Make companions smarter

Theignson · July 26

I noticed that, more and more, NPCs in dungeons (eg DLC dungeons) are smarter than they used to be. They don't just stand in an area effect. They run away and maneuver. They can interrupt casts, etc.

However, my companion just stands in an area effect until they die.

If NPCs can be made smarter, so can Companions.

Please improve their AI.

notyuu · July 27

And while their at it they could implement the one thing I wanted from companions since the beginning, the ability to tell them to "stand on this pressure plate" or "pull that lever" to allow for getting around anti-solo "mechanics" in dungeons

lardvader · August 1

notyuu wrote: »

And while their at it they could implement the one thing I wanted from companions since the beginning, the ability to tell them to "stand on this pressure plate" or "pull that lever" to allow for getting around anti-solo "mechanics" in dungeons

This!

This should seriously be implemented! I like running solo when farming sets so I can take my time looking for chest spawn and books etc.

vsrs_au · August 1

They'd end up smarter than the Vestige, who, judging by the quest dialogues, is a complete moron.

Blood_again · August 1

Theignson wrote: »

However, my companion just stands in an area effect until they die.

It is a nice copy of a random player's behavior in a random group. Ask any healer.
Yes, it is annoying a bit, but companions shouldn't be more effective than an average player. They already interrupt bosses better than the beginners in my group. Good enough.

I would join to request the lever/button activity from them. Bastian, who can use a lever, would be just awesome.

edited: typos

LaintalAy · August 1

notyuu wrote: »

And while their at it they could implement the one thing I wanted from companions since the beginning, the ability to tell them to "stand on this pressure plate" or "pull that lever" to allow for getting around anti-solo "mechanics" in dungeons

I'm pretty sure the dialogue for Direfrost Keep actually has the line "and me without a companion" right at the pressure plate part.

LaintalAy · August 1

lardvader wrote: »

notyuu wrote: »

And while their at it they could implement the one thing I wanted from companions since the beginning, the ability to tell them to "stand on this pressure plate" or "pull that lever" to allow for getting around anti-solo "mechanics" in dungeons

This!

This should seriously be implemented! I like running solo when farming sets so I can take my time looking for chest spawn and books etc.

Yep. Lets not look for chests or books on the way through. That might add four minutes to completing the dungeon.

Syldras · August 1

vsrs_au wrote: »

They'd end up smarter than the Vestige, who, judging by the quest dialogues, is a complete moron.

Mine always pretrends to be dumb because he doesn't like talking to people and hopes they will leave him alone then. Unfortunately, it sometimes ends with them considering him their best friend because they think they're on the same level of stupidity... That's always a little awkward

Kisakee · August 1

At some point someone stated that they won't make companions smarter as they don't want to outsmart real people so that they get chosen over them. No, i don't have the source anymore.

I_killed_Vivec · August 1

Syldras wrote: »

vsrs_au wrote: »

They'd end up smarter than the Vestige, who, judging by the quest dialogues, is a complete moron.

Mine always pretrends to be dumb because he doesn't like talking to people and hopes they will leave him alone then. Unfortunately, it sometimes ends with them considering him their best friend because they think they're on the same level of stupidity... That's always a little awkward

You're not really talking about the vestige are you...

I_killed_Vivec · August 1

Given that this is an MMO, and that most people with companions keep them active when doing overland content, it would be nice if they were more aware of other players.

So don't pull bosses out of other players' AOEs; don't pull the boss and then run away so now we all have to chase after the boss; and most importantly, don't pull the boss out of my standard, use the tether, it's what it's there for!

Syldras · August 1

I_killed_Vivec wrote: »

You're not really talking about the vestige are you...

I'm more direct in real life.

But seriously: It does bother me somehow that everyone and their dog calls you "friend

" in this game as soon as you've done some stupid random quest for them. I often wish I could tell them I just did it for the gold, out of boredom, or because I wanted to explore ruin x anyway and it just seemed profitable to keep an eye open for lost person y or stolen item z on the way.

The only npcs that my main could consider (potential) friends are those he spends more time interacting/travelling with (okay, and another one person, but that's more a headcanon thing) - which would mostly apply to companions (and maybe the npcs leading through a main quest, although those all have been... not the type he would befriend with).

Kisakee wrote: »

At some point someone stated that they won't make companions smarter as they don't want to outsmart real people so that they get chosen over them. No, i don't have the source anymore.

I don't think companions will ever be on par with a real player, even if they were given a slightly better AI and the ability to follow simple orders ("stand here", "pull lever").

katanagirl1 · August 1

vsrs_au wrote: »

They'd end up smarter than the Vestige, who, judging by the quest dialogues, is a complete moron.

I like the explanation given by someone else here on the forums that their vestige just acts dumb to try to get the npc to underestimate them and possibly learn more. Wasn’t that the tactic that the investigator used in that old TV show Colombo?

Kisakee · August 1

Syldras wrote: »

Kisakee wrote: »

At some point someone stated that they won't make companions smarter as they don't want to outsmart real people so that they get chosen over them. No, i don't have the source anymore.

I don't think companions will ever be on par with a real player, even if they were given a slightly better AI and the ability to follow simple orders ("stand here", "pull lever").

There's a good portion of players who can't even keep position while fighting and that will always run away when something is going to attack them. Let alone "stand here" and "pull lever".

Necrotech_Master · August 1

ive never seen enemy NPCs intentionally try to avoid ground AOE, the only AI i usually see is archers who like to stay away from you, and you see the same behavior in the companions if you give them a bow or staff

the companions do slightly strafe around and dont just stand in one spot, but they arent intentionally trying to avoid ground aoes either, they occasionally interrupt enemies as well, but im pretty sure their bash is on a cooldown like all of their other core mechanics (dodge, block), so they wont repeatedly do this even if the same enemy they are on is constantly trying to channel

honestly as far as i can tell the enemy NPCs and companions use virtually the same AI