Henchmen have "lesson pony" AI

Lesson Ponies:

Nurse will get these. To the rest I'll explain. Lesson ponies are usually quite competent and well trained. But, perhaps its the pony intelligence (smart) combined with being asked to perform under children that clearly (usually to the pony and instructor) have no clue ... they eventually realize:

"There is an idiot on me! ... and they can't *make me* do this .. so I won't!"

Well, OK. Often a stern look or word from the instructor will make the pony do it (like flagging a henchie). But most figure out that the instructor is *over there* and no they can't make them.

*sigh* So, then you go to the barn and hand the child a riding crop. You show them how to hold it so it pokes out to the side a little. All equines have great sight to the sides. So the pony sees the end of a riding crop sticking out of that clueless idiot on top! Uh OH! Note: child is not to use said crop - just hold it where pony can see it. This usually does the trick. Pony realized "Drat! They can make me!" .. and proceeds to do what was asked beautifully!

Henchmen:

Well, at least mine. I like to cap elites as a hobby (shush Scion). So I go trudging off two areas from the closest outpost with my henchies in tow, and a cap signet in place of my re-usable rez. What do my henchman do?

Die. There is an idiot controlling them! ... and I can't make them get up and keep going. Oh my.

*sigh* So, I go back to the outpost and equip my re-usable rez, and bump something useful for my cap signet. What do my henchmen do then?

Behave perfectly. Never die once. Why? They have obviously have lesson pony AI, and now I can make them keep going.

*boggle*

Lol, Ahou. I love it! And you're so very right. And I appreciate you writing it for the "horse illiterate" people here, or I wouldn't have understood what you were talking about. But I think, now that you've explained it for me, that the heros and henchies aren't the only ones who have this... My children seem to fit that "condition" perfectly...and I have to suffer. hehe Thanks for the post, Ahou.

I got lost somewhere in there... But I think I got the point.

I am not sold on the henchies but can vouch for the ponies. Our neighbor years ago had several horses and would frequently take several of our family on rides. Since I, at that time of my life, was the strapping male of the group, I got to ride the Grey Mare. An impressive beast of great size and grace, and also quite the *****. She loved to intentionally try to brush you off her back by sideswiping trees or passing beneath large tree limbs. After an hour of this and plenty of bruises and scraped skin, I decided enough was enough. the next time she sidled towards a tree, I reached my fist forward into her sight. She brushed the tree anyways. I raised the fist from her eyesight and punched her once behind the ear. No more brushings occured that day.

On subsequent rides thereafter, before mounting, I calmly walked to her muzzle and showed her the fist. She was a wonderful horse for me from that time forward and i made sure to reward her for her change of heart with apple slices each ride.

Maybe you just need to use a fist Ahou....or take some apples along.


Pampered

rofl!!!

That is the funniest thing I have read in a long time Ahou!!

You know, some of those necros have that trix thing going...perhaps they have a crop you can borrow!!!

Nicolette
(Game Nurse)