The Armchair Developer Comes to ESO Live

ZOS_GinaBruno · March 2015

Have you ever wished your favorite MMO would implement a certain feature? “Why don’t they do X, it can’t be that difficult!?” is certainly a thought that has come to a lot of minds. It’s a wish we often hear on these forums, too.

In a new segment in our biweekly Twitch show ESO Live called “The Armchair Developer,” we want to take a closer look at these feature requests, explore the pros and cons of implementing them and all the work involved – from concept and artwork, to building and balancing, all the way to the live patch.

This segment can include topics like new weapons (spear, unarmed combat), new emotes, scripted events such as weddings, housing, dying weapons or costumes, new siege weapons (remember the trailer!), new motifs, arenas, dueling, or even a new playable race. Please be aware that all topics discussed are a theoretical exercise only and no indication or guarantee that the feature will be implemented to the game.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to implement one of the above? Do you have a personal feature request? Let us know! We are looking for the first topic for this week’s show when we ask our Armchair Developer the dangerous question: “Wouldn’t it be nice to have...?"

farrier_ESO · March 2015

What a great idea! It might mean that at the very least there are better-informed suggestions posted to the forums.

The "Auction HoRse" has been a popular one recently, and might be a nice way to start the feature

But there're others that might be a better example of why stuff isn't done, like "Make a PvE version of Cyrodiil for a week to see what would happen".

[Edited to add: No fair! Germans get all the best words! Their thread for this is titled "Der Stammtischentwickler wird Teil von ESO Live". Stammtischentwickler. That sounds awesome in my head.]

Snit · March 2015

That's really interesting. I will tune in for these.

robeauch · March 2015

Oh, housing, definitely. And I won't bother with "how hard can it be," because it does seem like a pretty significant development effort. But I'd tune in just to hear the developers bounce it around some.

DDuke · March 2015

Great idea for a show.

I've heard a rumour that 24-man raids (full group being 24) were planned at one time. Would be nice to have these & know what it'd take to implement them.

timidobserver · March 2015

1. Go through all that would be involved in implementing a new class.
2. We have normal and veteran mode dungeons. What would be involved in implementing insanity mode.
3. Trials gear is worthelss now. What would be involved in adding new gear to all of the trials in the game.
4. Race Ultimates
5. A token system, or something similar, that provides gear based on completing endgame content.
6. Flying Mounts
7. Small Scale PvP.

Elsonso · March 2015

Oh wow!

This is a good idea!

Thavie · March 2015

Let's talk about CROSSBOWS!

Ffastyl · March 2015

There is so much to talk about...

But I suppose I should start with what is freshest in my mind: One-Hand weapon line.
I posted a thread on it here. It would also be nice to get some Dev feedback on how balanced my suggestion looks.

MisterBigglesworth · March 2015

The biggest thing you guys need to worry about is implementing catch-up mechanics: ways for new players to be on par with people who have been playing for a year... this needs to be a core feature (i.e. not a cash shop item like an XP potion) and it needs to be achievable within a matter of a few months (i.e. not the huge separation in player power that will be possible via the Champion System, which could take several years for a more casual player to close the gap). If you do not make this a priority, there will be a pervasive feeling of inequality throughout the community.

newtinmpls · March 2015

DIsmantling classes and having all skill lines available to everyone (granted, some would logically be locked to quests/guild memberships) I could see the various magic skills accessed through the mages guide.

Helluin · March 2015

- Small scale PvP (more battlegrounds/scenarios than arenas)
- Collisions in PvP (with the many performance issues already in Cyrodiil, it would probably remain just a dream)
- Double - multiple builds system
- Hybrid builds and sets more viable
- Really rare epic random events - quests
- Calendar with evocations of Daedric Princes and celebration of Aedra/Divines
- Jewelcrafting
- Poisons added to Alchemy
- Chance to recraft gear with a new style
- Conversion of lesser crafting improvements into better ones (ratio 5:1 for example)
- Craftable - consumable arrows or quiver with additional effects
- Two hand weapons counting as 2 pieces for sets or evaluate the introduction of specific items like quivers, scabbards, etc.
- Catch-up mechanics as already asked in this topic

bloodenragedb14_ESO · March 2015

i know it might be covered in spellcrafting, but lets talk implementation of necromancy for players

Armitas · March 2015

I have an improvement for the looking for group tool.

Any player may have several quests, dolmens, dungeons, or world bosses that they need to finish but they may not all queue up for the same things. This can leave 20 people ungrouped even though they share the same needs. There may be a way to improve this by implementing the LFG tool into the world map.

Lets say 1 player queues up for Banished Cells. When a different player opens his map he may see the map icon for banished cells has begun to shimmer. He mouses over it and after a delay a tool tip pops up showing that 1 player has queued up as a healer. This player also needs banished Cells so he right clicks the map icon and chooses to enter the queue as well. This causes the icon to shimmer a bit more notifying other players that may open their map that a group is almost formed for this objective.

Dolmen icons can change color based on the phase, and world boss icons can begin to shimmer based on the number of players standing next to it.

This will allow people to choose their queue or actions based on what other people are already queuing or participating in rather than shooting in the dark and hoping people chose the same thing. It also makes it easy to search for a dungeon, dolmen, or world boss to complete.

EJRose83 · March 2015

"Wouldn't it be nice to have..."

-Spears!! Pleeeassseeee! Two-handed and single-handed (spear and shield) would be great!

-The ability to wield a normal sized sword with two hands, like a *** sword or a katana. Seriously, I love sword combat but why are my only options for this either sword and board or a giant claymore.... ? You could simply call this the "dueling skill line" if you wanted.

Selique · March 2015

Oh! This sounds fun!

I'm interested to hear about the following topics:

-Underwater Exploration and Sailing
-Player owned housing
-Spears and other new weapons
-One Handed Skill line
-New Races? (I thought all the currently living races were already here? o.O)
-Opening up opposite faction lands to lower level players
-A trade system, where you physically carry goods across Tamriel (Like a merchant caravan!) Complete with Bandits (PvE and PvP) and Heroes (PvP and PvE) Think ArchAge or Silk Road Online.
-New parts of the map (Black Marsh, Elsewyr, Summerset Isles, Orsimnium, and all manner of places not currently in game).
-Poison crafting (Perhaps in Alchemy?)
-New Skill lines
-Arenas (PvP
-Dueling (PvP)
-In-Game LORE based Holidays. Lore based. I repeat. Lore Based :P
-New Mounts
-Guild Improvements
-And probably a lot of what the other players here want to know more about !

Suntzu1414 · March 2015

Different LEVEL Cyro Campaigns.

Following in the steps of BWB (non-vet)

Level VR1 - VR5 (i particularly like this one)
Level VR6 - VR10

So we could level, without doing all the quests again.
Also, so we could level..the "insane" amount of AP need for AvA skills.

Kill Well
ST

WraithAzraiel · March 2015

All great suggestions.

But all I want to know more about and soon, is the Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood and their respective gear types.

When can we expect their introduction into the game?

Will their gear be available as a motif? As rewards? As a constume? As drops?

ZOS_JessicaFolsom · March 2015

Hey folks, just a quick note. Some of the replies to this thread, while totally fine questions, are not the intent of this upcoming ESO Live segment. At the heart of it, we will be discussing what it takes to implement a specific type of new feature or system in a game like ESO, not answering whether or not it will ever be in ESO.

C3N50R3D · March 2015

Suntzu1414 wrote: »

Different LEVEL Cyro Campaigns.

Following in the steps of BWB (non-vet)

Level VR1 - VR5 (i particularly like this one)
Level VR6 - VR10

So we could level, without doing all the quests again.
Also, so we could level..the "insane" amount of AP need for AvA skills.

Kill Well
ST

I could deal with the champion grind if AvA unlock of skills like Vigor wasn't nearly impossible trying to level another class.

Wakkoo · March 2015

I would like to know about

- Smallscale PvP (Battleground, Skirmishes)
- Better support for leveling doing PvP
- Low level PvP (Posted feedback about it here, really hope you read it Zinemax)
- PvP Upgrades, such as upgradable keeps for guilds, quests to make friendly guards stronger or spawn soldiers/minibosses to fight the enemy.
- More support for the crime system. Players can attack traders or become bandits? Players can be "Crimefighters"?
- More classes
- Dynamic events/Public quests in the world (Think Guild Wars 2 Dynamic Events)

What I think is a good idea, people already suggested;

- A trade system, where you physically carry goods across Tamriel (Like a merchant caravan!) Complete with Bandits (PvE and PvP) and Heroes (PvP and PvE) Think ArchAge or Silk Road Online.

EJRose83 · March 2015

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

Hey folks, just a quick note. Some of the replies to this thread, while totally fine questions, are not the intent of this upcoming ESO Live segment. At the heart of it, we will be discussing what it takes to implement a specific type of new feature or system in a game like ESO, not answering whether or not it will ever be in ESO.

That being the case, what would it take to implement spears into the game? Also, what about the ability to use a normal two-handed sword, such as a katana or a *** sword? I hate big swords and their animations :P

Thanks!

Ffastyl · March 2015

An idea that I would like to see discussed about after recently perusing the forums is the Auction Horse. The thread goes into detail about how it would work from a player's standpoint, and going over it in this new segment would serve a double purpose: bringing it into more prominent attention with the Devs and showing the difficulties of implementing an Auction Horse (giving us a enough info to guesstimate an ETA (if it is pursued)).

olsborg · March 2015

Spellcrafting, this should have been in from launch, and shouldnt be too hard to implement, and you've already done some of the work. Predefined spells and abilities being the only thing available to your character, is a thing of the past. For the future of gaming, people need to create their own stuff, their own spells, their own techniques. It wont feel "real" without this.

Its the future of games like these.

Sacadon · March 2015

Would like to understand what all is involved in:

- Ensuring mounts move smoothly across terrain consistently
- Implementing the code of popular addons such as inventory filters, guild search etc...

Disappearingone · March 2015

ZOS_JessicaFolsom wrote: »

Hey folks, just a quick note. Some of the replies to this thread, while totally fine questions, are not the intent of this upcoming ESO Live segment. At the heart of it, we will be discussing what it takes to implement a specific type of new feature or system in a game like ESO, not answering whether or not it will ever be in ESO.

So, What's the point...seems like this segment will inspire false hope and nothing more.

Kingdinguhling · March 2015

I want Man-Catapult for PVP. Could u imagine lauching like 4 people over a wall simultaneously it would take 8 people and you would have to plan it out so they don't land in a fight with fall damage. XD would want ot make it incredibly expensive so it wouldn't be over used.

Kingdinguhling · March 2015

Hand to Hand weapons and possibly a Monk class

AriBoh · March 2015

Mounted combat. Either existing skill lines or what you would do to make a whole new skill bar that appears when mounted.

ashlee17 · March 2015

Guild management tools.

Please please please!

Let's explore how hard putting some extra guild banking controls or a guild calendar would be.

Guilds are in desperate need of ways to help recruit new members, run guild events, manage guild resources and build strong.

Guilds are essential to building a strong ESO community.

Please... to everyone who is reading this comment in the thread below.

Support your guild, help us get the guild tools we so desperately need!

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/145742/help-we-need-more-guild-management-tools#latest

Orchish · March 2015

Thavie wrote: »

Let's talk about CROSSBOWS!

This.

Please PLEASE give my Orc a crossbow!