Best Of
Re: Upcoming U47 PTS changes, based on feedback
Stats transfer from bound armour to blood magic turns out to be not a simple power shift but yet another nerf to sorcerer, and to daedric summoning of all lines that has fallen behind as is, only seeing use as a flavour line in pve or to fill spare slots with pets’ free damage, while also being one of the weakest lines in pvp.
This change only makes sorcerer even harder to subclass. Power has been taken from already weak daedric summoning, while dark magic suffers from much deeper issues that some stat boost has no effect on.
Not to mention that the stat boost isn’t even guaranteed but has a condition that isn’t easy to fulfill reliably, anywhere outside of group pve. Making it a nerf even to “pure” sorcerer.
Please, just add this bonus to expert summoner or something, it’s very weak anyway. Don’t split max stats between lines, and stop nerfing already weak lines, buff them instead.
This change only makes sorcerer even harder to subclass. Power has been taken from already weak daedric summoning, while dark magic suffers from much deeper issues that some stat boost has no effect on.
Not to mention that the stat boost isn’t even guaranteed but has a condition that isn’t easy to fulfill reliably, anywhere outside of group pve. Making it a nerf even to “pure” sorcerer.
Please, just add this bonus to expert summoner or something, it’s very weak anyway. Don’t split max stats between lines, and stop nerfing already weak lines, buff them instead.
Re: Upcoming U47 PTS changes, based on feedback
MashmalloMan wrote: »Finally, we'll be looking at our Sorcerer adjustments and reiterating and reverting some of the adjustments based on your feedback:
- Lightning Form will again grant Major Resolve instead of Minor Force to retain its unique damage/defensive hybrid effect.
- Bound Armor will again grant Minor Protection at base rather than Major Resolve. Additionally, the active effect of the abilities will now scale in duration with your Armor, rather than a flat amount.
- The max Magicka and Stamina increase from the ability and its morphs have been moved to Dark Magic, which will exist on the Blood Magic passive.
- Bound Armaments will have a higher chance of applying Sundered, so it reaches a closer power level to the Grim Focus morphs.
So you completely left out the fact that the Max Magicka/Stamina you shifted is hidden behind 3 conditional states. Why is this so convoluted?!
- Cast a Dark Magic skill.
- Be at full health.
- Lasts only 10 seconds.
You also left out the fact that Minor Force has been completely removed from all 3 Sorcerer skill lines. Why?
Bound Armaments starting at 3% status effect chance and going to 15% is hardly a buff, 5% more than what it should be at 10% is negligible at best.
I feel like U47 was just a bunch of neutral/horisontal changes that somehow resulted in nerfs despite acting like they're buffs. Reality is, no one is going to use Dark Magic or Daedric Summoning so you didn't really accomplish what you set out to do.
Basically Sorc lost damage, and now has to juggle more stuff than before lol
hoangdz
5
Re: Concerned about the potential use of AI on loading screen artwork
tomofhyrule wrote: »Really poor form, considering the recent news about Microsoft’s surprise job cuts and the reports that it’s because MS is pivoting to more AI…
Pity. If only they had planned a UI that didn’t require resizing the existing art. Like, I don’t know… the one we had in the first place?!
It's an industry-wide thing. And I'll tell you now. They don't care about your perception or opinion of it as the customer. If you, as a worker are not doing it, you as a worker will not be one for long. It doesn't even matter if it's speeding up or slowing down the results you get. Improving them or not. You'd better be doing it or else!
On a side note I mentioned a few years ago the evidence of quality going down in the loading screens. They were clearly just starting to use screenshots and applying filters to them to make them appear like paintings a little. Someone I used to play with that was a dev himself back in the 90s gave me a very useful tip: "Always look at the art. It's the first sign." Especially for details like UI and load screens. When they start cutting on that you know they are winding down production. This is exactly why I've been convinced they were going into the long tail starting at least two years ago if not even sooner. And I don't see any evidence that recent restructurings are going to change anything about that.
Sluggy
6
Re: Concerned about the potential use of AI on loading screen artwork
Really disappointing, and really quite unnecessary.
The original images have enough detail at the edges. They're already a painterly style, they're not supposed to be perfect.
If ZOS did this because the original images may be too low-res for modern 4K displays, I'd rather they just scale them up with a conventional image editing software.
Don't make unnecessary edits like this. It's disrespectful to the artistry of your devs, disrespectful to consumers who pay to support development, and it cheapens your product and brand as a whole.
The original images have enough detail at the edges. They're already a painterly style, they're not supposed to be perfect.
If ZOS did this because the original images may be too low-res for modern 4K displays, I'd rather they just scale them up with a conventional image editing software.
Don't make unnecessary edits like this. It's disrespectful to the artistry of your devs, disrespectful to consumers who pay to support development, and it cheapens your product and brand as a whole.
Marto
5
One shotting in PvP and PvP in general
Since subclass I've seen many run the same one shotting combos. Mostly being with contingency+incap and or deep fissure + riposte cp into spectral bow if the person isn't dead yet. These types of combinations which allow killing someone in just one or two hits isn't healthy for PvP imo. The worst part is that they are not even gankers. Only a ganker should be able to do that in exchange for being squisy (not even gankers imo should be able to one shot people). I miss when you had to pressure players into killing them with combos not killing them with one combo.
I enjoy that we have a damage meta for once, with many strong combos with subclassing. But some combos needs to be balanced and not allow to kill within a second. Changing riposte CP would be good start. Assassination skill line is way to strong and everyone uses it now. Specially spectral bow.
Critical damage have become way to high since hybridization. Forcing everyone to run rallying cry so you dont get hit with 20k spectral bows.
Sadly I don't think subclassing and hybridization was good for PvP. Before we used to have a stamina and a magicka version of every class and everyone had their their favorite versions. Now that was taken away from us, our favorite classes. I understand every game needs to develop somehow but I would've rather wanted a new map, a new class etc.
PvP population is so low now compared to what it used to. Perhaps working towards crossplay within the same regions. Having a main campaign and a vengence one? Vengence still needs work though, specially when it comes to sustain. Not fun when you use your spammable a few times and you're already out of sustain.
Also idk how much it costs, but updating your server hardware literally fixed the lag in Cyrodiil even though it deteriorated slowly after every patch/update. Perhaps updating it more often is an option?
I enjoy that we have a damage meta for once, with many strong combos with subclassing. But some combos needs to be balanced and not allow to kill within a second. Changing riposte CP would be good start. Assassination skill line is way to strong and everyone uses it now. Specially spectral bow.
Critical damage have become way to high since hybridization. Forcing everyone to run rallying cry so you dont get hit with 20k spectral bows.
Sadly I don't think subclassing and hybridization was good for PvP. Before we used to have a stamina and a magicka version of every class and everyone had their their favorite versions. Now that was taken away from us, our favorite classes. I understand every game needs to develop somehow but I would've rather wanted a new map, a new class etc.
PvP population is so low now compared to what it used to. Perhaps working towards crossplay within the same regions. Having a main campaign and a vengence one? Vengence still needs work though, specially when it comes to sustain. Not fun when you use your spammable a few times and you're already out of sustain.
Also idk how much it costs, but updating your server hardware literally fixed the lag in Cyrodiil even though it deteriorated slowly after every patch/update. Perhaps updating it more often is an option?
Re: The Crown Store has reached critical levels of immersion breakage
2018...Tamriel Hero looks like
2025...
We got what we deserve...
2025...
We got what we deserve...
Chili_Pepper
59
Re: ZOS, Massive Spike in Ping/LAG in Recent Days - What Gives?
May the force be with you!!Sure has gotten quiet on this thread. I really wish others would install the addon and keep tabs on their connections. It really helps them see where things are going wrong or not.
Let us know how it goes for you tonight!
Yeah thread has died down a bit. I'm curious if that is because people aren't having as much issues or if they gave up. Hopefully the first one. Will post how it goes.
I won't speak for everyone, but I've stopped writing because it simply makes no sense. When information about constant DDoS attacks appeared, we just returned to where we started. We are now in a position where it seems like not all of the thread's problems were attributed to DDoS, but DDoS was introduced as a variable mentioned in the end-of-year summary letter. I don't remember anything being said about solving problems with crashes beyond DDoS. Correct me if I'm wrong.
We waited a long time just for a survey describing our problems. And here's my experience: when I told my guild that there was such a survey, and that you could describe problems there, which might help the developers, I got responses that I was too naive, that it was pointless, and that they wouldn’t do anything anyway, so spending time on such a survey was just stupid. I don't know if the survey is completed, but no results have been posted here. Again, correct me if I'm wrong.
Essentially, the crashes remain. The attitude towards them has changed. I'm now with those who think that nothing will change, no matter how much we write here. I canceled my subscription and am gradually playing less and less.
Oh yes, about the ping. I've written in this thread long ago that packet loss in today's internet is normal. Network code should be written in such a way that minor packet losses are not noticeable. Some games maintain a connection even during a short-term complete loss of connection. In ESO, however, I sometimes realize that I will be disconnected within the next 30 seconds, even when there is definitely a connection, literally with a stream running. And this is not to mention that I constantly ping Google's server just to see the ping there. ESO disconnects under any conditions, even when there are no dips in internet speed or ping. I remind you, people came here with many reports and analyses about where problems begin if you trace the packet's path, not just the metrics.
Re: Why such a long Maintenance?
Honestly, whats a day without beeing able to play ESO? Im sure yall can survive a day without playing a video game and the rewards honestly arent really a big loss since the "pricy" or "wanted" rewards are mostly around the middle of the month. Youll probably loose 5k gold and 150 seals of endeavor. Nothing to be really worried about 
I work in an IT coorporation and sometimes when bigger changes are made you just gotta take your time and make sure everything will work fine afterwards rather than doing it in a rush and [snip] up the whole system. Also its better to announce a long schedule and open the servers earlier than the other way around.
[edited for profanity bypass]
I work in an IT coorporation and sometimes when bigger changes are made you just gotta take your time and make sure everything will work fine afterwards rather than doing it in a rush and [snip] up the whole system. Also its better to announce a long schedule and open the servers earlier than the other way around.
[edited for profanity bypass]
Re: Is Solstice worth buying?
I haven't bought the new chapter/pass yet. I think it's the first time since owning the game that I haven't purchased the new content.
As I am someone who did not like the storytelling of Necrom & Gold Road, but who did like the original ESO main story (along with Clockwork City and Elsewyr) would you recommend me the new chapter? I enjoyed Zerith Vars quest infinitely more than Gold Roads story, and I actively disliked Tanlorins quest. If those make any indication as to story and characters I enjoy.
I'm hoping to avoid plot spoilers and moreso want to know how the tone of the story is.
Is it the same dull "the world is going to end because of daedra but we will save the day with positivity and courage" tone? How are the characters? Is the plot predictable with betrayal, and with villains standing right in front of you but being unkillable? Are you forced to side against villains in the first place simply because they are "bag guy grrr"? How are the player choices in plot and dialogue?
Does the zone provide anything worthwhile too?
Honestly it's really hard for me to make any judgement so far, because the main quest is over so fast (while I did find it interesting and fun to play so far, it's only 5 short quests and finished within maybe around 3 or 4 hours), not much happens in it yet, and it feels more like an introduction or prologue - and now there's that split and we don't see the rest until November or so.
There are aspects I missed so far (It's just so void of background lore? We learned absolutely nothing new about the Wormcult, Mannimarco or Wormblood - nothing at all; and yes, so the main premise is "They're evil cultists, let's fight them!"), but who knows whether we'll see that in Part 2?
But I'm not sure whether I should be optimistic, because also for some places in Part 1, we strangely did not get any background lore at all. For example, we have to go so some Argonian ruin at some point, and we learn nothing about it. It's like they only chose it as a cool backdrop, but without anything more to it.
Generally I sometimes had the impression that there was a big focus on having situations look "cool", while not thinking much more about what actually happens. The big finale of Part 1 was also spectacular - but left me wondering about some logic questions, like "Does that make sense? How is this even possible?"
I think some of these situations might indeed be actual mistakes stemming from possibly having changed quest order or locations during writing at some point and not correcting the dialogues accordingly. For example, there's a situation where we defeat someone and learn of a location because of that, and then we go to that location and the npcs going with us tells us he wonders whether the guy (that we just defeated elsewhere) is still here?! And at the end of Part 1 there's a ending dialogue where a character points to the side and tells us to "look at the ocean" - just that we're inside a room with no windows at that moment. Probably the scene was supposed to take place somewhere outside at the harbour when it was first written, then moved into a building, but the dialogue wasn't changed accordingly - that's my interpretation of that, at least.
And of course, we also had repetative dialogues again, and had to ask rather strange questions often. Repeatedly. Without a way to progress the dialogue otherwise.
When it comes to side quests, some were nicely written and fun to play. There was a bit more variety in ideas again, compared to the last few years. One was actually a complex and nuanced story that I liked a lot. The side quests also were rather long - which was strange, considering how short the main quests are. But then again, many quests are strangely rather light-hearted and funny (which was unexpected considering the huge threat on that small island). What I disliked was that the tone was often a bit too moral for me, including some quests actually ending with a "Today I learned..." style dialogue from the quest npc. Excess is bad, be nice to your siblings, protect the environment, etc. Simple truths presented to me as an important lesson isn't what I'm personally looking for when I play a TES game.
What I also disliked was the weird, harmless, basically family friendly depiction of Sanguine's debaucheries (That weren't really debaucheries, or is eating cheese and dancing a bad, immoral thing nowadays?) that were completely contradiction Sanguine lore we already know. And there were even 2 Sanguine quests on this island, that both were like that. And we also got a bit on Sithis worship that was also strangely harmless.
Dialogue choices made no difference at all. There were situations where I thought "Now, having a choice would be meaningful and interesting!" - but we didn't get any choice there. Most often the dialogue options were limited to making a joke in conversation or not, or even just swearing revenge to the enemy in a more neutral, or in a brutal way - how does that even matter, I wonder? We can't really make moral choices and it's clearly defined for us who the good and the bad characters are, we can't make our own judgement.
And while there's no npc annoying us with obnoxious flirting unasked for this time, we get the dialogue option to flirt with one npc (yes, always the same one) in 3 different situations. I really disliked how it didn't fit the situation at all (it was supposed to be urgent and dangerous), felt random, and more like some stupid sleazy joke. Especially the third situation was horrible - sorry for being that direct, but I totally hated it. Of course I didn't have to choose it (there were just too choices: "flirty" or "neutral" reply), but of course I had to read it when it popped up, and already that broke my immersion in that urgent and dangerous situation completely. Oh, and in one situation, when we gave the neutral instead of the flirty reply, that npc also seemed disappointed in us somehow, which I also found rather obnoxious. Why can't we just be uninterested without getting criticized for it?! That's not any better than the aggressive flirting we saw in High Isle, that we could not comment on at all. From my point of view, there must be a way to end that, without getting reproachful comments for it.
So is it worth it? If you haven't bought it yet, I'd suggest waiting for the release of Part 2 and ask for people's reviews once more after that.
Unless of course you're really interested in participating in the Wall event, but I think the part of that which takes place on the new island only will mostly be about defending camps against enemy waves. Maybe we'll see the Wall slowly crumble or fade away, I don't know, but is that worth paying the full chapter price? I personally wouldn't say so.
My main point of criticism would be that Part 1 was over really fast - it was just too little content for the price so far. Maybe Part 2 will make up for that - maybe not. We'll see.
Syldras
6
Re: Why such a long Maintenance?
Probably because the explanation ends up something like this:
https://youtu.be/aW2LvQUcwqc?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/aW2LvQUcwqc?feature=shared