Companion Gear Quality: Which improvements would you like to see?

wookiefriseur

You can find details for the suggestions in the spoiler blocks below.

Issues with the current system

1. companion gear is often worthless (even for collectors)
2. only very few pieces are interesting for companions or guild trader
3. green and blue pieces are used relatively rarely
4. many destroy them or sell them to traders for gold
5. unlike plunder/trash items the gear is worth almost nothing at the trader
6. cannot be marked as junk
7. cannot protect it from accidental sale (no locking)
8. unlike normal equipment the pieces cannot be deconstructed
9. some people post them for tiny sums at the guild traders
10. others flood guild banks with them

Intro

Motivation
When the High Isle event introduced legendary companion gear for the first time, I was excited and looking forward to improvements for companion gear (like crafting, enchantments, new reward system, transmuting traits or even companion sets).

Sadly it seemed to be only 1 piece for now, that was specifically made for the event. But this is also a good opportunity to make some suggestions and collect feedback (hoping, that parts of it can be implemented).


(The One Ring)

Guild traders are suffering:

Similar issues mentioned here in the Anglo-Saxon forums:

1. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/603711/companion-changes/p1
2. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/619643/wow-gold-companion-item-was-given/p1
3. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/618887/companion-gear/p1
4. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/619623/ability-to-change-traits-on-companion-gear/p1
5. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/613293/please-zos-allow-us-to-create-companion-gear-items/p1
6. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/610372/what-cant-we-craft-companion-gear/p1
7. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/603951/companion-gear-drop-rate-price/p1

That's why I tried to come up with improvements. This poll is just about companion gear quality and how to aquire it, not about the companion system in itself. Maybe we can collect some ideas and feedback in here.

Suggestion 1: Merge - random

Merge pieces of lower quality gear for random higher quality gear (my preferred suggestion).

Thoughts:

1. 5 pieces of the same quality could be merged into 1 random higher quality piece
2. only small amounts of pieces should be required, because the gear does not stack and it already takes up a lot of space
3. RNGesus compensates for the small amounts with luck being necessary to get the desired outcome
4. gold or a reagent could be required for the merge
5. "bound on equip", will make it valid for resale
6. even green quality gear will be sought-after
7. no new material type necessary, the gear is the material
8. no lvl barriers for players
9. gives people more options for farming companion gear
10. merge could be done at crafting tables
11. gear could could be exchanged at traders for a random container (+fee)
12. could even be done by a companion in the dialogue in the inventory using a reagent
13. costs for reagents or fees would take gold out of the cycle (goldsink)
14. takes items out of the cycle, through merge/exchange (x:1)
15. RNGesus delays being able to farm the "perfect" gear to fast

Example for merge costs (with slot and type constraints):

Type could be armour (light, medium, heavy), weapons and jewelry; slot could be "Head" or more limited "Head, heavy"

Example for a merge using a crafting table (no type constraints):

(5 blue pieces selected, 1 random purple piece created)

Example for a merge using the companion dialogue (no type constraint):

(companion gear in the inventory: 13x green, 2x blue, 6x purple, 3x gold. After picking a dialogue option some kind of trade or deconstruction window could open to let you pick the pieces)

Suggestion 2: Crafting - targeted

Deconstructing gear into raw material. This could then be used for targeted improvement or crafting. The randomness is gone.

Thoughts:

1. new material type necessary (because not all players are LVL 50)
2. could drop only from deconstructing companion gear
3. but new material would take away inventory space, if you don't have ESO+
4. alternatively it could use transmutation crystals for trait changes
5. new players don't have good access to crystals
6. existing material could be used instead, that is player lvl neutral (like furniture materials)
7. new trait material would necessary
8. at a pinch existing trait material could be used, with a different effect for companion gear
9. required raw material should be 10+ times higher than with suggestion 1 (because randomness is gone and materials can be stacked)
10. if the system does not require crafting skills, then the gear can be "bound on pickup"
11. if it required crafting skills, it should be "bound on equip"
12. takes randomness almost completely out of the equation, like with crafting overland sets
13. companions might get equipped too good too fast, if material requirements are too low

Suggestion 3: Drops/Quests - random

Higher drop chances for higher quality gear. In addition there should be quests / enemies, which have an increased chance of granting a specific high quality item.

Thoughts:

1. purple gear should drop more often
2. some pieces could be gained specifically from quests (0 random or higher chance)
3. specific world bosses could drop specific pieces
4. daily guild quests are good candidates for a higher drop chance for random golden gear
5. it would revitalise some overland zones for a limited time
6. guild ranks could be used to unlock purchasable gear
7. companions might get equipped too well too fast

redspecter23

I'd make the following adjustments.

1. Add a skill line that allows you to craft companion gear
2. Allow for deconstruction of companion gear and trait research
3. Adjust or remove the trash traits. Really, some of them are little more than filler
4. Add set bonuses for companion gear. Some crafted, some as drops

When my companions can wear fully golded set gear and I can either craft or reconstruct it, I think the system will feel "done". For now, it feels like about 20% of a system with some massive gaps.

wookiefriseur

Merge - random (suggestion 1)

redspecter23 wrote: »

I'd make the following adjustments.
...
When my companions can wear fully golded set gear and I can either craft or reconstruct it, I think the system will feel "done". For now, it feels like about 20% of a system with some massive gaps.

1) if it would be an open world companion skill line (and not just for crafting) it could be interesting
skill line under crafting might be a bit too much, just for companions (as long as there are no special craftable sets with set bonusses)

2) as I mentioned in option 2 it would probably introduce new materials and take up more bag space. also everybody loves trait research. my main problem with the crafting approach though is, that it will be probably too easy to get the companions to full gold and best in slot. also the lower quality materials just don't get used (just look at enchantment)

3) absolutely. I remember them doing this for player equipment too so it will probably happen for companions as well

4) specific companion only sets could be interesting and it would also open the doors for some companion mythics down the road
they should not be able to wear player sets though, or the effects should work differently on companions

Dragonredux

Merge - random (suggestion 1)

Other then my gripes about Companions feeling like a severely gimped player class. I still think Quickened should be removed and ZoS just make the cooldowns not bad. The fact the a lot of people think Quickened is the best trait just means their cooldowns are just really bad. I rather improve their strengths not waste slots making sure they do things other light attack... but rant over...

I like the merge idea of getting potentially good gear faster and it would help with the slew of green and blue you'll get. Side note, did anyone ever get a drop of legendary gear other than the ring from the event.

Also the gear should also have some added effect like enchantments, it all just feels so boring. Just don't make it the same logic as players. Make the shock glyph do extra shock damage every light attack instead of a 4 second cooldown like players. They are an AI with faults and a gimped toolkit not a player.

Molydeus

I just want gold gear, that's it. I enjoy maximizing my companion and I'm willing to pay millions for gold gear just like I did for purple. I'm okay with that.

BretonMage

something different (your own suggestion)

I'd be happy with either option 2 or 3. Something that feels like it fits in the game would be great.

Whatever it is, though, the companion gear system desperately needs improvement.

RedBranch

Crafting - targeted (suggestion 2)

I don’t see companion builds being truly interesting until we can craft or they offer proc sets for them.

Hotdog_23

My main wish is if each companion could hold enough of their own gear to be either DPS/Heal/tank and not take up my bag/bank space. Plus, it would be nice to see their stats.

Stay safe

jle30303

Things I want to see:

(1) Ability to change trait on companion gear like you can change trait on normal gear. (Maybe a stickerbook way of doing it: "must have bound at least one item of that kind in the relevant trait, before you can change something else to that trait")

(2) Ability to upgrade companion gear, to green, blue and purple.

(3) Introduce a Training trait for companion gear that causes experience to be gained faster - since their experience gain is based on a percentage of the player's experience gain, a Training trait for companions could increase that percentage - obviously improved further by having that trait in green, blue or purple, and additively wearing more pieces of equipment with it. (Which would raise their level faster, and also raise their weapon and armor skills faster as a consequence.)

Dr_Con

companion set bonuses

FluffyReachWitch

something different (your own suggestion)

I would be happy to just have the ability to upgrade what I find, with the same methods I upgrade my own gear. Crafting could always use a little more love.

Nestor

Just give me the ability to improve the gear. Even if it has to be keyed to the Companion Level. Like only L20 can wear Gold. L15 and above can wear Purple etc.

Jaimeh

At the very least I would like to be able to transmute companion gear and change their traits. Two years later I haven't found a single purple piece in a trait I wanted.

Anifaas

Improving companion gear is a great idea. A solution which increases player agency would be great. (ie: User made/augmented gear.) But first can we address their proclivity for standing in AOEs and other 1-shot mechanics this game is so fond of? Because of their death wish they are almost completely useless for any kind of content that is even remotely challenging.

Bobargus

something different (your own suggestion)

All of these ideas sound nice.

Tyhar

something different (your own suggestion)

trash companion gear and just let them use same gear as character

Triplesixtyson

something different (your own suggestion)

Bring out more of the yellow companion gear. They gave us a taste, id like to upgrade my Ember even further, even if its lots of work to get it.

kind_hero

something different (your own suggestion)

Too complicated...

I would have some mini sets for companions in the antiquities system. Also, some pieces to be unlocked by finishing certain DLC main quests, random drop from daily rewards, etc

What is also needed is a way to speed up training skills and xp gain. This could be helped with potions and scrolls. Alchemy and enchanting could provide these, maybe using some expensive ingredient.

On the cosmetic side, I would like companions to be able to display the helmet, and to change their appearance inside houses.

Amottica

something different (your own suggestion)

wookiefriseur wrote: »

redspecter23 wrote: »

I'd make the following adjustments.
...
When my companions can wear fully golded set gear and I can either craft or reconstruct it, I think the system will feel "done". For now, it feels like about 20% of a system with some massive gaps.

1) if it would be an open world companion skill line (and not just for crafting) it could be interesting
skill line under crafting might be a bit too much, just for companions (as long as there are no special craftable sets with set bonusses)

Is the goal interesting or functional?

Based on the OP the goal is functionality. It makes no sense to bring other aspects into something that would clearly be a crafting skill line.

If Zenimax is willing to consider a change that is not necessary it will need to be simple or fall in line with current designs.
There are easier ways to help with companion gear without the complicated suggestions presented. Even OP notes that suggestion two is problematic.

So if Zenimax wanted to acquire companion gear easier there is one very easy direction. Transmute the trait as it limits the new materials to only trait stones.