I don't really want a party system in a single-player game, but I'd like to see better AI all around.

Biased poll is biased. There isn't an option for a strict "none". Anyway, I am not too keen on party RPGs, and TES has never been a "party" game, so, I'd vote none. If it was an option.

Future TES games are sure to have at least Oblivion-level companions, which isn't "none". ;P

Companions should be in the game and optional. If you have disposition with ANY character in the game of over 100, you should be able to have them follow you (until you ask the to stop or their disposition drops below 90.) The amount of companions would be limited to your speech-craft skill/25 (every 25 skill levels = 1 follower)
However, there should be limited controls. (Hide, Attack, and Cover me – as in like the archers you controlled for a while in SI) The AI would have to automatically make the NPC attack opponents with order; lowest health, than if all opponents have the same health (in comparison to distance away from the NPC then the opponent the PC is engaging, and if all opponents have the same health and the NPC is for some reason unable to reach (or would have to go through another opponent in order to reach) that enemy, than if goes strictly by closest enemy.

And..how's that a "party"? It's pretty obvious that by "party", most people mean a UI showing your actual, being able to switch in control between them, etc, like Dragon Age.
And that's a terrible idea for TES.

I always thought of D&D style. The whole party is made up of individuals, who are very adept at working together to solve problems. In Oblivion, relying on party-members spells catastrophe with the way they are handled. With current AI, even the extra features wouldn't make up for the fact that the player has to babysit the group. Amp-up the AI, and put some more awareness of the group into the group, and the player no longer has to fool with them like in Dragon Age.

I'm just not into party based games. I don't like the idea of there being things I can't do by myself. But only when I'm playing a TES game, because I've known to love TES BECAUSE it's strictly single player. Adding in parties, or even multiplayer, would completely kill the experience for me.

I like some of the options, but I wouldn't want to be able to alternate between characters.

I want a cooperative system !!! 5 players max !! this is the ultimate social experience !!
big problem: inventory and real time.....!!! mmmh maybe an option to get the inventory on a second screen could help !!
but we need the AMD's eye infinity system... :shifty:

No...dear GOD no...

I've been playing Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, and I find the compainions completely useless, I allways have to do all the work. The only one I've found usefull is Wrex. Just give him a big shot gun and send him out into the frey to soak up some damage.

Don't have any interest in a party system, in the normal sense. That said, the lone hero shtick can get a little ridiculous in terms of suspension of disbelief. There's no way in hell a realistic mercenary guild would send a single guy to take down an entire gang of bandits or what-have-you. Even if he was some sort of super-soldier, he'd be too valuable to risk in such a mundane operation. If they made your allies less suicidal, I'd love to see more missions that put you in a group with a team. It could also help to accommodate a variety of character types, since you don't necessarily have to be the direct damage front-line damage dealer.

Save the single hero things for stealth, or single targets, or weak or inherently disorganized enemies (e.g. caves full of random beasties).

None / Very Limited...

I don't think the game needs a dedicated party system. TES has always been about a lone hero playing a pivotal role in the story.

Having said that I did enjoy elements in oblivion where we get to travel with key characters, such as the part where we follow baurus through the sewers to meet with the Mythic Dawn agent, or where we escort Emperor Martin to the Imperial city.

Of course, having a dark brotherhood murderer following you around and watching your back was cool as well. So I guess really, I'm more on the fence with this than really for or against it... I just want Bethesda to focus more on solid gameplay for a solo hero than on gameplay revolving around a party of NPCs following the player around.

yep i dont like companions in my tes games...better if they flesh out npc mechcanics first

This is why the party system doesnt work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XSMRSKmDJ0&feature=related

lmao.