiritleech Aura/Bloodsong combo. ^_^ --Falconeye 20:30, 8 July 2009 (UTC)

-October 2009 Update- 11 Spawning Power (I think), 12 Communing -- They made Aeson a spirit wrangler without the channeling skills or summon spirits (which makes me wish Spirit Channeling had a build in shadowstep function). He seems to manage energy o.k. but prot spirit still goes out like a light bulb without a proper Spirit Lord build (with Armor of Unfeeling). Some have reported him using Doom (this displayed here) but I have yet to confirm it myself.

• Spirit Channeling (elite) - Boon of Creation - Doom - Pain - Disenchantment - Shadowsong - Union - Flesh of My Flesh

Chiyo

Labeled as a Communion Henchman (or "Spirit Henchman"). She's a Communer-hybrid, so let her have Shelter and give her Mighty Was Vorizun for extra armor/energy (she'll need it). Though these are costly spirits, they are balanced out by cheap/spammable heals, which are good for later-half of typical encounters. Ive previously suggested for SLW to be tweaked as elite version of Weapon of Warding -- preferably granting it an unconditional 50% block chance, while making 5...35 healing aspect conditional upon earshot -- which would fit nicely with Chiyo's build. Also add my version (or anyone else's for that matter) of Restoration -- it works for her regardless if moved to Restoration or stays in Communig. The only other viable option would be communing-Signet of Spirits and/or Boon of Creation. (Assuming those are fixed!) ^_^ --Falconeye 07:05, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

11 Communing, 12 Restoration Magic

• Spirit Light Weapon (elite) - Armor of Unfeeling - Shelter - Union - Displacement - Spirit Light - Mend Body and Soul - Restoration

I just took her build from Vizunah Square. It always seems to work well when she appears and uses it, so I don't really want to make something that functions well more powerful. Plus, doesn't she have insanely high attributes in Hard Mode? If that's a mistake I don't want them changing it... xD Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Those are only instances when you have Chiyo as an NPC-ally (she does not have such elevated levels of communing as a henchmen in Hard Mode). All NPC Henchmen have insanely high attributes in Vizunah Square (Hard Mode) by default -- thats to compensate for the fact that Vizunah Square is insanely difficult without having at least 2 players (+ heroes) on -both- teams. (I dare you to try it as 1 player + 15 Henchies + 2 NPC's, and still complete with rating:perfect.) As for my suggestion, well... you ever had Razah use the old Ritual Lord, testing it to its limits? Even with RL (and say 20 communing/spawing), Displacement and Union -will often- vanish in a flash. Dont be afraid to make henchmen more effective, because 'function well enough' may not work well enough (especially for Hard Mode). ^_^ --Falconeye 07:30, 2 June 2009 (UTC)

The whole suggestion is "give her the alternate build + Mend Body" so I can't really see your arguing point for that being only when she's an NPC ally with Gai around. And I do believe I've gotten Master's with all henchman - but it was with heroes because there's really no reason for me to ever run all henchman. Giving them 8 skills is giving them too much advantage over waiting for other players and their heroes as well as making them far better than other campaign's henchmen (except GW:EN). My main concern is to make all of them functional. Bathory talk 09:34, 3 June 2009 (UTC)

SLW benefits from Weapon Spells update. Dropping Recuperation and trading restoration slightly so 8 Spawning's would actually allows better cost-effective HoT then Restoration would provide (with longer-lasting spirits). I would suggest Spirit Siphon to e-management, but thats 4-attributes stretch. Armor of Unfeeling is now also a must; shame it only effects Chiyo's spirits, since it would have provided excellent party support if affecting all earshot spirits! ^_^ --Falconeye 20:30, 8 July 2009 (UTC)

-October 2009 Update- 11 Channeling, 12 Restoration Magic -- They made Chiyo your typical SoS Channeling-Restoration support (without SW or AR) -- and not the suggested Commune-healer. Signet of Spirits is an Elonian skill even though technically its modeled after Master Togo's unique skill, so that is a gray area. Still Anet keeps breaking their own rules. Its still missing Nightmare Weapon though. Your thoughts? ^_^

• Signet of Spirits (elite) - Spirit Siphon - Mend Body and Soul - Soothing Memories - Vengeful Weapon - Nightmare Weapon - Protective Was Kaolai - Flesh of My Flesh

Professor Gai

Labeled as a Restoration Henchman (or "Soul Henchman"). For raw healing, adjust this so its based on the provened AwS Healer. He is using elite Attuned Was Songkai thats attributed to Spawning Power. And his atributes are 11 Communing, 12 Restoration Magic... which gives him 5% cheapers spells/rituals? That cant be right. Ive would also add my suggested version of Spirit to Flesh -- the ressurection version (assuming AI is intelligent enough to use it properly) for synergy with Life. Interestingly, my current proposal for AwS is having it recharge ritualist skills upon -drop- (trust its not overpowered compared to the half-dozen other elites that auto-recharge) -- Professor Gai could recharge AwS and Recup at the end of an encounter, or effectively maintain them throughout the fight. Ghostly Haste could also be an option. ^_^ --Falconeye 07:05, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

11 Spawning Power, 12 Restoration Magic

• Attuned Was Songkai (elite) - Life - Recuperation - Weapon of Warding - Spirit Light - Mend Body and Soul - Soothing Memories - Spirit to Flesh

If that's the case with his attributes, that should be addressed. I have nothing against the build they introduced all the Ritualists with - just the fact that it was on all of them. It works well, has energy management (that apparently isn't set up well) and can heal and has some forms of protection in Shelter and Weapon of Warding. I don't believe he should have a full bar of eight skills since he doesn't already - so there's really nothing I'd want to change with it. If they do make that change to Spirit to Flesh it would be an interesting, and probably beneficial change, though. Bathory talk 00:50, 30 May 2009 (UTC)

Due to Weapon Spells update, Professor Gai is in dire need of attribute point adjusting; dropping Communing in favor of Spawning Power (or at least devoting 8 ranks) should make his Weapon of Warding more useful (along with better energy management). --Falconeye 19:54, 8 July 2009 (UTC)

General Comments

Can you also post suggested attribute spreads for each henchmen's build, preferably both Hard Mode? And possibly link the (-henchmen-) name's for quick comparison of both your build and the current version (helps with info on each individual henchmen)? ^_^ Otherwise, good job with what your trying to achieve! Particurly since most would not have bothered with this level of details. This also allows for practical application of various skill suggestions badly in need of tweaking. Of all Henchmens, Gwen's scores 5-stars (akin to heroes), Nightfall averages 4-stars, Prophecies averages 3-stars (varies by region)... and Factions scores a pathetic 2-stars at best (carried Mhenlo's '3-star' posse) despite having more henchmen then the other combined campaigns ^_^ --Falconeye 07:05, 24 May 2009 (UTC)

You did post a lot above, but a lot of it I have the same response to - I don't think henchmen should always have a full bar. They're supposed to be an option - but it's better to make finding other human players make the game go better (otherwise Guild Wars isn't "co-operative" anymore). I agree with you though, GW:EN has kick-ass henchman which just makes their earlier appearances look pathetic (like Zho). And Factions has more henchman than anything else, really but all they did was copy and paste builds. I can't imagine it would take so long to edit their builds to differ. Especially when they're right next to each other for hire. The only problem with Prophecies henchman is that their skill did work great once, but they've been changed to be less effective. I'll post other things to the suggestions above but some of them (like skill additions to fill a blank 7th spot) I probably won't cover since I don't believe anything should be there. :( Sorry. Bathory talk 00:36, 30 May 2009 (UTC)