Chapter 2 Luskin: which henchman?

[Legacy_Merlex]

               I'm getting ready to head into Luskin in chapter 2. If  i'm remembering correctly, i can only take 1 henchman with me. I'm playing an Eldritch Knight 8/ Wizard 5 (from PRC).

I'm quite capable of filling the tank and Wizard roles. I'm considering Tomi for traps (my pixie is only 5th level). But does any henchman gain anything, story wise, from going to Luskin in chapter 2.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               Henchmen-related threads will be continued in Ch 3 so it really doesn't matter which you choose, story-wise.  (I am assuming you have gotten the Ch 2 hench rewards from all of them at this point.)

I have a preference for Grimgnaw due to his unique combo of speed and elemental gloves, but perhaps you may get tanking benefits from cleric buffing/healing (Linu) or bard song boosts (Sharwyn).  Both Linu & Sharwyn have a decent range attack if you set it up that way.

Umm... a wiz "should" have both Find Traps and Knock so really needs no rogue although the recon value of the pixie is ALWAYS worthwhile at any level.  Without Find Traps just send any summon ahead to trigger them.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 08 février 2011 - 03:22 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               A henchwoman anyway. Which leaves only Sharwyn. And her singing...
Or Grimgnaw, as the best but funily twisted tank, if you can't afford her.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 08 février 2011 - 04:57 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Merlex]

               No, i haven't found a find traps scroll yet, to put in my spellbook. But i do have knock. Eldritch Knight gives you the slots and caster levels, but no new spells. I 'allow' myself to buy scrolls from the PRC shop, but only ones for the spells they added. The Pixie can find the traps, she just can't diable some of them.

I guess i could use summons, but my slots are tight. I try not rest much. I memorize 2 of all my main buffs (14 of my slots), plus 5 stilled buffs for special circumstances. That leaves a few slots for control spells and a couple of breaches, but i'll fit a couple summons in.

I solo (with the Pixie) about half the time. When i take a henchman, it's mostly Sharwyn or Linu this chapter, once i took Tomi. I don't need a tank or i'd take Daelan. He's got a connection to Luskin. Boddyknock is useless to me. I used Linu on a few adventures. But i only took Sharwyn with me to Neverwinter Woods, so i guess i'll take her.

Thanks.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Merlex, 09 février 2011 - 01:58 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               Don't waste slots on sacrificial summons. Buy a summon wand or two. 

Sharwyn is a good choice for your situation.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Westan Willows]

               You wouldn't find a 'Find traps scroll' in the OC.  The spell was introduce in the expansion 'Sou'
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Westan Willows, 09 février 2011 - 07:07 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               Sharwyn isn't a choice. You're only lucky if you're hers.



'talking about overpowered spells: "knock" & "find traps". Insaine! Worse, desimmersing...
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_cds13]

               I would sayIt's up to you to choose one hench or another but since there is a good number of undead in Luskan (especially in the sewers and in some houses in the slums apart from Baram's lair) I would find almost useless Sharwin and Boddyknock since their basic AI (never played an alternate one) keep on casting fear or stun over zombies... useless. I would use in order of effectiveness (this is a personal choice) Linu, Grimgnaw, Daelan, Tomi. I usually bash trapped chests with XBOWS equipped with lightning bolts when the normal ones do not deal any damage. When I'm high on Hit Points or equipped with elemental shield items (rings, cloaks etc.) I simply make traps detonate with myself simply getting over them
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Westan Willows]

               It also depends on what your class is. I often play a Sorc so I want a 'meat shiled' to protect me.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

                I don't choose henchies for their power anymore, but for the fun and what's left of role playing in a single player game.
To the point I would rather change my PC class to tune with Sharwyn or, eventually, Grimgnaw, in the OC for instance. And no one else.
I even went through it as a bard myself, and even worse... as a male, with her.
That was interesting, as much as amazingly immersing. :whistle:
And who could complain about fights being maybe a bit more difficult? Aren't we all heroes?
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 11 février 2011 - 09:51 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_cds13]

               So you're making experiments, I can understand you; the game can be squeezed a little more by testing all the combinations. Sure, why not, while she plays her bard song you as a bard can use the version of the bard song which casts negative effects on the enemies (I don't remember the name of that feature). The bard class is maybe the less used but the versatility is outstanding, you can use them as casters, rogues, warriors, a real jack of all trades.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               Unfortunately, Sharwyn will not select Curse Song as a feat and even if she did, she wouldn't use it.  The standard AI just doesn't implement that feat (like Deekin's reluctance to use it in HotU).  But for a PC bard, her Bard Song will make the Curse Song even that much better with an elevated perform. (Where is Bard Simpson when you need him?)

If Tony's AI modifies the AI so that NPC bards who have that feat actually use it, it would be most interesting and helpful.

What I have found with the standard AI is that if the NPC is equipped with a range weapon, a caster class seldom uses spells. Switch them to melee and they will begin launching all the spells before engaging in combat. Sharwyn has very few offensive spells to cast, is slotted primarily for buffing and when in range attack mode tends to act as a good support for any tanking PC.  Since she doesn't even get Lingering Song, she will refresh her song about once a turn rather than cast spells and becomes quite effective at level 14 with her indispellable song buffs. 

Since the OP stated this particular PC would be playing as a tank, I would be interested to discover how effective a bardic support archer was working out in the campaign.

So... all you TK users... does Tony's hak use offensive Curse Song with the NPC bard attack AI?
               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 11 février 2011 - 06:20 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               Hey, Hip, how many times did I tell you to try TK's AI? Hummm? ;-)
Try for yourself, dammit  ... as my memory as you know is the one of a 53 years old grumpy bear, but french, which does make it only worse... than the one of a 52 american grumpy bear.
I kind of remember her casting Bard song... and Deekin casting the Curse one, but I used her as the "tank" (I think she is having unusual feats, like two weapons fighting or exotic weapons?), leaving to me and my own AI the spellcasting and the range attack.
That's how far my memory can go. But, again, I barely concentrate on the tech side anymore, tending to a more intuitive but still strategical style. Ending up rushing for melee anyway, to save her softest skin, even to the cost of my very life... and having her falling for me more often than under our enemies. We made that song out of it, one which became kind of famous:
"Dying by your side is such an heavenly way to die..."
Some youngtsers stole it I heard, and made a fortune out of their treachery...
Youngsters... 
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 11 février 2011 - 08:43 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Xovian]

               

HipMaestro wrote...
Since the OP stated this particular PC would be playing as a tank, I would be interested to discover how effective a bardic support archer was working out in the campaign.

So... all you TK users... does Tony's hak use offensive Curse Song with the NPC bard attack AI?

A bardic support character can be quite useful for a tank, though a cleric like Linu will clearly be better and for obvious reasons. Both have buffs but a cleric has a lot better healing. This is espicially true if running Tony K's AI / Dialog files.

As to the overall value of a Bard in the OC, they tend to do well enough, but in tight situations which should be rare, the Bard can be over run due to generally lacking in armor and melee prowess. At higher levels especially if you are playing a tank, the bard buffs (haste ect) can make it much easier then it would be going solo. So while the class may have its problems (most do), it's well worth taking Sharwyn (and later Deekin) if you want to do more then just play solo.

As to your last question, yes the AI will play the curse song. I run a modified version of it (well the source code, not the hak) in a module I'm building, and if two bards run into one another they will use it as a counter song.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Xovian, 11 février 2011 - 11:13 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               I generally like Sharwyn in the OC and Deekin in SoU and HotU. I don't play many tanks, but bard song has been pretty useful and it seems like most battles start with my bard using bard song and then wading into battle with a sword (or singing and slinging as the kids say). I can't say that Linu ever really struck me as all that necessary, since there are a godzillion potions of healing to be found and bought...