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

[Klaleara]

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.

[Schwarzwind]

I fear as soon as that character becomes part of the MSQ the story might become quite limited because that character will never be allowed to be hurt or killed permanently due to his supporting role for your character. Also they will have to come up with a reason why that character will never leave your side. At least for the chocobo they can argue that he is at the chocobo stable while you do MSQ content. Also MSQ fights are already soloable on any job so I do not see a reason for such a character. For overworld stuff I could see them adding something like a mercenary system in which you could buy mercenary contracts for NPCs that support you in the overworld.

[Enkidoh]

FFXIV actually had that back in it's original version (version 1.0). It was called the Path Companion and was a fellow Echo-awoken adventurer assigned by Minfilia to you as a partner that would appear during main scenario quests and help you out in battle (hence you had to choose a class for them that was suitable for battle). They even had dialogue in cutscenes, basically functioning as the player character's 'voice' in them.

Unfortunately you couldn't just call them in the overworld whenever you wished, they only appeared specifically for the main scenario quests that involved them, and SE abandoned them completely when Yoshi took over as producer and the original citystate/Path of the Twelve main scenario was replaced by the 'Seventh Umbral Era' scenario that was leading the game into it's shutdown and replacement with ARR (story wise, it's handwaved that they participated in the Battle of Carteneau and were presumed to have perished there).

So alas, as much as I would love to have my flirty, sophisticated GLA moonkeeper kittygirl Path Companion Imarah back, it's pretty clear they're now gone forever, replaced by the Chocobo companion.

[lolicon09]

Well, the original FFXIV had this (Path Companion system). Would be awesome to have that horny AF Miqo'te back

[CatStarPrime]

Vette for the Win.

[Klaleara]

The responses in regards to the original companion have made me extremely jealous.

[StriderShinryu]

It would be nice if they could allow you to summon one of your squadron members in the open world instead of your chocobo. They wouldn't really even need to have more expansive AI than the chocobo does given that the chocobo already operates in different roles. That would make a nice expansion to the sorely neglected Squadron system.

[Raltar]

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.

[Pinkk]

Leveling your chocobo down the healer or tank tree actually is pretty beneficial. I always have my chocobo out and he has proved to be a capable healer.

[Gula]

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.

Coming here to say Snow/Serah were the worst part of XIII and [laughs in XV].