Thoughts on patch 1.5, the forums, and ZOS

Blud

I haven't been able to get in the game much due to some sort of weird patcher/super-slow download situation and my sub has lapsed in the interim. So, sadly, I've had more time to lurk in these forums than I would normally, while waiting for my fix of ESO. I'm not subbed but I can still post. I want to re-sub soon, when I can get my game loaded and installed.

Fortunately, I was able to play a bit of the new patch before my download issue started (at 63% now -- fingers crossed). I want to say something about what I've seen in the forums.

Patch 1.5

There are some cool things in this patch: WW changes make me want to play, no FCs, changes to hot oil use, Undaunted and crafting quests. Thanks for adding those things.

Questionable things: For the sake of our community, I think more transparency on implementing changes is needed -- to XP for veteran rank players, the Champion system transition, etc. There seems to be a lot of confusion and nastiness coming out in forum posts and I think this can be avoided or minimized to a great extent with clear and simple communication. Some statements have been made by ZOS representatives, but a lot of people are still confused.

Bugs: Stuff happens and I believe they will get sorted out eventually. I've never made an online mmorpg, so I don't know what it's like. I guess it's pretty hard. Thanks for your hard work, ZOS.


The Forums

I think people should refrain from saying hurtful things to others, whether they be other players with different opinions and playstyles, or ZOS. It's just mean-spirited and unnecessary. It degrades the author, not the person being insulted.

Maybe, before posting and calling people incompetent or liars or whatever, go watch some of the ESO livestreams to listen to and see some of the people who have brought us this game that we love or really want to love and support. Remember that they are hard-working, intelligent human beings and they should be treated as respectfully as you wish to be treated. I'm sure we could all improve in our jobs. We don't need to be insulted to do it.


ZOS

I sincerely want to thank you for making the best game world out there with some of the funnest combat and quests and things to do. I don't really want to play any other mmorpg. If I could make any suggestions from a player/customer/supporter perspective:

Please try to keep communications clear, simple, and direct. If you don't know or can't comment on something, please say so and leave it at that. I think you all know what people are concerned about, so if you can address those things, most of us will be happy.

Please don't make the game grindy. Grindy is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but most people I know didn't like VR ranks. Please let people have opportunities to play how they want to play. If there is going to be a transition period, let people know how it's going to affect them when they play and develop their characters -- so that they can understand you.

Let there be enough things for people to do who want to be in Tamriel -- from soloers who group occasionally or who just want to fish and craft, to hardcore players who group all the time and like hardcore challenges. It takes all types of players to make a healthy and fun community. I know it's asking a lot and it's vague and it will take time to get there. So just tell us what you're working on and give each player type a bit at a time, if possible. If you have group-oriented stuff like Craglorn, let players who prefer to play alone or with one other person know when they might get something to do.


Thanks for reading.

Moonshadow66

I'm not sure if you can even download the game while you're not subscribed anymore, nor do I understand how you could have played after update 5 before you've even downloaded it..

I really don't want to be one of these people who are posting rude comments here, but when you don't understand why there's so much "nastiness" in the forums, I only can come to the conclusion that you didn't play the game too often yet.

Indeed it's a fantastic game, actually my alltime favorite besides of Skyrim, but even for me it sometimes is getting too much when certain things don't run as they should, over and over again, and when it's getting worse after a patch which actually should FIX things, not break even more.

The newly implemented things like Crafting Writs are pretty nice, but only theoretically. Half of the quests I started were buggy and not completable, the other half was not worth the effort considering the reward. So why do you think people are angry about this? Maybe because the whole thing is not even finished yet.

How about this: we just pay half of the price for a halfway-finished game? Of course, that's not possible, but maybe it helps you understand a bit better why people are getting angry about certain things and ZOS.

akalabethb14_ESO

I love the game, but despise backtracking from ZoS. Nobody wants vet levels to be more grindy. Nobody wants to be told they are playing the game wrong.

Both are inexcusable. Its not being nasty.

Lord_Kreegan

When you were a kid (perhaps you still are; you can't tell on a forum), did you play football or basketball with a deflated ball? If you bought such a ball and discovered it wouldn't inflate because of the huge hole in the side, I bet you did not say to yourself, "Oh, well. I'll wait for the company to sell a patch. Until then we can play with a deflated ball."

Despite what the marketers and shills will try to convince us, like football and basketball, this is a game... not an obligation on our part.

It is a product that we bought and pay for the opportunity to play. We are not obligated to pay if we don't like the product.

We are not obligated to participate in the PTS. They aren't paying us; we're paying them.

We are not obligated to have patience and wait for them to fix things. We're paying for the game now.

We are not obligated to tolerate bugs pushed with a patch.

So, we *** about things... If we're paying the subscription, you might consider that we're paying to ***.

We ARE obligated to be reasonably civil on the forums; but that is just an obligation to each other as human beings; we are not obligated to spew love and sing "Rama dama ding ding" in little red outfits with bells tied to our ankles as we dance to show our joy at playing this game. This is not the '60's; I kind of wish it was still the 60's; the music was a lot better... but those days are past.

ers101284b14_ESO

Lord_Kreegan wrote: »

When you were a kid (perhaps you still are; you can't tell on a forum), did you play football or basketball with a deflated ball? If you bought such a ball and discovered it wouldn't inflate because of the huge hole in the side, I bet you did not say to yourself, "Oh, well. I'll wait for the company to sell a patch. Until then we can play with a deflated ball."

Despite what the marketers and shills will try to convince us, like football and basketball, this is a game... not an obligation on our part.

It is a product that we bought and pay for the opportunity to play. We are not obligated to pay if we don't like the product.

We are not obligated to participate in the PTS. They aren't paying us; we're paying them.

We are not obligated to have patience and wait for them to fix things. We're paying for the game now.

We are not obligated to tolerate bugs pushed with a patch.

So, we *** about things... If we're paying the subscription, you might consider that we're paying to ***.

We ARE obligated to be reasonably civil on the forums; but that is just an obligation to each other as human beings; we are not obligated to spew love and sing "Rama dama ding ding" in little red outfits with bells tied to our ankles as we dance to show our joy at playing this game. This is not the '60's; I kind of wish it was still the 60's; the music was a lot better... but those days are past.

When I go to a restaurant pay for a burger and they give me a salad, spit it in it, then punch me in the face I also don't eat there for 6 months straight.

Blud

Of course, I like to read a diversity of opinions, everyone is entitled to express their point of view, and we are customers paying for a service.

Mainly, I just like to see a civil tone, as everyone in this thread has maintained, so far. Thanks all.