Companions are underwhelming.

[reality_check]

My chocobo dies every time I do an alexandrite map. It stands in all the AoE, then tries to heal itself, and then dies.

It's not a big deal, but it's a LOT of work grinding chocobos to rank 10. Mine feels pretty useless at level 50 at rank 10.

The companion system feels in general a bit of a wash. Mildly useful for leveling jobs and FATES but other than completely useless.

Anyone else feel this way?

[Shake0615]

Yeah, that's why my chocobo is sitting at Rank 4 lol. It would be nice if we could micro-manage our companions like ACN/SCH/SMN pets - although that would kind of complicate things for those three classes.

[ClaireAbigail]

I soloed 80% of my alexandrite maps using only my Chocobo. I have her set up on healing stance only. I can honestly say without my Chocobo I would never have gotten my novus. And mine was only rank 4 healer...

[Jeykama]

Made mine a 3/7/6 hybrid'bo and it's survived every alexandrite map. Does a damned fine job of keeping a dps with pathetic defense/self-heals (aka a bard) up soloing boss fates and whatnot too. Reagan peppers are easy to get, try it out.

[Nocte]

I have Titan-Egi tank everything away from the chocobo, although it takes a short while to get it into a position where cone AOE's overlapping one another on bad angles won't somehow hit it (just keep moving Titan-Egi around until everything's in a good position).

[Black91CRX]

Healer stance could use some tweaking for sure. Rather than shadow your movements (poorly), they should make it where it doesn't stand so close to you.

[PArcher]

Last time my rank 7 Healer Choco died during an Alex map was because I forgot to Overpower some adds (Peapuks) and they swarmed him. Didn't notice it til he was dead.

Think I got about 60 of my 75 Alex through soloing as a WAR with my Choco. He died maybe 3 or 4 times, usually due to healer aggro and me not grabbing adds before they swarm him. Think once may have been AoEs, but I think that was because I pointed all 4 Gargoyle AoEs at him...twice. Sorry Snowball...

Oh, and my Choco is on Free Stance...and almost Rank 8

[Ashkendor]

I soloed five maps just this evening with my choco. He's rank 10, 4 def/4 heal/7 att.

Saving the rest of the SP for when I can actually rank him again. >.>

I think the AI could use some work. I've had instances where he's been so busy healing himself (even though he was no longer under attack) that he's let me die. I couldn't help but laugh, honestly. I really do wish the healer stance would let you place the chocobo somewhere a short distance from you, or at least back off a bit and not just stand with you in front of every cleave attack and cone aoe that the mob throws your way.

[Tupsi]

The main issue with chocobo buddy is they changed their minds on the gambit system they said that would have happened. That would have given us insane control over its A.I.

[Alukah]

Place / Heel, the only things I ask