Henchmen Issues with Single Player Mode?

[Legacy_billg4]

               

BelgarathMTH wrote...

If you're thinking about taking one of the spell-casting henchpeople, you should be aware that you have no control over how or when they cast spells. They cast seemingly completely randomly during combat, and make really stupid choices a lot of the time.

Hmm,... maybe this answers my main question. I've had this game for awhile, and I guess I played it a bit (some of it seems familiar), but I just installed it again. My new character is a rogue/fighter, and I hired Linu the cleric to fight and heal me, when needed.

However, she won't heal herself - or cast any other spells, as far as I can tell. I've tried toggling spell-casting for her (the game doesn't tell me what the current setting is, or what I'm changing it to), but that doesn't seem to do anything at all.

Sometimes, she'll just die without attempting to do anything. Sometimes, she'll drink a potion. I don't know where she's getting those potions, though. Does she take them from my inventory? I can't see her inventory or give her anything at all, including potions (although I've heard they're supposed to drink a potion immediately when you give them one, that's never worked for me - it was during combat, if that matters).

Anyway, is there any way to get Linu to cast a healing spell on herself, when she gets injured? I've got to say this is a really screwy system (maybe it's why I didn't play it much when I first got the game).

Oh, one other question: Are either of the two expansions any different? Can you actually manage your henchmen in those? I've got the "platinum" edition, so maybe I'd be better off playing one of them?

Oh, and yet another question, if you don't mind: How do I get her to turn undead? Is she supposed to do that automatically? Or will she do it at all? (I haven't actually encountered any undead with her, not yet.)

Thanks...
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               @ billg4

Linu will turn undeads on her own alright. She is actually really good at it.
Only as long as you allow her to rest as often as she requires to resplenish her powers.
The OC doesn't allow the player to view his henchy inventory, only the two next expansions do. This is the first and main reason why I installed right away, after only a few hours playing the game, Tony K's AI ( >>> tip N°1 in my "add-ons list in my signature)
And how I discovered the many options and improvments that greatest mod had to offer.
- First its own quite amazing AI.
All of a sudden henchies become a way more smarter. And not only the henchies, but your foes as well. Just like you, I could have quite playing NWN with its regular AI only. Be careful with the many options if you choose to install it though.
- Dialogs.
You will now be able to control your henchies in a much intuitive way and order them to behave... just as they should. This is where you can control the "heal" system, for instance.
Still, as BelgarathMTH was saying, you'll never made a henchy spellcaster (clerics, paladins, ..., all casters included) as smart as you are, and the only way to enjoy such wonderful classes is, I'm afraid, to play one yourself. This goes for the whole NWN, for all OCs and community modules. 
But, even so, Tony K is still going to greatly improve their behaviour, hopfully not up to your standards. '>
- Equipment.
You'll be the one giving them what ever you want them to use and how, through the many dialog options. Weaponsn armors, wands... and potions. 
- And
even more than my brain can remember tonight.

Be aware some people don't like Tony K's AI and I even know of one who never will...

                                                              

Still, even playing NWN regularly, 'meaning without it, you can drop an health potion, or any other potion as a matter of fact, short for AAMOF,  on your henchy's icon, upper right corner of the screen, and that should do the job, whatever he is into doing. Same with healer's kits. 
He will never use anything from your very inventory, so don't forget to share your belongings if you surprisingly care about him.
I've been playing NWN with Tony K's AI since my first NWN day, and probably until may last one.
Never encountered any major issue with it, but it could be, slightly, conflicting with some community modules being built around another custom AI of their own.
I would go for it anyway. Actually? I never turned it off.

If you ever try it, make a copy of your "No Tony K" override folder, and save it aside. To simply come back to it if you're not pleased with.

And don't forget your always best clickable friend around:

                                        
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 14 février 2011 - 10:02 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_jmlzemaggo]

               @ billg4 +

One tip for the OC: watch carefully your henchies behaving, as you could learn a lot from them. And strip them naked before you eventually level up as they will level-up just about the same at the very same time.
Only they will automatically requip themselves with the best gear and whatever knickknacks 
present inside their inventory at that very moment, in order to suit their individual talents the best.
That should save you a lot of time, but also, this is how I learned which was the best sword, ring, armor for a rogue or any other class around. Just fill their backpack with anything you've got, then level up, and enjoy the strip-up.

I don't actually remember seeing this happening in any module but the OC.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par jmlzemaggo, 14 février 2011 - 10:16 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_billg4]

               OK, thanks for the help, Jmlzemaggo!