Regarding Henchmen...SPOILERISH

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 12:21 pm

Those who have played the game already have no doubt noticed the rather 'eager fingers' of hirelings and how they get first pick of the loot. Sometimes, they'll even heavily encumber themselves.

Then, when returning to a town to sell items, the hirelings go hog wild selling off items, perhaps even quest items (unsure of this), reaping in the loot.

Now, while it is possible to then take the money from the hirelings in the 'shop/inventory' screen; what is to be done about items you'd rather not see sold.

This troubles me because the hirelings get first pick at everything and the party gets the scraps. Sometimes it works out well but other times a hireling will pick an item useful to another character but will not 'give the item up'. I believe this to be, well...........lame; so I've conducted a little research I'd like to share with the gang and see if others can add to it.

While in the bartering screen, it is possible to loot all hirelings of their items and money with the following exceptions: 1. you cannot remove an item they were originally equipped with or had in their possession, and 2. you must leave each hireling with at least one coin in each of the four currencies.

Now this is all handy, but how do we deal with hirelings selling stuff off you'd rather see kept in the group, perhaps used by the same hireling who felt like selling the item?

So far I've noticed if you decide to barter with the smithy or the pair of gents north of the bridge selling weapons/armor, than the hirelings will sell stuff related to the craft of the vendor, in this cases weapons and armor. If you should venture to the church of st. cuthbert, hirelings will sell off scrolls/potions but not weapons/armor. Interesting actions on the part of the hirelings.

I found a pseudo-vendor (gunther, I believe his name is), who can possibly make shields or you can barter with him. He only has a club and another useless item or two to sell. Anyway, upon visiting this guy I noticed all the hirelings sold nothing which enabled me to grab all the loot and the cash from these greedy, lucky to be travelling with me scavengers. I repeated this process twice with similar results.

Seeing as how the role playing in this game is at a minimum, I see no reason why I shouldn't hack apart NPC's inventories, especially when they feel inclined to dump an item to a vendor which would make him a better character.

Popinjay · Post by **Popinjay** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:35 am

Yes, I found it irritating when my helpful hireling continually sold his shortbow to the blacksmith. The 4 GPs he got for it was not enouogh to repurchase it back. I quickly got into the habit of removing the bow before selling items.

The final straw was when I forgot to do so after upgrading him to a longbow. He sold off his longbow. After checking out the cost to get it back, I decided he would be a front rank fighter.

The jerk.

The game would be a bit better if you could "lock" items on your hirelings so that they didn't sell them all off.

kellinjar · Post by **kellinjar** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 10:06 am

Where do I locate this gunther person? I was thinking of taking a guy to go with me..but I wanted to not lose anything important.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:11 pm

Actually, I don't think it is gunther. Just keep visiting all the houses in hommlet until you find a guy whom you can ask, "Can you make a shield for me?"

This guy only has a couple of items for sale, and it seems NPCs sell him nothing.

kellinjar · Post by **kellinjar** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:13 pm

As I've yet to take a henchman yet.. I have a couple questions:
1)I charmed a soldier in the moathouse... I couldn't seem to control him other then to move him.. he didn't attack on his own and I couldn't seem to make him attack, I decided to rest and then kill him.
2)Do I control the henchman during battle?
or are they on there own...
3)Are there any casters in homlett? I.e. that sage guy..what is he?
I have a party of fighter/ranger/cleric/rogue/wizard so I really need a lil more firepower..
I heard there is a bard somewhere?

smass · Post by **smass** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 12:28 pm

2)Do I control the henchman during battle?

Yes - you control their combat actions.

Asny · Post by **Asny** » Sat Sep 27, 2003 12:13 pm

The so called gunther guy is the cabinent maker in the house just at the base of the hill where st. cuthberts church is. The house is on the west side of the road and just behind the jewlers house.

The Ranger · Post by **The Ranger** » Wed Oct 01, 2003 1:25 am

I know it's possible to dissmiss a henchman from your party.
Is it possible to dismiss them after combat and before you start looting the dead bodies, so they don't get any loot?
As it's only supposed to be people actively in your party who grab loot.
If they just sort of sit around and don't disappear this is the route I'd go.