Should Companions wear helmets?

xXCJsniperXx7 · November 26

Companions don't have an option for outfit helmets still. Should we have a choice for this?

Carcamongus · November 26

Yay, they shall

I won't hold my breath about helmets becoming available to companions, but I still haven't seen a single compelling argument for keeping them from wearing headgear.

IncultaWolf · November 26

Ember should, because that haircut is terrible

spartaxoxo · November 26

Yay, they shall

I think they should be able to. I understand and agree with the devs about why complete and total customization isn't there. It's a pretty common game design tactic to have less customization on specific characters vs player avatars because that aides characterization. But, they can just take the helmet off during when you're talking to them and during cut scenes.

It would help a lot with the attack of the clones at world bosses, which actually diminishes characterization.

Elvenheart · November 26

Yay, they shall

Yes, they should.

LunaFlora · November 26

i don't need it,
i wouldn't mind it becoming an option,
but ZOS has given their reasons for why they're not doing it so i doubt it'll change.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/634365/companions-q-a/p2

Q: I just want to give them a hat so they don't look the same as everyone else... any thoughts on changing your stance on this?

TM: We do have discussions about the level of flexibility we want to give users on a Companion’s appearance “from the neck-up” – like hats, or different hairstyles. One of the early design considerations with companions was the balance between "identity" and "customization" for each companion. We wanted to give players as much freedom to customize their traveling companion, while at the same time keeping the identity of the companion the same. We ended up with "no hats" on companions because it hit that sweet spot - where players can make them look any way they wish, but the character and identity of the companion doesn't change because you always see their face.

Avran_Sylt · November 26

Yay, they shall

They already anonymize duplicate companions by removing their name. Letting players give them a helmet would better facilitate that process and make the world seem a bit more livlier with the illusion of more companions and fewer duplicate faces running around.

Syldras · November 26

Yay, they shall

LunaFlora wrote: »

i don't need it,
i wouldn't mind it becoming an option,
but ZOS has given their reasons for why they're not doing it so i doubt it'll change.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/634365/companions-q-a/p2

Q: I just want to give them a hat so they don't look the same as everyone else... any thoughts on changing your stance on this?

TM: We do have discussions about the level of flexibility we want to give users on a Companion’s appearance “from the neck-up” – like hats, or different hairstyles. One of the early design considerations with companions was the balance between "identity" and "customization" for each companion. We wanted to give players as much freedom to customize their traveling companion, while at the same time keeping the identity of the companion the same. We ended up with "no hats" on companions because it hit that sweet spot - where players can make them look any way they wish, but the character and identity of the companion doesn't change because you always see their face.

Yeah, we already had that discussion 4 days ago.
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/669197/please-allow-companions-to-wear-hats-hairstyles/

SkaiFaith · November 26

Maybe helmets/hats could be seen as "too much" for what is the developers' vision, but hairstyles on the other hand... Those should definitely be a thing.

Credible_Joe · November 26

Yay, they shall

Other peoples' companions should wear helmets, at the very least. Especially when this was initially rolled out, seeing clones of your own companion all over the place was more detrimental to both immersion and the character's identity & design than having the option to hide their face.

If nothing else, show helmets on other players' companions, and if devs are feeling particularly magnanimous, show helmets in combat. Just so we don't have to further suspend our disbelief at Isobel, the Knight Errant, going into battle with a completely exposed crown. Or any of our companions built to tank, for that matter.

I get it, a lot of care went into these characters' designs, and the constant outcry for hiding all that work must not feel great.

But that being said, having a hard line zero helmets period policy has always felt like overkill. There's got to be a way to force a hide-helmet during dialogue, at least. We already have it for crafting stations. If maintaining and displaying character identity is the sticking point, there are ways to accomplish that without fully taking away players' creative agency.

Hapexamendios · November 26

Some should.

Evil_Rurouni · November 26

Our own companions?
maybe.
Other peoples companions?
DEFINITELY.

Clone armies belong in Star wars, not Elder Scrolls.

BlueRaven · November 27

Nay, they shalt not

I like seeing their face when I talk to them. But otherwise I don’t care.

JemadarofCaerSalis · November 27

Yay, they shall

Carcamongus wrote: »

I won't hold my breath about helmets becoming available to companions, but I still haven't seen a single compelling argument for keeping them from wearing headgear.

Pretty much this, same thing with changing other cosmetic things about the companions.

But, with the introduction of the two recent companions I sort of doubt we will get this option.

Dragonnord · November 27

Nay, they shalt not

This question again? How many times will this be asked?

ZOS was already very clear about this.

SilverBride · November 27

Nay, they shalt not

I really can't understand the push for this.

Artim_X · November 27

Yay, they shall

There is no decent reason not to have it as an option.

Erickson9610 · November 27

There have been quite a lot of these threads popping up lately. I'll reiterate my stance:

Companions can preserve their identity if they automatically hide their helmets during scripted sequences or when in dialogue with the player.

wolfie1.0. · November 27

Yay, they shall

I dont buy ZOS'S reasoning for not having this, not that they need one.

Honestly, it just bugs me that I can't put a helmet or hat on some of these companions. Just like it bugs me that I can give nicknames to houses, mounts, and pets but absolutely no one can tell.

wolfie1.0. · November 27

Yay, they shall

Dragonnord wrote: »

This question again? How many times will this be asked?

ZOS was already very clear about this.

As many times as it takes. That's how we get change around here apparently.

SilverBride · November 27

Nay, they shalt not

Companions already do wear helmets. They just can't display them.

TheMajority · November 27

Yay, they shall

SilverBride wrote: »

I really can't understand the push for this.

I got a hard time understanding the push back against it honestly since it's just a cosmetic nobody has to use except those that would desire it.

Gabriel_H · November 27

LunaFlora wrote: »

i don't need it,
i wouldn't mind it becoming an option,
but ZOS has given their reasons for why they're not doing it so i doubt it'll change.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/634365/companions-q-a/p2

Q: I just want to give them a hat so they don't look the same as everyone else... any thoughts on changing your stance on this?

TM: We do have discussions about the level of flexibility we want to give users on a Companion’s appearance “from the neck-up” – like hats, or different hairstyles. One of the early design considerations with companions was the balance between "identity" and "customization" for each companion. We wanted to give players as much freedom to customize their traveling companion, while at the same time keeping the identity of the companion the same. We ended up with "no hats" on companions because it hit that sweet spot - where players can make them look any way they wish, but the character and identity of the companion doesn't change because you always see their face.

Hats don't stop you seeing faces.

spartaxoxo · November 27

Yay, they shall

Gabriel_H wrote: »

LunaFlora wrote: »

i don't need it,
i wouldn't mind it becoming an option,
but ZOS has given their reasons for why they're not doing it so i doubt it'll change.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/634365/companions-q-a/p2

Q: I just want to give them a hat so they don't look the same as everyone else... any thoughts on changing your stance on this?

TM: We do have discussions about the level of flexibility we want to give users on a Companion’s appearance “from the neck-up” – like hats, or different hairstyles. One of the early design considerations with companions was the balance between "identity" and "customization" for each companion. We wanted to give players as much freedom to customize their traveling companion, while at the same time keeping the identity of the companion the same. We ended up with "no hats" on companions because it hit that sweet spot - where players can make them look any way they wish, but the character and identity of the companion doesn't change because you always see their face.

Hats don't stop you seeing faces.

To be fair, in this game, there's plenty that do.

That being said, they can just remove them from cutscenes/dialogue box if that's the issue.

ArchangelIsraphel · November 27

Yay, they shall

I asked Isobel what she'd like for the New Life Festival this year, and all she keeps asking for is ways to mitigate the effects of blunt force trauma to the skull.

Erickson9610 · November 27

I get the feeling that eventually we're going to meet our first Companion who is forced to have a helmet equipped at all times, since players can't show or hide anything in the helmet slot.

In that case, maybe said Companion would, in their questline, explain why they have this helmet magically bound to them. Then the players would try to customize this Companion's appearance around them having this helmet on at all times.

If something like that ever happens, then it's for sure that we'll never get the freedom to customize the helmet slot of our Companion's appearance. Wouldn't want to be able to hide the helmet that this theoretical helmet-bound Companion has.

TheMajority · November 27

Yay, they shall

Erickson9610 wrote: »

I get the feeling that eventually we're going to meet our first Companion who is forced to have a helmet equipped at all times, since players can't show or hide anything in the helmet slot.

In that case, maybe said Companion would, in their questline, explain why they have this helmet magically bound to them. Then the players would try to customize this Companion's appearance around them having this helmet on at all times.

If something like that ever happens, then it's for sure that we'll never get the freedom to customize the helmet slot of our Companion's appearance. Wouldn't want to be able to hide the helmet that this theoretical helmet-bound Companion has.

I think they'd give us a toggle on the companion menu that let us toggle it on or off if they allowed helmets. doubtful they would neglect that since its a obvious next request by the player

or they would just do it so that you could only see a helmet if you stick one on the outfit slot but otherwise they wear no helmet if you don't put it there

plenty of way to make it possible

amig186 · November 27

Yay, they shall

SilverBride wrote: »

I really can't understand the push for this.

To finally end the ongoing clone wars.

Also, this is just me, but I don't really like the characters of most of the companions, I'd rather be able to stick a helmet on them and pretend they're someone else. Preventing me from doing so isn't going to make me like them any more.

Rowjoh · November 27

ESO doesn't stand for Esoteric Spurious Outfits.

Companions are essentially clones of each other and rather than worrying about cosmetic trivia, focus should be firmly on petitioning for greater diversity, better abilities, and functionality.

LunaFlora · November 27

Gabriel_H wrote: »

LunaFlora wrote: »

i don't need it,
i wouldn't mind it becoming an option,
but ZOS has given their reasons for why they're not doing it so i doubt it'll change.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/634365/companions-q-a/p2

Q: I just want to give them a hat so they don't look the same as everyone else... any thoughts on changing your stance on this?

TM: We do have discussions about the level of flexibility we want to give users on a Companion’s appearance “from the neck-up” – like hats, or different hairstyles. One of the early design considerations with companions was the balance between "identity" and "customization" for each companion. We wanted to give players as much freedom to customize their traveling companion, while at the same time keeping the identity of the companion the same. We ended up with "no hats" on companions because it hit that sweet spot - where players can make them look any way they wish, but the character and identity of the companion doesn't change because you always see their face.

Hats don't stop you seeing faces.

if they were allowed to wear hats, they would also be allowed to wear hats that do stop you seeing their faces.

Wouldn't make sense to only allow certain hats, especially when covering companions' faces is why people seem to want it to be allowed.

AnduinTryggva · November 27

Yay, they shall

Of course they should be able to. I think it is disrespectful to them to not wear head protection in combat if they so wish.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Should Companions wear helmets?

Should Companions wear helmets? 96 votes