It's funny because in many ways SWTOR seems more like GW1 than GW2 does. After all, SWTOR will focus on story cutscenes (GW1), companions (GW1), flashpoints (like missins in GW1)...
? Eh, sorry, but you might want to look closer at the available GW2 info, GW2 will have story cutscenes and dungeons (flashpoints) as well.
...
True, true, but no companions .
Theres one very big distiction between the two when it comes to SW:TOR and GW1, while yes GW1 had companions that you could hire, it was just for that mission but the big distiction is the number of companions you can take
In GW1 you can take as many companions as there are slots. Whereas in SW:TOR the max you can ever have companion wise with you is 1.
Yep, that's what gives me hope that SWTOR won't be as "companion dependent" as GW1 was.
and as far as i know right now companions are allowed in flashpoints but like GW1 companions they take up a slot, while in raids and instance PvP they are barred from entering. Open world still sounds like they are in though. The big question is the open world stuff. How much companions actually affect your ability to hunt, solo is a given if you drop a member regardless your going to be less powerful for it. You either lose survivablity (healing) DPS, or aggro ability (tank) if you drop the companion that was supporting this. But with regards to flashpoints raids and battlegrounds they sound like either a support for loss characters (flashpoints) or removed all together.
well at E3 we learned they take up a party slot in the open world as well. i believe it was during the daniel erickson live stream but i could be wrong about that. and yes, they are still in open world pvp
It's funny because in many ways SWTOR seems more like GW1 than GW2 does. After all, SWTOR will focus on story cutscenes (GW1), companions (GW1), flashpoints (like missins in GW1)...
? Eh, sorry, but you might want to look closer at the available GW2 info, GW2 will have story cutscenes and dungeons (flashpoints) as well.
True, true, but no companions .
But it kinda defeats the point if only 1 out of 3 points that as you say resemble SWTOR to GW is true
It's certainly definitely not 'in many ways' then, more like '1 aspect'.
Anyway, the OP topic was Companions, I have to see how they work out, I'm neutral towards them atm, I don't see why there should be fuss about, first playing, then concluding is my motto in this. I do think they're handy for grouping situations where you're in a clinch, adds more flexibility to group forming.
Yah you're right. I think I was just thinking GW1 and SWTOR were alike because I've been playing GW1 and messing around with the heroes and it made me think of SWTOR .
Personally, I like the companion system. It should allow for more diversity in toon types. Now "support" toons can actually be played and leveled WITHOUT being at a huge disadvantage while solo and let's face it, we don't ALWAYS want to team up. In the end though, it will all depend on how well the AI for the companions work and what tweaking abilities we have with it.
Not sure about that.
Last statement was companion combat power is roundly 65% of what the player is doing. So without it you are at disadvantage.
I think you misunderstand me. I don't intend to play without my companion and when I play a support toon I will be able to use a DPS or Tank companion so I am NOT at such a disadvantage when leveling solo. This aspect alone makes it easier to play a variety of different toons so we should see more than just majority Tanks and DPSers like we normally do.
"If half of what you tell me is a lie, how can I believe any of it?"
You won't be complaining about this feature when you see how useful they are...Also, the game is completely doable without the companions. You don't NEED them in order to complete content, but they're there if you want them. Will you be at a disadvantage? Well yes, yes you will...but you'd also be at a disadvantage if you didn't choose to group...are we then going to say that you shouldn't be at a disadvantage no matter what you choose to do with your character? That's preposterous.
Play the game, enjoy the game, play it the way you want to play it, but don't cry when the way you want to play it isn't as competetive as a common sense solution. Star Wars is rarely about solo affairs, and likewise SWTOR has a few solo affairs that don't involve your companion...so...what's the problem again?
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
You won't be complaining about this feature when you see how useful they are...Also, the game is completely doable without the companions. You don't NEED them in order to complete content, but they're there if you want them. Will you be at a disadvantage? Well yes, yes you will...
You can't play TOR in solo mode without companions without seriously dumbing down your combat capacity a lot.
The real question is will the companions make a certain class OP? i.e A warlock in WoW is about as useless with out its pets but they can be very OP with the pet. So I hope that this kind of unbalance for any class is not seen in ToR.
I was a frost mage till the pet was introduced. Not hyped about companions at all.
LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity. I am, usually on the sandbox .. more "hardcore" side of things, but I also do just want to have fun. So lighten up already
Actually companions is one of the things I like about SWTOR. Though I'd of course rather they be completely customizeable. If that list on the first page is correct I'm a little disappointed by some of the cliches there, which makes me think customization would have been much, more preferable.
Some of you are stil thinking in traditional MMORPG terms. This game is going to be more like KOTOR than WOW. If you think the companions are going to be a hindrance, then you need to go back and play some real roleplaying games.
I was a frost mage till the pet was introduced. Not hyped about companions at all.
Yeah I agree. Companions just seem a little...off for an MMORPG. Shouldn't your companions be other people?
I feel like companions push the game further towards the singleplayer RPG end of the spectrum. Now I know SWTOR has plenty of MMORPG features, but there are really degrees of how "MMO" a game is...it's not black and white. For example, UO or EQ are very high on the "MMO" scale, they basically involve a lot of player interaction in one way or another. While WoW is a bit lower on the MMO scale because you could solo through the entire game (not saying that's necessarily bad!)
Being able to have NPCs sub in for people, moves the game further towards the single player end of the specturm, and maybe a little too far in my opinion. GW1 was like this (though moreso than TOR will be) and I never did anything but solo in that game.
I generally like an MMORPG to just "involve" me with other players by the natural flow of the game. I don't want to have to go out of my way to realize I'm playing an MMORPG.
Some of you are stil thinking in traditional MMORPG terms. This game is going to be more like KOTOR than WOW. If you think the companions are going to be a hindrance, then you need to go back and play some real roleplaying games.
Then why do I need to pay a subscription ?
But seriously...we're paying a subscription because it's an MMORPG. It's perfectly valid to treat it as one.
The addition of companions is most likely just a function of bioware being bioware and being as all inclusive as they can be to cater to as many different gamer types as possible, i wouldnt be at all surprized if these companions also have extra quest lines to supplement your characters story or to improve your friendship with them..
If you dont like em dont use em, bioware is not twisting your arm here as it will be ideally your choice and whining about being at a disadvantage if you dont use them is childish being that you can group with other players or even solo without the companions if you choose and are the true grit macho solo type..
More choice in the field of play is a good thing imho...
The addition of companions is most likely just a function of bioware being bioware and being as all inclusive as they can be to cater to as many different gamer types as possible..
If you dont like em dont use em, bioware is not twisting your arm here as it will be ideally your choice and whining about being at a disadvantage if you dont use them is childish being that you can group with other players or even solo without the companions if you choose and are the true grit macho solo type..
More choice in the field of play is a good thing imho...
Actually, its not really a choice. I mean it is, but its not...
Since you are not as effective without a companions, you will just about always run with one. No one ran raids with gears 20 levels below them just to be macho.
If companions are in the game, and thereis no bonus to NOT having a companion, then companions are pretty much mandatory. This is how GW2 did companions in early development, you could have companions, but if you took him off your list, you gained a few buffs.
I don't buy the whole singleplayer thing. I am buying subscription. Unless you want companies to start charging us monthly fees for singleplayer games, let's not call SWTOR singleplyer-ish just yet.
In just about every game, single player or not, DA2, GW1... if there was a companion, you pretty much used them throughout the whole game. GW1 was "ruined" when heroes were introduced. You couldn't have your whole party be heroes, similar to SWTOR, but it still made it so that you pretty much never needed to look for players. That is how most people see it at least.
EDIT: GW1 has it so you can play one of your other characters as a companion. This is at least how BioWare should do it.
Generally speaking, I loathe companions. Especially if I'm playing, say, a stealth class. What possible use could they be there? I mean, besides blowing my cover.
Anyways, walking around with the same companion as everybody else is enough to drive me away from this game.
Generally speaking, I loathe companions. Especially if I'm playing, say, a stealth class. What possible use could they be there? I mean, besides blowing my cover.
Anyways, walking around with the same companion as everybody else is enough to drive me away from this game.
When you go into stealth companions can stealth with you.
Edit: And yes they have given you some limited customization of companions. It won't eliminate duplication entirely but it will help.
Generally speaking, I loathe companions. Especially if I'm playing, say, a stealth class. What possible use could they be there? I mean, besides blowing my cover.
Anyways, walking around with the same companion as everybody else is enough to drive me away from this game.
You make an interesting point there. It would suck if your companion could reveal your presence. Maybe your stealth cloaking device covers your companion as well, somehow?
And if I'm not mistaken there are a couple of companions to choose from which you then can customize. So I don't think everybody'll be running around with exactly the same companions...
<childish, provocative and highly speculative banner about your favorite game goes here>
So how bad will it be not to use companion in questing and grouping? (not too interested in PVP)
I want to be the lone jedi like Obi Wan in the old days.
Hard to say right now. From what's been said it's challenging but not impossible. Once people get used to the game I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people didn't use their companions for the sake of the greater challenge. As for grouping, if you're talking about elite quests I'm thinking you're not likely to need them as much in a group, but that's just my guess. There's just not enough information to know for sure.
I think for the most part I'll keep using my companions, at least when I solo, for the sake of whatever interplay you may have with them.
This is absolutely my favorite thing about The Old Republic and one of the main reasons I'll be trying my hand at another MMORPG after years of ignoring them. As much as I'd like to run all my quests with real players and guildmates, I honestly haven't been able to find anyone to hang with in-game since my time playing UO in the mid to late 90s. The companions in the Mass Effect series and Dragon Age series are the reason that I enjoy those games as much as I do, and having a set in an MMORPG is a big bonus in my book. Now that they've recently stated we can pretty much customize our companions however we wish, I'm completely sold. I'm finally going to have a cool black friend!
So how bad will it be not to use companion in questing and grouping? (not too interested in PVP)
I want to be the lone jedi like Obi Wan in the old days.
Hard to say right now. From what's been said it's challenging but not impossible. Once people get used to the game I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people didn't use their companions for the sake of the greater challenge. As for grouping, if you're talking about elite quests I'm thinking you're not likely to need them as much in a group, but that's just my guess. There's just not enough information to know for sure.
I think for the most part I'll keep using my companions, at least when I solo, for the sake of whatever interplay you may have with them.
Thank you. Sounds like it might be doable. I don't mind using him in some difficult parts either.
Generally speaking, I loathe companions. Especially if I'm playing, say, a stealth class. What possible use could they be there? I mean, besides blowing my cover.
Anyways, walking around with the same companion as everybody else is enough to drive me away from this game.
When you go into stealth companions can stealth with you.
Edit: And yes they have given you some limited customization of companions. It won't eliminate duplication entirely but it will help.
Stealth with you? Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that. Stabbing someone in the back is kind of a one man job.
I'm not a fan of it. I see it as a negative myself because I've always hated playing classes with pets. We'll see how it plays out though.
Wasn't thrilled about it though when I first read about it.
1. For god's sake mmo gamers, enough with the analogies. They're unnecessary and your comparisons are terrible, dissimilar, and illogical.
2. To posters feeling the need to state how f2p really isn't f2p: Players understand the concept. You aren't privy to some secret the rest are missing. You're embarrassing yourself.
3. Yes, Cpt. Obvious, we're not industry experts. Now run along and let the big people use the forums for their purpose.
Comments
well at E3 we learned they take up a party slot in the open world as well. i believe it was during the daniel erickson live stream but i could be wrong about that. and yes, they are still in open world pvp
Yah you're right. I think I was just thinking GW1 and SWTOR were alike because I've been playing GW1 and messing around with the heroes and it made me think of SWTOR
.
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
I think you misunderstand me. I don't intend to play without my companion and when I play a support toon I will be able to use a DPS or Tank companion so I am NOT at such a disadvantage when leveling solo. This aspect alone makes it easier to play a variety of different toons so we should see more than just majority Tanks and DPSers like we normally do.
"If half of what you tell me is a lie, how can I believe any of it?"
You won't be complaining about this feature when you see how useful they are...Also, the game is completely doable without the companions. You don't NEED them in order to complete content, but they're there if you want them. Will you be at a disadvantage? Well yes, yes you will...but you'd also be at a disadvantage if you didn't choose to group...are we then going to say that you shouldn't be at a disadvantage no matter what you choose to do with your character? That's preposterous.
Play the game, enjoy the game, play it the way you want to play it, but don't cry when the way you want to play it isn't as competetive as a common sense solution. Star Wars is rarely about solo affairs, and likewise SWTOR has a few solo affairs that don't involve your companion...so...what's the problem again?
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
Has there been info on how they level? do they level??
You can't play TOR in solo mode without companions without seriously dumbing down your combat capacity a lot.
The real question is will the companions make a certain class OP? i.e A warlock in WoW is about as useless with out its pets but they can be very OP with the pet. So I hope that this kind of unbalance for any class is not seen in ToR.
I was a frost mage till the pet was introduced. Not hyped about companions at all.
LFD tools are great for cramming people into content, but quality > quantity.
I am, usually on the sandbox .. more "hardcore" side of things, but I also do just want to have fun. So lighten up already
Actually companions is one of the things I like about SWTOR. Though I'd of course rather they be completely customizeable. If that list on the first page is correct I'm a little disappointed by some of the cliches there, which makes me think customization would have been much, more preferable.
Some of you are stil thinking in traditional MMORPG terms. This game is going to be more like KOTOR than WOW. If you think the companions are going to be a hindrance, then you need to go back and play some real roleplaying games.
Yeah I agree. Companions just seem a little...off for an MMORPG. Shouldn't your companions be other people?
I feel like companions push the game further towards the singleplayer RPG end of the spectrum. Now I know SWTOR has plenty of MMORPG features, but there are really degrees of how "MMO" a game is...it's not black and white. For example, UO or EQ are very high on the "MMO" scale, they basically involve a lot of player interaction in one way or another. While WoW is a bit lower on the MMO scale because you could solo through the entire game (not saying that's necessarily bad!)
Being able to have NPCs sub in for people, moves the game further towards the single player end of the specturm, and maybe a little too far in my opinion. GW1 was like this (though moreso than TOR will be) and I never did anything but solo in that game.
I generally like an MMORPG to just "involve" me with other players by the natural flow of the game. I don't want to have to go out of my way to realize I'm playing an MMORPG.
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
Then why do I need to pay a subscription
?
But seriously...we're paying a subscription because it's an MMORPG. It's perfectly valid to treat it as one.
Are you team Azeroth, team Tyria, or team Jacob?
The addition of companions is most likely just a function of bioware being bioware and being as all inclusive as they can be to cater to as many different gamer types as possible, i wouldnt be at all surprized if these companions also have extra quest lines to supplement your characters story or to improve your friendship with them..
If you dont like em dont use em, bioware is not twisting your arm here as it will be ideally your choice and whining about being at a disadvantage if you dont use them is childish being that you can group with other players or even solo without the companions if you choose and are the true grit macho solo type..
More choice in the field of play is a good thing imho...
Playing GW2..
Actually, its not really a choice. I mean it is, but its not...
Since you are not as effective without a companions, you will just about always run with one. No one ran raids with gears 20 levels below them just to be macho.
If companions are in the game, and thereis no bonus to NOT having a companion, then companions are pretty much mandatory. This is how GW2 did companions in early development, you could have companions, but if you took him off your list, you gained a few buffs.
I don't buy the whole singleplayer thing. I am buying subscription. Unless you want companies to start charging us monthly fees for singleplayer games, let's not call SWTOR singleplyer-ish just yet.
In just about every game, single player or not, DA2, GW1... if there was a companion, you pretty much used them throughout the whole game. GW1 was "ruined" when heroes were introduced. You couldn't have your whole party be heroes, similar to SWTOR, but it still made it so that you pretty much never needed to look for players. That is how most people see it at least.
EDIT: GW1 has it so you can play one of your other characters as a companion. This is at least how BioWare should do it.
And they are romanceable.
No, im not kidding.
Generally speaking, I loathe companions. Especially if I'm playing, say, a stealth class. What possible use could they be there? I mean, besides blowing my cover.
Anyways, walking around with the same companion as everybody else is enough to drive me away from this game.
When you go into stealth companions can stealth with you.
Edit: And yes they have given you some limited customization of companions. It won't eliminate duplication entirely but it will help.
You make an interesting point there. It would suck if your companion could reveal your presence. Maybe your stealth cloaking device covers your companion as well, somehow?
And if I'm not mistaken there are a couple of companions to choose from which you then can customize. So I don't think everybody'll be running around with exactly the same companions...
<childish, provocative and highly speculative banner about your favorite game goes here>
So how bad will it be not to use companion in questing and grouping? (not too interested in PVP)
I want to be the lone jedi like Obi Wan in the old days.
An honest review of SW:TOR 6/10 (Danny Wojcicki)
Hard to say right now. From what's been said it's challenging but not impossible. Once people get used to the game I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people didn't use their companions for the sake of the greater challenge. As for grouping, if you're talking about elite quests I'm thinking you're not likely to need them as much in a group, but that's just my guess. There's just not enough information to know for sure.
I think for the most part I'll keep using my companions, at least when I solo, for the sake of whatever interplay you may have with them.
Some info you are on the fence about companions:
1) You don't have to use them. Fill your party with actual players. Most PvP is off limits to companions.
2) Slightly more than pets. They are designed to be fully fledged characters, with personality, likes, dislikes, morals or not.
3) They usually come with the territory in many role playing games that focus on story.
4) One of the voice actors for a companion said she has been working on the vocal work for her character for 4 years.
5) If that's not enough, you might get the option to put your companions in the prison compartment of your ship.
This is absolutely my favorite thing about The Old Republic and one of the main reasons I'll be trying my hand at another MMORPG after years of ignoring them. As much as I'd like to run all my quests with real players and guildmates, I honestly haven't been able to find anyone to hang with in-game since my time playing UO in the mid to late 90s. The companions in the Mass Effect series and Dragon Age series are the reason that I enjoy those games as much as I do, and having a set in an MMORPG is a big bonus in my book. Now that they've recently stated we can pretty much customize our companions however we wish, I'm completely sold. I'm finally going to have a cool black friend!
Thank you. Sounds like it might be doable. I don't mind using him in some difficult parts either.
An honest review of SW:TOR 6/10 (Danny Wojcicki)
Stealth with you? Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that. Stabbing someone in the back is kind of a one man job.
I'm not a fan of it. I see it as a negative myself because I've always hated playing classes with pets. We'll see how it plays out though.
Wasn't thrilled about it though when I first read about it.
1. For god's sake mmo gamers, enough with the analogies. They're unnecessary and your comparisons are terrible, dissimilar, and illogical.
2. To posters feeling the need to state how f2p really isn't f2p: Players understand the concept. You aren't privy to some secret the rest are missing. You're embarrassing yourself.
3. Yes, Cpt. Obvious, we're not industry experts. Now run along and let the big people use the forums for their purpose.