The ever-changing realms of the Faewilds is dangerous, and Nightingale players will need all the backup they can get if they're venturing out into a brand-new frontier. Adventuring into the unknown is great with friends, though it's not that horrible of an experience either for those who are going solo.
Nightingale's Character Creation is 'Easy to Master, Difficult to Monster'
The Best War Games speaks with Inflexion Games about the design philosophy behind Nightingale's character creation system.
There are a number of things going for Nightingale's solo players, and one such feature includes a full-fledged companion system to make surviving in the wilds a bit more manageable. While the AI in the game's early access phase isn't at its best yet, having an extra Realmwalker with you still offers plenty of advantages. Here's how to get an AI-controlled buddy.
How to Recruit NPCs in Nightingale
The first step to recruiting an NPC is finding them, which you can easily do by opening your map as soon as you load into a new realm. Next, speak with the NPC and help them with a short quest. This may differ from player to player — the NPC we found asked for help with building bed rolls and a campfire. Do whatever they ask of you, and you'll be able to recruit them as a companion on your missions by talking to them again and selecting the appropriate option in the dialogue menu.
NPC recruits in Nightingale are, in a way, similar to Kelvin from Sons of the Forest. They will follow you around, fight enemies, chop down trees, and help build things around your base. As of writing, it doesn't seem like they require any food or rest, and if their HP drops to zero, you can instantly get them back to the fight by reviving them. If you want your recruit to do some real damage in a fight, you can also give them your crafted weapons and armor.
Unfortunately, the current state of companions in Nightingale is pretty lackluster. When armed with an axe, they'll recklessly cut down trees, possibly damaging you or your base buildings. They don't appear to block or dodge much either, and their pathing inside Sites of Power leaves much to be desired. On the other hand, enemies still acknowledge your recruit's existence, and the friendly AI's presence alone can give you some much-needed breathing room in a chaotic fight.
There's no doubt that companions will get better in the future. As per the CEO of Inflexion Games, Nightingale will evolve around player feedback, so it's only a matter of time before improvements are made.
Nightingale
- Released
- February 20, 2024
