Hireling AI Glitches, What Information to Provide for Bug Reports?

[Zafaron]

So somewhat recently (after the hireling AI update) I've noticed that hirelings have a greater tendency to stop responding or do things that they should not otherwise do. What I'd like to know is the correct way to report the problems and what information to provide exactly. Should I use the in game bug report (it's often unavailable for some reason) or is there a forum thread somewhere already for reporting this specific issue? I'm not really sure if all the hirelings inherit from the same decision making or if I should be reporting an individual hireling based on its name. Should I report what the hireling is doing or just what quest it went crazy in?

The worst offenders by far are those owlbears that I got for pre-ordering a couple expansions. Their size seems to be so large that their AI stops functioning completely when they can't fit through a path (doorway, narrow space, etc).

The glitches where the other hirelings stop functioning also seems to be related to path finding in a lot of instances, but with them it's typically related to ladders or when their owner jumps to a spot they can't immediately figure out how to follow.

The summoned monster AI from the various monster summoning spells seems to always work without any glitches, maybe it would be helpful to have the hireling AI use a subset of that (assuming that all the monsters aren't just using their base AI with inverted targeting information)

The hires are really helpful for leveling, especially for those of us who don't have a regular group to run with or who have to frequently AFK during their playtime. It would be nice if they worked a little bit better.

[Buttnugget]

I've noticed that when they do "work" they seem to be stuck in defensive mode. They do nothing until you get damaged no matter what they are set on. Which hireling it is makes no difference. They are all even more useless than before. Which really sucks because I don't like spending money on healing potions and don't usually run in a group. I've died many many times because my hireling suddenly decided that the fight wasn't worth their time and would rather just stand around and get beat up on.

[Mirilan]

Y'know with after thought I'd prefer if they'd roll hirelings back to how they were before they tried to fix them.

[FranOhmsford]

Y'know with after thought I'd prefer if they'd roll hirelings back to how they were before they tried to fix them.

That would require rolling them back to Pre 2011!

It's absurd that every "fix" to hirelings has ended up nerfing them further!


These days I have to continually watch the hireling to see if he/she's glitched out and then hit guard+attack in that order to wake them up. THIS ONLY WORKS WHEN MOBS ARE AROUND!
If no mobs are around you'll think it worked but next time mobs appear the hire will do nothing yet again!

So basically - Every time I come to a fight I wait till the mobs are actually in contact then hit Guard+Attack in that order on the hireling!

This is a viable work-around but I can't believe that the Devs have let it come to this!

[Hiponic]

I've noticed that when they do "work" they seem to be stuck in defensive mode. They do nothing until you get damaged no matter what they are set on. Which hireling it is makes no difference. They are all even more useless than before. Which really sucks because I don't like spending money on healing potions and don't usually run in a group. I've died many many times because my hireling suddenly decided that the fight wasn't worth their time and would rather just stand around and get beat up on.

Ive noticed the same thing.. Its a new problem as well .. The hires were working real real well after they put that AI stuff in there.. Then something happened.

I been grabbing just meat shields so I can sneak attacks off on my mech but the Hire is like in looove with me..S
So clingy, wont go off on his own or engage any danger even when set to Offense,.

[Mirilan]

These days I have to continually watch the hireling to see if he/she's glitched out and then hit guard+attack in that order to wake them up. THIS ONLY WORKS WHEN MOBS ARE AROUND!
If no mobs are around you'll think it worked but next time mobs appear the hire will do nothing yet again!
So basically - Every time I come to a fight I wait till the mobs are actually in contact then hit Guard+Attack in that order on the hireling!

+1
My experiences exactly, I note this specific part of the problem occurred after the most recent update to hirelings. It's become that bad I'm not using hirelings anymore only when absolutely necessary such as quests that require a lever puller.

[michaelw777]

I agree with everyone's posts here. For me however, clicking guard/attack to wake them up is not a viable workaround for me: it is too time-consuming, especially when you have 5 or 6 monsters running toward you. Hirelings are broken. As another poster noted, they are nearly useless. But I run solo most of the time, so they are critical.

They used to be pretty good. But now? Now they stand there and get hit until they die. Worse, I've had the experience of clicking the attack button and they'll still just stand there. Coffee break maybe? Even the monsters know better than that. How did they get so much more stupid than the monsters? We're paying either plat or TP (aka $) for them - they darn well ought to work.

But I have to say, monster AI is also broken. It used to be if you hit a monster, those around it would wake up too. You would expect this. I mean - if the guy standing next to you got hit with an arrow or a bolt or thrown wep - I'd think you'd notice. Or, you explode a barrel (such as retrieving the Sword of Tesyus (Relic of a Sovereign Past), and all the mining Duergar would go investigate the sound. Now nothing happens, not even those standing near it. In like fashion, in An Explosive Situation, you explode a barrel, the thieves just stand there with half a life or less and do nothing.

But I digress. Hirelings are critical for I'm guessing a pretty significant group of players. We pay for them, one way or another, they should work as expected. Instead of glad-handing us on the next new thing in the next update - how about fixing something that truly aggravates a significant portion of their players?