Can I control my companions out-of-combat at all?

[Lampros]

Is there a way? They seem to just follow my main character out-of-combat, and I cannot control them at all?

[OptoNick]

Nope, you are the leader, so you do the talking and walking around

[Lampros]

Originally posted by OptoNick:

Nope, you are the leader, so you do the talking and walking around

Jeez, then I guess the main character has to multi-class and have decking and drone skills, too? Or is that not needed.

One more question: I seem to be solo a lot so far, and companions join only briefly. Will this continue? I am at the South Seattle Docks, by the way.

[Lord Of Dorkness]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Originally posted by OptoNick:

Nope, you are the leader, so you do the talking and walking around

Jeez, then I guess the main character has to multi-class and have decking and drone skills, too? Or is that not needed.

One more question: I seem to be solo a lot so far, and companions join only briefly. Will this continue? I am at the South Seattle Docks, by the way.

Yeah, pretty much.

They changed that in Dragonfall onward to give you a core team of runners, but Returns is a more personal story about your one dude/dudette and the people he/she meets.

Too be fair, though, it's also a rather money and karma heavy campaign, so you aren't that crippled by slightly spreading yourself around.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Lord Of Dorkness:

Yeah, pretty much.

They changed that in Dragonfall onward to give you a core team of runners, but Returns is a more personal story about your one dude/dudette and the people he/she meets.

Too be fair, though, it's also a rather money and karma heavy campaign, so you aren't that crippled by slightly spreading yourself around.

That really sucks :(

So from Dragonfall onward, I can run a normal team where I can exchange gear with my companions and control them out-of-combat as well? Or is that still AI controlled?

[Lord Of Dorkness]

Originally posted by Lampros:

That really sucks :(

So from Dragonfall onward, I can run a normal team where I can exchange gear with my companions and control them out-of-combat as well? Or is that still AI controlled?

Still AI controlled.

That being said, from Dragonfall onward your team actually levels up and upgrades their gear as the game goes on, and you can 'loan' them stuff and gear from your stash.

Oh, and you can actually use team-members drones and decking skills. In Dragonfall onward, this 'psuedo' combat starts up when you try to jack something; letting you actually pick which person to use.

Not perfect, but the series has really improved as its gone on. If Returns doesn't grab you, I'd recommend skipping ahead if you can. The first game has its moments, but was rather rough around the edges.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Lord Of Dorkness:

Originally posted by Lampros:

That really sucks :(

So from Dragonfall onward, I can run a normal team where I can exchange gear with my companions and control them out-of-combat as well? Or is that still AI controlled?

Still AI controlled.

That being said, from Dragonfall onward your team actually levels up and upgrades their gear as the game goes on, and you can 'loan' them stuff and gear from your stash.

Oh, and you can actually use team-members drones and decking skills. In Dragonfall onward, this 'psuedo' combat starts up when you try to jack something; letting you actually pick which person to use.

Not perfect, but the series has really improved as its gone on. If Returns doesn't grab you, I'd recommend skipping ahead if you can. The first game has its moments, but was rather rough around the edges.

Got it. Thanks.

And after Dragonfall and HK, are there more Shadowrun games? I just love RPGs with TBS combat and lots of build options.

[OptoNick]

Point is, in Returns you are usually hiring random runners before each run, and story-related characters are in rotation. In DF and HK your crew mebers are persistent. There'll be options to exchange stuff, sometimes game allows you to use skills of your teammates instead of yours, but never for talking - it's always your prerogative as a leader

[Lord Of Dorkness]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Got it. Thanks.

And after Dragonfall and HK, are there more Shadowrun games? I just love RPGs with TBS combat and lots of build options.

Not yet, sadly, but I doubt HBS only intend to make three Shadowrun games given their succes.

Might be a year or two, though, since they so recently wrapped up Hong Kong's extra content and their working on some sort of Mechwarrior game.