Official Discussion Thread for "The Witches Festival Returns"

ZOS_GinaBruno
ZOS_GinaBruno
Community Manager
This is the official discussion thread for the blog article The Witches Festival Returns. The ghostly spectre of the Witches Festival has returned to Tamriel! Want to take part in this spooky celebration, enjoy a bonus to XP gains, and earn terrifying rewards? Read our article find everything you need to know about this ghoulish gala.
Gina Bruno
Senior Creator Engagement Manager
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Staff Post
  • rhapsodious
    rhapsodious
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    Hey Gina, question:
    Plunder Skulls are special containers that have a chance to contain the following rare items:
      ...
    • Furniture and furniture recipes
    • Motif style items

    Are the furniture items and recipes exclusive to the Witches Festival, or is it just any ol' furniture (or a combo of both)? And which motif style items are included?

    Thanks, looking forward to grinding up my Warden and getting spooky!
  • code65536
    code65536
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    So just summoning the cauldron will grant the XP buff? No more need to run around as a skellie? Huzzah!
    Nightfighters ― PC/NA and PC/EU

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  • Turelus
    Turelus
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    Really happy to see this return and in a way which lets people who missed it gain the achievements still.
    @Turelus - EU PC Megaserver
    "Don't count on others for help. In the end each of us is in this alone. The survivors are those who know how to look out for themselves."
  • Taysa
    Taysa
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    Why is the festival significantly shorter this year?
    5/24/18: The day ZoS suspended my forum account for trolling a troll.
  • MissBizz
    MissBizz
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    code65536 wrote: »
    So just summoning the cauldron will grant the XP buff? No more need to run around as a skellie? Huzzah!

    OH WHAT? YES!

    ...Can anyone copy pasta the article? I can't read the article for some reason, won't work :(
    Lone Wolf HelpFor the solo players who know, sometimes you just need a hand.PC | NA | AD-DC-EP | Discord
  • MyKillv2.0
    MyKillv2.0
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    I am slightly disappointed that the event does not include more new things to do other than collect a new mask. Maybe I read this article wrong but I was really hoping for more achievements this go around, so that the events build off one another. Instead, I should have everything already achieved when the new season begins if I played on my main. I hope I just read it wrong.
  • Rouven
    Rouven
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    BOOST YOUR XP AND TRANSFORM INTO THE UNDEAD

    The Witches Festival begins at 10:00AM EDT on Friday, October 20 and will run until Wednesday, November 1 at 10:00AM EDT. During this time, you can enjoy a 100% XP buff, obtain a polymorph to become one of the walking dead, and earn a host of unique Witches Festival-themed items.

    To participate in the festivities, follow the steps below:

    Navigate to the Crown Store's Holiday section to acquire the “Crow Caller" free of charge.
    Complete the quest “The Witchmother's Bargain" by gathering a pumpkin and some guts, defeating any delve boss for its Essence of Death, and delivering them to the Witchmother to receive the “Witchmother's Whistle" memento.
    If you completed the quest during last year's event, you won't need to acquire the Crow Caller or complete the quest again – you can simply use the whistle found in your Collections menu from last year.
    Use the whistle to summon the “Witchmother's Cauldron" and grant you and your party a two-hour 100% XP buff that stacks with all other XP.
    Use the Witchmother's Cauldron to polymorph your character into one of the undead. Don't worry—this isn't permanent!
    Note that you do not have to use the Witchmother's Cauldron in order to gain the XP buff.

    EARN GHOULISH REWARDS

    In addition to the XP buff, throughout the festival you can earn some Witches Festival-themed loot by helping to keep Tamriel's numerous monsters at bay.

    During the event, all boss monsters (such as World Bosses or those found defending Delves, Group Dungeons, Public Dungeons, Trials, Arenas, and Dark Anchors) will drop Plunder Skulls. You do not need the XP buff or the undead polymorph active in order for them to drop.

    Plunder Skulls are special containers that have a chance to contain the following rare items:

    Hollowjack Motif Pages or Books
    A Runebox containing one of these masks:
    Pumpkin Spectre Mask
    Scarecrow Spectre Mask
    Hollowjack Spectre Mask
    Thicketman Spectre Mask
    Witches Festival-themed recipes
    Furniture and furniture recipes
    Motif style items
    …and an assortment of creepy items such as worms, crawlers, guts, and other goodies!

    FIND GHASTLY NEW ITEMS IN THE CROWN STORE!

    A host of supernatural selections will also be added to the in-game Crown Store during the event period, including the Zombie Horse mount, the Nightmare Daemon Mask Pack, and much more. Don't miss your chance to grab some of these unique and terrifying items!

    CONJURE SPIRITS IN A UNIQUE HOME

    Need someplace to practice your unholy sorceries away from prying eyes? The Exorcised Coven Cottage will be available for purchase with crowns in the in-game Crown Store for the duration of the event, and if you earn the Witches Festival achievement “An Unsparing Harvest" you'll unlock the ability to acquire this bewitching home for in-game gold!

    To unlock An Unsparing Harvest, you must earn the following event achievements:

    Happy Work for Hollowjack
    Plunder Skull Enthusiast
    Pumpkin Pairs Well With Guts
    Reaper's Harvest

    If you had earned these achievements in a previous event, you will not need to earn them again this year. To see which achievements you've already unlocked or to track your current progress, check the Holiday section of your Achievements menu.

    Be warned: You will not be able to purchase this home for crowns or gold once the event ends, so don't miss your chance to own this “haunt away from home"!

    (Edit: added the headers)
    Edited by Rouven on 16 October 2017 14:46
    Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time. ~ Terry Pratchett
  • ZOS_GinaBruno
    ZOS_GinaBruno
    Community Manager
    Hey Gina, question:
    Plunder Skulls are special containers that have a chance to contain the following rare items:
      ...
    • Furniture and furniture recipes
    • Motif style items

    Are the furniture items and recipes exclusive to the Witches Festival, or is it just any ol' furniture (or a combo of both)? And which motif style items are included?

    Thanks, looking forward to grinding up my Warden and getting spooky!

    There are some new items and some existing items. :)
    Gina Bruno
    Senior Creator Engagement Manager
    Dev Tracker | Service Alerts | ESO Twitter | My Twitter
    Staff Post
  • ManwithBeard9
    ManwithBeard9
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    So it says you don't need to use the cauldron to get the XP buff, is that right?
  • rhapsodious
    rhapsodious
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    Hey Gina, question:
    Plunder Skulls are special containers that have a chance to contain the following rare items:
      ...
    • Furniture and furniture recipes
    • Motif style items

    Are the furniture items and recipes exclusive to the Witches Festival, or is it just any ol' furniture (or a combo of both)? And which motif style items are included?

    Thanks, looking forward to grinding up my Warden and getting spooky!

    There are some new items and some existing items. :)

    Gotcha, thanks for clarifying!

    Hopefully I can get the exclusive furniture recipes before the event ends. plz no overabundance of purples
  • alceleniel
    alceleniel
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    There are some new items and some existing items. :)

    That's great, still a reason to participate :smiley:
  • MissBizz
    MissBizz
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    So it says you don't need to use the cauldron to get the XP buff, is that right?

    Correct @ManwithBeard9 . You only need to summon the cauldron to get the buff. Using the cauldron and becoming a skeleton is optional.
    Lone Wolf HelpFor the solo players who know, sometimes you just need a hand.PC | NA | AD-DC-EP | Discord
  • Beardimus
    Beardimus
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    Be glad if there's lots of new items as got it all last time.

    Anyone on PTS list all the drops yet?
    Xbox One | EU | EP
    Beardimus : VR16 Dunmer MagSorc [RIP MagDW 2015-2018]
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    Fighting small scale with : The SAXON Guild
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    Xbox One | NA | EP
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    Nordimus : VR16 Stamsorc
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  • Azurya
    Azurya
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    don´t like the fact that it is so much shorter this year, how will we be able to get all achievements and be able to buy the house/hut?? why is that/???? @ZOS_GinaBruno
    Edited by Azurya on 16 October 2017 15:12
  • rhapsodious
    rhapsodious
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    Azurya wrote: »
    don´t like the fact that it is so much shorter this year, how will we be able to get all achievements and be able to buy the house/hut?? why is that/???? @ZOS_GinaBruno

    You can grind it out over a weekend, but even then, I think a week and a half is very reasonable. It's in that nice spot of being able to get everything done without getting burnt out at the end.

  • Rouven
    Rouven
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    Azurya wrote: »
    don´t like the fact that it is so much shorter this year, how will we be able to get all achievements and be able to buy the house/hut?? why is that/???? @ZOS_GinaBruno

    You can grind it out over a weekend, but even then, I think a week and a half is very reasonable. It's in that nice spot of being able to get everything done without getting burnt out at the end.

    Maybe I missed it, how much in gold will it cost?
    Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time. ~ Terry Pratchett
  • Ilsabet
    Ilsabet
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    Rouven wrote: »
    Azurya wrote: »
    don´t like the fact that it is so much shorter this year, how will we be able to get all achievements and be able to buy the house/hut?? why is that/???? @ZOS_GinaBruno

    You can grind it out over a weekend, but even then, I think a week and a half is very reasonable. It's in that nice spot of being able to get everything done without getting burnt out at the end.

    Maybe I missed it, how much in gold will it cost?

    250k.
    Ilsabet Menard - DC Breton Nightblade archer - Savior of Pretty Much Everything, Grand Overlord & Empress Nubcakes
    Katarin Auclair - DC Breton Warden healer & ice mage
    My characters and their overly elaborate backstories
    Ilsabet's Headcanon
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    PC NA
  • ManwithBeard9
    ManwithBeard9
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    MissBizz wrote: »
    So it says you don't need to use the cauldron to get the XP buff, is that right?

    Correct @ManwithBeard9 . You only need to summon the cauldron to get the buff. Using the cauldron and becoming a skeleton is optional.

    That's, odd.
  • MissBizz
    MissBizz
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    MissBizz wrote: »
    So it says you don't need to use the cauldron to get the XP buff, is that right?

    Correct @ManwithBeard9 . You only need to summon the cauldron to get the buff. Using the cauldron and becoming a skeleton is optional.

    That's, odd.

    I believe there may have been feedback that not everyone like looking exactly the same, but they do want the xp buff? I know I definitely prefer not being forced into a skeleton polymorph.
    Lone Wolf HelpFor the solo players who know, sometimes you just need a hand.PC | NA | AD-DC-EP | Discord
  • Taysa
    Taysa
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    Azurya wrote: »
    don´t like the fact that it is so much shorter this year, how will we be able to get all achievements and be able to buy the house/hut?? why is that/???? @ZOS_GinaBruno

    You can grind it out over a weekend, but even then, I think a week and a half is very reasonable. It's in that nice spot of being able to get everything done without getting burnt out at the end.

    Alternatively, the people who are getting burned out can just....stop. It doesn't make sense to shorten a time limited event that's going to run at the same time a major DLC drops.
    5/24/18: The day ZoS suspended my forum account for trolling a troll.
  • reoskit
    reoskit
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    MissBizz wrote: »
    I believe there may have been feedback that not everyone like looking exactly the same, but they do want the xp buff? I know I definitely prefer not being forced into a skeleton polymorph.

    I'm of two minds here:
    1. I hated having everyone looking identical, and I wasn't a fan of being a skellie the whole time, however...
    2. I appreciated the extremely obvious visual cue when the polymorph wore off, that I or my group mates had to reapply the buff.

    We'll see how it plays out this time.
    Edited by reoskit on 16 October 2017 16:38
  • Mercutio
    Mercutio
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    Will the XP buff stack with the 100% or 150% XP bonuses from the crown crates, or is there still a cap?
    The problem with arguing with a jackass is that they never stop braying.
    *
    #DwemerLife
  • ManwithBeard9
    ManwithBeard9
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    Mercutio wrote: »
    Will the XP buff stack with the 100% or 150% XP bonuses from the crown crates, or is there still a cap?

    It stacked with drinks OR scrolls. Not both. But ring of Mara and ESO+ stack as well.
  • Mercutio
    Mercutio
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    Mercutio wrote: »
    Will the XP buff stack with the 100% or 150% XP bonuses from the crown crates, or is there still a cap?

    It stacked with drinks OR scrolls. Not both. But ring of Mara and ESO+ stack as well.

    Thank you!
    The problem with arguing with a jackass is that they never stop braying.
    *
    #DwemerLife
  • victoriana-blue
    victoriana-blue
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    We can get skulls without being polymorphed? Woo! Last year while doing dungeons there were a few times I lost the polymorph mid-fight (because manually cancelling and reapplying was a bother) and I didn't get my plunder skull. This is a great change. :smiley:
    Edited by victoriana-blue on 16 October 2017 19:07
    CP 750+
    Never enough inventory space, even with storage coffers and a mule account
  • Recremen
    Recremen
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    Note that you do not have to use the Witchmother's Cauldron in order to gain the XP buff.

    Oh heck yeah, great call!!
    Men'Do PC NA AD Khajiit
    Grand High Illustrious Mid-Tier PvP/PvE Bussmunster
  • Ankael07
    Ankael07
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    We still dont have a permanent skeleton polymorph yet. Why is this not an option? It looks great
    If you want me to reply to your comment type @Ankael07 in it.
  • Miaura
    Miaura
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    Hey Gina, question:
    Plunder Skulls are special containers that have a chance to contain the following rare items:
      ...
    • Furniture and furniture recipes
    • Motif style items

    Are the furniture items and recipes exclusive to the Witches Festival, or is it just any ol' furniture (or a combo of both)? And which motif style items are included?

    Thanks, looking forward to grinding up my Warden and getting spooky!

    There are some new items and some existing items. :)

    Whoot, new furniture :) !
    Now you got my last years skelly back up dusting her old bones ! Cant wait! Hope the furniture is not behind too bad rng odds, since have everything else from last year!
    Anyway my fav festival: and had a crappy autumn this year real life with sickness in the family and other bad stuff, but we made it, so it will be good to be a rampaging skelly again for a while :P!
  • UncannyLinderman
    UncannyLinderman
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    Do wish there was something more substantial added other than "furniture" for the most part it seems. I mean, I did all the stuff for this event last year, but it was when I still played on the Xbox one. Now I'm on PS4, and while I'm glad I get a chance to acquire all the stuff again, i still feel like there's a lot more potential to be had with this event and instead of running with it and really adding something with more substance, it's just a rerun this year with some minor tweaks to item drops.
  • Slick_007
    Slick_007
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    Ankael07 wrote: »
    We still dont have a permanent skeleton polymorph yet. Why is this not an option? It looks great

    yes we do. my toon has been a skeleton for over a year. in fact its been so long i cant even remember what he looks like unpolymorphed. will have to see if its the same skeleton as the festival though but i think it is.
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