Can we please get the missing helmets issue fixed on companions?

Treselegant

For immersion sake I'd be interested in seeing helms/hats added to companions but at this point it's really low down on my list of things companions need.

I get why they have chosen to not have them wear helmets though and it seems pretty standard in rpgs to have companions without helmets by default. Humans generally tend to react better and form more of an emotional connection when they are able to see a face. If you're trying to get players to care about their companions then having their face visible seems the easiest way. I do find it interesting when I see comments where there is an opposite effect but I suspect that can be related to how empathetic a player is in the first place.

Necrotech_Master

Treselegant wrote: »

For immersion sake I'd be interested in seeing helms/hats added to companions but at this point it's really low down on my list of things companions need.

I get why they have chosen to not have them wear helmets though and it seems pretty standard in rpgs to have companions without helmets by default. Humans generally tend to react better and form more of an emotional connection when they are able to see a face. If you're trying to get players to care about their companions then having their face visible seems the easiest way. I do find it interesting when I see comments where there is an opposite effect but I suspect that can be related to how empathetic a player is in the first place.

for me, i generally am very willing to help people and give them stuff

the companions are 100% not people, and are at best pets in terms of game functionality

the only emotion i feel towards them is annoyed about some of their lack of options

• no options to turn off their dialog completely (i do not want to hear them yammering constantly)
• too limited cosmetic options (lack of helmet makes some costumes just look bad, and i would much rather them wearing a helmet and be more unique than a literal army of clones)

Treselegant

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Treselegant wrote: »

For immersion sake I'd be interested in seeing helms/hats added to companions but at this point it's really low down on my list of things companions need.

I get why they have chosen to not have them wear helmets though and it seems pretty standard in rpgs to have companions without helmets by default. Humans generally tend to react better and form more of an emotional connection when they are able to see a face. If you're trying to get players to care about their companions then having their face visible seems the easiest way. I do find it interesting when I see comments where there is an opposite effect but I suspect that can be related to how empathetic a player is in the first place.

for me, i generally am very willing to help people and give them stuff

the companions are 100% not people, and are at best pets in terms of game functionality

the only emotion i feel towards them is annoyed about some of their lack of options

• no options to turn off their dialog completely (i do not want to hear them yammering constantly)
• too limited cosmetic options (lack of helmet makes some costumes just look bad, and i would much rather them wearing a helmet and be more unique than a literal army of clones)

Yes, but they're meant to act as friends/battle buddies. Most rpgs are aiming to get you to care just a little about the character you're dragging around. Most of the time companion characters aren't great combat aids, even the good ones, so for most I'm going to say it's the interest in the character and the emotional response they get from it. Not everyone, obviously, but I suspect most players aren't harbouring seething annoyance when they summon their companions. Take a look any 'favourite companion' discussion and you'll see a lot of people talking about personality, voice and their overall value as company.

The lack of hood and helms can make outfits/costumes look odd but having thought about it I can see why the decision was made to not have them.

Necrotech_Master

Treselegant wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Treselegant wrote: »

For immersion sake I'd be interested in seeing helms/hats added to companions but at this point it's really low down on my list of things companions need.

I get why they have chosen to not have them wear helmets though and it seems pretty standard in rpgs to have companions without helmets by default. Humans generally tend to react better and form more of an emotional connection when they are able to see a face. If you're trying to get players to care about their companions then having their face visible seems the easiest way. I do find it interesting when I see comments where there is an opposite effect but I suspect that can be related to how empathetic a player is in the first place.

for me, i generally am very willing to help people and give them stuff

the companions are 100% not people, and are at best pets in terms of game functionality

the only emotion i feel towards them is annoyed about some of their lack of options

• no options to turn off their dialog completely (i do not want to hear them yammering constantly)
• too limited cosmetic options (lack of helmet makes some costumes just look bad, and i would much rather them wearing a helmet and be more unique than a literal army of clones)

Yes, but they're meant to act as friends/battle buddies. Most rpgs are aiming to get you to care just a little about the character you're dragging around. Most of the time companion characters aren't great combat aids, even the good ones, so for most I'm going to say it's the interest in the character and the emotional response they get from it. Not everyone, obviously, but I suspect most players aren't harbouring seething annoyance when they summon their companions. Take a look any 'favourite companion' discussion and you'll see a lot of people talking about personality, voice and their overall value as company.

The lack of hood and helms can make outfits/costumes look odd but having thought about it I can see why the decision was made to not have them.

i always see NPC allies in games as "meat shields" or "minions" to either do the work, or "tank" the enemy so i can focus on killing it instead of staying alive

to me they are basically the definition of cannon fodder

i like having them around because they do make things easier, even if they are kind of dumb/useless at times, but they will never be a true companion to me, so stuff like the dialog is more annoying (i think i commented on the favorite companion thread and i mentioned more about which companion dialog i can tolerate the most, which is why i like bastion the least)

Snamyap

NeKryXe wrote: »

Dark_Lord_Kuro wrote: »

You cannot fix what isnt broken

But it is. Like I showed in the screenshot, you can buy costumes with helmets for companions, but the helmets aren't working on companions. So, it's clearly very broken, and can be fixed.

Try the Mannimarco costume if you want to see yet more inconsistency.

maximusrex45

NeKryXe wrote: »

Dark_Lord_Kuro wrote: »

You cannot fix what isnt broken

But it is. Like I showed in the screenshot, you can buy costumes with helmets for companions, but the helmets aren't working on companions. So, it's clearly very broken, and can be fixed.

You don't seem to understand what the word broken means. It is not broken, it is working as intended. They purposefully made it so you cannot place a visible helmet on a companion.

Treselegant

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Treselegant wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Treselegant wrote: »

For immersion sake I'd be interested in seeing helms/hats added to companions but at this point it's really low down on my list of things companions need.

I get why they have chosen to not have them wear helmets though and it seems pretty standard in rpgs to have companions without helmets by default. Humans generally tend to react better and form more of an emotional connection when they are able to see a face. If you're trying to get players to care about their companions then having their face visible seems the easiest way. I do find it interesting when I see comments where there is an opposite effect but I suspect that can be related to how empathetic a player is in the first place.

for me, i generally am very willing to help people and give them stuff

the companions are 100% not people, and are at best pets in terms of game functionality

the only emotion i feel towards them is annoyed about some of their lack of options

• no options to turn off their dialog completely (i do not want to hear them yammering constantly)
• too limited cosmetic options (lack of helmet makes some costumes just look bad, and i would much rather them wearing a helmet and be more unique than a literal army of clones)

Yes, but they're meant to act as friends/battle buddies. Most rpgs are aiming to get you to care just a little about the character you're dragging around. Most of the time companion characters aren't great combat aids, even the good ones, so for most I'm going to say it's the interest in the character and the emotional response they get from it. Not everyone, obviously, but I suspect most players aren't harbouring seething annoyance when they summon their companions. Take a look any 'favourite companion' discussion and you'll see a lot of people talking about personality, voice and their overall value as company.

The lack of hood and helms can make outfits/costumes look odd but having thought about it I can see why the decision was made to not have them.

i always see NPC allies in games as "meat shields" or "minions" to either do the work, or "tank" the enemy so i can focus on killing it instead of staying alive

to me they are basically the definition of cannon fodder

i like having them around because they do make things easier, even if they are kind of dumb/useless at times, but they will never be a true companion to me, so stuff like the dialog is more annoying (i think i commented on the favorite companion thread and i mentioned more about which companion dialog i can tolerate the most, which is why i like bastion the least)

Not responding to them emotionally as characters is not unheard of (there are definitely a handful commenters here who are quite open about it) but I suspect it's a type of interaction with companion characters that is less common. So it makes sense for a gaming company to try and foster that emotional connection because games which succeed on that front tend to have successful companion systems.

Kendaric

Treselegant wrote: »

So it makes sense for a gaming company to try and foster that emotional connection because games which succeed on that front tend to have successful companion systems.

Well, in SWTOR you can equip visible helmets on most companions (basically every human companion) and it doesn't detract from any emotional attachment in the slightest. They also offer different looks for each companion, which helps somewhat with the clone army issue.

If ZOS truly wants us to care about our companions, they need to improve their customization options by allowing hairstyles, facial hair for males, adornments and hats/helmets.

Treselegant

Kendaric wrote: »

Treselegant wrote: »

So it makes sense for a gaming company to try and foster that emotional connection because games which succeed on that front tend to have successful companion systems.

Well, in SWTOR you can equip visible helmets on most companions (basically every human companion) and it doesn't detract from any emotional attachment in the slightest. They also offer different looks for each companion, which helps somewhat with the clone army issue.

If ZOS truly wants us to care about our companions, they need to improve their customization options by allowing hairstyles, facial hair for males, adornments and hats/helmets.

Are their helmets off by default though? For a lot of games - you can equip a helmet/hat but by default they tend to be helmet-less. I just think it's standard way to get your players to see your characters as people and to elicit empathy.

ZOS could add toggle helmet on/off as that makes sense but I'd be against more radical customisation to preserve companions as characters in their own right that have likes and dislikes about how they wear their hair etc.

To be honest, only time I've had a moment where I thought "huh, where's my companion" was when I was in the bank in Leyawiin and there were six or more Bastians and it took me a minute to spot mine. No longer than a minute though because the outfit system means that most other players have completely different outfits to mine. It's not something that happens often though as companions are mostly invisible in towns/cities and very rarely are you going to see a "clone army" long enough for it to be confusing.

Kendaric

Treselegant wrote: »

Are their helmets off by default though? For a lot of games - you can equip a helmet/hat but by default they tend to be helmet-less. I just think it's standard way to get your players to see your characters as people and to elicit empathy.

ZOS could add toggle helmet on/off as that makes sense but I'd be against more radical customisation to preserve companions as characters in their own right that have likes and dislikes about how they wear their hair etc.

To be honest, only time I've had a moment where I thought "huh, where's my companion" was when I was in the bank in Leyawiin and there were six or more Bastians and it took me a minute to spot mine. No longer than a minute though because the outfit system means that most other players have completely different outfits to mine. It's not something that happens often though as companions are mostly invisible in towns/cities and very rarely are you going to see a "clone army" long enough for it to be confusing.

I'm not sure actually, since I never use the default outfits. I think the default outfits have no headgear.

The helmets would be off by default anyway, the same as costumes or outfits if ZOS would allow it.

As far as further customization goes .... getting a different hairstyle or growing a longer beard in Bastian's case doesn't really affect who the specific companion is. There should be limitations of course, that's why I wouldn't want to see skins body markings or polymorphs to become usable by companions.
But hairstyles, facial hair, adornments and helmets? They should absolutely be made available. The reason I count adornments as something that should be an option are things like an eye-patch or the leather circlet.

Necrotech_Master

Kendaric wrote: »

Treselegant wrote: »

Are their helmets off by default though? For a lot of games - you can equip a helmet/hat but by default they tend to be helmet-less. I just think it's standard way to get your players to see your characters as people and to elicit empathy.

ZOS could add toggle helmet on/off as that makes sense but I'd be against more radical customisation to preserve companions as characters in their own right that have likes and dislikes about how they wear their hair etc.

To be honest, only time I've had a moment where I thought "huh, where's my companion" was when I was in the bank in Leyawiin and there were six or more Bastians and it took me a minute to spot mine. No longer than a minute though because the outfit system means that most other players have completely different outfits to mine. It's not something that happens often though as companions are mostly invisible in towns/cities and very rarely are you going to see a "clone army" long enough for it to be confusing.

I'm not sure actually, since I never use the default outfits. I think the default outfits have no headgear.

The helmets would be off by default anyway, the same as costumes or outfits if ZOS would allow it.

As far as further customization goes .... getting a different hairstyle or growing a longer beard in Bastian's case doesn't really affect who the specific companion is. There should be limitations of course, that's why I wouldn't want to see skins body markings or polymorphs to become usable by companions.
But hairstyles, facial hair, adornments and helmets? They should absolutely be made available. The reason I count adornments as something that should be an option are things like an eye-patch or the leather circlet.

theres actually a lot of costumes that have built in headgear which is why it actually makes some of those costumes worse because it removes the headgear, if i had to guess upwards 70% of costumes actually do have some form of helmet or headpiece as part of the costume

Necrotech_Master

JamesForums wrote: »

i know i there aren’t companions in pvp. i am speaking of pve.

even if you are solo, if you come up to a big group of fellow solo players with companions (e.g., closing a vent or dealing with abyssal portals in Summerset) it can be useful to know who is who. it just makes for better game play when npc’s can be distinguished from humans. if that is a bastion trying to tank, he will need a lot more help staying alive than a normal player.

that of course is only my interpretation of game play.

i suggest the option of being able to view your own companions helm, while to others it would not be visible. seems like and easy solution to appease all.

if you play with nameplates turned on, it very clearly marks all companions as "<players>'s companion" in blue NPC names

it straight up doesnt even give them names (like their regular name with their modifier as <players companion>" for example) or refer to them as their normal names, just treats them as an unnamed clone if they are another players, even though without the head gear its painfully obvious that they are the same character

LukosCreyden

I agree with OP. It is either a bug, or a ridiculous design choice that should be fixed. People who don't like it can click the "hide helmet" option for them.

Speaking of companions, a fully customizable companion would be cool. I see all these polymorphs and skins that i am never gonna buy or unlock because I don't want my character to be a spriggan or whatever. My companion, though? That is a VERY different story.

Snamyap

LukosCreyden wrote: »

I agree with OP. It is either a bug, or a ridiculous design choice that should be fixed. People who don't like it can click the "hide helmet" option for them.

Speaking of companions, a fully customizable companion would be cool. I see all these polymorphs and skins that i am never gonna buy or unlock because I don't want my character to be a spriggan or whatever. My companion, though? That is a VERY different story.

You'd think ZOS would jump head over heal at all the monetisation options.

Quethrosar

companions need to be able to have hair style changes and other stuff.
the argument about them needing to be recoginazable is not going to fly with me because characters should be able to change over time. hair changes, colors change, weight changes, etc....

Big problem with mmoprgs is the fact that time is not a dimension. nothing changes, and the best next gen mmorpg will allow change.

LukosCreyden

Snamyap wrote: »

LukosCreyden wrote: »

I agree with OP. It is either a bug, or a ridiculous design choice that should be fixed. People who don't like it can click the "hide helmet" option for them.

Speaking of companions, a fully customizable companion would be cool. I see all these polymorphs and skins that i am never gonna buy or unlock because I don't want my character to be a spriggan or whatever. My companion, though? That is a VERY different story.

You'd think ZOS would jump head over heal at all the monetisation options.

Ayyyy i get it.

Stanx

Definitely not a bug but I would love to put helmets on them. I also like companions and use them. They don't really assist my gameplay and they are dead the majority of the time but I still really like idea of companions for immersion and a sense of comradery.

I think the idea of making them unique, or that a helmet detracts from them in terms of being an individual, is actually having the opposite effect in that they all just look overtly like one of four choices.

Even some minor headgear, hats, hoods would be nice. If covering the whole face is a problem then just add "this helmet is not available to companions" to those and let us make our companions feel more unique with the rest.

Treselegant

Stanx wrote: »

Definitely not a bug but I would love to put helmets on them. I also like companions and use them. They don't really assist my gameplay and they are dead the majority of the time but I still really like idea of companions for immersion and a sense of comradery.

I think the idea of making them unique, or that a helmet detracts from them in terms of being an individual, is actually having the opposite effect in that they all just look overtly like one of four choices.

Even some minor headgear, hats, hoods would be nice. If covering the whole face is a problem then just add "this helmet is not available to companions" to those and let us make our companions feel more unique with the rest.

This would be ideal. You can still see the character's face but also have freedom to have more complete outfits/armour sets. Exercising player creativity without losing companion individuality. Whether it's do-able, I don't know, but it's a nice idea.

Dark_Lord_Kuro

I personnaly have no problem seeing clones. I also like to easily being able to tell who is waithing with me at a world boss. Also name plate break immersion much more that 52 bastian ever would to me. If the ever had helmet for them i want to be able to hide OTHER player companion helmet

DreamyLu

If it's an issue - what I don't believe - I would prefer that they don't fix it, unless they provide it with a "hide helmet" option. I would really dislike having Bastian wearing a helmet.

NeKryXe

DreamyLu wrote: »

If it's an issue - what I don't believe - I would prefer that they don't fix it, unless they provide it with a "hide helmet" option. I would really dislike having Bastian wearing a helmet.

Obviously! It should be optional.

Right now you already can toggle the shoulders on and off, but the head doesn't appear listed.

I'm not asking for forced helmets but for an updated to give us the customization for head outfits.

Check it on an Outfit Station. We need the same for head that we got recently for shoulders:

Durian

They will probably sell it as an addon in the store.