This Game Deserves a Better Class of Hireling

[tinyelvis]

Not really, just thought butchering a Heath Ledger quote might be funny.

On a serious note, now that we have a semi programmable and controllable metal dog. Do you think it might be possible to take a look or another look at the possibility of using characters on our account as henchmen.

For example, you start a quest with your 10th level Paladin, Biff. At the start, you summon a Henchman. Not just any Henchman but rather, say a 7th level rogue, Skippy. He is one of your alternate characters from the same account. You setup Skippy's control bar, selecting some abilities and equipment from a list drawn from the actual character. Go questing running the henchman as you would the dog or Hireling. Each toon gets some percentage of XP, and only one chest of loot.

Mechanics:
1. Before questing, setup the toon for henchman work. This involves selecting a pool of permitted abilities and equipment. Perhaps at release only a few things can be selected. With each release, more can be added.

2. While playing, only a half dozen or so of these can be hotkeyed at any time.

3. The henchman uses a pool of hit points, spell points, saves .. Drawn from his own character chart. It could actually be a percentage of it.

Balance issues:
1. Both toons get a percentage of the experience. Say 80/50% or any number deemed appropriate.

2. Death of henchman reduces XP to discourage irresponsible choices.

3. Additional henchmen slots could be earned as high favor awards, bought at the turbine store, or combo of both.

4. Henchmen slots could be carried like Hireling contracts that don't expire (even upon TR). They could range in level below main allowed. I.e., "You have been awarded a henchman 3 levels or more below your current level." This could get upgraded. Possibly you could downgrade with deaths.

Benefits to turbine and the community.
1. A fun new thing for players to experiment with.
2. An encouragement to play with more character slots, netting more cash for the company.
3. There are other ways to squeeze revenue out of this idea.

[EpiKagEMO]

/signed

would be cool to make your own hirelings that wont dissapear+progressive levels with you... i would definetly pay for it. Usually, most the hirelings dont have the spells i want at the appropriate level. IE. i wanted a stoneskin+hastebot at lvl 14 or so for soloing. theres barely any. i would have to use the level 9 sorc.

would be amazing if they could add "gambits" to the hirelings.
like the ones from ff12 if anyone played it :3

ie> first priority=heal if hp is below 50%. 2nd priority, res a dead person. 3rd priority, haste. 4th priority, rage when haste is up. ... etc etc... 8th priority-run stones to previous shrine (lol)

would be pretty amazing no?

[Hobgoblin]

I like this, but wouldnt it just work out to cheating? you level the rogue that you never play, just by soloing on your wizzie and leaving him at the beginning? Then how would you know how to play your rogue??

other wise looks good

hob

[backandforth]

/not signed

(Another idea like this would be to carry your alt at your back. Main character gets no XP, alt gets x0,75 of the XP.Main character has a -6 str penalty, can't evade or tumble. but can benefit from the alts buffs.)

[tinyelvis]

I like this, but wouldnt it just work out to cheating? you level the rogue that you never play, just by soloing on your wizzie and leaving him at the beginning? Then how would you know how to play your rogue??

other wise looks good

hob

Well, if that is your goal, you can easily do that now and at 100% efficiency. I think it's called multi boxing. I don't see this proposal supplanting that method by a long shot (especially considering free to play accounts).

Plus, XP breakdown could be adjusted. Not to mention there is no way to get bound to character items to henchman. If it really is a concern ( I personally don't believe so) they could always reduce henchman XP to zero. However, then you run into potentially annoying problem of quickly outpacing your henchman's level. The practice would then be used less frequently and less useful to all.