Henchmen restriction.

[Irongron]

I understand the frustration, though on surface at least I've added very few epic henchmen.

This restriction will almost certainly be a temporary measure as we figure a better solution here, right now problem is really just stemming from UD player behaviour.

I do want to keep them a limited and expensive resource though. The answer is probably going to be found in limiting how much time one can employ an NPC for on any given day.

[Aren]

I understand the frustration, though on surface at least I've added very few epic henchmen.

This restriction will almost certainly be a temporary measure as we figure a better solution here, right now problem is really just stemming from UD player behaviour.

I do want to keep them a limited and expensive resource though. The answer is probably going to be found in limiting how much time one can employ an NPC for on any given day.

Could a possible solution be that the Hencmen respawn 10 minutes after someone picks them up? Such that they are available to more than one person? I know this tampers with immersion somewhat, but I have already seen duplicate Bloodbeards due to server transitioning and such.

[Skarain]

I am amused by the prospect if a DM had (or would) possess one of these Henchmen being used "improperly" and complain of their received behaviour.

Might get the message through, though DM time is a valuable resource and naturally could be spent in more important things.

[Security_Blanket]

My issue here is that the Leadership skill was advertised as a bonus to henchmen, to party members. The bonus to the party really is negligible, the bonus to votes is very niche and the bonus to gold from heads again is negligible. The whole skill was sold on the fact that you can hire henchmen at the cost of investing in a skill. Now we're being told even when they're available to 30s they will be severely limited in their use. This would have been nice to know way back when. I feel like I've been the victim of false advertising. You guys call the shots on what you want on your server, but if we don't know what invisible guidelines we're expected to jump through then this will be a reoccurring problem.

I releveled my level 30 character from level 6 specifically to grab Leadership because I was excited at the prospect of using henchmen as part of my RP. Now I feel like I've been tricked into grabbing a skill I wouldn't have invested in so deeply otherwise.

[Baron Saturday]

It does seem odd to me that henchmen would be restricted almost entirely to PvE, effectively excising them from rp/pvp usage. If the main concern is people monopolizing limited server resources, a time limit & cool down on henchmen hires or, as Aren suggested, an unlimited pool of generic npcs for level 30s would be less... Arbitrary.

My main concern with allowing level 30s access to unlimited generics is that it might then become something of a requirement for high-level pvp, like heal pots or whatever else.

[Xerah]

How are people RPing with these henchmen?

Are you able to speak with them?

[Security_Blanket]

Personally, I would be doing little more than RPing their presence and standing guard over my character, no idea whether you can speak through them. They've been hired for the purpose of keeping this person safe, how far the player takes that can start to break immersion I realize. No amount of gold will make you stop caring about living. If your character is paranoid; if they are or at least feel they are important enough to warrant an armed guard. Maybe they are actually bluffing and trying to play a role. Hiring guards while disguised as a "Travelling Merchant", many dangers on the roads.

For me, it's less about the mechanics of what they offer in combat but simply having them. If as a level 30 if I can only ever hire henchmen that reach level 15, I'd be fine with that. Having henchmen is also a visual representation of your character's skills in leadership, which might, in turn, affect how a character views your character.

[Kuma]

How are people RPing with these henchmen?

Are you able to speak with them?

No. Or at least not my ones.

[Scylon]

How are people RPing with these henchmen?

Are you able to speak with them?

Mainly as guards/hired goons I think. What else could you use them for in a RP sense?

[Xerah]

It would be nice to have generic ones that you could type through.

[Gouge Away]

The idea of speaking through the named henchmen is a little odd, just because they'll be like puppets passed around to different puppetmasters with no continuity. Not the biggest problem in the world but I'd think generic henchmen would be better for this.

[Apothys]

Defending the idea of showing off henchmen as makeshift company, pets, or pretend body guards shows a disregard for the writing and intention surrounding the henchmen and their mechanics shows a lack of consideration for the players that could use them for a far more practical character.

I hope you don't think I was showing a lack of consideration or disregard for the writing and intention surrounding the henchmen and there mechanics?

That was never my intention. I simply saw it as a resource to be pulled upon given my Noble reward and high investment in the leadership skill for this very purpose. I never saw anyone complaining they were lacking the ability to use the henchmen, I used whichever I could and always noted there were others available for use at the time of using them, given there close proximity to one another. Thus I think a statement like that is a little uncalled for personally. However I apologise if I overstepped some invisible line with the Henchmen use.