Better passive, better skills, better ultimate, better backstory, and better likes and dislikes.

I don't understand why people like Mirri more. Bastion is nice to you. You could just simply not having him out when stealing or doing crafting writs.

With Mirri, she's snippy if I so much as even touch a torchbug, something I don't even intend to do and I don't even loot them. I was actually meaning to interact with something else but bugs take priority when looting, which makes me want to kill her when she scolds me and I instantly let out a sound of frustration when I see her rapport go down.

Also she makes snippy comments like "I'm still here, in case you were wondering!" Like, seriously? I haven't forgotten, you know. You speak up enough to the point where I couldn't possibly forget. Why are you assuming the worst of me? Gets on my nerves.

Also, she doesn't even fulfill her niche well. I have to put her away when stealing because I can't use Blade of Woe with her around, and I don't want to forget having her out. So, why bother. At least with Bastion I remember to put him away. With her, well why bother when she's so picky.

Once I'm done maxing them all out they're both going in the closet by the way.

But Mirri is much more tolerable.

Biggest pet peeve voice line with Mirri is, "Let's ride!" shouted right in my ear.

Biggest pet peeve voice line with Bastian is any time he says something pretentious, corny, or situationally inappropriate ("They made their choices!" <to the hoarvers>). So basically everything he says.

I like having options and I like playing my characters different ways so as of yet, none of my characters have both companions unlocked although eventually I will with some. I also like that rapport is separate and I plan for most of my characters to just be on friendly acquaintance terms or so and only max rapport on one character each.

Mirri fits the personality and playstyle of many of my characters, who liberate items from urns, crates, etc. …

Bastian is a good fit for my lawful good templar healer mage. His extra dps is helpful and he appreciates my heals.

ForMalacath wrote: »

Mirri

She's from a big family and knows how to scrap!

And I'm her best friend.

I didn't fully level Bastian yet, alright, so my opinion might be very biased. Likewise, because I'm pretty much always a DPS, I chose him to be a tank instead of a DPS as well.

So far, Mirri, my sidekick healer, is badass. Sometimes when I'm carrying a lowbie guildie I bring her along just to make things easier for them. And when my friends end up dying I go away from the bosses and let her take "soft aggro" so I can rez my colleague and she does handle some damage on her own.

Bastian, on the other hand... Looks like he's made of wet tissue paper, even though he wears Heavy Armor with protective or healthier traits (the best I could find so far).

However, out of combat, Bastian is a much nicer person than Mirri. I always had the impression Mirri is more... scandalous, while he's more courteous. If you ever watched the old Bewitched TV Show, she reminds me Samantha's cousin (?) that cast her spells shaking arms in a very nutty way while another character does the same with very subtle gestures, like an old-fashioned gentleman.

So, in terms of usability, I vote Mirri

Mirri is a dearie

Bastion is a ***

Mirri. Though this isn't saying much.

Bastian seems designed almost intentionally to annoy the ____ out of you. He's an obnoxious weenie who has me scanning my game options constantly for a stfu option. I don't see how anyone can listen to one of his whiny lectures, his icky pronouncements, or that weird huzzah thing he does without having their skin crawl.

Here to add much needed support for Bastian. Perfect for my slew of do-gooders.

My personal explanation for this poll based on what I see in game, is that people just like dressing Mirri up in skimpy outfits.

Funny how most people vote Mirri here but in game I can see far more Bastians.

Lady_Galadhiel wrote: »

Funny how most people vote Mirri here but in game I can see far more Bastians.

Everyone already levelled Mirri, and it's catchup time?

Team Bastian.

I actually picked up Mirri first and tried to be "cute" by dressing us in the same outfit and having us ride the same mount. It was not cute. She quickly annoyed me and I picked up Bastian to replace her. Haven't looked back.

Bastian is set up as a tank for me in a full set of blue vigorous (heavy armor) gear. I just said eff it and spent money in the guild store for what I wanted. Well, sort of. I wanted purple gear but am not the Jeff Bezos of Tamriel. Even after all this time people are still so greedy with high prices! But I do concede that the purple gear is rare. No lie, since the expansion came out, I have picked up **two** pieces of purple companion gear. Neither piece was one I could use nor did it have the trait I wanted.

I solo all kinds of stuff with Bastian. Stuff that I never considered trying before I got him. I avoided craglorn until I got him and have now soloed most of the "group" content there, for example. I have one skill on my front bar that heals both of us. It is part of my rotation and I do not have to spam it to keep him alive. He keeps the heat off of me so I can do something besides kite the boss around until it kills me. His dialog is annoying but I suck it up. All companions / followers are annoying. Mirri annoyed me more. If I want to murder and steal for a while I put him in time-out. I don't need a tank to pickpocket.

I was skeptical about the usefulness of companions but Bastian has proven to be an asset. And as I write this he's only at level 14. He will get better. Win-win as far as I'm concerned.

LadySinflower wrote: »

Team Bastian.

I solo all kinds of stuff with Bastian. Stuff that I never considered trying before I got him.

May I kindly ask you please specify gear traits and skills?

Elvenheart wrote: »

myskyrim26 wrote: »

As for Bastian, he caught my heart. He is naive, yet honest. He adventures not for glory, but he really wants to help others My Altmer lady finds such a behavior to be a path to excellence, but excellence with no boast or haughtiness.

I like all of this about Bastian too, but don’t forget what he says, “Let’s go find someone to help, and maybe get paid for doing it!” 😊

Oh, really? I remember him saying “Let’s go find someone to help” ... but payment? Oh no, Bastian is spoiled

myskyrim26 wrote: »

LadySinflower wrote: »

Team Bastian.

I solo all kinds of stuff with Bastian. Stuff that I never considered trying before I got him.

May I kindly ask you please specify gear traits and skills?

I did say that the companion gear I'm using is all blue in the vigorous trait (both weapons and armor). He's carrying sword and board, with all heavy armor. Someone else is using our Xbox right now so I can't log on and see what skills he's using. My memory is pretty lousy; I'm sorry. I'll come back later and let you know.

Are you also asking about my main character? She's a Magblade with an inferno staff on the front bar and lightning staff on the back bar. The skill I'm using to heal both of us in my rotation is siphoning strikes (I think). If you want the full breakdown of my main character, please say so and I'll add that info when I come back.