ZOS, please clarify EXACTLY how the Q4 companions will work.

CatoUnchained · September 12

Given all the confusion and disappointment, can someone from ZOS please clarify exactly how the new companions will work.

So, as of yesterday, we now know the companions will be purchased through the crown store, and those who purchased Gold Road WILL NOT be getting the companions as part of the chapter purchase. But that leaves a few questions unanswered that very much need clarification if ZOS hopes to ease this situation going forward.

1- Will every toon have to purchase the companions from the crown store individually? Or will the companions be account wide once purchased? Will the companion be available to every toon if purchased one time, as is the case for other crown store items.

2- In addition to having to purchase the companions from the crown store, will we STILL have to do a quest to actually gain access to the companions? Will we still have to repeat this introductory quest on every toon we want to have access to the companions?

3- Will the companions be available through the crown store during free eso+ events? (assuming there is going to be a free eso+ event in the future)

4- How many crowns will each companion cost?

Thank you for any clarification and answers that might be provided to this inquiry.

@ZOS_Kevin

xclassgaming · September 12

we'll find out monday in the pts

apart from the official pricing.

Kisakee · September 13

It will most likely be like this:

You'll get two starter quests in the Crown Store. If you have ESO+ they'll be free, if not you need to unlock those quests accound wide with a one time purchase. After that each character can get the quest for free and unlock them at any given time.

OtarTheMad · September 13

Definitely need some clarification because I figured that since it was tied to the crown store and not a chapter that it would change some things like availability of those new ones during free trials, only one character needs to buy it from the crown store and that unlocks the quest for all etc.

Would like to know if that’s true.

They already answered number 2 though Cato in the article. Here:

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/66701

LunaFlora · September 13

Companions are collectible allies so you would not need to purchase them multiple times.

You would probably need to do their intro quest with any characters you want to have them help.

i imagine purchasing Tanlorin and Zerith-Var will give you them as collectibles,
- the character you purchase them with gets their intro quests immediately if there's space in their quest journal,
- if no space in quest journal they can then start the intro quests from their in-game locations or from the Companions collection like extra characters would do as well.

OtarTheMad · September 13

From the article I linked:

Update 44 also introduces two brand-new Companions to ESO: Tanlorin and Zerith-var. Tanlorin is a scrappy High Elf who mixes Soul Magic with Dragonknight abilities, while the stoic Khajiit Zerith-var utilizes the power of Necromancy.

At launch, you can acquire both new allies for free with an active ESO Plus membership or purchased with crowns from the in-game Crown Store. Once acquired, you can find and recruit them within the zones of Auridon (Tanlorin), and Reaper’s March (Zerith-var).

Like previous Companions, each will have their own introductory quest that you will need to complete before you can summon them. In addition to being unique new characters (with their own stories, personalities, and quest lines), these two new Companions each also provide a special passive perk when adventuring with them:

Tanlorin grants “Tanlorin’s Finesse,” which provides an increase to the time it takes to pick a lock, an increased chance to force a lock, and a reduced chance to break a lockpick.

Zerith-var grants “Zerith’s Guidance,” which highlights valuable bags of loot found throughout Tamriel.
While these perks are active when adventuring with each Companion in question, they can be permanently unlocked by completing each ally’s unique Achievement.

disky · September 13

The fact that they're sold individually while also being a one-time unlock through ESO+ seems like it might be a little sus, depending on how much they cost to unlock without the sub. ESO+ is a relatively good deal and one month of ESO+ to unlock them is not an extremely big ask. It is absolutely a way to get people onboarded to ESO+ sub, though.

CameraBeardThePirate · September 13

They likely function like any other quest reward collectible. If you buy the dlc you get access to the quest to recruit them. Completing the quest unlocks the companion for that character.

If you have ESO plus, you will likely need to do the quest before your plus lapses to unlock the companion.

It will probably function like things such as the dungeon collectibles - for example, I believe you get a hat for entering both of the Wolfhunter dungeons. You can unlock this hat while you have ESO plus, but if you don't unlock it before your ESO plus lapses you don't just automatically get it.

Kisakee · September 13

disky wrote: »

The fact that they're sold individually while also being a one-time unlock through ESO+ seems like it might be a little sus, depending on how much they cost to unlock without the sub. ESO+ is a relatively good deal and one month of ESO+ to unlock them is not an extremely big ask. It is absolutely a way to get people onboarded to ESO+ sub, though.

One thing people tend to overlook is that this is the first time ever that you're able to get the new companions without owning the latest chapter. As older chapters (and therefore older companions) are part of ESO+ by now this may be a concept to stay for future releases.

Maitsukas · September 13

This is how I understand it:

The introductory Companion quests (to unlock them in the Collections menu) can be done by any player who:

Has an active ESO+ subscription (not from a free trial)
or
Purchases the Companions from the Crown Store

Should the ESO+ subscription be cancelled, then:

Any character that has completed the introductory Companion quests can continue using them, level them up, make changes to their Rapport and complete additional quests for them (some restrictions may apply depending on any quests taking place in locked Chapter/DLC zones).
Any character that has not completed the introductory Companion quests will have them locked in the Collections menu and the player needs to resubscribe to ESO+ or purchase the Companions from the Crown Store.

Feowyn13 · October 31

OtarTheMad wrote: »

At launch, you can acquire both new allies for free with an active ESO Plus membership or purchased with crowns from the in-game Crown Store. Once acquired, you can find and recruit them within the zones of Auridon (Tanlorin), and Reaper’s March (Zerith-var).

It's been a few days since launch, is there any knowledge on whether the "free with eso+" thing is temporary or not?
It's marketed as an "ESO+ Deal" which are usually temporary.

LunaFlora · October 31

Feowyn13 wrote: »

OtarTheMad wrote: »

At launch, you can acquire both new allies for free with an active ESO Plus membership or purchased with crowns from the in-game Crown Store. Once acquired, you can find and recruit them within the zones of Auridon (Tanlorin), and Reaper’s March (Zerith-var).

It's been a few days since launch, is there any knowledge on whether the "free with eso+" thing is temporary or not?
It's marketed as an "ESO+ Deal" which are usually temporary.

it's not marketed as having a limited time like the ESO+ deals in crown store showcases.
It also doesn't have a countdown.

it's basically dlc so it likely won't ever disappear

DinoZavr · October 31

i am just a player, not affiliated with Zenimax.
i have bought a bundle of two new Companions as they were offered for ESO+ subscribers
so i can answer some of your questions, based on my experience.

1a. Will the companions be account wide once purchased? - Yes they are. You pay only once if you are not subscribed to ESO+
(and nowadays the price is 1,500 Crowns for the bundle of both, or 1,000 Crowns for each of two, if you decided against one of these two Companions)
1b. Will the companion be available to every toon if purchased one time? - Yes. You will have to do unlock quest on the character in question

2. Will we still have to repeat this introductory quest on every toon we want to have access to the companions? - Yes.
You open your collections menu - select Allies - select Companions - right click the Companion, select Accept Quest. Then proceed with the quest.
Please, note, that both Companions "unlock" quests are activated automatically on the "current" character, which was logged in at the moment you purchased new Companions. For other characters you have to unlock them manually (see above)

3. Will the companions be available through the crown store during free eso+ events? - I don't know. This is up to Zenimax to tell us.
As far as i understand - all 6 previous Companions (Blackwood/High Isle/Necrom) were NOT available during Free ESO+ Trial weeks, so it might be logical to guess, the two news Companions (despites not bound to Gold Road) also will NOT be available for Free ESO+ Trial (so my guess is "most likely - no", though i would be happy to be wrong with that).

4. How many crowns will each companion cost? If you have active ESO+ subscription you just claim two new Companions for free. If you are not subscribed then you can check current Crown Store prices at any moment.
Zenimax can vary conditions, availability, and prices at any moment. ESO is theirs game, after all..

The question you have not asked, though i have the answer (based on my experience. as my ESO+ expired next day after obtaining Companions "for free", e.g. due to the active subscription. i have unlocked both Companions on my main character immediately after "buying" them, still being subscribed).

5. What happens when ESO+ subscription expires?

- you can still use, level up and unlock these two Companions on any of your characters (with the quest, as usual). Being purchased once, they are yours regardless of your ESO+ subscription status changes.

edit: fixed 3 typos

Feowyn13 · October 31

LunaFlora wrote: »

Feowyn13 wrote: »

OtarTheMad wrote: »

At launch, you can acquire both new allies for free with an active ESO Plus membership or purchased with crowns from the in-game Crown Store. Once acquired, you can find and recruit them within the zones of Auridon (Tanlorin), and Reaper’s March (Zerith-var).

It's been a few days since launch, is there any knowledge on whether the "free with eso+" thing is temporary or not?
It's marketed as an "ESO+ Deal" which are usually temporary.

it's not marketed as having a limited time like the ESO+ deals in crown store showcases.
It also doesn't have a countdown.

it's basically dlc so it likely won't ever disappear

It kind of looks like those monthly ESO+ deal offers... And the wording of "At l;aunch..." also got me suspicious. I'd rather wait to get an ESO+ sub with the New Life Festival and get the new Companions then too...

Potrimpo · October 31

DinoZavr All correct.

Adfition: ESO+ trial definitley not

Number_51 · October 31

A question I haven't seen asked or answered, but am interested in... can either the bundle or a single companion be gifted through Crown Store purchase?

Maitsukas · October 31

Number_51 wrote: »

A question I haven't seen asked or answered, but am interested in... can either the bundle or a single companion be gifted through Crown Store purchase?

Both options are available for gifting, regular pricing rates will apply (as in there is no ESO+ discount for gifting).

pklemming · October 31

Hate Tales of Tribute?

Then we have the companion for you !

Zerith-va will require you to enter, learn and win a ToT daily as a part of his favour.

Yes!! We will make you play our vastly inferior card game whether you like it or not !

Erickson9610 · October 31

pklemming wrote: »

Hate Tales of Tribute?

Then we have the companion for you !

Zerith-va will require you to enter, learn and win a ToT daily as a part of his favour.

Yes!! We will make you play our vastly inferior card game whether you like it or not !

I was hesitant to get into Tales of Tribute before I met Zerith-var. But, I found that I genuinely enjoy the card game! It took a bit of research into some basic strategies to get me started, but I think I've found a Tales of Tribute playstyle that I enjoy.

I also didn't know about the existence of the Northern Elsweyr Defense Force daily quests before Zerith-var. I'm genuinely impressed that this one Companion has gotten me to try totally new parts of the game that I wouldn't have otherwise tried.

pklemming · October 31

Had to play ToT for my wife after a long series of curse words when she found out she had to do ToT. I hate it, but I will play it(with lots of complaints). I have to do it again now, for me.

You should not be forced to do the card game for a companion. In the same way a card game should not lock out furnishings. A lot of us didn't want this, and still don't. it is a very bad card game.

It is done now, but similar to me, this was the last thing, so she cancelled her account and will just be playing the free version of ESO. She did housing, so that is a fair amount of money a year from crowns that will be spent on other games.

virtus753 · October 31

pklemming wrote: »

Had to play ToT for my wife after a long series of curse words when she found out she had to do ToT. I hate it, but I will play it(with lots of complaints). I have to do it again now, for me.

You should not be forced to do the card game for a companion. In the same way a card game should not lock out furnishings. A lot of us didn't want this, and still don't. it is a very bad card game.

It is done now, but similar to me, this was the last thing, so she cancelled her account and will just be playing the free version of ESO. She did housing, so that is a fair amount of money a year from crowns that will be spent on other games.

No one has to do ToT at all for Zerith-var. Those dailies are not the only source of rapport for him, nor even the only source of the +125 per day gain. Skipping them means only a few days more to max his rapport. That's hardly forcing the matter.

TheBardAtTheInn · October 31

disky wrote: »

The fact that they're sold individually while also being a one-time unlock through ESO+ seems like it might be a little sus, depending on how much they cost to unlock without the sub. ESO+ is a relatively good deal and one month of ESO+ to unlock them is not an extremely big ask. It is absolutely a way to get people onboarded to ESO+ sub, though.

3

pklemming · October 31

virtus753 wrote: »

pklemming wrote: »

Had to play ToT for my wife after a long series of curse words when she found out she had to do ToT. I hate it, but I will play it(with lots of complaints). I have to do it again now, for me.

You should not be forced to do the card game for a companion. In the same way a card game should not lock out furnishings. A lot of us didn't want this, and still don't. it is a very bad card game.

It is done now, but similar to me, this was the last thing, so she cancelled her account and will just be playing the free version of ESO. She did housing, so that is a fair amount of money a year from crowns that will be spent on other games.

No one has to do ToT at all for Zerith-var. Those dailies are not the only source of rapport for him, nor even the only source of the +125 per day gain. Skipping them means only a few days more to max his rapport. That's hardly forcing the matter.

Check his favor under achievements. There is a REQUIREMENT to win a daily ToT quest. Can't complete his achievements without doing it.

pklemming · October 31

AlienSlof · October 31

Guess I won't be completing his achievements then. Not remotely interested in the card game.

pklemming · October 31

What gets me, is why can't they forget about it and accept a lot don't like it. I mean, they did it with Cyro for 10 years.

Erickson9610 · October 31

pklemming wrote: »

What gets me, is why can't they forget about it and accept a lot don't like it. I mean, they did it with Cyro for 10 years.

We don't see any Companions asking us to go to Cyrodiil to earn their favor achievement because Companions can't be summoned there with us. Isobel requires the player to accept a duel for her favor achievement, which is the closest we can realistically get to Companions acknowledging PvP.

Zerith-var requiring the player to turn in a Tales of Tribute daily quest (which means the player must either win a match against another player via the match finder or against an NPC located somewhere on the continent) is a little more strict than just accepting a duel, but considering players can just challenge the novice level NPCs instead of experienced players, it's really not that much of an ask.

prof-dracko · October 31

I see the word "forced" thrown around a lot when something like this comes up. You're not, and never are, being "forced" to do anything. You want the rewards? You do the content. That's how games work. Don't like what you're being asked to do? Don't do it and keep going without. Some people here acting like being asked to beat a single bottom-tier NPC at a minigame is the end of player choice.

pklemming · October 31

prof-dracko wrote: »

I see the word "forced" thrown around a lot when something like this comes up. You're not, and never are, being "forced" to do anything. You want the rewards? You do the content. That's how games work. Don't like what you're being asked to do? Don't do it and keep going without. Some people here acting like being asked to beat a single bottom-tier NPC at a minigame is the end of player choice.

No, let me just NOT get the glowing heavy sack achievement.....

People don't like, nor want ToT. It is fine as long as it sits there and is not required for any other aspect of the game. The fact people are supposed to learn and win this.. It is not one game, it is learning the game, then winning the game. Trivialising it to, 'They just need to win one game' is disingenuous.

ESO_player123 · October 31

pklemming wrote: »

prof-dracko wrote: »

I see the word "forced" thrown around a lot when something like this comes up. You're not, and never are, being "forced" to do anything. You want the rewards? You do the content. That's how games work. Don't like what you're being asked to do? Don't do it and keep going without. Some people here acting like being asked to beat a single bottom-tier NPC at a minigame is the end of player choice.

No, let me just NOT get the glowing heavy sack achievement.....

People don't like, nor want ToT. It is fine as long as it sits there and is not required for any other aspect of the game. The fact people are supposed to learn and win this.. It is not one game, it is learning the game, then winning the game. Trivialising it to, 'They just need to win one game' is disingenuous.

I like ToT but have no interest in PvP whatsoever (same feeling as you have about ToT). We have furnishings and achievements in PvP areas. So, if I want them, I have to go there. There is a furnishing locked behind a trial. Many lore books are in trials and in PvP areas too. We also had a lead for the Hero of ... added to a trial this year. People did not like it too (myself included), but I wanted it, so I went there.

Besides, from what I see, you do not have to play with people for this achievement. Just play with NPCs for the daily.

disky · October 31

pklemming wrote: »

People don't like, nor want ToT. It is fine as long as it sits there and is not required for any other aspect of the game. The fact people are supposed to learn and win this.. It is not one game, it is learning the game, then winning the game. Trivialising it to, 'They just need to win one game' is disingenuous.

"People don't like" implies a general consensus when in reality, it's some, very vocal people, possibly even a majority of people, who don't like Tribute. So please, don't imply that you're speaking for everyone. It may not be incredibly popular, but though it has some issues, I love Tales of Tribute and I wish they would make it more available to play against even more challenging NPCs across the world. I wish they would give me more ToT content. Because people hate on it so much, I can't have that.

In this situation, I don't complain endlessly, I just get on with my life.