Server: Telsiai
Team Name: Mesarthim
NOTE:
Everything in this guide is a collection of my observations and result of my experimentations with the Hunter Class’ AI gameplay.
INTRODUCTION
I’ve been playing the Hunter class for several years now and would like to share to you a very vital information about how this class works. Before I get started, this guide is not an in-depth info about the class, rather this is a guide to give you a better understanding on how the Hunter Class’ AI works. Having said that, this guide will also give insight on how the infamous Hunter Bug occurs, how to avoid the said bug, and how this may help IMC to finally fix it.
*Hunter Bug is the state of your companion where it becomes idle and will stop following the player. Companions not responding to your skill commands is not a bug, rather it is a miscommunication which I will explain in this guide.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Player’s Command Range
II. Companion’s Attack Range
III. Targeting
IV. Attack Skill Conditions
V. Growling State
VI. Protips
Hunter is a class with “Hard” difficulty gameplay and only recommended to advance players. Why is that? It is because hunter skills involves a companion. Unlike the Falconer class, using skills with a land companion requires communication and is very tricky and I’ll explain why.
There’s a hidden mechanics that was not discussed in-game when you advanced to this class for the first time (No Pop-up tutorials). Let’s start from the basic.
I. PLAYER’S COMMAND RANGE
Like in real life, when you train your pet to do a trick, you have to do a command for your pet to do it. It’s the same for the hunter class. There is this thing called the “Command Range” in-game, basically your command range is the same as your basic attack range, the first condition for a hunter skill to work is that your companion needs to be within your command range for it to follow your command. If the companion is out of range, it will NOT execute your specified hunter skill and there is a chance that this situation may lead to the Hunter Bug.
II. COMPANION’S ATTACK RANGE
When commanding a companion to use its offensive skills (Coursing, Rush Dog, & Retrieve), the companion has it’s own attack range which is separate from the player. The estimated attack range of the companion is also the same as the player’s basic attack range.
III. TARGETING
Coursing, Rush dog and Retrieve, can only be executed if your target is within your companion’s attack range (NOT on player’s Attack range). Even if your target is within your command range but it is not within your companion’s attack range, the skill will fail and might result to the hunter bug.
IV. ATTACK SKILL CONDITIONS
Here are the conditions to successfully use Hunter’s attack skills
- There must be a target. Make sure that you have a target (Target Lock is highly recommended)
- Your companion is within your Command Range.
- Your target must be within your companion’s attack range. It doesn’s matter if the target is out of your range, as long as its within your companion’s range and you’re locked on to the target.
Special Failing Conditions:
- If the target dies before the companion could ever reach it, the attack will fail and may lead to the Hunter bug.
- If there is no target enemy in focus or locked on, the attack will also fail and may lead to the Hunter bug.
- Commanding your companion while it is incapacitated may lead to the Hunter bug. (Best to Praise it first)
- After commanding a skill and you suddenly switches to a new target while the companion haven’t reach your first target will also lead to failure and may cause you the Hunter bug.
V. GROWLING STATE
When your companion is using "Growling", it can still multitask and use Coursing/Retrieve simultaneously BUT, during this time your companion’s attack range shrinks drastically. On the other hand, Rush Dog’s range is still the same as your companion’s original attack range. Using Rush dog will cancel Growling.
VI. PROTIPS
Here are some tips that really helped me use this class effectively. I don’t encounter the Hunter bug anymore unless I’m careless.
- Always turn on your Target Lock.
- Turn off your companion’s auto-attack. Why? Having your companion automatically do normal attacks to enemies will let it wander around the battlefield which may result of you and your companion getting separated, out of your command range. If you turn it off, your companion will always be close by (like the Falconer’s falcon) and will not be attacked by mobs which increases your companion’s survivability.
- Always be aware of the distance between you, your companion, and the target.
- Watch your target’s HP carefully, see if there are other players attacking your target. You don’t want your target to die before your companion reaches it.
That’s it, if ever you have any observations regarding Hunter’s AI, that is not included in my guide, please feel free to inform me.
One of the reasons why I really love this class is the challenging gameplay it offers. That is why I enjoy it. Hope this helps a lot of player who misunderstood this class.