Have obsidian work on companions, Bethesda works on the rest

facebox -- the problem solver

Just like to say that the most entertaining companion in NV was Follows Chalk in Honest Hearts...I never really got tired of his dialog.

I typically don't like companions, and yes the implementation in Skyrim does seem a little shallow...but meh.

Yes, yes it was. They only borrowed Bethesda's engine. It's silly to compare the two.

I don't know. I wondered the same thing. It's quite evident that Bethesda and Obsidian worked closely together on New Vegas (especially when it came to the DLC) so it is quite baffling as to why Bethesda would go backwards in the department. Not to mention a good deal of the followers are just mercenaries, basically. They give you a quest to save their cat and then they'll fight with you until they trigger one too many traps (inevitability).

Companions was talking in Oblivion mods even before Fallout 3 was released, so its probably not Obsidian thing

I personally like having companions along, especially in a BOSS fight. For example, I love having Lydia, as my beloved tank. In my current first play through I have been concentrating on my (female) character being a dual wielding swordsperson; so, I give Lydia all of the staffs that I find and she uses them with a vengeance: Although, I do get hurt sometimes. It is fun, however, watching Lydia wield two staffs at once. She’s a hard hitting tank. “Kill that dragon,” she yells?!?

As I play Skyrim, FNV, or FO3, I try to see the game from my personal perspective. What would it be like for me living in and wondering around in those three worlds trying to survive? Would I want to be alone or do it alone; or, do I want companionship? All three worlds are harsh in there own respective living environments. Life could be cut short in an instant. For me that is the true meaning of role playing and in it I want to experience as much as I can. I want to experience the hardship, the companionship, the love (and the six), the hate, the vile, and the innocence. Moreover, so much of me are embedded into my characters. They possess all that is good and bad about me.

I hope I haven't gotten off topic in responding to this thread, but it is what came to mind as I wrote. If I have gotten off topic I do apologize. Thank you.

No, I don't think this is such a good idea. They would all be depressing, sarcastic, tragic, etc. Let Obsidian stay in the Fallout world.

@OP - I'm disappointed too. I was hoping for at least the level of background we had in FO3 and personality as well. But we don't have that. And, although the companion I've found pvssyrs and does have personality and is well acted, the complete lack of any story at the beginning is sad; he's just some guy I picked up in a bar; it's a little wierd. But, I'm glad to have him with me. No good, proper companions in Oblivion was bad. This is much better. I'd rather have something like this than nothing at all.

I like the way everyone has suddenly forgotten about the 'radiant story' thing, where just about any npc will tell you their life story and send you on a quest. Although many companions will join you after you've done something for them, it would be nice if they said more than a couple of lines after they've joined you.

Also comparisons to new vegas are totally valid, unless you believe the beth didn't pay any attention to what worked well and what didn't on that game.

That said, it's not a big deal for me. Would have been nice though.

Because they weren't trying too make them so, perhaps?

But it's a better system in many ways. Objectively, even.

OK so my mistake that Obsidan and not Bethesda developed NV. Regardless who developed it, I would just think that there would have been at least a FEW other characters that had some kind of story and character to them.

On a side note, the companions seem to be utterly useless and annoying, getting in your way, setting off traps, etc. If they didn't take time to put story and flavor into them, the least they could have done was work on not making them complete morons.

Why do people keep thinking Bethesda had anything to do with the development of New Vegas?

This.

New Vegas wasn't written or developed by Bethesda. It was licensed out to Obsidian, which has many members of the original 2 Fallout games on staff.

Another reason is that pretty much any random NPC has a chance to become a follower in Skyrim. If you complete sufficient Radiant Story quests for anyone, they will have the option to come with you. I've had a couple of drunks I've given mead to following me around for a bit. They died, but their death was not in vain as they distracted dragons for me to slay at lower levels.

Obsidian=/=Bethesda

Good question and it's something they have to work on in the next game. In my opinion they could learn a thing or two from Obsidian and BioWare.

Regardless of who made what game I am deeply sadden by the lack of interactive companions and companionship. Moreover, the marriage thing was a total let down as well. DA:O had much better romance, options and the like. In addition, it would have been nice if there was some semblance of a back story for the main character too. Who was he or she? Where they beggars who got caught up in the civil war? Were they criminals –thieves, or what? Aside from all of that the game is good. I say good only because of all the constant glitches and crashes with the PC version.

Because its Bethesda, and they really don't give a [censored] about interesting characters.

Here's an Idea, plead, beg, and whine for Emma to make a Skyrim version of http://lovkullen.net/Emma/Vilja.htm!
-Nuff said..

they may be shallow, but after 40 hours of being joined by Lydia, she finally died while assembling the Gauldur amulet..

The game feels so empty now..

I was expecting the companions to be shallow since well before the game was released. Yet I'm really surprised how little lines they have. They always say a specific line for that specific command. LIke Lydia's infamous "I'm swear to carry your burden". Can't she say something else once a while?

The New Vegas companions aren't THAT deep, honestly, but I did like their back stories. Boone's was especially emotional, and it made me want to help him tear apart every Legion mo-fo' in the entire Mojave Wasteland.

Quantity over quality.

Please don't compare DA:O to Skyrim... The DA series has been underwhelming at best. Might as well compare the marriage/relationship component of The Sims to Skyrim.

Plus, this is an RPG... Why pigeon-hole your character's backstory from the very beginning?

Ditto

I would just like them to have the "hang back and flank them" option so they stop getting in my darn way.....frustrating to the point of not being worth the PITA to bring them.

I'm sure some modding will correct that soon.