What MMOs have NPC group members?

Velocinox

I know EverQuest offers them as 'Mercenaries', and Henchmen are in Guild Wars. What other games (specifically the classic MMO game model) do you know provides this feature?

 

Not looking to play these games, just wondering how many out there have turned to this as help for falling populations and how many just thought it was a good idea.

 

For the record, I don't mean pet classes with NPC people like the LotRO Champion but games that offer them to any class.

 

 

Quirhid

DDO

goozmania

I believe Star Wars does, though I've never played it. Also, EQ2.

Alka_Setzer

Guild Wars, Granado Espada, Atlantica (if you want to consider that, it's kind of a turn based game). That's all I can think of at the moment, but I don't think any of them added that specifically to counter dwindling population.

Quirhid

Originally posted by Gorwe
[...]

None other that I know of apart from the GW 1. And is a mighty shame to boot. Sometimes you wish to play a game without any interpersonal cr@p. Plus, GW 1 even with HnH were more of an MMO than most of today's MMOs are anyhow.

[...]

Heh, in GW1, henchmen were better than most players. With henchmen, you know exactly what you're getting and they do what they're told. With people, their builds and skill level can be all over the place, they might not understand english or they can be dicks.

I'd say 4/5 times you were better off with a henchman than a random player to fill your group.

Plus Alesia had some wicked superhuman reaction times.

Alka_Setzer

Originally posted by Gorwe
TLDR: NPC helpers rock.

Well it's certainly better than nothing at all imo. Assuming that their AI is also programmed well.

 

Sometimes I don't feel like being social and that kind of kills the experience for me in some games. I would love to have henchmen in TERA for example.

Quizzical

Originally posted by Quirhid

Originally posted by Gorwe
[...]

None other that I know of apart from the GW 1. And is a mighty shame to boot. Sometimes you wish to play a game without any interpersonal cr@p. Plus, GW 1 even with HnH were more of an MMO than most of today's MMOs are anyhow.

[...]

Heh, in GW1, henchmen were better than most players. With henchmen, you know exactly what you're getting and they do what they're told. With people, their builds and skill level can be all over the place, they might not understand english or they can be dicks.

I'd say 4/5 times you were better off with a henchman than a random player to fill your group.

Plus Alesia had some wicked superhuman reaction times.

To the contrary, most players were better than henchmen.  The problem was when you got a really bad player, they weren't just a little worse than a henchman; they could be worse than a vacant group spot.  Grouping with three players who were better than henchmen and one who was much, much worse might well be worse than just four henchmen.

Heroes, however, were a different matter.

sirphobos

Star Trek Online is another one that I don't believe has been mentioned.

Sevenstar61

In SWTOR you can always have one NPC (copmanion) with you. At maxed legacy and high presence, companions are capable to kill all groups of mobs while you just stand and watch.

Here is my video of my Sith Inquisitor early levels on Alderan  LOL.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wn66y1X7m4

 

Loke666

Originally posted by Quizzical

To the contrary, most players were better than henchmen.  The problem was when you got a really bad player, they weren't just a little worse than a henchman; they could be worse than a vacant group spot.  Grouping with three players who were better than henchmen and one who was much, much worse might well be worse than just four henchmen.

Heroes, however, were a different matter.

Yeah, Mhenlo made me insane, particularly before the AI upgrade.

Heroes were really good though, and still the only good npcs you can use in groups.

EQ 1 & 2 got npcs you can hire in now as well as DDO.

Still, Guildwars 1 is the only good choice if you want a group with some or many NPCs in it.

Loke666

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

In SWTOR you can always have one NPC (copmanion) with you. At maxed legacy and high presence, companions are capable to kill all groups of mobs while you just stand and watch.

Here is my video of my Sith Inquisitor early levels on Alderan  LOL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wn66y1X7m4

In TOR they are more pets than actual group members.

Sevenstar61

Originally posted by Loke666

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

In SWTOR you can always have one NPC (copmanion) with you. At maxed legacy and high presence, companions are capable to kill all groups of mobs while you just stand and watch.

Here is my video of my Sith Inquisitor early levels on Alderan  LOL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wn66y1X7m4

In TOR they are more pets than actual group members.

Call Kaliyo a pet and she will reorganize your face /grin

Quirhid

Originally posted by Quizzical

Originally posted by Quirhid

 

Heh, in GW1, henchmen were better than most players. With henchmen, you know exactly what you're getting and they do what they're told. With people, their builds and skill level can be all over the place, they might not understand english or they can be dicks.

I'd say 4/5 times you were better off with a henchman than a random player to fill your group.

Plus Alesia had some wicked superhuman reaction times.

To the contrary, most players were better than henchmen.  The problem was when you got a really bad player, they weren't just a little worse than a henchman; they could be worse than a vacant group spot.  Grouping with three players who were better than henchmen and one who was much, much worse might well be worse than just four henchmen.

Heroes, however, were a different matter.

I have more bad experiences from players than good ones.

nariusseldon

Originally posted by DMKano

Since the OP said MMOs - Diablo 3.

 

rare that someone beat me to it!

Azrile

DDO has a fairly robust NPC grouping system.

I don´t know if they did it on purpose, or if it is just bad AI, but the NPCs are fairly unpredictable which keeps you on your toes in a good way.   They feel more alive because of it, and not just automated servants.

Po_gg

Originally posted by sirphobos
Star Trek Online is another one that I don't believe has been mentioned.

Just a +1, if you're interested in managing / building your own crew and play with them as a team, STO is your game.

TehJonel

star trek online. fully customizeable bridge officers that accompany you on your mission. face, uniform, race, skills, weapons, armor, etc.

nariusseldon

Originally posted by Gorwe
Idk about Diablo 3. Sth about that wondersome three makes me not really think about the real NPC helpers. Especially if we compare it to competent AI(DoTA 1/2, GW 1). I mean, Koss/Dunkoro and co simply can't be compared to Kormac and co. Simply can't.

Well, they are NPCs, and they have skills.

Another game that has NPC help is Van Helsing 1 & 2.

 

Jemcrystal

I think we're talking about Companions?  Neverwinter had them.  I think most Forgotten Realms based mmo's do.  Turn base mmo's usually give you several.  I don't know if you want to count animals in this OP never said.  Chocobos of FFXIV act as battle companions (not a pet which is class specific).  Chocobos aren't animals anyway; Big Bird told me so.

Velocinox

Yea, I was mostly focusing on NPCs that took the place of real people party members, not pets or NPCs the player would have even if they were in a party full of real people.

 

Though since the thread has moved on from that, anything an MMO does to make it easier for a player to solo in a group mostly game is fair, I suppose.