question about companion loyalty

[Tadayn]

Hi, is there a way to actually see companion loyalty gain (or loss) and how much a companion needs to reach the next level?

[WingedDog]

No there isn't.
I think you are in the early game. The best advice I can give you is to pay attention to Disgruntled companions you don't want to lose, pay attention to what they like and what they don't and act accordingly. Give them gifts to increase their loyalty and prioritise their quests. In mid-late game there's no problem in making everyone adore you.

[Wlerin]

Technically there is. Exact numerical values for loyalty change and the new total value are shown in the debug file.

[Tadayn]

Thank you both! I found the debug file, and indeed gifts appear to be very rewarding. Also some events choice affect companions more than others.
I could finally bring Gor-goro to raise up from his neutral state, and start his personal quest. Gifting him oil gives him +15 loyalty and freeing slaves during random events gives him +16 loyalty.
Now, I dont know about the different loyalty ranks levels, but I assume there are the same than for factions?
Now I wonder, if I started a companion quest, and its loyalty level goes back down to neutral, can I still continue the quest without any issue?

[Wlerin]

They aren't exactly the same as for factions, but they are kinda similar. There's no Tier V, maybe no Tier IV, and iirc the thresholds are mostly lower than for faction rep. I know the negative loyalty tiers are at -1 and -75 (and then -100 means they leave).

[WingedDog]

In my experience having higher level of loyalty with companions doesn't do much. On some it adds extra conversation options, on some - different answers on already existent conversation options, on some - nothing at all. I think it was only Gor' Goro's quest that is triggered by having Congenial loyalty. Other companions quests are triggered by other things.
Still, I might be wrong, as I didn't finish the game yet.

[Wlerin]

The "good" ending for several companions requires high (at least Friendly, maybe even Amicable) loyalty with them, later quest stages may require at least Congenial or even Friendly before they'll open up to you, etc. And those "extra conversation options" are what the game is all about (not to mention some of them will give loyalty boosts or unlock other things). It differs from companion to companion, and the effects are more hidden than with factions, but I'd hardly say it "doesn't do much".

[Tadayn]

Thank you all for your tips! I would like to unlock all those extra conversation options, so It seems the best is to regularly gift companions items and do their quests. Relying on events choice is not so great as if it increases some companions loyalty, it always lower others, like freeing the slaves event gave +16 to Gor-goro, but -7 to Cristaa and Harvek.

[chessvain]

by the way about gorgoro if you visit his old friend the place where his quest starts he will gain loyalty about every month or so maybe every two months.

[WingedDog]

I kinda like the story the game created for me on how Gor'Goro made my Vagrus a better person. I started up with skills of a scoundrel, with mindset of a scoundrel, in a company of scoundrels... and Gor'Goro. While my actions were greatly beneficial to me and pleased all my other companions, they displeased Gor'Goro to the point he had said he's about to end our cooperation. He was too valiuable for my goals too loose, so I started to reconsider my approaches to many things. In the end I grew from selfish petty criminal who thinks only about temporary benefit to great honorable hero of the Realm respected by many, with Gor'Goro being my best pal.

[gameaddiction]

I still have one last tip to add that I didn't see mentioned here anywhere: some quests only award loyalty to companions that actually participate in them. For example: Renkailon doesn't exactly like it when you tell him you will be taking him with you on a dangerous expedition into a scary looking place, since he's a bit cowardly, but if you don't bring him with you at all (don't select him for said event) then his loyalty won't decrease. Eylani won't like it when you list her up for the beast arena.

Of course if a choice leads to a fight between your entire comitatus and an enemy you cannot leave someone out, but try to keep this in mind for some quests where you can select what companions to take with you.

[Tadayn]

Thanks all for the tips!
I admit, I keep bribing my companions with gifts, so that everyone stays happy with me whatever I do...
Right now, Gor'goro is my favorite companion as a fighter. Combined with Finndurath, they both really kick a**.
I noticed Renkailon was behaving funny in combat as he requires to change places often. I assume because he is always afraid. I am not taking him anymore during fights.
Right now, my companions fight team is Gor'goro, Finndurath, Skornar, Cristaa, Nedar and her demon or Harvek. I will try to save my insights points to fully upgrade them. I dont know if we get enough insights to upgrade everyone?
I havent gotten Eylani yet. How a fighter is she compared to Harvek? I dont like how easily he gets hurt during combat. Maybe I could swap Harvek with her?

[WingedDog]

My core combat combination is Gor'Goro + Harvek. I place Gor'Goro in the middle front, Harvek behind him and keep spamming Mantis Stab and Charge, effect is devastating almost on anyone. Plus Harvek's switching row abilities help to send pushed back frontline fighters like Skornar or Eylani back front, or pull back exposed vulnerable characters.
Eyelani is different combat class then Harvek. While he's mostly damage and positioning, she's more protection and support rather then damage. She can stun heavy damage dealers or pin agile enemy on his place thus making him unable to evade.

[Wlerin]

Originally posted by Tadayn:

I noticed Renkailon was behaving funny in combat as he requires to change places often. I assume because he is always afraid. I am not taking him anymore during fights.

This is Evasion. He is completely avoiding all damage from an enemy attack. Renkailon either starts with or can easily unlock the ability to decide where to evade, which is much more useful than just dodging randomly into an equally exposed square (and can be used to reposition allies iirc).

Harvek has a trait that gives him armour, and if you're constantly shuffling him between the front and back then he won't get hit that often. What he'll do instead is CRIT often.

[Tadayn]

Thanks. I have experimented switching Harvek attacks between back and front, and he does get hit less, even if his attacks are for now not that strong. I will see how he does when he is fully upgraded.