With Blackwood, The Elder Scrolls Online receives a new expansion in 2021. This introduces the NPC companions as a special feature. They will assist you not only in the open world but also in dungeons. This is particularly interesting for players who usually avoid this endgame content.
What is this new feature? The new NPC companions in ESO will be released with the Blackwood expansion. They are expected to take on classic roles like healer, tank, or damage dealer, as Rich Lambert, Creative Director at Zenimax Online Studios, revealed in an interview with MeinMMO.
You can level up, equip, and assign appropriate skills to the companions. They should also be able to accompany you almost anywhere:
We are still figuring out how all of this works in the world and where exactly you can deploy the various companions. We know that we don’t want to use them in PvP, so we’ve removed that option, but otherwise, we want you to be able to use them everywhere else.
At the launch of the expansion, there will be two different companions, one of whom can accompany you actively at all times. Their names are Mary and Bastion. However, more NPC helpers are planned for the future.
How do you unlock the companions? You obtain the companions through special quests. They tell the character’s story and thus bring them closer to the players. You are supposed to build a relationship with the NPC, although there won’t be any romances available at the start. However, Rich Lambert does not rule them out for the future.
But besides each companion’s backstory, their impact on dungeons and trials will be particularly interesting. They could encourage more players to engage with such content.
ESO gets even better for solo players, couples, and best buddies
What will the companions change? The new feature is particularly beneficial for players who are adventuring solo or in pairs, such as good gaming buddies or couples.
They not only have an easier time in the open world, but can now even complete dungeons together.
What is the problem with dungeons? Dungeons are designed for 4 players and are usually completed with the help of the group finder. However, this can be annoying:
- You often encounter “fake tanks” who cannot withstand anything and reported as such just to find a group faster.
- You have to match the pace of others and cannot play slower or faster.
- Waiting in the group finder can take up to 30 minutes or longer for certain dungeons.
Such problems could be significantly reduced in the future.
Will it be possible to do dungeons solo in the future? Even today, there are players who complete dungeons entirely alone. We created a guide on which dungeons are worthwhile for newcomers. It will become easier with the companions.
However, with the new system, it might also be possible to complete other dungeons solo, including more dungeons in veteran mode.
Additionally, players who cannot perfect everything right away can now also start dungeons alone. However, this also depends on how capable the companions actually are.
In Guild Wars 1, a co-op RPG from 2005, NPC heroes could indeed adequately replace players. Often, the NPCs were even better healers than the players because they reacted more quickly in threatening situations. Their damage output was also consistently good compared to average players.
What about the trials? Trials are the endgame content for 12 players in ESO. In some trials, bosses can be soloed in normal mode. However, this requires a lot of practice and preparation.
Depending on how strong the companions actually are, it might also be possible to experience content in smaller groups or even solo.
The new expansion revolves around Oblivion
The companions will appear in June along with the new expansion Blackwood. This will take you to the old areas of Oblivion and let you face a Daedric Prince. You can find all the information about the expansion, the pre-order, and the first trailer in our overview of Blackwood.
