I'd really like an actual NPC companion for solo content

[Anienai]

Thana Vesh* > all companions.

*Swtor dropped the ball on her.

[Schwarzwind]

I like Kaliyo better but oh well, swtor is a good example why it might be difficult to implement a similar system into FFXIV's MSQ. NPC companions in MSQ simply take up too much space in the story and swtor did a pretty bad job with the returning love interests. Mine has not talked to me in MSQ for ages which is pretty sad.

Maybe they could add love interests or NPC companions in general to the adventurers guild. They could even give them a personal sidequest for each NPC.

[Anienai]

I like Kaliyo better.

Kaliyo was 1a on my list and the IA story was great.

[Klaleara]

I like Kaliyo better but oh well, swtor is a good example why it might be difficult to implement a similar system into FFXIV's MSQ. NPC companions in MSQ simply take up too much space in the story and swtor did a pretty bad job with the returning love interests. Mine has not talked to me in MSQ for ages which is pretty sad.

Maybe they could add love interests or NPC companions in general to the adventurers guild. They could even give them a personal sidequest for each NPC.

I mean, in my opinion, I don't think they'd have to take a big part of the story. If anything, they could just add some random dialogue insight, and that's about it, if that at all.

I'm in Heavensward, and I can't really think of many times where it would feel off if they were there at all.

SWTOR tried to make them a much bigger deal than they needed to, and failed at it. If FF14 implemented it, I would rather 100% customize them like we do our retainers. Hell, just let me recruit my retainers to tag along with me, and I'd be happy.

[Deceptus]

Something I'd really love to see with FF, due to it being so solo quest heavy, is having an actual companion that you can customize pretty heavily. The Chocobo, while cute, doesn't really cut it either visually or mechanically.

Give me a companion that becomes part of the story, and doesn't kick them out of story sequences. And let me choose the job. That way anyone can solo with whatever job they desire. Hell, I'd be fine even if I have to give them gear.

Obviously though, should 100% be optional.

The chocobo doesn't cut it mechanically because it hasn't been updated in years. They still have accuracy traits despite accuracy as a stat being removed in 2017

[Schwarzwind]

I mean, in my opinion, I don't think they'd have to take a big part of the story. If anything, they could just add some random dialogue insight, and that's about it, if that at all.

I'm in Heavensward, and I can't really think of many times where it would feel off if they were there at all.

SWTOR tried to make them a much bigger deal than they needed to, and failed at it. If FF14 implemented it, I would rather 100% customize them like we do our retainers. Hell, just let me recruit my retainers to tag along with me, and I'd be happy.

Oh, I would not object should they implement an NPC that has absolutely no relevance to the story and is not mentioned or shown as even being there. If you just want someone to tag along without any reference of their existence this would be fine with me. They would function exactly as your chocobo companion with different appearance. But I fear having an companion in MSQ instances might break the mechanics of those fights because your companion could heal you, tank for you or deal additional damage that would skip bits of the fight just like we skip parts of extreme trials due to our level and damage output. For overworld stuff I would totally be fine with such a companion.

Edit: regarding MSQ instances: In SB and ShB there are instances where a companion would actually change the flow of the fights. I do not want to spoiler you, since you are just in HW but there a companion just would not work because you either do not actually play as yourself or the fight is designed as such that you are not supposed to win the battle. Also SE would have to edit every existing instance due to New Game+ and would have to keep in mind that some players would like to go in solo or with a companion. I believe this might be hell to balance.

[Iscah]

The chocobo doesn't cut it mechanically because it hasn't been updated in years. They still have accuracy traits despite accuracy as a stat being removed in 2017

Does accuracy still affect the chocobo's attacks, perhaps?

I know there are other NPCs in quest battles that still use old versions of skills removed from players, so accuracy stat could conceivably still apply to those skills, depending on where and how the calculation is applied.

[Iscah]

Oh there are definetely plenty of NPCs who are clearly head over heels in love with the WoL (both male and female), but of course the game never allows the player to actually show any kind of direct reciprocaition other than a warm smile if that.

It's getting to the point now that when yet another NPC declares how fondly they feel towards Enki after she's shown her typical WoL heroism I pretty much say to my monitor "You and a thousand others! Take a number and get in line pal!" *holds up wedding ring on finger* "I'm already taken sorry!"

Seriously, Enki is married and happily so, to a woman who is very very protective of Enki, and is also something of the jealous type, so it's perhaps best for all concerned that those NPCs get their hearts broken by Enki, rather than their faces broken by her wife Jing.

Haha, it's a bit like that.

I don't exactly mind the "will never go in-depth" approach to any of the potential relationships though - I'm used to filling in extra details of how my characters would be handling things anyway, and I'd rather not have a romance actually forced on my character. Just give something that I can interpret into something bigger if I want, or dismiss if I don't.

(Doubly so when I'm going to be going through the story again with alts, which just makes everything a bit weirder in terms of NPC relationships with "your character".)

[Jennah]

*sad warking noises*

[Adrameliya]

And then they could let me romance them. Because every Final Fantasy needs a romance subplot. It is one of my favorite parts of Final Fantasy. It would probably make Alisaie jealous, though.

Now I would love that !