Any downside to use all 4 henchman? - Guild Wars Forums

whathappenus · Mar 08, 2009, 07:05 AM // 07:05

I am in Ascalon city (original campaign) and I can get a full group with 3 henchman for questing. With the 3 henchman I don't really have to do much, just go to the destination locations.

- Is there a downside of relying on henchman?

- will quests get latter harder even with the 3 henchman?

Toutatis · Mar 08, 2009, 07:34 AM // 07:34

Henchmen have static, limited and rather inefficient skillbars. They're also not that intelligent either. They can get the job done, but they're nowhere near as good as heroes or other human players.

It is possible to go through the entire game with only henchmen as your support team, though in a lot of places you'll find it very challenging.

whathappenus · Mar 08, 2009, 07:38 AM // 07:38

Thank you! I asked in-game and someone also said that drops are not so good as with an all-humans because of "scaling". Not sure what he meant with "scaling". But drops I do understand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toutatis

Henchmen have static, limited and rather inefficient skillbars. They're also not that intelligent either. They can get the job done, but they're nowhere near as good as heroes or other human players.

It is possible to go through the entire game with only henchmen as your support team, though in a lot of places you'll find it very challenging.

Toutatis · Mar 08, 2009, 07:47 AM // 07:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by whathappenus

Thank you! I asked in-game and someone also said that drops are not so good as with an all-humans because of "scaling". Not sure what he meant with "scaling". But drops I do understand

The game has a loot scaling system that gives each human player in the party roughly the same amount of drops regardless of party size. The simple way of explaining it would be that you don't get extra loot if you go with a smaller party, so there's no disadvantage to having a full party at all times.

Snograt · Mar 08, 2009, 11:14 AM // 11:14

The most basic way to describe it is that, let's say, an enemy drops 100 gold when it dies - when you pick it up, you get the message "100 gold is shared among your party": With your 3 henchmen, you'll actually receive 25g.

That's not loot scaling though - just basic reward apportionment.

Another thing to note is that by the end of the game you will be running around with 7 henchmen ^_^

kupp · Mar 08, 2009, 11:51 AM // 11:51

Henchmen aren't the best but it's totally possible to play the game with them. I finished prophecies with henchmen only and didn't know much about the game. Just keep in mind that if you later want to tackle hard mode they and elite areas they simply won't cut it there. You need either heroes or human players.

Zebideedee · Mar 08, 2009, 11:52 AM // 11:52

Always wondered why you get less with heroes in your party, henchies I can understand, but heroes?

You pay for their skills, runes, weapons, etc. etc. etc. and they get to keep money and drops to do what???

How about the hero's pay for my runes, skills for a change, they must have a fortune now! (bah humbug)

kupp · Mar 08, 2009, 11:57 AM // 11:57

Having 7 heroes would simply be so overpowered it'd make all of pve a joke even in hard mode, wich is why some people like myself have a 2nd accounts to run a 6 heroes team

silavor · Mar 08, 2009, 01:39 PM // 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by kupp

Having 7 heroes would simply be so overpowered it'd make all of pve a joke even in hard mode, wich is why some people like myself have a 2nd accounts to run a 6 heroes team

He's talking about why heroes get their own drops as opposed to all of their drops dropping for us. After all, we pay for their runes, armor upgrades, weapons, and skills, so what do they need the money for? Paying off Margrid or something?

FoxBat · Mar 08, 2009, 01:55 PM // 13:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toutatis

The simple way of explaining it would be that you don't get extra loot if you go with a smaller party, so there's no disadvantage to having a full party at all times.

Unless you're hunting something with value, like purple/gold items, rare materials, tomes, etc. Basically only gold coins, collectables, and junk whites are subject to scaling.

tom999 · Mar 08, 2009, 02:28 PM // 14:28

hench are ok, i did 2 of the 3 games only with them on 3 of my chars. so yeah hench are ok and as you progress further in the game you can add more to your party

TheodenKing · Mar 08, 2009, 03:56 PM // 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toutatis

The simple way of explaining it would be that you don't get extra loot if you go with a smaller party, so there's no disadvantage to having a full party at all times.

That's not exactly true. If it were, there wouldn't be thousands of solo and duo farmers in several places in the game. Loot scaling does have an effect, however, but you will still undoubtedly get a bigger share of the existing pie as the number of shares get smaller.

kupp · Mar 08, 2009, 07:37 PM // 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by silavor

He's talking about why heroes get their own drops as opposed to all of their drops dropping for us. After all, we pay for their runes, armor upgrades, weapons, and skills, so what do they need the money for? Paying off Margrid or something?

Ah misinterpreted the question then.

Quaker · Mar 09, 2009, 08:11 PM // 20:11

To clear one thing up - loot scaling is dependent upon the number of people in the party, but it is not affected by the number of henchmen in the party. You will get the same amount of loot in a party with 3 other humans or with 3 henchmen. If it's henchmen, you won't see their loot, so it may seem like less is dropping, but your share will be the same.

Snograt · Mar 09, 2009, 08:21 PM // 20:21

It's been mentioned in passing, but for emphasis:

Here's the biggy: Ectos are not affected by loot scaling.

Mar 08, 2009, 07:05 AM // 07:05	#1
whathappenus Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Mar 2009	Any downside to use all 4 henchman? I am in Ascalon city (original campaign) and I can get a full group with 3 henchman for questing. With the 3 henchman I don't really have to do much, just go to the destination locations. - Is there a downside of relying on henchman? - will quests get latter harder even with the 3 henchman?

Mar 08, 2009, 11:14 AM // 11:14	#5
Snograt rattus rattus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST Guild: [GURU]GW [wiki]GW2 Profession: R/	The most basic way to describe it is that, let's say, an enemy drops 100 gold when it dies - when you pick it up, you get the message "100 gold is shared among your party": With your 3 henchmen, you'll actually receive 25g. That's not loot scaling though - just basic reward apportionment. Another thing to note is that by the end of the game you will be running around with 7 henchmen ^_^ __________________ Si non confectus, non reficiat

Mar 09, 2009, 08:21 PM // 20:21	#15
Snograt rattus rattus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London, UK GMT??0 ??1hr DST Guild: [GURU]GW [wiki]GW2 Profession: R/	It's been mentioned in passing, but for emphasis: Here's the biggy: Ectos are not affected by loot scaling. __________________ Si non confectus, non reficiat

Mar 08, 2009, 07:34 AM // 07:34	#2
Toutatis Walking Wiki Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Isle of Medication Guild: Visitors from Aranna [VFA] Profession: Me/E	Henchmen have static, limited and rather inefficient skillbars. They're also not that intelligent either. They can get the job done, but they're nowhere near as good as heroes or other human players. It is possible to go through the entire game with only henchmen as your support team, though in a lot of places you'll find it very challenging.

Mar 08, 2009, 11:51 AM // 11:51	#6
kupp Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Shiverpeaks Guild: [KISS] Profession: W/	Henchmen aren't the best but it's totally possible to play the game with them. I finished prophecies with henchmen only and didn't know much about the game. Just keep in mind that if you later want to tackle hard mode they and elite areas they simply won't cut it there. You need either heroes or human players.

Mar 08, 2009, 11:52 AM // 11:52	#7
Zebideedee Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 55?? 57' 0" N / 3?? 12' 0" W Profession: N/Me	Always wondered why you get less with heroes in your party, henchies I can understand, but heroes? You pay for their skills, runes, weapons, etc. etc. etc. and they get to keep money and drops to do what??? How about the hero's pay for my runes, skills for a change, they must have a fortune now! (bah humbug)

Mar 08, 2009, 11:57 AM // 11:57	#8
kupp Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Shiverpeaks Guild: [KISS] Profession: W/	Having 7 heroes would simply be so overpowered it'd make all of pve a joke even in hard mode, wich is why some people like myself have a 2nd accounts to run a 6 heroes team

Mar 08, 2009, 02:28 PM // 14:28	#11
tom999 Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jan 2009 Guild: House of Lord Darcia [HoLD] Profession: W/	hench are ok, i did 2 of the 3 games only with them on 3 of my chars. so yeah hench are ok and as you progress further in the game you can add more to your party

Mar 09, 2009, 08:11 PM // 20:11	#14
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	To clear one thing up - loot scaling is dependent upon the number of people in the party, but it is not affected by the number of henchmen in the party. You will get the same amount of loot in a party with 3 other humans or with 3 henchmen. If it's henchmen, you won't see their loot, so it may seem like less is dropping, but your share will be the same.