Pipe Dreams: Expanding the companion system

[Duelle]

A while back, I made a thread asking for a more diverse companion system be implemented in ARR beyond just chocobo. As it got burried in the sea of grass threads back then, I figure it might be worth a second shot.

Companion Types

While we are currently limited to chocobo companions, I like to think that the system in place may be a stepping stone towards a more varied system once the game gets to grow and develop (and the devs get time to work on expanding companions). The question is more how far should development go into this and what choices should be available to us.

Though we have the shadow of Path Companions from 1.0 lingering about, I have also met various characters that at some point made me think "I should really ask them to tag along and help out". Some are characters that you directly help out, while others may strike a chord somewhere in you saying "it would be really cool to have them around".

Approach 1: Path Companions 2.0

Should the devs choose to go with path companions, they will need to be a better reason to connect them with the player character. That aspect of the companions in 1.0 felt like a pseudo arranged marriage and thus a little less organic than how adventuring fellows were introduced in FFXI.

On the positives, having a path companion gives the writers a lot of room for development and establishing a bond of friendship/trust/convenience/love/whatever between your character and their companion. On the downsides, this may also mean that they could potentially take over the story the way they did in 1.0.

Approach 2: Memorable NPCs

Alternative to path companions would be memorable or even notable NPCs throughout the story that fight alongside you, or perhaps NPCs that you know are combat-capable. An example would be having Fufulupa become a tank-oriented NPC companion some time after clearing the questline that involves him. Another would be Edda returning as a healer companion once you clear a portion of the main storyline past the point you meet her. Yet another one would be U'kahzuna making herself available to adventure with you after you clear her questline as a ranged physical DPS companion.

On the upsides you'd have variety. I'm also sure that most of us connected with certain NPCs while didn't feel much for others. The downsides would be that there'd be very little you could do with NPCs story-wise since their stories have already been told. Additionally, if you see three people running around with their own Fufulupa companion, things might feel a bit awkward.

Approach 3: Retainer Companions (AKA, Mercenaries)

From what I recall, this was alluded to with retainers having levels in 1.0, and considering that retainers have a personality and unique appearances in ARR, I feel this is one of the more likely approaches. The same benefits of approach #1 also apply, since you could give them a sort of storyline more along the lines of the adventuring fellow from FFXI without tying it to the main story.

The pros are self-evident. The downsides being that a Merc would therefore be less "important" in the game world than your path companion, who was entirely tied to your cause and main story in 1.0

Just wanted to give people something to chew on. I'm not sure which of the 3 I favor, if only because I really want Edda to someday return and follow me around as I tormentsave Eorzea.

As always, questions, comments, death threats and so on are welcome.

[ncash02]

I would like to see one of two things happen with the companion system

1) Either add a companion in that has gathering/crafting ranking systems or

2) Add those paths to the Chocobo. I can imagine the chocobo being helpful at finding fish, worms and roots or hard to reach fruit, making cracks in the rock or smelling the locations of gems?

Currently the way the system is set up, the Choco only levels when you are a DoW or DoM class. I like to have him with me while I fish ... he should either get exp, or find a way to be useful so he can make exp. I don't care one way or the other XD

[MistressAthena]

I would like to see one of two things happen with the companion system

1) Either add a companion in that has gathering/crafting ranking systems or

2) Add those paths to the Chocobo. I can imagine the chocobo being helpful at finding fish, worms and roots or hard to reach fruit, making cracks in the rock or smelling the locations of gems?

Currently the way the system is set up, the Choco only levels when you are a DoW or DoM class. I like to have him with me while I fish ... he should either get exp, or find a way to be useful so he can make exp. I don't care one way or the other XD

Absolutely no. Gathering is way to easy as it is by far, no reason to make it even easier and crash the market more than it is already.

[ncash02]

Absolutely no. Gathering is way to easy as it is by far, no reason to make it even easier and crash the market more than it is already.

My Point here, was to add items that you were not able to currently farm. A chance (10%?) that they find something rare/unique? Expand upon that concept. I did not mean to imply he would be helping you find what you can already get.