Over the course of two live streams now, the developers made it abundantly clear that none of the missing companions are slated to return in Knights of the Eternal Throne.
For those keeping count, here is the list of companions that are still M.I.A.
As you can see it’s a fairly substantial list of people whose return remains up in the air. Yes, you can go to the companion terminal on Odessen and get them back, but it’s not the same as reuniting through the story. After all, there is an RPG element to the game, and we all role-play to some degree. Using the terminal rings hollow compared to having them show up in the story.
The main reason companions aren’t coming back is they ultimately felt like they could not balance the main story with the companion story. They felt like they did the main story a disservice and did not provide enough closure with the companions’ stories.
Ideally, I would prefer to see companions integrated as characters in the main story chapters, but I liked the alliance alerts and thought they worked well in bringing companions back into the fold.
Looking at some of the characters, there are a few them that could easily play key roles in Knights of the Eternal Throne. For instance, at the end of Chapter XVI Senya and Arcann are fleeing for their lives. Zakuul is no longer a safe haven and Arcann is in need of medical attention. It’s a great opportunity to bring Doc into the story.
Iokath is an entirely mechanical planet, a digital world if you will. Who better to help navigate its cyber-terrain than Mako?
Nathema is another new world we’ll be visiting and one where Lord Scourge has set foot. One would think that he has unfinished business with the former Sith Emperor and could serve as a guide in this harsh world.
Imagine a scene that starts with Alliance Commander and team planning something on their Odessen base. After all, don’t all chapters start on Odessen these days?
Theron: “Commander, we have an unidentified craft entering Odessen atmosphere.”
ME: “Open a channel, and let’s see what we’ve got here.”
Theron: “Channel open. You’re free to offer them a dose of Odessen hospitality any time now.”
ME: “Unidentified ship, I have one question for you. Do you prefer total disintegration or would like your remains scattered across the landscape?”
Lord Scourge: “Well, there is this lovely spot just above the equator.”
ME: “Scattered it is. Theron, on my mark.”
Lord Scourge: “Fire if you must, but heed this. If you’re heading to Nathema, you won’t get far without my help.”
ME: “Nathema? Just who are you and how do you know about that planet? And Theron, hold your fire.”
Theron: “Understood, but if you change your mind, our ‘friend’ will need to pick out a new retirement home.”
ME: “Duly noted. Explain yourself, or pick out a new resting place for your remains.”
Lord Scourge: “The will of the Force guided me here. I am Lord Scourge, former Wrath to the Sith Emperor Vitiate. I have been to Nathema before, and have seen its horrors first hand. Believe me, you don’t want to go there.”
ME: “If the Force told you to come here and talk us out of it, I’m going to have to disappoint you. We’re going anyway.”
Lord Scourge: “On the contrary. While Nathema makes Ziost look like a lush paradise, I’m not here to dissuade you. I’m here to guide you.”
ME: “Okay ‘friend’, we’ll hear you out. You’re clear to land on platform 123. Welcome to the Alliance, Lord Scourge.”
As you can see it doesn’t take much to incorporate a companion into the story. You just need the right companion, the right moment, and a professional writer. Definitely a professional writer.
Lord Scourge won’t be guiding us through the dead world of Nathema, buy hopefully, we’ll get a chance to tell him all about it someday. It’s been more than a year since we’ve seen him and the other missing companions.
I understand they want a companion’s return to be meaningful. I just hope they don’t let the pursuit of perfection impede progress, or we may never see them again.
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