Stop Making Companions Disapprove of Basic Game Mechanics

coop500 · September 18

UPDATE: Just forget it, apparently not wanting to be nagged all the time is 'just wanting praise' or 'not valuing character depth' so I won't be checking this thread anymore. Y'all have fun.

Honestly just the title, but I am so tired of this approach. It makes me not want to use most companions in the game.
Disapprove of using an outfit station? Picking a mushroom? Picking nirnroot? Entering the mages guild hall? What the actual hell? I just want to play the game in peace.

I guess I'll just be sticking with Isobel and Bastian, they leave me in peace (except for my robber vampire but she's fine)

And yes before someone mentions it, I know the rapport is only -1 on most but it's the principle. I won't be having companions boss me around and complain about normal regular things we are encouraged to do in the game.

WitchyKiki · September 18

Azandar after I pick a mushroom "Ewww! Wash your hands"

C'mon.. its hilarious.

ESO_player123 · September 18

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Azandar after I pick a mushroom "Ewww! Wash your hands"

C'mon.. its hilarious.

According to PTS forum one of the new companions disapproves of filling a soul gem. Imagine trying to level this guy.

WitchyKiki · September 18

ESO_player123 wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Azandar after I pick a mushroom "Ewww! Wash your hands"

C'mon.. its hilarious.

According to PTS forum one of the new companions disapproves of filling a soul gem. Imagine trying to level this guy.

ewwwww!

Syldras · September 18

The Khajiit priest? It's understandable from a lore perspective, but still a bad decision gameplay-wise.

yourhpgod · September 18

this

Dax_Draconis · September 18

ESO_player123 wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Azandar after I pick a mushroom "Ewww! Wash your hands"

C'mon.. its hilarious.

According to PTS forum one of the new companions disapproves of filling a soul gem. Imagine trying to level this guy.

So, the Soul Lock passive will not allow players to increase rapport with one of them? I won't be using that companion if that is the case.

ESO_player123 · September 18

Dax_Draconis wrote: »

ESO_player123 wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Azandar after I pick a mushroom "Ewww! Wash your hands"

C'mon.. its hilarious.

According to PTS forum one of the new companions disapproves of filling a soul gem. Imagine trying to level this guy.

So, the Soul Lock passive will not allow players to increase rapport with one of them? I won't be using that companion if that is the case.

You will be able to increase it because the disapproval is like -1 and on a timer. But this one is very different form disapproving of making a cheese dish of ripping wings from an insect. You can unsummon for cheese making and avoid catching insects. But the whole purpose of a companion is to aid in combat. Or, at least, you have to have it out to level it. And I doubt people will stop filling soul gems to just avoid the disapproval of a companion. So, expect a lot of red icons in the lower right corner of the screen.

All in all definitely not a good decision game wise.

Erickson9610 · September 18

If Soul Lock does indeed trigger a -1 Rapport with Zerith-var, then I'll simply unlearn the Soul Lock passive for all of my builds. Soul Gems are incredibly easy to get (I have thousands stockpiled) and if I need to fill the excess empty Soul Gems, then I'll use Soul Splitting Trap on a group of trash mobs.

Dax_Draconis · September 18

ESO_player123 wrote: »

Dax_Draconis wrote: »

ESO_player123 wrote: »

WitchyKiki wrote: »

Azandar after I pick a mushroom "Ewww! Wash your hands"

C'mon.. its hilarious.

According to PTS forum one of the new companions disapproves of filling a soul gem. Imagine trying to level this guy.

So, the Soul Lock passive will not allow players to increase rapport with one of them? I won't be using that companion if that is the case.

You will be able to increase it because the disapproval is like -1 and on a timer. But this one is very different form disapproving of making a cheese dish of ripping wings from an insect. You can unsummon for cheese making and avoid catching insects. But the whole purpose of a companion is to aid in combat. Or, at least, you have to have it out to level it. And I doubt people will stop filling soul gems to just avoid the disapproval of a companion. So, expect a lot of red icons in the lower right corner of the screen.

All in all definitely not a good decision game wise.

Not a good decision at all since I fill up 200 soul gems pretty quickly with the passive. I really don't like having to make a choice between a skill passive and using a companion. I'm not removing skill points just to have good rapport with a companion.

Edit: Is it only the active Soul Trap skill that triggers the bad rapport? The passive Soul Lock should be exempt since it is automatic.

MasterSpatula · September 18

Erickson9610 wrote: »

If Soul Lock does indeed trigger a -1 Rapport with Zerith-var, then I'll simply unlearn the Soul Lock passive for all of my builds. Soul Gems are incredibly easy to get (I have thousands stockpiled) and if I need to fill the excess empty Soul Gems, then I'll use Soul Splitting Trap on a group of trash mobs.

You can do that, sure. I'd simply rather not acquire the companion.

I think this is the eighteenth time I've said this this year, but always trust ZOS to double down on bad decisions. "Oh, you want the rapport penalties to be less dumb? Best I can do is orders of magnitude dumber."

Carcamongus · September 18

Humm, I think I'll put this companion in a room full of black soul gem shelves. Right next to Azandar's chambers, which will be full of mushrooms. By the way, isn't it odd the arcanist is disgusted by fungi but is perfectly okay with having a flesh atronach assistant?

WitchyKiki · September 18

Carcamongus wrote: »

Humm, I think I'll put this companion in a room full of black soul gem shelves. Right next to Azandar's chambers, which will be full of mushrooms. By the way, isn't it odd the arcanist is disgusted by fungi but is perfectly okay with having a flesh atronach assistant?

I never understood why Azandar would be disgusted by fungi, usually people who are studious loooooove mycology. If anything, I keep thinking the wires got crossed he is actually supposed to get +1 rapport when you pick mushrooms.

Erickson9610 · September 18

Zerith-var does not lose Rapport when a Soul Gem is filled via the Soul Lock passive:

Notice how Soul Trap isn't on my skill bar, how Zerith-var was already summoned, and how there is no Rapport loss. I filled an empty Soul Gem with the Soul Lock passive, and Zerith-var didn't mind.

Dax_Draconis · September 18

Thanks for checking that @Erickson9610. Glad the passive doesn't trigger negative rapport.

spartaxoxo · September 18

It adds flavor and makes the companion feel more like an actual character than a summon.

Kisakee · September 18

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Zerith-var does not lose Rapport when a Soul Gem is filled via the Soul Lock passive:

Notice how Soul Trap isn't on my skill bar, how Zerith-var was already summoned, and how there is no Rapport loss. I filled an empty Soul Gem with the Soul Lock passive, and Zerith-var didn't mind.

Now can you test this too? I usually use this set when leveling companions. Not that is does matter much as most companions dislike neutral NPC's being murdered but it would extend the process.

Erickson9610 · September 18

Kisakee wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Zerith-var does not lose Rapport when a Soul Gem is filled via the Soul Lock passive:

Notice how Soul Trap isn't on my skill bar, how Zerith-var was already summoned, and how there is no Rapport loss. I filled an empty Soul Gem with the Soul Lock passive, and Zerith-var didn't mind.

Now can you test this too? I usually use this set when leveling companions. Not that is does matter much as most companions dislike neutral NPC's being murdered but it would extend the process.

Zerith-var does not like when you use this set.

Kisakee · September 18

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Kisakee wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Zerith-var does not lose Rapport when a Soul Gem is filled via the Soul Lock passive:

Notice how Soul Trap isn't on my skill bar, how Zerith-var was already summoned, and how there is no Rapport loss. I filled an empty Soul Gem with the Soul Lock passive, and Zerith-var didn't mind.

Now can you test this too? I usually use this set when leveling companions. Not that is does matter much as most companions dislike neutral NPC's being murdered but it would extend the process.

Zerith-var does not like when you use this set.

Ah well, this will complicate things a bit. Thanks for testing, appreciate it.

Dragonnord · September 18

Come on! It's not that bad. I have been playing for years with them and they don't bother me at all.

You can even change how often they speak if they bother you too much.

There's times when I don't even realize they said something as I'm very used to them.

I think they are fine as they are now.

Heren · September 18

While it can be sometime a bit annoying, especially when some bugs fly right before a skyshard, especially when Isobel quest ask you to go to an outlaw refuge ( well after that you sure know she don't like it ), it gives them character, specificities, distinct traits, and for me it's a good thing ( while sometime a bit weird ). Companions, for me at least, are interesting because they are someone, not just a random follower that help you in combat and die in aoe ( yes I know you can recall them ) : they have a story, they have goals ( kinda ), and they have a personnality, tastes ( and distates ) which they express. And it's nice.

And if someone knows why the necro cat don't like when you, well, do necromancy ( on an acceptable scale of course ! ), i'm quite curious about that.

Elsonso · September 18

coop500 wrote: »

Honestly just the title, but I am so tired of this approach. It makes me not want to use most companions in the game.
Disapprove of using an outfit station? Picking a mushroom? Picking nirnroot? Entering the mages guild hall? What the actual hell? I just want to play the game in peace.

I guess I'll just be sticking with Isobel and Bastian, they leave me in peace (except for my robber vampire but she's fine)

And yes before someone mentions it, I know the rapport is only -1 on most but it's the principle. I won't be having companions boss me around and complain about normal regular things we are encouraged to do in the game.

I am not bothered by this. Some companions will be a better fit than others, and these quirks help with that alignment. If the benefit outweighs the annoyance, I can find room for them. Otherwise, they are free to go about whatever they do when I am not around.

Kisakee wrote: »

Ah well, this will complicate things a bit. Thanks for testing, appreciate it.

What is the complication? It is a Premium Companion that does not fit well with how you play. Seems to me that makes him easy to not use.

DenverRalphy · September 18

One thing I'm never short on is a healthy supply of filled soul gems. I'd just simply not carry any empty sould gems in my inventory while using that companion.

I welcome the challenge.

coop500 · September 18

Glad y'all are fine with it, but I really am not and simply won't use them because of this petty stuff. The forums are for everyone to share their opinion and I really had wished the companions only disapproved of stuff that didn't feel like micromanagement or like they were bossing you around.

We're all adults (ingame, I know people under 18 play this game probably) so it feels really really silly to me to have a companion disapprove of you... picking a mushroom, or changing your outfit. You didn't affect them at all, you just picked a mushroom, or changed your own clothes. It doesn't feel realistic or gives them life to me at all. Doing their (so far) decently written quests, now THAT gives them life. And some of the other rapport affecting things that actually makes sense for them to have an opinion on, THAT gives them life.

Not nagging at me for interacting with basic game functions like changing my character's outfit.

TybaltKaine · September 18

I'm not understanding why the Meridia worshipping Necromancer who hates all things about being a Necromancer and wants to kill vampires wasn't just made a Templar.

Just give us an actual Necromancer who wants to do Necromancer things.

Elsonso · September 18

coop500 wrote: »

We're all adults (ingame, I know people under 18 play this game probably) so it feels really really silly to me to have a companion disapprove of you... picking a mushroom, or changing your outfit. You didn't affect them at all, you just picked a mushroom, or changed your own clothes. It doesn't feel realistic or gives them life to me at all. Doing their (so far) decently written quests, now THAT gives them life. And some of the other rapport affecting things that actually makes sense for them to have an opinion on, THAT gives them life.

To be honest, I see it the opposite. These quirks make them more realistic.

Very rarely do I find someone who approves of all I so and disapproves of nothing.

If anything is less realistic it is how vocal they are about it, but given current society, not as much as it should be.

spartaxoxo · September 18

I don't even 100% agree with myself, let alone other people. I think it would be far more childish if they only ever praised the player. I've literally had a friend disapprove of my getting clothes IRL lol.

He went to the mall with me. I spent a little too long in the store and he was like "ughhh can we go?" And then I took him to the food court and he was much happier lol. The food court was the bribe for going the whole time lol.

emilyhyoyeon · September 18

spartaxoxo wrote: »

It adds flavor and makes the companion feel more like an actual character than a summon.

Same. I always feel alone on this. Azandar is one of my favorite companions to use because of his little complaints with mushrooms and aches when riding around.
And maybe I'm a little biased because I'm kind of freaked out by fungus myself. A long time ago I was out with a friend on a walk and we found a huge mushroom that she went up to and slapped and I had a worse reaction than Azandar. It didn't make me like her any less but it still freaked me out; and I notice most people say they don't care about the rapport loss, but just the reaction in general, so...

spartaxoxo · September 18

emilyhyoyeon wrote: »

It didn't make me like her any less but it still freaked me out; and I notice most people say they don't care about the rapport loss, but just the reaction in general, so...

Interesting thing about the companions is that unless you're on the borderline already, it doesn't make them like you any less either. Your status with them actually changes in stages. So if you had max rapport with them and were a close friend, and then did something they disliked, you'd still be their close friend.

It actually takes a lot of doing things they hate while never doing things they enjoy to make them hate you.

Syldras · September 18

WitchyKiki wrote: »

I never understood why Azandar would be disgusted by fungi, usually people who are studious loooooove mycology.

It's the same as with coffee: He's hypersensitive to the smell. It's nothing he has chosen.

coop500 wrote: »

Glad y'all are fine with it, but I really am not and simply won't use them because of this petty stuff. The forums are for everyone to share their opinion and I really had wished the companions only disapproved of stuff that didn't feel like micromanagement or like they were bossing you around.

You're free to utter your opinion, of course. Other people are free to do the same, this includes disagreeing.

Turtle_Bot · September 18

The main one for me is Mirri and bugs.

I can't help it Mirri if that bug literally flew right in front of me as I was pressing the button to interact with the node/chest lying on the ground...