Companions Ruin the Game

Speaking from a PvE solo perspective, they are horrible.

I'm a 50 Gunslinger in all modded/purple/blue gear. I'm sitting at 100.58% accuracy, 39.14% crit, 60.02% critical bonus, and 6.4% alacrity. I'm not sure how good that is, but I can drop mobs in seconds.

The problem lies in my companion. Without him, I'm dead. Plain and simple. As hard as my guy hits, he's just a wet paper bag. Even regular mobs on Ilum will drop me in seconds if they focus on me. I have spent at least 300k on my companion's gear (Bowdaar). I have him at 15.5k health, 35.14% chance to shield, 14.32% defensive chance, 25% shield absorb, and 4122 armor and he is at 25% health or so on EVERY PULL!

I have to recuperate after every single pull. Even with normal mobs. If I get 2 strong on me, he's dead. After Elite battles, he's at 10% or so unless he loses aggro (which is 90% of the time on long fights) and the Elite decides to blast me down to 30% health while he's at it.

I'm using all cooldowns, too, mind you. My absorb shield spell, my dodge ability, Hunker Down so I'm not CC'ed, MedPacs if I need them (which I keep the best one stacked to 20 at all times), and lately I've been using an Endurance stim just so I can live .2 seconds longer if they attack me.

To top it off, the companions are just dumb. Horrible AI and a 3 second lag to attack. Not to mention their pathing is a joke and there is no Attack My Target option. So if I start blasting, he stands there like a fool until I take damage. THEN he pulls his sword, stands there rubbing one out for 3 seconds, runs in to attack, rubs another one out while standing by the mob, then FINALLY attacks.

I'm done until companions are fixed. Doing dailies on Ilum is HORRIBLE. I can't even handle it.

And alts are horrible in this game but that is another subject matter. Doing those planets again in the linear order they are with their linear quests makes me want to vomit thinking of it.

Edit: Spelling. Also, give us a companion heal ability. Something that restores health slowly over time or the ability to use a medpac on them. Something is needed to speed up the daily grind and overall slowness of combat/recuperating.

Sounds like a lot of pissed off people on this board. I made this post and it goes to second page. Never a good sign.

Have you tried from switching to more endurance items? o.o

I mean..Built like a glass cannon -> works like a glass cannon

Like..instead of using skill armoring, use patron ones.

I'm confused...

The title is about how companions ruin the game, especially the solo PvE portion but then OP goes on to explain how the companion keeps him alive most of the time...

First, there *is* an attack-my-target command. It's CTRL+1 for every companion. You probably already know this, but I'm just gonna highlight it to demonstrate why I'm confused by the post.

So what I *really* hear here is "damn, this stuff is hard to solo and I want it easier so I don't have to watch my pulls or bother to heal between pulls." Don't blame that on the companion. And personally, I am not in favor of making the game simpler... I want player skill to matter and this kind of complaint drives toward a game where all that matters is gear score (and if you don't get that statement, PM me because it's not worth opening that can of worms here and sidetracking the thread).

Yes, there *are* problems with some of the AI. I won't deny that. What I will say is that I don't have any problem coping with those issues by planning for them. Changing my timing. Working to coordinate my actions with my companions instead of assuming that the AI should make my companion predict my actions... Now, granted, I am used to playing pet classes in MMOs so this is not news to me, but it does mean that for a lot of classes, Gunslingers being a pointed example, this is all about managing your companion sensibly and that doesn't mean *just* gearing him correctly (which it sounds like has been done here).

As a IA sniper (now 47) I had issues with the paper tanks we are supplied with. Yes some of them put out good damage, but they die way too easily. I switched to Dr. Lokin (my healer companion) and haven't looked back.

Nothing that shoots at me can win, including all the elites that quests seem to include. The only issue I have is the melee elites, which seem to be specifically designed to mess with a sniper thanks to the numerous interrupts and pushbacks.

I do the damage, and the good doctor keeps me alive. Very little downtime unless I make a mistake, or the AI bugs out, or I 'can't see the target' because he is standing on a pebble ...

My only issue is that we get the healer way too late, but then I suppose that makes sense for operatives.

Don't use your companion then. Problem solved. I personally think it's an awesome system, and find that at times these bots are more bloody useful than some humans!

the game was designed to use companions, we have known that for quite some time, use them or struggle...

top tip, if you de-summon your pet, and re summon him (takes about 2 secs give or take) he comes back with full hp

Unfortunately the companion system was a pretty cool idea (heck im married to Jeasa, neat) but it has created so many problems in my opinion. For one thing they make the game seem extremely empty and soloish. For another they are poorly done. I am a heal spec Agent so I feel your pain when it comes to companions. I have Kaliyo do all the tanking and I heal her and do dmg as I can.

It's horrible. Not wow this is bad, I mean HORRIBLE!

ya who needs a group when you got your companion!