Has the game difficulty changed?

Avionics · March 2023

Hi everyone, I left ESO a few years ago because afters playing it a lot for several months the same old quest formula and the difficulty level of the overland content with its one click kill all challenge wasn't very engaging in the long run. I was wondering if anything changes in that regard and if coming back now would be worth it?

Would love to roam the Elder Scrolls world again, but I'm slightly afraid it could be a waste of time if things are still the same.
<edited title to better reflect>

FluffWit · March 2023

It's the same, essentially nothing's changed.

Destai · March 2023

The difficulty's the same, but there is more content than overland added in the last few years. When did you leave?

spartaxoxo · March 2023

Overland is the same but dungeons have gotten significantly better, there's an endless dungeon coming out in Q4 too.

Avionics · March 2023

Oh that sounds unfortunate. I switched to Guildwars 2, and they have a great way of building their zones where you can play casually but also have to keep on using your brain because in between there is always a mob or group of mobs that are quite a challenge. It keeps the world fresh and exiting while exploring and playing through the story. Would love to see something like that in ESO because the world is so great but playing through it feels like a clicking one mob after another between chunks of dialogues without any excitement or challenges.

KilianDermoth · March 2023

It even got worse.

Now you dont even have to click anymore. You can have companions that can kill delve bosse for example on their own, while you are just watching.

Also everyones base stats are far higher then they were years back then.

And in other content besides overland there is even a build now, where holding the left mouse button is enough to do even veteran content 🤣, while being tankier than usual and haveing no sustain issues.

I absolutely understand you but the game developers just seem to do the absolute opposite.

Amottica · March 2023

Welcome to MMORPGs.

ZOS_Icy · March 2023

Greetings,

This thread has been moved to the Players Helping Players section, as it is better suited there.

Thank you for your understanding.

Avionics · March 2023

KilianDermoth wrote: »

It even got worse.

Now you dont even have to click anymore. You can have companions that can kill delve bosse for example on their own, while you are just watching.

Also everyones base stats are far higher then they were years back then.

And in other content besides overland there is even a build now, where holding the left mouse button is enough to do even veteran content 🤣, while being tankier than usual and haveing no sustain issues.

I absolutely understand you but the game developers just seem to do the absolute opposite.

wow that sounds really bad, why would they make it even more passiv and are they going to change anything about it or is it just like this now forever?

KilianDermoth · March 2023

It seems to be like this forever now, especially because some of the stuff exists for a while now, maybe 2 years? Its seems to be the direction the game is evolving to and there is even a big bunch of people who likes it this way...

Avionics · March 2023

ZOS_Icy wrote: »

Greetings,

This thread has been moved to the Players Helping Players section, as it is better suited there.

Thank you for your understanding.

I guess that's ok, although I find it a bit strange that you felt the need to change the title of the thread. The moderation seems somewhat restrictive. Not sure if this is an unpopular topic for the game or what's up with that, but It feels odd. Anyway, I got the answers I needed. Sad to see the game in a state like this. Thanks for all the answers everyone.

Danikat · March 2023

If you quit before One Tamriel and you were doing all the quests (including side quests) as you went along it might be a bit harder now, because you won't be constantly over-levelled for the areas you're in. If you were skipping ahead to make sure you only did quests recommended for your level or above it will be easier than it was. If you quit after One Tamriel it will be the same.

There are ways to tweak the difficulty for yourself if you want to. For example someone mentioned companions making it easier and then there's a very, very simple fix in that you don't have to use them. They only show up after you do their initial quest and are only following you when you choose to activate them so any time you don't want that you just don't.

Likewise CP make your character stronger, so if you never equip them you won't have that power boost and the game will be a bit harder.

Other changes are more complicated or can feel more limiting, like deliberately using weaker gear (lower level, lower quality, non-set, or sets which aren't recommended for your build etc.) or "novelty" builds which are fun to play but don't have the best possible DPS.

Or you can focus on the harder areas of the game like vet dungeons and trials for difficulty and play overland when you feel like something easy, or ignore it entirely if you never want that.