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Is it true that companions are really weak in PVE?

  • FantasticFreddie
    FantasticFreddie
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    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.
  • Nastassiya
    Nastassiya
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    After I kill the game sound and put on some albums in winamp it should not be so tedious :).

    But does it really whip the Llamas.... ?

  • Linaleah
    Linaleah
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    Aaxc wrote: »
    Naked companions are pretty squishy, that's true. But I'm yet to test one with full golden gear though. So impossible to say for now.

    golden gear for companions is not a thing, purple is as high as you go. a lot of people tested them in full purple gear you get with a pts template, me included. they still are exceptionally weak. you can make them slightly more sturdy then a tissue paper if you optimize said gear. but.. as the gear drops are rare and its impossible to upgrade or farm for specific traits/weights/upgrade level? optimization of that level on live is not happening for vast majority of people ever and for the dedicated minority for a very.. long... time. and even optimized they still require more micromanagement then helpful.

    that wait until life platitudes are the only thing more unhelpful then companions, because they are NOT changing their performance between pts and live. they might.... maybe, but unlikely increase the companion gear drop rates. but the core of the system? what you see right now is what you are getting live tomorrow.
    dirty worthless casual.
    Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself. Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the ***
    Lois McMaster Bujold "A Civil Campaign"
  • PizzaCat82
    PizzaCat82
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    Still they'll be helping me kill trash faster I don't really see a use for them as healers (maybe if I was low level) or Tanks.

    But they still have their uses. Just gotta figure out whats best for em on the 8th.
  • BlueRaven
    BlueRaven
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    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    All of the companions in Skyrim are more dynamic, and much more helpful then the eso versions.

    It’s weird, Skyrim came out so long ago, and the companion system there seemed much more robust then their more modern eso counterparts.
  • Belegnole
    Belegnole
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    Unfortunately the companions are poorly designed and badly implemented.
  • FantasticFreddie
    FantasticFreddie
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    BlueRaven wrote: »
    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    All of the companions in Skyrim are more dynamic, and much more helpful then the eso versions.

    It’s weird, Skyrim came out so long ago, and the companion system there seemed much more robust then their more modern eso counterparts.

    1) you could give companions excellent gear matching their playstyle and they would equip and use it
    2) somewhat durable, and had the knock down thing, ie when they dropped to low health they would fall down and the enemy would loose interest for a minute (not always)
    3) could pull levers, be directed to stand in specific places, activate pressure plates, etc.
    4) Some of them had some really nice dialog.... "Wow, this is beautiful.... I'm so glad you are here with me " ❤
    5) CARRIED
    YOUR
    EFFING
    BURDENS
  • RageKing
    RageKing
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    we need to keep complaining and making forums posts so they get a good buff because right now it seems they are basically worthless.
  • crazepdx
    crazepdx
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    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    I never thought I would say this, but Lydia would be an upgrade.
  • SirLeeMinion
    SirLeeMinion
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    I tested companions, and they did nothing well. Combat, interaction, outfitting... nothing was more than a shadow of what it could or ought to be. When it became clear that PTS companion feedback was being ignored and that companions would not in any way make up for the incoming combat nerfs, I started playing Guild Wars 2.

    That said... housing was almost totally useless when it dropped. A few years have gone by, and now guild houses and player houses add value to the game. Ironically, they still don't have the utility that unpaid modders added to the Elder Scrolls 3 twenty years ago. But, some folks major on housing and many use houses regularly. I bet a couple of years from now, companions will be worthwhile. The chapter will be cheaper, too!
  • coop500
    coop500
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    Aaxc wrote: »
    Naked companions are pretty squishy, that's true. But I'm yet to test one with full golden gear though. So impossible to say for now.

    Golden gear doesn't exist

    To answer the OP, yes, even at max level and with all purple gear, they are like.... Useless most of the time, often a hindrance even and useful like 5% of the time
    Hoping for more playable races
  • EvilAutoTech
    EvilAutoTech
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    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    Lydia, oh Lydia, say, have you met Lydia?
    Lydia, the tattooed lady
  • Kiralyn2000
    Kiralyn2000
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    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    I'm sworn to burden your adventures.
  • willi3bx
    willi3bx
    Soul Shriven
    If you on PC you can test it on the PTS for yourself.
    Yes I'm new
    go longhorns go
  • JJuponen
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    Another lacklustre addition that could have been so much better.
  • Elsonso
    Elsonso
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    Aaxc wrote: »
    Naked companions are pretty squishy, that's true. But I'm yet to test one with full golden gear though. So impossible to say for now.

    I thought most people who tested them at all tested them in max gear.

    I tested them with the default gear that the come with and with purple gear. Tanking and damage roles, and I was not displeased. However, I want some more real world testing on the final product.
    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    They are not pack mules. Actually, it is the other way around. However, Lydia is just something that follows you around carrying your stuff and makingidle comments, at least until she dies. Companions in ESO are a little more complicated, and do not die permanently, but they still follow you around and make idle comments.

    XBox EU/NA:@ElsonsoJannus
    PC NA/EU: @Elsonso
    PSN NA/EU: @ElsonsoJannus
    Total in-game hours: 11321
    X/Twitter: ElsonsoJannus
  • crazepdx
    crazepdx
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    Elsonso wrote: »
    Aaxc wrote: »
    Naked companions are pretty squishy, that's true. But I'm yet to test one with full golden gear though. So impossible to say for now.

    I thought most people who tested them at all tested them in max gear.

    I tested them with the default gear that the come with and with purple gear. Tanking and damage roles, and I was not displeased. However, I want some more real world testing on the final product.
    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    They are not pack mules. Actually, it is the other way around. However, Lydia is just something that follows you around carrying your stuff and makingidle comments, at least until she dies. Companions in ESO are a little more complicated, and do not die permanently, but they still follow you around and make idle comments.

    Idk Lydia can solo a dragon. I've seen it. And she never died, she just went down on a knee till she caught her breath then went back to business. All this while carrying a ton of crap I haven't put in a chest yet. If only she had learned how to sneak and not set off every environmental trap in Skyrim, sigh..... fos ro dah was great for getting her to move out of doorways.
  • Caligamy_ESO
    Caligamy_ESO
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    BlueRaven wrote: »
    Weirdly what I was most disappointed about with the companions was not how terrible they were in combat. They are terrible in combat.

    It was this;

    https://youtu.be/s0XcDi9ZrBc

    Do you see those non combat interactions? As far as I can tell they don’t really exist. Companions don’t really interact with the environment when not in combat. They will walk over stuff, follow you upstairs, etc, but that is about it.

    At a bar they don’t drink, they don’t sit down, they just stand there really.

    Like that bit around the 30 second mark? That to me feels very deceiving compared to what they are like in game.

    I just want my Argonian to strut like that guy @1:01
    love is love
  • Elsonso
    Elsonso
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    crazepdx wrote: »
    Elsonso wrote: »
    Aaxc wrote: »
    Naked companions are pretty squishy, that's true. But I'm yet to test one with full golden gear though. So impossible to say for now.

    I thought most people who tested them at all tested them in max gear.

    I tested them with the default gear that the come with and with purple gear. Tanking and damage roles, and I was not displeased. However, I want some more real world testing on the final product.
    Are they as useful as Lydia? No? Not interested then.

    They are not pack mules. Actually, it is the other way around. However, Lydia is just something that follows you around carrying your stuff and makingidle comments, at least until she dies. Companions in ESO are a little more complicated, and do not die permanently, but they still follow you around and make idle comments.

    Idk Lydia can solo a dragon. I've seen it. And she never died, she just went down on a knee till she caught her breath then went back to business. All this while carrying a ton of crap I haven't put in a chest yet. If only she had learned how to sneak and not set off every environmental trap in Skyrim, sigh..... fos ro dah was great for getting her to move out of doorways.

    Just remember that every time Lydia goes down on one knee, it is because she died. In ESO, they are down until the end of the combat, or until you revive them.
    XBox EU/NA:@ElsonsoJannus
    PC NA/EU: @Elsonso
    PSN NA/EU: @ElsonsoJannus
    Total in-game hours: 11321
    X/Twitter: ElsonsoJannus
  • Cireous
    Cireous
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    BlueRaven wrote: »
    Weirdly what I was most disappointed about with the companions was not how terrible they were in combat. They are terrible in combat.

    It was this;

    https://youtu.be/s0XcDi9ZrBc

    Do you see those non combat interactions? As far as I can tell they don’t really exist. Companions don’t really interact with the environment when not in combat. They will walk over stuff, follow you upstairs, etc, but that is about it.

    At a bar they don’t drink, they don’t sit down, they just stand there really.

    Like that bit around the 30 second mark? That to me feels very deceiving compared to what they are like in game.
    I can't count how many times I went into a bar with Bastian and Mirri in an attempt to "buy them a drink" or engage in a drinking emote they could then copy.

    When is Mirri going to look over some maps? When is Bastian going to pull out a book and read it? The trailer does, indeed, feel deceiving. I was so looking forward to "sitting down" with my companions, If not in our houses then at least in the world.

    Has anyone done their full questlines? The only way I can imagine the trailer having any semblance of reality is if they participate in those actions on their quests somehow. I don't think a lot of people bothered doing their quests on the PTS since the companions were just handed to us without having to bother.

  • Stevie6
    Stevie6
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    Companions looks like a waste of time and effort. This doesn’t help raising the floor at all. The devs should have invested their time into increasing base damage and adding more damage to all skills. Forget the ceiling let go as high as possible. Just get the base to hit 20k to 30k dps with a couple of skills without weaving (pve). In PVP, the devs can nerfbat everything to their hearts content.
  • barney2525
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    Sounds like they wouldn't pull the trigger, so to speak, on actual combat companions - such as those found in SWTOR.

    :#

  • amertuim
    amertuim
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    Companion is a soulgem trashcan if you build them as tank. KEKW
    An annoyed healer threw away his Resto staff and picked up daggers.

    No one can stop his rage.
  • DarcyMardin
    DarcyMardin
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    Unless ZOS surprises us with a last-minute buff, yes, they are weak. I spent a lot of time testing them on the PTS and I was disappointed.
  • Ley
    Ley
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    I just hope that they will give enough of an edge so that I can experience Craglorn smoothly.
    Leylith - MagSorc | Leyloth - StamPlar | Leynerd - MagPlar | Leylit - StamBlade | Ley Eviticus - StamDK | Leydor - MagDen | Leylum - StamSorc | Leylux - MagBlade
  • ADarklore
    ADarklore
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    I am not sure why people seem to continuously compare ESO Companions to a single player game companion (Skyrim). That is part of the problem, Rich made comments in interviews about how, with companions, that him and his wife would now be able to complete four player dungeons. Afterward, a lot of players freaked out in that, with his statement, basically said that companions could be used as player replacements. So when Companions debuted on PTS, they were already nerfed to a point of making them a 'pet' as far as actual combat usefulness.

    So unless ZOS gets over their fear of player backlash due to buffing companions to actually make the useful, I doubt we will see much improvement for Companions in the future. I think at this point, based on what I've seen from PTS comments, that ZOS is just wishing Companions would now go away as they seem to be regretting the drama that it has caused. Yet, considering how they were hyped a few months ago, it's actually ZOS' reputation which IMO is on the line; they made statements regarding their purpose and usefulness, and now it's up to them to deliver!!
    Edited by ADarklore on June 1, 2021 4:15AM
    CP: 2105 ** ESO+ ** ~~ ***** Strictly a solo PvE quester *****
    ~~Started Playing: May 2015 | Stopped Playing: July 2025 | Returned: March 2026~~
  • Hapexamendios
    Hapexamendios
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    Do they get angry if you teabag then?
  • blkjag
    blkjag
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    Just more junk
  • ClevaTreva
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    mickeyx wrote: »
    The ability to solo world bosses, public dungeons...
    Why can't you do that without one?
  • Cireous
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    Ley wrote: »
    I just hope that they will give enough of an edge so that I can experience Craglorn smoothly.
    There was one final quest I was stuck on in Craglorn that no matter how hard I tried, I could not solo. Maybe now I can :joy:
    Thanks for the reminder!

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