Who is your favorite companion and why?

Tornaad · November 2023

Ember

Sheridan wrote: »

Zodiarkslayer wrote: »

Why is her name Ember when she uses Lightning? I don't get it.

Well, stay still in one place with her summoned long enough and she will tell you why. It's one of her idle lines.

Specifically stand next to a fire and then she tells you quite readily

Dithieon · November 2023

Ember

Currently leveling Ember, she does not care about thieving and murder,plus she is Khajiit😻

Sheridan · November 2023

Bastian

I also want to say that I like Sharp, but with his hatred of destroying stuff, he is an absolute nightmare for a non-ESO+ player.

RaddlemanNumber7 · November 2023

Isobel

She's upbeat, doesn't whine. Honest and open about herself. Most importantly, she makes me laugh, especially when I take her to visit Liris.

She's the only one of the Campanions I'd like to have as a friend in real life.

Sunegami · November 2023

Sharp-as-Night

"Who's better than us? Nobody!"
~Garrus Vakarian Sharp-as-Night

Right now he's tied with Mirri, I like how chill she is (except when I forget that she hates the BoW-- sorry Mirri!)

Treselegant · November 2023

Bastian

I immediately gelled with Bastian as a character and he's been faithfully defending my sorc since Blackwood. At least to me, I find Mirri and Bastian to have much stronger character writing than the companions that came after. It did not surprise me to learn during the companion q&a that they were conceived as characters first and their companion features added to that.

He also doesn't constantly go on and on about how great I am. Maybe it's cultural or something but I instinctively distrust people who are overly complimentary. The "wow, we're so awesome!!!!" comments from newer companions reads as insincerity to me and it bothers me more than it should. I like friendly companions who show respect to my characters but I don't need to be exhalted every time I start and finish a fight.

Of the newer companions I don't mind Sharp-as-Night and do think he's got personality so I don't mind taking him out to go fishing. However, his companion quests are a mess with some really dubious writing decisions and I doubt I will bother unlocking him for many characters because of that. I prefer to think of him as my outdoorsy friend I don't see often but we occasionally enjoy fishing together.

Fischblut · November 2023

Azandar

If only Azandar wasn't disgusted by gathering mushrooms, he would be the most perfect of all companions so far (for my taste)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M5xATAHivU

If Ember didn't care about getting caught (when pickpocketing or trespassing) and didn't react negatively to fishing, she would be my favorite instead. I love her combat laughs and cries, such a crazy kitty

AzuraFan · November 2023

Mirrii

Mirri, with Isobel a close second.

My least favourite is Azandar.

EdjeSwift · November 2023

Mirrii

Mirri wins hands down, if for nothing more than because she made fetch happen.

But in all seriousness, it's Mirri because she was the first and because when it was between her and stick in the mud Bastian, it was a clear and obvious choice.

Isobel and Ember are okay, but really don't bring much to the table in terms of quirks, loved Ember's storyline, but the holes and issues with timing remain. Isobel's path is very tropey and not the most memorable.

Az and Sharp are great, but they suffered from longer recruitment and overly long soliloquies(looking at you Az) to the point by the 10th time I recruited Az, I was sick of him, now that I'm removed from that, love the guy again. Sharp is just Garrus Vakarian, only cockier and arrogant, and I'm fine with that.

My personal tier list for companions based on story/personality:

Mirri
Sharp
Az
Ember
Augur of the Obscure
Isobel
Pale Order Ring
Harpooner's Kilt
Ezabi
Fezez
Pihrarri
[insert every other NPC]
Bastian
Stuga[from the days of following all my characters around]

Necrotech_Master · November 2023

Zodiarkslayer wrote: »

The dry wit of Sharp is my favourite. He has by far the best comments.

I think you can notice that the writing of the companions is improving with each chapter. Not just the quests, but mainly the personality.

Mirri has conflicting personality traits. She doesn't seeem consistent to me. And her family is just terrible

Bastian is just standard mommy issues. You get that type at every soap opera.

I like Isobel, because she is a consistent white knight. And she actually grows in character during her quests, when she needs to deal with what happens when you put trust in the wrong person.

Ember is a quirky and likable character, but her backstory is terrible. She waited how many years to search for her so called "best friends"? And her magic affinity is ideosyncratic. Why is her name Ember when she uses Lightning? I don't get it. Shouldn't it be like Sparky or some such?

Now Azandar is a clever take on the classic "sorcerer's apprentice" theme, a la J.W.Goethe. Not only is he both the stundent and the master in one person, he is also the ghost that he called himself and cannot banish. What I especially like is how he has to humble himself, in order to overcome himself. It is also a strong image of the daily fight against ones own worst version of oneself.

His unique personality aside (I love his dry wit), Sharp is the first character ever, where I buy the amnesia plot.
Every half decent publisher knows that amnesia plots never work. But here the conclusion is not that the amnesia somehow goes away and suddenly everything is back to before and all is shiny and peachy. No. Here the hero is deliberatly giving up his memories, his past. Not undoing the amnesia. He simply says: We'll make "new memories". And he builds up his relationships to the people around him from scratch.
And the quests around Sharp are the only ones in ESO that take a view at a very heavy, but important topic. Here it is freedom of will and thought.
I took nine years for ZOS to let us experience and almost feel what submission means. And it is not from the Lord of Domination ...

I think the writers at ZOS have understood that they need to up their game with companions or our little tag alongs will just end up as glorified bipedal pets.

for me personally the companions are just glorified bipedal pets lol, the stories they have are alright, but they dont do anything except voice lines to you, and use the exact same AI to do combat regardless of which one your using

for example mirri says she likes bows, but she doesnt deal more dmg with a bow, bastian uses a fire staff when you meet him and comments that he likes staves, but one of his better uses is as a tank, which is 1h/shield, if these types of things made more of a difference, like they got some kind of +% effectiveness with their favored weapon it might give them a bit more personality

also FYI ember herself comments several times on why her name is ember, she got her name from people commenting that her eyes looked like embers from a fire

Rufusstan · November 2023

Isobel

Izzy. She's a bit prudish and can be annoying, but set up as a tank, she complements my character pretty well. I have not levelled, either of the Necrom companions yet as I'm pretty happy with things as they are.

Edit: Cannot spell

o_Primate_o · November 2023

Ember is great at massaging one's ego. Azandar - you're gay, I get it. Shut up and go drink your tea.

blackpool9 · November 2023

Sharp-as-Night

Sharp, because I like being able to roam around Tamriel with by space-bro Garrus. Also "Ah. People. Great." is the best line of companion dialogue and sums up my own philosophy of life.

AllegedParadigm · November 2023

Sharp-as-Night

I relate to Sharp's attitude and personality, and he seemed to not dislike things I do, so I think he's a good fit.

ArchMikem · November 2023

Ember

Aurielle wrote: »

All three of my characters are Khajiit, so Ember kind of goes without saying. One big, happy Khajiit family!

I just wish her voice actor had given her a more exaggerated Khajiit accent. She doesn’t even sound like a Khajiit half the time. Yeah, yeah, I know she grew up in Skywatch, but still…

Remember the Khajiit in Wrothgar that was raised by Orsimer? Speech and Accents are acquired, not hereditary, and Ember grew up among Elves, then spent her young adult life around Bretons. Interestingly enough, thinking about it I doubt she's even stepped foot in Elsweyr until meeting us and actually taking her there.

darkriketz · November 2023

Isobel

I don't know the last companions, since I don't have Necrom yet (and I won't have it before a while because I freakin' hate Hermaeus Mora and Apocrypha), so my favorite companion by far is Isobel.
She's a knight, she's wise, noble and kind, and she's useful in a fight (especially with my toons, cause my main is a nearly-invincible werewolf, she doesn't need any help).

I also like Mirri, for her background and personality too. I don't know Ember much and Bastian bores me.

HappyTheCamper · November 2023

Azandar

“I’m a scholar, Damn it!”

BigBragg · November 2023

Isobel

"I wonder what's in that sack."

Mesite · December 2023

Sharp-as-Night

I'm a bit unsettled about some of Ember's phrases. She enjoys her job too much. Having Sharp means I can sort of use warden skills without actually having to be a warden.

Araneae6537 · December 2023

Sharp-as-Night

Sharp-as-Night is my favorite for his personality, lines, and voice acting. Plus his preferences align perfectly with my playstyle. I do also very much like Azandar, Mirri, and Bastian with particular characters.

SilverBride · December 2023

Sharp-as-Night

Sharp won me over when I died to a Dragon and he said "If you don't get up I'm taking your stuff".

JemadarofCaerSalis · December 2023

Bobargus wrote: »

Isobel is my favourite, because:

-The simplicity behind leveling her rapport as fast and costless as possible.
-Unlike Mirri and Bastian, when you kill an enemy npc with the BoW, she doesn't react negatively.
-She loves sweets, and so do i.

For me, it is the exact opposite. I got through bastion's rapport easily enough, and mirri's rapport went quickly due to the chest opening gain (I compulsively open every chest I come across.) Ember was also relatively easy.

I am now working on Isobel's and it is a slog compared to the others, except when I was in fargrave.

Most of her gains are things I don't do (talk to the rulers, do group stuff etc..) while the others all had things I didn't have to go out of my way to do. (I don't have necrom, so don't have the last two).

As for why bastion? I like his personality, except for his constant chastising me about hitting random bugs/mice/whatever. Sorry, but my spells are a bit finicky at times! He was the first companion I got, and I like how he looks (I would love to be able to customize the companions, even if only slightly)

NotaDaedraWorshipper · December 2023

Bastian

Bastian was the first companion I got and has stayed as my favourite since then with none of the others being close to knock him off that spot, with the exception of Sharp-as-Night who is now sharing that spot with him.

I like him various reasons, one being the same @Treselegant brought up. He's genuinely a kind person and nice without being too buttkissingly praising like Isobel and Ember are. I don't like nor need to be constantly cheered on and told how amazing and smart I am. It doesn't feel very sincere when you hear it for the 10th time in a few days. I want a companion not an adoring fan.

I wish he and Mirri could get an update, though, to get more up to date with the other companions. More dialogue, another quest added, add furniture version of their letters, nicer passives etc. Especially Bastian, because it often feels like ZOS treats him like the unwanted step-child. Still remember when they introduced the High Isle companions and said Isobel is like Bastian but better, which in my opinion she's not. Her charactersation is a lot worse to me and even outright stupid at points.

Sharp got to share spot with Bastian, because I like him too, and think they are a nice balance to me. Sharp's introvert and icy snark to Bastian's extrovert bright corniness, with me in the middle, and all three with some degree of cynism.

Tryxus · December 2023

Sharp-as-Night

When Sharp mentioned that he kills any spider he sees in my house, he instantly became my n1

Treselegant · December 2023

Bastian

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

I wish he and Mirri could get an update, though, to get more up to date with the other companions. More dialogue, another quest added, add furniture version of their letters, nicer passives etc. Especially Bastian, because it often feels like ZOS treats him like the unwanted step-child. Still remember when they introduced the High Isle companions and said Isobel is like Bastian but better, which in my opinion she's not. Her charactersation is a lot worse to me and even outright stupid at points.

The Blackwood to High Isle period of the game in particular always comes across to me as a rudderless, directionless time where no one was really getting a grip on things and the companion feature seemed to have been victim of that. Some of the things said about companions on streams/promotions were tone deaf and cringeworthy with apparently little thought put in about how it came across.

Hopefully there will be something done to add more content to the Blackwood companions in the coming year. The companion Q&A did seem to suggest something was in the works or at least being considered. I don't have much faith things will come to fruition but...we shall see.

HalfDragoness · December 2023

Sharp-as-Night

100% Sharp, easily. I identify with or laugh at nearly all of his voice lines:

(When you arrive in a city) "Urgh.... People. Great. -_-"
(After killing mobs) "Better luck next time. Oh. Wait."
(After killing mobs) "Skill issue"

And the pure joy he feels when you go fishing with him.

If I had to rank the others:

Mirri/Ember (Love their enthusiasm and their voice lines)
Azandar (Good pssives but he hates it when I pick mushrooms or pay ToT. He's also pompus sometimes I I just want to punch him)
Isobel
Bastian (Good god does this guy grate on me. Also he dislikes it, and then JUDGES YOU, if you make anything with cheese in it. And I'll just never forgive him for that,

NotaDaedraWorshipper · December 2023

Bastian

HalfDragoness wrote: »

[*] Bastian (Good god does this guy grate on me. Also he dislikes it, and then JUDGES YOU, if you make anything with cheese in it. And I'll just never forgive him for that,
[/list]

You get a -1 in rapport from making food with cheese. A single point. Also the way ZOS decided to design this feature is that the companion think you're making things for the both of you, not just yourself or writs but them as well. Which is a rather dumb way of doing it, but it makes the reaction make sense. He gets the tiniest bit disapproving because you're trying give him, who is lactose intolerant, cheese.

Although someone should tell ZOS that a lot of cheeses got very little lactose.

JemadarofCaerSalis · December 2023

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

HalfDragoness wrote: »

[*] Bastian (Good god does this guy grate on me. Also he dislikes it, and then JUDGES YOU, if you make anything with cheese in it. And I'll just never forgive him for that,
[/list]

You get a -1 in rapport from making food with cheese. A single point. Also the way ZOS decided to design this feature is that the companion think you're making things for the both of you, not just yourself or writs but them as well. Which is a rather dumb way of doing it, but it makes the reaction make sense. He gets the tiniest bit disapproving because you're trying give him, who is lactose intolerant, cheese.

Although someone should tell ZOS that a lot of cheeses got very little lactose.

Yeah, I think isobel has a line (think one of them does anyway) about sharing what you are currently making (maybe it is mirri and alcohol?) and I am like 'nope, I am making this alcohol to shove in a box somewhere, not for us'

polaris86 · December 2023

Ember

Ember is my favorite. Generally I run with Ember or Mirri. I open too many Thieves Troves to keep Isobel or Bastian out for long.

redsaaryn · December 2023

Ember

Ember is my favorite just because she is a cat. There's no better companion than a cat!
Sharp as night is a close second. Boring human companions or scumbag slaver elves are so abundant and common...