Can you design better companions than a CRPG dev?

[Orvas Dren]

Really want to contribute to this thread but its hard to take it seriously after a red7 post

[Element]

Basically, whilst many games take a variety of stereotypes which are used within the framing of the devs own biases, which tend to be deluded and myopic now, I would want to use the characters as a canvas to present more detailed aspects of my own worldview. This can't be done without accurately showing each side or characteristic for what they are, and exploring the depth of the conflict or mutually exclusive positions.
But I'd want a way to connect with people I am not normally able to connect with and point out flaws in their thinking by confronting them with hypothetical situations that they can't dismiss...
Whilst most games use this as a way to pander, I would simply present them in a way I see fitting. The aim would not be to present an obvious middle-finger or to troll but to help others understand a perspective they clearly refuse to, beyond that, I would try to make any conclusions or morals based on reality.

Having the characters of vastly different worldviews be at each other's throats would be an interesting setup in a party based rpg

[Nooneatall]

Really want to contribute to this thread but its hard to take it seriously after a red7 post

That guy is off his nut.

[Red7]

Really want to contribute to this thread but its hard to take it seriously after a red7 post

dont be shamed of catfemboy follower u had in mind

[J1M]

So there's a reliable guy in your party that goes by Stick. He's pretty good in melee combat and running from his past. There's layers there and if you do his side quests you learn that stick is actually his last name.

The final reward for maximum relationship status is to learn his first name, which is Stat.

[ArcaneLurker]

Is the middle name "Tis"?

[rusty_shackleford]

Wolgraff from Divinity Original Sin remains one of my favorite companions in any RPG tbh.
He has very little verbal communication due to him being mute.


Being told to write a mute character would be a death sentence to an average video game writer now.

[Magick]

Wolgraff from Divinity Original Sin remains one of my favorite companions in any RPG tbh.
He has very little verbal communication due to him being mute.


Being told to write a mute character would be a death sentence to an average video game writer now.

They'd probably communicate through overly flamboyant gestures and by morse code hammered out through the plaps while practising sodomy.

[Acrux]

So there's a reliable guy in your party that goes by Stick. He's pretty good in melee combat and running from his past. There's layers there and if you do his side quests you learn that stick is actually his last name.

The final reward for maximum relationship status is to learn his first name, which is Stat.

I thought his first name would be Otis.

[carnivoresheep]

just make the edgiest edgelord possible already

[Oyster Sauce]

I'm thinking a dog companion, kind of like the mabari war hound from DAO, except he's a complete ******. He only sort of listens to you, and all of his personal quests start when he bites NPCs you come across, destroys property, or kills livestock.

In combat he might go apeshit and ignore commands depending on how much he respects the PC, but these wild attacks are extremely powerful which would entice some players into being an irresponsible dog owner and letting him get away with all the havoc he wreaks. Taming and disciplining him, on the other hand, unlocks more strategic abilities like pinning enemies in place.

[rusty_shackleford]

I'm thinking a dog companion, kind of like the mabari war hound from DAO, except he's a complete ******. He only sort of listens to you, and all of his personal quests start when he bites NPCs you come across, destroys property, or kills livestock.

In combat he might go apeshit and ignore commands depending on how much he respects the PC, but these wild attacks are extremely powerful which would entice some players into being an irresponsible dog owner and letting him get away with all the havoc he wreaks. Taming and disciplining him, on the other hand, unlocks more strategic abilities like pinning enemies in place.

Animal is one of the few other acceptable companion archetypes after "nameless rank-and-file soldier"

[Finarfin]

I mean get some standard companions that have one or two quirks without it feeling too cringe.
A dwarf that is hardy and cooks and brews beer for himself and the party. (Buffs you with food and drink)
An elven mage lady that can decipher runes and likes to knit clothes (could be used for a cold/hot temperature system)
A human rogue that can detect traps and tends to be away for a few moments, returning with loot or other things
A halfling lady druid that heals, and can understand animals, which can tell you secrets of the current area you are in.

I could've come up with something better but I am currently trying to write some books, so my focus is more on them.
I had two ideas for the books but I'm sure they are both pretty ****.

• 5-6 books, 4 of them are about each races and cultures from the perspective of the main characters, 2 books are them having the same goal forming alliances and also a somewhat surprising villain forms during that time

Chapter 1 and 2 (I didn't work on it for quite a while, but tell me how **** it is, so I can change it) https://docs.google.com/document/d/185w ... ue&sd=true

• Somewhat similiar with the 4 cultures but I did work less on it. Basically it's 4 races with 4 cultures again. I think it was Greeks, Romans, Japanese and Armenian cultures with different races