What is the best party of henchman to assemble at Yak's Bend? - Guild Wars Forums

Usurp · Mar 03, 2008, 08:51 PM // 20:51

I am a lvl 13 El/Mo and want some suggestions for which henchmen to take with me on my adventures for the best results (i.e. survivability). I figure that I need the healer, thom the brawler, and probably the other fighter...but from there I am not sure. I have been taking healer, two fighters, mage, and mesmer. What do you suggest?

Thank you.

superfemi1 · Mar 03, 2008, 09:17 PM // 21:17

Sorry. To tell you, but I play mes, and imho that's probably a waste of a spot. Playing mes takes human finesse anyway, and with recent nerfs/buffs, mesmer is a waste of a spot.

Kattar · Mar 03, 2008, 09:21 PM // 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by superfemi1

Sorry. To tell you, but I play mes, and imho that's probably a waste of a spot. Playing mes takes human finesse anyway, and with recent nerfs/buffs, mesmer is a waste of a spot.

No it isn't. AI interrupter/computer reflexes > you. If it's not an interrupt, then yeah, you could probably do better.

Lose one of the warriors and pick something else. Anything really.

Usurp · Mar 03, 2008, 09:28 PM // 21:28

Should I really give up a tanker for another caster? It seems like the group needs more than one muscle. Also, what is the benefit of necro vs. mes henchman.

Thanks

Miska Bow · Mar 03, 2008, 09:31 PM // 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsumi

No it isn't. AI interrupter/computer reflexes > you. If it's not an interrupt, then yeah, you could probably do better.

Lose one of the warriors and pick something else. Anything really.

Like he said. Or ask a friend or a fellow guildie with heroes to go with you.

Olim Chill · Mar 03, 2008, 09:34 PM // 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Usurp

I have been taking healer, two fighters, mage, and mesmer

That should work fine. However, you might want to consider taking Reyna instead of Dunham. I think she's more useful at that stage of the game.

Peter Acid Eater · Mar 03, 2008, 09:52 PM // 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsumi

No it isn't. AI interrupter/computer reflexes > you. If it's not an interrupt, then yeah, you could probably do better.

Lose one of the warriors and pick something else. Anything really.

Not to dis superfemi1's reflexes, but Katsumi is probably right. Though some people do have amazing reflexes, the computer is not only very fast, but also very consistent. However, where the human factor comes in, is priority. A human player can read the skills being used and find which ones are best to disable. The computer can be pretty dumb at this sometimes, blocking unnecessary skills and letting vital ones get by.

Skills such as [skill=text]Power Spike[/skill], [skill=text]Energy Burn[/skill], and [skill=text]Shatter Enchantment[/skill] are very powerful spells and can seriously damage an enemy. [skill=text]Backfire[/skill] is pretty good, too. It forces monks into a very bad situation. Either don't cast or take damage.

But I digress. Bring Dunham, Thom, Stephan, Alesia, and Orion. Henchies are lvl 8, so you might need to help heal. But as long as both you and Orion are blastin away, the tanks are holding and you can help Alesia heal, you should be fine.

Dunham
* Distortion
* Drain Enchantment
* Empathy
* Imagined Burden
* Resurrection Signet
* Shatter Hex

Reyna
* Dual Shot
* Kindle Arrows
* Power Shot
* Resurrection
* Troll Unguent

I'd go with Dunham.

Villager · Mar 03, 2008, 09:58 PM // 21:58

Unfortunately, Dunham has no interrupts and his skillset is not particularly good. Worse, what skills he has the AI does not use very effectively. Either Reyna or Claude would be a better choice in general.

Kyomi Tachibana · Mar 03, 2008, 11:16 PM // 23:16

I'd go with Claude instead of Dunham, iirc he carries Blood Ritual which will help out you and Alesia when low on energy.

Usurp · Mar 03, 2008, 11:24 PM // 23:24

I appreciate all of the good feedback and suggestions...thanks ya'll.

Perkunas · Mar 04, 2008, 04:25 AM // 04:25

When I play my E/Mo, I take Brawler, Ranger, Necro, Mes, healer. Has worked well for me.

Toutatis · Mar 04, 2008, 04:47 AM // 04:47

I usually have Dunham in the party at that point. The Stone Summit mesmers carry Empathy which can do a huge amount of damage to the henchies as they attack blindly through it (and if Alesia gets hexed with it, it's basically a death sentence for her as she's usually unable to heal through it in my experience). Dunham is the only henchman in Prophecies who carries any form of hex removal; that alone makes him worth taking with you if you don't have any hex removal yourself.

strcpy · Mar 04, 2008, 08:59 AM // 08:59

It's been a long time since I was there with only hench - but lets see.

The healer is always a must - while her skill bar isn't that great it works and is all you have. I would take the two warriors - they aren't that bad even when compared to heroes. For the rest of the game these are pretty much core - as far as the hench go they are fairly competent and even when you get heroes you will usually not beat them by much (well, other than level at your point).

That leaves two more. Last time I played there with hench we had scatter, since we don't so much now I would take the mage as her AoE spells are OK (would be better if they either replaced firestorm or made her smarter in casting it). If not her then I take the necro - not that he is really any good but just isn't that bad. The other slot is usually the ranger - high enough armor to live and not eat up heals.

I generally found that the hench mesmer to be the worst - yes hex removal is nice but that is *one* skill and the rest blow. An AI interrupter is VERY nice on a hero and some of the Canthan ones are decent too. He has very little in the way of decent self heals and tends to die quickly sucking up heals and rezzes quickly to boot. A human mesmer is very useful, a hero mesmer set up properly is also - the hench mesmer in prophecies deserves what he gets every time I brought him out. That is a quick death.

Kumu Honua · Mar 04, 2008, 09:55 AM // 09:55

I don't like taking claude. His energy regen capabilities also get the healer to waste heals on him instead of letting him self heal.

Causing others to not get healed when they should because alesia spends so much time healing claude.

Then again, I don't really need claude's energy regen.

I also like the hex removal capabilities, and empathy works well on enemies. Sure, he has imagined burden and that's mostly useless, but...

Mar 03, 2008, 08:51 PM // 20:51	#1
Usurp Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The burbs of Atlanta	What is the best party of henchman to assemble at Yak's Bend? I am a lvl 13 El/Mo and want some suggestions for which henchmen to take with me on my adventures for the best results (i.e. survivability). I figure that I need the healer, thom the brawler, and probably the other fighter...but from there I am not sure. I have been taking healer, two fighters, mage, and mesmer. What do you suggest? Thank you.

Mar 03, 2008, 09:17 PM // 21:17	#2
superfemi1 Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Jan 2008 Profession: N/	Sorry. To tell you, but I play mes, and imho that's probably a waste of a spot. Playing mes takes human finesse anyway, and with recent nerfs/buffs, mesmer is a waste of a spot.

Mar 03, 2008, 09:28 PM // 21:28	#4
Usurp Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The burbs of Atlanta	Should I really give up a tanker for another caster? It seems like the group needs more than one muscle. Also, what is the benefit of necro vs. mes henchman. Thanks

Mar 03, 2008, 09:58 PM // 21:58	#8
Villager Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Sep 2005 Guild: Lunar Templars Profession: Me/A	Unfortunately, Dunham has no interrupts and his skillset is not particularly good. Worse, what skills he has the AI does not use very effectively. Either Reyna or Claude would be a better choice in general.

Mar 03, 2008, 11:16 PM // 23:16	#9
Kyomi Tachibana Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Oregon, USA Guild: Where iz teh Bonuz [WitB] Profession: P/W	I'd go with Claude instead of Dunham, iirc he carries Blood Ritual which will help out you and Alesia when low on energy.

Mar 03, 2008, 11:24 PM // 23:24	#10
Usurp Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The burbs of Atlanta	I appreciate all of the good feedback and suggestions...thanks ya'll.

Mar 04, 2008, 04:25 AM // 04:25	#11
Perkunas Jungle Guide Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In my own little world, looking at yours Guild: Only Us[NotU] Profession: E/	When I play my E/Mo, I take Brawler, Ranger, Necro, Mes, healer. Has worked well for me.

Mar 04, 2008, 04:47 AM // 04:47	#12
Toutatis Walking Wiki Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Isle of Medication Guild: Visitors from Aranna [VFA] Profession: Me/E	I usually have Dunham in the party at that point. The Stone Summit mesmers carry Empathy which can do a huge amount of damage to the henchies as they attack blindly through it (and if Alesia gets hexed with it, it's basically a death sentence for her as she's usually unable to heal through it in my experience). Dunham is the only henchman in Prophecies who carries any form of hex removal; that alone makes him worth taking with you if you don't have any hex removal yourself.

Mar 04, 2008, 08:59 AM // 08:59	#13
strcpy Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: One of Many [ONE]	It's been a long time since I was there with only hench - but lets see. The healer is always a must - while her skill bar isn't that great it works and is all you have. I would take the two warriors - they aren't that bad even when compared to heroes. For the rest of the game these are pretty much core - as far as the hench go they are fairly competent and even when you get heroes you will usually not beat them by much (well, other than level at your point). That leaves two more. Last time I played there with hench we had scatter, since we don't so much now I would take the mage as her AoE spells are OK (would be better if they either replaced firestorm or made her smarter in casting it). If not her then I take the necro - not that he is really any good but just isn't that bad. The other slot is usually the ranger - high enough armor to live and not eat up heals. I generally found that the hench mesmer to be the worst - yes hex removal is nice but that is one skill and the rest blow. An AI interrupter is VERY nice on a hero and some of the Canthan ones are decent too. He has very little in the way of decent self heals and tends to die quickly sucking up heals and rezzes quickly to boot. A human mesmer is very useful, a hero mesmer set up properly is also - the hench mesmer in prophecies deserves what he gets every time I brought him out. That is a quick death.

Mar 04, 2008, 09:55 AM // 09:55	#14
Kumu Honua Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2008	I don't like taking claude. His energy regen capabilities also get the healer to waste heals on him instead of letting him self heal. Causing others to not get healed when they should because alesia spends so much time healing claude. Then again, I don't really need claude's energy regen. I also like the hex removal capabilities, and empathy works well on enemies. Sure, he has imagined burden and that's mostly useless, but...