Appreciation for Necrom Companions

Araneae6537

I wanted to express how happy I am with both of the companions added with Necrom’s chapter! I like their design, stories, and voice acting and they feel part of the world of Tamriel. I appreciate that we sometimes have dialogue choices — this is really important to me, even when as here it doesn’t effect the quest at all, as it lets me define my character and their individual relationship with a companion more in game. I also appreciate there being specific dialogue for locations elsewhere in the game, such as Sharp’s comments in Elden Root.
Well done and thank you!

Necrotech_Master

i enjoy them too, but im unlikely to really use them much because we are still forced to do the intro quest to be able to use the companions on alts, and i firmly decided after dealing with their ridiculously awful long quests that i will no longer be doing that

i have those companions unlocked on 3 of my 11 toons (my main, the dps character i used for powerleveling, and 1 other one before i completely gave up on trying to do it on the remaining 8)

i really enjoy the companions and their variety, but being required to do the intro quest on every toon for something that you already unlock account wide completing the first time is not fun or enjoyable

unless they either give us the option to fast track the quest or remove the requirement to do the quest, i cant see myself using the newer companions very much outside of completing the achievements

Araneae6537

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

i enjoy them too, but im unlikely to really use them much because we are still forced to do the intro quest to be able to use the companions on alts, and i firmly decided after dealing with their ridiculously awful long quests that i will no longer be doing that

i have those companions unlocked on 3 of my 11 toons (my main, the dps character i used for powerleveling, and 1 other one before i completely gave up on trying to do it on the remaining 8)

i really enjoy the companions and their variety, but being required to do the intro quest on every toon for something that you already unlock account wide completing the first time is not fun or enjoyable

unless they either give us the option to fast track the quest or remove the requirement to do the quest, i cant see myself using the newer companions very much outside of completing the achievements

I actually like the intro quests for Sharp and Azandar a lot more than those for Isobel and Ember, because the High Isle intro quests were for me more tedious and also seemed a bit silly, like these are characters too young and inexperienced for you to be taking into battle. I liked that Sharp and Azandar’s quests take you to public dungeons, which didn’t have to be completed, but I enjoy such content and it was extra XP and/or skill points for both my character and any current companion. I should add too that I never unlock a companion on all my alts at once as for me that would take the fun out of any quest with a break in between repetitions.

MidniteOwl1913

I really like Sharp. Personality wise he's just about perfect! Azander not so much. He seems whiny and opinionated. I don't get what the "I need a moment" thing is about either. I Azander set up as a healer and I have to say he does a very good job most of the time. With enough shields, (bosses keep targeting him even when I'm right there standing in front of him!) he doesn't die and when he actually stays close to me his healing is excellent.

Sharp on the other hand is just more fun and I agree with him on people ;-)

BTW does anyone else think Sharp's comments in Stormhold about the mercenary groups north of town are referring to the Shadow Scales?

Necrotech_Master

Araneae6537 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

i enjoy them too, but im unlikely to really use them much because we are still forced to do the intro quest to be able to use the companions on alts, and i firmly decided after dealing with their ridiculously awful long quests that i will no longer be doing that

i have those companions unlocked on 3 of my 11 toons (my main, the dps character i used for powerleveling, and 1 other one before i completely gave up on trying to do it on the remaining 8)

i really enjoy the companions and their variety, but being required to do the intro quest on every toon for something that you already unlock account wide completing the first time is not fun or enjoyable

unless they either give us the option to fast track the quest or remove the requirement to do the quest, i cant see myself using the newer companions very much outside of completing the achievements

I actually like the intro quests for Sharp and Azandar a lot more than those for Isobel and Ember, because the High Isle intro quests were for me more tedious and also seemed a bit silly, like these are characters too young and inexperienced for you to be taking into battle. I liked that Sharp and Azandar’s quests take you to public dungeons, which didn’t have to be completed, but I enjoy such content and it was extra XP and/or skill points for both my character and any current companion. I should add too that I never unlock a companion on all my alts at once as for me that would take the fun out of any quest with a break in between repetitions.

i dont have a problem with the quests themselves, like i enjoyed them...the first time

what i dont like is being forced to re-run these quests on subsequent toons for an account wide unlock, especially when they are as time consuming as azander and sharps quests are

MidniteOwl1913

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Araneae6537 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

i enjoy them too, but im unlikely to really use them much because we are still forced to do the intro quest to be able to use the companions on alts, and i firmly decided after dealing with their ridiculously awful long quests that i will no longer be doing that

i have those companions unlocked on 3 of my 11 toons (my main, the dps character i used for powerleveling, and 1 other one before i completely gave up on trying to do it on the remaining 8)

i really enjoy the companions and their variety, but being required to do the intro quest on every toon for something that you already unlock account wide completing the first time is not fun or enjoyable

unless they either give us the option to fast track the quest or remove the requirement to do the quest, i cant see myself using the newer companions very much outside of completing the achievements

I actually like the intro quests for Sharp and Azandar a lot more than those for Isobel and Ember, because the High Isle intro quests were for me more tedious and also seemed a bit silly, like these are characters too young and inexperienced for you to be taking into battle. I liked that Sharp and Azandar’s quests take you to public dungeons, which didn’t have to be completed, but I enjoy such content and it was extra XP and/or skill points for both my character and any current companion. I should add too that I never unlock a companion on all my alts at once as for me that would take the fun out of any quest with a break in between repetitions.

i dont have a problem with the quests themselves, like i enjoyed them...the first time

what i dont like is being forced to re-run these quests on subsequent toons for an account wide unlock, especially when they are as time consuming as azander and sharps quests are

Yes, I totally agree. I don't understand the point of the length of the quest for these two. Or the need to redone them over and over at all either.

Necrotech_Master

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Araneae6537 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

i enjoy them too, but im unlikely to really use them much because we are still forced to do the intro quest to be able to use the companions on alts, and i firmly decided after dealing with their ridiculously awful long quests that i will no longer be doing that

i have those companions unlocked on 3 of my 11 toons (my main, the dps character i used for powerleveling, and 1 other one before i completely gave up on trying to do it on the remaining 8)

i really enjoy the companions and their variety, but being required to do the intro quest on every toon for something that you already unlock account wide completing the first time is not fun or enjoyable

unless they either give us the option to fast track the quest or remove the requirement to do the quest, i cant see myself using the newer companions very much outside of completing the achievements

I actually like the intro quests for Sharp and Azandar a lot more than those for Isobel and Ember, because the High Isle intro quests were for me more tedious and also seemed a bit silly, like these are characters too young and inexperienced for you to be taking into battle. I liked that Sharp and Azandar’s quests take you to public dungeons, which didn’t have to be completed, but I enjoy such content and it was extra XP and/or skill points for both my character and any current companion. I should add too that I never unlock a companion on all my alts at once as for me that would take the fun out of any quest with a break in between repetitions.

i dont have a problem with the quests themselves, like i enjoyed them...the first time

what i dont like is being forced to re-run these quests on subsequent toons for an account wide unlock, especially when they are as time consuming as azander and sharps quests are

Yes, I totally agree. I don't understand the point of the length of the quest for these two. Or the need to redone them over and over at all either.

the rerunning the quests for the companions is something ive complained about since the companions were introduced with blackwood (2.5 years ago now)

i did the quests on all my toons for the first 2 sets of companions, but by the time we got to the 3rd set, with the quests feeling like they were getting exponentially longer, i was done

you can speedrun the quests for mirri, bastian, ember, and to an extent isobel (though hers is long too), but it still does not alleviate the fact you have to do them on every character you would like to use the companions on

the new ones are near impossible to speed due to many instances of waiting for uninterruptible dialogs to progress

boi_anachronism_

I honestly never had companions out before this patch but i really like sharp.

fall0athboy

I'm just glad with Sharp, we get another fishing buff.

old_scopie1945

I stopped playing them as I find both just get on my nerves. They will both sit on the bench with Bastion and I will stick with Ember. In fact IMO the gals are much more preferable than the guys.

boi_anachronism_

old_scopie1945 wrote: »

I stopped playing them as I find both just get on my nerves. They will both sit on the bench with Bastion and I will stick with Ember. In fact IMO the gals are much more preferable than the guys.

Really? I found ember to be unbearably annoying.

ghastley

If we have to re-run the initial quest for the companion, shouldn't we get a new instance of that companion, with their own choice of skills and equipment? Either they're a shared companion across all characters, or they're not. If they are shared, then the repeat quests should go. If they are unique enough to justify the pick-up quest, make them properly unique.

BetweenMidgets

I agree, I like both the new companions, especially Sharp. They did a great job with him - I legitimately like him.

But I don't like how long the questlines are, or that they require public dungeons.

Originally, I had been unlocking companions on all my alts, too. But honestly with the time investment ZoS wants us to spend, I am 100% over that. Have to increase our engagement times somehow, I guess.

metheglyn

I love Sharp! His quests, his personality, and the way the voice actor delivers the lines are really well done. Bastian will always be my favorite, but Sharp runs a very close second. Or maybe I'll just have two favorites.

Azander's quests are interesting, and I like the ideas behind them--different choices we make molding our personalities and characters over time--but for some reason Azander himself kind of gets on my nerves. I'm not sure why, because sometimes I find him amusing, and I'd like to get to bottom of his beef with Telenger, but overall he just kind of grates on me.

Araneae6537

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Araneae6537 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

i enjoy them too, but im unlikely to really use them much because we are still forced to do the intro quest to be able to use the companions on alts, and i firmly decided after dealing with their ridiculously awful long quests that i will no longer be doing that

i have those companions unlocked on 3 of my 11 toons (my main, the dps character i used for powerleveling, and 1 other one before i completely gave up on trying to do it on the remaining 8)

i really enjoy the companions and their variety, but being required to do the intro quest on every toon for something that you already unlock account wide completing the first time is not fun or enjoyable

unless they either give us the option to fast track the quest or remove the requirement to do the quest, i cant see myself using the newer companions very much outside of completing the achievements

I actually like the intro quests for Sharp and Azandar a lot more than those for Isobel and Ember, because the High Isle intro quests were for me more tedious and also seemed a bit silly, like these are characters too young and inexperienced for you to be taking into battle. I liked that Sharp and Azandar’s quests take you to public dungeons, which didn’t have to be completed, but I enjoy such content and it was extra XP and/or skill points for both my character and any current companion. I should add too that I never unlock a companion on all my alts at once as for me that would take the fun out of any quest with a break in between repetitions.

i dont have a problem with the quests themselves, like i enjoyed them...the first time

what i dont like is being forced to re-run these quests on subsequent toons for an account wide unlock, especially when they are as time consuming as azander and sharps quests are

I can see it that it would be aggravating when the goal is to unlock the companions on multiple characters. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to have only one chance to do a quest ever, and then part of me would want to look up everything about the quest and character, so that I unlock the companion with the “right” character and pick all the “best” options (I know none of that makes a difference from a standpoint of game mechanics or even companion rapport, but I engage in story quests for the story and how my characters engage with it). Perhaps a best choice would be for the option to do the quest or skip to unlock for each character, even as we have the option to do the tutorial or skip, but I wouldn’t want the option to do the quests on every character taken away.

boi_anachronism_ wrote: »

old_scopie1945 wrote: »

I stopped playing them as I find both just get on my nerves. They will both sit on the bench with Bastion and I will stick with Ember. In fact IMO the gals are much more preferable than the guys.

Really? I found ember to be unbearably annoying.

I totally agree! But from comments I’ve seen on the forum and in game, she is popular, so it’s great that we’re given options of very different characters for different preferences!

ghastley wrote: »

If we have to re-run the initial quest for the companion, shouldn't we get a new instance of that companion, with their own choice of skills and equipment? Either they're a shared companion across all characters, or they're not. If they are shared, then the repeat quests should go. If they are unique enough to justify the pick-up quest, make them properly unique.

I agree that it is an odd combination. I wouldn’t mind them being totally unique — and would love having a unique outfit slot for each instance of the companion — but would wish that leveling them would then be streamlined a bit. I think ZOS went with shared companions so as not to reduce additional data per character.

Necrotech_Master

ghastley wrote: »

If we have to re-run the initial quest for the companion, shouldn't we get a new instance of that companion, with their own choice of skills and equipment? Either they're a shared companion across all characters, or they're not. If they are shared, then the repeat quests should go. If they are unique enough to justify the pick-up quest, make them properly unique.

companions are acct wide unlocks

their level and skill ranks are acct wide
their gear you slot is acct wide

the only 2 per character things are rapport and requiring doing the intro quest to use them

Necrotech_Master

Araneae6537 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Araneae6537 wrote: »

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

i enjoy them too, but im unlikely to really use them much because we are still forced to do the intro quest to be able to use the companions on alts, and i firmly decided after dealing with their ridiculously awful long quests that i will no longer be doing that

i have those companions unlocked on 3 of my 11 toons (my main, the dps character i used for powerleveling, and 1 other one before i completely gave up on trying to do it on the remaining 8)

i really enjoy the companions and their variety, but being required to do the intro quest on every toon for something that you already unlock account wide completing the first time is not fun or enjoyable

unless they either give us the option to fast track the quest or remove the requirement to do the quest, i cant see myself using the newer companions very much outside of completing the achievements

I actually like the intro quests for Sharp and Azandar a lot more than those for Isobel and Ember, because the High Isle intro quests were for me more tedious and also seemed a bit silly, like these are characters too young and inexperienced for you to be taking into battle. I liked that Sharp and Azandar’s quests take you to public dungeons, which didn’t have to be completed, but I enjoy such content and it was extra XP and/or skill points for both my character and any current companion. I should add too that I never unlock a companion on all my alts at once as for me that would take the fun out of any quest with a break in between repetitions.

i dont have a problem with the quests themselves, like i enjoyed them...the first time

what i dont like is being forced to re-run these quests on subsequent toons for an account wide unlock, especially when they are as time consuming as azander and sharps quests are

I can see it that it would be aggravating when the goal is to unlock the companions on multiple characters. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to have only one chance to do a quest ever, and then part of me would want to look up everything about the quest and character, so that I unlock the companion with the “right” character and pick all the “best” options (I know none of that makes a difference from a standpoint of game mechanics or even companion rapport, but I engage in story quests for the story and how my characters engage with it). Perhaps a best choice would be for the option to do the quest or skip to unlock for each character, even as we have the option to do the tutorial or skip, but I wouldn’t want the option to do the quests on every character taken away.

yeah i dont think the quests need to be taken away

the 2 options ive advocated for are:

• fast track option (like you suggest with tutorial quests)
• simply remove the requirement, i personally dont care if im taking ember on the quest where you first meet ember, and if that would be a problem for you, simply dont do that (we already have to deal with a sea of clone companions anyway from other players, i dont see what the difference is taking a companion on their own intro quest if you so choose)

i think this was a question i asked on the companion Q&A and it was answered by the devs that it is unlikely to change though (they dont want you taking the companion on their own unlock quest for example, and completely missed the point that you already see the same companion a dozen times over in a town)

for me i like playing with the companions, but it is incredibly unfun to be forced to run some ridiculously long quest to access an account wide unlock, with no option to bypass it

M1SHAAN

I love the Necrom companions! Sharp is incredibly popular so I doubt I have anything unique to say there. Azandar I didn't expect to like (he loses rapport if you give to beggars, what??), but he ended up being the perfect companion for my megalomaniac, murderhobo old lady argonian who is convinced she is an aspect of Sithis sent to bring chaos and destruction to Nirn. He reins her in sometimes because he's less enamored with violence than she is, but he is happy when she brutally stabs a beggar to death as long as she loots an interesting magical curio from the body .

Personally, I liked his character arc and while his disgust with mushrooms and "I am very smart" vocabulary annoy me, they're annoying in an endearing way so I end up laughing at them instead of getting irritated. Incidentally, I had originally tried to pair this character up with Mirri to explore traveling with a negative-rapport companion (the toon makes liberal use of the blade of woe), but I felt so bad after killing her brother in her unlock quest that I gave up on the idea lol.

I've never had issues with needing to do the companion unlock quests per character because I don't unlock all the companions on all my toons. Generally I only unlock the 1-2 companions that I think they'd get along with best. Since zos clearly put a lot of effort into making the companions characters first and foremost, maybe they were expecting people to be interested in them primarily for the rp aspect and therefore not need to unlock them on all their toons (but clearly people do). I think that having an optional skip like the starter alliance war quest would be the best option for everyone.

old_scopie1945

boi_anachronism_ wrote: »

old_scopie1945 wrote: »

I stopped playing them as I find both just get on my nerves. They will both sit on the bench with Bastion and I will stick with Ember. In fact IMO the gals are much more preferable than the guys.

Really? I found ember to be unbearably annoying.

For me Ember just cheers me up. I love her positive attitude and youthful enthusiasm. All in all I find her just fun. The guys just make me blow my top.

KlauthWarthog

I did not find Sharp's quest horribly annoying to do, since it mostly requires you to go to places you would already want to if you are getting all the skyshards in the zone, with no backtracking...
... but I really cannot say the same about Mr. "meet me back at cipher's midden several thousand times during my quest" Azandar.

YffresTrill

I find Azandar completely insufferable (@M1SHAAN basically hit the nail on the head as to why, but to me this is not endearing), but I was pleasantly surprised that I quite enjoyed his storyline despite that.

Sharp is of course an instant winner with his grouchy hermit vibes. Sadly, I felt his questline, which I felt invested in, was cut off quite abruptly, and I really hope we get a continuation in the future.

I personally really enjoyed their unusually long starter quests (though I can see why this would be frustrating for anyone who wants to unlock a companion on many characters, and I have no qualms with the quests being made optional if you've already done them once).

That being said, my favourite companions are still Bastian (morally he is the companion I mesh with best, and I appreciate that he is his own person and does not constantly give you pats on the back) and Ember (because her enthusiasm is infectious and her backstory tugged at my heartstrings; it also helps that she is a cat, and cats are cute).

RaddlemanNumber7

I'm not going to use Sharp or Azander any more. I'm not comfortable with either of them. They're both just a constant parade of red flags.

I'll stick with Mirri and Isobel, one tank, one ranged dps, both easy on the ear, and neither of them trouble my sensibilities.

ZOS_Kevin

Always appreciate the love companions get! Thanks for sharing the companions that you've grown fond of. While we know know every companion will hit for everyone, the goal is always to make a diverse group to choose from.

NotaDaedraWorshipper

I found the Necrom ones better than High Isle's, which annoyed me in several ways, such as behavior and writing. Azandar I'm not particularly liking of. The writing was a bit odd at points but mostly it's his personality that bugs me. Which is how a character should be, they're not for everyone. He also despite his arrogant personality gave me Ember/Isobel feelings by calling me smart and clever so much, which is not a positive to me. His passive is great, though.

Sharp on the other hand joins Bastian in companions I like having along without getting annoyed. I am though not happy with how ZOS handled the quests and writing of his background, though. Specifically the SA and abuse part. It was too focused on the abuser and not the victim and their recovery.

Zodiarkslayer

I do enjoy both of the character's characters.

Boy, the quests, though! They are as long as zone quests.

Necrotech_Master

Zodiarkslayer wrote: »

I do enjoy both of the character's characters.

Boy, the quests, though! They are as long as zone quests.

im not sure on the new companions, but the first 4 companions did have technically full zone quests, they were tied to a specific POI

in the case of azander and sharp i dont think they are specifically tied to any POI even though you start azanders quest in a POI, completing it is not tied to the towns POI quest

MasterSpatula

Azander can be a little grating, but it's by design, which is so much more entertaining than an annoying character who wasn't intended to be (not naming any names). He's supposed to be a pretentious ass, and it really works.

And Sharp? Sharp's just my bud.

MidniteOwl1913

Azander, in particular, makes me long for a "shut the frigg up" switch per companion. I like having Sharp and Mirri interact with me, but not so much the others. This is totally separate from their usefulness.