What are the companions good for?

generalmyrick

Not trolling, ive read the negative comments on the companions, but they must be useful somehow?

Any thing interesting, people haven't said, or just something you've noticed?

[Edited Title for Baiting]

SirAndy

They do provide quite a bit of entertainment ...

WeerW3ir

generalmyrick wrote: »

Not trolling, ive read the negative comments on the companions, but they must be useful somehow?

Any thing interesting, people haven't said, or just something you've noticed?

[Edited Title for Baiting]

Cannon fodder. (for real )

generalmyrick

can you "guard" them?

do they carry items?

orion_1981usub17_ESO

Dress up...

Oreyn_Bearclaw

Solo RP. That's pretty much it.

ADarklore

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/576079/bastain-just-tanked-ncr-3-successfully

I'm just wondering why people post these threads, when there are already numerous threads on them... if not solely to continue creating drama where there is none. It's clear that MANY players are having great success with companions and are not having problems with them dying... as long as you KNOW how to use them properly and don't just assume that from level 1 they can be a 'fire and forget' player replacement... which they are not. They need to be leveled, they need to have proper equipment, they need the right skills in the proper order... they are WORK, and you get out of them what you put into them. Almost every thread of player complaints about companions, the problems are related to them not putting in the work and effort to level them and gear them. These players expect to run hard content right away, then complain when the companion dies. Yet, many of us are talking about- including the link above- how they are able to make companions successful. Hack the Minotaur posted Youtube videos during PTS showing his success with them, and I'm seeing similar results on LIVE. I've run delves, public dungeons and dolmens and have never had a companion die- because I'm taking the time to level them, equip them, and assigning them the skills they need to survive.

However, because I'm here on the forums giving blowback against those who just want to complain and paint a negative picture of companions, I get called a 'companion fanboy'... so be it. Companions are only as successful as the player using them puts forth... put in the effort, and get rewarded... put in little to no effort, and have a useless companion. It's the player's choice... not a design or "AI" problem.

phaneub17_ESO

My tanky characters don't take as long to solo WBs, normally it takes a long time to bring one down now with a companion time is cut by 25-30%. Dragons still have issues where the companion dies then its just me, but at least they go all out before eating dirt.

orion_1981usub17_ESO

Companions are worth while but they are not gonna get you thru content you couldn't already do yourself. If they cut the time down by 10% that great, they are useful. If you can slot an extra skill because they're healing, they're useful. I plan to to use them every chance I get in running low level vet dungeons can I can solo those myself. But at the end of the day, they're just a doll to dress up and a few k of dps or healing.

Now if your a flanker dps, then a companion tank maybe a godsend in solo play, allowing you to up your dps by a significant margin.

FluffWit

They'll help you solo normal dungeons and world bosses you otherwise couldn't.

Beyond that it's just role playing really.

wolfie1.0.

ADarklore wrote: »

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/576079/bastain-just-tanked-ncr-3-successfully

I'm just wondering why people post these threads, when there are already numerous threads on them... if not solely to continue creating drama where there is none. It's clear that MANY players are having great success with companions and are not having problems with them dying... as long as you KNOW how to use them properly and don't just assume that from level 1 they can be a 'fire and forget' player replacement... which they are not. They need to be leveled, they need to have proper equipment, they need the right skills in the proper order... they are WORK, and you get out of them what you put into them. Almost every thread of player complaints about companions, the problems are related to them not putting in the work and effort to level them and gear them. These players expect to run hard content right away, then complain when the companion dies. Yet, many of us are talking about- including the link above- how they are able to make companions successful. Hack the Minotaur posted Youtube videos during PTS showing his success with them, and I'm seeing similar results on LIVE. I've run delves, public dungeons and dolmens and have never had a companion die- because I'm taking the time to level them, equip them, and assigning them the skills they need to survive.

However, because I'm here on the forums giving blowback against those who just want to complain and paint a negative picture of companions, I get called a 'companion fanboy'... so be it. Companions are only as successful as the player using them puts forth... put in the effort, and get rewarded... put in little to no effort, and have a useless companion. It's the player's choice... not a design or "AI" problem.

To be fair much of my complaints are around the value of the work spent vs the end results. ZOS sold us this chapter as the one with companions. It is the hook for the chapter much like wardens were for morrowind, jewelry crafting for summerset, necromancers for Elyswyr, Antiquities for greymoor.

Of those options black wood has the least enticing option. Add to that the sheer grinding involved and it gets more a hassle. I am looking at the time investment that will be needed and telling myself I want companions to be worth it. But then I look at the alternative options and it dosen't add up. Companions may help with content, but not all that much, and its easier to find some random to do that same content who at the very least will be able to do the same thing the companion does. Without as much time investment.

Companions, tend to be not so good until they are leveled and geared up as has been stated, so they arnt so good for new players and top tier players dont need them. So who exactly are they meant for?

xeNNNNN

According to a recent thread, Tanking nCR+3 apparently.

tsaescishoeshiner

The last skill in the Resto Staff line gives you a 15k health shield whenever your health gets under 25%, on a cooldown. Actually seems somewhat useful for world bosses and world events and whatnot. That would come in handy for soloing Ri'Atahrashi, if I could figure out how to keep the companion alive lol.

Herr_Flocke

orion_1981usub17_ESO wrote: »

Companions are worth while but they are not gonna get you thru content you couldn't already do yourself.

after a bit of experimenting with them (Mirri @ lvl 13 now), I agree with you. Took her through a few solo group dungeon runs, and she didn't die, didn't do much wrong apart from occassionally aggroing some mob out of my aoe's, didn't help much either though.

Maybe with a little more experimenting that will change, at least I think there is some potential to speed up those runs with a companion, because it might give a little more build flexibility for my toon.

But the bottomline still stands, you should be able to handle the content on your own in the first place, companion then is a kind of convenience. No more, no less.

Narvuntien

I feel like Tanks and healers can better complete overland questing in a reasonable time, otherwise it takes forever to kill trash (even if you are in no danger of dying)

GreenHere

They're really not that bad if you can devote attention & support to keeping them on their feet. It's just that that's a fairly big "if" to work into a lot of play styles, so for many of us they can kind of feel like more of a burden than they "ought to". But if you focus on keeping them alive, or focus them on keeping themselves (and/or you) alive, they are decently helpful battle buddies.

If we only had a bit more command of them, the complaints would be a lot less widespread, I think. Even when I'm on a setup where I'm equipped to heal them and pull aggro off of them, it's kind of annoying how they'll constantly try to get out of position or pull enemies out of my AoEs and whatnot. They're a little dumb, to be frank; and without smarter AI to do what I want on their own, not having the ability to control them a little better stings all the more.

jedtb16_ESO

generalmyrick wrote: »

Not trolling, ive read the negative comments on the companions, but they must be useful somehow?

Any thing interesting, people haven't said, or just something you've noticed?

[Edited Title for Baiting]

was fishing in summerset yesterday had mirri with me. killed a mob near a fishing spot and started fishing. i figured that the mob would respawn and i would have to stop fishing to take care of it. it respawned and mirri dealt with it. my fishing was not interrupted.

i'd call that useful.

generalmyrick

OK, so, the consensus is???:

-that they can be helpful in content not already super hard, but they'll take a bit of elbow grease to get there.
-they do add a bit of dps so if not making content easier, they make it a little quicker to get through.
-they provide some RP opportunity
-they do provide little surprise conveniences like taking care of trash mobs while you fish or probably afk for a RR break.

cool!

Starlight_Whisper

generalmyrick wrote: »

can you "guard" them?

do they carry items?

They can be guarded

Starlight_Whisper

Narvuntien wrote: »

I feel like Tanks and healers can better complete overland questing in a reasonable time, otherwise it takes forever to kill trash (even if you are in no danger of dying)

I defiently felt this way

Abigail

I've been a strong nay-sayer concerning companions, most particularly their ridiculous grind for level and gear. To get around my sour attitude I decided to create a new alt with which I'd quest exclusively. I did a magblade and got her Bastion at level-3. She's now 16 and I'm having fun.

I use Bastion to tank, sending him at mobs with keystrokes Y-LEFT CLICK (pet attack). Given my handicaps I've set this as a button on my Razer Naga X and it's quite intuitive. He attacks and Elizabeth burns the nasties down. Pro players will say this is too easy, but for me it's relaxing and enjoyable. Bastion and Elizabeth shall conquer Tamriel together!

Still not happy about the grind, but there's still much silver lining.

As an aside, for those unhappy when companions stall because they don't have line of sight with the target, Y-RIGHT CLICK pulls them off the target so they can be repositioned. Also, experience with companions makes us more situationally aware of their locations and certainly ensures more fluid and rapid attacks.

nryerson1025

is it only me or does anyone else constantly feel like they are being followed by like, another player, when it is in fact your own companion lol

Abigail

nryerson1025 wrote: »

is it only me or does anyone else constantly feel like they are being followed by like, another player, when it is in fact your own companion lol

I felt like that at first, but now I'm quite used to having them with me. Between eyesight and the position indicator top screen, you know where they are. I've also outfitted my companions with distinctive, if not eccentric looks, so I would readily discern them from other players or their companions.

Toxic_Hemlock

Companions, IMO, are going to be hard to balance for very obvious reasons. If you are struggling with harder content, something I have problems with, they are indeed to weak to help. In this category they are more a hinderance as when they inevitably die they will possibly get you killed trying to rez them; best to just muddle through solo. This makes them more or less useless to the this type of player in anything other than easier content.

To the players that can already solo everything they are again useless as you don't "need" them to do the content, and although they might give you a descent partner, the babysitting alone becomes a chore after a while I can only assume.

The only exception to these rules are the healer, and we already have the ring for those times, hence again not very useful

As I try to offer suggestions when possible I would say increase their tankyness/hitpoints so as to appease everyone.
The players struggling will appreciate not having to rez them perpetually in the more difficult content and might actually feel more a boon that a hinderance. The already expert player would not have to babysit them, other than that no real big change for them. Neither of these options will allow the companions to solo content without help from the player, but again IMO, will make the content a more pleasant experience.

Oher than the PTW aspect, but then again that can of worms was already opened, what would be the harm in making them tougher? Seeing as they cannot be taken into solo only content or pvp the benefits are all positive here.

Nastassiya

xeNNNNN wrote: »

According to a recent thread, Tanking nCR+3 apparently.

they can tank a lot as long as you can spam heals on them