Worried About Companion System?

Vevvev · January 2021

Other

Why should I be worried about this system when the standard NPC has the actions per second of a turtle in molasses??? Like seriously, just stand there and let an NPC attack you and see just how horribly they do things. The NPC allies we get attack the same boring way.

majulook · January 2021

I hope they do replace tank/healer players

Bat wrote: »

I'm worried that they will block hitboxes and that petsorcs will have yet another tool of annoyance to deploy against their fellow writ crafters.

Two pets and Two companions, that is a lot of space taken up at a Crafting Station or at the Bank.

worrallj · January 2021

Nah, companions won't replace players

healers & tanks roles are already more for secondary utility functions rather than literal tanking and healing: ring of pale order can give u all the healing you want and if ur a good dodge roller you almost don't need a tank to take hits.

Rather, healers are there at least as much for buffs & synergies, and tanks for grouping enemies and holding them in place as much as for taking hits. Companions are unlikely to fill those rolls.

Eedat · January 2021

Other

Starlock wrote: »

Eedat wrote: »

Lysette wrote: »

Eedat wrote: »

Ekzorka wrote: »

coop500 wrote: »

But if they offer heals, buffs, have a TON of HP and can taunt, then we might have problems.

I think they will be just a toys for roleplayers and solo-players who avoid of other players.

Then why are they even playing an MMO? I legit don't understand the mentality of playing a game that is specialized in multi-player then refusing to interact with people. If people just want to play through for the lore, overland content is already ridiculously easy to the point where a brand new player who has no idea what they're don't at all can breeze through it all with absolutely no problem.

Not a fan of this. There are two ways this can go. Either the companions are trash and therefore completely pointless to begin with, or they're viable and the multi-player gets removed from a multi-player game.

Very simple - TES has been single player for most of it's existence - so there are plenty of people here, who have no interest whatsoever to interact with others, but play the game just like they've been playing the other TES games before - solo.

But this one flat out isn't single player. You can disagree with the developer'schoice to make it an MMO but in the end it's 100% irrelevant because multi-player is the decision they went with. As a consumer you then have the power to choose whether that idea is for you or not. What you don't have the power to do is buy a multiplayer game then wonder why it's not solo player lol. Your logic makes as much sense as me picking up WoW then complaining about it not being an RTS

No. You aren't listening to what is being said. Please stop inventing complaints that haven't been made. Let us know when you are ready to listen. Or don't. Strawpersons like this are why I usually don't bother trying to explain this to people.

How is it a strawman? It is literally a mass multiplayer online rpg. Disagreeing with the decision to making it a multi-player game is one thing. Buying it anyway knowing full well its multi-player then wondering why the game doesn't function properly as single player makes legitimately no sense. Again, they're either gong to be trash and therefore pointless or replace people in group content and actively encourage people to never group with anyone in an MMO. Best case scenario they just create a crazy amount of screen clutter like pets aren't bad enough already.

Maybe they should have just released TES6 instead of waiting over a decade and trying to turn the MMO into it.

coop500 · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

Michaelkeir wrote: »

SydneyGrey wrote: »

There is no way that a companion will play better than a real human.

*Edit* Perhaps I should have phrased this as: There is no way ZOS will ALLOW these companions to fight better than a real human.

That light attack bow spammer in the back says otherwise.

My prediction is that a LOT of low level CP or bad DPS and some decent dedicated healers will be replaced.
Here’s a likely scenario. A daily pug forms up. In the middle of the dungeon, the group feels one DPS is not pulling his weight. Even though he’s trying. He’s getting the boot and someone will pull out there False God/Mothers Sorrow geared companion to take his place.

Or a in a group a dedicated healer is doing his thing. Group decides they want to go faster but don’t need the heals. Healer is booted and a decently geared companion DPS is brought in.

See where I’m going with this. It will happen in pugs I promise you.

Tanks are more or less safe unless the companion tanks have an AoE taunt.

THIS, people are selfish jerks and don't care about people trying to learn the game. They just want what they want and want it now.

Oreyn_Bearclaw · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

I am worried primarily for two reasons.

First, I do not want to see 50 identical companions everywhere I go. I think this system has to be coupled with the ability to disable them from view unless you are in a group (and they should add combat pets as well to that).

Second, My biggest concern is performance. This game is already massively failing in that department and they want to move more things towards the server? I really question whether that is even remotely a good idea.

I don't worry too much about them replacing players, but I am hoping they wont make it so your companion can Tank Vet HM content. If they do, again, that would also be a massive issue.

Elwendryll · January 2021

Other

I hope they replace DDs. It can only be an improvement when using the group finder...

No, seriously, I'm just curious, but I'm probably not going to seriously use it, I run a guild for vet DLC dungeons, I can hardly see how an AI could perform to the required level for the content we commonly run (HMs and trifectas). But if it turns out they can do the job, I'm not against using them to fill the missing spots if we don't have enough sign-ups for a less challenging run.

SassiestAssassin · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

I would like to see companions not allowed to queue for dungeons, but be available if you walk in or lose a member while you’re in a dungeon.

It won’t solve all the potential problems (like kicking a member to replace with a bot) but it wouldn’t restrict solo players or people who are sick of waiting for a replacement queue.

I am, however, excited that I might be able to do overland quests with my wet-noodle tank lad without begging someone to help me.

coop500 · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

SassiestAssassin wrote: »

I would like to see companions not allowed to queue for dungeons, but be available if you walk in or lose a member while you’re in a dungeon.

It won’t solve all the potential problems (like kicking a member to replace with a bot) but it wouldn’t restrict solo players or people who are sick of waiting for a replacement queue.

I am, however, excited that I might be able to do overland quests with my wet-noodle tank lad without begging someone to help me.

I would be more okay with that. But still worried about the kicking thing, that's like... Almost worse because you're playing with these people, doing the best you can, using your time, and then they kick you at the end or whatever.

Uvi_AUT · January 2021

Other

Other. I am kinda curios to see if they make Overlandcontent harder again. That way if we dont use the companions, maybe the enemies wont die in a Global Cooldown. I am looking forward to something like that.

Ackwalan · January 2021

So if you use a trial raid of all sorcs, each with 2 pets and a companion, that's 48 characters.

Ghanima_Atreides · January 2021

Nah, companions won't replace players

Eedat wrote: »

Ekzorka wrote: »

coop500 wrote: »

But if they offer heals, buffs, have a TON of HP and can taunt, then we might have problems.

I think they will be just a toys for roleplayers and solo-players who avoid of other players.

Then why are they even playing an MMO? I legit don't understand the mentality of playing a game that is specialized in multi-player then refusing to interact with people.

This has been said multiple times before, but: because some of us would like to experience the STORY in the group dungeons for the fun of it, at our own pace, perhaps with less than optimized builds and gear. It would be nice to do so alone or with another friend and our companions rather than join a PUG and most likely be forced to rush through them, missing everything.

And before you or anyone else suggests to "find a guild" of likeminded people: not everyone has the desire to do so, or can easily find guilds that suit their playstyle, availability or personality. Some people dread the thought of asking some strangers in a guild they just joined to help them run a dungeon for the story, knowing what the reactions might be. This feature is for those people.

Kiralyn2000 · January 2021

Nah, companions won't replace players

Eedat wrote: »

[How is it a strawman? It is literally a mass multiplayer online rpg. Disagreeing with the decision to making it a multi-player game is one thing. Buying it anyway knowing full well its multi-player then wondering why the game doesn't function properly as single player makes legitimately no sense.

Personally, I've been playing "MMOs" since vanilla WoW (and maybe earlier, depending on game definitions), almost exclusively solo. WoW, SWtoR, STO, TERA, City of Heroes, ESO, assorted sillier eastern f2p games... I love the exploration, the questing & lore, the artwork, the character building, etc.

As for "MMO" - as long as there are many other players in the world, that you interact with in any way, it's "massively multiplayer". Nothing about that term requires your to be grouped with them for activities. Chatting in channels, interacting economically in the auction house, running into each other while ungrouped in the world and competing over spawns or assisting each other with a harder mob? That's all "massively multiplayer", and they're all things I've done in MMOs while playing "solo".

The only things I 99% haven't done are dedicated group crap like dungeons & raids. They're still fun games, with a lot of stuff for me to see and do. (and there have been periods where finding more single-player games was damn hard, what with this awful push the publishers had since the late 00's to shoe-horn "online" and "multiplayer" into every damn thing.)

SickleCider · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

I'm worried for a different reason. Seeing fleets of the same two NPCs is going to take, uh, a lot of getting used to, and I feel like hubs are already very crowded. I don't see it being a system I engage with.

Faded · January 2021

Other

Maybe try it before forming an opinion.

Iccotak · January 2021

Nah, companions won't replace players

https://www.gamesradar.com/amp/elder-scrolls-online-gates-of-oblivion-is-a-lot-more-than-an-mmo-tes4/

"I think we've learned a lot over the years. And one of the main, recurring themes that we've heard from players, especially our more hardcore Elder Scrolls people, is people are scary. And there's some content that they aren't necessarily comfortable within a large group, but they would do with a couple of close, trusted friends. And so the beauty of this system and one of my hopes is, you know, you and a buddy could go and do four-player dungeons because you have two companions to help you out."

Another benefit to the upcoming Companion system, Lambert hopes, is that it'll give folks the confidence to take on tougher dungeons, thereby getting the chance to mingle and engage more with the ESO community.

"It will help players, A) develop stronger social ties in-game with their companions, but also, help them kind-of edge a little bit more into some of the group content and meeting other players potentially, which is really exciting to me, because that's where the magic of MMO happens, you know, meeting other people and talking with them and developing those really close social ties."

Tigertron · January 2021

First Ring of the Pale Order now this. What next? Push the "A" button and go make coffee come back and see who won.

SOLDIER_1stClass · January 2021

Other

I just honestly think it is a waste of time compared to all the other things they could have added.

1h and rune line
New class
New BGs maps
In game earnable mounts, skins, items
Spellcrafting
Story quest added tobthe three banner war, Dark Brotherhood, Theieves Guild, Fighters and Mages guild. All gear things to add.

But instead we got noc followers. A huge disappointment

Robo_Hobo · January 2021

Other

I don't think they'll be worthless but I don't think they'll come anywhere close to replacing a real player in a dungeon, even a player that isn't very experienced.

At best I see them being useful in cases where you're already half-way through the dungeon, the tank has to leave, and it isn't too hard of a dungeon, so maybe the tank role npc could manage to help the group finish off the dungeon without having to wait a half hour for the queue to replace the tank, and then another half hour once that tank quits because they got put in a dungeon that was halfway completed already.

Or for the solo player who can nearly be able to solo a vet dungeon on their own but not quite because they aren't a tank and there's a mechanic that one-shots non-tank players for a boss. Or they just don't have quite enough self-healing in their kit.

Or the very new group of 3 players who don't have experienced players to help them, they're a bit shy and don't want to use the dungeon finder, and the extra companion NPC can help them out enough to proceed.

Or the tank player who doesn't want to use a DPS set for overland quests.

But, I think these may be more trouble than their worth if people try to use them in content that they aren't really capable of handling - sure, a tank NPC sounds nice, but that tank NPC probably can't heal itself. If you're a solo player using it as a tank, you're gonna have to be slotting some heals for it. If you use it as a DPS companion as well, it'll still probably need healing.

Sidonius · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

I'm mainly worried about event crowding, imagine the fishing holes and quest giver areas... sheesh.

Grandchamp1989 · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

This is secretly another Tank nerf.

Instead of only having Pets and Daedroth standing in our face we'll also have NPC humans stacking on top of our vision.

Maxx7410 · January 2021

Nah, companions won't replace players

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

This is secretly another Tank nerf.

Instead of only having Pets and Daedroth standing in our face we'll also have NPC humans stacking on top of our vision.

Excuses from every bad tank!!! hahaha

CaptainVenom · January 2021

Nah, companions won't replace players

I don't think a companion can be as strong as a player.

highkingnm · January 2021

Nah, companions won't replace players

The forums seem to forget that the bulk of players are much more casual than the bulk of forum players. This is great for players like my sister who are not particularly good but like to do things at their own pace, so can then get some help. For trials and harder dungeons, I don't see a companion doing a fixed routine of abilities being able to meet the quality of good players who can adapt. But for players who wanted a Story Mode dungeon, or who RP, this is really welcome. I don't see myself using it too much personally, but I'm happy for a system that many will.

Elwendryll · January 2021

Other

Grandchamp1989 wrote: »

This is secretly another Tank nerf.

Instead of only having Pets and Daedroth standing in our face we'll also have NPC humans stacking on top of our vision.

Tab target my friend, tab target.

Klad · January 2021

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

I am worried primarily for two reasons.

First, I do not want to see 50 identical companions everywhere I go.

I don't think you'll be seeing any at all. ZoS has some decent phasing technology, this will also eliminate toolbags trying to block quest givers in game.

Thechuckage · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

Klad wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

I am worried primarily for two reasons.

First, I do not want to see 50 identical companions everywhere I go.

I don't think you'll be seeing any at all. ZoS has some decent phasing technology, this will also eliminate toolbags trying to block quest givers in game.

Bang-up job they did with bears and flappy birds in that regard.

While I agree it is too soon to go all Chicken Little, I'm not to optimistic about how this will all work out.

Eirinin · January 2021

Other

I wouldn't lose sleep over this.

Your guild mates are unlikely to kick you to the curb in favor of Bastian the Bot, after all, real people talk in chat, help with mats, and are fun to hang out with. Even if the new companions bring a lot of firepower to the table, your pals aren't gonna forsake you.

I imagine the companions could be fairly useful on days you just wanna solo stuff, though.

coop500 · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

Eirinin wrote: »

I wouldn't lose sleep over this.

Your guild mates are unlikely to kick you to the curb in favor of Bastian the Bot, after all, real people talk in chat, help with mats, and are fun to hang out with. Even if the new companions bring a lot of firepower to the table, your pals aren't gonna forsake you.

I imagine the companions could be fairly useful on days you just wanna solo stuff, though.

*Assuming we have guildmates haha*

I lost all my guilds when I took a ESO break. I have..... no ESO friends anymore.

coop500 · January 2021

I am a bit worried too

highkingnm wrote: »

The forums seem to forget that the bulk of players are much more casual than the bulk of forum players. This is great for players like my sister who are not particularly good but like to do things at their own pace, so can then get some help. For trials and harder dungeons, I don't see a companion doing a fixed routine of abilities being able to meet the quality of good players who can adapt. But for players who wanted a Story Mode dungeon, or who RP, this is really welcome. I don't see myself using it too much personally, but I'm happy for a system that many will.

Your exact post is why I am worried.

Most players, including myself, are... not that great, in terms of what trials and vet dungeons demand. Normal dungeons are my only 'relax' group content I can comfortably do. It's also my main way to level characters.

I CAN heal and tank vet content, I've done it in the past, but it's been awhile.

Now I need to compete with a bot that can have BiS gear. The AI needs to be VERY stupid to give me a chance. And if that's the case? Then the companions become useless for what your sister wants them for.

Pretty much one of two things will happen.

Either the companions will be so slow and stupid no one will use them and they won't be good enough to actually help players through dungeons.

Or the companions ARE going to be at least half decent, in which it replaces lower tier players, alienating them and replacing them with a bot...

HOW is this good? How is forcing learning/slower players out of group content okay? Practice makes perfect they say, but we can't exactly practice tanking/healing or even DPS in a real situation if no one wants to even give us a chance anymore.