I think I've mentioned it across several different, unrelated suggestions already, but the issue with not being able to switch companions while they are on their playing cooldown keeps popping up. It is such a massive frustration, even more so given that differetn aspects of the site will warrant different wolf/companion combinations and leave little room for anything aesthetic.

Personally, I like it if my companions aesthetically match the wolves they are paired to, even more so if I can have a mated pair of wolves have matching companions. However, for hunting, you need to most random combinations, many different ones at that, in order to get decent success rates. In the gauntlet completely different types of teams are required. Preferably those with healing, so that they can last many rounds. In the campaign agian other combinations are required, to hit fast and hard to kill the enemies asap.

Now that the recent patch notes have buffed the boss battles beyond imagination, making them incredibly hard to beat, I personally would've loved the possibility to play around with different combos to see which work. But I can't. Cause the playing cooldown prevents me from switching the companions..

Something needs to change. I would love it if the wolf/companion combos in the den for playing with companions was completely separate for any type of team building that requires synergies/abilities. Perhaps this could be done by being able to select a companion, regardless of who it is attached to in the den.

An important note/stipulation would be that a person is able to use the same companion within the same profession as many times as they have copies of the companion. More precisely, if I have 3 rodill, I would be able to start 3 hunts all with 1 rodill (or I can do one hunt with 2 rodills and another one with 1 rodill) at the same time. Similarly how I can now also send the same type of companion on different hunts as long as I have those copies attached to a wolf.
Currently companion usage across different professions (gauntlet, hunting and campaign) isn't prohibited in any way (meaning you can use the same combo of wolves and companion in each profession at the same time) so that should definitely stay the same as well.

Another, but imo way less desirable option would be to still make it possible to switch companions around, even if they are on their ‘playing’ cooldown. I say, less desirable, because that does mean I will need to constantly go to my den to swap companions, and again break anything aesthetic (or lore) I'm trying to build.

But something needs to change to make the gauntlet, the campaign and hunting playable.

I personally support this. Maybe something like a “battle party” for different parts of the site?

Campaign party: has 5 slots, 2 of which can be filled with any companion or wolf. Max 2 companions per campaign party.

Hunting party: select any wolf and any companion. Can be nerfed where if 1 type of companion has been sent out already, no others can be sent.

Den: purely aesthetic and play purposes. Only those equipped can be played with to gain exp.

Gauntlet: same as campaign

I like it, although I personally wouldn't mind being able to send out a companion twice if I actually have two copies of that companion in my account. Specifically for hunting, given the very difficult combos that are often required.

Another limitation could be that, if a companion is below a certain level the only way to equip it is if it is bonded to the wolf also in the party. But once a companion is at or above a certain level it can be freely chosen, even if not attached to the wolves in the party.

Much support. I’d like to be able to include any companion I own in a party, regardless if they are equipped to a wolf or not.

There are so many companions, and I’m sure more will be added as time goes on. At some point it will be impossible for the average player to have a wolf for every companion. I want to be able to collect and use as many companions as possible, but I also want to keep my wolf pack small.

I think a good compromise would be to let companions above x level join a party even when not equipped.

I was just thinking of this. It could be a good reward for leveling companions, like leveling professions. At certain pet levels you can unlock freely moving them around in certain activities.

Have a mandatory hunt slot for 1 wolf, or 2-3 wolves for the large hunt parties, and the other slots are considered ‘free fill’ so can be a wolf or a companions if the devs want to maintain balance.

Much support.

Support

I like matching my companions to my wolves, but if I want to use that wolf in the gauntlet and switch out his Vespen for a viable synergy, I have to wait 12 hours if I bonded with it

At least make bonding a cooldown but switching them out not ? Or the separate teams could be fun, but it seems really silly to wait half a day just so I can switch out the companion and use a different one on that wolf in the gauntlet

"Something needs to change. I would love it if the wolf/companion combos in the den for playing with companions was completely separate for any type of team building that requires synergies/abilities. Perhaps this could be done by being able to select a companion, regardless of who it is attached to in the den."
"Another limitation could be that, if a companion is below a certain level the only way to equip it is if it is bonded to the wolf also in the party. But once a companion is at or above a certain level it can be freely chosen, even if not attached to the wolves in the party."

Soooooo much support! For real, this would be a dream come true! Even if they made it so a companion has to be level 10, before being able to choose it independently, I'd still be over the moon!

(Edit: Does the quote text really need to be that big? lol)

100000000000% please please please. It's so frustrating trying to pick the best wuffs and companions for hunting or whatnot - but it's hard when i'm leveling companions or have certain ones with specific wuffs for various reasons etc. etc.