Adding starting island to cold harbor

rynth

I was wondering if there was a way if/when choose to go through coldharbor tutorial (which is fun) at player creation if we can't also go right to the starter island like it was during Beta. I never thought it was a good idea changing this the starter islands are great not to mention the lvls and extra skill points get for going there.

Amsel_McKay

The starter islands are still there right after the coldhabor tutorial.

rynth

I know that what I'm saying and probably should made clearer is that if we choose to go through the coldharbor starting that it takes us directly to the starter island like it used to in beta. Makes story for starter islands run smoother with you freeing yourself from coldharbor. Since you can choose start at coldharbor or go directly to starting city shouldn't hurt people that don't want to go through coldharbor and/or starting islands

Ysne58

rynth wrote: »

I know that what I'm saying and probably should made clearer is that if we choose to go through the coldharbor starting that it takes us directly to the starter island like it used to in beta. Makes story for starter islands run smoother with you freeing yourself from coldharbor. Since you can choose start at coldharbor or go directly to starting city shouldn't hurt people that don't want to go through coldharbor and/or starting islands

This makes sense to me.

TheShadowScout

Personally I too would prefer if the game took us right to the starting island from coldharbour, with an option to take the boat to the mainland right away for those who really want to skip the starting isle part (though who'd want to - expees and skyshards, what's not to like with quickly doing the starting isles for the x-th time?)

Amsel_McKay

Ysne58 wrote: »

rynth wrote: »

I know that what I'm saying and probably should made clearer is that if we choose to go through the coldharbor starting that it takes us directly to the starter island like it used to in beta. Makes story for starter islands run smoother with you freeing yourself from coldharbor. Since you can choose start at coldharbor or go directly to starting city shouldn't hurt people that don't want to go through coldharbor and/or starting islands

This makes sense to me.

People felt trapped when they got "dumped" on the starter island after coldharbor, some people just wanted bank mules and dont do coldharbor or starter islands just want to get to the bank as fast as possible. I liked the way it was in beta myself, but they said the majority did not like the starter islands (or coldharbor) after they did it once.

So they added a ton of dialog about how you were rescued from the ocean and talk to the person outside the door when you exit so people know how to get to the starter island, but the problem is 80% (yes made up stat) of players dont listen to dialog and just skip skip skip all the reading and voice overs.

rynth

True but if they link the starting islands to when you leave cold harbor we get best of both worlds. Those that don't want cold harbor or care about the dialog can go straight to starting city and those that choose the starting be cold harbor are happy as a nord in a mead drinking contest

IrishGirlGamer

Amsel_McKay wrote: »

Ysne58 wrote: »

rynth wrote: »

I know that what I'm saying and probably should made clearer is that if we choose to go through the coldharbor starting that it takes us directly to the starter island like it used to in beta. Makes story for starter islands run smoother with you freeing yourself from coldharbor. Since you can choose start at coldharbor or go directly to starting city shouldn't hurt people that don't want to go through coldharbor and/or starting islands

This makes sense to me.

People felt trapped when they got "dumped" on the starter island after coldharbor, some people just wanted bank mules and dont do coldharbor or starter islands just want to get to the bank as fast as possible. I liked the way it was in beta myself, but they said the majority did not like the starter islands (or coldharbor) after they did it once.

So they added a ton of dialog about how you were rescued from the ocean and talk to the person outside the door when you exit so people know how to get to the starter island, but the problem is 80% (yes made up stat) of players dont listen to dialog and just skip skip skip all the reading and voice overs.

Doesn't every starter zone have a bank .... ? I don't see now this affects their game in any way.

It is odd that a lot of work was done - recording audio, coding, etc. - just so someone could skip past the starter zones.

Robo_Hobo

You're right, we should get a bunch of dark anchors and pull the starter islands into Coldharbour.

BigM

Never did understand why they changed it, other than training your mount.

SeñorCinco

IrishGirlGamer wrote: »

It is odd that a lot of work was done - recording audio,

By another actor, no less.

Daenerys

I absolutely loathe the change they made to completely abandon the wonderful starter isle stories. I provided so much thoughtful feedback, in game and weekly surveys, for all the good it did us. They were like story smorey. They never fixed the inconsistencies in the text and NPCs STILL mention all the great things you did on these starter isles - which you haven't even been to upon waking in the main town.

This change was the one that made me lose my faith in Zo$ being capable or willing, to listen to our constructive feedback. So many of us begged them to do do exactly what OP is suggesting. If the press rly complained so much about spending so much time on the linear aspect of starter isles, the ability to port from them would of made logical sense. But this is Zo$ logic, you can see its application here- no long term thinking, only short term profits. Quick lets make the press happy and try to get some positive reviews!

Plus, the crazy thing to most of us testers was that it's not like the game suddenly opens up like previous TES titles, the whole darn thing is linear! All they did was ruin the story. Simply despicable, and I feel for those loremasters who had to take a hatchet to their hard work.

rynth

Daenerys wrote: »

I absolutely loathe the change they made to completely abandon the wonderful starter isle stories. I provided so much thoughtful feedback, in game and weekly surveys, for all the good it did us. They were like story smorey. They never fixed the inconsistencies in the text and NPCs STILL mention all the great things you did on these starter isles - which you haven't even been to upon waking in the main town.

This change was the one that made me lose my faith in Zo$ being capable or willing, to listen to our constructive feedback. So many of us begged them to do do exactly what OP is suggesting. If the press rly complained so much about spending so much time on the linear aspect of starter isles, the ability to port from them would of made logical sense. But this is Zo$ logic, you can see its application here- no long term thinking, only short term profits. Quick lets make the press happy and try to get some positive reviews!

Plus, the crazy thing to most of us testers was that it's not like the game suddenly opens up like previous TES titles, the whole darn thing is linear! All they did was ruin the story. Simply despicable, and I feel for those loremasters who had to take a hatchet to their hard work.

lol slow down there Jesse Jackson lets not go too far. I understand that a portion of the gamers didn't want to go through coldharbor and all that, that's cool. all asking is since we get a choice at character creation for those that still go through coldharbor to be able to have the starting islands linked to the portal when leaving the harbor. I can understand making several characters and not wanting them to go through the harbor each and every time. heck I only do it for the free lock picks and if I'm rp'ing one of my characters storylines that involves waking up in cold harbor.

UrQuan

Amsel_McKay wrote: »

Ysne58 wrote: »

rynth wrote: »

I know that what I'm saying and probably should made clearer is that if we choose to go through the coldharbor starting that it takes us directly to the starter island like it used to in beta. Makes story for starter islands run smoother with you freeing yourself from coldharbor. Since you can choose start at coldharbor or go directly to starting city shouldn't hurt people that don't want to go through coldharbor and/or starting islands

This makes sense to me.

People felt trapped when they got "dumped" on the starter island after coldharbor, some people just wanted bank mules and dont do coldharbor or starter islands just want to get to the bank as fast as possible. I liked the way it was in beta myself, but they said the majority did not like the starter islands (or coldharbor) after they did it once.

So they added a ton of dialog about how you were rescued from the ocean and talk to the person outside the door when you exit so people know how to get to the starter island, but the problem is 80% (yes made up stat) of players dont listen to dialog and just skip skip skip all the reading and voice overs.

I have a word for those people: idiots. More specifically, idiots who actively made the game worse. I think listening to those idiots is one of the worst decisions ZOS has made.

I can't count the number of new players I've talked to who had no idea they were supposed to go do the starter islands first. Heck, back immediately after launch I was one of them. I was tooling around in Glenumbra with virtually no gear, no skill points, no levels, no real understanding of the gameplay mechanics getting my rear handed to me. Why? because it made sense to me that you were supposed to do the quests located in the area where you start before moving on to do a quest that sends you to an entirely different location. It was only after getting killed several times trying to save King Casimir (after already getting killed once trying to kill that werewolf in town) that I decided to temporarily give up on the quests in town and go off to Stros M'kai. Of course, once I did that the game instantly became more enjoyable. I was facing enemies I could reasonably fight considering my low level (4), my almost complete lack of equipment, and I was able to start to properly learn the gameplay. By the time I finished the starter islands and got back to Daggerfall, I was able to go questing like a pro.

In an ideal world, you would wake up out of Coldharbour on the starter island of your faction just as originally intended, because it makes way more sense for new players. If your new character is just a bank mule anyway, well no big deal, there's a bank there. For people who want to skip the starter islands entirely, just give them a boat that they can take if they want.

Daenerys

@rynth sweet call me names when I'm only agreeing with you. I could care less about skipping prison. I understand why ppl didn't want to have to go through that over and over again. I'm merely saying that we should be deposited on starter isles after coldharbor- or directly there if you skip it. Then have the option to immediately port to main island if you like.

Moonshadow66

There ARE banks at the starter islands, also crafting stations. The only thing which is not there are the stables, unfortunately.
But either way, I'd be ok with anything, starting on the islands or in the first zone, if not for the missing stables.

Besides of that, I still find it odd they never changed the dialogue of some NPCs (like f.e. "Fetches-Glitter" in Davon's Watch), they talk to you as if you came directly from the starter island although after beta you haven't even been there yet. Fetches Glitter was originally to met first in Dhalmora (Bal Foyen), until they moved to Davon's Watch.
As someone who knew it from beta, I do know that this dialogue (and some others) actually can't happen in the beginning and it simply was never changed/replaced. I guess new players could get a bit confused, though.

Amsel_McKay

I remember all the posts on the beta forums saying "let us skip the starting island" and "coldharbor and the starter island make the game too linear". In the beta questionnaire that they handed out there were 4 or 5 questions about the starter island and I figure they decided to change it because of the feedback.

I for one liked the old way and it was way more logical... the game is as linear as any game I played you are stuck in about 1/5th of a zone at the level you are at, and the quests take you from one location to the next like a well planned map. So the starter island and coldharbor dont change this.

(I always do coldharbor for the stats and lockpicks, then head right to the starter island)

On a side note with the 10% bonus in experience I leave the starter islands at level 8-9 and am WAY overleveled for the starter quests in the first city.

rynth

Daenerys wrote: »

@rynth sweet call me names when I'm only agreeing with you. I could care less about skipping prison. I understand why ppl didn't want to have to go through that over and over again. I'm merely saying that we should be deposited on starter isles after coldharbor- or directly there if you skip it. Then have the option to immediately port to main island if you like.

lol I was only joking around all in fun

Artemiisia

I never understood why we first go to a mainland after coldharbour for then go to the starter island, I actually missed the starter island on my main at first, since I went around picking up quests first looking and exploring the map I was on