Cowardly iron defenders

[brian14]

Yesterday I made a new toon and as part of level 1 send her to The Miller's Goods quest. To my surprise, the second pair of iron defenders (the ones that spawn when you approach locked door) ran AWAY from her. In fact it took a while to kill them with arrows because they would not approach her, and could not be cornered in a circular corridor. First pair and final boss defender fought normally.

I wondered if this was a one-time fluke and went in again. Exactly same thing. Must be something in the latest update.

[rimble]

"Dog" programming has been broken like this for some time. It just happens some times. You'll see it on any dog-like creature...dogs, wolves, iron defenders, etc...whatever is using the "dog" routines.

[brian14]

"Nice doggy! Niiiice doggy..." <whap>

[rimble]

"Nice doggy! Niiiice doggy..." <whap>

Yeah, bring a ranged weapon...it really sucks when they need to die to advance the quest (like open the next door or portcullis or whatever) and they just keep running...at low levels you'll get that in Information is Key sometimes, particularly annoying since you have to run up the sewer waterfalls slowly chasing them, while they don't get slowed down at all.

[Admiral_Otto]

I have seen this several times lately too but I don't remember those metal dogs running away and hiding months back. You can get one of them quickly if you back up to the door that won't open until you slay those foul things. I expect to chase the other back towards the trap.

[Fedora]

Late reply but I just saw this. I found that if you skip exploring the room by the trap (in between crates) this happens. If you explore that area enough so that your "spot danger" alarm goes off, the iron defenders don't run away.