Returning player, some questions

Maverick827

I played this game when it first launched and enjoyed myself for a while, but I feel like Zenimax left PC players stranded for way too long with no new content, overly-prioritizing the console release, so I eventually quit.

Also, they ruined my Redguard heavy armor pants. Never forget.

Anyway, I'm looking for an MMO to play again. I feel like all the options are pretty terrible right now, but this is the one with the best graphics, so...

1. Is it still optimal to have alts with hirelings? If not, how do you usually obtain epic/legendary crafting materials, and is it easier/harder/about the same to get them?

2. Is bag and bank space still terrible? When I played, if you didn't have alts for hirelings, then you had them for more bank space.

3. Is relog farming for motifs still a thing? I ask because...

4. $40 in crowns for motifs?! What?! How difficult are they to acquire normally in game? If you can't relog farm (assuming), and they didn't add another reliable way to get them (pessimistically assuming), then this is outrageous.

5. This one is kind of weird. Back when I first played, my friends and I started a guild and we invited a few people we met along the way. Most of them ended up quitting before I did, and I noticed in my last few weeks that one of them (an unknown person, not one of my friends) was always flagged as "Last online: <1 minute ago" all the time. I'd log in, and he'd be Last online: <1 minute ago. I'd wake up from the hypnotic malaise of tower runs and he'd be Last online: <1 minute ago, even though I didn't see any chat log saying someone logged in. When I came back to the game now, most of the guild is predictably Last online: 15+ months ago, but not him. Who is this guy?

Thanks!

wayfarerx

Maverick827 wrote: »

Also, they ruined my Redguard heavy armor pants. Never forget.

* raises fist in solidarity *

Maverick827 wrote: »

1. Is it still optimal to have alts with hirelings? If not, how do you usually obtain epic/legendary crafting materials, and is it easier/harder/about the same to get them?

Yes people still have multiple hirelings, but the rate that they deliver good stuff is pretty poor. Refining and writs are where the good tempers are now for the most part.

Maverick827 wrote: »

2. Is bag and bank space still terrible? When I played, if you didn't have alts for hirelings, then you had them for more bank space.

They've increased the max space a little and sell the space increases in the crown store now. In Q2 subscribers are getting infinite crafting bags though.

Maverick827 wrote: »

3. Is relog farming for motifs still a thing? I ask because...

The new motifs are acquired in various ways (crafting writs, specific dungeons, PvP, etc), old ones are still found the traditional way.

Maverick827 wrote: »

4. $40 in crowns for motifs?! What?! How difficult are they to acquire normally in game? If you can't relog farm (assuming), and they didn't add another reliable way to get them (pessimistically assuming), then this is outrageous.

Some of them are easy to get (Mercenary), some of them seem to never drop at all (Ancient Orc). Depends on what you want.

Maverick827 wrote: »

5. This one is kind of weird. Back when I first played, my friends and I started a guild and we invited a few people we met along the way. Most of them ended up quitting before I did, and I noticed in my last few weeks that one of them (an unknown person, not one of my friends) was always flagged as "Last online: <1 minute ago" all the time. I'd log in, and he'd be Last online: <1 minute ago. I'd wake up from the hypnotic malaise of tower runs and he'd be Last online: <1 minute ago, even though I didn't see any chat log saying someone logged in. When I came back to the game now, most of the guild is predictably Last online: 15+ months ago, but not him. Who is this guy?

Never seen this, probably a bug.

Pepper8Jack

I'm a console player, but I had been following the game since its PC launch so I'll do what I can to answer. Keep in mind, I'm leaving out crown store options, because I figure you were talking strictly about the in game options.

1. I believe at launch, hirelings gave packages that could be retrieved from the mail and opened on any character on your account, and its contents would scale to however many points into that hireling passive you had on that character. They did change the hireling system to do away with that, and now instead of receiving packages, you just receive the mats (which are based on the number of passive points you have on the character you are on when it is received. So no, its not as effective as it used to be. That said, I do still pump 2 points into the passives on my alts whenever I can spare them, as there is still a mediocre chance of getting blues/purples from it.

2. Yep, still terrible. You can get the bag space up a bit fairly cheaply, and the riding training has changed since launch, but bank is still way too pricey.

3. I know what this is, but I haven't heard of anyone using it in a very long, long time. I can't say its been removed though, so maybe someone can confirm one way or the other.

4. As far as motifs go, there is still the traditional loot containers method for getting the older motifs (racial, dwemer, ancient elf, barbaric, primal, deadric). The newer motifs have different means, i.e. glass through completing crafting writs, xivkyn from IC chests, mercenary from undaunted key chests (and other ways), ancient orc from Orsinium public dungeon bosses. Other than that, at this point the game has been out long enough that most motifs are fairly cheap to buy if you're willing to invest some time shopping the guild traders (speaking from xbox experience here, though I have to imagine PC is probably even cheaper) with the only exceptions being Glass and Ancient Orc still being pricey.

5. Casper the friendly ghost

Reedx

It still sucks..

But love it tho xD

IrishGirlGamer

Maverick827 wrote: »

I played this game when it first launched and enjoyed myself for a while, but I feel like Zenimax left PC players stranded for way too long with no new content, overly-prioritizing the console release, so I eventually quit.

Also, they ruined my Redguard heavy armor pants. Never forget.

I feel your pain.

Maverick827 wrote: »

Anyway, I'm looking for an MMO to play again. I feel like all the options are pretty terrible right now, but this is the one with the best graphics, so...

1. Is it still optimal to have alts with hirelings? If not, how do you usually obtain epic/legendary crafting materials, and is it easier/harder/about the same to get them?

Define optimal? I got a gold level carfting mat just last week, which I sold for 7000 gold. But does it happen every day or even every week? No. I do seem to get a lot of purple, though. Level 2 (not 3) hireling.

Maverick827 wrote: »

3. Is bag and bank space still terrible? When I played, if you didn't have alts for hirelings, then you had them for more bank space.

Now they sell bank space for crowns, if you want to go that route. Since I craft and I research so my bank is usually full at 120 spaces (bank space not maxed out). I got that space the hard way (buying it with in-game gold). I try not to think about it too much.

I have one mule, bank space leveled to 70 spaces. All my characters (two) are at 110. I have what I need, although it's a pinch at times.

Maverick827 wrote: »

4. Is relog farming for motifs still a thing? I ask because...

Not like it was the first few months.

Maverick827 wrote: »

4. $40 in crowns for motifs?! What?! How difficult are they to acquire normally in game? If you can't relog farm (assuming), and they didn't add another reliable way to get them (pessimistically assuming), then this is outrageous.

They are next to non-existent in the game. I found a Redguard motif the other day and it was an odd enough occurrence that I was like, "Wow, haven't seen one of these for awhile." That said, shop around at the guild vendors. Really, it pays to do this. I bought every racial motif for less than 300 gold and four for less than 200 gold. People will tell you that you can't do it and try to sell you one for 500 gold. Those people are wrong.

Maverick827 wrote: »

5. This one is kind of weird. Back when I first played, my friends and I started a guild and we invited a few people we met along the way. Most of them ended up quitting before I did, and I noticed in my last few weeks that one of them (an unknown person, not one of my friends) was always flagged as "Last online: <1 minute ago" all the time. I'd log in, and he'd be Last online: <1 minute ago. I'd wake up from the hypnotic malaise of tower runs and he'd be Last online: <1 minute ago, even though I didn't see any chat log saying someone logged in. When I came back to the game now, most of the guild is predictably Last online: 15+ months ago, but not him. Who is this guy?

No idea??

Welcome back.

ContraTempo

Maverick827 wrote: »

2. Is bag and bank space still terrible? When I played, if you didn't have alts for hirelings, then you had them for more bank space.

So buy bag/bank space for in-game gold early on. When that gets too expensive you can start buying space from the Crown Store if you are so inclined.

In-game slots cost more and more per 10 slot upgrades depending on how many slots you already have. Crown Store bag & bank space costs about $10 per 10 slots no matter how many slots you already have.

Qyrk

1. It's helpful to have alts with hirelings for mats, but the delivery of gold tempers have been reduced from them. In retrospect, it is more common to receive gold tempers by refining and doing writ quests, which offsets the former change. It is close to balanced than before in terms of acquiring gold tempers (you actually need to work for them via gathering the mats and/or do writs).

2. Bank space and Bag space have not changed aside from increased bag slots. Infinite crafting bank slots for ESO+ subscribers is being worked on and will see Q2 (?) DLC.

3. Relog farming is no longer a thing - relogging doesn't repopulate chests anymore and tend to be random on whether it is closed or open. Good change.

4. The new motifs have various methods of acquiring them. Glass - collecting glass fragments. The following are not in the Crown store yet but will be in the future: Ancient Orc - boss drops in Osinium Public Dungeon DLC; Mercenary - fragments from completing pledge quests; Xivkyn - IC vault chests; Akaviri - bought with AP. All of these can be bought through gold from other players or gifted etc.

..or shell out the real money for the motifs.

5. Might be an add-on issue (which one are you using?) or the guy is incredibly active.

Maverick827

Thanks for all of the replies!

I got in game today and went around buying up all of the Mercenary motifs I could find. It's the only set that I think might be able to replace Redguard heavy armor for me and (sadly?) one of the reasons why I decided to even come back. Gotta like the way you look in an RPG.

Anyway, I used them on my VR1 DK, my first character who was eventually benched as a crafter, and went to go make some mid-level gear so I could mess around and see how the armor works with the dye system.

But I need Laurels. And I looked up how to get them and...I just...why? Why do you hate me, Zenimax? Why do you hate fun?

I'm really deflated now. I was psyching myself up to get back into this game and the first thing I try gets shot down by the same old anti-fun mechanics that drove me away from the game in the first place.

Maybe I 'll feel like playing again tomorrow, but damn.

Xendyn

Maverick827 wrote: »

Thanks for all of the replies!

I got in game today and went around buying up all of the Mercenary motifs I could find. It's the only set that I think might be able to replace Redguard heavy armor for me and (sadly?) one of the reasons why I decided to even come back. Gotta like the way you look in an RPG.

Anyway, I used them on my VR1 DK, my first character who was eventually benched as a crafter, and went to go make some mid-level gear so I could mess around and see how the armor works with the dye system.

But I need Laurels. And I looked up how to get them and...I just...why? Why do you hate me, Zenimax? Why do you hate fun?

I'm really deflated now. I was psyching myself up to get back into this game and the first thing I try gets shot down by the same old anti-fun mechanics that drove me away from the game in the first place.

Maybe I 'll feel like playing again tomorrow, but damn.

Well, yeh.
But the good (sort of) news is that with Thieves Guild dlc, universal style mats will be in the Crown Store so you can bypass the Laurel thing.

Maverick827

I don't think having to pay money to even try out the armor is a good thing.

As it stands now, I'll need to farm a full set of Laurels to see if I even like the gear. If I do, I'll need to farm another set to actually craft the gear that I want.

The game was broken and grindy before, but I guess I should have expected it to be worse after F2P.