Playing with other players is an option, my brother plays and we're normally on at the same time, but it shouldn't be the only option. I just want to play the game without some pathetic tag along, not to mention that it's difficult to really gear the companion as you're leveling, let alone all of the companions you end up with. I saw on another thread talking about gearing companions, and the only suggestion i saw was just get to 50 and do dailies for credits to buy the companions gear....is that really the option? It shouldn't be this difficult to gear something that we are required to have in order to progress through the story/game. As i play this game more, i am seeing some glaring issues with it. Don't get me started on the Legacy system coming up....Pure Blood Sith in the Jedi Order? REALLY? Chiss Jedi?? It's one thing to keep a lightsaber from delivering one-shot kills so the game makes sense, but to throw the lore out completely for a bit more customization? Beginning to fear that my friends i left playing Warcraft were right, it may not be worth playing this lame Star Wars knock-off after all.

If it's going to be more difficult to play without the companion present, then no i am not free to keep it dismissed. This is less about lore, and more about the companions acting stupid. They tend to pull stuff i am trying to avoid, they pull off my Inquisitor when i am supposed to be spec'd as a tank (yes, i turn off their taunt/threat generating abilities, but that too handicaps me and them) and yet they still pull mobs from me. They are normally more of a nuisance than they are a help. Bioware, you need to make these companions optional. If someone wants to play without them, they should be able to. They were great for Knights of the Old Republic, it made sense to have someone with you seeing as you didn't have any recollection of your Force connection and by the time you start getting your Force abilities you have built a relationship with them, so it wouldn't make much sense to ditch them at that point. This game, however, you start out as an Apprentice and learn to be self-sufficient for the first 10 levels, and then all of a sudden you're just not strong enough to handle those big baddies on your own?

Then i say the game is balanced wrong. I shouldn't have to skirt the rules, or kite mobs, or out level the content just to play without the companion. I'm not quite sure where Bioware got the concept that having a companion was the way the star wars universe worked, but basing all classes off Han Solo and Chewbacca's relationship seems a bit short sided. Jedi and Sith characters shouldn't have to rely on a companion to survive. Their only assistance should be from the Force, not some filthy tag along. But, by the responses i am getting, it would seem i am alone in this opinion...ah well

You do NEED them. To progress through the story/game at the proper level area you have to have a companion. Kind funny you would cite Revan as an example, seeing as he was born in a video game as well, that was developed around you having a group. I can even buy into the Jedi characters having someone along, you playing the padawan the "companion" being your master and teaching you along the way. However, the Sith do not keep "companions", servants are one thing, but they wouldn't be tagging along on missions with the Sith. Sith are meant to be solitary, they vie only for their masters approval, and to rely on a "servant" to assist you on your mission would be considered a weakness, and most likely get you and the servant killed. At most, they should be optional, and not required to get through missions, or progress through the story/game as a whole.

Is it feasible to play without the companion? I mean, we're supposed to be powerful Sith (or Jedi) and yet, we have to rely on a helper?? I get it for the Bounty Hunter and Smuggler classes, but the Sith/Jedi classes really shouldn't NEED them to play.

Is it feasible to play without the companion? I mean, we're supposed to be powerful Sith (or Jedi) and yet, we have to rely on a helper?? I get it for the Bounty Hunter and Smuggler classes, but the Sith/Jedi classes really shouldn't NEED them to play.

This made the most sense to me. Thanks for the clarification.

How important is this for Bounty Hunters? What does it affect for this class?