Runners

[mechahamham]

I've been playing a newish katana/psi armor scrapper. I usually play characters that are much more damaging or much more about control, but the katana/psi has been a nice change of pace.

 

I went lengthwise through the 'Oh yeah. Trolls run. Trolls always run,' thing as I was leveling through Skyway. My darling spouse said to me, "Trolls are the runningest punks."

 

I picked up Mercedes Sheldon's arcs after I hit 20 and have been slowly working my way through them. Tsoo Sorcerers, of course, teleport away like crazy.

 

What really stood out to me, though, was the Warriors' 'Elite' bosses. Every last one I've engaged has run from me at around 25% health. Almost none of the minions or lieutenants run, but of course they go down more quickly. It's not like I'm not taking any damage, either. So far, Psi Armor is about resists and health regen. It stands out as odd and unusual to me. I've done the arc on non-taunting melee characters before, and it just seems different this time through. Different, and maybe wrong, or even out of character for 'Proud' warriors to run away so much.

 

I don't know if this should even count as a bug or even if I'm imagining it. Maybe there's something about Consume Psyche that causes enemies to run that I haven't run into on other characters.

 

Have you noticed more runners than usual? Does it stand out as unusual?

[Luminara]

Back in... I don't know, 2008(?), 2009(?), the script which tells enemies what to do in combat was modified, to add certain circumstances dictating when to flee.  Debuffs, extremely rapid HP loss, X number of the spawn being defeated, failure to hit X number of times, combat has continued for X number of seconds, things like that.  The more triggers, the greater the likelihood of running away.

[MonteCarla]

I've noticed this with Council vampire bosses.

They often run off and refuse to stop running to the point where it's almost comical - chasing one up and down a corridor landing hits on them till they fall. Even if they're taunted!

[Ukase]

I see this a lot, and to me, it's a clever ploy by the npc. Some of us may not notice, but what they are doing usually, is a "pull". Take note of where they're running to. Anecdotally, there's usually another cluster of mobs within 70 feet or so; they run there and hope you chase them so they'll have help in tackling you. 

Of course, there's always the times where they run because they're "scared", and this is much akin to another blaster strategy seen predictably in missions in The Hollows in the early issues. Run in, fight as hard as you can, and when you realize you're not going to win, you run as far away as you have to so you can maybe rest and regroup. I see the former a lot more than the latter. 

[Skyhawke]

Well, they are usually middle management in their respective villain groups. Middle managers usually fold the fastest and throw everyone else under the bus. Just in this case, the bus could be a chunk of the floor or a giant fire sword. Office politics are a bitch for everybody.  

[mechahamham]

3 hours ago, Skyhawke said:

Middle managers usually fold the fastest and throw everyone else under the bus.

 

Pizza party for you! Pizza parties will continue until office morale improves!