I seem to have touched a nerve. Safety in your travels good sirs, no hard feelings, was but a jape. I'm sure intelligent, care-free people who don't have financial motivations to defend this game will see any problems with japing and general tomfoolery. All the best.

The companions was one thing I liked about the game, although it did depend which class you played as to what kind of companions you ended up with. The Trooper has some good companions, especially the sexy Elara Dorne (although she does seem to forget to heal at crucial moments) and Jedi Knights get Kira Carson, who probably has one of the best personal story arcs of the game, even better than most PC narratives in fact. On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

Originally posted by Matt_UK

<>On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

I'm sorry but how was that an issue when that skill of his could be toggled off so it would not be fired automatically?

Originally posted by Matt_UK

The companions was one thing I liked about the game, although it did depend which class you played as to what kind of companions you ended up with. The Trooper has some good companions, especially the sexy Elara Dorne (although she does seem to forget to heal at crucial moments) and Jedi Knights get Kira Carson, who probably has one of the best personal story arcs of the game, even better than most PC narratives in fact. On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

you can toggle their skills on/off.

Originally posted by NBlitz

Originally posted by Matt_UK

<>On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

I'm sorry but how was that an issue when that skill of his could be toggled off so it would not be fired automatically?

Since I didn't play smugglers I wouldn't know about that, maybe the smuggler players were just stupid and didn't realise it, although I do remember them complaining that they thought they'd turned it off but he just kept doing it. Bug?

In fact i'm all most certainly that they were getting annoyed because they thought they had turned it off but he just kept doing it.

Originally posted by djmtott

Originally posted by snoocky

Why did Bioware add companions to the game?

Really spoiled it for me...they are always moving on places I don't want...

Hell, you can't even change their names!

 

 

That's the reason I unsubbed after the free month...

Don't use them. Problem solved.

Yeah. This was my thought too.

Companions aren't cumpulsory either. You can dismiss them and tackle the content yourself, or play with a friend.

I'm astounded, daily, at the number of people who claim to dislike being on rails, and yet seem utterly incapable of jumping off the tracks themselves. In SWTOR, you don't need companions, and you can level without doing quests -- just like you're favorite nostalgic MMO of yore.  Those of you who don't like rails...secretly do like rails, but hate yourself for it. Otherwise, you'd get off the rails yourself.

Originally posted by Matt_UK

The companions was one thing I liked about the game, although it did depend which class you played as to what kind of companions you ended up with. The Trooper has some good companions, especially the sexy Elara Dorne (although she does seem to forget to heal at crucial moments) and Jedi Knights get Kira Carson, who probably has one of the best personal story arcs of the game, even better than most PC narratives in fact. On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

I'm currently playing a Gunnery Commando (well, who isn't these days?)  and my issue is why would I take any companion along besides Elara.  I mean, I like her, but it seems I get 3 more companions past her (already got 1) and I can't figure out in what circumstance I wouldn't always want my healer out. (for solo play anyways)

Originally posted by Demmi77
Companions are a nice addition. The problem is they weren't well thought out. If u roll an assassin or marauder, your basically forced to use one companion for the leveling process.

I love jaessa as a companion but even geared out while leveling I have to much downtime after everyfight. So I'm stuck with the healer.

On my sorc I can use whatever I want.

Companions just need some reworkking on some of the classes.

hmm, on my Marauder, I use Vette exclusively.  Don't feel forced at all.

Also, since each class has two specialties, not every companion will be useful to the other spec. For example, I have a Jedi Knight Guardian who uses Kira for the DPS, while I know Jedi Knight Sentinels prefer Doc for healing (or perhaps t7/lord scourge for tanking). 

If we each only received one companion, then you might have a point. But since we're given a pretty broad selection, I think it boils down to choice rather than any problem in design.

Originally posted by NBlitz

Originally posted by Matt_UK

<>On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

I'm sorry but how was that an issue when that skill of his could be toggled off so it would not be fired automatically?

I think it stems from a bug that was around for the first couple of weeks after launch where companion abilites would turn themselves back on after certain load screens or a relog.

Originally posted by Tardcore

Originally posted by NBlitz

Originally posted by Matt_UK

<>On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

I'm sorry but how was that an issue when that skill of his could be toggled off so it would not be fired automatically?

I think it stems from a bug that was around for the first couple of weeks after launch where companion abilites would turn themselves back on after certain load screens or a relog.

Ah yes I remember now. I can see how one could easily forget to toggle off that damned annoying harpoon skill.

Originally posted by noncley

I must admit that I would personally have preferred this game not to make companions absolutely compulsory. They told us this is 'your' saga but it's not. It's my saga and that of some badly written, incessantly whinging, clumy companion withouyt whom I cannot play the game - and who, in most cases, is exactly the same companion as everyone else in their class is using. I mean, everyone made such a fuss about how 'cute' Blizz the Java companion of the BH was - in my two months in this game I never saw a BH using Blizz once. They all had either their tank or their healer companion out.

I remember the 2009 video where you go out and fight a bunch of mobs by yourself.   They used the Bounty Hunter to illustrate.

The BioWare narrator was all about the 'epic feel' of combat..    Once you leave your noob world, you have two-choices -- get yourself massively over-leveled to the world so you can solo or use your companion who will be your DPS or your tank...

Originally posted by Tardcore

Originally posted by NBlitz

Originally posted by Matt_UK

<>On the other hand Corso Riggs was an annoying knob who screwed up melee combats with his harpoon especially when my sentinel was grouped with smugglers, to the point where i'd willingly have taken the darkside points to lightsaber his ass.

I'm sorry but how was that an issue when that skill of his could be toggled off so it would not be fired automatically?

I think it stems from a bug that was around for the first couple of weeks after launch where companion abilites would turn themselves back on after certain load screens or a relog.

Including EGA I played five weeks.   It was there until I quit.  

Originally posted by MosesZD

Originally posted by noncley

I must admit that I would personally have preferred this game not to make companions absolutely compulsory. They told us this is 'your' saga but it's not. It's my saga and that of some badly written, incessantly whinging, clumy companion withouyt whom I cannot play the game - and who, in most cases, is exactly the same companion as everyone else in their class is using. I mean, everyone made such a fuss about how 'cute' Blizz the Java companion of the BH was - in my two months in this game I never saw a BH using Blizz once. They all had either their tank or their healer companion out.

 

I remember the 2009 video where you go out and fight a bunch of mobs by yourself.   They used the Bounty Hunter to illustrate.

 

The BioWare narrator was all about the 'epic feel' of combat..    Once you leave your noob world, you have two-choices -- get yourself massively over-leveled to the world so you can solo or use your companion who will be your DPS or your tank...

 

 

 

 

or you can dismiss your companion and play with a friend or friends. Plenty of people do that.

I actually liked the idea of having companions. There are just a few things I would've changed about the way they work.

1) Get rid of Affection: The game is supposed to be about the choices you want make, not the choices you think your companion character wants you to make so that they'll like you.

2) Make them fully customizable/trainable: If you could make your companion your own; i.e. choose their skill set, what type of equipment they can use, their name, their appearance; it wouldn't make everyone's companion exactly the same person.

3) Allow companions in parties: Without adding to the max party member number that is. They're your sidekicks after all. A hero/villain doesn't just abandon their sidekicks/minions just because other heroes/villains are around.

Not really sure why the OP is complaining about companions moving to places he doesn't want them to.

The companions generate zero initial threat so they can't pull extra mobs. /confused.

I really like the companion system. The characters are really well done, the VA is top-notch and their stories are awesome.

Originally posted by FrostWyrm

<>

2) Make them fully customizable/trainable: If you could make your companion your own; i.e. choose their skill set, what type of equipment they can use, their name, their appearance; it wouldn't make everyone's companion exactly the same person.<>

Aren't the companion's names hardcoded into the voice overs and cutscenes? Can't remember well, it's been some time.

Originally posted by FrostWyrm

I actually liked the idea of having companions. There are just a few things I would've changed about the way they work.

1) Get rid of Affection: The game is supposed to be about the choices you want make, not the choices you think your companion character wants you to make so that they'll like you.

 

Wha? The game IS about choices I make. If my companion disagrees, then sod it, I take the negative affection hit.  Sounds more like you've got a need to please people rather than an issue with the game.

Alternatively, you can always dismiss your companion before convos if you're feeling pressured.

Originally posted by NBlitz

Originally posted by FrostWyrm

<>

2) Make them fully customizable/trainable: If you could make your companion your own; i.e. choose their skill set, what type of equipment they can use, their name, their appearance; it wouldn't make everyone's companion exactly the same person.<>

Aren't the companion's names hardcoded into the voice overs and cutscenes? Can't remember well, it's been some time.

yes they are. I see no need to fully customize them. Just my own opinion. I think the companion system is brilliant and rather unique in the mmorpg world in it's implimentation.

Originally posted by noncley

 I mean, everyone made such a fuss about how 'cute' Blizz the Java companion of the BH was - in my two months in this game I never saw a BH using Blizz once. They all had either their tank or their healer companion out.

Blizz is a Tank companion...

If you take the time to ensure he has good gear he is easily one of the best companions in the BH's stable. He is commonly used by many Bounty Hunter's, your assumption is severely lacking in merit.