The Butcher uses a very simple AI script, which is both what makes him dangerous and, if you are willing to exploit his weaknesses, very easy. Roughly, it is:
if idle:
- if adjacent to player:
- - attack player
- else:
- - move toward player
Note what is absent: any ability to delay, backtrack, or open doors. Since there is no delay, The Butcher attacks as often as his animation will allow, causing him to deal damage rapidly. However, since he cannot backtrack or open doors, you can escape The Butcher by closing a door between you and him, or by leading him into a dead end. One particularly popular exploit which, if successful, makes the fight absolutely trivial for a rogue, is to lead The Butcher to the down stairs, then the rogue runs in a circle around the stairs until The Butcher takes a shortcut and steps into the stairwell. The rogue then stands beyond the far wall, 2 tiles away. The Butcher cannot backtrack out of the stairs, nor can he attack across the stair wall, so he stands there. As long as the rogue holds position, The Butcher will remain immobile, where the rogue can easily kill him with a bow.
For a slightly less cheesy approach, lead him to a grated wall with a door in it, run through the door, and close it. He will pace back and forth outside the grating, allowing you to fire on him safely - but you will miss frequently due to his movement.
Post edited April 05, 2023 by advowson