As the Sole Survivor explores the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the Commonwealth inFallout 4, they are joined by an array of companions. This motley crew serves as not only back up in a fight, but also add to the game by providing insight into the world around them. However,Fallout 4’s companions stand in stark contrast to those on offer in theElder Scrollstitles, which have a very different take on player companions. But withElder Scrolls 6on the horizon, there are some lessons it can learn fromFallout 4when it comes to followers.
Followers or companions have been a core part of both theElder Scrollsseries andFalloutfrom their earliest days. Whilecompanions have been present in everyFalloutgame, it wasn’t untilElder Scrolls III: Morrowindthat followers were first introduced, and have remained virtually unchanged in their function since then. However, whileElder Scrollsfollowers remained static pack mules,Falloutcompanions have evolved into something betterthat could easily be replicated inElder Scrolls 6.
Elder Scrolls 6 Followers Need More Depth
Previous Elder Scrolls Followers Aren’t As Memorable As Fallout 4 Companions
For a world as vast and rich with lore as theElder Scrolls, it’s a little disappointing just how flat followers are. While there are a handful that stand out over the three main titles they’ve appeared in,such asSkyrim’s Cicero, Mjoll the Lioness, or Serana, the majority fade and merge together in memory with nothing special to make them stick in people’s minds. This is significantly different from the companions ofFallout 4,all of whom are memorable and even have their own fanbases within the largerFalloutcommunity.
Skyrim’s followerswere a massive step forward from the ones seen inOblivionorMorrowind, but with around 60 potential humanoid followers only a few are truly noteworthy. And, with so many followers available,the end result is much lower-quality characters with many of them spouting generic lines that could apply to any random NPC.Skyrimfollowers then become little more than pack mules, judged by their combat ability and how often they block doorways, instead of anything meaningful related to the world they inhabit.
All Essential Skyrim Followers Who Can’t Die
Out of all the NPCs that the Dragonborn can encounter, there are only a select handful that are marked as essential followers in Skyrim.
For the nextElder Scrollsgame, it would be a good idea to look at theFallout 4companions to see what makes them so special. By examining what makes the companions ofFallout 4different and comparing that to other recent RPG successes, a clear pattern can be seen which theElder Scrolls 6needs to emulate. There are also somegreat examples from theSkyrimmodding community that clearly demonstrate the types of companions/followers the fans are hoping to seein futureElder Scrollsinstallments.
What Makes Fallout 4’s Companions Work
Distinct Personalities, Personal Quests & Better Romances
The key thing that setsFallout 4’s companions apart fromElder Scrollsfollowers is that, inFallout 4, the companions feel a part of the world. They have their lives and goals and if the Sole Survivor never meets them,it’s not hard to imagine them still having lives and working towards said goals independently. Plainly put, they feel like real people who just happen to cross paths with the protagonist rather than accessories to be dismissed and forgotten about.
Each of the 16Fallout 4companions has their own likes and dislikes,their views on the world, and allegiances that go beyond the Sole Survivor. There is no mistaking MacCready for Preston, or getting Piper and Cait mixed up. Beyond their physical appearances, how each companion behaves on quests, their thoughts on the Sole Survivor’s decisions, and even their reasons for traveling with them in the first place are all wonderfully unique. Although some are loved, while others are hated within the fanbase, those opinions are only able to exist because the characters have left an impression.
Fallout 4: All Companion Perks, Ranked
Companions in Fallout 4 give the player some fantastic permanent bonuses once affinity has been maxed, however some a much better than others.
Knowing which quests it is best to take companions on, how to gain affinity with them to get their companion perks, and how to complete theirpersonal companion questsare the most common talking points when discussingFallout 4companions. Understanding them, their backstories, and their preferences is important and only possible becausethey have been written as fully realized characters.Elder Scrolls 6needs to look at this and at least adopt some aspects, as some of the most successful recent RPGs owe at least some of their success to the strength of their companions.
How Elder Scrolls 6 Can Learn From Fallout 4
Looking At Fallout 4 & Other RPG Series Offer Clues
When looking for examples of goodElder Scrollsfollowers, many in the fanbase will point to Serana, who is often called thebestSkyrimfollower. It’s not hard to see why as she is more carefully crafted than the others, with a more developed backstory and personality, and is genuinely interesting compared to the copy-and-paste housecarls and mercenaries. In fact,many of the most memorableSkyrimfollowers have quests linked to them or play major roles in their faction’s questlinesuch as Aela, Vilkas and Farkas, or J’zargo.
The five most endorsed custom follower mods currently on Nexus Mods forSkyrim Special Editionare Inigo, Sofia, Lucien, Auri, and Vilja. Each one of thesecustomSkyrimcompanionsis fully voiced, has a fully fleshed-out story, opinions on the world separate from the Dragonborn, and in many cases their own personal quests.A major selling point for many custom followers is that they are “quest aware”, passing comments on player actions, locations, and in some cases even bantering with other custom companions.
Many custom followers also have unique leveling or combat systems to allow them to be further customized to playstyles.
These modded followers follow a pattern seen often in BioWare games such as theDragon Ageseries and more recently in Larian Studio’s smash hitBaldur’s Gate 3.They are characters who just happen to be companionsrather than existing purely as combat backup or to carry loot. They linger long after the game has been completed because of their writing and the care put into crafting every detail to help them come alive and matter to the player.
Followers forElder Scrolls 6need better quests, to have reactions to actions and the world around them based on likes and dislikes, and more in-depth romance options. The affinity system inFallout 4makes interacting with companions more rewarding and organic rather than simply exhausting dialogue options and would make an excellent addition to futureElder Scrollsgames.The focus should be on quality over quantitywith some basic quality-of-life tweaks such as being able to dismiss them to a specific location to strike a good balance betweenFallout 4’s system and what has come before in theElder Scrolls.
