Suggestions For Path Companions' Return

[Aerin92]

***TLDR: Enhance path companions by adding features such as quest-lines, customization, romance, and any other great ideas the community will come up with.***

Hello everyone! I hope you’re as excited as I am to finally be playing ARR!

This is from the Letter from the producer LIVE III:

We will temporarily be removing the path companion. In the future, we plan for players to be able to change their gear and actually fight by your side.

We know Path companions will be coming back eventually, but little info has been given as to how and when they're going to return. I created this thread for the community to discuss and give suggestions to the developers about what we would like to see with their return.

I believe that the path companion system has tremendous potential for extra side content and all around fun, and that it should be completely reborn in a similar fashion with everything else in the game in order to fulfill this potential.

I would like to quote the original post of the old 1.0 thread, [suggestion]Add more personalization, romance and other details about Path Companions , created by Abriael as I feel his suggestions are extremely well thought out and are great ideas.
I highly recommend you read his post before continuing!

Path companions are, in my opinion, one of the very best features of FFXIV. They add more character and give more of a personal feeling to story-based quests, and they raised my enjoyment of those by quite a few notches.

The system, though, can be improved in my opinion.

- Implement a character creation system for path companions.
At the moment the choices we are given (only one character model per class/race) are very restrictive. I had to spend several hours to find one that fit my tastes, and even like that she doen't really fit them perfectly. If using the full fledged character creation available to playable character (with all the options) is too much for memory/server reasons, then use a simplified one. As simplified as it could be it would always be better than the current system, which is also very convoluted and long.
You can still offer some presets for the ones that don't want to create their own.

- Allow us to give equipment/weapons to path companions, having them wear it instead of their default.
Seriously, even if it's just cosmetic and stats aren't taken in account, it would still be an improvement over the current system, and would allow people to give path companions a personalized look that fits their tastes.
For instance, I would love to have a conjurer path companion, but the big witch cap they wear completely hides their features during cutscenes, and turned me off from the class. On the other hand I would have leant towards a lancer companion, but the Brass Elmo they use isn't... very appealing.
If I could chose the equipment looks of my companion things would be much more interesting, and the system is already in place for retainers, so I believe it's possible.

-Involve path companions in a wider variety of quests.
Path companions are, as I said before, a great addition to quests, should be, for our character, true companions. Involving them in cutscene-driven quests outside the main scenario quest would increase that bond and make it become a true "partner" character with more stage staying power.
edit: in addition to this, the path companion should be present in the storyline quests of ny further expansions that will be released (if SE plans to release them):

-Turn the companion system into one similar to the follower system in FFXI
(maybe down the line, due to possible complexity of implementation?) Allow us to summon our path companion during normal gameplay in a way similar to the follower in FFXI. It was great to be able to have an NPC on our side when we were alone in FFXI, and it would be even better in FFXIV considering that the involvment in storyline quests creates a deeper bond. For balancing reasons I would make it impossible to summon the companion when in groups (or when in groups over 2-3 people), also to avoid crowding.
Utimately I would implement a level-up system to path companions like the one present in FFXIV, allowing the companion to progress in levels and power with time.
The possibilities are really endless. Just think about a dueling system between companions in the coliseum, with the ability to bet gil on the outcome?
It would be awesome.

- More personalities
Or better, allow the player to chose personalities independentlt of race. I might want a mi'quote companion that doesn't sound like a streetwalker :P Or maybe a colder hyur.
Dialogue would need to be tweaked a little (removing mentions of the companion's race), but even just disjoining the current personalities with the available races would help a lot.

-Add marauder companions
I do know that they'd be kind of redundant with lancers, but what can I say, I like axes.

-Last but not Least. Romance
Bioware games (not to mention a lot of Japanese games) demonstrated that romance in RPGs is enjoyed by a lot of people, me included. After all romance has always been a BIG staple of Final Fantasy games, and this IS a Final Fantasy game.
MMORPG storylines normally don't involve romance, and it's a perfect chance to add an unique experience to FFXIV.
It could be in the shape of romance quests or similar, maybe optional (I'm sure there are some that might not be interested in it), that have the chance to switch the companion to a slightly tweaked set of dialogue during quest, hinting to the romantic involvement between the character and the companion. Maybe raise an affinity stat that has some minor effect in game as well.
After all, Japanese developers are the masters of romance in games, so I don't think I really need to elaborate much on this. They can probably come up with something interesting without my help

Basically the whole purpose of the aforementioned systems is to make companion into a full fledged system unique to Final Fantasy XIV, that would add a lot more depth both to gameplay and to the story/stories, while making companions a stable presence on the side of the player character, with which he develops an emotional bond, instead of just a minor "sidekick" that appears just during the main scenario, to disappear forever when the main scenario ends (which is very sad, it makes me want not to do that last quest).

Note: I would extend the customization system I mentioned above to retainers as well. Their choice features the same problems and convoluted system as companions.

We already know retainers can be customized just like the player character, so it would only be natural to allow the same customization for path companions.

I think a quest-line where your character is personally involved with an npc can offer a unique experience, and create a stronger connection between the player and the FFXIV world than most other types of quest-lines.

Considering that there will already be chocobo companions that you can summon to fight by your side, we already have a system in place that is similar to XI's Adventuring Fellow system. Obviously there would need to be some restrictions such as only being able to have either the chocobo or the path companion out, but not at the same time. And possibly restrict using the path companion for soloing and/or small party groups(say 2 players and 2 companions for a total of 4 members). I'm not saying we should do these things, I'm just offering up ideas here.

I already loved the unique interactions the player had with their path companion with the distinctive personalities. I agree with Abriael here that we should remove the limits of which personality is associated with which race.

As for romance, I'd like to quote Abriael again on the subject as he made some pretty great points about it.

-Last but not Least. Romance
Bioware games (not to mention a lot of Japanese games) demonstrated that romance in RPGs is enjoyed by a lot of people, me included. After all romance has always been a BIG staple of Final Fantasy games, and this IS a Final Fantasy game.
MMORPG storylines normally don't involve romance, and it's a perfect chance to add an unique experience to FFXIV.
It could be in the shape of romance quests or similar, maybe optional (I'm sure there are some that might not be interested in it), that have the chance to switch the companion to a slightly tweaked set of dialogue during quest, hinting to the romantic involvement between the character and the companion. Maybe raise an affinity stat that has some minor effect in game as well.
After all, Japanese developers are the masters of romance in games, so I don't think I really need to elaborate much on this. They can probably come up with something interesting without my help

I might also add an idea of my own to this that I would like to know your opinion about. I've talked about it before in a previous thread long ago.
What do you think about players being able to marry path companions in addition to being able marry other players? Obviously one or the other lol. I would like to quote myself on the subject discussed long ago.

I think it would be a nice feature to add the option to marry an npc fellow, if/when they ever add them, for the players who feel less inclined to marry a real person.

And it's not any more creepy than having a spouse in a game like Skyrim or Fable. It's not like I'm suggesting we all actually marry a fictional character like that crazy guy and his DS girlfriend lol. Despite what you may think, it's still a roleplaying game and there may come a time when I want my character to have a wife. I don't see why it can't be an npc. However if they're going to add marriage they should add the option to divorce. It'd be pretty hilarious if a player divorced their npc spouse to marry another player. Imagine the interaction with the npc after that lol.

Now obviously I'm not implying that this should be a priority over dungeons and other MMO goodies. But if they're going to add npc fellows eventually anyway, why not add the option? It would be another way to make the player feel more connected to the world. Something that can often be severely lacking in MMO's.

Also I really love the idea from Nix to make it a pact between two people. I wouldn't mind that at all.

So a TL,DR version everything I just said: Enhance path companions by adding features such as quest-lines, customization, romance, and any other great ideas the community will come up with.

In any case thank you all for reading this and I'm excited to see what ideas the community will come up with to enhance the future experience with Path companions.

[Aerin92]

I feel like this thread got lost in the midst all the server complaint threads, and judging from the discussion from the previous iteration of this topic, I assume people do actually care about this. I'm adding some more food for thought to bring it back to the surface.
If you like the ideas in this thread please discuss them so that ideas have a chance to reach the dev's ear!

And as for romance, I want to see more emotes that can show this. I mean, if I want to hug someone? I can't. There doesn't even need to be a visual for it, as that would be so difficult to do. But just a bit of cute text, or maybe let me wink at someone. Anything like that. I'm rather surprised it's not already included. I mean, it's pretty harmless I would think.

Quoted from the same thread as before. This idea intrigues me. Would it be possible to create emotes that require two players or even one player and their companion? That would be pretty unique for an MMO.

Let's assume this new type of emote can occur. In terms of romantic ones, I think there should be limitations. Perhaps only married couples can perform it, to add to the uniqueness of marriage in the game.
Also maybe limit the use of the emotes to the housing districts or the player homes and even specially designated areas in the wild and cities that have a great view or some romantic feel about them.

An absolute perfect place for these emotes or romantic quests would be in some sort of couples area within the Golden Saucer that requires the player and their partner, npc or not. Maybe even have the ride similar to the one in FFVII between cloud and one of his party members.

Another way to restrict these emotes would be to allow them to only be used during the Valentines Day seasonal event or make them learned during that event only.

The possibilities are endless!

[omnomcatboys]

Why aren't more people talking about this? ...is it too late? Whatever, I'm bumping this shiz.

I would love to have the option for romantic content between characters and NPCs. Maybe I'm just spoiled now, but after playing Bioware games/select other games with romantic options, it feels strange to have an option for marriage that excludes NPCs.

Adventuring with characters makes me develop affection for them. I want them to be fully fleshed out. It doesn't have to end up romantic, but connections with the people in this world (NPC or not) are what make MMOs great. All of these suggestions would make it way more immersive and awesome and it would accompany the story-driven nature of the game really well.

[Aerin92]

Well with 2.1 coming sometime soon, I hope it's made people think about what they want in future updates for the game. Perfect time to revive this thread!

C'mon people. I think we're on to something here, give me your thoughts and opinions!

PS: thanks for the bump omnomcatboys

[Enkidoh]

I definitely agree with this - I miss my Path Companion from 1.0

Lore wise though I wonder how it could be connected this time, seeing as the actual Path of the Twelve no longer exists like it did in 1.0 (it's been replaced by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, and are

effectively all but wiped out by Imperial troops led by Tribunius Livia halfway through the story, so by the end of the game there would be comparatively few surviving Echo users left from the organization).

Still, I can't wait for them to return - having a chocobo companion is great and all, but I'd really like a fellow adventurer companion to share the storyline with.

[EzriNuru]

I'll bump this for you good sir.

[Reiterpallasch]

I hated that I couldn't change my companion from 1.0, so hopefully she didn't survive meteor and I'll get to choose a new one.

[Risae]

May Square have a kind soul and bring back my partner in heat. I miss her so much ;_;
Imagine fighting together with your chocobo and Partner in crime. So beautiful.

[Amberion]

However if they're going to add marriage they should add the option to divorce. It'd be pretty hilarious if a player divorced their npc spouse to marry another player. Imagine the interaction with the npc after that lol.

And they take half your gear and gil.. Then kick you out of the house you recently bought.

[Fensfield]

Bleh, if only -.-

Not least because - while I suspect the dev's feel there's a measure of antipathy from those who so enthusiastically decried the companion getting the spotlight (which I personally happened to love, but whatever -.-) - they've got a subplot that just got left unresolved.

Anyway that whingeing aside that subplot is itself a perfect excuse to bring them back. The Path Companion, whatever your choices, was invariably an Ala Mhigan refugee and their subplot revolved around trying to help the Ala Mhigan resistance. The original storyline stopped with joining them in an attempt to steal a Garlean aerial assault craft. So, perchance the inevitable implementation of Ala Mhigo and the storylines around it being under Garlean occupation, would be a good moment to return our companions?

God knows I miss them so much.

.. Also the suggestions in Aerin's original post are neat and all, so that gets a like!