JemadarofCaerSalis wrote: »

Yeah, I ws just expecting companion romance, not being able to romance random characters, and how will it work with the characters that are in relationships already or are in love with someone else, even if they aren't in a relationship with them, will they just be excluded (even if they are some really popular characters) or will it just ignore that part?

The biggest risk I see is that, if they include so many non-companion characters in the romance system, it will probably be a rather unindividual and formulaic system. Basically like in Skyrim: Do a quest/task for said person (even if it's just selling them 1 potato), then they'll be interested, you'll marry, that person will move in with you and gift you 1 cabbage soup every day. And while it was nice somehow in Skyrim to have someone in your home at last - without mods no one else could move in with you, after all, except for 1 steward (who was mostly running around outside then), and possibly 1 huscarl - , I think we already have a better alternative to get our houses more lively in ESO, through house guests.

So from companion romance, I'd expect more in ESO. I'm generally more on the roleplaying and lore side anyway, so what I'd personally like to see is interesting extra dialogue specific for the npc, or even better, a new small questline (Although that would probably trigger some fear of missing out in some players - maybe it could be done that said characters just all get a new small questline and through dialogue choices we could choose in the end whether it will lead to romance or just a deeper friendship?). Dialogues would have to be tailored specially for that npc, things like their character or their relations to other npcs would need to be considered (I highly doubt that Gabrielle - if she returns - would be interested in getting into a relationship with a player character; and I also doubt that Naryu would be the type to move in with someone).

But that just looks like so much work, I somehow can't imagine them doing that for dozens of characters in ESO, which is, obviously, not a romance-focused game. Considering the nature of this game I can't imagine them giving us a year just with new friendship-and-possibly-romance questlines for random npcs with custom dialogue for all of them (Thinking more about it, it would basically be just like the companion system we have right now, just with some new added features on top of it - and if they could only give us 2 companions per year now - and none at all this year - , how long would it take to get the work done to do that for dozens of other npcs? Also, they told us once that existing npcs would not become companions in the future - but I'd personally really like, if I'd chose my character to get into a relationship with some npc, to be able to travel and adventure together with that character; that would even be my main interest, to be honest - still dreaming of travelling Tamriel and beyond with Revus). Some players wouldn't be interested in that at all, and the devs also need to consider catering to those - so a year with only companion/romance content just seems unlikely.

@JemadarofCaerSalis One of the main problems I see so far really is that non-companion npcs are just meant to show up during some (or several) specific quests, and that's it. Where would you even go to look for them if you'd like to talk to them again? Revus is indeed a positive example (and would be easier to make a companion, with romance or without) since he actually has his own house where you can drop by whenever you like (not that it makes much sense since he only has a few lines of dialogue there, but he has a place where he's permanently present). But most npcs don't even have that. So if we think of companion romance now, first, they'd need a location where you could find them. Which I'd also prefer for companions, by the way - it's fine that you can summon them out of thin air and don't actually have to go to a home to fetch them from there, but still, it would be nice if they actually also had something on their own where you could find them if they're unsummoned. In many cases we even know where they're from, so why would they not have a small house there?

Anyway, if they plan to make it anything more than just random flirty dialogue options, it will take lots of work.

JemadarofCaerSalis wrote: »

I hadn't realized some NPCs just poof out of existence after their quest (I knew it was something that happens at times, just didn't realize ESO did it) I thought they just basically stayed in the last place you talked to them until/unless they were needed by a different quest or went to a specific place.

It depends, also depending on the story. There are some npcs who stay where they are after their quest, for example if it's some kind of camp or excavation site around some ruin we needed to explore for them, then they'll remain there (and if you talk to them again, they'll just repeat their last dialogue). But some have a story that makes them go to whatever other place after the quest ends, then they will just walk a bit and then fade out, and they're gone (whether they ever arrive where they headed to or not - it's not always the case).

JemadarofCaerSalis wrote: »

I think a small house for the companions would make sense, though I could see some people having an issue with it since at then end of their quests you get them as a house guest, though it could be made to work.

Just because they can "visit" us or even move in, it doesn't mean they couldn't still have their own home somewhere. Azandar doesn't give up his place in Skywatch, for example. And there are many house guests who certainly aren't supposed to move in with us permanently, due to their background story. Recently, the Duchess from Castle Navire was available, for example, and I'm sure she'd prefer not to sell her castle and move into some shabby tavern room in Ebonheart (also, she doesn't have any reason for that).

It kind of sounds to me like they've allowed perfect to become the enemy of good and there's a bit of scope creep at play here. I like they want to add more options than just the 8 companions but it does feel like they're planning too much at once. It doesn't feel like we'll ever get the feature at this rate.

I don't mind romance on companions, but I hope it has an option to disable it completely. We should be able to set a clear boundary there, because one person's romance would make the next person uncomfortable or worse. I have zero interest in romantic companions, especially if it's all sweet and nice romance. I can only imagine how insufferable Isobel could be with a romance setting.

What I'd prefer to see is the option for some neutral/evil behaviour and dialogue when companions are out with a less virtuous character. Especially one who is clearly in the Dark Brotherhood/Thieves Guild or a vampire/werewolf. Just a more believable response from a companion would be appreciated. But not having the virtuous ones turn evil, whether a companion is romancing or being more nasty, I don't want them slipping out of character. I want the nicer companions to berate my thief or assassin appropriately.

As for potions/food changes, I just hope that they consider streamlining and making things more straightforward, not adding yet more unnecessary complexity.