After about an hour of testing popular theories (running over the lines and hitting shaman), I can now tell the community that HP reset is not caused by either of these things. I’ve primarily tested this during phase 2, but I’m pretty sure there should be no variations.
According to my observations, shaman’s HP resets when someone touches the invisible circle in the middle of the area, somewhat around where the large fire elemental appears and maybe a bit shifted towards the shaman: attachment 1 At some moment a NPC actually gives a hint and says “Keep to the minions!”
Triggering a reset by touching the area: attachment 2
Fire elemental area from different angles after being triggered by touching the area: attachment 3
So, the best strategy seems to be staying in the corner where the NPCs usually stand and not coming near the shaman as you may drag the NPCs with you and cause a reset (mesmer illusions and necro minions didn’t trigger the reset, ranger pets not tested but shouldn’t).
Thanks for testing it. I was wondering the same thing, but didn’t bother to check it myself. Anyway, this is bad and should be changed. It’s either a bug (then it should be fixed) or an intended hidden mechanism (then it should be properly made visible). Currently the event can take twice as long, because people accidentally reset him without even knowing what’s going on.
Anyway, this is bad and should be changed. It’s either a bug (then it should be fixed) or an intended hidden mechanism (then it should be properly made visible). Currently the event can take twice as long, because people accidentally reset him without even knowing what’s going on.
Agreed. If that area had any kind of visualization (fiery terrain, fire sparkles, bonfires, stone circle, fiery shield, black puddle), it would make sense. It looks like it was to be programmed but then got released with the visuals missing.
Anyway, this is bad and should be changed. It’s either a bug (then it should be fixed) or an intended hidden mechanism (then it should be properly made visible). Currently the event can take twice as long, because people accidentally reset him without even knowing what’s going on.
Agreed. If that area had any kind of visualization (fiery terrain, fire sparkles, bonfires, stone circle, fiery shield, black puddle), it would make sense. It looks like it was to be programmed but then got released with the visuals missing.
It doesn’t matter if there are visual if the NPCs can trigger it. There should never be a situation where you have to try to murder your NPC “allies” to get things done.
Agreed. If that area had any kind of visualization (fiery terrain, fire sparkles, bonfires, stone circle, fiery shield, black puddle), it would make sense. It looks like it was to be programmed but then got released with the visuals missing.
It doesn’t matter if there are visual if the NPCs can trigger it. There should never be a situation where you have to try to murder your NPC “allies” to get things done.
I was talking about the invisible area, not the NPC thing. NPC triggering is bad design, but NPCs usually stick to players there as far as I remember so they wouldn’t trigger the reset unless someone attacks the shaman or comes near him and an NPC tries to “help”.
