Companions are unique, each with their own personality and backstory...=> 157 Bastian clones in town

Athan1

Seriously, how will this issue be resolved? If we see companion clones everywhere, it ruins immersion and kills the companion system.
On the other hand, if we see generic clones everywhere, it kind of ruins the point of dressing your companions, although I guess you will be able to see your own... Or will they be invisible? Which again doesn't resolve the issue...

idk companions sound nice and work for solo games but it's unclear how this will be implemented in an mmorpg like this.

etchedpixels

Hopefully they use the appearance randomization a bit on them, and they take on the gear/outfits assigned to them.

redspecter23

You can put them in different outfits and costumes, so that will help quite a bit. If only we could do that with our bankers and merchants.

Faded

More importantly, if four of them are parked on the writ turn in crates, useable or nah? If one is halfway through a door can people open the door? If it's parked on an NPC can you still talk to the NPC? If one of them stands between you and a mob can you use targeted abilities or nah? Do "smart" heals count them as targets at the same priority level as player characters?

I know people are excited about this, and Rich seems excited, but if they didn't address this [Snip] they shouldn't be adding more perma-pets.

[Edited for bashing]

scorpius2k1

Faded wrote: »

More importantly, if four of them are parked on the writ turn in crates, useable or nah? If one is halfway through a door can people open the door? If it's parked on an NPC can you still talk to the NPC? If one of them stands between you and a mob can you use targeted abilities or nah? Do "smart" heals count them as targets at the same priority level as player characters?

I know people are excited about this, and Rich seems excited, but if they didn't address this [Snip] they shouldn't be adding more perma-pets.

Multiple companions, assistants, combat/non-combat pets all huddled in a tight space near NPC's and quest turn-ins. @Ninja614 is going to have some hilarious reactions when this all settles in.

Tannus15

why do they need to be visible to other players at all?

Starlock

How do you feel about the already existing identical assets, OP?

Merchants.

Bankers.

They're everywhere.

Athan1

Starlock wrote: »

How do you feel about the already existing identical assets, OP?

Merchants.

Bankers.

They're everywhere.

Luckily these are ridiculously expensive so very few people are using them. Also, they appear for a few seconds and then are typically dismissed. You can even justify it lore-wise by saying that they have multiple clients and are assisting them too.

But 157 permanent Bastians around me? Exciting

ZaroktheImmortal

Star Wars the Old Republic has the same thing and I never saw anyone on that MMO having an issue with it.

You're also the only hero that can save all of Nirn and Tamerial....you and everyone else playing. You're also the soul shriven...you and everyone else playing. You can also see several people wearing the same costumes as you. Riding the same mounts. Having the exact same pets. Is it really that big of an issue to have the same companions?

Athan1

ZaroktheImmortal wrote: »

Star Wars the Old Republic has the same thing and I never saw anyone on that MMO having an issue with it.

You're also the only hero that can save all of Nirn and Tamerial....you and everyone else playing. You're also the soul shriven...you and everyone else playing. You can also see several people wearing the same costumes as you. Riding the same mounts. Having the exact same pets. Is it really that big of an issue to have the same companions?

Never play SWTOR so idk about that. But wearing the same clothes of having the same pets/mounts is different. It makes sense that there are multiple of those, e.g. several pets from the same species (this doesn't mean they are the same individual).

But how does it make sense to have the same individuals follow you around? This is why when a player is followed by a quest NPC their model is replaced by a generic "Guild Adept" model, otherwise it'd break immersion. I'd have a problem with companion clones.

BASTIAN IS MINE!

Hapexamendios

Only 156 clones. I won't be using them.

Klad

Just make them invisible to everyone but you.

Like they do NPC's

jaws343

Athan1 wrote: »

ZaroktheImmortal wrote: »

Star Wars the Old Republic has the same thing and I never saw anyone on that MMO having an issue with it.

You're also the only hero that can save all of Nirn and Tamerial....you and everyone else playing. You're also the soul shriven...you and everyone else playing. You can also see several people wearing the same costumes as you. Riding the same mounts. Having the exact same pets. Is it really that big of an issue to have the same companions?

Never play SWTOR so idk about that. But wearing the same clothes of having the same pets/mounts is different. It makes sense that there are multiple of those, e.g. several pets from the same species (this doesn't mean they are the same individual).

But how does it make sense to have the same individuals follow you around? This is why when a player is followed by a quest NPC their model is replaced by a generic "Guild Adept" model, otherwise it'd break immersion. I'd have a problem with companion clones.

BASTIAN IS MINE!

It makes sense because technically everyone is playing the same in universe person going through different iterations of the same events.

Athan1

jaws343 wrote: »

Athan1 wrote: »

ZaroktheImmortal wrote: »

Star Wars the Old Republic has the same thing and I never saw anyone on that MMO having an issue with it.

You're also the only hero that can save all of Nirn and Tamerial....you and everyone else playing. You're also the soul shriven...you and everyone else playing. You can also see several people wearing the same costumes as you. Riding the same mounts. Having the exact same pets. Is it really that big of an issue to have the same companions?

Never play SWTOR so idk about that. But wearing the same clothes of having the same pets/mounts is different. It makes sense that there are multiple of those, e.g. several pets from the same species (this doesn't mean they are the same individual).

But how does it make sense to have the same individuals follow you around? This is why when a player is followed by a quest NPC their model is replaced by a generic "Guild Adept" model, otherwise it'd break immersion. I'd have a problem with companion clones.

BASTIAN IS MINE!

It makes sense because technically everyone is playing the same in universe person going through different iterations of the same events.

No it doesn't. There is nothing to suggest anyone but you is the vestige or the demigod of Tamriel. The irl you knows but in-game no. For all you know, you are surrounded by individuals with fancy pets and mounts.

But seeing clones? That's dead obvious.

Lugaldu

The question about the clones is really serious. With the bankers and merchants it is already annoying when identical NPS are running around everywhere (actually also the Warden bears, Twilights and Clannfears), but as has already been said, not everyone has them. With the companions, on the other hand, it is very likely that every second player will have one with them sooner or later. I don't like to imagine what it will look like in the cities soon when people everywhere have either an imperial or a dunmer in tow. If they are visible, then one can only hope that many people will equip them with helmets, then at least one can no longer see that they all look the same ...

hands0medevil

oh no, my immersion is ruined by clones...

nah just kidding:)

Game's performance ruined it long time ago...

Ryuvain

This a nerf sorc thread?

I don't get the random hate for pets besides bear blocking. What if companions acted like quest npcs? You see your own companions but others just see "imperial soldier" or "dunmer mercenary"?

Lugaldu

Ryuvain wrote: »

You see your own companions but others just see "imperial soldier" or "dunmer mercenary"?

Yes, but how many random Imperial and Dunmer, who all look somehow similar in the end (just dressed differently), will then be around? That might be a bit strange.

Ryuvain

Lugaldu wrote: »

Ryuvain wrote: »

You see your own companions but others just see "imperial soldier" or "dunmer mercenary"?

Yes, but how many random Imperial and Dunmer, who all look somehow similar in the end (just dressed differently), will then be around? That might be a bit strange.

True, would be slightly wierd, but soldiers dress alike anyway. If we ever get more race companions it would be much more natural.

Lugaldu

Ryuvain wrote: »

True, would be slightly wierd, but soldiers dress alike anyway. If we ever get more race companions it would be much more natural.

At least it sounds like these won't remain the only two companions. Then at some point it will look more natural, however, at some point, not now.

Parasaurolophus

I think ZOS will treat them the same way as NPC quests. If you go through a quest with a friend, then his quest NPC for you is replaced by some ordinary soldier / magician / fighter. But my biggest concern is always overland performance.

colossalvoids

I'm pretty sure that others companions will be only displaying outfits and not their facial appearance, at least I hope, should be pretty logical that we shouldn't see our "insert name" accompanying other chars aswell.

Starlight_Whisper

ZaroktheImmortal wrote: »

Star Wars the Old Republic has the same thing and I never saw anyone on that MMO having an issue with it.

You're also the only hero that can save all of Nirn and Tamerial....you and everyone else playing. You're also the soul shriven...you and everyone else playing. You can also see several people wearing the same costumes as you. Riding the same mounts. Having the exact same pets. Is it really that big of an issue to have the same companions?

Definitely not same costume or it's fashion face off time

Jayroo

Companions being "everywhere" just seems like a non problem to me personally.... [Snip]

[Edited for minor bait]

Alurria

On PC when I come to groups of players huddled around a NPC quest giver the E option always appears for me. Doesn't matter if the NPC is being stood on by a player or pet or combat pet, however I do have to be within a certain proximity to the NPC. The only blocking I see by players or combat pets is a doorway. I haven't had a problem with a NPC. So I don't think companions blocking quest givers will be a problem. Just for the record I am a warden. I try to dismiss my pet in towns sometimes I forget but mostly I try to dismiss so as not to cause a issue. I have experienced player toxic behavior concerning pet classes. People can be ignorant and arrogant and personally I don't care if they like pet classes or not, that is their problem. Pay my sub and I will let them tell me what class I can play.

Companions will be great for those of us who have been over exposed to toxic behaviors of some people when experiencing group play. I don't appreciate the person who is a supposedly expert on content pushing there opinions on me or anyone as 'the only way to play'. So I am excited about companions if they will allow me the chance to experience some group content without the exposure to the jerk players. I also have a great guild now who is very encouraging non pushy and are willing to help me get over my fright of group play. Thanks Elder Tribe' so while some of you are worried I would just say this, relax it's a game made to have fun in. I am looking forward to companions.

Sylvermynx

Hapexamendios wrote: »

Only 156 clones. I won't be using them.

This.

Xanathos

Bastian reserved.

Honestly from what i head and saw in ZOS materials, i sure companions will be more like mentioned banker/merchant/pet.
This is only my opinion, but i think if companions can be summoned like bankers, they will just treated like them, that means 4 ppl in dungeon can run with 4 companions like each of them run with merchants. I dount summoned companion will count as "person slot", most likely more like necromancer's Skeletal Mage, sorceres Twilight/Imp and warden's bear with that difference you can talk and interact with them like with baner and merchant.
If my prediction are right then companion "tank" will just use skill that put taunt on enemy, companion "dps" will just use attack like pets and companion "heal" will support players with heal like twilight tormentor but with automaticaly use, not triggered by players key.

This is my opinion and prediction about that companion system, please fell free to share you opinion about my toughts.

markulrich1966

I think apart from the technical additional coding it requires to add more variety to those two (like using the look of your alts), I think it is clever not to offer it for now, from a marketing perspective.

When all look the same, this will increase the pressure on everybody to use costumes for a more unique look - and costumes are crownstore items.

Unfortunately though, would love to have an character editor. But I doubt it ever will come, at least for free, as even an appearance change for yourself requires an expensive token.

Apart from that I am curious how helpfull they will really be. Just played the new prologue quest yesterday, and the damage from Evelis bow was almost non existent.
But I am excited about them nevertheless.

CaptainVenom

This is a thing for vendor and banker already yet no one complains about it.

Like seriously, who cares.

Xanathos

BTW there are situations when you do story or side quests, you sometimes get quest when you have unique companion with you. But if another player do same quest, and they meet, then instead of see unique npc, they will see player with standard npc without name.
Thats why there only 2 scenarios: 1 - you will meet in cites many Bastians or you meet many standard no name npc assisting players.

Ajaxandriel

ZaroktheImmortal wrote: »

You're also the only hero that can save all of Nirn and Tamerial....you and everyone else playing. You're also the soul shriven...you and everyone else playing. You can also see several people wearing the same costumes as you. Riding the same mounts. Having the exact same pets. Is it really that big of an issue to have the same companions?

This should be addressed properly instead of handwaving by the "oh, well, the game is already bad isn't it?" mood.

From an in-universe point of view, the animal or magical invocations such as pets and mounts can exist in multiple numbers, so can pc-crafted or npc-crafted clothes and armors.
Individual persons like the companions can not.

BrownChicken wrote: »

I think ZOS will treat them the same way as NPC quests. If you go through a quest with a friend, then his quest NPC for you is replaced by some ordinary soldier / magician / fighter. But my biggest concern is always overland performance.

This is the sounder solution I can see.
(+ being able to customize their face at least)