Feedback: Shallow Companion Gearing and the Forced No-Helmet Aesthetic

GrumpyDuckling

I just watched the ESO Live that detailed companions and I have two major areas of feedback concerning companions:

1) Please allow us to equip companions with gear sets that we have acquired in the game. It feels shallow that companions are forced to exclusively use generic, watered-down gear.

2) Please allow us the option for helmets to show on our companions. It's not cool that the helmet is always forced to be hidden.

Thanks.

VaranisArano

I would guess that the limited amount of Companion gear is to allow ZOS to better evaluate the impact of Companions on combat. The Devs seem to want to keep their combat abilities within certain bounds, and I can see where equipping them with stuff like proc sets, mythic items, or monster sets could end up breaking how the Devs intend Companions to perform.

Araneae6537

I think it’s standard for companions to have separate gear. I think this was the case in both SWTOR and Dragon Age Inquisition if I remember right. Some gear is designed to work with specific player abilities which the companions may not have and maybe companion gear is designed to be more server friendly and probably other reasons too.

The enforced no-helmet does seem odd. I would want that to be an option, certainly, but if they don’t mind wearing Nordic bath towel among other things, why would they mind to wear a hood or helmet? Maybe we could have the option of them wearing headgear in battle but they remove it when interacting with the player?

Maythor

I agree with the above feedback, since without the ability to change the companions appearance .. hats, helms and masks were going to be the only way we're not going to end up with a world of clones wandering about. While having different costumes and outfits help .. the same face/hairstyle is going to be totally obvious (also we don't even have confirmed if those outfits can be dyed).

Also I'd like to add my concerns about inventory space, since we cannot use existing gear we might have for our characters nor craft up anything for companions.

If gear is going to be not commonly dropped /and/ be even rarer in epic strength, we're going to be pushed towards hoarding most of what we find, in case we change roles or ZOS changes the power and meta we'd prefer to use. If there is a full compliment of weapons and armours to equip (7x3 armour weights, and 13 weapons), we're going to be collecting that whole set times TWO if we want to switch at all on the fly between companions .. with NINE traits!

Just where are we going to store all this? Or is all this talk of customisation just like the talk of it in the new CP system? Great to say as soundbites in articles and on streams but impratical and not really a system where choice can be actually managed in game? Unless we want to have one companion build that does the same job for each character (which defeats the whole premise of having an individual character relationship), just how are we to manage all this equipment?

Edit: I noticed also the stream did not answer the topic I have seen brought up most about this sytem .. WILL THEY BLOCK CHARACTERS FROM INTERACTIONS AT CRAFT STATIONS?

colossalvoids

Lowkey disappointed that my necro wouldn't have a skely polymorphed companion, warden could easily use yet to be released spriggan but yep here we are. Also no player gear locks them pretty much into 3 roles I have no use of really, hope there would be enough buff skills to compensate as I primarily wanted a buff machine for some harder solo activities.

Also no helm thingy affects my possible Bastian usage, don't really wanna stare at his hair all day lmao

stefj68

I was hoping we could equip them with from our scratch book, items we collected, i don't like the idea of special set for them.

I was hoping i could equip them with sets that boost overall of group... ie: ebon, or hircine etc... that could benefits me and group members...

second i was hoping dps would be 12-15 not 5-10k

not sure i will waste time doing the companion's grinding

stefj68

I miss some of the twitch... but 2 new companions... i have 16 characters, each companion can have 3 roles does that means i will have to farm 3 set, per companion, per characters... so 3x2x16 sets... and with 9 possible traits?

are the companions having his own inventory so it can keep their sets on and switch.... farming 3 sets, for each companions x 16 characters... wow lol

Maythor

Supposedly the companions will retain training and gear account wide, although the relationship metric will be individual for each character. So probably more likely 3 roles for 2 companions .. but knowing ZOS and the way they change things we're going to have to gather more than just those builds since they have a habit of changing things and the interviewee stated that drops of companion gear would be rare, so you'll want to hold onto things if you get them.

stefj68

Maythor wrote: »

Supposedly the companions will retain training and gear account wide, although the relationship metric will be individual for each character. So probably more likely 3 roles for 2 companions .. but knowing ZOS and the way they change things we're going to have to gather more than just those builds since they have a habit of changing things and the interviewee stated that drops of companion gea rwould be rare, so you'll want to hold onto things if you get them.

in that case i wish they have their own inventory, to transport / keep companion specific gears...

Lugaldu

I did not watched it. So, the equipment for the companions is specific, we cannot take our own. But how about the costumes, are they also special costumes just for the companions or can we use our own?

colossalvoids

Lugaldu wrote: »

I did not watched it. So, the equipment for the companions is specific, we cannot take our own. But how about the costumes, are they also special costumes just for the companions or can we use our own?

Costumes and mounts are ours.

Lugaldu

colossalvoids wrote: »

Costumes and mounts are ours.

At least that, thanx.

GrumpyDuckling

VaranisArano wrote: »

I can see where equipping them with stuff like proc sets, mythic items, or monster sets could end up breaking how the Devs intend Companions to perform.

Huh? There's already evidence of how all of that "stuff" like proc sets, mythic items, and monster sets perform. I'm not sure what you think would break. All of that "stuff" has already been balanced for the game.

ZOS has already confirmed that companions can't do mechanics at the levels players can, and that they have a low-capped DPS. At least let us put fun gear on companions...

Sevn

Number 2 is a deal breaker for me. Totally understand why they restricted their gear, but an always visible face just kinda kills them for me.

Bad enough there will be tons of identical clones running around, now I'm forced to constantly look at their faces, both of which I find unpleasant to look at?

Nope, I'm shallow and fashion/looks is extremely important to me. Hate how ugly dark elves are in this game.

Lugaldu

Sevn wrote: »

Number 2 is a deal breaker for me. Totally understand why they restricted their gear, but an always visible face just kinda kills them for me.

Bad enough there will be tons of identical clones running around, now I'm forced to constantly look at their faces, both of which I find unpleasant to look at?

Nope, I'm shallow and fashion/looks is extremely important to me. Hate how ugly dark elves are in this game.

I couldn't agree more.

And what about this companion gear, can we trade it or deconstruct it if we already have a piece? Does anyone know?

Amottica

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

1) Please allow us to equip companions with gear sets that we have acquired in the game. It feels shallow that companions are forced to exclusively use generic, watered-down gear.

I somewhat agree with this point. It would seem a better solution to allow us to put whatever gear we want on the companions but have it for appearance only, no set bonus benefit. With that Zos is able to maintain absolute control over the effectiveness of the companions.

Hide helmet is a no-brainer for the same reason I have seen the feature for our characters in almost every MMO I have played.

GrumpyDuckling

Amottica wrote: »

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

1) Please allow us to equip companions with gear sets that we have acquired in the game. It feels shallow that companions are forced to exclusively use generic, watered-down gear.

I somewhat agree with this point. It would seem a better solution to allow us to put whatever gear we want on the companions but have it for appearance only, no set bonus benefit. With that Zos is able to maintain absolute control over the effectiveness of the companions.

Hide helmet is a no-brainer for the same reason I have seen the feature for our characters in almost every MMO I have played.

Why no set benefits? That would totally defeat the point of equipping companions with fun gear sets we've acquired. I don't know where this "ZOS... maintain{g] absolute control over the effectiveness of the companions" narrative comes from. It's not like companions are even close to replacement level of players. ZOS already stated companions won't handle mechanics as well as players, and whatever tuning needed to be done (if any) could be taken care of through areas like weaving.

Araneae6537

Lugaldu wrote: »

And what about this companion gear, can we trade it or deconstruct it if we already have a piece? Does anyone know?

I believe it was said in the stream that companion gear can be traded. I doubt it will be deconstructable since it cannot be crafted.

Elsonso

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

Why no set benefits? That would totally defeat the point of equipping companions with fun gear sets we've acquired. I don't know where this "ZOS... maintain{g] absolute control over the effectiveness of the companions" narrative comes from. It's not like companions are even close to replacement level of players. ZOS already stated companions won't handle mechanics as well as players, and whatever tuning needed to be done (if any) could be taken care of through areas like weaving.

My guess is that they don't want to have to mess around with set bonuses, procs, or any of the baggage that comes with player character gear. They want a "keep it simple, stupid" combat originating from the companions. Skill... cooldown...skill...cooldown. No complications.

GrumpyDuckling

Elsonso wrote: »

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

Why no set benefits? That would totally defeat the point of equipping companions with fun gear sets we've acquired. I don't know where this "ZOS... maintain{g] absolute control over the effectiveness of the companions" narrative comes from. It's not like companions are even close to replacement level of players. ZOS already stated companions won't handle mechanics as well as players, and whatever tuning needed to be done (if any) could be taken care of through areas like weaving.

My guess is that they don't want to have to mess around with set bonuses, procs, or any of the baggage that comes with player character gear. They want a "keep it simple, stupid" combat originating from the companions. Skill... cooldown...skill...cooldown. No complications.

What complications? What baggage?

DreadDaedroth

Ah yes increase the grind by not allowing the companions use already existing sets, so clever.

Amottica

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

Amottica wrote: »

GrumpyDuckling wrote: »

1) Please allow us to equip companions with gear sets that we have acquired in the game. It feels shallow that companions are forced to exclusively use generic, watered-down gear.

I somewhat agree with this point. It would seem a better solution to allow us to put whatever gear we want on the companions but have it for appearance only, no set bonus benefit. With that Zos is able to maintain absolute control over the effectiveness of the companions.

Hide helmet is a no-brainer for the same reason I have seen the feature for our characters in almost every MMO I have played.

Why no set benefits? That would totally defeat the point of equipping companions with fun gear sets we've acquired. I don't know where this "ZOS... maintain{g] absolute control over the effectiveness of the companions" narrative comes from. It's not like companions are even close to replacement level of players. ZOS already stated companions won't handle mechanics as well as players, and whatever tuning needed to be done (if any) could be taken care of through areas like weaving.

In the post you quoted I stated the simplicity of Zos being able maintain absolute control over the effectiveness of these companions.

I will add that making gearing complex would lead to more calculations, hence server load. From reading some threads it seems players are upset about server load and Zenimax seems to be trying to reduce it.

Iarao

Maythor wrote: »

If gear is going to be not commonly dropped /and/ be even rarer in epic strength, we're going to be pushed towards hoarding most of what we find, in case we change roles or ZOS changes the power and meta we'd prefer to use. If there is a full compliment of weapons and armours to equip (7x3 armour weights, and 13 weapons), we're going to be collecting that whole set times TWO if we want to switch at all on the fly between companions .. with NINE traits!

a maythor after mine own heart

Iarao

stefj68 wrote: »

Maythor wrote: »

Supposedly the companions will retain training and gear account wide, although the relationship metric will be individual for each character. So probably more likely 3 roles for 2 companions .. but knowing ZOS and the way they change things we're going to have to gather more than just those builds since they have a habit of changing things and the interviewee stated that drops of companion gea rwould be rare, so you'll want to hold onto things if you get them.

in that case i wish they have their own inventory, to transport / keep companion specific gears...

and their own storage boxes we can put down in their own house

Iarao

colossalvoids wrote: »

Lugaldu wrote: »

I did not watched it. So, the equipment for the companions is specific, we cannot take our own. But how about the costumes, are they also special costumes just for the companions or can we use our own?

Costumes and mounts are ours.

maybe that is what the double mount thingy will be for?

Iarao

Sevn wrote: »

Number 2 is a deal breaker for me. Totally understand why they restricted their gear, but an always visible face just kinda kills them for me.

Bad enough there will be tons of identical clones running around, now I'm forced to constantly look at their faces, both of which I find unpleasant to look at?

Nope, I'm shallow and fashion/looks is extremely important to me. Hate how ugly dark elves are in this game.

oh then you must go see the banker dark elf in the western skyrim thief den. he is just adorable. i would prefer he not have red eyes or talk about the bugs in his hair, but other than that....

Iarao

Araneae6537 wrote: »

Lugaldu wrote: »

And what about this companion gear, can we trade it or deconstruct it if we already have a piece? Does anyone know?

I believe it was said in the stream that companion gear can be traded. I doubt it will be deconstructable since it cannot be crafted.

well dungeon gear can't be constructed either, but we sure can decon it.

Iarao

DreadDaedroth wrote: »

Ah yes increase the grind by not allowing the companions use already existing sets, so clever.

yeah we should be allowed to make gear for them. just the basic no name 1 trait gear like what will drop for them in the game. not required, but allowed.

BlueRaven

Iarao wrote: »

DreadDaedroth wrote: »

Ah yes increase the grind by not allowing the companions use already existing sets, so clever.

yeah we should be allowed to make gear for them. just the basic no name 1 trait gear like what will drop for them in the game. not required, but allowed.

Apparently you can get base "white" gear from vendors.

BlueRaven

My main gripe is that the companions seem to keep their roles account wide. I was hoping I could customize them per character. It's not really that alt friendly...

Elsonso

BlueRaven wrote: »

My main gripe is that the companions seem to keep their roles account wide. I was hoping I could customize them per character. It's not really that alt friendly...

That depends on your perspective. It is alt friendly in the sense that players don't have to repeat an update to their companions on each alt because they made a slight change.