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Give companions 2 specs.

Zila

By Zila
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Zila

Zila

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So yeah, 2 specs for companions would be great. It would allow us a bit more freedom to use companions we like rather than being forced to use whatever one best suits our class.

For example my main is a sentinel, so I'm basically stuck with using Doc, as he's my only healing companion, and so is BY FAR the best companion for a sentinel.

Or my alt, a commando who would love to run with M1-4X, but just doesn't need a tank tbh.

A simple fix would be to be able to choose between 2 different specs for companions.

e.g. Kira Carsen - dps or healing (or possibly mdps or rdps)

Sergeant Rusk - rdps or heals

M1-4X - tank or rdps

I'm thinking it'd be a conversation option when you talk to them on board ship. Would cost progressively more each time, but getting cheaper if you don't respec them for a while (Exactly the same as respeccing player characters).

Anyway, that's my tuppence worth.

 

P.S. While we're talking about companions, a hide hat toggle for companions would be spiffing.

 

P.P.S. While we're talking about hiding hats, a hood up/down toggle would also be spiffing.

Edited by Zila
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Zila

Zila

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I dunno if they need to srengthening. Personally I think they're fine at what they do (I get practically 0 downtime with Doc healing, Lord Chubbychops is great at holding aggro etc.), and with newer gear they'll only get better.

I'd just like a choice of what they do.

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Raximillian

Raximillian

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But they already have that. Take a tank companion, disable taunt, select the other stance (not the tanking one, but the one that increases damage by 5% and lowers ALL cooldowns by 25%), and voila! instant DPS.

 

Same with healer companions. Change from the healing stance to the other, disable heals, and you have a DPS.

 

I've done that with Khem Val, and he makes a pretty good DPS companion in instances. Kills weak enemies pretty quick.

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Zila

Zila

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Absolutely not needed.

 

Well obviously it's not "needed". So?

That's not my point. My point is it would be more ENJOYABLE.

No-one "needs" any companion at all per se.

Just like no-one "needs" magenta lightsabers, but it's more enjoyable to those people to run around with hippy-coloured glowsticks.

Or companion hat hide toggles. No-one "needs" such a feature, but they sure would enjoy it.

It would be more enjoyable to me (And a whole lot of other people), if I could choose between specs for my companions.

Isn't fun and enjoyment the point of this game?

Edited by Zila
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Zila

Zila

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But they already have that. Take a tank companion, disable taunt, select the other stance (not the tanking one, but the one that increases damage by 5% and lowers ALL cooldowns by 25%), and voila! instant DPS.

 

Same with healer companions. Change from the healing stance to the other, disable heals, and you have a DPS.

 

I've done that with Khem Val, and he makes a pretty good DPS companion in instances. Kills weak enemies pretty quick.

Not really. Yeah, all companion classes have a few dps skills. The healer/tanks though aren't as good as the proper dps guys at, you know, dpsing.

Also, I'm still stuck with only 1 healer. Not like I can disable Kira Carsen's dps stance and a few skills and she'll suddenly start healing me.

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Raximillian

Raximillian

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Not really. Yeah, all companion classes have a few dps skills. The healer/tanks though aren't as good as the proper dps guys at, you know, dpsing.

Also, I'm still stuck with only 1 healer. Not like I can disable Kira Carsen's dps stance and a few skills and she'll suddenly start healing me.

 

That is true... While all companions can DPS (decently), few of them can tank or heal.

 

I'm also stuck with Khem Val since he's the only tank companion for the Inquisitor...

 

I'm still not sure how easy/hard it would be to implement more roles to current companions, but maybe BW can add more companions in the future through expansions? So we have more variety? We have to see I guess.

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SirSlayAlot

SirSlayAlot

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but maybe BW can add more companions in the future through expansions?

 

This is a better suggestion/solution that would solve the OP's concern.

And I very much believe this will happen in future content anyway.

 

Adding: Although, any new companions should do something different and not just "replace" one of your existing companions.

 

Still think dual spec for companions is going too far. They gave you 5 companions covering 4 different roles (tank, heals, ranged dps, melee dps) It fits in with the whole "this is your crew, and each one of them excels at a particular role".

 

Roll a Trooper and you will understand the importance of a companion and a companions specific role that s/he brings to the "team".

Edited by SirSlayAlot
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Zila

Zila

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This is a better suggestion/solution that would solve the OP's concern.

And I very much believe this will happen in future content anyway.

 

Adding: Although, any new companions should do something different and not just "replace" one of your existing companions.

 

Still think dual spec for companions is going too far. They gave you 5 companions covering 4 different roles (tank, heals, ranged dps, melee dps) It fits in with the whole "this is your crew, and each one of them excels at a particular role".

 

Roll a Trooper and you will understand the importance of a companion and a companions specific role that s/he brings to the "team".

"Better suggestion" how?

Dual-spec companions would be FAR easier to implement, and unless they introduce 5 new companions in an expansion, dual-spec comps would give players more options. Also, how long until the first expansion? 18 months? 2 years? Dual-spec companions could be implemented in a major patch, without needing to wait until a full-fledged x-pac.

 

As for new companions doing something "different", like what exactly? We already got exactly 1 companion per each of the 5 roles (heals, melee tank, melee dps, range tank, range dps).

What "different" role is there? Any new companions are going to be filling existing roles.

 

What do you mean by dual-spec is "going too far"? All it will do is give us more options. More options, esp. in an mmo, is not "going too far".

I don't need to roll a trooper to understand the importance of companions (Although I do have a lvl 30 commando). In fact the whole reason I posted is because I realise HOW important companions are, and that it sucks that 1 of them is far and away better than the other 4 (Definitely for sentinel, and so far for my dps comm Elara Dorne is easily the best). I can't imagine it's much different for other classes. Maybe some classes have 2 or 3 viable companions, but EVERY class has companions that aren't a good match, some just more than others.

 

You haven't actually explained what you think is WRONG with my suggestion. You posted that "it's not needed", that new companions would be better (But they should somehow do something different), and that it's "going too far".

What is your actual PROBLEM with my suggestion? In what way does it hurt YOU for people to have more options about running with the companions they like, in roles that fit better with the PC's class?

Edited by Zila
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Draflorin

Draflorin

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Don't really understand this request,

 

you have a choice of 6 different companions each of which can be set up for a different job

each can be set to use one of 2 stances

each has skills you can toggle on or off in their rotation

 

 

if I want to have heals I pull out my healer companion - if I want tankage I pull out my robot, and I have a ranged dps companion and a melee dps companion. and as soon as I find a good bikini costume for Elara Dorne i will have an eye-candy companion as well - what more do you need?

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aznthecapn

aznthecapn

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If we had one or two companions, I could see needing it. I think the fact we have a companion for every role is evidence Bioware didn't want to add this. At a certain point you have to sit back and go "Is this good for the game or just good for me?" There are so many other things they can spend development time on that would be used far more often.
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Gwena

Gwena

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I like this idea, to an extent. While we don't need more than one of each type of companion, people may want to have more flexibility in being able to use the companions with looks/personalities that they prefer.

 

It would have to be done in a logical manner though, such as according to the "advanced class" of each companion. Examples:

 

1. Doc is a healer with Smuggler stats. Essentially, he is a Scoundrel type, so melee DPS would also suit him. But he cannot dual wield like a Gunslinger to do ranged DPS, and Smugglers do not have a tanking spec so he could not tank.

 

2. Nadia is a melee DPS with Consular stats. She is essentially a Jedi Shadow type, so a tanking spec would also suit her. But Shadows cannot do ranged DPS or heal, so she also could not.

 

Or it could be done by class, but by AC would be simpler as there would be no need to change what the companions could equip.

 

And from everything I have heard, a tank or healing companion in DPS mode is not as good at it as a pure DPS companion. I know when I put Corso (tank) in DPS mode he isn't as effective as Akaavi (DPS)!

 

Just my two cents. :)

Edited by Gwena
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aznthecapn

aznthecapn

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The ONLY way I see this working is similar to the pet talent system in World of Warcraft. Each companion is designated a stock role (tank, dps, heals) and depending on what two roles they can perform they get two talent trees with 16 talent points to spend. Some are PvP beneficial talents, some are PvE beneficial but within that role. All companions who heal would have identical options for their healing tree, the variation would be in how you spec them.

 

I still really don't think this is necessary as the game exists now. It defeats the purpose having multiple companions in the first place.

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Aexrael

Aexrael

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It would make more sense to have different AI companion templates in similar vein as to the customization for their appearances.

 

These templates could come in the same flavor as the companions currently are setup up as. i.e. Ranged Tank, Melee Tank, Ranged DPS, Melee DPS, Ranged Healer. Each pre-set would have a standard layout of abilities matching that Role and you could allow the player to swap the "role" and the associated AI behavior / skills with it similar to the way customization's are changed.

 

The Primary/Secondary attributes would have to be tied to those Templates however, and you would have to gear up your companion differently were you to choose a different role.

 

You would also need multiple of the same Template to cover the different primary attributes, and the different types of Tanks and Ranged DPS and Healers.

 

STR Melee Tank, WP Melee Tank, Aim Ranged Tank, Cunning Ranged DPS, Aim Ranged DPS and so forth.

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