Veteran Content - Better Solution ?

Bloodfang

While I'm sure there are many that haven't been there yet (Checking on some lower zones, there is for sure plenty of action opposed to VR action), those that already were, are supporting that this is one of the weakest things in ESO. Though there are even many that don't really hate it. (including me)

Now I'm not really sure where to begin. So lets just start with the 1-49 lvling, why did people like it so much?

• Well first it felt and played like something inovative in MMO genre, certainly it brought some RPG questing hope back to the genre. No more mindless killing (kill 10 of that, 10 of this) and illogical looting (bring me 10 bear teeth - where apparently only every 2nd or 3rd bear has 1 tooth).

• To my surprise quests were actually really good written. I mean I did expect that it's gonna be significantly better than all other MMOs if they wanted to satisfy some TES fans, but certainly I did not expect most quests to be on par with Skyrim, some even better.

• Helping NPCs felt like you are helping your faction, you got slowly more and more invested in the story. Some NPCs that followed you through the Zones even gave you the feeling that you are never alone in all this.

• Zones were pretty big yes, but we never felt the need to rush or anything like that. Actually I was hoping I never run out of quests and things to do, it was that much fun.

• There wasn't just the faction quests. There were also the Main Storyline quests, Mages and Fighters Guild quests etc.

• The last thing is that we went to Coldharbour, it was a pure masterpiece that whole zone, though I have to say it was a bit limited. Defeating Molag Bal was just at the peak of it. It was great being acknowledged as a hero by all Faction Leaders. But mostly story was progressing, there was a point in doing all that.

But when we compare it with Veteran Content:

• First we get put in some Random Faction, we couldn't even choose which one to do first, not that it matters much but still.

• I really didn't like the idea to kill my brethren, even though it's just a vision. I dont get it who came up with that idea, but it's horrible at best.

• There was absolutely zero other Quests apart from the Faction Quests. Remember that's all because we are in some kind of a vision, though it's funny how they remember your deeds even in the other Faction Guild Halls.

• Apart from the fact that we are helping other faction people, there is really no progression, there is no ending like Coldharbour. Again it's just a vision, everything that we've done is some kind of a dream, all those actions mean nothing.

• Difficulty is another thing that is bothering many people, I'll discuss more about it below.

So being that deep in the game launch, is there any way developers could actually fix this sorry state, in which Veteran Content is right now? The answer is probably yes, would it be easy? No. For that they would need to recreate whole new quests, mobs etc.

• Lets say we get to keep that concept of visiting other faction zones. First let us at least choose which faction we want to do first.

• After we beat Molag Bal, there should be a reason why to go to another faction land and feel the need to help. Make a King/Queen of certain faction beg us for help.

• I've been reading that some of you would like sabotage / spy quests etc. I don't think that's a really a good idea, some things are better if they just stay in Cyrodiil. I certainly don't want to come to another faction land to just keep killing humanoids after humanoids, taking over, sabotaging settlements and so on and on..

• Another story that I would prefer is to revolve around Daedra, I mean cmon thats the very reason we were all rampaging all the way to Molag Bal.

• It certainly wouldn't be bad to add the last boss in that Faction Storyline some lesser Daedric Prince, while in each of the other Zones you would have to kill Lichs or Necromancers etc. They would need to create whole new quests for us Veteran players, and probably a bit different environment too. I don't want the quests to be all around Daedra though, mostly just the main ones. I dont mind helping other faction people, even if they'd be rude sometimes knowing who I am, but at least the story would have a bigger purpose.

• I would certainly like some more World Events in those Veteran Zones too, if any of you played Rift you'll know the Invasions, it would create some sense of Danger after all. Though I'm not sure if they should keep Dark Anchors (remember thats what we destroyed in Coldharbour), I mean I wouldn't mind if they'd just keep them, but in case they'd decide not to (because of the story purpose), at least make something near that epicness, maybe some bigger teleporters, gates?

• As for difficulty, nerf it a bit, or just add 2 difficulty options so Casuals will stop leaving the game. (Perhaps add Achievements for each zone completition on Hard Difficulty and option to replay it if you've already done it on easy and want the achievement?)

I can imagine this is by far easier said than done, but overally it doesn't sound bad in my book. It would make a better point in making alts knowing you will be doing 15 completely different zones (Starting Areas shouldn't be included in Veteran Content). It should also serve as a better story, your actions would be remembered, and you'd be facing more deadly creatures (Daedra). Also the players that didn't care much about their factions, but only about other Race Landscapes wouldn't be needing to roll an alt, but could still experience everything with just 1 character.


As for PvP reasons, I don't think this would interfere with any of that. Sure PvPers wouldn't be happy about it, but I say let the PvP stay in Cyrodiil and PvE everywhere else. Also there are many NPCs that are Neutral anyway and don't care for the whole "Faction" thing, and well there are many racists in the so called "Alliance" as well.


If they ever include Arenas or anything PvPish, that is limited in other MMOs to your faction, I hope they don't limit it the same way here. If I have a friend Khajit, I'm a Nord and we both share the politics of the Ebonheart Pact, why would you deny him the right to fight for it? (Even if he is a traitorous dog ) Why wasn't Cyrodiil made like that from the start?

Phantax

Despair9 wrote: »

While I'm sure there are many that haven't been there yet (Checking on some lower zones, there is for sure plenty of action opposed to VR action)

Most of those people in the lower zones 'are' VR players, we've just given up on Craglorn for the carbuncle it is ! Better to go mess around with an alt until Craggers becomes meaningful

Bloodfang

Phantax wrote: »

Despair9 wrote: »

While I'm sure there are many that haven't been there yet (Checking on some lower zones, there is for sure plenty of action opposed to VR action)

Most of those people in the lower zones 'are' VR players, we've just given up on Craglorn for the carbuncle it is ! Better to go mess around with an alt until Craggers becomes meaningful

Nah I doubt that, there was for sure player increase in 1-49 but that has nothing to do with alts (some yes, but I'd say majority is new players) In the bank I can barely see the NPC, I don't remember that many players at once in there.

Anyways I forgot to add "Wall of Text Warning".

masotmnb16_ESO

I think a lot of players in the regular zones are veterans who've grown sick of the VR content. I hit VR3 with my main a bit over a month ago and I've basically given up on it. Too frustrating, too slow, not rewarding, doesn't add anything to my character's story, it basically just feels pointless. And most importantly, I am not having any fun at all. What's the point of paying a monthly fee to just feel frustrated and pissed off at the game?

It's really disappointing as 1-50 was immensely fun. The quests were genuinely interesting and Coldharbour was a perfect climax. I had a really hard time putting the game down. VR content seemed like a pretty cool idea at first as the quests are obviously of about the same quality regardless of faction, but from a storytelling point of view, it is cheap and absolutely unmotivating to 'start from scratch' so to speak after the climax of the Coldharbour questline. Also, having to grind every single quest, WB, dungeon and dolmen in each zone to reach the next level is completely overkill and far from the Elder Scrolls philosophy of picking your quests and playing a character as you like.

I agree with the OP regarding the creation of more storylines featuring Daedra and creating actual quests for veterans within the other factions' zones (or completely new zones like Craglorn). Our characters have become heroes after the end of the main quest line, and I personally think we should be given quests in accordance with that status. Yes, that would have taken more time and couldn't have been ready for release, but I personally would have been more than happy with level 50 being the level cap to begin with until more content was added. At least, if new quests couldn't be added, greater rewards and a faster experience progression would have been more than welcome. Maybe having only to complete Caldwell's main objectives, for example, and a few other key quests. As it is, it feels like a grind, which is a shame as there was nothing grindlike about the initial level progression (which I personally oved).

Bloodfang

masotmnb16_ESO wrote: »

I agree with the OP regarding the creation of more storylines featuring Daedra and creating actual quests for veterans within the other factions' zones (or completely new zones like Craglorn). Our characters have become heroes after the end of the main quest line, and I personally think we should be given quests in accordance with that status. Yes, that would have taken more time and couldn't have been ready for release, but I personally would have been more than happy with level 50 being the level cap to begin with until more content was added. At least, if new quests couldn't be added, greater rewards and a faster experience progression would have been more than welcome. Maybe having only to complete Caldwell's main objectives, for example, and a few other key quests. As it is, it feels like a grind, which is a shame as there was nothing grindlike about the initial level progression (which I personally oved).

I'm disappointed only because it could've been done so much better. Makes me wonder though what led them to push something like that live. Were they just buying precious time because there is not much content ready? If there was a better story like incentive I wouldn't mind if leveling took as long as it's taking now.

Right now I feel used like a guinea pig. Game does for sure feel like a Beta version, I'm pretty sure Console Players won't have to go through such frustrations.

Phantax

masotmnb16_ESO wrote: »

I think a lot of players in the regular zones are veterans who've grown sick of the VR content. I hit VR3 with my main a bit over a month ago and I've basically given up on it. Too frustrating, too slow, not rewarding, doesn't add anything to my character's story, it basically just feels pointless. And most importantly, I am not having any fun at all. What's the point of paying a monthly fee to just feel frustrated and pissed off at the game?

What this guy said, sums it up for me completely !

masotmnb16_ESO

Despair9 wrote: »

I'm disappointed only because it could've been done so much better. Makes me wonder though what led them to push something like that live. Were they just buying precious time because there is not much content ready? If there was a better story like incentive I wouldn't mind if leveling took as long as it's taking now.

Right now I feel used like a guinea pig. Game does for sure feel like a Beta version, I'm pretty sure Console Players won't have to go through such frustrations.

I agree entirely with your original post, by the way, I hope my post didn't make it seem otherwise. I wouldn't mind the slow level progression either if there was a continuation to the story to justify it. I love Tamriel, and getting to explore parts of it I've never seen is enormous fun. But as it is, I'd rather make alts to see and experience the difference factions than grind the same quests in veteran difficulty, which at the moment feels like a chore.

And I do think they were buying time in order to create veteran content, yes. This has backfired on Zeni as Craglorn is turning out to be a grindfest at the moment, and a lot of players are getting bored with the veteran zones and are making alts instead, hoping meaningful veteran content will be added at some point.

Bloodfang

masotmnb16_ESO wrote: »

Despair9 wrote: »

I'm disappointed only because it could've been done so much better. Makes me wonder though what led them to push something like that live. Were they just buying precious time because there is not much content ready? If there was a better story like incentive I wouldn't mind if leveling took as long as it's taking now.

Right now I feel used like a guinea pig. Game does for sure feel like a Beta version, I'm pretty sure Console Players won't have to go through such frustrations.

I agree entirely with your original post, by the way, I hope my post didn't make it seem otherwise. I wouldn't mind the slow level progression either if there was a continuation to the story to justify it. I love Tamriel, and getting to explore parts of it I've never seen is enormous fun. But as it is, I'd rather make alts to see and experience the difference factions than grind the same quests in veteran difficulty, which at the moment feels like a chore.

And I do think they were buying time in order to create veteran content, yes. This has backfired on Zeni as Craglorn is turning out to be a grindfest at the moment, and a lot of players are getting bored with the veteran zones and are making alts instead, hoping meaningful veteran content will be added at some point.

No, no, don't worry, your response was pretty clear! Not aggreing on my thought, that there are more players that haven't reached VR is just what makes it 2 different opinions. Us players don't have info on that obviously, we might be both right after all.

I'm not sure if they'll ever be able to fix Veteran Content in time, such thing would probably cost the development team quite a bit,

kieso

I'm just leveling alts till they fix Vet content or I'm done with alts and quit; we'll see which comes first.

Bloodfang

kieso wrote: »

I'm just leveling alts till they fix Vet content or I'm done with alts and quit; we'll see which comes first.

Seems like there is hell of a lot of you lvling alts then!

shiva7663

I dunno, if I were to go to another faction's zones, I would want to cut a bloody swath through the enemies of my faction and work, as a General, to tip the balance in our favor in the War, outside the Cyrodiil hot zone.

Fuxo

One of the last templars here. I did a complete respec at VR1 and tried to use different skills, but was unable to progress past VR2, and in VR3, there were mostly groups of 3 mobs I could not handle solo anymore, so I had to change to robe/staff gameplay, which is not my cup of tea to be honest. But what else can I do? I mean I would like to group, but many VR zones are almost empty.

I am eagerly waiting for upcoming changes that hopefully allow me to play my way. If not, well, there are other things in life...