[.915][bug] Henchmen Issues

from Elemental Forums

Henchmen are great. However they have some issues and bugs resulting from restrictions placed on them to avoid exploits. I believe most have been posted elsewhere in separate threads, but I'm trying to unify this.

Issues:

1. They can't be mounted. This is a severe penalty because any army with henchmen will have their mobility reduced, unless you find boots of speed (or celerity or whatever they're called). Moving armies from one side to the other is sort of a hassle, more so when you're loosing movement points due to one single unit.

2. They can't be equipped with ranged weapons, given to them by other heroes. Ranged weapons would be the best for these units, especially when they start and they're weak, especially since I want them for their buffing abilities not to fight the enemy head on.

3. They can't use cloaks either. In all three cases the items gifted to them disappear.

4. They don't die after being defeated, like they're supposed too. (I like this, but I understand the reasoning for having them die permanently, to differentiate them from "real" heroes)

I understand that since Henchmen are equipped on creation using city production and not by using coins, having them start with and equip items that could then be shared with the heroes would be an exploit of the "Shop" economy system. However, the current implementation leads to more gameplay problems (at least when I play).

One possible solution is to limit cities to the production of "naked" henchmen and then have to buy all of the equipment you want them to wear using the regular shops. This kind of sucks because it's expensive to equip a hero, but gameplaywise it seems that it would lead to less problems than the restrictions currently in place. Then I would lift all restrictions to share and equip items so they can trade with any hero and equip anything heroes can.

What do you guys and gals think? Any comments or suggestions or other bugs on henchmen you've experienced would be appreciated.

5,552 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top


I agree wi  hboth the list of "problems" (I have run into them all myself) and the thought that henchmen should come with no equipment and be able to be equipped with anything, including bows and horses.

In addition to all the points mentioned above,  I would also say that the fact that henchmen's original equipment does not show upvisually on thier description page is also confusing......you have to hover over their attack and defense stats to see what modifiers/equipment they have...just annoying and an unneccassary difference from how every other equipable unit is treated.  So I agree have them be a bit cheaper in influence cost but come equipped with nothing and have to spend gildar or transfer from loot you've accumulated to equip them.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Id say have them come equipped with basic weapons instead of nothing, basic being slightly better than a club please, like 1 handed spear, or dagger, and a wooden shield.

Meaby one or 2 pieces of leather armor, so they arent all too squishy.
I would much hope they won't come out naked, due to being very fragile, like all the low level heroes around ;)

Sincerely
~ Kongdej

Galactic Civilizations IV