Last time I was here I saw a lot of arguments about relationships like marriage or just partnership. It's clear Bethesda can't make everyone in the game deep enough to have attached and believable relationships with the players. However, anyone who has played KOTOR or Final Fantasy etc. is familiar with the "Why must I get this as companion but not that guy?" issue.

So, basically, who is (are) your favorite person in Oblivion, Morrowind or even in the other TES games, who you would like as your partner?

My favorite is most likely Methredel from Oblivion. Wood Elf, member of thieves guild, lives in IC. Her Catwomanlike shady but nice personality could create interesting drama. She also likes bows and sneaking that would support my more combat/magic oriented style. Not to mention she looks nice and the Oblivion voice actor sounds good.

This isn't about just Oblivion or just Morrowind. This is about making and having interesting, likeable NPC companions in TESV. Not generic followers like we have in Oblivion no one cares about.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Ahnassi was my Morrowind wifey.

The bodyguard in Mournhold.

http://uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Arielle_Jurard would be my ideal companion in Oblivion. A generally well-designed NPC, who's a Battlemage to boot. A pretty face, and a resourceful fighter.

Seconded, either her or that orc trader in cheydinhal, ex-adventurer, knew a lot about locations, has some pretty gear, and not too ugly of an orc.

Hieronymus Lex. It would be good cop, bad cop. In a buddy movie sort of way.

Crazy cat lady would be my choice... although for some odd reason Beth decided not to put any cats in the games.

There was a cats and rats mod for Oblivion, but the creator never finished it, it was abandoned like so many good mod ideas. It used the existing model for the lioness with many different textures for them.

I really like Mazoga the Orc, but she was kind of a companion already. Most of the other people I want as companions in Oblivion end up dying due to storyline reasons.

As for Morrowind, maybe all the naked Nords guys. I wouldn't mind going on an exhibitionist journey to annoy the stuck up natives of Morrowind. Or maybe Larienna Macrina from the fighter guild's Daedroth quest. She's like the only minor character in the game with a personality.

To the OP: I think Methredhel already has a girlfriend ...

:blink: Uh. No one. No "companion." Too busy looting and saving the world. There were some NPCs that were cool, but you can't really interact with them and even be friends. I liked everyone in the DB sanctuary, but that is probably because they seem to be the only faction NPCs that have carefully thought out dialog that makes a connection to the player character, and they have distinct personalities. Additionally, the inclusion of the NPCs giving hints/advice for current quests made me really feel connected to the brotherhood. The other factions don't generate this sort of camaraderie, and it feels as though the relationships are completely static no matter what my character does (with regards to advancement in the faction, current quests, etc).

the head in the lighthouse

I'm actually using a modified version of this mod that got updated just for the cats so I'm happy and get the cute fuzzy feeling whenever I see a cat walking around Leyawin's streets :3

Pack rat for everyone (and especially for my trader) :rock:, Corky and the poor dog from Shivering Isles .

That is the most delightful disembodied head in Cyrodiil, I must agree.

God.

Borba? Sure. In fact, I daresay she's quite pretty for an Orc. It's not like they should really be judged on human standards. I'm sure most Orcs mind humans to be quite silly looking, too.

Jiub. (please don't assassinate me if I spelled it wrong, it's been a long time )

Also, Caius Cossades, one of my favorite characters in TES.

For a second I thought I posted this, because thats what I was thinking. Too bad Jiub is dead now... :cryvaultboy:

My favorite companion for Morrowind is Kendra. Only one complaint about her, can't stop her from summoning. I hate it when companions summon.
Everything else about her is perfect. Very deadly mage in combat.

For Oblivion I like Valeria. She can take care of herself without any babysitting from me.

That's exactly the reason why companions should get more focus. Sure, you can never get it perfect, but games like Mass Effect, KOTOR, even The Sims manage to make Oblivion horrible in comparison. Next TES can't make us feel outcasts like that again. The only interaction with companions is "Follow"/"Stay" or not even that.

Shame if that's true for Methredel. Actually that's just contributes to the Catwoman-feel, standing on the fence :hehe:

Even if it wasn't exactly anything fancy, I actually kind of liked that quest, it's probably the only place where Bethesda tried to have players develop an actual relationship with a character in the game. Otherwise, becoming "frends" with someone is just a matter of bribing them until they're swimming in gold. I don't know how well she'd work as a companion on the player's adventures, though, considering that the first time she needs someone dead she needs the player to do it.

That being said, though, I've always thought that Mazoga would be a pretty suitable companion. She has skills which would make her suitable to adventure with and you get to work with her and interact with her, and she does have a bit more personality than the average citizen in Oblivion. Last time I was playing Oblivion, I actually thought that, if it hasn't been done already, someone should make a mod that would allow her to become a fully functional companion after you complete the quests involving her, if it doesn't exist already.

That being said, though, I wouldn't want Bethesda to focus too much on companions. I like games like Dragon Age and KOTOR, and in that sort of game, party based gameplay is an important part of the game. Not only are companions much better implemented than the cases of characters who can travel with you in Elder Scrolls games, you actually need to depend on the combined skills of your party, and throughout the game, you interact with them, and sometimes, they interact with other characters too. This works well for them, it kind of gives a feel a bit like the fantasy novels where the hero encounters a ragtag bunch of misfits and ends up traveling with them and doing stuff. However, the Elder Scrolls is not this kind of game, in the Elder Scrolls, your on your own, and I'm fine with this. The feel is very different from party based games, and it is a nice one. This doesn't mean of course that there can't be companions in the game, of course, some modders have made very good companion mods, and sometimes I use them, depending on whether I feel it fits my character, in Fallout 3 too Bethesda attempted to do companions. And while the implementation may have been a little basic compared to actual party based games, but I didn't mind this, because while they were there if I wanted someone to travel with, they generally weren't an integral part of the game. If Bethesda wants to put companions in future Elder Scrolls games, I'd be fine with it, as long as Bethesda doesn't turn the game into a party based game, it wouldn't suit the series.



True, of course, as a human, I still find humans tend to look pretty silly too, so maybe I'm not the best judge. But I'm sure that orcs don't think other orcs are ugly. If they did I think Tamriel's orc population would be a lot smaller than it is.

Tavern keeper. Every hero needs a source. For information, equipment, or a place to sleep. I dont need a companion to travel with me, its cool but not necessary, just someone somewhere when it hits the fan - I got a place to keep my head and get a handle on what Im doing.

what if your athletics and speeds were different, you wouldnt be able to keep up with them or vice-versa

The games already have that. There are shops to buy things (usually the things you buy aren't worth buying because you can find much better things by looting dungeons, but you can still buy things.) inns where you can sleep in, and NPCs can often share information if you talk to them.



Aside from quests where you have to follow characters, it's generally your companions following you (which makes sense, considering you're the person who decides where to go.) and in cases where you follow, the person leading is generally smart enough to stop for you. As far as your followers go. Modders usually adress this by having your companions warp to you if you get too far away, also helpful if they do stupid things like get stuck on the scenary (which they do.) In the unmodded game, though, during escort quests you generally have to stop and wait if you get too far ahead of them, extremely annoying.