Patron Lackeys missing - new bug ?

I just went to seen the Patrons in Grandville in person for the first time in a long time, and the lackeys that normally surround them are gone. Except for the one scientist welding on Black Scorpion's armor. No Night Widows behind Ghost Widow; no Mu around Scirocco, etc. Is this a recent bug ?

I don't know if it's a bug, but I've seen that numerous times, pre-I15 certainly and probably I14. The Patrons aren't the only ones affected - sometimes the Rikti Ambassador's entourage are nowhere to be seen either.

Coffee break?

They're on a "red flu" strike to protest how they never see players anymore because of AE.

You know it's true.

I have always assumed that was a feature...

Makes it more realistic to have 3 sometimes, 1 at others, etc.

.

The "lackeys" are relatively random. Sometimes there are many of them, sometimes there are a few, sometimes there are none. They're not always the same, and yes, it does make more sense for it to be this way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arcanaville Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.

This sounds like how many people are watching TV at a point in time. Sometimes it's nobody, sometimes, it's a freak tank and carny mistress, other times it's a full house, watching the American Idol finale, I suppose.

Any idea of whether these are client side or server side creations?

It's always a server side issue. All of the Patron's minions are zone spawns like the routine NPC critter spawns. They will only spawn if some player entity is near the area. And sometimes for whatever reason they won't spawn if players are near. And FWIW, the patrons and other contacts are aways present as they are clickies. Yes, they are just objects who's model just happens to be an NPC. Thats also the reason they don't attack enemy game critters.

[ QUOTE ]
They're on a "red flu" strike to protest how they never see players anymore because of AE.

You know it's true.

[/ QUOTE ]

This made me lol for real.

I noticed that they disappear during Rikti invasions too. I went to see Arbiter Daos during one and his minions were gone. Went over to Ambassador Kuhr'Rekt and his were absent as well. After the invasion was over, they were back.