Is Grieving Mother an important companion? NO SPOILERS please

[Dorok]

It's my second attempt to play the game, first ended at party level 7.

In fact I have two questions, the point 2 is just if I decide I want keep Grieving Mother in the party:

1. Importance of Grieving Mother companion, even if I understand none are required. But she seems too much closely linked to core subject of the game, so it's hard give up on her. I only expect yes/no, avoid spoilers please or put them in spoiler tag but I won't read them.

2. What party to build around 2 Ciphers (Main character and Grieving Mother), Durance and Sagani.

Some context elements (feel free to skip read lol):
- I'm still quite lost about the difficulty and just changed difficulty from Normal to Hard. I choose Normal to have 4 rests and with intent of using companions AI a lot, but for now it generates too many boring easy combats so I try Hard.
- I want Sagani in the party because even if she seems one of the companions the less well developed she is the only companion I find attaching, more exactly mildly attaching.
- I want Durance in the party, firstly because I don't want play without a Priest in the party, secondly because it's the only one I feel intriguing enough to feel I need keep him, moreover I also feel he is more closely linked to the main plot or the core subject.
in spoiler tag but I won't read them.
- I I'd like keep two strong front characters, so Pallegina and Eder was a fine choice particualy that now Eder has been nerfed a bit (first play attempt I ended fire him from the team). But on base of 2 Ciphers, Durance and Sagani it just seems bad, I don't want give up on either a druid either a mage in the party.

[old Charlie]

1. More or less like all the others - She might have a remark here and there but others do too and it doesn´t really change anything.
2. I´d go with the group you suggested (+pallegina +eder)- in fact that was the party for my first playthrough but instead of a cypher, my player-character was a wizard.

Fighters might have been nerfed but I don´t really see it. My deflections seem a tiny bit lower but if thats all there is to it, people are going bonkers over nothing again.

[talgaby]

She has the lowest amount of interaction; the party does not recognise she even travels with them.
As for her story, it gives you a picture on the consequences of the curse, but nothing more than that.

Add in Edér as the only viable tank and either Kana for additional support or Pallegina as sort of a poor man's secondary front row combatant.

By the way: there will be a spell for ciphers that creates a link between you and the ally that damages only enemies. Sagani's pet? He is fast. And the link has no length limit after it was cast…
As for Durance… prepare to read. A lot. And rest and rest and rest and rest even more until his triggers finally kick in to continue the conversation. His "quest" has more text than some contemporary games in their entirity.

[Dorok]

I'll wait a bit more answers but thanks for now my decision is clear, I'll keep Grieving Mother for a future possible replay and will stick with MC Cipher, Eder, Pallegina, Durance, Sagani, and Aloth or eventually Hiravias certainly a stronger option for me. But I think it's a good team solid enough and no MC mage, so it's the chance to have Aloth in the party. Will avoid me Hiravias extreme vulgarity I already "suffered/enjoy" in my first play attempt. The only regret is Sagani+Hiravias seems adjusted to each other.

EDIT: If more answers don't make me change this decision, let finally start this second play attempt after about 10 hours or tries and errands, I hope Hard will suit my taste and play style choice (use a lot companions or even MC AI and focus control only few characters plus some party organization).

[Bob3]

Originally posted by talgaby:

Add in Edér as the only viable tank

Please don't give advice unless you actually know how to play the game.

[Vita, Mortis, Careo]

Originally posted by Bob (Road to Gehenna):

Originally posted by talgaby:

Add in Edér as the only viable tank

Please don't give advice unless you actually know how to play the game.

I'm sure talgaby knows how to play the game. Don't be a jerk.

[At Least Three Udon]

You don't need to min max in this game, as long as you know what your abilities do, and cheese from time to time with summons it's fine. And for Grieving Mother, she has the most boring interactions in the whole game, she is a sort of psychic captain obvious, and also the only character that can leave if you do some things. The one after Durance that keep talking the most is the Druid, he is a an opposite to Grieving Mother and probably the only that has a banter with her (and i mean only 1).

[Buu]

theres no wrong way...in mine..i just made a fighter...jacked her up and used rest as ranged...2 hunters...cipher..wizard...priest and the fighter...walking threw everything so far...so ya...no real wrong way to play...just gotta use the right spells...pick ur highest damagers and use them....dont need to use every spell they give u....pick wat works best and master it...then ull be fine

[Arsene Lupin]

She's an interesting companion... but, like Durance, she's mostly just a walking exposition dump. What's worse, she has zero banter. Which means she's worth taking the time to do her quest, but not worth keeping in the party long-term.

[Flo]

1. Grieving Mother's (and Durance) story goes all the way till the end of the game, while other companions stories are just done and that's it. So yes, she has more story than other characters. She has a lot of interaction with the player, and on several quests she gives you unique ways to solve them.

2. Well, with 3 casters and an archer obviously you'll lack melee. I would personally take Eder and anything else (rogue, barbarian, monk... Maybe Pallegina)

[Lawler]

Grieving Mother joined my group late and quickly surpassed even Aloth for total party damage, using certain of her "spells". Plus her spells are great vs. both single and groups of enemies. My end party was my Priest, Durance, Grieving Mother, Eder, Aloth and Pallegina. I used her more for damage than trying to charm the enemy. She was very versatile too, using both a bow and melee weapons equally well. Gave her a unique dagger and eventually a unique rapier for quick strikes to build up her power quickly.

[talgaby]

Originally posted by Bob (Road to Gehenna):

Please don't give advice unless you actually know how to play the game.

What other companion would you tank with? Pallegina? Yes, on easy and normal she is a good front-liner. On hard, it is a toss-up. You can build an all-defensive list for her, but even then, her greatest contribution is the defensive aura to help Edér.
On PotD? Medium stats everywhere, which may be better now for the 2.0+ world, but still makes all her defense stats mediocre against enemies with increased attacking capabilities. She just drops too fast compared to Edér.
Or Kana? He is bulky, but his endurance pool isn't really big unless you can pour healing into him constantly.
As for expansion companions, I cannot say anything. I doubt I'll have the enxpansion until it copmes out fully. Maybe there is a viable tank there, I don't know yet.

[Dorok]

I had already decided after first two answers, other was a lot too late. I choose, MC Cipher, Eder, Pallegina, Durance, Sagani, and Aloth.