There really should be more than just one support slot

[Broso]

I mean come on, there are some really good effects, some of which it makes sense not to have them all on at the same time, for example the collection effects, but there are some effects that would totally make sense to be able to be active at the same time, for example double movement speed and save point party formation.

Having just one slot seems unnecessarily restrictive.

[archonsod]

It forces you to make a choice. Which I think is kind of the point.

[Clangeddin.86]

Originally posted by archonsod:

It forces you to make a choice. Which I think is kind of the point.

Even with two or three slots you would be making a choice.
In fact the amount of choices would go up, mathematically speaking.

The problem would be how it would balance itself out in the end, the issue is that some characters are just better than others, and there might be sinergies in this hypothetical scenario that we're not considering because it's just one slot for now.

[chiyen]

Originally posted by Broso:

I mean come on, there are some really good effects, some of which it makes sense not to have them all on at the same time, for example the collection effects, but there are some effects that would totally make sense to be able to be active at the same time, for example double movement speed and save point party formation.

Having just one slot seems unnecessarily restrictive.

That will just make things become too easy.

[Melodia]

The biggest problem is some of the choices are so....how do I put this....imbalanced? Cassanda's almost changes the way the game plays, where as Allaby's is a silly gimmick that you're never going to use as a serious choice so it's basically worthless.

[The_Box]

Rather than more support slots outright, maybe have the one slot that's still 'combat' support, but then the attendant slots are you more field support options.

Like, you could have Rudy for your combat support, since he gives you faster action times. You don't want to stack that with other combat support characters. But then in the attendant slots, you could have the support characters that let you move faster or get more from collection points, since stacking those things won't really make a difference in terms of difficulty.

[Melodia]

Originally posted by The_Box:

Rather than more support slots outright, maybe have the one slot that's still 'combat' support, but then the attendant slots are you more field support options.

Like, you could have Rudy for your combat support, since he gives you faster action times. You don't want to stack that with other combat support characters. But then in the attendant slots, you could have the support characters that let you move faster or get more from collection points, since stacking those things won't really make a difference in terms of difficulty.

Well the 'attendant' slot is specifically for characters required by the story that you would rather not be in your active party.

But yeah, maybe having both a 'combat support' and a 'field support' would have been the best option.

[SeraphLance]

Personally I think one support slot is fine, but some supports should just be active by default, like being able to swap your party out at save points.

Having to choose between the blacksmith upgrading my attack or one of the various resource collection boosters? Seems fine. Having to choose between those and a big QoL improvement? Screw that.

[iameatingjam]

I've actually been thinking a similar thing, except that it would be cool if the support slot and the 'attendant slots' were one and the same, and you could fill them not only with support characters, but any character, that way you can experience more of those random lines of dialogue that are in the game lots of us wont end up hearing cause we didn't have the right party at the right time.

The downside is, could make it too easy if you filled up on all the best buffing characters, but that could be mitigated by simply reducing the bonus each gives.

[Brave Sir Robin]

I agree with the sentiment that some of the map effect/non-combat supports should just be always active once you recruit them. NotViki gives you a QoL item that always lets you teleport without having to return to the castle, I don't see why things like the resource point increases or party member swapping should require giving up your single supporter slot.

[archonsod]

Originally posted by SeraphLance:

Personally I think one support slot is fine, but some supports should just be active by default, like being able to swap your party out at save points.

To be fair it does tend to become pointless once you unlock fast travel.

[Kegfarms]

Originally posted by chiyen:

Originally posted by Broso:

I mean come on, there are some really good effects, some of which it makes sense not to have them all on at the same time, for example the collection effects, but there are some effects that would totally make sense to be able to be active at the same time, for example double movement speed and save point party formation.

Having just one slot seems unnecessarily restrictive.

That will just make things become too easy.

Suikoden IV had two support spots.

[Feinne]

Originally posted by Kegfarms:

Originally posted by chiyen:

That will just make things become too easy.

Suikoden IV had two support spots.

Suikoden V had 4 support slots. I really miss that. This game I've only ever used the one that boosts all collection points until I got Aire. Then Aire never left that slot for the rest of the game because you run to slow otherwise and it's annoying. The supports are pointless if the choice in mechanics is "which one makes the game less tedious".

[Kegfarms]

Originally posted by Feinne:

Originally posted by Kegfarms:

Suikoden IV had two support spots.

Suikoden V had 4 support slots. I really miss that. This game I've only ever used the one that boosts all collection points until I got Aire. Then Aire never left that slot for the rest of the game because you run to slow otherwise and it's annoying. The supports are pointless if the choice in mechanics is "which one makes the game less tedious".

Yeah Stallion in IV was even faster than AIre. That's why he never left.

[Grumar]

they shouldn't be tying QoL choices to support, there is no reason to make my character dreadfully slow just to add a character that will increase it to a reasonable speed but make me have to give up power of my party.

[Neonivek]

I wish the support slots were more fruitful to be honest... where they do multiple things for you. That way I could chose, say, enhanced mining support and maybe he throws rocks during battle from time to time.