New (or possibly not new) Customization Idea

[Cephalobro]

Here's a slightly unexpected customization feature that would be great to have in a Splatoon game: Companions

Basically, think Smallfry, but a lot more in-depth. After you have customized your character, you would be able to choose from one of the following companions: a Salmonid (could be a Smallfry, Chum, or Cohock), an Octarian (could be an Octotrooper or Octocopter, both without their machines/vehicles, you can choose one of the game's available ink color for them to be), a fish that swims midair (with patterns on the fish's body mimicking that of a koi, butterflyfish or zebrafish), a nudibranch (bright colors with certain patterns can be chosen), or a sea turtle (its shell can be painted with one color, but there's a huge selection for colors that you can choose from). Oh and you can name your companion too.

All of the companions will have a size slider so it will be unlikely that two players will have the exact same customized companion. Your companion will follow your character around in the hub, and you will see other people's Inklings/Octolings with their own customized companions following them around, and some even interact with said companions. But there would also be a new multiplayer game mode centered around the companion system as well. While I don't have the name for it, I have a general idea of what it could be like: Your team of four is sent into a sewer system to investigate strange sightings but gets captured in the process, it's up to your companions to work together to free your team and get out of the sewer. There will be phases that will switch between your Inkling/Octoling character and your companion.

If I come up with more ideas for companions, I will add them here.

EDIT: Forgot to add that you would be able to change the color of the Salmonid's clothes and fins, further adding to the uniqueness.

 

[Tereox]

Holy crud, that sounds amazing.

I love the idea of a gamemode you can play with the companions
Would different species have different powers?

 

[Cephalobro]

Would different species have different powers?

There are pros and cons to them having different powers. As well as pros and cons of them not having them either.

But if they had different powers, here is what each could have:

Salmonid: Smallfries would do quick chip damage, Chums would deal middling damage with normal speed, and Cohocks deal huge chunks of damage, but with slower attack speed. The Salmonid's special is calling a swarm of Salmonids to surround enemies to splat them.

Octarian: Octotroopers could do tentacle lashes against enemies as if a Splatana is used while Octocopters deal damages via body slams from their hops. The damage from both is different, the Octotrooper does less damage, but attacks quicker while the Octocopter deals more damage, but attacks slower. The Octarian's special would be through the use of an ink-slinging machine that can easily splat even the most resistant of enemies, though, the machines shoot faster than the enemy types.

Mid-air swimming fish: They attack by biting and headbutting enemies. Their special is swimming in a circle surrounding a group of enemies before striking in full force, splatting all of the enemies inside the circle.

Nudibranch: They can damage enemies simply by making contact with them, but they can also shoot out their stinging arms at them. The Nudibranch's special would be extending all of its stinging arms at once, splatting all of the surrounding enemies around them in a similar range to a Splashdown.

Sea Turtle: They can attack by swiping their fins and using sand as an offensive weapon, they don't deal as much damage as the other companions, but they are very resistant to damage from enemies, making that trade-off worth it. The Sea Turtle's special is to become invincible from enemy attacks.

Just like with weapons, all of the companions' specials wear off after being used.

 

[QuagSass]

I looooove games that give me a little guy, especially if there's more than one.
I would actually go feral over this feature.

 

[Tereox]

Damn, I love the amount of thought put into the different powers. They feel balanced, especially with the heavy hitters taking a longer time to make their swings. And the specials sound really cool.

Honestly, if they added a feature like that it would be the only thing I play for a good couple weeks. It's a wonderful idea.

 

[Cephalobro]

A companion's maximum and minimum size depends on what they are. For example, a Smallfry can never be as big as a Cohock, even if you used the slider to make it the biggest Smallfry you could make. Each companion has a limit to how big or small they can be. Some companions share size limits, like Octotroopers sharing their size limits with Octocopters. A Chum shares its size limits with the Nudibranch and the swimming fish, whereas Cohocks share their size limits with sea turtles.

 

[Cephalobro]

Believe it or not, the companion will also play an important role in the story mode, much like Smallfry, but instead of being used in a lot of combat, they will instead be used to access areas that the player can't access alone. The puzzle varies depending on the type of companion you have with you:

The puzzle is underwater if your companion is a Salmonid. Smallfries, Chums, and Cohocks are able to go into the water just fine.

The puzzle will be behind tiny openings if your companion is an Octarian. Octotroopers and Octocopters are able to squeeze through these tight openings while the player cannot.

The puzzle is behind somewhere unclimbable if your companion is a mid-air swimming fish, these fish would be able to reach what needs to be activated for the player to advance.

The puzzle is locked behind a multi-switch door, the type of switch that's impossible for the player to activate on their own, the Nudibranch would be able to activate all of the switches at the same time easily.

The puzzle will only be activated by grains of sand if your companion is a sea turtle.