Guild Wars 2

This is an honest to god serious question. I understand the concept behind scaling in a gear treadmill game that has new content released on a bi-monthly basis that increases stat levels; Obviously the Minions would fall behind if this were the case.

But that is not the case. Exotic gear is capped stats. Aren’t Minions based around those stats? Wouldn’t having Minions scale actually -decrease- their effectiveness moreso for anyone not in full Exotic-tier gear (And for the rest with full Exotic, their effectiveness would be approximately equal to what they currently are, if I’m not mistaken)?

Is the ‘Minions need to scale’ outcry just a knee-jerk reaction to the gear treadmill games with no actual thought put in that this is not one of them?

This definitely is not about Minion AI. That needs to be fixed, obviously. I’m specifically asking about their stats/effectiveness and the opinions on that.

The point is, that minions do not enough damage once you reach higher levels. They are, except for the AI issues, fine at the start, but their damage output and survivability definitively lacks once you hit 80.

I’m not sold on the idea that there will be no power creep. If it holds true, though, you are correct – the only reason for stats to affect minions would be for customization purposes.

Iv been using a 1-5 minion build since I was around lvl 20, and I can assure you they do not need scaling. Their HP is average, which is fine because if they never died that would make the game too easy. And their damage is more than enough.

The Flesh Golem and the Bone fiend both hit very hard(around 1k per few seconds) so that is more than enough considering you can also dish some extra dmg yourself.
You can have up to 5 pets (I get 4 to tank a little better when soloing), so the overall damage would be way too high if they boosted any of those pets.

The only real issues are the AI / lack of pet UI and also the double casting time on all pet skills (you have to cast it, then pet casts it… if you are stunned before the pet cast it, the spell will fail and go on full cooldown).

1k every 4 seconds is really little counting you are losing your utility skills for that.

Minions need to scale because minions are your build. It’s like expecting a Warrior to do serious PvP with white level 80 gear. Necromancer is the only class in the game capable of devoting half of their skill bar to something that they can’t even itemize for.

The Boz.2038:

Minions need to scale because minions are your build. It’s like expecting a Warrior to do serious PvP with white level 80 gear. Necromancer is the only class in the game capable of devoting half of their skill bar to something that they can’t even itemize for.

Totally correct.

I think the wish of scaling for the pets stems from the fact that minions die in seconds by aoe or when they get attacked directly to get rid of them.

Personally scaling wouldn’t interest me much if their survivability (at least for minion specced necros) get a substantial buff. And no the 50% health trait is nowhere near enough if a defensive specced classes can wreck your 4 minions in about 4-5 seconds when they pull them behind an obstacle.

The damage which they can dish out is quite ok imo.

A minion-based build lacks a lot in the AoE department. Yes, Bone Minions explode. Yes, you get staff AoEs. Yes, you get Scepter or Daggers, AoE.

But what about Epidemic? Wells? Plague? Lich Form?

MM builds are for 1v1 fights. Although it could also cause your doom if your opponent keeps on using your low-HP minions to Rally over and over again.

You’ll end up with all minions in CD and open to be slaughtered.

The Boz.2038:

Necromancer is the only class in the game capable of devoting half of their skill bar to something that they can’t even itemize for.

I take your meaning, but engineer is in somewhat of the same boat.

True, but the problem isn’t as dire, because each turret has an alternate skill just like minions, but they also have not one but two F skills that DO scale according to the Engineer’s stats.

Devilsmack.5736:

A minion-based build lacks a lot in the AoE department. Yes, Bone Minions explode. Yes, you get staff AoEs. Yes, you get Scepter or Daggers, AoE.

But what about Epidemic? Wells? Plague? Lich Form?

MM builds are for 1v1 fights. Although it could also cause your doom if your opponent keeps on using your low-HP minions to Rally over and over again.

You’ll end up with all minions in CD and open to be slaughtered.

Not necessarily…..if you can pull off the marks from staff before your minions croak, you’ll do fine. I haven’t had a problem yet.

I’d like to see what can be done against a zerg of enemies. Your minions are as good as dead.

As I stated in another thread. I rather be in the backline, throwing conditions here and there and casting Epidemic.

Now, in s/tPvP is a whole different matter.