Can we please get the missing helmets issue fixed on companions?

NeKryXe · April 2023

Before companions I never cared much about full costumes. I've always preferred to define my characters' look using outfit style pieces. But after the companions were introduced I started to use it on them and that motivated me to collect costumes. The only problem is that some costumes only look great with the helmet on, like the Nord Hero Armor now in the Crown Store. I'd love to buy it for my companion tank, but I'm pretty sure the helmet will *not work, as usual.

I understand that helmets not working on companions isn't a big problem for most players. It's just an aesthetic issue. But I believe that there are other players still enjoying the possible role play in game and for those to be able to put helmets on their companions will be amazing. And also a motivation to buy more costumes.

I also know that many players strongly requested the ability to remove the helmets when the game was released, which is probably why Zos didn't even bother with the helmets when they brought us the companions. In my case I like helmets and most of my characters always had one. But I'm still in favor of the option to remove the helmets from the characters, in the same way that we should have the option to activate the helmets of the companions.

Please fix this issue! Let us activate the helmets on companions. It would be nice to have this possibility on next chapter update, when we get the two new companions.

*EDIT REASON: I'm now aware that the lack of helmets in companions is not a bug but a bad design choice, so I'm editing my text accordingly (changing "be bugged" for "not work"), because it doesn't change my question at all. But thanks to all for the information.

TaSheen · April 2023

It's not a bug. They did it this way on purpose - the reasoning is that the companions are who they are, and having the recognizible faces displayed is part of who they are.

I wouldn't be waiting with bated breath on them to "fix" it since this was a deliberate developer design decision.

NeKryXe · April 2023

TaSheen wrote: »

It's not a bug. They did it this way on purpose - the reasoning is that the companions are who they are, and having the recognizible faces displayed is part of who they are.

I wouldn't be waiting with bated breath on them to "fix" it since this was a deliberate developer design decision.

I could understand it while we're doing their story, knowing the character. But after that, if that statement is really true, it's just a ridiculous excuse to avoid the work fixing it.

Yeah! I remember reading something about it when companions appeared, but after leveling up, completing all quests, all achievements, maximum rapport and so on, it just feels dumb as hell to accept that excuse.

Anyway... I can't really know if it's a bug, laziness, or just contempt. But we are getting two new companions, so, it's still a thing. Why wouldn't they want now to fix it and make it more fun and more motivating to buy customs?

Also, even with a helmet on I'm pretty sure we'll all be able to identify the companions. That excuse just doesn't make any sense.

TaSheen · April 2023

I don't use them, so it doesn't affect me; I just remember reading the rationale at some point. I have a feeling they're not really interested in going there, but who knows - they might eventually.

NeKryXe · April 2023

JamesForums wrote: »

I would like helmets on them also, but understand why they chose not to. When you walk into a mob of players, and they all have their companions out, being able to distinguish seems more important for general game play.

I don't played much PVP so never thought about that possible problem. In that case I also understand. But they could just allow the helmets on PVE and the problem is solved.

Dr_Con · April 2023

about 80% of the forum community wants to be able to hide helmets, the remaining 20% either don't care or are opposed and want helmets always hidden.

if a consistent 4:1 majority wants something and they keep saying no, it must be an idea or belief they are married to.

NeKryXe · April 2023

Dr_Con wrote: »

about 80% of the forum community wants to be able to hide helmets, the remaining 20% either don't care or are opposed and want helmets always hidden.

if a consistent 4:1 majority wants something and they keep saying no, it must be an idea or belief they are married to.

I don't quite understand what you are trying to say, but one thing doesn't invalidate the other.

Like I said before, I like the helmets in game and I use it in most of my characters since the game was released. When players started to ask for an option to remove the helmets I was 100% in favor of that and I don't need it. It's basic: being able to have the choice is better than no choice.

So, now, remember that the minority who wants to be able to place an helmet on companions aren't asking to force all players to put a helmet on companions. We're asking for something optional. Those 80% wanting companions without helmets will continue being able to not use it.

We recently got the option to hide shoulders and it was great too. That's something like it we need for companions.

And if they want us to see the face of companions for a while, they could give us the option to place the helmet after fully maximize the companion. It would be a great reward.

spartaxoxo · April 2023

The more they allow players to customize the companion, the more it starts to feel like an extension of the player character and not their own unique character. I don't agree with the design decision not to allow them to wear helmets, but I do understand the logic about why they want to restrict them. They want the increased acceptance that companions are their own separate characters by placing some restrictions on what we can do to them.

Personally, I think it's enough that we aren't allowed to change their face or body. And that they have their own likes and dislikes. But, I do understand where the developers are coming from with that design decision. It's not a bug. It's a design decision that makes sense from a game design standpoint, even if I don't agree with it or like it.

LunaFlora · April 2023

NeKryXe wrote: »

JamesForums wrote: »

I would like helmets on them also, but understand why they chose not to. When you walk into a mob of players, and they all have their companions out, being able to distinguish seems more important for general game play.

I don't played much PVP so never thought about that possible problem. In that case I also understand. But they could just allow the helmets on PVE and the problem is solved.

you can't summon companions in pvp

NeKryXe · April 2023

LunaFlora wrote: »

NeKryXe wrote: »

JamesForums wrote: »

I would like helmets on them also, but understand why they chose not to. When you walk into a mob of players, and they all have their companions out, being able to distinguish seems more important for general game play.

I don't played much PVP so never thought about that possible problem. In that case I also understand. But they could just allow the helmets on PVE and the problem is solved.

you can't summon companions in pvp

I never tried it, so I wasn't sure. I only use companions on solo PVE. That's why it's hard for me to understand all those weird excuses.

@JamesForums If it's not possible to summon companions anywhere in PVP, then why's so important to distinguish the companions of players on their own business soloing on PVE? I really don't get the point. In PVP it would be understandable, but in PVE!? It's an absurd.

Kendaric · April 2023

Our companions should definitely be able to wear hats/helmets at the very least. I'd prefer it if we could change their hairstyle and facial hair (in the the case of Bastian) as well.

The other restrictions can be kept in place for all I care (no polymorph, body/facial markings, etc).

Dark_Lord_Kuro · April 2023

You cannot fix what isnt broken

NeKryXe · April 2023

Dark_Lord_Kuro wrote: »

You cannot fix what isnt broken

But it is. Like I showed in the screenshot, you can buy costumes with helmets for companions, but the helmets aren't working on companions. So, it's clearly very broken, and can be fixed.

TaSheen · April 2023

A developer design choice from the beginning cannot be said to be broken.

Trejgon · April 2023

Other have said it, but I will also repeat it till OP realizes - this is no bug, companions permanently hide helmets per design. Outfits on companions works as intended. The reasoning behind that intend may have been iffy, but it is what it is.

Therefore instead of wasting energy on demanding a "fix to this issue" maybe OP should join numerous players requesting to change of intended behaviour instead.

NeKryXe · April 2023

TaSheen wrote: »

A developer design choice from the beginning cannot be said to be broken.

Well... Call it poor design, a bad choice, a careless decision... who cares!

It still can be fixed.

I've been fixing my own non broken design choices for decades. So, I'm pretty sure it's possible. All designers do that.

SpacemanSpiff1 · April 2023

doesn't seem broken. seems intentional.

ghastley · April 2023

There are a few related design decisions that go with this. If the player and companion use the same costume, then dying one dyes the other to match. That would make player and companion look identical, without the helmet difference.

Outfits can differ, even when the same pieces are used, this is only a costume limitation.

NeKryXe · April 2023

ghastley wrote: »

There are a few related design decisions that go with this. If the player and companion use the same costume, then dying one dyes the other to match. That would make player and companion look identical, without the helmet difference.

So... What's your point? You know that you can also remove the helmet on your character and create one similar to the companion? Right? I've seen already lots of players looking exactly like their companions: same race, same costumes... Absolutely identical.

From time to time I come across those types of pairs, it never disturbed my game. What's the problem with it in PVE?

Kiralyn2000 · April 2023

Regardless, it's not a "bug" to be fixed, it's a design decision that some people don't like.

They want the companions to be visibly identifiable characters, not faceless mooks in helmets. And that's that. /shrug

isadoraisacat · April 2023

I think either we should be able to make them wear a helmet so hide their face or have a way to hide other players companions. It breaks immersion seeing another ember next to my ember. It’s weird.
I think this would also help the game run better without less things to load.

I doubt this would ever happen but would be a welcome addition in my opinion.

ivelbob · April 2023

I think ZOS makes the companions intentionally obvious in the crowd so people who haven't bought those chapters feel like they're missing out. Maintaining immersion isn't the goal.

isadoraisacat · April 2023

ivelbob wrote: »

I think ZOS makes the companions intentionally obvious in the crowd so people who haven't bought those chapters feel like they're missing out. Maintaining immersion isn't the goal.

They could be possible, but after all it’s an elder scrolls game. Many of us have been here since arena and Daggerfall and immersion has been the draw of the series.

But you could be right and that is a shame if you are.

NotaDaedraWorshipper · April 2023

Letting companions wear helmets/hats has been requested numerous times. There are even threads made about it. It's not a bug, though, but yes many want the option for companions to be able to wear helmets/hats. Myself included.

It makes absolutely no sense they went with this design choice. The characters doesn't stop being who they are just because they are wearing a hood or helmet. It's still them there under, talking etc. For example, Isobel is a knight, what knight doesn't wear a full suit of armour and protect the most vulnerable part of their body? If they wear hoods or hats we can still see their face!

It would help against the clone effect, having more options are nice, and no one is talking about forcing them to wear helmet, just to have the option for them to do.

Dr_Con · April 2023

isadoraisacat wrote: »

I think either we should be able to make them wear a helmet so hide their face or have a way to hide other players companions. It breaks immersion seeing another ember next to my ember. It’s weird.
I think this would also help the game run better without less things to load.

I doubt this would ever happen but would be a welcome addition in my opinion.

Two Embers out that you can interact with is seen as a bug (like when this happens due to story quests or companion quests).

Two Ember companions side-by-side is a celebrated feature.

The inconsistency is mind-boggling.

isadoraisacat · April 2023

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Letting companions wear helmets/hats has been requested numerous times. There are even threads made about it. It's not a bug, though, but yes many want the option for companions to be able to wear helmets/hats. Myself included.

It makes absolutely no sense they went with this design choice. The characters doesn't stop being who they are just because they are wearing a hood or helmet. It's still them there under, talking etc. For example, Isobel is a knight, want knight doesn't wear a full suit of armour and protect the most vulnerable part of their body? If they wear hoods or hats we can still see their face!

It would help against the clone effect, having more options are nice, and no one is talking about forcing them to wear helmet, just to have the option for them to do.

I agree it would simply add to the immersion. I find it so bizarre seeing clones of the same character running around. I can get off some map inconsistencies in eso vs the other games and some other things but this just is so odd and makes it feel video gamey and breaks the entire immersion for me.

Necrotech_Master · April 2023

it does annoy me a lot that your companions cannot have helmets, then i wouldnt have to say look at bastions ugly face all the time

honestly it would make the companions look LESS like clones if you could put helmets on them

the lack of customization for their look is very annoying for sure, i would certainly like to slot head ornaments, hats, body markings or other things on them just to make them look more distinct from other players when right now companions look 90% the same to me

NeKryXe · April 2023

isadoraisacat wrote: »

I think either we should be able to make them wear a helmet so hide their face or have a way to hide other players companions. It breaks immersion seeing another ember next to my ember. It’s weird.
I think this would also help the game run better without less things to load.

I doubt this would ever happen but would be a welcome addition in my opinion.

I completely agree. I always hated those packs of clones. The option fully personalize their look, using helmets or even the option to hide other players companions, would be a great fix to our immersion in the game.

Dark_Lord_Kuro · April 2023

NeKryXe wrote: »

Dark_Lord_Kuro wrote: »

You cannot fix what isnt broken

But it is. Like I showed in the screenshot, you can buy costumes with helmets for companions, but the helmets aren't working on companions. So, it's clearly very broken, and can be fixed.

Nope not broken. Those are meant for you not the Companion

Grizzbeorn · April 2023

NeKryXe wrote: »

it's clearly very broken

It's NOT broken; it was an intentional design choice.
Continuing to say it's broken does not change the fact that costumes are working as ZOS intends them to work for companions.

alternatelder · April 2023

It's clearly needed. Look at the damage some have taken...Mirri rambling and obsessing over holes, and Bastion is afraid of cheese. This is head trauma from not wearing a helmet.