The way to make this game REALLY addictive

[Coherent]

Companions. There they are. What are they doing now? Not enough I say. Anyone remember Guild Wars 1? They had heroes you could gear and level up enough so you could take into dungeons with you. Imagine if the companion system in SWTOR were this deep. Imagine if there was a system in place where you could focus on leveling your companions enough where you could enter a dungeon with just your own companions and no other humans? This would mean allowing players to eventually EARN bringing more than one companion out. Imagine how ****** that would be. I'm saying that you develop it so that only the top 10% of dedicated companion levelers could pull off dungeons. Not because of skill, but because they put in time and effort to build up companions, level, gear, and customized companion AI's so they could handle the job. This would require a massive deepening of companion system. But hey, it's already in the game. Toughest part developmentally would be designing a robust companion leveling endgame, creating customizable AI's for each companion.

[Heat-Wave]

Then it wouldn't really be a MMO, now would it?

[TheNahash]

sorry, but this is a terrible idea.

It would destroy grouping up with other players (which, no matter what solo players seem to think, is the point of playing an MMO) and it would add next to nothing to the game's appeal.

[MaximusRex]

Eh, the idea isn't all together terrible. I wouldn't want to be able to sub companions for a normal group in normal content, but the game could use some more companion based content, and having some kind of companion group content would be a cool idea.

 

I would see this kind of content only offering companion based rewards, like companion bound gear/gear mods, companion gifts, and story with dialogue that allows you to gain companion affection.

[cyrusramsey]

First off, AI is arguably the hardest thing to program in a game, to get working right anyway.

 

Honestly.. I only play this game because there was no kotor3, if there was a way to play all/most content in the game without other players then I would be all over that (which makes me, I guess, a good example of why one of the earlier posters was against this), but it seems like a very unlikely thing to happen.

[Turajin]

It would destroy grouping up with other players (which, no matter what solo players seem to think, is the point of playing an MMO) and it would add next to nothing to the game's appeal.

Well, the problem with "grouping with other players" is that it doesn't really work most of the time, especially while leveling on the planets and trying to do heroics. Sometimes, you can ask for an hour or so for other players to team up for a H4 mission, and you're lucky if you get one response. So, after waiting quite a while, you keep going on, and then, two hours later, when you are at the final missions of both planetary quest-line and story quest-line, someone else akses for a group for that H4 mission you wanted to do three hours ago but noone joined, so you skipped it... and then you are busy doing the current mission, in addition are way to far away (and your QT hasn't cooled down), so you don't bother to join. Later, that group has done that H4, noone else is looking and you are left alone again, and think "well, f*** it, I skip that H4 and maybe do it later when I'm overlevvelled enough to do it alone".

 

So no, there would be no damage done to the "group play", since - at least for H4 missions - there is barely any group play. It might work in endgame, when all are at the same level, hanging around on the fleet, looking for people doing that HM FP or this NiM FP or whatever else... but while levelling? Hard to next to impossible to get any groups. Same experience as described went for that "Black Talon"-FP (the first one, for lvl10-14 or so). Came from Korriban, tried to get a group to it, skipped the FP after one hour searching and not finding someone to do it. Came back at lvl 20 or so and solo'd it.

 

In addition: in those rare circumstances where I do get a group while leveling, in most cases you have at least one player in there who does nothing abaout teamplay. DD's and healer pretending to be tanks, players attacking the next mob-group before the first is done (in a H4 mission), people starting to pick up the dropped items before all mobs are killed, people attacking those mobs you have taken out with "whirlwind" (even after I have explained "I'll take the marked target out, don't attack it! Kill the rest first!") and so on. On one H4 I had been killed that often due to that kind of behaviour that the repair costs where higher than the payoff.

 

So, I'm glad for every oppurtunity they add to do more things solo, because for reasons stated above group-play just doesn't really work - at least not during leveling.

[theUndead]

Well, the problem with "grouping with other players" is that it doesn't really work most of the time, especially while leveling on the planets and trying to do heroics. Sometimes, you can ask for an hour or so for other players to team up for a H4 mission, and you're lucky if you get one response. So, after waiting quite a while, you keep going on, and then, two hours later, when you are at the final missions of both planetary quest-line and story quest-line, someone else akses for a group for that H4 mission you wanted to do three hours ago but noone joined, so you skipped it... and then you are busy doing the current mission, in addition are way to far away (and your QT hasn't cooled down), so you don't bother to join. Later, that group has done that H4, noone else is looking and you are left alone again, and think "well, f*** it, I skip that H4 and maybe do it later when I'm overlevvelled enough to do it alone".

 

So no, there would be no damage done to the "group play", since - at least for H4 missions - there is barely any group play. It might work in endgame, when all are at the same level, hanging around on the fleet, looking for people doing that HM FP or this NiM FP or whatever else... but while levelling? Hard to next to impossible to get any groups. Same experience as described went for that "Black Talon"-FP (the first one, for lvl10-14 or so). Came from Korriban, tried to get a group to it, skipped the FP after one hour searching and not finding someone to do it. Came back at lvl 20 or so and solo'd it.

 

In addition: in those rare circumstances where I do get a group while leveling, in most cases you have at least one player in there who does nothing abaout teamplay. DD's and healer pretending to be tanks, players attacking the next mob-group before the first is done (in a H4 mission), people starting to pick up the dropped items before all mobs are killed, people attacking those mobs you have taken out with "whirlwind" (even after I have explained "I'll take the marked target out, don't attack it! Kill the rest first!") and so on. On one H4 I had been killed that often due to that kind of behaviour that the repair costs where higher than the payoff.

 

So, I'm glad for every oppurtunity they add to do more things solo, because for reasons stated above group-play just doesn't really work - at least not during leveling.

 

This game is solo enough. Besides, you forget that people like to level together. Sometimes couples or groups of friends level and do heroics etc together. So please do not say that leveling in a group does not work when clearly it actually does.

 

Oh and just a fyi, have you ever done an operation? Are you going to tell me that somehow raiding doesn't work? If so how? How does the "multiplayer" element of a MMO not work?

[Halinalle]

First off, AI is arguably the hardest thing to program in a game, to get working right anyway.

 

"I can see you're getting hit there. Sorry, I don't have time to heal you right now, I have to freeze that standard enemy." said random healer companion.

Edited October 27, 2014 by Halinalle

[Turajin]

This game is solo enough.

Maybe for you, but not for me. And obviously also not for the OP. And since threads liek this occur pretty often, also not for a decend number of other players.

 

Besides, you forget that people like to level together. Sometimes couples or groups of friends level and do heroics etc together. So please do not say that leveling in a group does not work when clearly it actually does.

As stated above, it doesn't work for me. I gave quite a few examples, and that's how it works most of the time: 90% of the time I don'tfind a group, and in 90% of the cases where I do find a group, at least one member of that group doesn't play well in the group.

 

Oh and just a fyi, have you ever done an operation? Are you going to tell me that somehow raiding doesn't work? If so how? How does the "multiplayer" element of a MMO not work?

If you would have read my post, I stated there that it might work in endgame (operations & raids are an endgame element, aren't they?). I don't really know if and how it works there, since I don't like endgame. Also, I don't know if and how it works in pvp, since I don't do that either. If you'd have read carefully I was talking about my experience while leveling.

 

And yes, sometimes I play (better: played) together with friends, but rarely, since we rarely could find a time where all of us had enough spare time and the right mood to play (together al playing at all).

 

So, I don't doubt that some people have fun playing in groups and for some people it does work, but for me, it simply doesn't. So where would be the problem to make conten like the H4 or Flashpoints soloable without being overleveled? Those who want to play as a group and enjoy it would still be able to do it, and those that don't like it or simply don't find a group at the right time would then be able to do that H4/Flashpoint without a group.

[Kalfear]

First off, AI is arguably the hardest thing to program in a game, to get working right anyway.

 

Honestly.. I only play this game because there was no kotor3, if there was a way to play all/most content in the game without other players then I would be all over that (which makes me, I guess, a good example of why one of the earlier posters was against this), but it seems like a very unlikely thing to happen.

 

My Nadia, Qyzen, and Khem companions are smarter then many PUG players I meet in GF Flash Points so talking about AI might not be the best arguement in regards to this game

 

In fact I already do pass up groups on Oricon in favor of my companions because my companions are predictable, consistant, geared, and reliable.

 

As for OP idea, last month I would have said no way but since the 12x xp hit and the group quality had plummeted into depths never before seen

 

well I would not object to playing with multiple companions

 

Personally I have always felt (and suggested this often in closed beta and even before) the companions should have been done up like Dragon Age : Origin companion system where you programmed in "tactics" for the behaviors of each companion

 

They could keep OPS and PVP companion free content but for the normal game and heroics and flash points they could allow multiple companions.

[theUndead]

Maybe for you, but not for me. And obviously also not for the OP. And since threads liek this occur pretty often, also not for a decend number of other players.

 

 

As stated above, it doesn't work for me. I gave quite a few examples, and that's how it works most of the time: 90% of the time I don'tfind a group, and in 90% of the cases where I do find a group, at least one member of that group doesn't play well in the group.

 

 

If you would have read my post, I stated there that it might work in endgame (operations & raids are an endgame element, aren't they?). I don't really know if and how it works there, since I don't like endgame. Also, I don't know if and how it works in pvp, since I don't do that either. If you'd have read carefully I was talking about my experience while leveling.

 

And yes, sometimes I play (better: played) together with friends, but rarely, since we rarely could find a time where all of us had enough spare time and the right mood to play (together al playing at all).

 

So, I don't doubt that some people have fun playing in groups and for some people it does work, but for me, it simply doesn't. So where would be the problem to make conten like the H4 or Flashpoints soloable without being overleveled? Those who want to play as a group and enjoy it would still be able to do it, and those that don't like it or simply don't find a group at the right time would then be able to do that H4/Flashpoint without a group.

 

Oh yes they are very much endgame pursuits. To the point of learning your class to almost perfection and looking for complex mechanics to bring down bosses. So yes it very much works

 

Alright, it would seem I might have acted a bit harshly without reading enough of your post. Yes I do not have a problem if flashpoints are soloable. In fact as a recommendation, have you done any of the tacticals? Those are group instances but class neutral. So it is a different experience.

 

Anyways I understand more of what you are saying now.

[Turajin]

In fact as a recommendation, have you done any of the tacticals? Those are group instances but class neutral. So it is a different experience.

Yes, I did one once (Kuat Drive Yards, I think), with a group. While the group itself worked fine (everyone knew his class and role) and the FP looked quite nice, too, but there occured yet another problem I have with with group content:

 

everyone (except me) did that FP not for the first time. So, except me, everyone knew what it was about, where to go, what mobs/bosses are where, how they act etc., so they kinda rushed through it, leaving me barely the time to get to know what this FP is all about. That is another kind of behaviour (often coupled with the "space bar!" comments during cut scenes) that keeps me from really actively looking for groups. I want to enjoy the game, have a fun time, take my time and relax, and not hurry through it so I can say "yeah, I made it from lvl 1 to lvl 55 in just 7.5 hours, huzza!".

 

But, again, that's another topic, but yet one more reason (at least for me) to have more content to be soloable. And I don't think there would be any big drawbacks for the group players. Just because something is soloable doesn't mean you are forced to do it alone. Everyone who wants to play in a group would still be able to do it. So, no big change for them.

[XiamaraSimi]

"I can see you're getting hit there. Sorry, I don't have time to heal you right now, I have to freeze that standard enemy." said random healer companion.

 

Lol very first thing I do when aquiring a healer comp, turning that stupid abilty off!

[flyersfan]

everyone (except me) did that FP not for the first time.

 

This is why joining a guild is useful. People will either walk you through it or just not blow by you.

[Turajin]

This is why joining a guild is useful. People will either walk you through it ...

If "walk you through" means "explaining how it works" - even that would be something I wouldn't like that much. I'd actually like to figure it out on my own, even if that means making mistakes, including those that get my toon (or the whole group) killed. I did a few regular FP with a guild, and those FP (for me it was the first time I did those FP) went like this: we walked through at a decend pace, but every now and then the group leader explained "now we have to go there and do that and this" - "don't attack that mobs, just run" - "fighting the boss, don't stand there because he will do this and that" and the like. I didn't like that, either, because all that was stuff I'd rather had to find out on my own.

[theUndead]

If "walk you through" means "explaining how it works" - even that would be something I wouldn't like that much. I'd actually like to figure it out on my own, even if that means making mistakes, including those that get my toon (or the whole group) killed. I did a few regular FP with a guild, and those FP (for me it was the first time I did those FP) went like this: we walked through at a decend pace, but every now and then the group leader explained "now we have to go there and do that and this" - "don't attack that mobs, just run" - "fighting the boss, don't stand there because he will do this and that" and the like. I didn't like that, either, because all that was stuff I'd rather had to find out on my own.

 

It honestly sounds like you just don't like any group interaction at all. My advice is to stick with your class stories. You won't get any more solo able stuff unless it's stand alone content.

[Turajin]

It honestly sounds like you just don't like any group interaction at all.

Well, actually I do like it, or would like it, if I'd find the right group. Problem is: either I end up with a bunch of people with at least one player who doesn't know anything about playing in a group (starting fights before everyone is ready, pulling in additinal mod groups before the first one is done, acting like a tank while playing a DD etc.), or with some hardcore players who do stuff for the 1723th time and don't want to be slowed down by anyone who doesn't play exactly as they want everyone to play ("hit spacebar!").

 

Yes, the game isn't new, but there are always new players, or players to whom some stuff is new (because they play class x for the first time, or do FP y for the first time). Why shouldn't those players be able to enjoy the game in the same way as everyone enjoyed it when the game was released and there where noone to tell them "how this class works and how that FP works"?

 

So, if I do a mission, heroic, FP or whatever the first time, I'd like to it without someone who did it multiple times before who then tells me what to do and what not to do. So, make all SM-FP soloable. Those who want to do the FP over and over again can then join igroups to do themin HM and NiM.

[anonnn]

This is actually a pretty good idea. A lot of people don't perhaps know what this would amount to.

 

First of all, this would amount to a full set of companion skills. They would get a 60-second CC skill, and some other skills that are knockdowns, stuns, AOE grenades, etc. It seems to me that companions have about half the number of skills that a regular player has, or maybe even 1/3 of the number of skills.

 

Second of all, companions would need to have advanced tactics. It would be quite a challenge to teach the companion A.I. to do clever strategies like what I do on my Commando when attacking a mob that's full of standard or weak baddies - start off with a grenade to the most center one, knock down a side one with Explosive Round, knock down yet another side one with Explosive Round, maneuver to get the best Pulse Cannon AOE shot on a bunch of them. Many other tactics are possible, and could be programmed into the A.I. ...but teaching the companion when to use what tactic for the best advantage over a mob of enemies and for the given situation could be a really huge challenge.