My biggest gripe with companion leveling....

FluffWit

The grind to level 20 was bad but I was fine with it. At least I could fight what I wanted to do and just slowly chip away at it.

It was having to do mediocre old content like Mages guild dailies and having to do incredibly boring time sinks like visiting the museum in Wrothgar to level their Rapport.

I did all my Ashlander achievements years ago, I did every dolmen achievement years ago. Going back and doing these dailies again wasnt remotely fun.

So please, if you're going to add more companions with the summer dlc tie leveling their rapport to doing new content in the new dlc zone. i.e Bastion likes delve dailies in Blackwood. Mirri likes world boss dailies in Blackwood. Simple.

phaneub17_ESO

Yeah, its not going to change. If you want those skills then you're going to have to redo all those quests again with the new companions. It's easier with multiple alts or start a community ahead of time to agree to share the daily quests and blow through them all in one go to finish them faster in a couple days than over the course of weeks. Evaluate which skills you really want out of those lines and see if you really want those second or third skills in their arsenal, if no then just get the first ones like Starfall, Sniping Silver, and maybe Reverse Entropy for the healers then be done there. If you don't need the rest, don't bother with it.

Deter1UK

Indeed.

FluffWit

phaneub17_ESO wrote: »

Yeah, its not going to change. If you want those skills then you're going to have to redo all those quests again with the new companions. It's easier with multiple alts or start a community ahead of time to agree to share the daily quests and blow through them all in one go to finish them faster in a couple days than over the course of weeks. Evaluate which skills you really want out of those lines and see if you really want those second or third skills in their arsenal, if no then just get the first ones like Starfall, Sniping Silver, and maybe Reverse Entropy for the healers then be done there. If you don't need the rest, don't bother with it.

I'm not talking about the skills, that's something different. But now that you mention it I took one look at those skill lines and decided not to bother. They should go too- or be leveled ina way that doesn't require me to grind mediocre old content.

redspecter23

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

kargen27

MMOs need players repeating existing content to survive. TO that end we have antiquities, endeavors, companions and some other stuff.

Thalmor-Nordmaster

How does the mob grind fare with companions? Is it Black Desert level grind? Or worse?

phaneub17_ESO

Thalmor-Nordmaster wrote: »

How does the mob grind fare with companions? Is it Black Desert level grind? Or worse?

Depends... do you like dragons? Originally we got exp for companions from clearing dolmens, I already maxed out Bastian to level 20 and Mirri to level 16 before they took that away so they would only get exp from the mob kills not from the closure. The next best exp after that was killing dragons, not as much but still better than other sources. Otherwise the grind is something to ignore unless you want to drive yourself bat crap crazy; if your character is pre-50 then its even slower.

Thalmor-Nordmaster

@phaneub17_ESO thank you. So its time for me to farm dragons. Or is it they farm me? If they have a spice rack nearby I take that as a bad omen.

AcadianPaladin

I think the companion grind is okay. Grinding the companion's level and skills is easy and fast enough. Grinding rapport is long and slow but the tactical benefits are negligent so there is no rush.

tmbrinks

Thalmor-Nordmaster wrote: »

How does the mob grind fare with companions? Is it Black Desert level grind? Or worse?

The "grind" for both Mirri and Bastian combined to 20 is less than the average grind for a single one of the infinite pot pieces in BDO (or 100 of the pity pieces).

(I say as I'm tanning chickens at Navarn for the last of the mana pot I need)

Monte_Cristo

I got 2 levels each for both companions doing Dragonstar Arena. Are dungeons and areanas good leveling spots for companions?

drsalvation

FluffWit wrote: »

The grind to level 20 was bad but I was fine with it. At least I could fight what I wanted to do and just slowly chip away at it.

It was having to do mediocre old content like Mages guild dailies and having to do incredibly boring time sinks like visiting the museum in Wrothgar to level their Rapport.

I did all my Ashlander achievements years ago, I did every dolmen achievement years ago. Going back and doing these dailies again wasnt remotely fun.

So please, if you're going to add more companions with the summer dlc tie leveling their rapport to doing new content in the new dlc zone. i.e Bastion likes delve dailies in Blackwood. Mirri likes world boss dailies in Blackwood. Simple.

Also, there's no way they'd ever do daily grinds for new companion's essential rapport in dlc zones... A new player could buy the game bundled with the chapter, but the same player won't have access to dlc areas, so if the player is going to level rapport with Isobel, they'd need to buy other chapters?
I'm sure companions could have an optional rapport, like Mirri when she visits the clockwork city, but they would never be the main source of rapport levelling.

ShawnLaRock

I levelled Mirri and Bastion on new toons - so my characters would benefit from Mages / Fighters, too.

Otherwise - I just have them out while doing whatever I am already doing, and they level up however fast.

S.

Edit: when they get to 20 in a weapon or gear weight line, I just switch them to the next weapon I want to level. You rarely ever NEED them as a specific role, so just switch when each one finishes levelling.

BretonMage

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

I'm generally fine with the way companions are levelled. It's slow but I can understand that experience gains are tied solely to combat experience. By the same token though, I would definitely agree that undaunted/dungeon quests should provide more experience than they currently do. Taking a companion through a group dungeon, especially a vet dungeon, should provide more experience than taking them through a public dungeon.

Fennwitty

It would be nice if they got their Ultimate sooner though. Like level 15.

SilverBride

I was upset when I found out our new companions were both female, but I decided I am not going to level them anyway. Leveling Bastian and Mirri was slow but I just let it happen naturally. The Rapport though was tedious and repetitive and not the least bit enjoyable.

One of the reasons I left WoW was the reputation grinds they were so fond of. That is what Rapport feels like and it's not something I want to do again.

spartaxoxo

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

This I agree with completely. They should get exp for everything they help you do outside of group finder.

Ishtarknows

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

Cue the vets wanting to get companions done and dusted for achievements day 1 standing next to Rolis with XP pots and 400 master writs...

Kesstryl

Ishtarknows wrote: »

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

Cue the vets wanting to get companions done and dusted for achievements day 1 standing next to Rolis with XP pots and 400 master writs...

Aww come on, some of us 6 months later are still barely past 60% rapport because we work and have families and don't have 8 hours a day to grind this stuff out. This is ridiculous, I just maxed a new character in the past month BY DOING QUESTS ALONE on just a couple hours a day of playing, but Bastion who is getting the benefit of my reading every bookshelf and scrying for antiquities has barely touched 60% after 6 months. Something needs to be looked at here.

RicAlmighty

Kesstryl wrote: »

Ishtarknows wrote: »

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

Cue the vets wanting to get companions done and dusted for achievements day 1 standing next to Rolis with XP pots and 400 master writs...

Aww come on, some of us 6 months later are still barely past 60% rapport because we work and have families and don't have 8 hours a day to grind this stuff out. This is ridiculous, I just maxed a new character in the past month BY DOING QUESTS ALONE on just a couple hours a day of playing, but Bastion who is getting the benefit of my reading every bookshelf and scrying for antiquities has barely touched 60% after 6 months. Something needs to be looked at here.

I work, have a family and don't play 8 hours a day and I fully leveled Mirri in both combat and rapport in about 5 total weeks. Bookshelves and scrying award the least amount of rapport points, so you are not going to level them that way. Do the dailies that give 125pts (Mage's/Fighter's) and the other daily that gives 150 (Ashlander for Mirri, strangely none for Bastian). When their personal quests come up, do them immediately, that's another 500pts. I am honestly baffled by people saying this is difficult, it absolutely is not (for Mirri anyway, Bastian will certainly take a bit longer.) But it's also not trivial, nor in my opinion should it be.



.

NerfSeige

I just wish that bastian got something like the ashlander dailes, but I guess mirri got them cause dolmens are longer than public dungeons.

RicAlmighty

NerfSeige wrote: »

I just wish that bastian got something like the ashlander dailes, but I guess mirri got them cause dolmens are longer than public dungeons.

Agreed, it is odd that they gave Mirri a second daily and not Bastian. I tried Bastian but the first time he bitched about opening a thieves trove I ditched him.

daim

Leveling companions is so boring. I dont get it how people are able to grind them. Leveling alts on the other hand is fun.

Dragonlord573

Kesstryl wrote: »

Ishtarknows wrote: »

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

Cue the vets wanting to get companions done and dusted for achievements day 1 standing next to Rolis with XP pots and 400 master writs...

Aww come on, some of us 6 months later are still barely past 60% rapport because we work and have families and don't have 8 hours a day to grind this stuff out. This is ridiculous, I just maxed a new character in the past month BY DOING QUESTS ALONE on just a couple hours a day of playing, but Bastion who is getting the benefit of my reading every bookshelf and scrying for antiquities has barely touched 60% after 6 months. Something needs to be looked at here.

My Bastion, the only companion I use, is level 17 and is at like 55% rapport it's frustrating cause I want to experience his quests but after how many months with next to no progress apart from levels I've lost nearly all my interest in the quests. Only reason I have left to want to see the quests is cause my friends told me they're good. Sure I'm not farming for his rapport, but you'd think after 17 levels he'd like me more. Like, could you imagine playing Dragon Age, get to the final act of the game and still be at 50% approval with your main companions?

Deter1UK

daim wrote: »

Leveling companions is so boring. I dont get it how people are able to grind them. Leveling alts on the other hand is fun.

Well you can just leave them out there and ignore them if you like. They will level. If you just let them tag along they won't be any more boring than if they were not there.

Rapport takes a bit more thought though.

redspecter23

Ishtarknows wrote: »

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

Cue the vets wanting to get companions done and dusted for achievements day 1 standing next to Rolis with XP pots and 400 master writs...

That's exactly what I was going to do last time. It might be one of the main reasons why quest xp doesn't level companions. However, if that method of xp acquisition is seen as out of balance for companions, it must also be out of balance for all xp gain. The issue should be xp in general and not specific to just companion xp. It doesn't affect me at all at this point in the game, but I can see ZOS examining master writ xp at some point down the line.

redspecter23

Dragonlord573 wrote: »

Kesstryl wrote: »

Ishtarknows wrote: »

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

Cue the vets wanting to get companions done and dusted for achievements day 1 standing next to Rolis with XP pots and 400 master writs...

Aww come on, some of us 6 months later are still barely past 60% rapport because we work and have families and don't have 8 hours a day to grind this stuff out. This is ridiculous, I just maxed a new character in the past month BY DOING QUESTS ALONE on just a couple hours a day of playing, but Bastion who is getting the benefit of my reading every bookshelf and scrying for antiquities has barely touched 60% after 6 months. Something needs to be looked at here.

My Bastion, the only companion I use, is level 17 and is at like 55% rapport it's frustrating cause I want to experience his quests but after how many months with next to no progress apart from levels I've lost nearly all my interest in the quests. Only reason I have left to want to see the quests is cause my friends told me they're good. Sure I'm not farming for his rapport, but you'd think after 17 levels he'd like me more. Like, could you imagine playing Dragon Age, get to the final act of the game and still be at 50% approval with your main companions?

Rapport is a broken mess that I'm very surprised ZOS implemented in the way they did. Rasing Bastian's rapport is basically doing mages guild dailies. Any other source of rapport is little more than a placebo. It basically does nothing and there is no in game method of knowing that.

Deter1UK

RicAlmighty wrote: »

NerfSeige wrote: »

I just wish that bastian got something like the ashlander dailes, but I guess mirri got them cause dolmens are longer than public dungeons.

Agreed, it is odd that they gave Mirri a second daily and not Bastian..

It needs looking at. It's a whole 125 rapport points per day (per alt if you're keen) difference. I don't see why that should be so.

spartaxoxo

Dragonlord573 wrote: »

Kesstryl wrote: »

Ishtarknows wrote: »

redspecter23 wrote: »

My biggest issue is that companions, which are arguably aimed at a more casual audience, are ideally leveled up through insane amounts of mob grind. Quest xp doesn't apply. Daily random doesn't apply. Just go kill mobs for hours on end to level them. It seems like a missed opportunity to not allow at least questing xp to apply to companion level progress.

Cue the vets wanting to get companions done and dusted for achievements day 1 standing next to Rolis with XP pots and 400 master writs...

Aww come on, some of us 6 months later are still barely past 60% rapport because we work and have families and don't have 8 hours a day to grind this stuff out. This is ridiculous, I just maxed a new character in the past month BY DOING QUESTS ALONE on just a couple hours a day of playing, but Bastion who is getting the benefit of my reading every bookshelf and scrying for antiquities has barely touched 60% after 6 months. Something needs to be looked at here.

My Bastion, the only companion I use, is level 17 and is at like 55% rapport it's frustrating cause I want to experience his quests but after how many months with next to no progress apart from levels I've lost nearly all my interest in the quests. Only reason I have left to want to see the quests is cause my friends told me they're good. Sure I'm not farming for his rapport, but you'd think after 17 levels he'd like me more. Like, could you imagine playing Dragon Age, get to the final act of the game and still be at 50% approval with your main companions?

Levels and Rapport are separate leveling systems for the most part. Do his Mage's guild dailies and you'll have his rapport maxed out pretty quick. I found his rapport much less grindy than his levels personally.

InaMoonlight

I've been done on the main for a while, but I actually appreciated having a valid reason to do those things again...