Control spirits? - Guild Wars Forums

Backfat · Nov 18, 2010, 02:48 PM // 14:48

Is there anyway I can get my spirits (ritualist) to attack the same target? The ctrl+attack doesn't work on spirits. They just do their own thing and end up becoming very inefficient when there are multiple mobs where focus firing would help a great deal.

drkn · Nov 18, 2010, 02:53 PM // 14:53

To some extent, Summon Spirits while attacking something happens to make spirits attack that target as well. It's not a rule, however. So no, there's no way to control spirits.
Yet you can control them by their range. Get the particularly nasty enemy a few steps away from the other mobs and then summon spirits on the back, so that their only target in range is what you want them to hit.

Roen · Nov 18, 2010, 02:59 PM // 14:59

I don't know about that. I've found that spirits will respond to ctrl+space or ctrl+attack calling. They don't seem to switch though. So I set spirits, then call my first attack target and they all go after that one. Spike it til it's dead then call a new target and they follow. Call a new target and some may switch but not all and not always.

That's been my experience.

Dzjudz · Nov 18, 2010, 03:14 PM // 15:14

If you place spirits just outside of aggro range of a mob and you attack a target in their range, they will attack that target. After that, it's unpredictable, although you can to some extent 'sync' them by using Summon Spirits.

Stemnin · Nov 18, 2010, 03:30 PM // 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dzjudz

If you place spirits just outside of aggro range of a mob and you attack a target in their range, they will attack that target. After that, it's unpredictable, although you can to some extent 'sync' them by using Summon Spirits.

Pretty much what I do (cast Painful Bond, they hit it). After that they seem to go for easiest to kill usually (low hp), although it seems kinda random sometimes.

arch psyker · Nov 18, 2010, 04:00 PM // 16:00

For the most part I try to follow what a majority of my spirits are attacking. Set my h/h to attack their target and painful bond followed by lamentation or pain inverter.

Only exceptions is when going against monks that have high heals (i.e. zealous benediction or word of healing) or good protection (i.e. mark of protection) or elementalists with crazy aoe of high damage. These I tend to spike down first and let the spirits soften up other enemies.

Voodoo Rage · Nov 18, 2010, 04:13 PM // 16:13

I know when I green farm, the boss is almost always the last guy targeted. I think the spirit AI attempts to obey the same rules as the enemy AI, attacking the "squishiest" opponents first.

Warvic · Nov 18, 2010, 04:38 PM // 16:38

Before the spirit buffs, i would have said: "Yes, please"!

But spirits are very overpowered now. So i would say "NO ZOMG"!

gremlin · Nov 18, 2010, 08:02 PM // 20:02

they are pretty unpredictable so the attacks are as focused as necro minions.

You can try summon spirits to reposition and hope the change targets to one you want them to.
I pretty much do this constantly to shift them out of danger and heal them.

I use painful bond on my target of choice so any spirits that do hit that target do increased damage and the rest of the party are hitting that one too so they usually go down pretty fast.

Also use Spirit boon Strike on the target 56 lightning damage and heals my spirits.

I kind of like the spirits hitting multiple targets it usually makes them start healing themselves and others and if they are casting heals they are not attacking me.

dasmitchies · Nov 18, 2010, 09:13 PM // 21:13

Spirits are unpredictable. I have tried to direct their fire but you may as well trying to direct any other part of the bad AI. BTW, spirits are not overpowered. Drop a searing flames on em.

drkn · Nov 18, 2010, 10:22 PM // 22:22

Quote:

BTW, spirits are not overpowered. Drop a searing flames on em.

Use Armor of Unfeeling and spam Summon Spirits. If done correctly, you can keep 5/6 spirits 'alive' for their whole duration.

Just Sai · Nov 18, 2010, 10:32 PM // 22:32

it matters not whether they are op or not because the spirit ai is awful.
run some tests...

you can set them attacking, bail halfway across the map then summon them, they will continue to fire well beyond their natural range ignoring immediate area foes....
that in hand with th line of sight ignorance shared by hench/hero....

...ugh

Smarty · Nov 18, 2010, 10:44 PM // 22:44

I've found that spirits are pretty reliable at picking off the lowest health target in a group. They switch targets according to changing enemy health too. So, as long as the rest of your party is focusing their damage on your target, your spirits will help you out. If most of your damage comes from minions, you'll find the spirits tend to follow the minions in attacking the nearest enemy first, no matter what your target actually is. It doesn't always work ofc, but on the whole that seems to be the way it goes with my spirits.

Voodoo Rage · Nov 18, 2010, 11:43 PM // 23:43

Wow, can you imagine how OP spirits would be if you could "call" targets for them?

Nov 18, 2010, 02:48 PM // 14:48	#1
Backfat Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Oct 2010	Control spirits? Is there anyway I can get my spirits (ritualist) to attack the same target? The ctrl+attack doesn't work on spirits. They just do their own thing and end up becoming very inefficient when there are multiple mobs where focus firing would help a great deal.

Nov 18, 2010, 02:53 PM // 14:53	#2
drkn Forge Runner Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wroc??aw, Poland Guild: Midnight Mayhem Profession: Me/	To some extent, Summon Spirits while attacking something happens to make spirits attack that target as well. It's not a rule, however. So no, there's no way to control spirits. Yet you can control them by their range. Get the particularly nasty enemy a few steps away from the other mobs and then summon spirits on the back, so that their only target in range is what you want them to hit.

Nov 18, 2010, 02:59 PM // 14:59	#3
Roen Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: GMT-5 Guild: [Nite] Profession: R/	I don't know about that. I've found that spirits will respond to ctrl+space or ctrl+attack calling. They don't seem to switch though. So I set spirits, then call my first attack target and they all go after that one. Spike it til it's dead then call a new target and they follow. Call a new target and some may switch but not all and not always. That's been my experience.

Nov 18, 2010, 03:14 PM // 15:14	#4
Dzjudz Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2005 Guild: gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz	If you place spirits just outside of aggro range of a mob and you attack a target in their range, they will attack that target. After that, it's unpredictable, although you can to some extent 'sync' them by using Summon Spirits.

Nov 18, 2010, 04:00 PM // 16:00	#6
arch psyker Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cantha Guild: Pantheon Of Shadows [dei] Profession: Rt/	For the most part I try to follow what a majority of my spirits are attacking. Set my h/h to attack their target and painful bond followed by lamentation or pain inverter. Only exceptions is when going against monks that have high heals (i.e. zealous benediction or word of healing) or good protection (i.e. mark of protection) or elementalists with crazy aoe of high damage. These I tend to spike down first and let the spirits soften up other enemies.

Nov 18, 2010, 04:13 PM // 16:13	#7
Voodoo Rage Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Guild: Geezers Profession: R/	I know when I green farm, the boss is almost always the last guy targeted. I think the spirit AI attempts to obey the same rules as the enemy AI, attacking the "squishiest" opponents first.

Nov 18, 2010, 04:38 PM // 16:38	#8
Warvic Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Netherlands Profession: A/W	Before the spirit buffs, i would have said: "Yes, please"! But spirits are very overpowered now. So i would say "NO ZOMG"!

Nov 18, 2010, 08:02 PM // 20:02	#9
gremlin Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2006 Guild: GWAR Profession: Me/Mo	they are pretty unpredictable so the attacks are as focused as necro minions. You can try summon spirits to reposition and hope the change targets to one you want them to. I pretty much do this constantly to shift them out of danger and heal them. I use painful bond on my target of choice so any spirits that do hit that target do increased damage and the rest of the party are hitting that one too so they usually go down pretty fast. Also use Spirit boon Strike on the target 56 lightning damage and heals my spirits. I kind of like the spirits hitting multiple targets it usually makes them start healing themselves and others and if they are casting heals they are not attacking me.

Nov 18, 2010, 09:13 PM // 21:13	#10
dasmitchies Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2007 Guild: Sacred Forge Knights Profession: W/P	Spirits are unpredictable. I have tried to direct their fire but you may as well trying to direct any other part of the bad AI. BTW, spirits are not overpowered. Drop a searing flames on em.

Nov 18, 2010, 10:32 PM // 22:32	#12
Just Sai Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: aotearoa Profession: Mo/	it matters not whether they are op or not because the spirit ai is awful. run some tests... you can set them attacking, bail halfway across the map then summon them, they will continue to fire well beyond their natural range ignoring immediate area foes.... that in hand with th line of sight ignorance shared by hench/hero.... ...ugh

Nov 18, 2010, 10:44 PM // 22:44	#13
Smarty Krytan Explorer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: England Profession: Me/	I've found that spirits are pretty reliable at picking off the lowest health target in a group. They switch targets according to changing enemy health too. So, as long as the rest of your party is focusing their damage on your target, your spirits will help you out. If most of your damage comes from minions, you'll find the spirits tend to follow the minions in attacking the nearest enemy first, no matter what your target actually is. It doesn't always work ofc, but on the whole that seems to be the way it goes with my spirits.

Nov 18, 2010, 11:43 PM // 23:43	#14
Voodoo Rage Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Guild: Geezers Profession: R/	Wow, can you imagine how OP spirits would be if you could "call" targets for them?