One time purchase scalable Hirelings

[Goregnash]

Please provide the option to do a one time purchase of a scaleable Hire for 500-600 TP which we can name ourselves. Having to pay a small fee for a timed hire is fine, it works, however it is super annoying to have to go rent them every time we want to solo a quest. These hires should always summon to the 'summoners' current level with a preset level 1-20 build so that they scale with us as we progress at our own pace.

Also, please allow us to name the Hires unique names prior to their first use so that if 2 party members hire a scaleable cleric, there is no confusion in regards to who manages which hire and we do not get the "That person is already in your party" message.

EDIT: I would pay more TP for a one time purchase, scalable Hireling, if I were able to choose actions and spells from a preset list that appear on his hotbar, configurable only at a tavern of course. =)

New Tab below Companions in our inventory perhaps? Call them sidekicks, or Acomplices, or Allies, Chaperons, Escorts... well maybe not Escorts.

[dterror]

The vanity pets cost more than that iirc.

Even if you couldn't select their abilities, I'd still pay 3k (or maybe more) for a rogue hire that leveled with me and never expired...and maybe half or so that much for a healer or arcane hire.

[FranOhmsford]

This idea has come up a few times in the past and it's something I'd love to see in game BUT....

Unfortunately your set up simply wouldn't work.

1. Names - I'm sorry but you'll just see loads of hirelings called Killstealer, Gimp, Wasteofspace etc.

I'd much prefer if the devs got around to actually fixing the hirelings we already have to conform to DDO now rather than DDO 5 years ago.

Some examples:

Fayden Maeleth Lvl 10 Cleric Hire - Her description reads "As a Follower of the Undying Court Fayden's abilities are sought after by many potential clients - Why isn't she Lvl 8 then? Raise Dead at Lvl 8 {Undying Court} is a much bigger thing than Raise Dead at Lvl 10 {when every Cleric/FavSoul would have it available}.
She's also very squishy, Uses a Club {With no extra dmg or abilities on it - I assume it's a Devotion/Lore item YET she doesn't heal for very much with her Cure Crits either} She needs a Scimitar {Undying Court} with Spell Power, Devotion etc. on it + a Useful Shield and New Armour.

Flower Lvl 7 Cleric Hire - Flower is a War Priest - A True Battle Cleric - Beef her up and pls change Turn Undead {Which she doesn't have the charisma to use more than Like twice per shrine anyway!} to something useful - FoM perhaps or Resist Energy.

Samuel Merrick Lvl 9 Cleric Hire - Sammy's pretty good actually though his healing power is weak, His major benefit is the Summoned Earth Ele - Give him Augment Summoning, Emp, Healing, Toughness, Mental Toughness and Quicken.


All Paladin Hires - Why Why Why are they all set up as tanks? Hirelings can't tank - They're never ahead of the player character {usually 20 yards behind}.
Paladin hires should be DPS builds.

Syllix Giantbane Lvl 7 Fighter Hire - Another d@rn tank - Must be Stalwart from his HP which would still be low for a Player BUT for some unknown reason he is carrying a Negative Level from Gear {probably his sword} - Take him to the AH and buy him a Better Weapon, Shield and Armour pls.
In fact this should now be done for ALL Melee Hirelings - Plus they need to have a Secondary Weapon just in case {Muckbane/Muckdoom/Terror dependant on lvl would be nice.

Kirsten Steel Lvl 6 Rogue Acrobat - Nice HP - Must have high Con, Also seems to have High Str {Runes} and Dex BUT has 0 Int/Wis and no trap gear!

Caraneth Myar Lvl 19 FS Hire - A Lvl 19 FS hire who can't Raise Dead is a complete Waste of Space - She used to be good as a DPS hireling {Better in fact than the High Lvl hireling Sorcs and Wizzies} but has been nerfed heavily.


These ^ are just a small sample.
In fact it would be an idea with all the changes in the game to have each and every hireling given a free respec and geared up.


As for Scalable Hires - I'm all for this BUT I'd like to actually take one of the hirelings already in use - For Example Kendra or Kurik and Lvl them up as I Lvl to my specifications.
Or I'd be happy enough with the Devs putting the work in to Set up the hireling Lvl ups so's each hire becomes unique i.e. Lvl 12 Dryad would be very different to lvl 12 Breven {I'd set Dryad up as Radiant Servant and Breven as War Priest to be honest}.
Lvl 20 Marissa would be a completely different Cleric to Lvl 20 Wyoh or Samuel or Fayden or Klin or.........

Yes of course there'd still be similarities - There are only 3 PrEs {and I'm pretty sure only two of those were used for Hireling Clerics} Plus every Cleric hire would have the requisite Heal, Raise spells available to them.
BUT with Feats, Enhancements, Racial differences etc, there's enough room to make them truly unique.

[Goregnash]

This idea has come up a few times in the past and it's something I'd love to see in game BUT....

Unfortunately your set up simply wouldn't work.

1. Names - I'm sorry but you'll just see loads of hirelings called Killstealer, Gimp, Wasteofspace etc.

And? Are you afraid the names like Hayseed Ironhorse are too Epic and youd miss the majesty of their persona?

P.S. You didn't have a #2.

[Krumm]

/signed

if nothing else, it will be convenient.

Customizable skills/spells on hireling hotbar would be great too.
Almost like creating your own party of adventurers... except they'll be store bought

[Narwal]

They could also make scalable hire cost a feat (plus TP?). Call the feat, I don't know "Leadership", and call the hire a "Henchman" or "Cohort".

[Goregnash]

They could also make scalable hire cost a feat (plus TP?). Call the feat, I don't know "Leadership", and call the hire a "Henchman" or "Cohort".

Ok, be honest, you broke out the thesaurus.

[redspecter23]

I think it would be interesting to allow full customization of hirelings. Allow players to buy a "follower" from the DDO store (VIP could get 1 for free to start and buy additional slots). This follower gains xp with you. You have full control over the gear he wears and you pass it to him and equip it like you do a druid or arty pet, and control over how he levels up. You could then set up his hireling bar with the abilities you choose and set up his "priorities" though a separate menu.

In offensive mode, you could set his priorities as:
1. Improved Sunder to mob I'm targetting
2. Stunning Blow to mob I'm targetting
3. Heal yourself if below 25% hp
4. Attack mob I'm targetting
5. If no targets, wait and follow me (follow distance set at 10 feet)

In defensive mode, his priorities might be:
1. Shield block and intimidate the mob I'm targetting
2. Heal yourself if below 50% hp
3. If no targets, wait and follow me (follow distance set at 2 feet)

If done well, this is something I could see myself paying 500+ tp per slot for. However the odds of it working well would be slim. Full customization of follower priorities would help solve some of the poor AI issues the other hirelings have... in theory.

[dterror]

I think it would be interesting to allow full customization of hirelings. Allow players to buy a "follower" from the DDO store (VIP could get 1 for free to start and buy additional slots). This follower gains xp with you. You have full control over the gear he wears and you pass it to him and equip it like you do a druid or arty pet, and control over how he levels up. You could then set up his hireling bar with the abilities you choose and set up his "priorities" though a separate menu.

In offensive mode, you could set his priorities as:
1. Improved Sunder to mob I'm targetting
2. Stunning Blow to mob I'm targetting
3. Heal yourself if below 25% hp
4. Attack mob I'm targetting
5. If no targets, wait and follow me (follow distance set at 10 feet)

In defensive mode, his priorities might be:
1. Shield block and intimidate the mob I'm targetting
2. Heal yourself if below 50% hp
3. If no targets, wait and follow me (follow distance set at 2 feet)

If done well, this is something I could see myself paying 500+ tp per slot for. However the odds of it working well would be slim. Full customization of follower priorities would help solve some of the poor AI issues the other hirelings have... in theory.

Full customization of hirelings in this manner would only serve to promote more soloing for anything other than raids. While I support the idea of being able to have a single scalable permanent hire to assist you, I do think it should be the existing hires (with renames)...bad A.I. and all. Anything else would just be too OP for a multiplayer game.

[Goregnash]

Full customization of hirelings in this manner would only serve to promote more soloing for anything other than raids. While I support the idea of being able to have a single scalable permanent hire to assist you, I do think it should be the existing hires (with renames)...bad A.I. and all. Anything else would just be too OP for a multiplayer game.

Agree 100%! K.I.S.S.

[redspecter23]

Full customization of hirelings in this manner would only serve to promote more soloing for anything other than raids. While I support the idea of being able to have a single scalable permanent hire to assist you, I do think it should be the existing hires (with renames)...bad A.I. and all. Anything else would just be too OP for a multiplayer game.

Oddly enough we both think this would be used for the same purpose (soloing) but we share differing opinions on whether that's a good thing or not. It may in fact promote soloing, but I see it slightly differently. It would be something for me to do if I simply could not get a group for whatever I need to do.

I will always prefer to group with real people for socialization. A hireling would be something I use, a tool, in order for me to solo more effectively in situations where grouping isn't an option (pressed for time, bad connection issues, family situations, etc.).

The current hirelings just don't suit my needs the way they are implemented right now. I prefer more options such as the ones I outlined above. I'm a fan of full customization whenever it can be added.

[Tshober]

1. Names - I'm sorry but you'll just see loads of hirelings called Killstealer, Gimp, Wasteofspace etc.

Actually, those names are quite a bit better than many of the player character names I see.

[Goregnash]

In offensive mode, you could set his priorities as:
1. Shield block and intimidate the mob I'm targetting

Ok, lets put it another way... The above quoted text is just plain taking advantage of the idea. Cheating the system and imho lame. The UI is dumb for a reason and it should stay that way. Customization should be limited to naming the npc and picking abilities to have on the bar, thats it.

[redspecter23]

Ok, lets put it another way... The above quoted text is just plain taking advantage of the idea. Cheating the system and imho lame. The UI is dumb for a reason and it should stay that way. Customization should be limited to naming the npc and picking abilities to have on the bar, thats it.

Fair enough. I suppose we disagree on this aspect. More on topic, if there were a hireling that could be purchased and be permanent with a rename tacked on, I could see the appeal though it's not something I would buy. I do get some use out of the panther for specific uses and am quite happy to have a perma gold seal on hand when needed. Even the ability to rename my panther would be a happy addition.

[V_mad_jester_V]

i dont think it should be a goldseal perma hire, but instead treated as a regular hire. Customization should go as far as pet customization and the ability to choose the hires class (no multi classing though). this would allow players to buy multiple hires and customize each one for specific needs but the inability to go out and make a party full of them.

next customization, limited skills, limited spells, limited enhancements. this will allow a player some room but also the limitations would prevent one from making a op/broke hire. so for instance, a fighter hire can wear w/e non bound items you can give it, sword shield weapon, you can chose its prestige path, and basic enhancements (improved intimidate, 2 ranks toughness, 2 ranks fighter toughness, and w/e option you have with druid pet/arti pet)

I think perma hires should be slightly smarter than ftp hires, but not by much.

[phillymiket]

I think Turbine could make some good monies with making DDOstore hires more desirable.

A 'perma' hire would be an example. (especially if the was unique - like the panther figurine).
Call them "followers" or "henchman" if you want.

Only thing is, for it to make sense for Turbine they would have to make it so the TP they got exceeded a reasonable average of what they would lose with people not buying regular gold seals over the coarse of their whole DDO career at that level. (though I dont see many of those).

In other words, Turbine would probably want a pretty high price for such a thing.
A level 20+ 'perma' healers would probably cost a ton, because so many would desire them.
They would also want to make them BTC, I'm sure.

As far as customizing them?

Names? Ok. No harm there.

Abilities? Might be a slippery slope.
The Devs would have to be very careful that people were not able to use certain combos that would lead to exploits and easy wins.

As far as promoting soloing?

If I'm going to solo, then I'm going to solo.
Whether I go to the house K and pick up a hire or click a figurine from my bag won't change my choice.
Would multiple hires running (i.e. gold seals) promote more solo play?
It might.
But then again, hireling AI being what it is, it is not so easy (for me at least) to have multiple hires be anything more then some schizophrenic, motley, unmanageable group running off in all directions ackin' all crazy.
So it may not change that much.
.

[dterror]

Here's another alternative that might appeal to Turbine's pocketbook...

Instead of a really high priced scalable and customizable hire, add a new 'tier' of hires: Platinum seal.

These would be permanent hireling contracts, but they would work exactly the same as current gold seal hires. The price would be much higher, naturally.

I'd be willing to pay 1000 tp for various hires, if they were platinum seal permanent contracts, even if the lack of customization to these would mean there would be times I couldn't use my platinum seal hire because someone else had already brought out that same hire.

The only gold seal hires I have EVER bought, and probably ever will are the rogues...and since rogue hires have been added, I doubt I've hit 600 total tp spent on them.
Further, unless they were permanent contracts, I can pretty much guarantee that my cost for gold seal hires for the next year or more won't break another 400 tp.

Thus, and I'm sure I speak for many players out there, here's your incentive Turbine: Release platinum seal permanent hireling contracts and make a *LOT* more money off me (and others, I'm sure) in a single purchase than you would get over multiple YEARS as things are now.

[Goregnash]

I did want to point out a few minor things that I didn't in my OP. Scalability is important for this idea simply for the fact that these hires would be a tool you could use for long term goals and would not be restricted by game mechanics like True Resurrection. If the hire automatically summoned at the casters current level, you could TR at any time and your permanent hire is still available for the content you are currently working on.

We have temporary hires available for pretty much every level of gameplay in the game from level 1 up through Epic content and the primary appeal for players to pick up these more expensive permanent hires will be that they are fully scalable based on the content the player is currently running, they can be assigned a unique name that the player chooses (with standard convention restrictions) and we can mildly manipulate their performance by choosing the abilities they bring in with them on their hotbar. This doesn’t even include the static benefits like saving time, multiple minor TP transactions become one large TP transaction, and having a more robust npc at your side when the heat turns up.

There is no downside here for Turbine or the players.

[countfitz]

I'd love this idea. I mean I've posted it myself a half dozen times...

Oh, and lets have a unicorn healer as an option!

I'd pay 1k TPs for that.

[Xynot2]

I thought the panther was and was disappointed to find out otherwise.
However, I realized it would kill the hireling vendors business and in this economy, I dont want them after my job.

/not signed.