Wives/captains/companions in this one?

[Nevar]

Honestly, the game gives you so many permanent stat boosts and runes that you can pick up from the map that you'll barely notice the four missing equip slots. The Valkyrie bonuses also somewhat offset the difference.

HOWEVER, what I don't like about the Valkyries so far is that their effects are incredibly generic. Sure, extra rage, gold, and leadership are always nice. But back in TL and CW, you could pick companions that suited your build. Also, the lack of slots makes it very, very hard to equip sets. I.E. if a set ever requires more than one artifact, then that's two classes that can't make it.

I wish there were a way to customize Valkyrie effects.

[Puce Moose]

I'm also a little sad about the lack of non-main-storyline companions. It was pretty neat to run across some fellow down on his luck, follow a small tangential story to its completion, and then discover he wanted to tag along. I think those side stories added a lot to the game world, and helped create a connection with the quirky, lively inhabitants.

That said, I'm still having a lot of fun with the personalities and characters in Warriors of the North. Herring-guzzling lighthouse keepers, hungover friends feeling a bit fractious after an unfortunate theft after an evening of drinking, smugglers seeking tools to expand their storehouse of ill-gotten goods; there's still some fun writing and characters to be found.

The translation may(?) (I'm playing the English version) be the roughest one yet, but there's a lot of fun dialog and personality in there regardless.