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• [COMPLETE] Xbox: NA and EU megaservers for patch maintenance – September 3, 4:00AM EDT (8:00 UTC) - 12:00PM EDT (16:00 UTC)
• [COMPLETE] PlayStation®: NA and EU megaservers for patch maintenance – September 3, 4:00AM EDT (8:00 UTC) - 12:00PM EDT (16:00 UTC)
Why companions?
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Anonx31st✭✭✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »
Yea but why walk alone on the cakewalk when you can have some companionship for some cake too.
2 -
YandereGirlfriend✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Hardcore players definitely are not the target audience for this expansion.
It's extra annoying if you are in a PvP player in which case there is nothing in the Chapter for you apart from a particular highly OP-looking Mythic item.
But it is what it is. There are heaps more casual players than there are hardcore PvE or PvP players and ZOS is trying to maximize their investment in the content.
Hopefully one day there will be a Chapter that throws more than a tiny token bone to the combat system (e.g. another Weapon Line, Guild, more skill morphs, etc.) and especially to the PvP community.1 -
geonsocal✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »so i can farm gear solo - easier???
can't wait to take my mag sorc through a dungeon with 2 pets, maw of the infernal and a companion...
hmmm, i wonder if i'll have to listen to bastian complain about having the deadroth's ass in his face while he's trying to tank
I just don't think companions are gonna equate the last systems or come close to their importance.
gotcha bones, thanks for explaining...not sure if you yourself are more of a solo artist or a groupie - but, as someone whom really likes doing their own thing - i'm looking forward to putting the companions to work...
just to be able to take my time and relax going through dungeons - what a relief...although, to be honest - after the first or second run - speed runs ain't such terrible thing really...
i have crafted a bunch of jewelry since the summerset release, but, there's usually a way around jewelry crafting when putting gear together...if you only wanna solo farm normal dungeons, being able to upgrade the jewelry you find is pretty darn useful...
i've farmed malacath's band as well as the pale order ring...what i learned - holy cow you can make a lot of coin just doing antiquity stuff...
personally though, i have 17 toons and spend most of my time in cyro...housing, crafting, antiquities, companions are all simply tools to make prepping for fighting easier and more efficient...
wishing the zos staff would do different stuff from what they're gonna do - is maybe not the best use of a wish...
it would be nice though not to get kicked from the server when approaching a large keep battle, or, not having inbound damage visually and audially delayed by a half second to three seconds: oh look, i'm dead...
i just don't think companions and cyro performance improvement, for practical purposes, are in any way related at zos...i do get your point though...Edited by geonsocal on April 21, 2021 12:08AMPVP Campaigns Section: Playstation NA and EU (Gray Host) - This Must be the Place2 -
TheBonesXXX✭✭✭✭✭
✭AcadianPaladin wrote: »I could care less about DLC dungeons, trials or PvP. . . but I don't begrudge those who enjoy those aspects of the game. I would hope for the same consideration to things that I consider important. As a solo roleplaying adventuress, my elf is very excited to have companions. Someone to adventure with who always stays fully in character and is instantly and constantly available with no coordination of schedules. There are as many styles of play and enjoyment among ESO players as there are players. For me, the two best things to happen in the game in the last couple years have been the outfitting system and the upcoming companion system. For others, it may be new dungeons, trials, PvP things, housing, etc and, as I said, I don't begrudge others their preferences. There is plenty for all in ESO.
I don't begrudge anyone, cYandereGirlfriend wrote: »Hardcore players definitely are not the target audience for this expansion.
It's extra annoying if you are in a PvP player in which case there is nothing in the Chapter for you apart from a particular highly OP-looking Mythic item.
But it is what it is. There are heaps more casual players than there are hardcore PvE or PvP players and ZOS is trying to maximize their investment in the content.
Hopefully one day there will be a Chapter that throws more than a tiny token bone to the combat system (e.g. another Weapon Line, Guild, more skill morphs, etc.) and especially to the PvP community.
By the time they throw PvP a bone Intrepid will have soaked all the PvPers where these companies continually show apathy.
[snip]
[edited for bashing]Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 2:58PM0 -
TheBonesXXX✭✭✭✭✭
✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »so i can farm gear solo - easier???
can't wait to take my mag sorc through a dungeon with 2 pets, maw of the infernal and a companion...
hmmm, i wonder if i'll have to listen to bastian complain about having the deadroth's ass in his face while he's trying to tank
I just don't think companions are gonna equate the last systems or come close to their importance.
gotcha bones, thanks for explaining...not sure if you yourself are more of a solo artist or a groupie - but, as someone whom really likes doing their own thing - i'm looking forward to putting the companions to work...
just to be able to take my time and relax going through dungeons - what a relief...although, to be honest - after the first or second run - speed runs ain't such terrible thing really...
i have crafted a bunch of jewelry since the summerset release, but, there's usually a way around jewelry crafting when putting gear together...if you only wanna solo farm normal dungeons, being able to upgrade the jewelry you find is pretty darn useful...
i've farmed malacath's band as well as the pale order ring...what i learned - holy cow you can make a lot of coin just doing antiquity stuff...
personally though, i have 17 toons and spend most of my time in cyro...housing, crafting, antiquities, companions are all simply tools to make prepping for fighting easier and more efficient...
wishing the zos staff would do different stuff from what they're gonna do - is maybe not the best use of a wish...
it would be nice though not to get kicked from the server when approaching a large keep battle, or, not having inbound damage visually and audially delayed by a half second to three seconds: oh look, i'm dead...
i just don't think companions and cyro performance improvement, for practical purposes, are in any way related at zos...i do get your point though...
I love the TES franchise. Morrowind and Oblivion being the two best.
[snip] Putting off fixing things and only doing it superficially is a questionable business practice [snip]
And if they don't, kick bloody rocks. The MMO industry is suffering [snip]
PvP has seen superficial changes. But PvP can net you 4 million subscribers while your game isn't even in alpha yet. See Intrepid Studios.
It's a noticable lost passion.
[edited for bashing]
Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:00PM4 -
geonsocal✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »[snip] Putting off fixing things and only doing it superficially is a questionable business practice [snip]
And if they don't, kick bloody rocks. The MMO industry is suffering [snip]
PvP has seen superficial changes. But PvP can net you 4 million subscribers while your game isn't even in alpha yet. See Intrepid Studios.
It's a noticeable lost passion.
Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:01PMPVP Campaigns Section: Playstation NA and EU (Gray Host) - This Must be the Place3 -
Parasaurolophus✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Companions on the PTS look very weak and useless. They do very little damage, survive poorly, and heal poorly. They are not suitable for completing even normal dungeons in any role. Regular mobs at a location with 32k HP, companion kills in 5-8 seconds. Many players hoped that companions would give us a "story mode" for dungeons. But they are too weak.
One more thing ... I'm against more companion customization settings. Just understand that this is a real NPC, with its own story, introductory quest, dialogues and character. [snip]
[edited for baiting]Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:33PMPC/EU2 -
Mojmir✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Copamnions are the new gimmick, and poorly executed. Spare me the "its only the first week of PTS". Ive been arou d long enough to know. [snip]
[edited for bashing]Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:34PM3 -
Kiralyn2000✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »I'd also prefer attention spent on other areas, but Companions are going to be a major selling point for getting in people who like Elder Scrolls games but are reluctant about MMOs generally.
Unless seriously screwed up it's going to be a positive for ESO financially.
It's always about the bottom line. [snip]
You do know that game devs are also into earning money, right? Especially on projects bigger than, say, 1 or 2 guys with a 'passion project'?
You don't need some "greedy overpaid suit" to have a game project focus on Big Selling Points. /shrugTheBonesXXX wrote: »PvP has seen superficial changes. But PvP can net you 4 million subscribers while your game isn't even in alpha yet. See Intrepid Studios.
Ah, is this the next "______ is gonna kill <MMO that isn't doing PvP like I prefer>", now that New World looks like it'll crash & burn?
I really wish that games would stick to just PvE or just PvP. This "try to do both" thing, just leads to conflict between the two sides.
(and the half-*** PvP minigames that get duct-taped to the side of majority-PvE MMOs, always have terrible balance. Not like PvP games, designed from the ground up for just PvP. I'll never understand why crappy MMO PvP gets such ardent defenders, when they could instead be playing good games.)Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:02PM4 -
Mahabahabtha✭✭✭✭✭BrownChicken wrote: »Companions on the PTS look very weak and useless. They do very little damage, survive poorly, and heal poorly. They are not suitable for completing even normal dungeons in any role. Regular mobs at a location with 32k HP, companion kills in 5-8 seconds. Many players hoped that companions would give us a "story mode" for dungeons. But they are too weak.
One more thing ... I'm against more companion customization settings. Just understand that this is a real NPC, with its own story, introductory quest, dialogues and character. [snip]
But for that it sells
Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:34PM"In fact, I’ve met more PVEers that are worse at PvE than PvPers."0 -
Iccotak✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭YandereGirlfriend wrote: »Hardcore players definitely are not the target audience for this expansion.
It's extra annoying if you are in a PvP player in which case there is nothing in the Chapter for you apart from a particular highly OP-looking Mythic item.
But it is what it is. There are heaps more casual players than there are hardcore PvE or PvP players and ZOS is trying to maximize their investment in the content.
Hopefully one day there will be a Chapter that throws more than a tiny token bone to the combat system (e.g. another Weapon Line, Guild, more skill morphs, etc.) and especially to the PvP community.
Yeah, it's a big issue when it comes to the story imo - cannot get excited for a new expansion when the story content (which is the majority of the content) is about as threatening as a wet kitten.
this separation of engaging gameplay and engaging story is a major flaw of the game.
Good gameplay has been pushed into a small corner, and self-nerf doesn't help at all. At least in the single player games I had difficulty options to raise the stakes.
But ESO overland and story might as well be a walking simulator. All for the sake of catering to the lowest common denominator.Edited by Iccotak on April 21, 2021 1:09AM0 -
Goldie✭✭✭✭✭Companions are going to be a huge buff to the game for me and my friends. We don't really like playing with randoms in group content like Dungeons and sometimes only two of us are online but want to go for a Dungeon on Normal. We've tried doing it as just three people and its possible but difficult.
On top of that we also enjoy other Elder Scrolls titles that have companions and stuff.
So its a welcomed feature for me and my group.
The Companions are not going to know not to stand in fire, or AoE. The AI wont be there for that.
Hopefully you dont need soulgems to resurrect your companion..."Wood Elves aren't made of wood. Sea Elves aren't made of water. M'aiq still wonders about High Elves" - M'aiq the Liar0 -
Hapexamendios✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I can see the people who will use them and know I will not be among them.0 -
Wolfpaw✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Kiralyn2000 wrote: »TheBonesXXX wrote: »I'd also prefer attention spent on other areas, but Companions are going to be a major selling point for getting in people who like Elder Scrolls games but are reluctant about MMOs generally.
Unless seriously screwed up it's going to be a positive for ESO financially.
It's always about the bottom line. [snip]
You do know that game devs are also into earning money, right? Especially on projects bigger than, say, 1 or 2 guys with a 'passion project'?
You don't need some "greedy overpaid suit" to have a game project focus on Big Selling Points. /shrugTheBonesXXX wrote: »PvP has seen superficial changes. But PvP can net you 4 million subscribers while your game isn't even in alpha yet. See Intrepid Studios.
Ah, is this the next "______ is gonna kill <MMO that isn't doing PvP like I prefer>", now that New World looks like it'll crash & burn?
I really wish that games would stick to just PvE or just PvP. This "try to do both" thing, just leads to conflict between the two sides.
(and the half-*** PvP minigames that get duct-taped to the side of majority-PvE MMOs, always have terrible balance. Not like PvP games, designed from the ground up for just PvP. I'll never understand why crappy MMO PvP gets such ardent defenders, when they could instead be playing good games.)
Mmorpg pve is so great? I would rather play a quality single player rpg over ANY mmorpg pve.
PvP Cyrodiil was a huge selling point, & skill driven endgame at release...before pve hardmodes, dungeon achievements, & housing.Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:02PM2 -
TheBonesXXX✭✭✭✭✭
✭Kiralyn2000 wrote: »TheBonesXXX wrote: »I'd also prefer attention spent on other areas, but Companions are going to be a major selling point for getting in people who like Elder Scrolls games but are reluctant about MMOs generally.
Unless seriously screwed up it's going to be a positive for ESO financially.
It's always about the bottom line. [snip]
You do know that game devs are also into earning money, right? Especially on projects bigger than, say, 1 or 2 guys with a 'passion project'?
You don't need some "greedy overpaid suit" to have a game project focus on Big Selling Points. /shrugTheBonesXXX wrote: »PvP has seen superficial changes. But PvP can net you 4 million subscribers while your game isn't even in alpha yet. See Intrepid Studios.
Ah, is this the next "______ is gonna kill <MMO that isn't doing PvP like I prefer>", now that New World looks like it'll crash & burn?
I really wish that games would stick to just PvE or just PvP. This "try to do both" thing, just leads to conflict between the two sides.
(and the half-*** PvP minigames that get duct-taped to the side of majority-PvE MMOs, always have terrible balance. Not like PvP games, designed from the ground up for just PvP. I'll never understand why crappy MMO PvP gets such ardent defenders, when they could instead be playing good games.)
I've been MMO PvPing since 99. It's not Aw this games gonna X anything. [snip] The point is PvP has plenty of selling points, this game sell netted tons of PvPers and then it never delivered.
[edited for baiting]
Edited by ZOS_Lunar on April 21, 2021 3:03PM2 -
oddbasket✭✭✭✭✭
✭Is there a mule system on them?
Actually what I would want is my companion to be my merchant and my banker instead of having them separate. Sell me those companion upgrades in the Crown store.Edited by oddbasket on April 21, 2021 2:01AM1 -
ElliottXO✭✭✭✭✭I don't care about companions unless it puts me at a disadvantage if not using them. And I don't want to see everyone's companion and their mothers.
If so, I don't mind if other people have fun playing with their companions.2 -
Brrrofski✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭Casual system for casual players in a casual game.
I'm not getting at anyone for how they play, but that's what it is.
They see a good way to get more people in the game that can just play. It's no doubt driven by money.
They said when they revealed "something you've all been asking for* and I was so confused. I've never heard anyone in game, across many guilds I'm in that play ALL content, mention companions.
There was a handful of threads on the forums from across the last few years on it.
I don't see how "everyone" was asking for it.
And I'm not against it, people will no doubt enjoy it. Although I do think they're a visual thing and won't really help do any actual content.
The point is, why JUST this. The big highlight of this MMO for a YEAR is... an npc to keep solo players company. Really?
Couldn't they have worked on a new skill line too for everyone to get stuck into and enjoy?
I know there's a new zone, but that doesn't alter the game. People are there for a month and then it's dead.
Last year we had Antiquities which yeh, some cool stuff comes from. But as far as content, it took a week and then every now and then you use it. With the reconstruction system, unless you do housing, there is zero use for it once you get the new items once.
And now this system?
It honestly feels like two years with no real content to me.2 -
Elvenheart✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭redspecter23 wrote: »Companions are definitely not for everyone, but ZOS knows their audience. There is a huge demand for these companions from less hardcore players. The same people that buy every new house and housing pack as well as a few hundred crates each season. It makes good sense to make those players happy.
The only way they could have improved the system would be to make Bastion a dragon, Mirri a cat and allow you to marry them. I personally wouldn't care, but I'd wager a large amount of people would collectively lose their **** in a good way if it went this direction.
By the Divines, what a wonderful idea!!! <swoons at the thought of a dragon companion>0 -
iyx✭✭✭I'm casual to the bone solo player who enjoys questing and I actually hate companions. Solo means solo, two are already a crowd, and it doesn't matter that the second in your group is an NPC.
But I can understand why other players want them, and I hope that they will not automatically spawn every time you login or change location, so that you do not have to recall them every time, as in SWTOR.0 -
Erelah✭✭✭✭I have play a lot of tanks. I have also played healer. Maybe a DPS can kill everything quickly while doing their overland content, story lines, and so forth, but a tank can do so at such an absurdity slow rate it is not enjoyable. For those who play DPS and rage at long times because nobody plays tanks, making something so tanks can have fun benefits you.2 -
Kiralyn2000✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »
. It's no doubt driven by money.
I don't see how this is any sort of criticism.
For any company of any real size, everything is "driven by money."
Supporting one playstyle vs another (regardless of whether it's a playstyle you personally like or not) is "driven by money."
Picking which bugs to focus on, is driven by money.
What storyline, game features, or if there's an expansion at all, is driven by money.
Heck, even the usual pro-PvP arguments ("You'll attract more/better players!" "If you don't, you'll lose all your players to New PvP MMO!") are based on them doing things 'driven by money'.
(and there's a thought - given that everything is driven by money, and they do all sorts of focus & player behavior studies to see where the money is... clearly their data doesn't support the "cater to PvPers, get Moar Money!" position. Otherwise they'd be doing that.)
...not to say that "PvP = Moar Money!" isn't a valid argument. But based on what we see in the industry, it seems like it applies more to games like CoD, Overwatch, LoD, or Fortnite. Not MMO PvP.
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Kiralyn2000✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »
But MMO pvp is the only real pvp, shooters are not pvp. They're shooters and they suck.
I fully understand "I don't like shooters."
That said, I really think MMO PvP is one of the lower forms of it. Because too much is tied up in leveling, stats, gear, etc. Unlike games that give everyone a level playing field to start from, so only player skill matters. Trying to "balance" MMO PvP is an impossible task, there's too many variables. So it'll never be 'real' PvP.3 -
Gilvoth✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Companions are going to be a huge buff to the game for me and my friends. We don't really like playing with randoms in group content like Dungeons and sometimes only two of us are online but want to go for a Dungeon on Normal. We've tried doing it as just three people and its possible but difficult.
On top of that we also enjoy other Elder Scrolls titles that have companions and stuff.
So its a welcomed feature for me and my group.
this exactly
me and my friends thoughts as well.1 -
Lugaldu✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭Even if it doesn't sound like the companions are any good in combat at the moment, I am looking forward because of the role-playing aspect - which is most important to me in ESO anyway.
But what bothers me extremely is the fact that we will see Bastian and Mirri clones running around everywhere. At least one should be able to change hairstyles or decorations, this point makes everything bitter-sweet.3 -
Tandor✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »I'd also prefer attention spent on other areas, but Companions are going to be a major selling point for getting in people who like Elder Scrolls games but are reluctant about MMOs generally.
Unless seriously screwed up it's going to be a positive for ESO financially.
It's always about the bottom line. [snip]
Realistically publicly traded gaming companies will never see their full potential [snip]
[edited for bashing]
That's no different to the rest of us, we all have to consider the financial implications of what we do. The notion that commercial businesses operate out of benevolence rather than financial viability is a deluded one. In any event, for those of us who enjoy playing the game the idea of attracting new players is a good one, all multiplayer games suffer from player churn over time and without drawing in new players they soon close down.
As for companions, those who find them useful and want to use them will do so, those who don't find them useful and don't want to use them are under absolutely no compulsion to do so.1 -
TheBonesXXX✭✭✭✭✭
✭TheBonesXXX wrote: »I'd also prefer attention spent on other areas, but Companions are going to be a major selling point for getting in people who like Elder Scrolls games but are reluctant about MMOs generally.
Unless seriously screwed up it's going to be a positive for ESO financially.
It's always about the bottom line. [snip]
Realistically publicly traded gaming companies will never see their full potential [snip]
[edited for bashing]
That's no different to the rest of us, we all have to consider the financial implications of what we do. The notion that commercial businesses operate out of benevolence rather than financial viability is a deluded one. In any event, for those of us who enjoy playing the game the idea of attracting new players is a good one, all multiplayer games suffer from player churn over time and without drawing in new players they soon close down.
As for companions, those who find them useful and want to use them will do so, those who don't find them useful and don't want to use them are under absolutely no compulsion to do so.
It's the box price, look at Morrowind and what was in it. Now look at this DLC and tell me it's equivalent in what it brings to the game.
Companions don't hold a candle to two new classes, jewelrycrafting, or antiquities.
I want to know from ZOS, why? You have much more you could have done with your resources and they were on a roll.
I'll always advocate for Cyrodiil to get fixed, because I expect the company to honor their word and have the integrity to deliver.
Why add a bunch of fluff, there just could have been better uses of their resources.1