I've searched the forums, but couldn't find the answer.

If you select Solo Challenge ... can you recruit the companions/sidekicks without using them in your "group"?
EG: They would fight in ship boarding battles, but that's it.

I'm thinking the answer is probably "No" ... but wanted to double-check.

Yes, they'll just go straight to the roster and you can't move them to your active group. They'll fight for you on the ship in their super gimp levels but they are bodies nonetheless. They also still can accrue injuries and die too if you do nonstop ship battles and make them get knocked out in combat repeatedly so watch out.

Edited September 13, 20187 yr by Metaturtle

Since you started a thread on the solo challenge, I hope I can jump in.  Do you get Berath's Blessing doing the challenges or not?  I can't figure out how to do it if you do.  Sorry for the sidetrack

Since you started a thread on the solo challenge, I hope I can jump in. Do you get Berath's Blessing doing the challenges or not? I can't figure out how to do it if you do. Sorry for the sidetrack

No, you are not able to get the benefits of Berath's Blessings.