Yeah, running around Wow’s landscapes doing quests can be a lot of fun. But after a while it becomes a lonely pursuit. I have tried being in a guild. But most guild members just aren’t on at the same time to be meaningful. Dungeon Finder is ok, but feels like a rat race.
I would rather quest out in the open world at my own pace. So I want Blizzard to provide AI-NPC Companions. About 4 of them to make a party of 5. I don’t even care if they don’t do much damage. Perhaps one can be a moderate healer.
I would like to summon my companions from a list of my created characters on my account. Of course modified to some degree. So they are not over powered.
And I want my AI-NPC companions to go with me everywhere. And be out with me all the time.
If they get killed I can re-summon them just like Hunters and Warlocks can summon their pets.
And last but not least. I want my AI-NPC Companions to accompany me into Dungeons.
Note: Not Dungeon Finder, no,no. But If I enter a dungeon in the open world, they can come in and help me inside that dungeon.
I want them to add a system that lets us submit our own alt into a registry. We lose access to play that character for a set amount of time (a week, for example) but now our other characters can have access to that character as an NPC follower for the duration of that time.
The follower character can soak up a little bit of EXP and progress their levels while they assist us with quests running on a class-based AI-script. I.E. a mage follower would cast the appropriate spells, and so on.
I mostly just want to live out my head canon where my mage and warrior are a duo that travel the dragon isles together solving mysteries.
Well It would be a nice addition to our game. I still go back to my garrison to pick up “Defender Illona.” And adventure around that area with her. Also “Leorajh.” the Shaman Bodyguard. Fun times. Wish we had these Companions game wide.
And yes FF has the Companion system. But my first introduction to the Companions in a mmorpg was in Guild Wars one. that was a ton of fun running around with a full party of
AI-NPC companions.
Phantasy Star Online also has a similar follower system. Which involves adding your friends list characters to your party as npc followers even when the friends are offline.
I remember Everquest one, also has hireable npc followers. You can hire what you need such as tanks or healers or dps to help you.
Whenever I run Halls of Valor or CoS and Rehgar pops out for my Shammy or the Monkey King is with me on my Monk I get nostalgic for Legion. Really the last great x-pac.
In particular I miss Rehgar allowing Ghsot Wolf to move at mounted speed outside.
Well to a certain extent you may be correct. Here’s the why of it. Party based offline games such as Dragon Age Inquisition, and Mass Effect, are fantastic. But they are limited to relatively short duration. A play-through is around 40+ hours.
But on the other hand World of Warcraft is a HUGE World. With no end. A big never ending sandbox chock full of content that we can play for ever.
So I would like to continue exploring and adventuring in Wow for as long as the game exists.
But with a full party of NPC characters that will be with me from the moment I log in. Until I log off. No having to wait for DF or Guildies. Anytime of the day or night I want to play my party is there willing and able to accompany me on quests.
Other mmorpgs already make use of the companions system. Wow already has this as the Bodyguard system which could be implemented completely for the game for those people that wanted to use it .
Blizzard can’t get their transmute CDs correct (and they banned people over their screw up!) and you expect they can whip up AI NPCs to quest with you?