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Developer Deep Dive—ESO's Class Identity Refresh

  • rothan117
    rothan117
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    By dragging it out, doing one class at time, the likelihood that the whole project gets abandoned due to changing priorities goes through the roof. I doubt they will get more than two done before it gets set aside due to more urgent priorities.
  • ImmortalCX
    ImmortalCX
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    "ESO was not built from launch with subclassing in mind, and the system highlighted issues with the current class skill line design that were not previously a factor but are untenable going forward."

    So rather than remove subclassing, they are going to give the players a slow, piecemeal refactoring of one class after another?

    Why not just remove subclassing?
  • loosej
    loosej
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    ImmortalCX wrote: »
    "ESO was not built from launch with subclassing in mind, and the system highlighted issues with the current class skill line design that were not previously a factor but are untenable going forward."

    So rather than remove subclassing, they are going to give the players a slow, piecemeal refactoring of one class after another?

    Why not just remove subclassing?

    I'd also rather see them remove subclassing, but zos seems to go for the sunk cost fallacy just as much as their customers.
    Consistency: It's only a virtue if you're not a screwup (source: despair.com)
  • StihlReign
    StihlReign
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    I hope it goes faster than we think and turns out better than we hope for! They're months into it so I'm at hope for the best at this stage... :) Good luck!

    TBV
    "O divine art of subtlety and secrecy!

    Through you we learn to be invisible, through you inaudible; and hence we can hold the enemy’s fate in our hands.” – Ch. VI, v. 8-9. — Master Sun Tzu

    "You haven't beaten me you've sacrificed sure footing for a killing stroke." — Ra's al Ghul

    He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious — Master Sun Tzu

    LoS
  • CAB_Life
    CAB_Life
    Class Representative
    rothan117 wrote: »
    By dragging it out, doing one class at time, the likelihood that the whole project gets abandoned due to changing priorities goes through the roof. I doubt they will get more than two done before it gets set aside due to more urgent priorities.

    The (absurd) timeline ensures nothing meaningful will ever get done. The Q&A with Wheeler went about as expected. Apparently it took them six months to get the DK “ready” for the next update rofl.
  • heimdall14_9
    heimdall14_9
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    7 classes 9 if you add vamp and WW , so we'll see the ended of this in 3-4years or we going to get another failed system like bybridnation thats 6 years into the game now and not finished ?????? i like the idea of BALANCE just cant see it being done when there is systems already in game ( BATTLE SPIRIT ) that gets ignored pass after pass every updates , too many half made systems is just as bad as being unbalanced and you'll never get balance when you balance around unbalanced items
    this is where an dev team needs to stand up and say SORRY WE WENT THE WRONG WAY AND NEED TO ROLL BACK SUBCLASSING , class balance , skill line passives , and ALL THINGS that wasnt done in SUBCLASSING DEVELOPMENT , then should get done and re rolled out as an FINISHED SYSTEM even if that system is 3-4 years out not put your players back into development for 3-4 years when it comes to CLASS BALANCE
    Edited by heimdall14_9 on 14 December 2025 02:57
    Nordic-Knights (PSN)/Sir-A-Crowley (PSN)/Sir_Crowley ( PC) 16 account holder !!!!!!!!!!!!! 19x emperor , 98% full game all vet HM SR ND release day ESO VET !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Cooperharley
    Cooperharley
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    Here we go.

    Interesting changes, sure! But it just needs to be done much quicker than it likely will.
    PS5-NA. For The Queen!
  • Vaqual
    Vaqual
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    The really horrible downside of announcing something like this with such a stretched and vague timeframe is, that every build change will now feel like a temporary compromise. Speaking for myself, I am usually very much unwilling to proceed with build assembly during a PTS cycle, since there is always a chance that some key element of the build will get nuked.

    Now you tell us that we might have to live with that level of uncertainty for years. You gave us a teaser, you said Inhale will be moved to Ardent. You could have at least specified which ability will be swapped out then. Now I am not sure if my builds with Ardent and/or Draconic are even compatible anymore, because the abilities I am using may simply become unavailable. I will certainly not spend time and resources playing those builds or working on new ones with the kits in question, until I know what I will have to work with in 2 months.

    But you went ahead an basically put Damocles' Sword over any type of build by saying "We will do a thorough rework of all classes in an undefined timeframe". Yes, we needed some signs of life from you. But this is such a strategically poor move. I just can't bring myself to touch this game now, knowing that the for the near and far future it will be nearly impossible to create stable builds, as changes will trickle in - breaking builds patch by patch.

    I really recommend you to get the balancing done ASAP and to postpone only the changes that require significant animation work. And even then I recommend to at least approximate the changes as much as possible. Especially the skill line rearrangements need to be locked in by the next patch. Otherwise there is simply no reason to play this MMORPG. You know, the game format that lives off steady character building and progression through deliberate action, not periodic resets for replayability.

    TLDR: The change is welcome and needed. But the priorization and the timeframe are crucial. Natural changes, as the game develops, are normal and acceptable. Finding excuses to delay URGENTLY NEEDED changes will wear players out. "Seasonal balancing" is quite literally the last thing you should employ to stay relevant. It is a cheap strategy to avoid actual innovation. The Patchnotes are not supposed to be the content.
    Edited by Vaqual on 15 December 2025 06:43
  • ZhuJiuyin
    ZhuJiuyin
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    Given the widespread dissatisfaction with balance among players since U46, and the almost unchanged balance changes in U48, the developers should definitely accelerate the rework of all classes. Otherwise, even more players may permanently quit due to the unbearable balance issues. Otherwise, more players may permanently quit due to the unbearable balance issues. Even for classes requiring significant overhauls, such as Sorc or Necro, it would be best to make some adjustments with each patch.

    It would be ideal if we could receive small combat balance updates every one to two months until all classes are reworked. This would not only keep players excited about the class reworks but also help the developers adjust their direction based on player feedback.
    "是燭九陰,是燭龍。"──by "The Classic of Mountains and Seas "English is not my first language,If something is ambiguous, rude due to context and translation issues, etc., please remind me, thanks.
  • Ryder45790
    Ryder45790
    Soul Shriven
    Hello all,

    Please consider reading my discussion post as I believe it is relevant to the current post and dilemma we are currently facing.
    @ZOS_Kevin
    @ZOS_GinaBruno

    https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/686471/meaningful-subclassing/p1?new=1
  • smnlvr
    smnlvr
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    Just get rid of sub-classing. It has ruined the feel of the game. If it must remain there should be a massive downside to subclassing, such as you don't get the passives associated with the skill line.
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