Make the next 12-man trial soloable

andy_s

I'm really surprised how many players are sincerely happy with the latest DLC which is mostly a solo content even though I was always considering this game a group-oriented.

I think ZOS should take this fact into consideration when developing a new trial which was promised to be added in the Thieves Guild DLC (see the post).

Here is my idea how it can work:

12 players enter the dungeon together, but all go different ways / rooms with different challenges & bosses. Some rooms require tanky builds, in some rooms you will need a lot of heals to survive, so players of all roles will be satisfied. When one player clears his room, he can enter another room to help a group mate. A smart choice of player-room will be the key to a high score. When all rooms are cleared there will be a final boss that scales to a group size (but also doable solo).

Now the sweetest part. You don't actually need 12 players to complete the trial. You can even do it solo by clearing all rooms by yourself, one by one. It will be slightly harder and (not sligthly) longer, but will have it's benefits, because you can learn all different rooms mechanics solo and get all loot from there of course Or you can bring a friend and do each room together. So many options and possibilities!

Of course, 12 players will have better chances to have the best score (because it's time based), but individual (solo) skill is more important there. Even though you can clear each room with more than 2 players (maybe make it 4 max), it will be more effective (time-wise) to do it with 1 or 2 players in each room. But these are details...

Some months ago I would laugh at this idea, because it's a MMO and 12 people should stack on crown and dps, but the Orsinium DLC made me rethink my view.

If ZOS are going to make a new trial and at the same time want to satisfy the majority of their customers (which are solo players), then they should make something different

Fecius

LOLed, nice joke

MrDerrikk

...and here's my laugh for the evening. As a solo player, thanks!

Vicodine

andy.s wrote: »

I'm really surprised how many players are sincerely happy with the latest DLC which is mostly a solo content even though I was always considering this game a group-oriented.

I think ZOS should take this fact into consideration when developing a new trial which was promised to be added in the Thieves Guild DLC (see the post).

Here is my idea how it can work:

12 players enter the dungeon together, but all go different ways / rooms with different challenges & bosses. Some rooms require tanky builds, in some rooms you will need a lot of heals to survive, so players of all roles will be satisfied. When one player clears his room, he can enter another room to help a group mate. A smart choice of player-room will be the key to a high score. When all rooms are cleared there will be a final boss that scales to a group size (but also doable solo).

Now the sweetest part. You don't actually need 12 players to complete the trial. You can even do it solo by clearing all rooms by yourself, one by one. It will be slightly harder and (not sligthly) longer, but will have it's benefits, because you can learn all different rooms mechanics solo and get all loot from there of course Or you can bring a friend and do each room together. So many options and possibilities!

Of course, 12 players will have better chances to have the best score (because it's time based), but individual (solo) skill is more important there. Even though you can clear each room with more than 2 players (maybe make it 4 max), it will be more effective (time-wise) to do it with 1 or 2 players in each room. But these are details...

Some months ago I would laugh at this idea, because it's a MMO and 12 people should stack on crown and dps, but the Orsinium DLC made me rethink my view.

If ZOS are going to make a new trial and at the same time want to satisfy the majority of their customers (which are solo players), then they should make something different

What a fun idea !
/not but it did make me laugh.

But you do know that some MMOs have mechanisms that scale the content down to group size? I think you could "raid" either solo or in pair in RIFT. I don't know how it actually worked bc i quit it the moment it went F2P. And it always felt to me as a too much of a shameless clone.

OrphanHelgen

You know what? I love the idea.
Im getting annoyed by looking at the already negative posts tho.
Its almost like its a meta to not like ideas like this.
I think more people should posts ideas like this, including myself, because atm there is only complainers who post and then they get heard, witch is why ideas like this never happen.
Gj andy.s

And orsinium btw, best update so far, I have no words. We love the solo content:)

OrphanHelgen

@Fecius @MrDerrikk can you come with a grown up explanation why this idea is bad? Its not good for the community to laugh of others ideas. Of all the boring ideas I have read about out there, this one is quite insightful, and as he mention, its because so many in this specific mmo, loves solo content, so this is an idea to make everyone happy. You go do it with 12 man and get better score. Also it would be awesome to see who in the trial got carried through before.

Btw you two, I believe you have to be 18 years old to enter the forum page.

AngryNord

Better idea: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/226180/pledges-trials-arena-another-idea-wrt-scaling-difficulty#latest

MrDerrikk

OrphanHelgen wrote: »

@Fecius @MrDerrikk can you come with a grown up explanation why this idea is bad? Its not good for the community to laugh of others ideas. Of all the boring ideas I have read about out there, this one is quite insightful, and as he mention, its because so many in this specific mmo, loves solo content, so this is an idea to make everyone happy. You go do it with 12 man and get better score. Also it would be awesome to see who in the trial got carried through before.

Btw you two, I believe you have to be 18 years old to enter the forum page.

I honestly didn't think that anyone would take offense at me laughing at (at least I thought) obvious sarcasm, but there you go. Please don't insult me just because I was having a laugh, it's like just my opinion man.



BTW, I don't think this would be made as a huge chunk of people would leave for a "real" MMO, as that would make almost all group play pointless. I personally have never done a Trial before because I'm too much of a loner.

Robo_Hobo

I thought this was a joke thread based on the title, I'm still not sure if it's a joke or not - the basic concept isn't a bad one, after all, splitting groups up and needing to get past their own objectives before regrouping for the final encounter is an interesting mechanic. However, just because a lot of us solo'rs are enjoying Orsinium doesn't mean every update needs to be solo (or solo-able). I wouldn't turn any down, of course, solo is what I do, but there still needs to be group-needed things too, a lot of people enjoy that content, and it being solo-able would kind of discourage and devalue that.

I do appreciate that so many people on the forums are enjoying Orsinium though - it seems to be going over a lot better in that regard than IC did, for whatever reason. I have my guesses, but it could be taken the wrong way.

Fecius

@OrphanHelgen

Why should I explain anyone a joke I've seen in this thread? When you explain a joke it becomes not fun anymore.

MrDerrikk

Robo_Hobo wrote: »

I do appreciate that so many people on the forums are enjoying Orsinium though - it seems to be going over a lot better in that regard than IC did, for whatever reason. I have my guesses, but it could be taken the wrong way.

I'd say just because it resonates better with the classic ES crowd, and not much else needed.

failkiwib16_ESO

Honestly I have had the same though, and I would love if this could happen. I have some guildies who still haven't had their vDSA titles, and if i could bring in some heavy hitters with me, it would increase the chances of success so much.

keto3000

ZOS has taken an RPG concept and MMO concept and forged a successful hybrid game format. Some content is designed to be played solo, like the main storyline, and some zones, like Craglorn, have been purposely designed to encourage group play while offering a challenge to those who enjoy soloing areas, dungeons, delves, etc designed for group encounters.

Cyrodiil PvP, despite its many bugs, which have been continually addressed by ZOS, still provides a great playground for many of us. The addition & beauty of the extensively designed IC, IC sewers and its 2 dungeons has continued to be well attended. Many of my guild mates in all 5 of my guilds spend many fun hours in all these areas.

Orsinium is a crowning achievement and very welcome addition for the base of solo players. It is also visually stunning and offers a ripe zone for group players who want some "time off" from intensive PvP, dungeoning, etc to have some personal free range time exploring this zone.

All in all, I have to say, its been a long and interesting journey from beta to where the state of our game is today. Many of us have had the unique experience of participating in the first year of a brand new mmo-rpg and we are continuing to 'partner with ZOS' through our empowered feedback on these forums, guild meetings with devs, PTS testing, public websites and twitch streaming to build a vibrant and forward-looking gaming community for TESO.

I am happy and proud to be a part of this.

Flameheart

I do not think the idea is that bad - actually as a MMO developer you need to care for your total player base - but you should be prepared for threads like this: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/229126/solo-players-need-a-buff-to-help-them-survive

JD2013

If it's a 12 man trial it's exactly that. A trial for 12 players. By very definition.

When are people on these forums going to accept that it's an MMO, and in an MMO there is group content?

TiberX

This idea makes me wanna cry..
So instead of scaling them up so we can play them again we should turn them into Skyrim type solo dungeon, like ESO its not an MMO

Elloa

I like flexibility. I think that's what a modern MMO need.
But maybe not to that much extend. A trial still need to be "large" group content. Beside I don't think it will be easy to conceptualise interesting strategy that can be defeated by either 1 players or 12 players.

That's what i'd like to see:

• Dungeons and Pledges : 4 players
• Arenas: between 1 - 4 players
• Trials : between 8 - 12

Content scale to Group leader OR players are battle leveled to the content. Difficulty (health and damage of bosses) scale to the number of participants.

Sharmony

Can't imagine anything that will kill the PvE community more than it's already dying! gj, nice trolling

Sallington

If you want to play Skyrim, go play Skyrim. these ideas for more solo content are ruining the game.

AhPook_Is_Here

I appreciate the jab at all the people asking to make the arena duo or 3 man for their poly-amorous relationships or four man.

It is what it is; a solo arena, and should stay that way. It isn't the only reason to play the expansion, and there will be group themed stuff in the future that won't have a solo mode for those who must have specialties and can't find a way to build for generalization.

Scyantific

You already got your solo trial in the form of Maelstrom Arena, so nice try but no thanks.

Next dumb idea please.

AngryNord

Then it wouldn't be a 12-man trial, would it?

andy_s

Scyantific wrote: »

You already got your solo trial in the form of Maelstrom Arena, so nice try but no thanks.

Completed veteran mode several times on PTS, now looking forward for more challenging solo content and preferably with an ability to group with friends up to 12 A trial fits perfectly here. Sanctum Ophidia was completed by 4 man group, but other trials don't provide this ability sadly, because of some unnecessary mechanics (like exactly 12 people should stay on buttons to port to a boss). With a proper realization both solo players and stack-on-crown players will be happy. And there are like 5% of people who can never be happy

ShadowMage

Robo_Hobo wrote: »

the basic concept isn't a bad one, after all, splitting groups up and needing to get past their own objectives before regrouping for the final encounter is an interesting mechanic.

This would be pretty cool. I actually like the OP's suggestion regarding splitting up to speed the process along, but I don't think the final boss should ever be soloable in a Trial. It should still require the group to defeat the final boss. Also, while the idea of splitting up to speed the process is interesting, it doesn't require it. What if there were mechanics that did require a group to split up? Say you need to unlock a door, but to do that, you need to activate three pillars at the same time so you split off into three groups to go get each pillar.

Robo_Hobo wrote: »

However, just because a lot of us solo'rs are enjoying Orsinium doesn't mean every update needs to be solo (or solo-able). I wouldn't turn any down, of course, solo is what I do, but there still needs to be group-needed things too, a lot of people enjoy that content, and it being solo-able would kind of discourage and devalue that.

Agreed. I'm a solo player, but I'm not against grouping when it's needed. In fact, I think there should be content that requires grouping. I think there should be a balance of a little of everything, some solo stuff, some small-group stuff, some larger-group stuff, etc. Even though I'm primarily solo, the idea that everything should be soloable doesn't sit well with me in an MMO.

Rainteal

I feel like some of the folks commenting on this thread only read the title...

omfgitsbatman

Is the majority of players really solo? I didn't think this was the case. How can one make this statement? Because, all of the people I play with aren't solo XD. Are all of the players you play with solo? Oh wait... Yeah, My head hurts trying to think about it.
I think saying that the majority of players in an MMO are solo is basically the same thing as saying "Your MMO sucks as an MMO, just make it single player."

Scyantific

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Is the majority of players really solo?

Yes, and it's because:

1) People are advertising this to friends/other people as "Skyrim Online w/ friends," so the majority of people (on PC and console) are focusing on that part and not the part where it says "hey this is an MMO," so they're rushing in here expecting to be able to do *everything* on their own without a group, refusing to acknowledge that in an MMO there are just some things that can't be done solo

2) The changes made to PvP have driven away the majority of players who enjoyed PvP, and are doing nothing to incentivize newcomers to try PvP. The people that are left are either here because of sunk cost fallacy, Stockholm Syndrome, or because they have a ton of experience and CP and just wanna faceroll people in PvP.

3) Imperial City basically killed group content in PvE because nothing was included to appeal to raid guilds/players who enjoy group stuff. I'd wager that even the new Trial that's coming with the Thieves' Guild x-pac won't be enough to revive the Trials community.

J2JMC

Sallington wrote: »

If you want to play Skyrim, go play Skyrim. these ideas for more solo content are ruining the game.

Imagine how amazing this game would be if it didn't have the elder scrolls name.

Gilvoth

this is SUPPOSE to be skyrim online, morrowind online. please stop insulting us people who want what was advertised!

"its elderscrolls but online!"

we loved the game and came here based on being told it was our game but now online. why do you think it's ok to insult us for that?

NewBlacksmurf

While there are opportunities to make adjustments to the existing raids, I do not agree or do I think that this type of adjustment is the best approach. Perhaps as we grow in Champion Points, the encounter could become easy enough for smaller groups but even still, there are parts that will require a few.

From 12 to solo isn't what should happen regardless of any upcoming changes.

andy_s

omfgitsbatman wrote: »

Is the majority of players really solo? I didn't think this was the case. How can one make this statement? Because, all of the people I play with aren't solo XD. Are all of the players you play with solo? Oh wait... Yeah, My head hurts trying to think about it.
I think saying that the majority of players in an MMO are solo is basically the same thing as saying "Your MMO sucks as an MMO, just make it single player."

Yes, the majority of ESO players are solo or prefer small groups (2-4 man), that's why we have solo DLC in an MMO. There are almost no players left who want a hard strictly 12-man content. More than 50% of people who I used to raid with left the game and they won't come back. So what's the point for ZOS to put much effort into something unpopular? But if they allow groups of 2, 4 or 8 people to complete a trial, then it will definetely be popular. It's my opinion of course.