Zenimax, we want cross-faction Roleplay - no more teasing.

ShadowHvo · July 2015

Greetings fellow Elder Scrolls Players, and you folk from Zenimax.

This is a dead horse to many, yet now after the recent release page of the Imperial City I'm going to grab my bat and take another swing.

We roleplayers, really want the possibility of having cross-faction RP, something that has been allured to several times through the time. Firstly, let me pull you through the known history of it.

Back in 07.29.2013, you released the Ask Us Anything: Roleplaying, where this section can be seen:

Here we can see that they literally say that yes - we can roleplay with our enemies in Cyrodiil if we so wish to, but we wouldn't be safe from their allies. That would be fine, if not for the matter of fact that RP in Cyrodiil between alliances is not possible due to the chat restrictions in /say, /emote and /yell, which are the three most essential RP channels.

Later on in the Beta Test Event between February 7th to February 10th, we had this little piece of information from the survey:

Here we can once again see that supposidly, cross-faction chat was supposed to be there in alliance war (This is under the PvP section of the survey)
This line was in, despite the matter of fact that we didn't even have cross-faction chat at all. We couldn't go out and RP, the only form of chat we could use was Guild Chat, and as every RP'er will tell you, guild chat does not function for RP, especially not with 400+ members in it.

Sadly, Cross-Faction RP never probably saw the light of day - Many RP guilds have tried to make it work, and it has worked in very little scale of 2 to 5 people, but more just makes it impossible. So the factions are forced to only hold inter-faction RP, without the thrilling experience of proper RP-PVP or in general Army v Army RP in Cyrodiil.

Then today you released this image on the new Imperial City DLC page:

Here we can clearly see a Daggerfall Covernant, Aldmeri Dominion AND Ebonheart Pact soldier, all standing together ready for war against Molag Bal's daedric forces in the Imperial City. -WITH- the title of "An Unlikely Alliance" which alludes to us being able to team-up with our sworn three-banners-war enemies in order to take down the daedric forces in the Imperial City. I hope some can see why this new addition adds fuel to the old flame, for we the roleplayers would LOVE if this is possible, to lay down our weapons for the time being and join forces in order to take down a threat that is greater than all three factions combined.

Do not be mistaken, I do want the Imperial City to be PvP-centric (Thats why I'm looking very forward to it myself!) but Zenimax, keep your old promise to the RP community and finally bring in cross-faction /say, /emote and /yell, so we can finally RP cross-faction.

Another solution could be to directly make an RP-PvP Campaign, where /say, /emote and /yell are accessible between all three factions, that way PvP'ers who don't care for RP can join the normal campaigns, while RP'ers can enjoy their RP-PvP in their own campaign. This would be an exellent change for the RP community.

Thank you for reading this, may you have a good day.
Hvo

Sources:
http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/2013/07/29/ask-us-anything-roleplaying
https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/ci/documents/detail/1/AvMG~wpvDv8SURb~Gv8c~yL8a8cq3y37~v5VYT7~Pv_c/5/86/12/08d322476e81a110fec3f197145937c9011f762f/13/MTM5MjE2MjUyNw!!/6/2/7/1877520
http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-gb/dlc/imperialcity

delushin · July 2015

I am poor at RP and when I try it gets weird but there is effort and history in this post.

+1

lathbury · July 2015

while all for you RP folk having fun this IMHO would degrade faction pride further as do multi faction guilds. also I think the reason for no cross faction chat in cyrodill is to prevent griefing by unscrupulous types. I like for our choices to mean something in an mmo that includes our faction choices. also I'm unclear as to why you would want this.

ShadowHvo · July 2015

lathbury wrote: »

while all for you RP folk having fun this IMHO would degrade faction pride further as do multi faction guilds. also I think the reason for no cross faction chat in cyrodill is to prevent griefing by unscrupulous types. I like for our choices to mean something in an mmo that includes our faction choices. also I'm unclear as to why you would want this.

Hurt faction pride? This would increase it very greatly for roleplayers! When we're Incharacter (As in roleplaying our characters) we experience the world, and the life of Tamriel from our characters eyes. Its like acting really, in a sense.

Making /say, /emote and /yell cross-faction in Cyrodiil would enchance the faction pride very greatly. Whilst normal PvP'ers won't give a damn, we RP'ers will for example have a battle like this:

<A fight is ongoing near Fort Dragonclaw, the Daggerfall Covernant owns the great castle while the forces of the Ebonheart Pact assaults the eastern wall.>

Here you would likely see multiple archers fireing away with their arrows while yelling "Away with you, foul savages!" while the Pact moves up a ram whilst yelling "BLOOD FOR THE PACT!". Hell, we will even place a whole array of balistas, aiming them at the wall and then have a Incharacter commander to yell "READY THE SIEGES - HOLD IT - FIRE!" In general, how people would act in the time of it.

Even if we find each other 1v1 in the woods, we will pause mid-battle to insult and taunt our foes - and of course this is all incharacter, so there will be no hard-feelings between the players behind the screen. Its incredible fun when you first get into it! We've had it in MMO's before, and it would be a shame not to be able to fully experience cross-faction RP, or just RP-PvP in ESO.

ZunaRoath · July 2015

I completly support this.
Please, ZOS, this would be something REALLY good for RPers.
I've started roleplaying in Cyrodiil, in both ways:

- Adventure type. With adventures, depends on where you are, you might find some people from other alliances or not, as this also depends on the players, many of them don't want to get ganked, so they go adventure while still around their alliance's lands. But it would be so awesome that if we ever find someone that is adventuring too, we can interact with them.
- War type. Right now, my character is in Cyrodiil fighting the war, yeah, we decided to stay in The Rift and take Fullhelm as Aleswell to avoid battles for other's players petition, as they don't like to be ganked. But imagine, a battle in a campament or something, a battle somewhere, all RPed, in Cyrodiil. Alliance against alliance. It would be so awesome.

From experience, I'll say that this would be really awesome, as most of the people don't go to Cyrodiil to roleplay because of this (ganking is another matter on it, but well). I've never found any RPers in Cyrodiil, that are not the people I RP with, and I'm pretty sure that this is a reason.

Recently, we had an event in where both our EPRP community and the DC roleplaying community went to Cyrodiil to look for something. They have their own characters in DC, probably with all their weapons, their levels, their armors, everything. Yet they had to use their EP ones, and thank that they had them to level 10, some of them had to quickly level them up to 10. If this was implemented, this wouldn't have been a problem.

On the PvP view, as I'm also a PvP player. Many use the /y for giving orders since launch, or the /s too for saying some things, roleplayers walking near keeps could annoy in this, but let's be fair... Roleplayers, walking near keeps or near any kind of battle, who would do that? We got RP gear, we are not prepared for PvP in that moment, and there is the high chance to be attacked. So, I wouldn't expect many /s or /e while in a battle from RPers. I see aswell the problem of some player of a faction, telling some things and plans of his or her faction to another player from other faction, but I'm pretty sure this could be solved. Think of the little things we RPers have had... Clothes, some costumes, some pets, chat bubbles...

As Hvo says, a RP-PvP campaign would be aswell so awesome, though I'm pretty sure PvPers would want to come to this campaign and farm us some bit :P

But please, ZOS, doing this would be great for RPers, appart from all the things that many of us think that could be implemented in the game for this, Cyrodiil cross faction communication would be great.

Thank you.

Enodoc · July 2015

The "cross-faction chat" in the survey line is referring to Guild chat and Whispers, there was never any inference nor expectation that /say, /yell and /emote would be cross-faction.

Although I agree that they should be, at least for /yell and /emote. If I'm yelling, I would expect the enemy to hear me. If I'm /dancing on the parapet, the enemy would see me, so if "Enodoc dances on the parapet" in /emote I would expect the enemy to see that too.

Folkb · July 2015

They killed faction pride when ESO Devs thought it was ok for an Altmer to become emperor in the Ebonheart pact. So at this point who cares, let the RP'rs get what they want.

MangoSsk · July 2015

Folkb wrote: »

They killed faction pride when ESO Devs thought it was ok for an Altmer to become emperor in the Ebonheart pact. So at this point who cares, let the RP'rs get what they want.

Hahahahahahaha Long Live Aldmeri!

notimetocare · July 2015

Folkb wrote: »

They killed faction pride when ESO Devs thought it was ok for an Altmer to become emperor in the Ebonheart pact. So at this point who cares, let the RP'rs get what they want.

That is a mechanic, not lore >.> In any situation of a faction taking the city, the faction leader becomes Emperor, not his minions.

Flexar · July 2015

I support this entirely. The lack of shared RP channels in Cyrodiil makes RP-PVP impossible, or at least incredibly unfulfilling. I've never been particularly invested in the Alliance War myself, in either RP or gameplay, but I imagine this is a giant turn-off for those who are.

A while ago I and a few from the EU DC roleplaying community tried to get the foundations down for a cross-faction RP event in Cyrodiil, but it fell through completely because of how awful guild chat would be for RP and the inability to group with players from other factions. I was part of the event that Zuna mentioned, for which our friends from DC had to do a good deal of grinding to be able to get their characters into Cyrodiil with us. It also made some of them unable to use their preferred RP gear because of their low level, as well as a lot less safe, since instead of being present on the veteran-ranked versions of their characters they were there on low-level clones.

As for the matter of faction pride: some of us just aren't bothered. If some people from different factions want to RP together in Cyrodiil, I don't see why they shouldn't be able to, particularly as it doesn't affect anyone else. Sure, if you want to shun people from other factions, do so, but don't expect the rest of us to do the same.

Machiavelli · July 2015

I would support this but consoles got shafted on roleplaying in general. So, good luck.

SIXR_sCaR · July 2015

ShadowHvo · July 2015

SIXR_sCaR wrote: »

Hah, this is pretty accurate!

Roleplaying in general though is really fun and interesting when you first get your mindset in on it. Everyone should try it out at one point! =P

Vaelen · July 2015

Only Talos, Tiber Septim can usher in the new era of Cross-Faction RP... Sadly we will all have to wait a few hundred more years to see it happen.

ShadowHvo · July 2015

Vaelen wrote: »

Only Talos, Tiber Septim can usher in the new era of Cross-Faction RP... Sadly we will all have to wait a few hundred more years to see it happen.

Hopefully not that long! We roleplayers sure hope Zenimax changes this before a hundred years has passed!

TheShadowScout · July 2015

I still am somewhat vexed they didn't make coldharbour at least a cross-faction cooperative region. It definitely -would- fit the story... maybe craglorn as well... and still somewhat hoping that maaaybe someday they might refit this...

TheHumanFloyd · July 2015

It's funny, I was just talking with Varlynd about doing a cross-faction storyline one of these days. We agreed that we could not pull something like that off in any meaningful way as the system currently exists. All it would take would be the ability to see other factions emotes, says, etc and we could make anything happen!

I don't feel like this could hurt faction pride in any way. For RPers at least it would make it stronger, since it would truly give us an 'us vs them' sense. A faceless enemy who never speaks is not as interesting or threatening as an intelligent opponent who makes false allegiances, political moves, etc.

Cyrodiil is sooooo cool and as an RPer I would LOVE to spend more time there!

VilhelmValhalla4 · July 2015

I've always thought it strange that the factions were mandatory in the first place, why couldn't we just start in a certain zone then, after questing in different alliance zones, decide which faction is most fitting, thereby allowing explorers and RPers to travel freely, and increasing "faction pride" by having people fighting in Cyrodiil for a faction they understand, admire, and had to volunteer for.

ShadowHvo · July 2015

TheHumanFloyd wrote: »

It's funny, I was just talking with Varlynd about doing a cross-faction storyline one of these days. We agreed that we could not pull something like that off in any meaningful way as the system currently exists. All it would take would be the ability to see other factions emotes, says, etc and we could make anything happen!

I don't feel like this could hurt faction pride in any way. For RPers at least it would make it stronger, since it would truly give us an 'us vs them' sense. A faceless enemy who never speaks is not as interesting or threatening as an intelligent opponent who makes false allegiances, political moves, etc.

Cyrodiil is sooooo cool and as an RPer I would LOVE to spend more time there!

I cannot agree more, Floyd! Its really a shame we cannot do this, for all we need is three open chat channels: /s, /e and /y and then we're fine!

ShadowHvo · July 2015

VilhelmValhalla4 wrote: »

I've always thought it strange that the factions were mandatory in the first place, why couldn't we just start in a certain zone then, after questing in different alliance zones, decide which faction is most fitting, thereby allowing explorers and RPers to travel freely, and increasing "faction pride" by having people fighting in Cyrodiil for a faction they understand, admire, and had to volunteer for.

That would've been very awesome, or in general an option to be completely neutral! While I would still have joined the Ebonheart Pact personally, I know many RP'ers would've liked a "Neutral" option, so they would be able to RP in all zones, with all faction members.

Alas though, atm I'm just hoping we finally can get cross-faction RP to Cyrodiil, it would be a good start.

ShadowHvo · August 2015

I recently made a map of the Imperial City and its roleplaying areas.

Imperial%20City%20Map%20Coloured%20test_zpshgtk2hy7.png

Purple = Safe-Zone (No PvP, but you can still see enemy faction members!) These are more common for the story-bits of the quests, there is a lot of awesome stuff in here, everything from a tavern, library, Imperial Bunker, Thief/Assassin hideout and such. Awesome stuff! Also completely NPC-free after quest completion.

Green = Indoor places (Full on PvP, though the majority of these are hidden, and not quest related.) These all require (Like the purple!) a door to enter, like normal buildings ect ect. Though there seems to be all from a Tavern to smaller refuges / camp-like locations. Only the middle of the arena is infested with a big Daedric Boss Encounter.

Red = Awesome storyline locations (No PvP, but you can still see enemy faction members!) that sadly are locked away after quest/stage completion... The Memorial District especially suffers from this, as it has some really awesome chapel and grave-like locations that all are locked after quest completion. )=

Blue = Crafting Stations (No PvP, and its ONLY for your own faction, you cannot see members of the other faction.) Not much to say, very crafty, lol.

Orange = All buildings that -does not- require a door to enter. Aka free open buildings you walk into without using a door. The large majority of these are infested with enemies, and are ruined. Though quite a few carries some unique interior, and some even lacks mobs completely. Especially note of the Friendly Imperial 'Fortress' in the middle of the Nobles District, Imperial RP'ers will love that place to death I promise you!

But really Zenimax, give us the ability to speak cross-faction in the approbitate RP channels of /say, /emote and /yell, for it will improve the Imperial City so much for all roleplayers out there. We're not asking for massive new features, or complex designs, we're just asking for the ability to RP cross-faction.

NewBlacksmurf · August 2015

Sounds like a decent idea especially with the clothing that can be stolen and worn

ShadowHvo · August 2015

Thank you, for I quite agree!

I just truly hope that Zenimax will finally turn the switch on the chat restrictions in Cyrodiil. It would improve the roleplaying community very greatly.

Elektrakosh · August 2015

I want the chance to swap to another alliance. I'm a strictly a PvE player and would like to sample other factions quest lines.

newtinmpls · August 2015

Well, this is why I'd like to see more skype/teamspeak/whatever.

Lets use it the way console peeps get mega-chat

KerinKor · August 2015

lathbury wrote: »

while all for you RP folk having fun this IMHO would degrade faction pride further as do multi faction guilds. also I think the reason for no cross faction chat in cyrodill is to prevent griefing by unscrupulous types. I like for our choices to mean something in an mmo that includes our faction choices. also I'm unclear as to why you would want this.

For those of us who have nothing to do with PVP the factions are a pointless aspect that fragments the players and walls-off 2/3 of the game until the time it has no value.

Enodoc · August 2015

Elektrakosh wrote: »

I want the chance to swap to another alliance. I'm a strictly a PvE player and would like to sample other factions quest lines.

@Elektrakosh You can experience the other faction quest lines on the same character after you have completed the Main Quest.

Elektrakosh · August 2015

Enodoc wrote: »

@Elektrakosh You can experience the other faction quest lines on the same character after you have completed the Main Quest.

Really? Nice. I have a long way to go and was hoping to have some longevity in the game without grinding in later levels.

NewBlacksmurf · August 2015

Elektrakosh wrote: »

I want the chance to swap to another alliance. I'm a strictly a PvE player and would like to sample other factions quest lines.

Have you gotten to VR1? Every faction is played via PvE from level 3-VR10 zones. No changes are needed

ShadowHvo · August 2015

Elektrakosh wrote: »

Enodoc wrote: »

@Elektrakosh You can experience the other faction quest lines on the same character after you have completed the Main Quest.

Really? Nice. I have a long way to go and was hoping to have some longevity in the game without grinding in later levels.

Trust us, there is a lot of content out there, just enjoy the ride!