Future companions

[hustoon]

I made this thread just to temper my expectations and to not get over hyped or deflated on some words I read on the forums. From this quote by Savin there's a mention (in Dec. 2019) of three future companions.

There are currently three other companions in the works.

I'm not sure if that has changed (more/less companions) after posting. Big appeal of CoC and TiTS has been the "waifu/husbando collectathon". It is also mentioned in the design document: "[Waifu collecting is] going to be front and center [in CoC2]."

Here's a mention of a "castle" for the Champion to live/own/brag.

... Still, something would be possible if that "Champion's Castle" ever becomes a thing. not recruit them into your active party, but into your main base crew. ...

That sort of thing is definitely planned for certain NPCs.

A post by Observer mentioned that

... A companion is a massive investment of time, effort and dedication. Savin has made it clear in his design docs that he's going to be no-fun Hitler about this, because of so many problems which have cropped up in previous FenCo games, the main ones being:

-We don't want bubble people. No camps and spaceships full of waifus and husbandos who never interact with one another. ...

(This relates to my question a bit later.)

I'm left wondering how literally I should take these words. Of course new sexable NPCs are going to be added, they are pretty much the lifeblood of the game (imo). But I consider these to be "low-level" in that for example the Horse-Shaman in Harvest Valley has no effect (that I've found) on a grander scale in the game. You could argue that neither do some of the companions, beyond helping in combat, for now at least.

Then there are the "medium level" companions, like Gwyn. She lives in the current "player's castle" (inn, or rather, nursery) where she is sexable, can be bred, etc. Her impact to the game is bigger, but mostly due to the PC (or the player, really) caring about her. (Gwyn also has her job as the head matron, making her a bit more important mechanically as well.)

"High level" companions are the NPCs who are companions, Arona, Atugia, Berwyn, Brint/Brienne, Cait, Etheryn, Kiyoko, and Quintillius. The companions interact with each other in the text in different ways, as well as occasionally interacting with "medium" and "low-level" NPCs.

So doing all that groundwork for my question, what should the players expect for future companions? What do I mean by that?
High level (combat) companions are likely off the table - for the most part. There will be more NPCs to sex in the future, no doubt. There is apparently a plan for the player to own a castle, or a lot, or something, which might be "filled" later on with NPCs. But wont that lead to the situation that Observer said to avoid? "No camps and spaceships full of waifus and husbandos ..." Or is this more relating to high level companions? I think I might be taking the quotes a bit literally and twisting the meaning, or taking them out of context. I'm curious about the "meta-design" of the game, and where one of the most appealing (and thus important) aspects of the game is heading.

Upon reading all the text above I fear that I sound like a certain gorilla who perused through the forum asking about lasers and level 1 playthroughs, as well as demanding the admins to answer their question.

Edit: I feel like a fucking moron for not reading the post JUST ABOVE WHAT OBSERVER SAID. To quote Savin, ""Companion" refers to the people that follow the Champion around and fight beside him in combat."

 

[WolframL]

Your confusion seems to be stemming from the way that you're using the word companion in multiple senses, when the writers are only using it in one specific way. To the writers, a companion is a character who accompanies the Champion into battle and is meant to be integrated into the story from the moment they're recruitable and who will interact with other companions and lesser NPCs along the way. Someone like Gwyn is not a companion and can live within the 'bubble' of the Forst Hound just fine without coming into conflict with that line from The Observer that you quoted. Likewise various other characters that might be potential waifu/hasubando material for the Champion but who aren't companions (various kitsune, Hretha and Ragnild, Ahmri...) because they aren't party members.

So to answer your question of what to expect from future companions, well, we already know Arona is going to be one of the remaining ones so we've got a pretty good idea what to expect from her albeit with room for her to grow, and some teasing of an unexpected soft side. Savin mentioned a planned scene involving her and Ryn that's adorable, for example. And some of the design docs available to backers imply the identity of the remaining companions, though that may be subject to change.

 

[hustoon]

Goddamn, I appreciate your dedication to answering my questions in probably four different threads by now.

As a slight continuation to earlier, only companions (as you said) are meant to have "arcs" over the story of CoC2? Or maybe expected is the proper word. And folks like Gwyn stay "2-dimensional" and possibly reference PCs actions (if written) such as "ooh you killed demon what's-her-name, good job champ!" They can "grow" from their role at their writers (or other writers') pleasure.

 

[WolframL]

Something like that, yeah. Non-companion NPCs come in all types and may be one-offs who don't change, may have their own potential arcs and interactions or be somewhere in between.

For example, the Wyld Elf male you can encounter in the Old Forest isn't likely to be anything more than a randomly-encountered way to get your rocks off. Meanwhile Garth's family has its own running plot thread, with the man himself being a semi-regular questgiver and having some degree of indirect relationship with everyone you bring into the Frost Hound. Somewhere in between you have the trio of harem cats who are associated with a quest and mostly only interact with the Champion outside it (but companions can get in on the fun during the quest, reinforcing the point that they don't exist in a bubble) but there are plans for them to get more content in connection with a future Cait expansion.

TLDR: It depends.

 

[Evil]

Each of the Champion's travelling companions will have some sort of story, that will continue based on how far the story goes. In fact, you've seen many of them:
- Cait's sister getting kidnapped.
- Brint's return to his village outside Khor'minos
- Berwyn's former mistress and how she screwed him over.
- Etheryn and her sister.

To name but 4 examples.

As for the NPCs, how they grow will depend on how their writers will want them to grow, if at all. Sometimes an NPC just remains an NPC, repeating the same dialogue over and over.

 

[Savin]

There are still two more Companions yet to be added. Both of them are far into their writing processes but not quite ready for admission.

The player will have the option to get a castle at some point, and it will be populated by NPCs.

Any character can potentially have an 'arc' if someone wants to write it for them. Some companions are more complex than others, and the same applies to NPCs.

 

[Savin]

is arone one of those two or is it arona + 2 more companion

Arona + 2 more.

I can't do basic addition whilst sick apparently.

 

[rafabud]

Arona + 2 more.

I remember reading somewhere that Azzyran was planned to be a companion, so my money is on her. Arona isn't one of the two, Kiyoko has already been implemented... can't really think of anyone else, only one that comes to mind is the monkey monk guy (forgot his name).

 

[Savin]

the monkey monk guy

lmao no.

 

[rafabud]

lmao no.

like I said, no idea about the other one

 

[rafabud]

Oh it's definitely Shar, Savin lost his mind and decided he will author for yet another companion

"Corruption of Champions 2: Return of the Birb"
Coming soon™