As the Sole Survivor explores the post-apocalyptic wasteland of the Commonwealth in Fallout 4, they are ed 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 the Elder Scrolls titles, which have a very different take on player companions. But with Elder Scrolls 6 on the horizon, there are some lessons it can learn from Fallout 4 when it comes to followers.
Followers or companions have been a core part of both the Elder Scrolls series and Fallout from their earliest days. While companions have been present in every Fallout game, it wasn’t until Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind that followers were first introduced, and have remained virtually unchanged in their function since then. However, while Elder Scrolls followers remained static pack mules, Fallout companions have evolved into something better that could easily be replicated in Elder 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 the Elder 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 as Skyrim’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 of Fallout 4, all of whom are memorable and even have their own fanbases within the larger Fallout community.
Skyrim’s followers were a massive step forward from the ones seen in Oblivion or Morrowind, 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. Skyrim followers 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 next Elder Scrolls game, it would be a good idea to look at the Fallout 4 companions to see what makes them so special. By examining what makes the companions of Fallout 4 different and comparing that to other recent RPG successes, a clear pattern can be seen which the Elder Scrolls 6 needs to emulate. There are also some great examples from the Skyrim modding community that clearly demonstrate the types of companions/followers the fans are hoping to see in future Elder Scrolls installments.
What Makes Fallout 4’s Companions Work
Distinct Personalities, Personal Quests & Better Romances
The key thing that sets Fallout 4’s companions apart from Elder Scrolls followers is that, in Fallout 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 16 Fallout 4 companions 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 their personal companion quests are the most common talking points when discussing Fallout 4 companions. Understanding them, their backstories, and their preferences is important and only possible because they have been written as fully realized characters. Elder Scrolls 6 needs 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 good Elder Scrolls followers, many in the fanbase will point to Serana, who is often called the best Skyrim follower. 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 memorable Skyrim followers have quests linked to them or play major roles in their faction’s questline such as Aela, Vilkas and Farkas, or J’zargo.
The five most endorsed custom follower mods currently on Nexus Mods for Skyrim Special Edition are Inigo, Sofia, Lucien, Auri, and Vilja. Each one of these custom Skyrim companions is 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", ing 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 the Dragon Age series and more recently in Larian Studio's smash hit Baldur's Gate 3. They are characters who just happen to be companions rather 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 for Elder Scrolls 6 need 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 in Fallout 4 makes interacting with companions more rewarding and organic rather than simply exhausting dialogue options and would make an excellent addition to future Elder Scrolls games. The focus should be on quality over quantity with some basic quality-of-life tweaks such as being able to dismiss them to a specific location to strike a good balance between Fallout 4’s system and what has come before in the Elder Scrolls.
