How useful are the companions?

rei91

Anonx31st wrote: »

Companions are not meant to replace average skilled players in dungeons. I will only be using my companions for solo questing.

They could be interesting for that if they had any meaningful unique reactions to quests, like Fenn was reacting to a quest in Kilkreath temple (it happened only once though and then they forgot about this option, it seems). And general types of places (like - an ayleid ruin, Dwemer ruin, dolmen, world boss, large/small city, etc.) AT LEAST in Blackwood, and better - the whole game (well, just places for the rest game, quests would be a really huge work).

They don't. (At least in those main and side quests I tried) Their only character/storytelling value they have are their own quests, they don't even have a nice dialog tree, just like 6 short phrases. And scarse short random reactions. Heck they don't even say anything when their rapport increases.

And in normal dungeons for me as solo player they're useless. I was kinda hoping they will help me explore dungeons I can't solo now and thus I miss their story. I didn't expect amazing DPS, mind you - just maybe holding aggro in boss fight so it won't kill me with group-requiring mechanics? But forget that - lvl 20 Bastian dies instantly to a River. Troll. Jeez.

What in the world would you need them for in solo playing? Killing overland mob, which my newly created gearless lvl3 char can do?

jwellsub17_ESO2

CleymenZero wrote: »

It took about 5-8 minutes for Mirri to off a 300k (not sure) Haj Mota.

I forget which "dungeon", but I found a place with a Haj Mota and a Wamasu rough housing. Both were at full health and I sent Mirri (level 6 with blue resto staff, 3 white light, 2 white medium, 1 blue medium, 1 white heavy, and one blue damage ring) at them. She died of course, but I am thoroughly convinced that had she focused on one of them, she would have taken them both out. She did kill the Wamasu and had the Haj Mota down to about 40% just as she died. I did not get involved at all, staying just inside spell range.

Because of that, I would really be curious how you had her configured that it took her that long for single Haj Mota.

etchedpixels

Really underwhelming in design and from the videos even when well equipped for anything else.

Bethesda got it right in Skryim - companions and helpers there carry their own stuff, drink their own potions, use the same gear as players and generally manage to make a small but useful contribution. Many of them have meaningful story lines and interactions.

I'd been hoping they could at least reach 2014 levels of technology and gaming but the mechanics and usefulness feel like something from a DOS game.

Marcus_Thracius

IF they go live as they are now , even with a bit of buffing - they wont replace even a total newbie player
The fact that you cant craft them gear , is a big downside .
They dont move out of aoe , they dont block .... its a ....there is no nice way to say it without snip snip
You will grind specific gear , and even after you get them the best of the best drops , they are bad

So for bored ppl , sure go ahead have fun - hop on the hamster wheel
Otherwise its meh

MageCatF4F

The only reason I was interested in this chapter was companions for random and /or undaunted dungeon assistance (since there are actually only two of us who do the dungeon) - and looking at PTS Patch notes 7.0.1 ZOS seems to be fine with the combat performance of companions.

Which is awful.

So it looks like ZOS is saving me some more money I can spend on pizza.

Lady_Galadhiel

I would change the title as ''how useless are the companions?''
Answer: Very

crazepdx

MageCatF4F wrote: »

The only reason I was interested in this chapter was companions for random and /or undaunted dungeon assistance (since there are actually only two of us who do the dungeon) - and looking at PTS Patch notes 7.0.1 ZOS seems to be fine with the combat performance of companions.

Which is awful.

So it looks like ZOS is saving me some more money I can spend on pizza.

Sadly I pre-ordered. Since companions have been in everquest for 15 years ish. Final fantasy and in Bethesdas own games I thought they would at least build on what's already out there, maybe even make it cooler with today's tech. If you had told me the big thing they were hyping was going to be this horrible, I would have thought you were trolling me. Never again will I pre-order.

FrancisCrawford

crazepdx wrote: »

show previous quotes

Anonx31st wrote: »

Companions are not meant to replace average skilled players in dungeons. I will only be using my companions for solo questing.

I like to rp. I also spend most of my game time doing solo stuff. I am not an awesome player buy any stretch of the imagination. I am the target market for this, so much so I pre-ordered.
My bar wasn't set at being able to replace players. It was for them not to suck. The way they are designed now they don't even clear that bar. What's worse they require more inventory for gear farming, they are a liability in any content more then overland and they require grinding of levels, skills, guild skills and rapport to get them to a point they aren't as bad.

Similarly here. This may be the first chapter I don't buy promptly.

FrancisCrawford

And by the way -- companions aside, this patch will be a general nerf, with "floor" players nerfed more harshly than "ceiling" ones.

So if companions aren't worth using, as now seems to be the case, "floor" players will wind up worse off than before, both in relative and absolute terms.

Mysticman

I'm enjoying the companions they are lots of fun and look cool in my outfits and riding my mounts. Can't wait until they go live. I expect ZOS to address the companions health issues next week. ZOS likes to have at lease 2 weeks of data and feedback before making big changes. I'm not looking for the companions to replace real players and run vet dungeons on hard mode. I'm happy to just to have another way to have fun in the game similar to player housing.

REiiGN15

Jeweling crafting: worth it; Wardens: worth it, Anquitaries: worth it, Necromancers: WORTH IT. Having a dumb AI stand in red or die immediately to anything..not worth it.

We're talking about when they are FULLY upgraded too with the best gear they can equip. Week one PTS, they're annoying and don't really add anything. THAT'S NOT COOL. Oh it's super cool you can make them houseguests. About as useful as all the houseguests...which is the same during combat. Just something extra running its mouth. The warden bear got more personality.

Vevvev

I kinda expected this honestly, especially since the current AI companions that follow us around on certain quests are just as brain dead. I hate being right

aipex8_ESO

jwellsub17_ESO2 wrote: »

I forget which "dungeon", but I found a place with a Haj Mota and a Wamasu rough housing. Both were at full health and I sent Mirri (level 6 with blue resto staff, 3 white light, 2 white medium, 1 blue medium, 1 white heavy, and one blue damage ring) at them. She died of course, but I am thoroughly convinced that had she focused on one of them, she would have taken them both out. She did kill the Wamasu and had the Haj Mota down to about 40% just as she died. I did not get involved at all, staying just inside spell range.

Because of that, I would really be curious how you had her configured that it took her that long for single Haj Mota.

It's all down to the AoE damage, which treating them like pets would fix. I've been taking Mirri around to some of the WBs in Western Skyrim (because I'm pretty familiar with soloing them). She does great on Shademother, uses her gap closer when she teleports, and really helped me kill her faster and had like 90% health at the end. Ysmgar, on the other hand, she dies immediatley in the AoE.

danno8

You know how Soul Gems have been have been worthless since the second week after release? These companions look like ZoS solution.

Seriously though, they are obviously going to be too dumb to worry about mechanics or standing in red, so a huge base damage reduction is in order.

Right now they are more hindrance than helpful.

phileunderx2

Mirri was good to test stuff out on my tank and healer. Yeah that's about it.

jwellsub17_ESO2

REiiGN15 wrote: »

Oh it's super cool you can make them houseguests.

You can? How? Tried multiple times and was unable to make either one a house guest.

CleymenZero

jwellsub17_ESO2 wrote: »

show previous quotes

CleymenZero wrote: »

It took about 5-8 minutes for Mirri to off a 300k (not sure) Haj Mota.

I forget which "dungeon", but I found a place with a Haj Mota and a Wamasu rough housing. Both were at full health and I sent Mirri (level 6 with blue resto staff, 3 white light, 2 white medium, 1 blue medium, 1 white heavy, and one blue damage ring) at them. She died of course, but I am thoroughly convinced that had she focused on one of them, she would have taken them both out. She did kill the Wamasu and had the Haj Mota down to about 40% just as she died. I did not get involved at all, staying just inside spell range.

Because of that, I would really be curious how you had her configured that it took her that long for single Haj Mota.

You try on the haj mota in normal Rockgrove, the new trial, and tell me about it.

She also kept resetting without the add de-aggroing.

I don't think your Mazzatun Haj Mota is on the same level as my week 1 pts normal Rockgrove Haj Mota.

crazepdx

I never thought I would see the day where zos would make me look at Lydia as an upgrade, but here we are.

BalticBlues

crazepdx wrote: »

I never thought I would see the day where zos would make me look at Lydia as an upgrade

Skyrim's Lydia was not so bad, at least she knew how to fight and carry a lot of stuff.
Compared to this, ESO's companions are more like a Tamagotchi.
Play hundreds of brain-dead quild quests to make your companion happy!

And then, one fine day, you will be fully geared for the ultimate companion experience: