For 4 years

It could be funny when they have creative excuses.

Locksheon wrote: »

"You go on ahead."
"I'll secure the door."
"I'll make sure no one follows you."
"I'd just be a burden."
"You scout ahead."
"Go and learn what you can."
"I'll stay here and study this further."
"You go on without me."
"I'll catch up with you later."
"Curse this wound! I won't be any good in a fight."
"I'll try to find a way around and meet you further ahead."
"I'd only slow you down."
"Looks like I won't be joining you."
"I'll bring up the rear."
"I'll stay here and make sure we didn't miss something."

I GET IT! FFS! You didn't want to make the NPC path with us. Please. PLEASE stop making them explain why they won't be accompanying us. It's such a bad cliche now that I literally groan out loud when I have to sit through their explanations. I know I'm the hero, and I'll be doing the heavy lifting. There's no reason to explain away their inability to follow me. The real reason is that you didn't give them proper pathing. So be it laziness, budget, or technical issues, I don't care. Just please stop making me read it!

And every time your character will reply something like this:
If they say "You scout ahead" you will reply "I will scout ahead!"
If they say "Go and learn what you can" you will reply "I will go learn what I can"
If they say "I'll catch up with you later" you will reply "I will catch up with you later"
etc etc etc..
It makes me feel like my character is completely dumb when repeating everything the NPC just told me!

"Basic tactics, soldier. I'll stay back and make sure no one flanks you."

I agree with OP and kind of groan each time I hear one of those 'my sword arm is injured so I'd be more of a burden than help' excuses. I find it even more ironic since the big strapping cowards are perfectly happy to send my tiny she-elf healer into harm's way alone. How about letting her heal the dude's sword arm and follow along behind him keeping him alive with heals and buffs since that is what she is built to do?

Thoragaal wrote: »

And every time your character will reply something like this:
If they say "You scout ahead" you will reply "I will scout ahead!"
If they say "Go and learn what you can" you will reply "I will go learn what I can"
If they say "I'll catch up with you later" you will reply "I will catch up with you later"
etc etc etc..
It makes me feel like my character is completely dumb when repeating everything the NPC just told me!

Well, there's a dunmer in Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary who replies "Don't repeat what I say. It annoys me."

what is this about? what NPC is following you? i didn't hear these messages during random quests.
also, u can turn off both voice responses and subtitles.
is this about the mercenary contracts from cyro that some people scam others into selling them?

Sheridan wrote: »

Thoragaal wrote: »

And every time your character will reply something like this:
If they say "You scout ahead" you will reply "I will scout ahead!"
If they say "Go and learn what you can" you will reply "I will go learn what I can"
If they say "I'll catch up with you later" you will reply "I will catch up with you later"
etc etc etc..
It makes me feel like my character is completely dumb when repeating everything the NPC just told me!

Well, there's a dunmer in Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary who replies "Don't repeat what I say. It annoys me."

We could all learn a thing or two from that NPC. I would suspect ZOS got the creator fired, for going against the grain

I guess I'm numb after witnessing the early days of MMORPGs. Repetitive written dialogue doesn't get to me - my skip-button is worn, and my skip-finger has calluses. I find the constant yelling by DLC quest starters far more annoying. Can't go to any major city without a dozen NPCs assaulting my ears with the same one line over and over again.

"Dragons?! In your homeland?!"
"Halt, adventurer!"
"Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"
"Stay a while and listen."

The last one might be a fever dream.

asuitandtyb14_ESO wrote: »

Greymoor was so riddled with this setup to quest dialogue that I was completely turned off from playing it anymore or buying another dlc. It was patronizing; it felt like you we're a child, being led around by the hand with an adult gently instructing you on how to do basic functions. Not decisions though, that is for the NPC.

Yes! This is it exactly. By the time we finished the questline, I realized how ridiculously patronizing the writing is.
I literally unsubscribed because I just need a break from being NPC'splained to.

There's a level of suspension of disbelief that's required when playing any video game. We know there are limitations to what NPCs can/will do, but I feel like the writers have an obsessive need to close that plothole. I'm perfectly capable of suspending my belief in the world's mechanics to do the quests alone without being told to do it alone.

zvavi wrote: »

They are not fighting so they need an explanation for it... Without it there is no fluidity...

Fluidity can be accomplished by just admitting that your character is god-tier compared to the likes of Lyris and Sai Sahan. But I think the writers just love their NPCs too much; much like. DM who forgets that the story is about the party. They need to let go.

If its a clearly established narrative that "I alone can solve all the world's problems" then there's no need to explain why they aren't coming. They will die horribly, I'll just be ressurected.

Locksheon wrote: »

And every time your character will reply something like this:
If they say "You scout ahead" you will reply "I will scout ahead!"

Because its utterly lazy writing! They know people are just clicking that text without reading it. That should be a red flag 🚩! If its that boring, you're not making a Elder Scrolls game correctly. Some of us like the lore. We want to know the stories. But its either written for people who click past, or it makes you want to click past it.

Yeah, that's one reason I find it so damn annoying. Who is the content for?

The only battle companions I liked were Valsirenn, Iachesis, and the Golden Knight.

Valsirenn and Iachesis use Time Stop, which is a useful CC that let my leveling nightblade with no CP get in some extra hits on frozen enemies.

The Golden Knight has a synergy I can use on command when I need it in a fight.

They actually added something to the fight that wasn't just another person light/heavy attacking enemies.

LadyLethalla wrote: »

It would be different if one's PC got to say something like, "Let me guess. I have to go in alone and risk my life while you hang back here doing something 'important'?"
And then the NPC were to look sheepish.

Maybe once.

Like I said, just make it a known quality of the Vestige that they are the only one capable of doing anything correctly. That they are absolutely the most powerful man/mer/beast on Tamriel.
Stop giving NPCs like the Five Companions the limelight because its not even a comparison. (They don't even deal real damage to mobs.)

At least then, you'd be championing the player, and making them feel important rather than making them feel like they're everyone's crutch.

Hallothiel wrote: »

Perhaps you over-estimate the intelligence of some players and if things weren’t explained there would be complaints.......

I TRULY believe you're right. This is why its scripted out and voice acted every. single. time. The writers are afraid someone will call them out for not explaining why they don't bother making NPCs follow you.

I can imagine the conversation at Zenimax:
Its one or the other! Either make them follow the player (and be useless while they hold their fake arm injury) or explain why we aren't adding pathing for them. If you don't pick one, you're fired.

Hmmm... two lines of repetitive dialogue, or actual work? Copy/paste it is!

True. And I don't really want them to follow me unless they actually contribute. I'm content with no follower and no explanation.