Should companions be different for all Characters?

kendellking_chaosb14_ESO

So basically the way it works now you must unlock companions on each character and level them up fair enough so far. But the gear and skill bar is shared account wide which is very unfair. We are forced to use the same outfit, gear and skills unless you change them up each time you use a different character. If gear and skills are account wide then why not progression too?

We can have 18 characters in total with 18 different looks but only two companions with two roles? If your companion is tanky to give squishy DPS a bit more breathing room what use is that to a tank? Melee or range, magic or stamina so many combos and only two choices for 18 characters.

xilfxlegion

No, leave the system as is

it gets rather pricy trying to outfit all of them separately.

Araneae6537

No, other

More than three — I want lots of companion options so I can choose the best fit for each character and if dialogue options will remain limited and rather generic, that way I will be less likely to grow tired of any of them.

Sevalaricgirl

Absolutely, ZOS took the easy way out on companions. Plus there needs to be more companions, lots more. There should be one from each race.

VaranisArano

Companion progression, i.e. ranking up their skills, is account wide because it'd be a punishing per- character grind.

It's not unfair, and no, I have zero interest in leveling them up separately to level 20 for each character.

Only the initial Quest to unlock them and Rapport gain is per-character, and that's for roleplaying reasons.


Now, I'm not sure why ZOS decided that the equipped gear and skill bars needed to be account wide, since they only released two companions. There seems to be an obvious hole in one role of the PVE trinity. On the other hand, it does mean you don't have to farm multiple sets of the same gear for multiple tank Bastians on several characters like you would if Bastian had unique builds for each character.

And similarly, I'm not sure why they decided to make outfits account wide.

I wonder if we'll eventually see a "Companion Armory" where we can save and quickly swap between builds for them.

Elsonso

No, other

They should have them like they are now, but unlocked for the account, not for each individual character.

That means account-wide gear, level, and skills, while rapport is per-character, but we don't have to do the quest on every character to unlock them. Once unlocked, they can be summed by any character on the account.

Parasaurolophus

No, just add a third companion (for a Tank, healer, DPS archetype)

No. Oh... Look... Companions are a purely casual option. It is not necessary to expect any complex systems from this. Especially since they are rather weak, why complicate them?

Lysette

Yeah, we need more companions - my Argonian is not fond of having a squishy mammal around, if he could have a strong argonian female with an attitude and a lovely deep raspy voice instead.

Jusey1

No, leave the system as is

Parasaurolophus wrote: »

Especially since they are rather weak

My Mirri heals more than most player healers I get in RNDs. I think they are honestly weak as DPS but I do think they can perform the tank and healer roles (to a point obviously, a good player healer/tank will be better but they can do the roles effectively).

_Zathras_

I'm sure they will tweak them, given time.

Maybe that will happen in the next Chapter, if they release another Companion.

As for how it currently is, I can swap out gear, weapons, skills, and appearance if I want to. I also don't mind not starting from scratch each and every time.

As an aside, I am on team Miri now. Bastian is cute, but he's not the bad boy I need on my adventures. Miri lets me steal, and kill, and she likes to give me presents when I loot chests.

phaneub17_ESO

No, leave the system as is

We're only at the beginning of the system, down the line we will get more of them added at least one of each class type. Having to level them per character would be very disheartening in the long run as it means having to level their skills and equipping them separately. That will get expensive especially if you want the same build for each character, you have to pick and choose which character's companion gets the upgrade and who gets screwed. I rather gear them up once than having to do it 18 times.

Kallykat

Yes, all characters should have their own copy since progression is not shared. (each companion starts with the base gear only)

I would like more companion options for rp purposes. Also, I understand why leveling them up is account-wide to avoid tedious grind, but I don't like that I can't choose their abilities/gear per character. I would like a new build of each companion per character.

kargen27

I still want the companions I do have to stay within twenty meters of me instead of running half way across the zone every time something larger than a skeever attacks.

SilverBride

No, leave the system as is

I can barely manage my own characters. The last thing I want is to have to micromanage my companions, too.

In fact, I would suggest that rapport become account wide, too.

CyberOnEso

No, just add a third companion (for a Tank, healer, DPS archetype)

One thing that may influence your feeling is there is a good chance ZOS will add a new companion or two with the upcoming Chapter. They have previously stated that they want to expand on the system and if they are going to do that I would expect them to add additional companions. This would then provide you with more options, potentially allowing for a companion of each role.

AcadianPaladin

No, leave the system as is

I love that progression for companions is account wide.

What companions need to more easily support the needs of differing characters is some significant love when it comes to changing their gear. At a minimum, allow us to lock important pieces of companion gear so it doesn't accidently get sold in the shuffling. Much better would be for companions to be able to carry up to 10 or so items of companion gear so it is always with them to support changes as the player moves among characters. If a companion armory system is created it absolutely must include the companion's ability to carry the necessary extra gear. If the character has to go into the bank to get the right gear, any armory system would be pretty useless.

Monte_Cristo

I'd like at least 4 companions: tank, healer, ranged damage, melee damage. 6 would be ideal, one for each weapon type.
Was really expecting Deadlands to come with a 3rd one.

Mesite

No, just add a third companion (for a Tank, healer, DPS archetype)

Companions are only an issue for people with Blackwood or ESO+. Hopefully the next chapter will add a companion to the base game for casual players.

hafgood

No, other

Just ditch the whole companion system please. I've max levelled them, I've max rapport with them (once) and they are back in their box. I do not like them and do not see the point of them

ArchangelIsraphel

Yes, but only for outfits each character should be able to match their style but that's it. (way it is now but with each character getting their own outfit)

The changes I'd like to the companion system:

1. Add a companion outfit slot system that is account wide, which can be purchased using either gold, or some kind of "companion reputation" currency gained from doing quests with either Bastian or Mirri. The system allows for the purchase of 18 outfit slots per companion, one per character on the account. The first default slot is free, as it is now. In this way, those who don't care if their companions match their character can have their single account wide outfit, and those that want to pursue the system can work towards it as an in game award. In my idea for the system, all companion outfit slots are account wide, so no matter which character you are on, you can switch Mirri or Bastian into any outfit you have made.

2. Companions to have their own backpack/gear storage. If you want to sell me on the idea that Mirri and Bastian are "their own person" then they need to carry their own stuff. Give us a 10-30 slot bag attached to each companion where alternate gear sets can be stored and accessed by every character on the account.

3. Let me put a hat and jewelry on them.

I definitely do not want to have to level them all over again per each character, that's a grind I have no desire to endure- grinding rep is fine though as I like being able to re-do the quests and have that experience over again on each character when I want to do it.

daim

Yes, but only for outfits each character should be able to match their style but that's it. (way it is now but with each character getting their own outfit)

The outfit thing is the only one bothering me. And that their ugly faces cant be hidden.

Otherwise I dont care. I certainly would not grind them up for every alt. I still havent even bothered to max them up as they are.

bmnoble

No, leave the system as is

If I had to level them up on each and every character I would only ever use them on my main.

The main reason I put the time and effort into leveling them up was for the future, since I figure they will be a great help leveling up my future characters when the release new classes or more character slots.

The one thing I would currently like changed is the option for them to wear helmets or other head gear.

peacenote

No, other

I do think the mix if account vs character settings is a little weird although I understand why it was done. Basically, each companion is like one of our characters. If we log out on character x, play character y, and then go back to x, it is exactly how we left it.

I would hate it if I had 12 different Bastions or Mirris based on the character I was on. I would never be able to keep track; that honestly sounds awful.

Instead I would like to see them have a simplified version of the Armory and their own inventory, so we could have one or two builds per companion. And a couple of outfit slots per companion.

Honestly the separate unlocks and rapport levels drive me crazy. I understand that it is for role play but the game does make certain allowances for acknowledging that whatever toon you're on, it is the same person behind it. Things like account-wide collectibles and account bound gear. Personally I would like the companions to have a relationship with the account, not each character, because to ME it's always the same Bastian or Mirri. I do get that other people pretend more strongly that each toon has a different identity but I would like to see an account/character rapport toggle.

A while back I tried to get a conversation going about companion builds and it fell flat: https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/592276/fun-or-creative-updated-companion-builds#latest. This makes me think most people would not care for a different build for character. There apparently isn't enough to them to even get a lively conversation about difficult build on the forums. 🤣

I would like to see more companions be released, especially more "evil" ones. They have been a little more interesting to experiment with than I originally thought. I look forward to more companions based on the other classes with different combat options and commentary and opinions as with just two personalities it does get repetitive. This seems way more fun than a deeper dive into per character relationships and romances. I have zero interest in building nuanced fake relationships between my characters and their companions when they are kind of just glorified pets to me. I chuckle at funny-timed comments by my companions just like I smile when my pet does a cute animation.

Adremal

Yes, but only for outfits each character should be able to match their style but that's it. (way it is now but with each character getting their own outfit)

Only for outfits. Given that they level up with combat XP, and it takes a lot of it, it'd mean lots of grinding and I'd most certainly not do that for alts. Unlocking new weapon / armor skill lines by mindlessly grinding OL XP with a level 50 character was... ugh. And please give us someone with a proper evil or at least uncaring morality, it's unfair to expect us to remember to dismiss them when accidentallying NPCs with the blade of woe.

spartaxoxo

Yes, but only for outfits each character should be able to match their style but that's it. (way it is now but with each character getting their own outfit)

A unique outfit but that's it. It's far better to have them only need their combat skills leveled the once.

I do wish they had their own inventories so it was more reasonable to switch their builds. I also would like to be able to lock their weapons.

Apart from that though, companions are already good for what they are.

AlnilamE

No, leave the system as is

I'm pretty sure we're going to get more companions in the future.

Vaoh

No, other

We really need Companions to get to wear helmets for our outfits.

BretonMage

Yes, but only for outfits each character should be able to match their style but that's it. (way it is now but with each character getting their own outfit)

I'm fairly satisfied with the system as it is, but I'd like companion houseguests to have customisable outfits.

Amottica

VaranisArano wrote: »

Companion progression, i.e. ranking up their skills, is account wide because it'd be a punishing per- character grind.

It's not unfair, and no, I have zero interest in leveling them up separately to level 20 for each character.

Only the initial Quest to unlock them and Rapport gain is per-character, and that's for roleplaying reasons.


Now, I'm not sure why ZOS decided that the equipped gear and skill bars needed to be account wide, since they only released two companions. There seems to be an obvious hole in one role of the PVE trinity. On the other hand, it does mean you don't have to farm multiple sets of the same gear for multiple tank Bastians on several characters like you would if Bastian had unique builds for each character.

And similarly, I'm not sure why they decided to make outfits account wide.

I wonder if we'll eventually see a "Companion Armory" where we can save and quickly swap between builds for them.

I did not respond to the poll as the answers are to complicated for a simple yes or no question.

I do agree with Varanis here. Especially that it is a good thing that the progression of the companion is account wide. I could not imagine leveling up the companion for each character.

DreamyLu

No, other

For me a mix of two options: my favorite, leave the system as is, but, if really absolutely wanted by a vast majority, I would have nothing against a 3rd companion, just I wouldn't use it.

As said in other threads before, I would very much prefer that companions remain identifiable at first sight, so we can straight know if we see a real player or a NPC. That's why I'm against customization of any sort and hope for not too many of them.

Snamyap

Mesite wrote: »

Companions are only an issue for people with Blackwood or ESO+. Hopefully the next chapter will add a companion to the base game for casual players.

What does being casual have to do with owning an expansion or not?