Please allow companions to wear hats/hairstyles

Gabriel_H

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

I wouldn't call the change of clothing an identity alteration at all, they're still who they are, what the player chooses to stick on them really has nothing at all to do with their identity. The companion has no clue that anything has changed, does not react or speak differently. It's just clothes.

I'm using ZOS' definition, cos apparently a hat makes all the difference.

Maitsukas

I personally would not want a travelling partner to force me to change my hairstyle or tell me what tattoos I should have.

And just like Skyrim doesn't let you change your followers' physical appearances (without mods), I highly doubt ESO would have that option.

JemadarofCaerSalis

ArchangelIsraphel wrote: »

-casually walks into thread and leaves behind an army of clones-


Please let us stick helmets and other customization on the companions. People don't suddenly stop being themselves because they've done their hair differently. It's just immersion breaking at this point to attribute someones "identity" to any singular physical trait when I've always considered the strongest aspects of what makes someone who they are to be internal- their mind, their heart, their values. Those things don't go poof under a hat, regardless of how ostentatious or not said hat might be.

This is how I feel.

While things like hair *can* be a big part of some people's identity, other people change their hair styles on a whim. Same thing with things like temporary tattoos (which, since we can change player character 'tattoos' can open the possibility that all or most tattoos are temporary in nature).

As for the screenshot, this brings up a huge issue, especially when companions just come out. I was doing that quest, and running up to other people's Zerith's because I couldn't tell which one was my own in the sea of them (and there were so many names floating around that it was hard to figure out what anyone was named). I had even changed Zerith's armor and color!

But, when you get that many in such a small area, it gets very confusing and very hard to distinguish any characteristics that set them apart.

Gabriel_H

JemadarofCaerSalis wrote: »

So ... many ... Zeriths!

Orbital78

I don't see why this hasn't been added yet. You can already use costumes, is there some sort of major technical issue?

LunaFlora

Orbital78 wrote: »

I don't see why this hasn't been added yet. You can already use costumes, is there some sort of major technical issue?

no technical issues, zos simply decided "no hats".

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/7937639/#Comment_7937639

Q: I just want to give them a hat so they don't look the same as everyone else... any thoughts on changing your stance on this?

TM: We do have discussions about the level of flexibility we want to give users on a Companion’s appearance “from the neck-up” – like hats, or different hairstyles. One of the early design considerations with companions was the balance between "identity" and "customization" for each companion. We wanted to give players as much freedom to customize their traveling companion, while at the same time keeping the identity of the companion the same. We ended up with "no hats" on companions because it hit that sweet spot - where players can make them look any way they wish, but the character and identity of the companion doesn't change because you always see their face.

xXCJsniperXx7

It's better to offer both sides of the table here. Someone wants to put helm with goat horns on Bastian? Why not? Someone wants to see Tanlorins purple hair? Hide helm then. Simple. We can do this for our toons, and shoulders just to add. So, why not followers? Best of both worlds.

Cooperharley

It’s optional. Yes, it should be in the game. It’s silly not to.

SilverBride

Showing a helm isn't going to make the Companions any more unique from each other if they are all showing them. As far as running into a sea of the same Companion when doing the quests, well that is a limitation of playing an MMO because there will always be others doing the same quests we are. Showing a helm won't change that.

Erickson9610

SilverBride wrote: »

Showing a helm isn't going to make the Companions any more unique from each other if they are all showing them. As far as running into a sea of the same Companion when doing the quests, well that is a limitation of playing an MMO because there will always be others doing the same quests we are. Showing a helm won't change that.

I agree on this point — clones of Companions will still be clones of Companions, just with helmets on. The "clone problem" cannot be fully mitigated with the ability for Companions to wear hats, especially because many people never change their Companion's outfit.

NotaDaedraWorshipper

Erickson9610 wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Showing a helm isn't going to make the Companions any more unique from each other if they are all showing them. As far as running into a sea of the same Companion when doing the quests, well that is a limitation of playing an MMO because there will always be others doing the same quests we are. Showing a helm won't change that.

I agree on this point — clones of Companions will still be clones of Companions, just with helmets on. The "clone problem" cannot be fully mitigated with the ability for Companions to wear hats, especially because many people never change their Companion's outfit.

Except it would make it a lot better though, because there would be more variation than it is now. It would be less of a clone problem, or at least more varied clones.

Nerdrage9000

Agree with this 100%

Erickson9610

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Showing a helm isn't going to make the Companions any more unique from each other if they are all showing them. As far as running into a sea of the same Companion when doing the quests, well that is a limitation of playing an MMO because there will always be others doing the same quests we are. Showing a helm won't change that.

I agree on this point — clones of Companions will still be clones of Companions, just with helmets on. The "clone problem" cannot be fully mitigated with the ability for Companions to wear hats, especially because many people never change their Companion's outfit.

Except it would make it a lot better though, because there would be more variation than it is now. It would be less of a clone problem, or at least more varied clones.

I personally wouldn't argue in favor of Companion hats from the angle of fixing the "clone problem", which really isn't a problem to begin with from my perspective. I don't care about immersion being broken when I'm forced to acknowledge that I'm in an MMO with other players who have their own copies of the same character following them.

There'd be more variation with hats, sure — but if and only if players customized their Companions differently, which many do not.


Instead, I'd argue in favor of Companion hats from the angle of furthering roleplay and customization. The classic example is Isobel Veloise being a knight who cannot wear a knight's helmet when going into battle. Maybe we'll get a future Companion who is a vampire who would benefit from wearing a hood to hide from the sun. Maybe our assassin or thief Companions would look better with a mask on to protect their identity when committing crimes, and maybe a Nord Companion needs that helmet to complete the Nord warrior look.

There's a ton of fitting helmets/hats that would complete the look for our Companions and would make sense from a roleplaying perspective, but we can't use them due to the current restriction.

NotaDaedraWorshipper

Erickson9610 wrote: »

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Showing a helm isn't going to make the Companions any more unique from each other if they are all showing them. As far as running into a sea of the same Companion when doing the quests, well that is a limitation of playing an MMO because there will always be others doing the same quests we are. Showing a helm won't change that.

I agree on this point — clones of Companions will still be clones of Companions, just with helmets on. The "clone problem" cannot be fully mitigated with the ability for Companions to wear hats, especially because many people never change their Companion's outfit.

Except it would make it a lot better though, because there would be more variation than it is now. It would be less of a clone problem, or at least more varied clones.

I personally wouldn't argue in favor of Companion hats from the angle of fixing the "clone problem", which really isn't a problem to begin with from my perspective. I don't care about immersion being broken when I'm forced to acknowledge that I'm in an MMO with other players who have their own copies of the same character following them.

There'd be more variation with hats, sure — but if and only if players customized their Companions differently, which many do not.


Instead, I'd argue in favor of Companion hats from the angle of furthering roleplay and customization. The classic example is Isobel Veloise being a knight who cannot wear a knight's helmet when going into battle. Maybe we'll get a future Companion who is a vampire who would benefit from wearing a hood to hide from the sun. Maybe our assassin or thief Companions would look better with a mask on to protect their identity when committing crimes, and maybe a Nord Companion needs that helmet to complete the Nord warrior look.

There's a ton of fitting helmets/hats that would complete the look for our Companions and would make sense from a roleplaying perspective, but we can't use them due to the current restriction.

The clone thing is only a part of the issue. It adds another pros to why giving the option is a good thing.

My main reason to want hats, helmets etc, is the same as yours because it makes no sense we shouldn't. It's immersion breaking. For example, Isobel is a knight, a knight that apparently doesn't wear one of the most important part of a knight's armour. Aka, the helmet. Enjoy your head trauma, Isobel, it will be brief.

SilverBride

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

My main reason to want hats, helmets etc, is the same as yours because it makes no sense we shouldn't. It's immersion breaking. For example, Isobel is a knight, a knight that apparently doesn't wear one of the most important part of a knight's armour. Aka, the helmet. Enjoy your head trauma, Isobel, it will be brief.

Isobel is wearing a helmet so she doesn't have any increased risk of head trauma. The helmet is just hidden, the same way a LOT of players hide theirs, also. It is hidden from view in the outfit but it is still being worn.

Erickson9610

SilverBride wrote: »

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

My main reason to want hats, helmets etc, is the same as yours because it makes no sense we shouldn't. It's immersion breaking. For example, Isobel is a knight, a knight that apparently doesn't wear one of the most important part of a knight's armour. Aka, the helmet. Enjoy your head trauma, Isobel, it will be brief.

Isobel is wearing a helmet so she doesn't have any increased risk of head trauma. The helmet is just hidden, the same way a LOT of players hide theirs, also. It is hidden from view in the outfit but it still being worn.

Isobel has a helmet equipped only in the bottom image. In both images, Isobel is not wearing a helmet visually. There should be a change in visuals here!!

Isobel should have the option of visually wearing a helmet, because knights wear helmets.



An aside, but the character silhouette in the equipment menu still only reflects the player's chosen race, rather than the Companion's race. That's a really small detail to complain about but I do hope it gets fixed — Isobel is not a Khajiit.

SilverBride

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Isobel has a helmet equipped only in the bottom image. In both images, Isobel is not wearing a helmet visually. There should be a change in visuals here!!

This is the exact same way it works for player characters that hide their helm.

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Isobel should have the option of visually wearing a helmet, because knights wear helmets.

Not seeing the helmet does not mean it's not there, and ZoS has made it clear why they don't want them to be visible.

Erickson9610

SilverBride wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Isobel should have the option of visually wearing a helmet, because knights wear helmets.

Not seeing the helmet does not mean it's not there, and ZoS has made it clear why they don't want them to be visible.

Please refer to the image I sent. If it's not visible, it might not actually be there.

And I hope I've made it abundantly clear by now why I want to be able to put helmets on my Companions visually.

Frankly, I don't care what ZOS's reasoning is. I've presented my own reasoning several times now.

SilverBride wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Isobel has a helmet equipped only in the bottom image. In both images, Isobel is not wearing a helmet visually. There should be a change in visuals here!!

This is the exact same way it works for player characters that hide their helm.

And the whole point of this thread is to ask that Companions be given a toggle for hiding their helmets, the same way it works for player characters.



Once again, we aren't arguing that we want Companions to functionally wear helmets — they already do. So the argument "they do wear helmets, they're just invisible" is missing the point entirely.

We are arguing that we want Companions to wear helmets in-character. That means if we were to pretend that we were actually in the world of The Elder Scrolls with our Companion by our side, they'd look like their head would be protected — we do not assume everyone without a physical helmet on has magical invisible head protection in the lore.

ZOS's reasoning for disallowing helmets is purely a character design reason. There's nothing functional preventing Companions from wearing helmets — it's just that some people don't feel like they should be allowed to, and I disagree with them.

SilverBride

Erickson9610 wrote: »

ZOS's reasoning for disallowing helmets is purely a character design reason. There's nothing functional preventing Companions from wearing helmets — it's just that some people don't feel like they should be allowed to, and I disagree with them.

Companions can't display helmets or hats because ZoS doesn't want their faces covered and their identity hidden. Not because some people don't feel like they should be allowed to. This is their decision and part of how they set up Companions to work.

Erickson9610

SilverBride wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

ZOS's reasoning for disallowing helmets is purely a character design reason. There's nothing functional preventing Companions from wearing helmets — it's just that some people don't feel like they should be allowed to, and I disagree with them.

Companions can't display helmets or hats because ZoS doesn't want their faces covered and their identity hidden. Not because some people don't feel like they should be allowed to. This is their decision and part of how they set up Companions to work.

That's great. I think this policy should change.

JemadarofCaerSalis

SilverBride wrote: »

Erickson9610 wrote: »

ZOS's reasoning for disallowing helmets is purely a character design reason. There's nothing functional preventing Companions from wearing helmets — it's just that some people don't feel like they should be allowed to, and I disagree with them.

Companions can't display helmets or hats because ZoS doesn't want their faces covered and their identity hidden. Not because some people don't feel like they should be allowed to. This is their decision and part of how they set up Companions to work.

Part of the whole point of this thread is that people disagree with that stance, AND ZOS can always change their minds.

Just because they said in the past that they didn't want companion's faces to be hidden doesn't mean it is now set in stone and must be exactly that way until the world ends. People are allowed to change their minds.

Also? ZOS is made up of people, so saying that some people don't feel like they should be allowed to is correct, because ZOS doesn't feel like they should be allowed to visually wear helmets or have other cosmetic aspects changed about them.

SilverBride

Players can ask for anything they want, but not everyone will agree with them. I personally agree with ZoS on this subject.