A few thoughts on the new companion system

Alpharos7

Hey! I have been journeying with companions for a little while now and I have a few thoughts I’d like to share. Before I go into them, I just want to say that I do enjoy the new companion system, and I really like the rapport system, which adds an extra dimension to the companions. Also, I love the fact companions can use different mounts and costumes / outfits which means that all companions don’t look the same, and allows role players to adapt their companions to suit.

My first observation is that their detection range is too big - they seem to attract enemies from a far bigger range than I do. This causes problems when travelling with your companion as it means you are constantly fighting enemies rather than skirting around them. They need to decrease the detection range or even better remove it altogether, which will give the player far more control. This will especially help newer players who want to avoid harder enemies.

Secondly, they seem to aggro far more enemies than they should. Currently I am using Miri as a healer, and enemies always seem to be attracted to her rather than me. Whilst this is tactically a good idea, bearing in mind I am a fire breathing Dragonknight surely they should be focusing on me? I understand that this might help newer players deal with larger groups of mobs but it is really annoying. I honestly don’t think companions need to aggro mobs - you only want them aggroing mobs if they are a tank and their first one hand and shield skill is a taunt, so just remove the aggroing altogether.

Thirdly, some of the lines of dialogue are really annoying. Mirri regularly shouts ‘don’t give up’, which is really annoying when I am busy standing on a pathetic Kotu Gava. I have battled Daedric princes, Ancient Ansei Vampire Lords, Dragons etc - I am not going to give up fighting a kotu gava (although it could be argued a bug is not worth my time). Mirri also has a line about roll dodging, which whilst sound advise is always used at the wrong time. I get some new players might find this useful, but if Mirri is going to say it she needs to say it at the right time.

Next, why am I carrying my companions gear? It would be a major QOL improvement for ‘companion storage’ to be added, to relieve pressure from players inventory. In Skyrim companions can carry items so why can’t they here? A minor additional point - green, blue and purple companion gear needs to be easier to find.

Finally, please ZOS let my companion wear a helmet, I beg you!

Just my thoughts I wanted to share. Thanks for reading.

geonsocal

just picked up my first companion yesterday...I have 17 toons (mostly for pvp), so I'm still trying to figure out which toons will get a companion and which companion they'll use...

I wanna get my toons that can solo dungeons set up with a companion to help going through dungeons and farming gear a little easier...

PizzaCat82

I haven't had problems with aggro and detection because with the extra firepower its much more efficient to just mow down everything in my path and it levels my companion at the same time.

tenryuta

first, how did you make her agressive, because i can run past anything with no problems, she will defend as fast as the mob decides to attack me, but never goes beyond this.

second, self answered, without taunt, healers pull aggro like theyre monster catnip, in every game with taunts, heals, damage(in that order), you have to be a super hyper hax master in most if not all games to counter healers aggro generation with damage.

third, its been a long journey, after beating down gods, kicking mudgrabs into dragons faces, murdering cat and lizard people because their culture and magic suck(and yes i bought every dlc, just for some more scrying), whats the point?!?!?! "...dont give up", ah now thats the stuff, back to killing gods, throwing dragons at mudcrabs, murdering lizard people with cat bones, and redecoing my house.

AcadianPaladin

Agree with OP. I have Bastion as a tank and he does well with my characters that have solid 'heal others' skills. I have Mirri as a ranged healer/dps and when traveling with her, sometimes I slot a taunt just to pull mobs off her. She can generally survive but tends to do so by dodge-rolling back, and sometimes excessively spreading out the fight. I wish I could teach her that when mobbed, drag them to me instead of rolling away. Helmets, hats, circlets would all be most welcome.