17 hours with TOR

[Revalis]

Are there any posts to this affect in the secret place? Or is this one of the known 'balance' issues with Companions they are actively trying to resolve?

[Keeloth]

Maybe they should only take up a party slot in instances (the ones they're allowed into).  Have it so that in the open world you can have 4 players grouped with their companions out.  Sounds like a coding nightmare, but...better than 2-man groups.

[Tbone]

I believe that a fair amount of the game does not take place in instances, so I imagine they would have a fear of an imbalance if a group of four could have four companions out in the world, but I see what you are saying. For PvP, maybe fix companions so that they are unable to attack other players.

[Keeloth]

I believe that a fair amount of the game does not take place in instances, so I imagine they would have a fear of an imbalance if a group of four could have four companions out in the world, but I see what you are saying. For PvP, maybe fix companions so that they are unable to attack other players.

Thing is, what about companions that heal their player?

[Ghisteslwchlohm]

What are the benefits of having groups on open world PVP? So far as it seems, running around as pairs/individuals is just as good as getting in groups of four, except for the fact that you can't have as many companions when you're in a group of four.

[Revalis]

I believe that a fair amount of the game does not take place in instances, so I imagine they would have a fear of an imbalance if a group of four could have four companions out in the world, but I see what you are saying. For PvP, maybe fix companions so that they are unable to attack other players.

They'd also have to fix companions from being able to heal you if you're being attacked by another player as well, though. :/

Else, same problem occurs. Still better to have groups of 2 with companions than not. Because you still get AI heals (maybe not the best, but every little bit helps)  while fighting.

[eeth]

I'm confused.  It's not a "Two companions or two players" kind of deal.  They're not doing instanced content, they can have more than one group attacking the enemies here.  Their choices are to have 1 companion and 3 players, or 3 companions and 3 players.  The latter is obviously the optimal choice, but in order to support it you have to split into 2 groups, which is what he was talking about.

ahhh...i follow what everyone is getting at now.

however, i was assuming that they'd not be making progress/cooperating on the same quest at the same time unless they were all in the same party (as it's that way in all other MMO's i've played). so, that's why their choice wasn't making any sense to me (and still kinda doesn't, ha).

and i absolutely agree and see the potential issues in relation to this, in regards to open world pvp.

the 2 questions that would help clear this up would be:

1. can all quests that a player has to do be completed while in a raid group? (in WoW you cannot for example, in Rift you can.)

Edit: seems that you can

2. can companion characters be active to a player while that player is IN a raid group? (we already know that companions are not allowed in an actual raid INSTANCE, need clarification if they disappear as soon as your group is turned into a raid or as soon as you join a raid group.)

Edit: yes, but we don't know at what proximity companions despawn.

[Saint]

Theres a Master and an Apprentice.