Absolutely unlikely, but you added some general changes which would need some work on top of simple balance changes.
How about introducing a 2-3 phases aproach as well (like in the Calling to Improve Itemization thread)?
Phase 1: Easy changes (like allowing orbs an Act 3 mercs) and a new physical A1 rogue (should not be to complicated if AI is untouched and those would use the current gfx model).
Phase 2: Improve exisiting mercs and maybe the AI issues
Phase 3: Introduce new Druid based mercs for Act 4 
How about the last one? Whould people like to see 3-4 new druid based mercs for Act 4, or is it a waste of time even thinking about it?
I could see some room for a raven centered mercs as well as for the two wolfes (grizzly might be to much)? The elemental skills will stumble over the AI as well as the Act 3 do today. So as cool as a armageddon or hurricane merc would be. Would not even consider that.
But the summons could work even with todays and then probably unchanged AI? Would not think about sorcs (that shoudl be covered by improved iron wolfes) and Sins have kind of mercs with the two warriors.
What do people think about that?
So Blizz blocked my account for a day :slight_smile due to this…
Can we elaborated this one a bit more in detail?
Obviously the act 3 mercs are too weak, needs a big portion of dmg boost and I understand the goal here to boost strength parameters. Mainly enable those dudes to wear a spirit monarch with 156 strength req. This would not be possible today even with lvl 99 and without any + strength equipment. Didn´t know if the base values are still different if hired in NM or hell (I guess so and if so, I would put that on the list, that they should have the same base values no matter where hired). Doesn´t make to much sense, that you need to switch difficulty to normal to get the “real” iron wolfes hired…
The fun with equiping iron wolves is, that you have to make some decissions and imagine something that works with the given limitation. I think that is part of the fun and you need to put special gear together to fully utilize the current mercs.
For example. I have a Barb with an act 3 cold merc on lvl 81. Hired in normal difficulty he has 132 base strength, 106 dex at that level without any gear. He runs now an eth Shako (+2 strength) and an eth upped Vipermagie with an +9 strength jewel (so +11 strength added in total). I still need to wait to lvl 83 to equip that eth Monarch I found and I´m super happy to utilize on it (until then he is happy with his eth Lidless right now). This will need 146 strength at lvl 83 for the eth version of the monarch with minus 10 strength requirements.
To be honest I think that it is fair, that you need to engineer something to equip those dudes. On the other hand you bareley need to think about res after a certain point (the lower strength is the tradeoff here). The question would be, when he should be able to wear that spirit shield? For weapons and amour that doesn´t make a difference as far as I would assume.
In the itemizations thread we worked out several good item buffs providing several new and interessting build options for those boys. Enable them to have blocking you could use our new version of Mosers (with this +1 skill buff). Tiamat’s Rebuke, Stormchaser, Visceratuant (if they shall benefit from +skills to sorcs, what would be awesome I guess?! - maybe that should on the list as well? New Enlightenment would be awesome then as well! At least for the fire version if fire mastery is added). And Splendor is a viable option already (not BIS but not really bad).
So bottom line. When should they get this monarch? And should that needs to be etheral at this lvl? That should determin the strength buff.
I personally would say, that they should reach lvl 80 at least to equip that eth Monarch (with at least 6-8 points needed on the gear - eg. your random +7 strength jewel with no really good other affixs would do the trick). So the current 130 strength would need to be at 139.
Increased base strength by 10 would do the trick here. Your normal Spirit monarch would be available at lvl 93 without any extra points on the gear. With that mentioned +7 jewel on your armor or head would result in lvl 88 and a FAL rune would help you take off at lvl 85.
So thats my suggestion. Instead of scaling, just add +10 strength at the base. Can´t think of any trouble early on and I would not change dex. A crystal sword is all you need and you can not just put your PB on it (tradeoff again).
What do people think about that?