A few tips for leading NPCs

[KaizenSoze]

Escorting NPC is missions is a pain, but I have figured a few things out over the years.

 

• Obvious ones, make sure all stealth is off on the team. Especially, AOE stealth, people just forget they have it.
• If you are the escorter, leading NPCs is like pulling them with a delicate string. You want to keep just the right amount of tension
  • Turn off both sprint. Base NPC speed is usually right around non-sprint walking.
  • If you have an auto power that boosts your run speed, then move backwards
  • Keep them 20ish "feet" out. Too close and they stop a lot. Too far and they get hung up on corners
  • Watch the map primarily
  • Ask teammates to stay away from you, so the NPC doesn't get blocked by accident
  • Anticipate corners, slow down till the NPC makes the course correction on the map
    • This is way it's better to watch the map. You can easily see which way the NPC is facing
  • If you have got it right, NPC will follow you at a smooth constant pace

[Psyonico]

If the hostage isn't on me, I usually hit "F" to follow the hostage in case they get stuck.

 

If the hostage is on me then I usually run backwards to keep an eye on them.

[Luminara]

[Techwright]

1 hour ago, KaizenSoze said:

• Obvious ones, make sure all stealth is off on the team. Especially, AOE stealth, people just forget they have it.

 

As I think it over with this, if you know there's going to be an escort, before going in, get the teammates to check their toggle powers to see if there is something that has a stealth element.  I've been at fault a couple of times.  It's not necessarily that I forget that I have an AoE active (especially since there's visual to it), it's that I play 60 characters, and swapping between them, I don't always remember which toggle has a negative effect on a given mission. 

 

Even with all these considerations, you'll still have challenges from the NPC.  The one in the Katie Hannon Task Force for example: if she even thinks any one of you needs a buff, she stops to give it to you...all of you, one at a time... which can really mess with the team's efforts to drag her backside out of the cave.

[Xalon]

You want to go 20-30ft then stop, then 20-30ft then stop, and keep going like that. If you go too far they will stop, especially if corners. Make sure they can always see you. If lots of others around, make sure you click on the NPC when approaching, as that seems to help as well.

[Skyhawke]

Yell at them. A lot. Preferably with expletives. At least that's what works for me. 

[Luminara]

11 minutes ago, Skyhawke said:

Yell at them. A lot. Preferably with expletives. At least that's what works for me. 

 

 

Oh.  Expletives.

 

[Gerswin]

3 hours ago, KaizenSoze said:

Escorting NPC is missions is a pain, but I have figured a few things out over the years.

 

• Obvious ones, make sure all stealth is off on the team. Especially, AOE stealth, people just forget they have it.
• If you are the escorter, leading NPCs is like pulling them with a delicate string. You want to keep just the right amount of tension
  • Turn off both sprint. Base NPC speed is usually right around non-sprint walking.
  • If you have an auto power that boosts your run speed, then move backwards
  • Keep them 20ish "feet" out. Too close and they stop a lot. Too far and they get hung up on corners
  • Watch the map primarily
  • Ask teammates to stay away from you, so the NPC doesn't get blocked by accident
  • Anticipate corners, slow down till the NPC makes the course correction on the map
    • This is way it's better to watch the map. You can easily see which way the NPC is facing
  • If you have got it right, NPC will follow you at a smooth constant pace

Alternative: grind out multifaceted so you can Mark & Recall

[Jacke]

With Escorting NPCs (ugh):

• Turn off all sources of stealth (and if you have the Base Buff Grant Invisibility, delete that Temp Power).
  • This helps so much it's not funny.  You can get well ahead of the NPC(s) and they'll still find you.
• Turn off all +Run Speed Powers, including Sprint, as you'll still move faster than the NPC(s) even with them off.
• As @Psyonico mentions, running backward and looking at the minimap to guide your way is a good way to keep an eye on the NPC(s).
  • Clicking on the NPC(s) to target them, especially with Range turned on, also helps.
• If enemy show up, from any direction, use what Powers you have to (including stealth Powers that have other effects) to defeat them.
  • Then pick up the NPS(s) again and start from the top.
• Get to the Exit point, wait for the NPC(s) to catch up and exit.
  • If that ends the Mission, hurrah!  Else do whatever else needs to be done.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Jacke

[lemming]

One thing that I don't suggest unless you're doing other stuff and just want to screw around.

 

A hidden stalker using walk can bring an NPC along easily.    This of course depends on the style of ambush if any.