"Endgame" Progression (?)

Solariken

I'm a little daunted - and a little confused.

When I hit level 50 I was very surprised that I wasn't done leveling. I am now slowly and painfully working through the VR (now VR 5). I can vaguely see VR12 at the end of the tunnel.

My fear is that at my pace I will never truly reach "max level" because they will keep raising the max VR bar like they did with Craglorn. I will never feel like I can commit to crafting a worthwhile gear set (since it keeps becoming obsolete) with every raising of the bar. I will be prevented from being more active in PvP or pursuing achievements because I will always be "leveling."

I freaking LOVE this game... but why did ZOS design the endgame like this? It's like I'm leveling my main character three separate times. My faction pride is being colluded by running my AD toon through the other faction quests instead of doing them on faction-appropriate alts.

Can all of the above really be the intended design concept?

Inversus

I had that worry, but apparently they're now scrapping the VR system to be replaced with "champion points"
Watch from around 37mins onward for VR changes, they talk about champion points not long into the talk from there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYbl5B8R9-E

smeeprocketnub19_ESO

I've heard mixed reports about this, but what I ultimately here is they may in fact raise the vr max, but then it will be removed and the vp put towards champion points. So kiene angst, you won't constantly be on this treadmill.

kijima

I know exactly how you feel but luckily I got out of that hole.

Crafted sets are worth it btw, even if ZOS do change them. Just don't go yellow with them and stop at Blue or Purple tops. Craglorn is an easy grind but it doesn't sound like that is your thing, and I understand and appreciate that too.

Don't get too bogged down with chasing levels Is all I can say, enjoy your game as it's exactly that. Your game. Go at your speed, the way you want to play. It's probably the most full filling way to play if I'm honest.

I grinded from VR2 to VR5 in Craglorn then spent the next two or three levels in Cyrodiil. (Which if you haven't spent time there, I'd urge you to do so with an open mind, it's enormous fun even for a PvE'er if you let yourself enjoy it, and a VR5 can do some serious damage in PvP for what it's worth)

I then went back to Craglorn to grind the rest only because I wanted the VR12 gear that is available, and now I'm filling in quests I've skipped when most of my regulars friends are off line. It's working for me playing this way.

Just keep doing your own thing, you've already said you love the game, no one can say you are right or wrong about your own playstyle as there is no right or wrong way to play it. I grinded, when it suited me. I quested, when it suited me. But I must admit, now they the stress of leveling has gone as I'm VR12, I am finally feeling a little more relaxed as there isn't the same self pressure I had to get to the end of leveling. I'm spending more time now looking at how to increase certain stats, looking at what different enchants and crafted sets will get me. It's those types of things that are now being the driving force or my time playing ESO, that and playing with my guildmates as they are 5 different types of awesome.

I know exactly how you feel though.

Ser Lobo

I'm of split mind:

- I don't want to invest in a max-level (aka, legendary or golden) set of gear because the gear or the level may change, wasting my investment.
- If they don't add something new to attain, I will lose interest and move to some other game.


The first point, I realize isn't a great argument. First, there are sets that are built for PvP, and PvE, and ideal sets don't necessarily apply to both. Secondly, my character has evolved with enough SP that I now can do several different roles, not just one, and thus I usually need multiple gear sets of each role for top-level play.

And to further debunk the first argument, a huge gear investment by investing in improvement stones in any single set of gear isn't really worth it ... as purple is much easier to obtain, and the benefits of legendary/golden are so small to make it not worthwhile.



To the second point, my VR10 is at a stage, after having finished the main questline but having a machine that is by and large underpowered and unable to truly enjoy the large scale PvP, where I'm stuck waiting on a Craglorn group (super rare), getting in a VR run (rare, but once a week maybe), or running around in lagfest PvP (mostly system issue). And there is always roleplay, when I find it.

These issues may be normal, and my problems shared by others. But only new content and/or levels can give me something else to work for. Maybe not only, but the champion system and a purpetual gear grind aren't my idea of pleasant either. Totally gives me a Sisyphus complex.



The balance to me lies between giving us something *new* to achieve, something also worthwhile, but not making us feel like we're on a treadmill. Something I've not felt in a game outside of EvE online, to be honest.