Can we get an update to Hireling AI?

[Seiree]

I personally feel like Hirelings are a fairly incompetent bunch. They don't use abilities that they have without your direction, they don't cast buffs on themselves, and they often just stand around and do nothing while everyone dies around them.

For instance, Cleric hires will sit and stare at a dead player's soul stone and won't cast Raise Dead until told to do so. Not a problem when patching up after a fight when you have time to stop and tell them what to do, but in the middle of a fight you can't always afford to stop and hold it's hand. This problem get's even worse when some Favored Soul hires don't have Resurrection on their hotkeys (You expect me to believe a 20+ FvS doesn't have Resurrection?).

Another issue with the hires is that they have almost no will to live. If someone casts Acid Rain, the hire stands there waiting for death. These issues combined with some other problems make Hirelings a hassle nine times out of ten. I would like to see hires be updated to be at least semi-competent. Maybe at the level of an experienced beginner?

[Bonulino]

There is one small consolation to the poor hireling AI. It seems the monsters have the same AI. So, they will also stand in lava until they die, run through their own traps and die, etc. An improvement in the game AI in general will probably also result in smarter monsters.

[Psiandron]

Hireling AI has never been perfect by any means, but before they were 'fixed' in iirc update 9 they functioned much better than they do now. They have since given them a massive boost to their saves, which really has helped, but you should probably assume a -5% to xp when you call one.

Two things that I have noticed, but never actually been able to test(prove):

• There is a distinct difference in the competence of a hireling while it's contract is running compared to the period after it has run out.
• Taking a hireling into content more than 1 or 2 levels over its level is consigning it to death, generally repeated death.
• Offensive caster hirelings should definitely be put on passive until you want them, as they will burn through their mana at an inhuman rate.

I should also note that the melee hires seem to work pretty well, have 0 complaints about the onyx panther except that i can't name it.

[FAQ]

I agree that hireling AI is a bit lacking. But I've also noticed that much depends on how you use them.

If you let them just follow you around the dungeon, they will likely be a liability. That's how I used to use them, and it was really frustrating. Hirelings are not players, obviously, and are not as flexible.

But if you park them somewhere safe and just call when needed, their utility goes way up. Knowing how to use hireling teleport is very important in this regard. It can avoid them grabbing aggro, running through traps, falling in lava etc.

Another useful thing in controlling hirelings is knowing how to 'reset' their AI when they become unresponsive. I usually just switch them from passive to aggressive and then back, or from passive to non responsive then back again. It usually works 80% of the time.

Also remember hirelings that cast spells have concentration checks and cooldowns.

In my PERSONAL experience, hireling frustration is, in most cases, usually a result of poor player management of their capabilities (as was the case in my early days of DDO).

[TeacherSyn]

I agree that hireling AI is a bit lacking. But I've also noticed that much depends on how you use them.

If you let them just follow you around the dungeon, they will likely be a liability. That's how I used to use them, and it was really frustrating. Hirelings are not players, obviously, and are not as flexible.

But if you park them somewhere safe and just call when needed, their utility goes way up. Knowing how to use hireling teleport is very important in this regard. It can avoid them grabbing aggro, running through traps, falling in lava etc.

Another useful thing in controlling hirelings is knowing how to 'reset' their AI when they become unresponsive. I usually just switch them from passive to aggressive and then back, or from passive to non responsive then back again. It usually works 80% of the time.

Also remember hirelings that cast spells have concentration checks and cooldowns.

In my PERSONAL experience, hireling frustration is, in most cases, usually a result of poor player management of their capabilities (as was the case in my early days of DDO).

Here, here.

And remember that the hireling's descriptions aren't just eye candy. The developers seemed intentional in giving a few personality chinks in a typical hireling's armor. Tempys is not a good fighter. Mekwi the sorcerer will Finger an enemy as fast as he sees it. Wyoh is the poster child of bad healers. Flower will zerg in a heartbeat.

I use hirelings more as portable buffs but in some quests, they can sub a bit for a real player.