Which Class do you think the 8th Companion will be?

BretonMage

Erickson9610 wrote: »

These are great ideas. In the Companions Q&A, ZOS seemed to stress how important it was for them to make compelling characters for the Companions system. I think the main emphasis of the Companions system to ZOS is the personality and storyline of each Companion — not necessarily their Class and abilities.

Yup, I mainly choose my companions based on personality, not class. All my companions are needed for support, so their skills shouldn't wildly differ imo. There should be some variety of healing/tanking/DPS for the various classes of our own characters. I quite like, for example, Sharp's mix of skills, where he can provide some buffs and heals, or I can slot more DPS-focused skills when I just want to power through a delve.

CherryCake

"Vampire" or "Werewolf" Class (if not implemented as skill lines)

Whoa there`s 7 now?

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

CherryCake wrote: »

Whoa there`s 7 now?

There are 7 playable classes in the game, those being Nightblade, Sorcerer, Dragonknight, Templar, Warden, Necromancer, and Arcanist. We currently have one Companion for every playable class except Necromancer.

Just assuming we'll be getting a Necromancer Companion as our 7th Companion, the class of the 8th Companion (who is also being introduced this year) is still a mystery to us. So, we only have 6 Companions right now, but we'll have 8 by the end of this year.

This_0ne

"Vampire" or "Werewolf" Class (if not implemented as skill lines)

Werewolf or vampire or psijic or scribing

tomofhyrule

"Vampire" or "Werewolf" Class (if not implemented as skill lines)

It'd feel really weird if they redid one of the classes at this point. If we got two rerolls, it wouldn't feel so strange, but just one would feel really odd. Then again, the skills for each class are written pretty neutral, each using gender-neutral pronouns, so it seems the system is set up for repeated classes.

However, I feel that they may give us an 'unclassed' Companion, and my top vote would be Vampire.

The Vamp line is already a complete skill line in itself and could lend itself well to one of a Companion's three lines. I feel that they could fill in the rest with some other skills that we have that Companions can't get access to like the Psijic Order line or some of the unused Guild skills. Plus, that (and the necro) would both fit well for darker-themed murderhobo Companions that a lot of people are asking for. You know, we also don't have a Vampire in the Dark Brotherhood this game, which has been an Elder Scrolls staple for a while...

I don't see a Werewolf happening though. You'd need to have them in human form to be able to access the weapon and guild skills, and a werewolf in human form is just a person with one of the classes. Plus, the Ultimate is the last unlock for Companions at Lv 20, so even if we got a Werewolf that had a transformation ult, they'd still be a person until that point. I could see that being a story to give them an ult, but, what would you have until they unlocked it?

Of course ZOS could throw us for a loop and give us something totally different. The fact that the Companions are coming in Q4 instead of Q2 with the Chapter would be a great way for them to put in an unreleased Class that ends up being the feature for next year to get the hype train started early. Seven classes is such a strange number, but eight would be a bit more round (and would make sense with 4 basegame and 4 DLC). Yeah, we just got a Class, but they know we like active stuff more than another Chapter feature that ends up being a minigame. And besides, if they gave us an NPC class line anyway, people would be demanding it release as a full class.

As to what it could be...? I know a lot of people beg for Monks or Bards, but DnD classes don't translate perfectly to the ESO system of three skill lines. Those could be more new Weapons. But I do think that something that would fit nicely with the lore and the universe would be an Artificer who uses Dwemer magitech to do stuff. They could have a Tonal Magic line to buff and heal, summonable Animunculi, weaponry like grenades or buzzsaws, vamidium armors, etc. It'd be easy to come up with a full three-skill-line set of Dwemer-themed skills. I could also see them giving us another Class based on a Daedra again (and I fear that it would end up being that overdone cheesemonger, ugh), or even give a Sword-Singer if Hammerfell was ever inbound, but at least the Dwemer Artificer is the one that makes the most sense to me.

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

tomofhyrule wrote: »

I don't see a Werewolf happening though. You'd need to have them in human form to be able to access the weapon and guild skills, and a werewolf in human form is just a person with one of the classes. Plus, the Ultimate is the last unlock for Companions at Lv 20, so even if we got a Werewolf that had a transformation ult, they'd still be a person until that point. I could see that being a story to give them an ult, but, what would you have until they unlocked it?

Since I'd really like to see a Werewolf Companion, I'll try to address some of these concerns with a plausible solution.

I do expect ZOS to repeat existing classes for future Companions. There are gender neutral pronouns for each of the skills, including the class skills, implying that the skills could be used by Companions of either gender. ZOS has also expressed interest in creating another Argonian Companion (namely without slavery in their background) so we might at least expect Companion races to be repeated. Besides, if we get to a point where all 10 playable races are given to some Companion, then we'd need at least 3 Companions to have either a repeated playable class, or some special case for each of them. Then, for potentially repeating Companion races — such as to introduce another Argonian Companion with a different background than Sharp's — we'd need even more repeated playable classes or special case classes. Thankfully, there already exists a framework for adding more Companions of any race or class.

So, I don't think a Werewolf Companion being a person with one of the classes is an issue. I'd expect Werewolf and Vampire to be implemented as skill lines in the World category, rather than as replacement for a Companion's class skill lines. It would better parallel the player's version of those skills that way. If the player can play a character with a race, class, and curse, then why couldn't a Companion?

Though, the issue with the Companion Ultimate is puzzling. I think if Werewolf was a separate skill line, i.e. it doesn't replace the Companion's Level 20 Ultimate, then you'd be able to select which Ultimate you wanted your Companion to use. Player Werewolves have their Ultimate unlocked at the start, so I'd expect a Companion would have their version of Werewolf Transformation available from the beginning as well, and they'd get to learn their class Ultimate at level 20, as usual. Maybe the individual skills in the Companion's Werewolf skill line would be gradually unlocked up to Level 20?

So, a Werewolf Companion would have two Ultimates: the Werewolf Transformation Ultimate is unlocked at the start, while the Companion's Level 20 Ultimate (which is thematic to their class and personality) can still be unlocked and slotted later. I don't think it'd be a terrible thing if players decided to unslot the Companion's Werewolf Transformation Ultimate to use the Companion's Level 20 Ultimate. Being a werewolf may be part of a Companion's identity, but it's not their entire identity.

LaintalAy

"Vampire" or "Werewolf" Class (if not implemented as skill lines)

Vampire/Werewolf skills are already present and would be most cost effective.

OtarTheMad

Other (please describe your thoughts)

I am going to guess something with Scribing. They skipped over Necro for a reason, the class sucks lol.

jtm1018

Other (please describe your thoughts)

High Elf any class.

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

I wonder if we'll get more information regarding the next 2 Companions sometime shortly after the release of Update 42? Though, I'd expect to hear more about the Companions around Q3 for sure. Q4 is a long wait from now!

DP99

Other (please describe your thoughts)

A guy that follows you around banging two coconuts together.

Dojohoda

"Vampire" or "Werewolf" Class (if not implemented as skill lines)

AhhhhWOOOO

Monte_Cristo

Dojohoda wrote: »

AhhhhWOOOO

Werewolves of Camlorn?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy_xaxpECvw

Dojohoda

"Vampire" or "Werewolf" Class (if not implemented as skill lines)

Monte_Cristo wrote: »

Dojohoda wrote: »

AhhhhWOOOO

Werewolves of Camlorn?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy_xaxpECvw

That's awesome, I lol'ed.

vsrs_au

BlueRaven wrote: »

Just a follow up thought. I think they released Orsinium to everyone because one of the companions will be an orc.

So probably an orc and wood elf companion this time.

I'd like a bosmer companion. Bonus points to the devs for making it look like Eveli's sister!

spartaxoxo

Unannounced or NPC-only Class (something new that players don't have yet)

My guess is 1 will be a new NPC only class composed of scribed skills. And the other will be a Necromancer

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

spartaxoxo wrote: »

My guess is 1 will be a new NPC only class composed of scribed skills. And the other will be a Necromancer

The Scribed skills in the Gold Road Chapter include 6 Weapon skills (Elemental Explosion for Destruction Staff, Traveling Knife for Dual Wield, Smash for Two Handed, Vault for Bow, Shield Throw for One Hand and Shield, and Mender's Bond for Restoration Staff), 2 Soul Magic skills (Wield Soul and Soul Burst), 1 Mages Guild skill (Ulfsild's Contingency), 1 Fighters Guild skill (Torchbearer), and 1 Assault skill (Trample).

In total, that's 11 different Grimoire skills. A Companion's Class has 9 active abilities (3 for each category of Tank/Damage/Healer) + 1 Ultimate. If we rule out the 6 Weapon Grimoires (due to potentially mismatching the weapon type currently being used), the 2 Soul Magic Grimoires (as the Companion likely hasn't lost their soul the way the Vestige has) and the 1 Assault Grimoire (because Companions aren't involved in the Alliance War, nor do they have access to that skill line) then we are just left with the Grimoires for the Fighters Guild and the Mages Guild.

That's not to say that Companions will never receive Companion versions of the player's Grimoires — it just wouldn't make sense to build an entire "Class" around the Grimoires we know to exist currently. Companions would likely find their own Scribed skills located within their version of the respective skill lines, just as players do.

TheImperfect

Necromancer (presuming 2 Necromancer Companions in 2024)

I think one at least will be a necromancer but maybe I'm wrong.

AzuraFan

Unannounced or NPC-only Class (something new that players don't have yet)

I hope it'll be something different - doesn't matter what. I don't need more than one companion per class. And once we have a companion for every class, maybe ZOS can focus on making companions more useful and fun, rather than adding more companions. They're already starting to feel like non-combat pets, meaning most of them go unused.

Dragonredux

Unannounced or NPC-only Class (something new that players don't have yet)

Probably something related to scribing. Necro is too much of a hot mess at the moment and plus I don't think they figured out pets summoning pets. Werewolf and Vampire is a neat idea but I dread how they'll implement it with the Justice system.

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

Dragonredux wrote: »

Probably something related to scribing. Necro is too much of a hot mess at the moment and plus I don't think they figured out pets summoning pets. Werewolf and Vampire is a neat idea but I dread how they'll implement it with the Justice system.

Do they really need to implement it into the Justice system? There's no way the player will get a bounty for something the Necromancer/Vampire/Werewolf Companion does. If anything, those "Criminal Act" Companion skills may be given a proc condition such as "Used when the Companion is not in a town" to simulate the knowledge that those skills shouldn't be used where witnesses can see.

SilverBride

Other (please describe your thoughts)

All I want is the option to skip the unlock after we've done it once. I'm so over doing it on every character.

I've also given up on getting a handsome Companion that can be my characters' life partner. I'm sure we will see at least one Orc this time... not sure what genders we will get.

spartaxoxo

Unannounced or NPC-only Class (something new that players don't have yet)

Dragonredux wrote: »

Probably something related to scribing. Necro is too much of a hot mess at the moment and plus I don't think they figured out pets summoning pets. Werewolf and Vampire is a neat idea but I dread how they'll implement it with the Justice system.

They didn't have pets for the sorc companion so they don't really need them for the necro one either.

Tandor

Other (please describe your thoughts)

I don't mind what class it is (apart from Templar, which wouldn't really fit), so long as I can have him/her with a character that is truly bad and gains positive rapport with all the bad stuff.

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Dragonredux wrote: »

Probably something related to scribing. Necro is too much of a hot mess at the moment and plus I don't think they figured out pets summoning pets. Werewolf and Vampire is a neat idea but I dread how they'll implement it with the Justice system.

They didn't have pets for the sorc companion so they don't really need them for the necro one either.

In order to remove the corpse and pet requirement, I'd imagine a Necromancer Companion's skill lines would look like this:

• Damage Dealer
  • Some unique Ultimate associated with the Companion's Class (Necromancer) and personality. Maybe the old bone dragon Ultimate that players were going to have instead of Frozen Colossus.
  • Flame Skull (single target damage)
  • Boneyard (ground AoE damage over time)
  • Death Scythe (cone damage)
• Tank
  • Bone Armor (Companion 20% damage mitigation)
  • Bone Totem (area defense buff)
  • Grave Grasp (area crowd control)
• Healer
  • Render Flesh (single target heal)
  • Expunge (negative effect purge)
  • Life amid Death (ground AoE heal)

IncultaWolf

Necromancer (presuming 2 Necromancer Companions in 2024)

High elf necromancer

The other one, no idea. But I hope they do werewolf/vampire at some point

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

Tandor wrote: »

I don't mind what class it is (apart from Templar, which wouldn't really fit), so long as I can have him/her with a character that is truly bad and gains positive rapport with all the bad stuff.

It would be fun to finally have an "evil" Companion for once, though I do wonder what their storyline and keepsake would be about. Since Companion keepsakes/perks are related to their personality (such as Sharp's perk giving better fishing odds, in line with his love for fishing) then I'd imagine maybe a Necromancer who is a little obsessed with unearthing remains would probably give a bonus to loot from unearthing buried treasure, such as via Treasure Maps or Excavation.

Of course, I'd also love a Companion which subverts expectations, like maybe a Nord Templar who, at some point, became a Werewolf and struggles with that inner conflict of simultaneously being a Templar and also being a Werewolf. Of course it'd still be fun, albeit cliche, to have someone totally obsessed with lycanthropy and hunting, like a Bosmer Warden Werewolf, but I'd honestly like to meet another character like Narazda — who, while not totally leaning into their lycanthropy the way most characters do, accepts lycanthropy as both a blessing and a curse, and comes to terms with it.

Erickson9610

Nightblade (like Mirri Elendis)

While I don't think we'll get a Companion whose Class skill lines are entirely composed of Scribing skills, I do think it's possible that we may get a Companion whose Keepsake makes it possible to find Luminous Ink from more sources. Maybe Luminous Ink could be in found in their container (like the ones provided by Mirri, Isobel, Ember, and Azandar).

Though, I don't know if that'd be a good idea. I'd rather see Companion Keepsakes that aren't focused on Chapter features.

TheValkyn

Necromancer (presuming 2 Necromancer Companions in 2024)

Could you imagine how ineffective a necro companion would be? Hahahaha

Dahveed

Other (please describe your thoughts)

I haven't even recruited any of the companions yet(!), but whatever the class might be, I just want an Altmer lady with height sliders maxed out