you share exp, iirc. you'll gain more exp pts if you solo, but the difference isn't that great. it's not even worth one level, at least that's what happened to me when i played once without a merc.
henchmen are definitely worth the investment (moreso in HOTU), even if tomi oftentimes thinks he's on a suicide mission, like a kamikaze jet from world war II. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
