Official Discussion Thread for "The Road Ahead – June 4th"

columbineb14_ESO

Also, shout out to/agree with everyone in this thread talking about how a big problem is that you can't make a viable build based heavily on stamina skills, not even in low-level PvE.

Queripel

I play a 2 hand weapon Heavy Armor Templar. That's what I want to play as per your play the way you want.

1-50 was playable and fun.

I'm at vr2 now. Your game is broken as far as my further progress sticking with my build. I won't change my build, it's what I wanted to play. I'm already cancelled with 70+ days left. I feel cheated and let down. Fix your games imbalances if you ever want to see another dollar from me.

I can at least log in now, but I've heard nothing about compensating me for the 11 days I was unable to log in for more than a few minutes before I DCed and got 301 errors. 11 days of a 90 day sub, that's totally unsatisfactory. It's lemon law level of incompetence. I'm pissed. I feel as as if I'm unwanted as a further customer.

Fix your bloody game!

Mortosk

ZOS_GinaBruno wrote: »

This is the official discussion thread for the blog article The Road Ahead – June 4th. We hope you enjoyed this update! What has you most excited for ESO's future?

Try playing a melee DPS Templar, seriously. Do it. You will probably find it's just as underwhelming as your nightblade, if not more so.

Mortosk

ShedsHisTail wrote: »

Aenthel wrote: »

Sadly, still not a single word about 90% of the skills that are NOT Light Armor or Staff...

Yeah, I read that and was suddenly very concerned that the Devs were struck with the same Class-based tunnel vision as the bulk of the forums.

The balance issues aren't so much with the classes as they are with Weapon and Armor skills.

Except they completely omitted the fact that Templars that don't wear a dress and use a staff are pitiful. And, the ones that do aren't even using Templar skills for the bulk of their damage. Are they blind to this? Do they really not know? I wanted to read something that would give me hope that it might be getting better in the near future.

But, all I got was OOPS sorry for not documenting the nerf that made some of you want to delete your character and start over. The one we had to put up with for over a week. Sorry, you just forgot to document it? How about sorry you never even bothered to test it in the first place? Because, it's obvious you didn't test the Puncturing Strikes change, or you would have never implemented it.

denmj_ESO

For vet levels I would suggest that you put in specialist points. These points could be used to get further enhancement to a single skill. This could be allowing the skill to be morphed again so having both morphed options on a skill. Making that skill more powerful and useful. This could later be expanded to add more morphs as skill levels go up. But this could be a interim usage for vet levels.

Arreyanne

anakaki wrote: »

The fact that they aren't even mentioning us in the Road Ahead and merely cosmetic changes on the PTS just shows how clueless the devs are.

Do we need printscreens from thousends of people playing each class and comparing dps for them to understand the difference and poor mechanics in burst and aoe synergies with staff or whatever?

Again, as Ive said so many times before:

Why would you bring a templar when sorcerers heals just as well due to the conjunction with other class ultimate, barrier and the siege shield? This allows raids to completely ignore encounter mechanics and run straight dps on bosses (specifically in trials) where sorcerers outdmg templar with 300%+.

In addition to this they can't run out of mana due to crit surge and healing springs. Where is our magicka regen?

It's so obvious but it's like they refuse to admit they made a huge imbalance issue and goes on about the other classes.

They had a schedule before release of what they planned to release and when and, by all the gods, they intend to stay on track new content first fix the other stuff when we can get around to it.

That is the way the entire road ahead both of them had read to me. Cragfail was going to be released come hell or high water and whatever got fixed in the meantime was icing on the cake.

based off the way the game has had fixes applied, the bug and balance dept is probably 1 person each, while the rest of the team is making new content for us to enjoy with our Sorcs, or light armored other classes

If you dont agree thats fine, however thats how the last 60 days has come across to me

Ameliae

Colouring of items is def a plus in this announcement. I was happy to see that the screenshot gave an insight that many colouring options are there, and not limited too a typical colour palette consisting of red, blue, green etc etc. it would be nice, as others have suggested, to have this as a craft rather than an element where no mats are required. This could even be done as having to collect ochres around the landscapes in the same manner as ore, plants, wood etc.

I am also excited that you are adding more content and end game play. Even tho I am VR5 and not yet participated in trials, I am a lil concerned that the current trials may be too easy? Finishing it in 9mins... Either players are cheating or found a bug or im missing something? Id expect at least 45 mins or more.

Ragnar_Lodbrok

Why does zenimax hare DK tanks? Why? Why are they trying to make us quit the game?

henryabelarwb17_ESO

cortechsnub18_ESO wrote: »

Not too happy about raising stats and armor values for vets. This will just make it even more necessary to be max veteran level to stand a chance in PvP, and put non-vets even further behind. I guess I just need to accept that ESO is a "race to the endgame" MMO like all the rest. If only my grind tolerance were higher.

What do you expect? the difference between lvls is ridiculous to say the least! the difference between warlock set v11 and one v12 is a meager 2 point added to magicka pool!! And what about legendary? am i going to waste 8 tempers just to have a little more shine and 2-4points extra?

ferzalrwb17_ESO

ShedsHisTail wrote: »

I don't recall any significant nerfs but, to be fair, few of the changes they've made have had anything to do with abilities I use so I haven't really noticed them.

Most of the (coming)nerfs don't affect skills or playstyles I use either. They are/were a big deal for a lot of NBs however and I can hear the cries here, in other forums and in game. I'm wondering why ZOS can't.

Which is misguided as, I'm sure you're aware, the problem lies with Weapon and Armor skills and I don't believe it's inherently related to classes at all. Personally, I think it's the imbalance between Magicka and Stamina and the fact that Staves rely on Magicka when all other weapons use Stamina that is causing the biggest upset; but I don't have any numbers to back that up.

I couldn't agree more! You cannot improve the NB (as most people want to play it) without looking at weapons, stamina and medium arm. The latest nerf to Ultimate gain hits single-target stamina NB builds the hardest. Collateral damage in their enthusiastic nerf of DK mages for the trials that are being exploited.

Everything, so far, has been magicka and mage-focused and that's why they're losing so many people.

We all know the jokes "Elder Staffs Online", "Massively Mages Online" etc
Apparently ZOS don't.
How can they be this out of touch?

This is my gripe and my concern for the game. My main is a NB bow/blade and I have no problems with PVE. I struggle in PVP against the sticks&skirts but can get by being dirty and sneaky. But I see others getting pounded in PVE Vet and smashed out of PVP and they give up and cancel sub. So many NBs and mundane-Templars from my guild and friend list are gone. I don't mind the challenge but I want it to be fair in PVP and I want the game to survive. I'm in touch with what's going on in-game and it frustrates me no-end that ZOS clearly aren't. (the current attack on DKs is the scariest thing I've seen yet for the future of the game).

Wizzo91

wpitterlb14a_ESO wrote: »

Disappointed there is still no mention of an overhaul of the god awful guild store system.

Can't filter items based on their VR level
The Materials filter simply does not work
Menu based search filters are stupid to begin with (why the *** can't I search for bows AND inferno staffs? Or green AND blue items? Try check boxes guys, it gives a lot more freedom)
Can't SEARCH based on item names
Can't SORT search results based on item names
No indicator that a search has finished but did not find any items (leaving you to just sit there wondering if nothing was found or the *** just lagged out)
Can't run a search against multiple guild stores at once
Ridiculous 3-5 second timer between running consecutive searches

I could go on but I think you know what a piece of garbage your guild store system is, and I suspect (hope?) that you already have plans to improve it. The question is what the hell is taking so long. This is basic functionality thats been in every MMO and a slew of other online games for the last 15 years. It's beyond me that you could consider a game ready for launch with such a *** poor implementation, but lets move on, and how about you give us some kind of indication of when I can expect to be able to use the store without getting the urge to punch a hole in my monitor.

This please. I never touch the guild stores - the usability sucks.

LuckyBlueSuit

Justice system? Thieves guild? This still coming?

Also, why not fix what's broken with the NB before trying to tweak it. The class probably seems under powered because it's broken.

ShedsHisTail

ferzalrwb17_ESO wrote: »

ShedsHisTail wrote: »

I don't recall any significant nerfs but, to be fair, few of the changes they've made have had anything to do with abilities I use so I haven't really noticed them.

Most of the (coming)nerfs don't affect skills or playstyles I use either. They are/were a big deal for a lot of NBs however and I can hear the cries here, in other forums and in game. I'm wondering why ZOS can't.

Which is misguided as, I'm sure you're aware, the problem lies with Weapon and Armor skills and I don't believe it's inherently related to classes at all. Personally, I think it's the imbalance between Magicka and Stamina and the fact that Staves rely on Magicka when all other weapons use Stamina that is causing the biggest upset; but I don't have any numbers to back that up.

I couldn't agree more! You cannot improve the NB (as most people want to play it) without looking at weapons, stamina and medium arm. The latest nerf to Ultimate gain hits single-target stamina NB builds the hardest. Collateral damage in their enthusiastic nerf of DK mages for the trials that are being exploited.

Everything, so far, has been magicka and mage-focused and that's why they're losing so many people.

We all know the jokes "Elder Staffs Online", "Massively Mages Online" etc
Apparently ZOS don't.
How can they be this out of touch?

This is my gripe and my concern for the game. My main is a NB bow/blade and I have no problems with PVE. I struggle in PVP against the sticks&skirts but can get by being dirty and sneaky. But I see others getting pounded in PVE Vet and smashed out of PVP and they give up and cancel sub. So many NBs and mundane-Templars from my guild and friend list are gone. I don't mind the challenge but I want it to be fair in PVP and I want the game to survive. I'm in touch with what's going on in-game and it frustrates me no-end that ZOS clearly aren't. (the current attack on DKs is the scariest thing I've seen yet for the future of the game).

Actually, yeah, now that you mention it, I was a little bummed by the change to Ultimate gain from Crits. I relied pretty heavily on my Ultimate for DPS, having it up only 33% as often as it used to be is a pretty solid hit.

I'll give you that one.

Bloodfang

You guys are being just to harsh on Zenimax. While there is not everything in the Update 2 that I would like, I can't say that they are not doing anything. Sure you could argue it's our money, I'll cancel my subscription if I don't have it my way etc.. etc.. But the harsh reality is that I've played many MMOs, most recently WoW, and I have to admit Zenimax is at least pushing updates much faster than any other (Looking at you Blizzard - 1 year without update).

Some of you will need to ask yourself a question - Am I patient enough to continue playing until they fix it? While some canceled their subscription, I'm sure the majority of them is still checking on the patch notes and waiting till they will have it their way.

I can't tell you what to do with your subscription or how you should play, but there is just not enough people posting POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE side in the same comment. Is it so hard to compliment them for the things they are doing right, and posting constructive feedback on what they're doing wrong, instead of bashing them that everything in the game is wrong?

Enough for the moral education, I'll get back to the topic:

NEGATIVE THINGS

• I'm currently playing only Heavy Armor - S&B Templar, while it's a bit easier for me to handle group of mobs because of the Imperial Passives, it's by no means an easy thing to do. So no I'm not impressed with the changes.

• There is an OP spec in every class as many have realized so far, that is light armor / staff etc..

• I believe the Medium and Heavy armor players need some love, surely buffing their passives, or replacing the old ones with better new ones wouldnt hurt?

• Cyrodill lag needs to be fixed ASAP, actually move your server to Europe ASAP.

• Vampire and Werewolf skill lines need to be rehashed.

• All the melee damage skills need to be buffed.

• I'm sry if I left anything out, it's getting late already, feel free to add anything incase I missed it.

POSITIVE THINGS

• We are getting a whole new veteran dungeon! (I have to say it's a genious design to make you visit same dungeon, but with another story chapter and more brutal creatures!) Sure some would like a new trial every month, but you guys are forgetting that 99% of the playerbase hasn't even reached Craglorn.

• FOV Slider: While I personally won't probably ever use it as I prefer 3rd person camera, they have pleased many that were asking for it the last 2 months.

• Pick up Armor and Weapons: Sure it feels like it's not really a big change, but it actually is. How many other MMOs have made that many interactable objects? Besides this is a TES game, little things like this add a whole new level of immersion. The same can be said about saving the caravan from the bandits, or helping mage close daedric portal etc., it makes the world around you feel more alive!

• Improved Interior Lighting: It's always nice to see such beautiful lighting reflections. Picture is indeed worth a thousand words.

• And a ton of other fixes and improvements that many have not even bothered to read..

I'm seeing Update 2 more like a Balancing Update than Content Update. We will probably get both anyway, I just hope it doesn't affect the quality. As for the Content Update I'm pretty pleased they are not putting out anything major like Craglorn - that would split players even more.

However you guys should realize that we will be getting Update 2 in probably 2-3 weeks. So the dedicated and helpful ones march on to the PTS and help restore the balance! :P

Bayezid

Surinen wrote: »

And as much as I like an idea of painting my gear, I would like much more to see a glimpse, quick preview about Spell Crafting/Making.

NO! JUST NO!

I have played Elder Scrolls since Arena,i have seen how spell crafting can be used to make Overpowered spells with the right combination.

Once you begin spell crafting in Arena,you can make spells that one shot almost all the enemies.The same thing also happened in ES Daggerfall and Morrowind when spell crafting was still available.

Bethesda said they would nerf spellcrafting in ES Oblivion but guess what, i was able to make OP spells that can make you jump for miles (true story) and give you buffs to oerpower bosses on the hardest difficulty.

Bethesda got rid of spell crafting in Skyrim because it just could not be nerfed. There was always a combo someone can use to make somthing OP.

If Bethesda could not control and nerf it,what makes you think Zenimax can?

henryabelarwb17_ESO

" but to continue tweaking them until they are in line with the survivability of the other classes."

What a joke! why doesnt a nightblade or a sorceror be tank? Because I wanna be high dps and I wanna be able to kill a tank, I wanna be OP!!! That is the whining thats going on!!! And you listen to that and screw the game up more then it already is! If there is a problem with resto/destro synergy fix that! and let us tank in peace!

Rev Rielle

I like this Road Ahead, it address a nice wide range of topics. Especially excited about Dyes that are coming. Seems they've implemented it quite well.

anakaki wrote: »

The fact that they aren't even mentioning us in the Road Ahead and merely cosmetic changes on the PTS just shows how clueless the devs are.

Do we need printscreens from thousends of people playing each class and comparing dps for them to understand the difference and poor mechanics in burst and aoe synergies with staff or whatever?

Again, as Ive said so many times before:

Why would you bring a templar when sorcerers heals just as well due to the conjunction with other class ultimate, barrier and the siege shield? This allows raids to completely ignore encounter mechanics and run straight dps on bosses (specifically in trials) where sorcerers outdmg templar with 300%+.

In addition to this they can't run out of mana due to crit surge and healing springs. Where is our magicka regen?

It's so obvious but it's like they refuse to admit they made a huge imbalance issue and goes on about the other classes.

*laughs*
On one hand you complain that between classes/skills sets the dps is not the same, then on the other hand you complain that healing between classes/skill sets IS the same. And you have the gall to throw the word clueless around.

You, my friend, are doing more damage than good to the perception of the Templar class. Sometimes not saying things is just as important as saying things. Case in point this Road Ahead re Templars.

Bayezid

Guess what.

I found using a restoration staff increases dps more than a Destruction staff. Does anyone understand how ridiculous that sounds?

This is how Zenimax has made thier game.

Logan9a

Just thinking what I'd really like to see are frequent (biweekly? monthly?) detailed questionnaires. When you are ready to log into the game a button comes up that says "Want to help the developers improve the game? Would you like to take this optional questionnaire. If you do, we'll give the first character you log on some free food. Or a cookie. Or a warm feeling inside (whatever).

Then, they ask various insightful questions written by people monitoring these boards. The entire player base (the ones that log in over the day or three the questionnaire is active anyway) gets to rate what they want fixed.

This way, the few demanding (or whiny, depending on where you stand on their issues) people on the boards don't garner all the attention - the player base as a whole does.

Then, they can say "Based on what the player base has voted, here are the three (or whatever number) top priorities we will be working on!"

They can work on others as well as the developers doubtless have their own priorities.

Plus, everyone would (or could) say "at least they're listening to us".

Something to consider. I have no idea if anyone in charge of anything actually reads five pages (or is it six now?) into any topic however.

Airwolfe

Re: Nightblade. It has very little to do with 'underpowered' and much more to do with broken skills, namely one at this point - Mark Target (and all of it's morphs).

ferzalrwb17_ESO

anakaki wrote: »

*laughs*
On one hand you complain that between classes/skills sets the dps is not the same, then on the other hand you complain that healing between classes/skill sets IS the same. And you have the gall to throw the word clueless around.

Actually they make a good point about the Templar atm that you're not seeing.

They're saying the Templar cannot be made to DPS as well as other classes no matter what you do. And this is pretty true.

They're also saying that other classes can heal as well as the Templar. This is.. kinda true.

So the question is: What do Templars specialise in? What are they good for? I haven't tanked with one but it seems like they should be pretty decent tanks in the absence of DKs (I could be wrong on that since DKs haven't been nerfed yet but on paper it looks ok).

ZOS seem to be on a mission to nerf every class into the ground on every aspect until they're level with or less than the prime class: sorcerer. So no class will be able to heal, dps or tank better than the sorcerer. I think we're all just meant to roll Sorc to be honest.

demonlkojipub19_ESO

So I guess by looking towards adding gear more difficult to obtain an having boss stats they are truely abandoning the "crafters make the strongest gear" plan they had.

Everything ends up the same in the end.


Oh and I'm super stoked about being able to expect more dragonknight nerfs. Just nerf it to oblivion quickly, I hate to have to experience a slow painful death. Oh, don't even bother taking any note that the most powerful Dragon knights wear light armor and wield a staff. Heck, Light armor and staff any class = better than whatever else they wear. lets just make the underdogs using underdog skills or armor even weaker underdogs than before.

Arsenic_Touch

All great news. Though still nothing to address how lackluster the stamina based skills in this game are. Surprise surprise. Wonder how many more months wearing a dress and wielding a stick will be the optimum play style.

ShedsHisTail

demonlkojipub19_ESO wrote: »

So I guess by looking towards adding gear more difficult to obtain an having boss stats they are truely abandoning the "crafters make the strongest gear" plan they had.

Everything ends up the same in the end.

I'm sure whatever gear they add will be upgradable through crafting. From Purple to Yellow, keeping crafters at the top of the tier.

curlyqloub14_ESO

Ameliae wrote: »

Colouring of items is def a plus in this announcement. I was happy to see that the screenshot gave an insight that many colouring options are there, and not limited too a typical colour palette consisting of red, blue, green etc etc. it would be nice, as others have suggested, to have this as a craft rather than an element where no mats are required. This could even be done as having to collect ochres around the landscapes in the same manner as ore, plants, wood etc.

Count me as another vote for this. The dye stuff does look interesting, but PLEASE make it a craft, not just something you can pay a merchant for. Even better, make it something that you can only achieve with a COMBINATION of crafts. For example: max alchemy in order to make the dyes, max wood smith or cloth in order to apply the dyes. Make it a worthwhile valuable thing for the crafters in the community.

Also, please err on the side of caution with all the color options. I like the variety, but like others have mentioned, I really don't want to see some jerk running around in full hot pink and bright green armor looking like an easter egg. You could get plenty of variety just from variations on saturation (richer or more washed out) and lightness/darkness, with just a few variations in hue. Too many bright, bold, or odd colors will make the game look like WoW more than ESO, and be seriously detrimental to the immersion factor. Besides, you can always limit the colors to start, and add more variety over time if needed.

Ruehene

I need to say thanks to all involved in preparing these "status and future of the game" memos. I've played a lot of mmos, AAA all the way across the spectrum to oriental grind fests, and broken mmos that have promise but don't get fixed.

This is the first game where this kind of info has been provided so frequently. A few other games have done it, infrequently, and most, not at all.

So, whatever the "complainers" say, I for one really appreciate the thoroughness and frequency of these info memos. Keep up the good work!!! And, Thanks!!

Please, don't let these memos slip away and get lost in the "fog of war" in terms of content and frequency.

Noshiz

Great update. Keep them coming!

demonlkojipub19_ESO

ShedsHisTail wrote: »

demonlkojipub19_ESO wrote: »

So I guess by looking towards adding gear more difficult to obtain an having boss stats they are truely abandoning the "crafters make the strongest gear" plan they had.

Everything ends up the same in the end.

I'm sure whatever gear they add will be upgradable through crafting. From Purple to Yellow, keeping crafters at the top of the tier.

Not for the created gear, just for the trait to use less tempers. You don't need actual crafters for that. Anyone can pick up crap they get from enemies and decon it to level up crafting over time, and then all they will take is the traits for that and hireling.

Broken.

Hatred871

Sounds entirely too slow to make a difference. The quest changes should have been in at launch or high priority. Being unable to play an MMORPG with a friend is incredibly stupid.

GTech_1

demonlkojipub19_ESO wrote: »

ShedsHisTail wrote: »

demonlkojipub19_ESO wrote: »

So I guess by looking towards adding gear more difficult to obtain an having boss stats they are truely abandoning the "crafters make the strongest gear" plan they had.

Everything ends up the same in the end.

I'm sure whatever gear they add will be upgradable through crafting. From Purple to Yellow, keeping crafters at the top of the tier.

Not for the created gear, just for the trait to use less tempers. You don't need actual crafters for that. Anyone can pick up crap they get from enemies and decon it to level up crafting over time, and then all they will take is the traits for that and hireling.

Broken.

This. Soooo much This!