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Mercenaries were added with the ''[[Seeds of Destruction]]'' expansion. They are player-controlled NPCs which act as group members. | |||
* [http://everquest.allakhazam.com/wiki/EQ:Mercenaries Allakhazam's Mercenaries wiki page] | |||
==In-Game Description== | ==In-Game Description== | ||
Mercenaries are NPCs for hire that will aid adventurers in their heroic endeavors. Their levels and abilities will scale appropriately and they will think and act for themselves with limited player guidance. They are designed for extra support or extra muscle in PvE encounters. | |||
Unlike player pets, these NPCs are not directly controllable by players, though the player can give them general orders, but rather function like a normal party member including taking up a group slot and taking a share of the experience. | Unlike player pets, these NPCs are not directly controllable by players, though the player can give them general orders, but rather function like a normal party member including taking up a group slot and taking a share of the experience. | ||
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DPS Mercenary: These mercenaries will do damage to mobs. | DPS Mercenary: These mercenaries will do damage to mobs. | ||
Mercenaries can be suspended like a pet. There are some zones that will automatically suspend your mercenaries upon entering the zone. | Mercenaries can be suspended like a pet. There are some zones that will automatically suspend your mercenaries upon entering the zone. | ||
== General Information == | ==General Information== | ||
There are currently | There are currently three classes of mercenaries: Healer, Tank, and DPS. The Healer and Tank mercenaries are similar to the Cleric and Warrior classes, the two most needed classes in the game. | ||
Mercs are to be constantly tweaked to be sure they are viable as an alternative to grouping (as opposed to being preferred over grouping). In other words, they should only be desired as a last option. | Mercs are to be constantly tweaked to be sure they are viable as an alternative to grouping (as opposed to being preferred over grouping). In other words, they should only be desired as a last option. | ||
This will allow any two classes to get together, and instantly have a group with a viable tank and healer, or a Melee to hire a healer to "Solo" or a healer to hire a tank, again to "solo", etc. | |||
There is a platinum cost associated with purchasing a mercenary. There is also a smaller recurring charge associated with upkeep (charged every 15 minutes). You can see the costs before hiring them. The amount you'll pay should be recoverable through normal experiencing and vendor-loot drops. | There is a platinum cost associated with purchasing a mercenary. There is also a smaller recurring charge associated with upkeep (charged every 15 minutes). You can see the costs before hiring them. The amount you'll pay should be recoverable through normal experiencing and vendor-loot drops. | ||
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===Race=== | ===Race=== | ||
The race of your merc has no effect upon anything other than appearance. | The race of your merc has no effect upon anything other than appearance. | ||
{{cquote| | {{cquote|The model differences are purely aesthetic.||| [http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/posts/list.m?topic_id{{=}}142726 Maddoc the Wayfarer, Assistant Lead Designer]}} | ||
=== Name === | === Name === | ||
The name of your mercenary is determined by SOE. If you wish to choose the name of your mercenary, you may do so by using a Potion of Mercenary Amnesia purchased from the Marketplace with Station Cash. The normal SOE naming regulations that characters must follow apply to your mercenary's name. The potion names the mercenary slot, so if you have multiple mercenaries, you need a potion for each one you wish to rename. If you dismiss the mercenary and get another one, that one will retain the name you have given the previous one, as long as it uses the same "slot". | The name of your mercenary is determined by SOE. If you wish to choose the name of your mercenary, you may do so by using a Potion of Mercenary Amnesia purchased from the Marketplace with Station Cash. The normal SOE naming regulations that characters must follow apply to your mercenary's name. The potion names the mercenary slot, so if you have multiple mercenaries, you need a potion for each one you wish to rename. If you dismiss the mercenary and get another one, that one will retain the name you have given the previous one, as long as it uses the same "slot". | ||
==Purchasing a Mercenary== | ==Purchasing a Mercenary== | ||
Mercenaries can be hired from various Guardians in the Plane of Knowledge as well as from NPCs in starting cities. You can use the find command (CTRL + F) to locate such vendors. | Mercenaries can be hired from various Guardians in the Plane of Knowledge as well as from NPCs in starting cities. You can use the find command (CTRL + F) to locate such vendors. | ||
== Ranks == | ==Ranks and Tiers== | ||
Your Mercenary can come in three skill levels, and of those three levels, they are further subdivided into 5 tiers. | |||
* Skill Levels | |||
** Apprentice - on par with single group geared players, on spells and abilities that have a rank, it will have rank 1. It will have HP, Mana, and Endurance on par with characters that do not have the gear to acquire rank 2 spells and abilities. | |||
** Journeyman - On par with single group geared players, however, have rank 2 spells and abilities, slightly better damage mitigation, etc. Also Journeymen are less likely to "Lose confidence" then an Apprentice(see below) | |||
** Master - On par with raid geared players, additionally, have rank 3 spells and abilities. Currently, Master mercenaries are not in the game. It is unknown if they will ever be added. | |||
* Tiers | |||
** Tier 1 - has a ~25% chance to "Lose confidence" in your group based on the number and /con of the mobs being fought. Adds and Crowd control methods will additionally modify this percentage. Once confidence is lost, the mercenary is effectively worthless in a fight, unless crowd control methods come into play, creating a chance for it to regain its confidence. | |||
** Tier 2 - has a ~20% chance to "Lose confidence" in your group. | |||
** Tier 3 - has a ~15% chance to "Lose confidence" in your group. | |||
** Tier 4 - has a ~10% chance to "Lose confidence" in your group. | |||
** Tier 5 - has a ~5% chance to "Lose confidence" in your group. | |||
===Unlocking higher level mercs=== | |||
To unlock the higher level mercs, you need to do quests. To get the Tier 2 though 5 Journeyman mercs, you need to do the [[Seeds_of_Destruction#Progression|SoD group progression]]. Void B grants you Tier 2, C grants you Tier 3, D grants you Tier 4, and E grants you Tier 5. | |||
It has been reported that to get a Tier 5 mercenary it is not necessary to do all of the progression but just the [[Seeds_of_Destruction#Invasion_of_Earth_.28access_to_Void_E_AND_Korafax.2C_Lair_of_the_Riders_.28the_Discord_theme.29.29|"Invasion of Earth"]] tasks. | |||
==Group roles== | ==Group roles== | ||
<blockquote>If you have the puller group role, the healer will not heal you until you are withing [sic] 50 feet of camp (camp is the merc's location in the case where it's just you and the merc). So if you need to split, you'll need to do it outside that 50 foot radius.</blockquote> | |||
<blockquote>Healer mercs don't pay much attention to the Main Tank group role, except to give them a slight preference as a heal target (which doesn't really make much difference, as the MT is usually the only one taking much damage anyway).</blockquote> | |||
<blockquote>Tank mercs pay attention to the MT role if it is assigned to them. They will taunt everything not mezzed and not attacking them when they are MT.</blockquote> | |||
<blockquote>- [http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/posts/list.m?topic_id=141693 Steven S. Klug, EverQuest Assistant Lead Programmer]</blockquote> | |||
==Pulling== | ==Pulling== | ||
<blockquote>If your puller is set to the puller role they will not engage until your puller and the mobs chasing him are within 50 feet of camp.</blockquote> | |||
Even so, there can be some "creep" if it's just you and the merc in a group. So you may have to toggle off your puller role now and then to move him where you want him. | <blockquote>Even so, there can be some "creep" if it's just you and the merc in a group. So you may have to toggle off your puller role now and then to move him where you want him.</blockquote> | ||
In a group, it's not a problem, as your merc will hang out with the other group members while you're out pulling. | <blockquote>In a group, it's not a problem, as your merc will hang out with the other group members while you're out pulling.</blockquote> | ||
<blockquote> - [http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/posts/list.m?topic_id=141648 Steven S. Klug, EverQuest Assistant Lead Programmer]</blockquote> | |||
==Healer== | ==Healer== | ||
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A healer will buff your group, keep the group healed as needed, primarily focusing on their owner and then the MA. | A healer will buff your group, keep the group healed as needed, primarily focusing on their owner and then the MA. | ||
===Buffing=== | ===Buffing=== | ||
====When will they buff==== | |||
[http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/posts/list.m?topic_id=141633 Steven S. Klug, EverQuest Assistant Lead Programmer]: | |||
' | {{cquote|...they will buff you when they are out of combat, in a non-passive stance, and they have buffs to cast on you that you don't already have. ...They also need to be over 50% mana.}} | ||
I very much agree. When I first came to Everquest back in late 1999 one of the things that abuslotely astonished me was the hustle and bustle around the gates of Qeynos. It was like the square of a busy town, alive with people going and going, chatter all around, the occasional shouting match. When I was a little more experienced I made the journey to the virtual souk in the East Commons tunnel, where there could be a hundred or more people gathered, calling out their wares and making deals. The bank square in North Freeport, around the lifts beneath Kelethin, throughout Thurgadin's icy halls, in the Nexus and later the Bazaar on the ill-fated moon of Luclin, among the many portals of the Plane of Knowledge and finally beneath the high ceiling of the Guild Lobby, Everquest players have always found places to gather en masse. It's really one of the best aspects of this, the best of all MMOs.One of the things I most like about Rift is the absence of almost all facilities outside of Meridian and Sanctum. The fact that you just have to go there to bank or use the auction house, plus the frequently changing daily quests that don't just begin in the cities but take place and end there too, keep these refuges, small though they are, vital and alive.I'm playing a lot of EQ2 at the moment, on the busiest server, Freeport. EQ2 has far and away the best housing options of any MMO, but they are all in instances. It provides facilities like banking and brokerage in almost every zone you might visit. Consequently, even though the server is very busy it doesn't feel it. You can tell how busy it is by the constant chatter on various channels, but you rarely see more than a handful of people at one time.I think MMOs in general need to be very wary of giving players incentives to hide themselves away and I hope that it's a trend that's peaked. | |||
==Tank== | ==Tank== | ||
Tanks are similar to Warriors, in that they use a lot of the same Disc's. As with the Cleric, they are never as good as a real player, however, they are much better than a silk class tanking. | Tanks are similar to Warriors, in that they use a lot of the same Disc's. As with the Cleric, they are never as good as a real player, however, they are much better than a silk class tanking. | ||
They will try to keep Aggro if | They will try to keep Aggro if designated the MA of the group, and they seem to be able to use their discs to the group's advantage. | ||
(Tank mercs can not be designated MA at this time. You get the message that | (Tank mercs can not be designated MA at this time. You get the message that npcs can't be main assist) | ||
Currently, tanks are bugged and they will sometimes wake up mezzed mobs. This bug is known to SOE and they are working on it. | |||
== DPS == | == DPS == | ||
DPS, or damage dealing, mercs have been added. You may choose a rogue or wizard mercenary. | DPS, or damage dealing, mercs have been added. You may choose a rogue or wizard mercenary. | ||
=== | ===Control=== | ||
To control whether or not your tank will attack any mob nearby, use the "Active" and "Passive" commands. You can set a hot key for each. If Active is on, the tank will attack mobs that have aggro on you. If Passive is on, they will do nothing. | |||
==Controlling your merc== | ==Controlling your merc== | ||
As of the November 11, 2009 patch, some changes were made: | As of the November 11, 2009 patch, some changes were made: | ||
* Added a new selectable assist mode for mercenaries. | * Added a new selectable assist mode for mercenaries. | ||
* There are two new buttons in the mercenary management window: "Auto Assist" and "Call Assist". | * There are two new buttons in the mercenary management window: "Auto Assist" and "Call Assist". | ||
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=== House of Thule changes === | === House of Thule changes === | ||
Beginning with the release of the ''[[House of Thule]]'' expansion, you'll get a bonus for each real player in a group. A full group of 6 will get 22% more than a group of 3 people and 3 mercs. | Beginning with the release of the ''[[House of Thule]]'' expansion, you'll get a bonus for each real player in a group. A full group of 6 will get 22% more than a group of 3 people and 3 mercs. | ||
[[Category:EverQuest]] | [[Category:EverQuest]] |