self>Dmitri Fatkin at 17:21, 29 January 2025

2025-01-29T17:21:42Z

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{{Quotation|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120711081435/http://www.guildwars.com/events/contests/henchmen_skill_bar_contest/rules.php Official page]|
We've listened to the voices of many players and are removing heroes from Guild vs. Guild and Heroes' Ascent play. In order to give all players the ability to participate in those formats (even if they can't form a full party with other players), we're replacing heroes with a selection of new henchmen.

Do you have ideas for great, competitive henchmen skill bars? Enter your best skill bars in our Henchman Skill Bar Contest!
}}
During August and September, 2009, [[ArenaNet]] ran a contest that allowed players to submit skill bars for the henchmen that would soon replace heroes in [[Guild versus Guild]] and [[Heroes' Ascent]]. Players could submit their skill bars to [[Dizhou|Dizhou [Xunlai Pollster]]] in the [[Great Temple of Balthazar]]. Out of over 30 000 entries, the [[Guild Wars Live Team]] selected forty skill bars that the new henchmen would use.

== Prizes ==
Forty winners (twenty GvG winners and twenty HA winners) will receive one of each of the following prizes:
* '''Name a henchman'''; a henchman named after the winner's character or an appropriate name of the winner's choosing. Names must abide by the [https://legal.guildwars.com/en/gw-naming-policy-en.pdf Naming Policy] and are subject to the approval of the Development Team.
* '''[[Everlasting Henchman Tonic]]'''; one Everlasting Henchman Tonic. These unique items will grant the winner the ability to temporarily transform into the image of the henchman that they are named after.

== Winners ==
=== Guild versus Guild winners ===
{| class="sortable" style="width: 100%; border: 1px solid silver;" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="3" rules=all
|- style="background: #BAE;"
| '''Henchman''' || '''Skill Bar Submitter''' || '''Skillbar''' || '''Henchman''' || '''Skill Bar Submitter''' || '''Skillbar'''
|-
| {{w}} [[Pudash]] || "I Will Win Ff"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Conjure Flame|Rush|Bull's Strike|Frenzy|Gash|Sun and Moon Slash|Crippling Slash}}
| {{n}} [[Dirk Shadowrise]] || "Dark Rising Shadow"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Barbs|Suffering|Insidious Parasite|Faintheartedness|Lingering Curse|Rip Enchantment|Signet of Lost Souls}}
|-
| {{w}} [[Dahlia]] || "Leet T H E O R Y"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Hammer Bash|Bull's Strike|Crushing Blow|Death's Charge|Flail|Enraging Charge|Magehunter's Smash}}
| {{e}} [[Vincent Evan]] || "A Papaya In There"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Gale|Glyph of Lesser Energy|Air Attunement|Flesh of My Flesh|Weapon of Warding|Protective Was Kaolai|Blinding Surge|Lightning Bolt}}
|-
| {{w}} [[Disenmaedel]] || "This Is Trigger"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Shock|Rush|Bull's Strike|Dismember|Disrupting Chop|Primal Rage|Body Blow}}
| {{e}} [[Luzy Fiera]] || "Luzy Of Fire"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Distortion|Aura of Restoration|Fire Attunement|Meteor|Rodgort's Invocation|Immolate|Mind Blast}}
|-
| {{r}} [[Errol Hyl]]1 || "Etron In Vitro"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Crippling Shot|Distracting Shot|Determined Shot|Savage Shot|Apply Poison|Serpent's Quickness|Natural Stride}}
| {{e}} [[Motoko Kai]] || "Mala Aurora"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Aura of Restoration|Water Attunement|Blurred Vision|Flesh of My Flesh|Shatterstone|Freezing Gust|Winter's Embrace|Glowing Ice}}
|-
| {{r}} [[Lulu Xan]] || "Lulu Xan"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Pin Down|Distracting Shot|Debilitating Shot|Apply Poison|Lightning Reflexes|Magebane Shot|Natural Stride}}
| {{e}} [[Hinata]] || "Hajime Hinata"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Aura of Restoration|Rust| Water Attunement|Ice Spikes|Blurred Vision|Mirror of Ice|Freezing Gust}}
|-
| {{me}} [[Tannaros]] || "Tannaros Tower Rush"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Pious Concentration|Power Drain|Empathy|Backfire|Signet of Humility|Visions of Regret|Waste Not, Want Not}}
| {{a}} [[Kah Xan]] || "Saint Reapers Sin"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Flurry|Twisting Fangs|Horns of the Ox|Falling Spider|Dash|Wastrel's Collapse|Falling Lotus Strike}}
|-
| {{me}} [[Cassie Santi]] || "Cassie Santiago"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Phantom Pain|Lyssa's Aura|Conjure Nightmare|Illusion of Pain|Hex Eater Signet|Ether Phantom|Discharge Enchantment}}
| {{rt}} [[Narcissia]] || "Pseudo Antipathy"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resilient Weapon|Weapon of Warding|Recuperation|Protective Was Kaolai|Spirit Siphon|Mend Body and Soul|Wielder's Boon|Xinrae's Weapon}}
|-
| {{mo}} [[Redemptor Frohs]] || "Sacred Wolfy"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Guardian|Word of Healing|Infuse Health|Signet of Rejuvenation|Armor of Sanctity|Conviction|Cure Hex|Patient Spirit}}
| {{d}} [[Zen Siert]] || "Zen Si Ert"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Wild Blow|Mystic Sweep|Faithful Intervention|Wounding Strike|Heart of Fury|Attacker's Insight|Signet of Mystic Speed}}
|-
| {{mo}} [[Julyia]] || "Il Juliya Il"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Guardian|Restore Condition|Shielding Hands|Remove Hex|Reversal of Fortune|Balanced Stance|Spirit Bond|Aura of Stability}}
| {{p}} [[Blenkeh]] || "Aria Of Nerf"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Spear of Lightning|Anthem of Flame|Finale of Restoration|Mending Refrain|Wild Throw|Aggressive Refrain|"The Power Is Yours!"}}
|-
| {{n}} [[Bellicus]] || "Bellicus Magnus"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Enfeeble|Faintheartedness|Plague Sending|Rip Enchantment|Corrupt Enchantment|Foul Feast|Defile Defenses}}
| {{p}} [[Aurora Allesandra]] || "Aurora Alessandra"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Cruel Spear|Spear of Lightning|"Go for the Eyes!"|"Stand Your Ground!"|Vicious Attack|Aggressive Refrain|Anthem of Weariness}}
|}
#This henchman was initially named ''Etron'', but was changed to ''Errol Hyl'' in the [[Feedback:Game updates/20091119|November 19, 2009, update]].

=== Heroes' Ascent winners ===
{| class="sortable" style="width: 100%; border: 1px solid silver;" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="3" rules=all
|- style="background: #BAE;"
| '''Henchman''' || '''Skill Bar Submitter''' || '''Skill Bar''' || '''Henchman''' || '''Skill Bar Submitter''' || '''Skill Bar'''
|-
| {{w}} [[Teena the Raptor]] || "Tiny Tina"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Shock|Rush|Bull's Strike|Executioner's Strike|Eviscerate|Frenzy|Body Blow}}
| {{e}} [[Hobba Inaste]] || "Our Guild Is Leet"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Eruption|Earth Attunement|Stoning|Grasping Earth|Ward Against Foes|Glyph of Lesser Energy|Unsteady Ground}}
|-
| {{w}} [[Lora Lanaya]] || "Iarwain De Llanowar"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Plague Touch|Rush|Hundred Blades|Sever Artery|Gash|Savage Slash|Sun and Moon Slash}}
| {{e}} [[Bacchi Coi]] || "Bacchikoi Bacchikoi"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Water Attunement|Ice Spikes|Blurred Vision|Mirror of Ice|Freezing Gust|Winter's Embrace|Glowing Ice}}
|-
| {{w}} [[Adepte]] || "Adepte De La Guerre"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Hammer Bash|Bull's Strike|Crushing Blow|Devastating Hammer|Flail|Mokele Smash|Enraging Charge}}
| {{e}} [[Suzu]] || "Der Held"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Fire Attunement|Rodgort's Invocation|Searing Heat|Glyph of Lesser Energy|Liquid Flame|Teinai's Heat|Savannah Heat}}
|-
| {{r}} [[Haldibarn Earendul]] || "Haldibarn Earendul"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Hunter's Shot|Distracting Shot|Debilitating Shot|Savage Shot|Incendiary Arrows|Apply Poison|Natural Stride}}
| {{e}} [[Rollo Lowlo]] || "Rolol Lololol"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Fire Attunement|Rodgort's Invocation|Immolate|Searing Heat|Song of Concentration|"Make Haste!"|Mind Blast}}
|-
| {{r}} [[Daky]] || "Unfaithful Servant"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet| Wild Blow|Hammer Bash|Crushing Blow|Charm Animal|Comfort Animal|Bestial Mauling|Rampage as One}}
| {{a}} [[Fuu Rin]] || "Pnoy Pride"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Death Blossom|Fox Fangs|Jagged Strike|Exhausting Assault|Dash|Critical Eye|"Coward!"}}
|-
| {{me}} [[Syn Spellstrike]] || "Syn Spellstrike"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Inspired Enchantment|Power Spike|Power Drain|Migraine|Cry of Frustration|Leech Signet|Flesh of My Flesh|Frustration}}
| {{rt}} [[Nuno]] || "Hi Captain Obvious"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Convert Hexes|Resilient Weapon|Weapon of Warding|Protective Was Kaolai|Channeled Strike|Life|Offering of Spirit|Death Pact Signet}}
|-
| {{mo}} [[Divinus Tutela]] || "Leet Noobified"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Channeling|Dwayna's Kiss|Heal Party|Infuse Health|Healer's Boon|Waste Not, Want Not|Cure Hex|Patient Spirit}}
| {{d}} [[Alsacien]] || "Le Boucher Alsacien"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Conjure Lightning|Mystic Sweep|Wounding Strike|Chilling Victory|Heart of Fury|Attacker's Insight|Signet of Mystic Speed}}
|-
| {{mo}} [[Blahks]] || "Healing Blocks"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Power Drain|Channeling|Guardian|Shielding Hands|Remove Hex|Spirit Bond|Gift of Health| Life Sheath}}
| {{d}} [[Uto Wrotki]] || "Uto Pro"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Mystic Sweep|Faithful Intervention|Crippling Sweep|Lyssa's Assault|Heart of Fury|Reaper's Sweep|Signet of Mystic Speed}}
|-
| {{n}} [[Ghavin]] || "The Necromaxime"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Glyph of Lesser Energy|Suffering|Grasping Earth|Well of the Profane|Lingering Curse|Rend Enchantments|Ward Against Foes}}
| {{p}} [[Khai Kemnebi]] || "Khai Kemnebi"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Harrier's Toss|Crippling Anthem|Anthem of Flame|"Go for the Eyes!"|"Brace Yourself!"|Vicious Attack|Aggressive Refrain}}
|-
| {{n}} [[Erick]] || "Eric The Devistator"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Glyph of Lesser Energy|Defile Defenses|Rip Enchantment|Faintheartedness|Soul Bind|Plague Sending|Foul Feast}}
| {{p}} [[Cole]] || "Noodle Legs"
| {{Skill bar preset|micro|Resurrection Signet|Cruel Spear|"Go for the Eyes!"|Song of Concentration|"Never Surrender!"|Vicious Attack|Aggressive Refrain|Anthem of Weariness}}
|}

== Controversy ==

Many players were upset by the outcome of the competition. The primary reasons were a result of a perceived disconnect between final results and what some players expected, based on a plain reading of the stated rules (and clarifications made by ANet employees).

# '''Originality:''' The original rules called for ''originality''. In particular, [[Martin Kerstein]] (an ANet community representative) stated, ''"We do ...not [want] some niche meta builds"'' and ''"[c]ommon gimmick builds are not very likely to be picked"''. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140905154634/http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4827940&postcount=97 source])
#* However, the majority of the winning builds were part of the existing or then-recent [[metagame]] (either in [[GvG]] or [[Heroes' Ascent]]).
#* Many of the bars were hosted on one or more build sites, notably [https://gwpvx.fandom.com PvXwiki]. (These can be compared at [https://wiki.guildwars.com/index.php?title=Feedback_talk:Regina_Buenaobra/Journal&diff=next&oldid=1711478 the talk page] for [[User:Regina Buenaobra/Journal|Regina Buenaobra's Journal]]).
#* In response, others have argued that there are relatively few excellent choices for henchmen builds: there are only so many ways to arrange an effective bar given the limitations of the AI, the small number of truly superior skills, and the fact that the builds were ''"not meant to replace human players"''. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140905154634/http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4827940&postcount=97 ibid.])
# '''Effectiveness:''' Critics also have said that the game's [[AI]] cannot use some of the selected builds effectively. They pointed out that Kerstein also said, ''"we do want robust, general purpose builds...''".([https://web.archive.org/web/20140905154634/http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4827940&postcount=97 ibid.])
#* For example, skills such as [["Make Haste!"]] and [[Song of Concentration]] were arguably unsuited for use by ''any'' AI.
#* ANet defended these choices by stating there was the possibility that the AI would be "tweaked" to improve performance with these builds. Critics responded by pointing out that the Live Team is too small to commit to the large amount of work required to update the AI.
# '''AI in PvP:''' The contest also reignited the debate over the use of any AI in Player vs. Player gameplay. Many players consider the use of henchmen or heroes to devalue the experience of competition for players, particularly those who have earned some skill. These critics concede that replacing heroes with henchmen was a step in the right direction, but they point out that ''true PvP'' requires the removal of any [[NPC]]s.

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120711081435/http://www.guildwars.com/events/contests/henchmen_skill_bar_contest/rules.php Official rules and conditions]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140212065304/http://www.guildwars.com/events/contests/henchmen_skill_bar_contest/ Contest winners]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131112025149/http://www.guildwars.com/events/contests/henchmen_skill_bar_contest/gvg_winners.php GvG contest winners]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131112025148/http://www.guildwars.com/events/contests/henchmen_skill_bar_contest/heroes_ascent_winners.php HA contest winners]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140905154637/http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/henchmen-skill-bar-contest-update-t10398136.html?p=4827940 Martin Kerstein's guru post about selection criteria]

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Henchman skill bar contest - Revision history

self>Dmitri Fatkin at 17:21, 29 January 2025