How are NBs 1-50?

Blud

I understand that NBs are having some problems in VR content. I've been playing a Templar and I want to do something different. I'd like to have some fun leveling 1-50 and I think NB should be very different from Templar. I want to play a dual wield + bow + NB class abilities character.

By the time I level to 50, I believe patch 1.2 will have come out fixing a lot of the NB concerns.

I don't want to be a caster, because that's what my Templar became. I don't want to play resto/destro. I will play a Sorc next time I want to play a caster.

If NBs are really gimped (1-50), then how about DKs? I don't want to play a DK caster, as I mentioned above. I just want to play a melee-stamina build for a different type of combat experience.

Gisgo

Nobody is gimped 1-50, you could play a monkey minion dual wielding bananas and still faceroll content.

AreoHotah

I had a blast with my dual wield full medium nb. not too hard not to easy. always crafted own gear in green quality ever 6-7 lvls.

Commonpain

Cant say much about the melee stuff but Bow NB was fun to level. Bosses literally melt, while groups were more challenging due to the lack of good aoe's.

cheers

Nox_Aeterna

Gisgo wrote: »

Nobody is gimped 1-50, you could play a monkey minion and still faceroll content.

Pretty much this.

Not going to say that any possible build is going to work :P , but 1/50 you should be able to use any weapon/class without big issues , just have some good sense when selecting skills.

Tannakaobi

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

nikolaj.lemcheb16_ESO

First NBs are generally not weaker than Templars.

Second all stamina builds are much much much weaker than magicka builds and it doesn't matter what class you are.

Third 1.2 does not contain any fixes to the NB class and several nerfs.

Last 1.2 contains the possibility of completely killing off the assassin aspect of the NB class. If the stun immunity apply to mobs assassins are oit of the game since what they could do were to stunlock dangerous mobs and without that ability they cannot play in veteran content.

VanMuenzi

i love this. people please start to understand that pve and pvp ist something completly different.

i have to say my pve nb is not as good as i would like it to be. stuff is bugged, i have to play caster ... kind of sucks for me personally.

BUT i have read almost no complains about the pvp section of the nb. i love doing pvp with my nb and it works out fine. in pvp melee, ranged and caster works fine as nb.

also to consider is that nb tank works fine. you got some passives and class spells which benefit your tank abilities but in general you can make a fine healer or tank.

Fleymark

My bow/dw NB absolutely gutted mobs 1-50. If you are selective about which to use when packs of mobs aren't a problem once you get a decent amount of your skill set and eventually single targets virtually have zero chance if they can be CCed, which are most mobs. Because you have range you can burn down range if you have to. By the time I got to 50, had good gear, had enough experience to learn the ins and outs of resource management and dodging when soloing big mobs, I had zero problem dropping Molag Bol on the first attempt, for example.

I'm in the VRs and still fine it's just slowed down a lot is all. I'm rank 2 and they say it gets a lot worse at 5 but we shall see.

I've heard that DKs make fantastic archers because of all the CC they get, so if you might consider having a look at that, and I've heard of some archers going s/s or 2h instead of DW, but I'm very happy with mine as is. I will probably plsyceity some other specs as I work my way thru the VRs but I love mine.

So, ya, you may want to have a look at DK or Sorc (grouped with a spec archer and the pets were a nice plus) but I had no problems 1-50 with my nb. Theoretically a templar would be perfect for an archer since the 2 things we always never seem to have enough of is healing and stamina and they have spells for both, but I'm not sure how bad the nerfs have hit those abilities since I dont play one.

If you are only going to 50 you won't regret a NB tho. Maybe not after, either. I'm not.

Blud

My main focus is to pvp down the road, but I want to have fun leveling. If I can do VR in AvA, so much the better.

isengrimb16_ESO

Once I was able to get Drain Power (or whatever it's called) at 42, my life as a nightbow got a lot easier. Until that point, I was using either that first stabby assassination skill and/or the teleportation thing (of course, I didn't like the teleport aspect). Swallow Soul has been a must all the way along.

I roll dodge and stuff a lot, knock guys back and stun them (rolling back myself if I think it's safe) - made a mistake last night in coldharbour, though, rolled away from a pack of demora into another pack of dremora - all the fighter's skills passives won't help against 8 of them. :P Been using silver bolts, too. Haven't been messing with weapon-swapping because it's so clunky.

I'm expecting to get punched in the face when I hit VR content (assuming I can deal with Mr Bal, that is.) Oh, well, then I get to take a look at my DK.

I'm not even a good player. My best DPS in WoW LFR on either my hunter or lock was maybe 75K, but then I follow mechanics (when I learn them) and run around a lot.

I'm also not a min-maxer, and only recently started favouring a bit more stam over health and magicka, I use health+stam food when I have it (and I have enough.)

GrimCyclone

Tannakaobi wrote: »

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

Typical, look at the UI. All modded up. It's a typical leet. Did you ever stop and think that most people aren't like that guy? Most people don't research the best of the best stuff and do everything they can to be the best. Most people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions.

Just because that guy CAN own with the class doesn't mean others do. Especially with the freedom to pick anything and everything that won't make you powerful.

steveb16_ESO46

GrimCyclone wrote: »

Tannakaobi wrote: »

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

Typical, look at the UI. All modded up. It's a typical leet. Did you ever stop and think that most people aren't like that guy? Most people don't research the best of the best stuff and do everything they can to be the best. Most people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions.

Just because that guy CAN own with the class doesn't mean others do. Especially with the freedom to pick anything and everything that won't make you powerful.

Yea. The point is also - he's own way more with a Sorc or DK and with a lot less effort.

Tannakaobi

GrimCyclone wrote: »

Tannakaobi wrote: »

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

Typical, look at the UI. All modded up. It's a typical leet. Did you ever stop and think that most people aren't like that guy? Most people don't research the best of the best stuff and do everything they can to be the best. Most people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions.

Just because that guy CAN own with the class doesn't mean others do. Especially with the freedom to pick anything and everything that won't make you powerful.

er... What? Are you for real?

I put the video up only to demonstrate that NB's can be great. You obviously agree. I can't help if some people can't be bothered to learn their class well. I have played my NB with three different builds. All three I consider good.

But that is neither here or there. The simple fact of the matter is 1-50 NB will slaughter everything and anything put in front of them. VR1-12 will be a challenge but learn your class well and it is possible and in PVP they can be awesome, as good as any class. But, as the op knows. Currently they have some issues with Passives.

I can't help it if some (not most) people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions without thinking about what they are doing.

Lodestar

GrimCyclone wrote: »

Tannakaobi wrote: »

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

Typical, look at the UI. All modded up. It's a typical leet. Did you ever stop and think that most people aren't like that guy? Most people don't research the best of the best stuff and do everything they can to be the best. Most people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions.

Just because that guy CAN own with the class doesn't mean others do. Especially with the freedom to pick anything and everything that won't make you powerful.

I agree with you. But, try telling some members of this forum and the devs that.

Tannakaobi

steveb16_ESO46 wrote: »

GrimCyclone wrote: »

Tannakaobi wrote: »

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

Typical, look at the UI. All modded up. It's a typical leet. Did you ever stop and think that most people aren't like that guy? Most people don't research the best of the best stuff and do everything they can to be the best. Most people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions.

Just because that guy CAN own with the class doesn't mean others do. Especially with the freedom to pick anything and everything that won't make you powerful.

Yea. The point is also - he's own way more with a Sorc or DK and with a lot less effort.

And what point may I ask is that? Did I say Sorcerers and DK's are not as good? Was the op asking what is the best class to play?

No, he asked if NB were good to play. If you don't think so then that is fine but don't expect everyone to agree because Sorcerers and DK's are easier.

Dayv

Levelling an NB to 50 wasn't too bad, but nowhere as easy as leveling my DK (41 so far) has been, although it's difficult to say how much of that is down to what I've learned as a player and class advantages. I certainly would say that if you want to go melee consider 2 handed instead of dual wield. Splash damage helps to mitigate some of NBs lack of AoE.

Gisgo

But you posted a video of a player using add-ons.
You are evil and must be stopped.

Schallen

Nightblade PVE: Good.

Nightblade PVP: Prepare to be made a dragon knight's ***.

steveb16_ESO46

Tannakaobi wrote: »

steveb16_ESO46 wrote: »

GrimCyclone wrote: »

Tannakaobi wrote: »

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

Typical, look at the UI. All modded up. It's a typical leet. Did you ever stop and think that most people aren't like that guy? Most people don't research the best of the best stuff and do everything they can to be the best. Most people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions.

Just because that guy CAN own with the class doesn't mean others do. Especially with the freedom to pick anything and everything that won't make you powerful.

Yea. The point is also - he's own way more with a Sorc or DK and with a lot less effort.

And what point may I ask is that? Did I say Sorcerers and DK's are not as good? Was the op asking what is the best class to play?

No, he asked if NB were good to play. If you don't think so then that is fine but don't expect everyone to agree because Sorcerers and DK's are easier.

The point is, and it's not a difficult one, is that the problem with nightblades at higher levels is the cannot match the relative performance of other classes. Therefore it is completely irrelevant if an awesomely played NB can match the performance of a mediocre DK or Sorc.

Fleymark

GrimCyclone wrote: »

Tannakaobi wrote: »

Nightblades are not nearly as bad as they are made out to be by the people on this forum. A few passives are buggy but overall they are a great class.

This is not my own video but demonstrates how good NB can be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8krLrYX2ugo

Typical, look at the UI. All modded up. It's a typical leet. Did you ever stop and think that most people aren't like that guy? Most people don't research the best of the best stuff and do everything they can to be the best. Most people just play the vanilla game and try to make good decisions.

Just because that guy CAN own with the class doesn't mean others do. Especially with the freedom to pick anything and everything that won't make you powerful.

I love this post.

Yes, most people can. And should. If people have success with a class it's good to see and read about what they do. That's why people watch videos like that. To learn how to be better. The NB class has problems but it's not entirely broken. A lot of people who play multiple classes at high levels report that they gave no problems with their nightblades they just have to work a little harder and smarter than the other classes. Works for me.

This post sounds like you are saying if you aren't an uber type player you are going to suck unless you play an OP class. And don't listen to the uber in the video because most of us suck. LOL

At this moment, of the two currently in favor classes one of them took nerfs in the last patch and looks like it's going to in the next one. Of the two less favored classes, one of them was a favored class in beta and has gotten to where it is now because of a series of nerfs. Meanwhile, NBs are getting broken things fixed but it's going slowly.

My point being this...The devs of this game have demonstrated that they generally nerf and break more than they boost and fix. It's a brand new game. I'm sure balance will come eventually but it's likely going to be a slow process and likely most painful to the classes percieced or actually OP. You are Bette off chosing your class by the skillset you like rather than the fotm. Or play several and see for yourself what's working better as the patches roll out.

Regardless, none of this matters because the op was asking about 1-50. As others have said pretty much everything works before VRs.

Blud

I am mainly concerned with 1-50 right now. My temp is VR12 and I'm satisfied with where he is as a healer. That's what I wanted and that's what I got. I don't know if he's under or overpowered because I heal for my guild in pve and ava and I've performed in a way that satisfies me.

The reason I'm interested in NBs is that the play style will be totally different than a team-oriented healer. I want to use stealth to gank people. I can't be a nice guy all the time

I am thinking to level to 50 and if I find the VR content too difficult, I will just park it there till any stamina or class issues that might exist are addressed. I have the main character I want. I just want to have a different type of experience for fun. Seems like from what I read in this thread 1-50 should be alright.

Thanks for the feedback.

Gisgo

I dont think you are going to have any problem, even after you hit VR levels.

There are a few annoying encounters but a lot of NBs hit VR12 so its far from impossible.

The only problem would be getting invites for trials but since you already have a guild, its np for you.

Ohioastro

Nightblades are a lot of fun. One important thing that appears to have been missed: you have actual stealth options with a nightblade, even in VR content. You have passive abilities that make it harder to detect stealth. Combine this with Shadow Cloak (a short term invisibility) and another Shadow ability (fast movement while stealthed) and you can choose whether or not you want to fight. This is a big, big class advantage.

What's also important in ESO, and discounted far too much, is that your choice of weapon and armor gives a ton of flexibility. Nightblades running with light armor and staves, for example, are quite strong builds overall.

I've run through to V2 so far with no problem in PvE. They are updating the class abilities - it's a stated priority - and it's very likely that the relentless balancing pressure in MMOs will grind down the advantages of DKs and Sorcerors well before you hit 50. So pick a class you like, run with it, and enjoy.

Ohioastro

steveb16_ESO46 wrote: »

The point is, and it's not a difficult one, is that the problem with nightblades at higher levels is the cannot match the relative performance of other classes. Therefore it is completely irrelevant if an awesomely played NB can match the performance of a mediocre DK or Sorc.

It's completely irrelevant in PvE whether other classes are "better" than yours. It's relevant only that your class is fun to play and strong enough to deal with the challenges you'll be facing.

dolanjamieb16_ESO

Im v3 and still melting 3+ packs i heard they get hard i cant see how they will fall off a literal cliff at this point tbh

LariahHunding

I think that NB are the most fun class to play, although extremely frustrating at times in VR. You have to think about what you have to do.

Unlike the combat drone DK where you press the button, then this button, then this button, fight over.

(Note: I have at lvl 35 DK, so I ain't just pulling this out my rear.)

Falmer

My nightblade DW, cloaking, life-draining build was basically unkillable. So yes, enjoy the class. The final fight of the game took under 3 minutes... Most classes can't say that.

steveb16_ESO46

Ohioastro wrote: »

steveb16_ESO46 wrote: »

The point is, and it's not a difficult one, is that the problem with nightblades at higher levels is the cannot match the relative performance of other classes. Therefore it is completely irrelevant if an awesomely played NB can match the performance of a mediocre DK or Sorc.

It's completely irrelevant in PvE whether other classes are "better" than yours. It's relevant only that your class is fun to play and strong enough to deal with the challenges you'll be facing.

When in PvE a class cannot get into groups because of its known failings or if it is not fun to do PvE because of its failings it is quite obviously relevant.

And on - it is not fun if an NB has to be played at limits a player may not have or has to group while the casually played DK or Sorc breezes through solo.

It's not fun if the PvE content is tuned for average sorcs but limited, elite NB's. This is a game not work. If players aren't having fun. If every supposed trash mob turns into a losing battle then players will leave.

For a balanced game classes have to be equally capable in their own unique way. That is not the case at the moment.

NB's, as Zenimax admit, aren't in a good place for this. Unfortunately what they consider improvements are not significantly addressing the issue.

And then there's the wider issue of staff/light armor being the strongest build for all classes. Except here again DK's and Sorcs have symmetries that make them first rate S/LA's while NB's are second class.

The basic problem is - this game was not tested. We're doing it now. All these issues should have been picked up and addressed before launch. It's too damn late to realise only now that yea - stamina builds don't actually work in end game.

That just leads to what we're seeing. Frantic flailing around. Nerf this. Nerf that. now nerf that. Un-nerf it.

That's why, much as I'd like to think otherwise, I don't think ESO has a future outside of FTP. Only an FTP relaunch will bring in a customer base to support it long term.

I'm out of here when the L1-50 is exhausted. That's great gameplay. The rest isn't. I'd be happy for it to change. more than happy as i'm a big ES fan.

Covyn

I love my NB, granted I built him like a warlock so he is fully utilizing the "Elder Sorcerer's Online" theme that is running through the game right now. Zero issues leveling, zero issues with VR content, Zero Issues solo or in groups, fantastic single target dps and decent AoE.

If I ran him as a STA build, this would be a totally different story.

steveb16_ESO46

Covyn wrote: »

I love my NB, granted I built him like a warlock so he is fully utilizing the "Elder Sorcerer's Online" theme that is running through the game right now. Zero issues leveling, zero issues with VR content, Zero Issues solo or in groups, fantastic single target dps and decent AoE.

If I ran him as a STA build, this would be a totally different story.

Yep. But that's the problem. Every class is best as a staff/LA magika build. DK's and SORCs being by far the best.

I didn't buy this game to play that way. Any sensible build is fine and fun going through the faction story but that stops being the case.

That's why I fear for the game as a long term sub game. If you don't find the VR plot interesting or the game play entertaining there's not much else.

Much as I enjoy the faction story I won't be subbing a game that doesn't offer me entertainment. I fear that the complete change of game at VR will deter a whole lot more people from subbing than it will attract.

I hope i'm wrong though.