Companions should be more useful by having jobs... SUCH AS DOING OUR CRAFTING SURVEYS!

Pixiepumpkin

SilverBride wrote: »

Andromea wrote: »

I see there are some strong opinions about companions doing our surveys... or not. But then again, if I, the all powerful hero of Tamriel who has won battles, saved the world and so on... so if I can do surveys why wouldn't it be ok for my friend / companion / apprentice or how ever you see them ? It just makes sens to me that they help me in all circonstances, wouldn't that be the real friendship ?

Because surveys are the player's chore. The Companions are stated to be our allies that aid us in combat, not in everything we do.

Is that written in stone? I don't think it is.

SilverBride wrote: »

And I would never expect a real friend to go to my place of business and do my work for me, or do my grocery shopping or my laundry or any of my own personal obligations. That is not the role of a friend.

A real friend would never expect it, you are correct....but a real friend would also offer help when its needed.
I have done shopping for friends, and they have done it for me. I have had friends do my laundry and I have done it for them. I have had friends drive 100 miles to take me to an airport, and I have done it for them.

If our "companions" were our friend (max rapport?), then they would offer to do these services for us.

Case closed.

kaushad

TaSheen wrote: »

And to actually address the most egregious point - so it's okay if they add another assistant which costs 5k crowns?

Yes.

SilverBride

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Because surveys are the player's chore. The Companions are stated to be our allies that aid us in combat, not in everything we do.

Is that written in stone? I don't think it is.

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/60015

"Companions are non-player characters who can aid you on your adventures throughout Tamriel. Once called to your side, these stalwart allies will assist you in combat."

Pixiepumpkin

SilverBride wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Because surveys are the player's chore. The Companions are stated to be our allies that aid us in combat, not in everything we do.

Is that written in stone? I don't think it is.

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/60015

"Companions are non-player characters who can aid you on your adventures throughout Tamriel. Once called to your side, these stalwart allies will assist you in combat."

And where does it say that things can not be changed/updated/made better?

TaSheen

Well, but it doesn't state they will never do anything else either. I always expected the devs to "morph" them as they went along.

Doesn't matter to me in any case, but what would you do if the devs did decide to say they were enabling the gathering of surveys by companions? It's not without the realm of the possible, after all.

Pixiepumpkin

TaSheen wrote: »

Well, but it doesn't state they will never do anything else either. I always expected the devs to "morph" them as they went along.

Doesn't matter to me in any case, but what would you do if the devs did decide to say they were enabling the gathering of surveys by companions? It's not without the realm of the possible, after all.

Exactly. Adding additional functionaltiy would allow for companions to be more than meat puppets, which would make them used more often.

SilverBride

Changing a widely used feature into a way to get the services of an assistant for free is something I will continue to give feedback against.

Pixiepumpkin

The game does not need further monetizaztion...they got that part covered.

I mean, hello games made no mans sky in 2016, they have made 25 updates since then, every single one of them free of charge.

Somehow they are making money hand over fist without gouging their customers and that is because their business model is make the game fun first, and the money will follow, esos model is the opposite.

NordSwordnBoard

Andromea wrote: »

I see there are some strong opinions about companions doing our surveys... or not. But then again, if I, the all powerful hero of Tamriel who has won battles, saved the world and so on... so if I can do surveys why wouldn't it be ok for my friend / companion / apprentice or how ever you see them ? It just makes sens to me that they help me in all circonstances, wouldn't that be the real friendship ? In the end of the day I might use that gold to buy a nice piece of equipment to them or may be even build a house.

In any case, I do not mind actually if it is another pnj who does it. And usually I do just as was suggested. Daily quests, writs, surveys... every day I play and in that order so I don't have huge stock. But even on PC it takes time. Clearly more than an hour for me. And clearly I do it only because I need the gold for ... housing purposes . But I do happen to have a family, a job and some other activities I love so there are days I only have this one hour to play ESO. And frankly, if I could do something else than managing my inventory I wouldn't mind

That's an excellent point - some may wish to have an egalitarian relationship with their companions. I've seen others make them slaves - are those players "wrong"? What people do with their companions is between them and the companion, other players should not impose their RP onto other players. Especially if the other players & companions have no impact on their own gameplay.

I still don't understand how adding a feature like this to companions would negatively affect anyone who wished to ignore that feature because they disliked it.

SilverBride

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

The game does not need further monetizaztion...they got that part covered.

Players have the choice to just do their own surveys.

Pixiepumpkin

NordSwordnBoard wrote: »

I still don't understand how adding a feature like this to companions would negatively affect anyone who wished to ignore that feature because they disliked it.

Because those who are against it would rather pay zenimax $50.00 USD for a separate service NPC.

The problem I am having is trying to understand why anyone would request to pay MORE for the product they are purchasing. I have my theories, but they can not be said here.

Pixiepumpkin

SilverBride wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

The game does not need further monetizaztion...they got that part covered.

Players have the choice to just do their own surveys.

You are circling again, this was already covered.

SilverBride

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

The game does not need further monetizaztion...they got that part covered.

Players have the choice to just do their own surveys.

You are circling again, this was already covered.

It's still a valid point. Surveys are optional and players can do them or not. Having an NPC do them is a convenience, not a necessity. Assistants are already established and it makes more sense to create an assistant for this convenience than to ruin an established feature for many others.

Pixiepumpkin

SilverBride wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

The game does not need further monetizaztion...they got that part covered.

Players have the choice to just do their own surveys.

You are circling again, this was already covered.

It's still a valid point. Surveys are optional and players can do them or not. Having an NPC do them is a convenience, not a necessity. Assistants are already an established feature of this game and it makes more sense to create an assistant for this convenience than to ruin an established feature for many others.

Its already been discussed.

NordSwordnBoard

SilverBride wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Pixiepumpkin wrote: »

The game does not need further monetizaztion...they got that part covered.

Players have the choice to just do their own surveys.

You are circling again, this was already covered.

It's still a valid point. Surveys are optional and players can do them or not. Having an NPC do them is a convenience, not a necessity. Assistants are already an established feature of this game and it makes more sense to create an assistant for this convenience than to ruin an established feature for many others.

Could you please explain how adding a new feature to companions would ruin them? If you disliked the addition, you could always ignore it. Your and your companion would essentially be unaffected by you playing the way you want.

Erickson9610

So, why does it matter to me if others get this feature for "free", presuming they have a Companion? Why would I support the monetization of a new QoL feature?

I don't care if this becomes a free feature or a paid feature. I just think it's not thematically fitting for a Companion. You could argue that I should just ignore the feature if it's integrated with Companions, but I think it should've instead been made into a separate Assistant.

But, maybe I'm looking at this wrong. Why not combine all Assistant functionalities with our Companions? Maybe Ember could double as a Fence, and Isobel could also be an Armory Assistant. Perhaps Bastian could be a Banker, and Sharp could be a Deconstruction Assistant. Maybe Azandar could be a Merchant, too. The problem with this idea is that it would lose ZOS money (unless a solution like 5,000 Crown Companion Upgrade Tokens was introduced or something).

ThelerisTelvanni

Syldras wrote: »

With gold and crafting materials, I really don't understand why some people are afraid they could miss something - if one skips crafting a few days, so what?! You'll get less gold for a few days, but does it really matter?

Well old players most likly have plenty of gold and do not know what to do with it. I personally have a lot of things I like to do in the housing segment. I like crafting my furniture myself. But a lot of the furniture plans are hard to get unless you buy them for a lot of gold. So why do you do the dailys on a lot of alts all the time? Because that is steady income you can use to get the stuff you want for housing. The other stuff piles up. Some rare plans I want coast miltiple million gold many other are aaround 100k. Buying a gold house from time to time as well as housing mats to crasft the furniture from the expensive plans. You loose your gold faster than you farm it.

But making companions do the survays for materials seems wrong to me. I pile them up and once I need something I do 20 in a row. but they take a lot of space in my bank. And unless I can convert normal materials into housing materials, there is no point in doing ALL the surveys So I'd perfer more storage for the time beeing. Or a unlimited extra bag for the surveys, like the ESO+ crafting bag.

Syldras

ThelerisTelvanni wrote: »

Well old players most likly have plenty of gold and do not know what to do with it. I personally have a lot of things I like to do in the housing segment. I like crafting my furniture myself. But a lot of the furniture plans are hard to get unless you buy them for a lot of gold. So why do you do the dailys on a lot of alts all the time? Because that is steady income you can use to get the stuff you want for housing. The other stuff piles up. Some rare plans I want coast miltiple million gold many other are aaround 100k. Buying a gold house from time to time as well as housing mats to crasft the furniture from the expensive plans. You loose your gold faster than you farm it.

I actually do housing, too, so the amount of gold in my bank can fluctuate between over 2 millions and 0 very fast - and I know that with the current prices of furnishing mats, 2 millions are almost nothing. Through my trading guild, I can make a few 100k fast if needed, but of course only as long as I have enough expensive things to sell. So, yeah, if you're into housing, you're broke most of the time, I know that very well

Still, I don't feel pressure about it. If I don't feel like doing crafting dailies, I skip them a day. Actually, I have done it only on my main for several months now, although I have a whole bunch of side characters. I just think: Furnishings and furnishing plans don't run away. It doesn't matter whether I buy them today or in a week. I always leave a bit of gold in my bank for luxury furnishings, as those are time-limited (until they appear again after a few months), but other than that? Of course it can be frustrating if one has a concept for a house in mind, but has to halt building because one runs out of gold. But in the end, I see it as a question of patience.

ThelerisTelvanni wrote: »

And unless I can convert normal materials into housing materials, there is no point in doing ALL the surveys

I think they should drop housing material, too, just like normal nodes.

Beilin_Balreis_Colcan

kaushad wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

And to actually address the most egregious point - so it's okay if they add another assistant which costs 5k crowns?

Yes.

No.
We can buy entire games for that price, it's ridiculously overpriced.

SilverBride

vsrs_au wrote: »

kaushad wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

And to actually address the most egregious point - so it's okay if they add another assistant which costs 5k crowns?

Yes.

No.
We can buy entire games for that price, it's ridiculously overpriced.

There are 14 Assistants for sale in the Crown Store, all costing 5k crowns, which many players have already purchased for the convenience they provide. How is this any different?

Andromea

SilverBride wrote: »

There are 14 Assistants for sale in the Crown Store, all costing 5k crowns, which many players have already purchased for the convenience they provide. How is this any different?

Well, maybe it isn't but wouldn't that be nice to have a new and attractive feature from now and then without the 5K crowns price label on it ? I would gladly spent some skill points instead. It's the anniversary year after all, I've been told.

kaushad

vsrs_au wrote: »

No.
We can buy entire games for that price, it's ridiculously overpriced.

Sure, for 5,000 crowns, I don’t want an assistant, I want permanent crafting bag. But I don’t see how an optional convenience being expensive is a problem.

SilverBride

Andromea wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

There are 14 Assistants for sale in the Crown Store, all costing 5k crowns, which many players have already purchased for the convenience they provide. How is this any different?

Well, maybe it isn't but wouldn't that be nice to have a new and attractive feature from now and then without the 5K crowns price label on it ? I would gladly spent some skill points instead. It's the anniversary year after all, I've been told.

A feature is something like Bastion Nymics and the Infinite Archive and Companions, none of which had an additional charge beyond the cost of the chapter they were released with.

Assistants provide optional conveniences and are a luxury, and luxuries always come with a cost.

Every year is an anniversary year. This year is the 10th but that has nothing to do with the cost of optional assistants.

Vaughndaunted

@SilverBride you’re way too invested in this conversation. I’m thinking you’re actually a developer on an anonymous profile. ESO is an aging game. Give us what we want so it slows the process so players don’t run towards a game that will. We love ESO, this why we are here.

The request isn’t asking for too much. The companions need an upgrade to their functionality. We don’t need more companions, we need smart AI and better user interface. When was the last time we put gold gear on our companion? Why don’t companions have a selection of armor sets we can choose from to empower them further? Why can’t we craft… or why can’t they craft their own gear and work towards the better of it as the players do themselves?

ZOS had a great idea when it came to adding companions. To monopolize on what they do with the companions moving forward… it’s time to let player input have its day. Companions should have their own skill lines and work towards bettering themselves through their own daily writs known as doing surveys. The percentage yield would come off the top of the surveys they complete for us. This goes towards their skill line and crafting progression. Once their crafting line is complete, that unlocks their ability to craft their own ultimate armor of the players choice… and you know what quality that armor will be? It’ll be gold since we don’t have access to golding out companion gear.

We should be able to request a functional way to advance our companion. This is it. Not only that but companions should be able to be present for how many meters we want them near us. We should be their epicenter. When we move, they move in kind. Of course they’ll dodge when needed, but otherwise, player voices matter.

SilverBride

Vaughndaunted wrote: »

@SilverBride you’re way too invested in this conversation. I’m thinking you’re actually a developer on an anonymous profile.

That is a completely false accusation.

I enjoy the Companions and see them as equal to my own characters. I will continue to fight against them being cheapened from the Allies they are to chore workers.

The only help for digging up surveys should come from Assistants. But I doubt that will happen either because that is too much automation in playing the game.

Vaughndaunted

@SilverBride I’m joking of course. But something will happen. They’ll consider options.

SilverBride

Just make them sellable to the Blacksmith, etc.. for half the mats they would give if the player dug them up themselves. Or an amount of gold.

That will eliminate the need to alter any NPCs or to purchase an assistant.

LalMirchi

Vaughndaunted wrote: »

@SilverBride I’m joking of course. But something will happen. They’ll consider options.

While I'm all for optimism I'm quite doubtful that they will deviate from the status quo, i.e. surveys were designed by the developers to be a time sink and probably will never be changed into fast or convenient methods.

spartaxoxo

Honestly, I would not view them as lesser characters just because they did surveys.

Did I root for the Karate Kid any less because he did work for Mr. Miyagi? Do I view my Dragonborn from Skyrim as any less of world saver because I learned the Way of the Voice from the Greybeards? Because I delivered those same Greybeards their provisions? Because I cut wood for a kindly old farm hand? Because my Dragonborn studied under Tolfdir and Savos Aren at the Mage's College in Winterhold? Is Mile Morales somehow a less of a hero just because he studied under Peter Parker in some stories? Is Creed's story less compelling because he apprenticed to Rocky Balboa? How many of us still love Luke Skywalker?

I don't view the companions as servants. I would not see them as any less just because they did a survey. They would still be my allies. They would NOT be reduced from being an ally. I'd still want their rapport to stay high, even after it's totally useless. Heck, in some situations Bastian is a better tank than my DPS and I love having him around for that. Fighting alongside him in Infinite Archive and using him to help share the stories of the dungeons are some of my favorite players ally moments in ESO.

I want to expand what they're capable of, not reduce them to servants. In Skyrim you could ask them to carry things, to do some things for you, and romance them. The companions in this game being similarly useful would be awesome.

SilverBride

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Honestly, I would not view them as lesser characters just because they did surveys.

What they do in movies is not relevant to what we are doing in this game.

I honestly see it as demeaning to them. I think of my Companions as I do my own characters, and even moved Azandar into Kelesan'ruhn as his own workshop and house. My Arcanist also gave him free access to her study and looks up to him as a mentor, not a subordinate.

I know we don't see eye to eye on this, as has happened with other subjects in the past, but I feel very strongly about this and hope they never do something like this.

As I suggested above, just make the surveys sellable for a lesser amount of mats or gold... problem solved.