Should I return to Tamriel? Is it worth it?

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

Hello all!

I am and have been for quite some time a massive TES fan. When this game was first launched I was super excited for it, I partook it several BETA tests and absolutely loved the time I spent there. Come release and I started playing the game quite religiously. Much to my dismay it got boring pretty fast. The quests were uninteresting, the group system was completely broken, forcing every member of the group to complete each objective separately. It was a mess. Magic combat felt ineffective and boring rather than powerful. Being an archer was a total joke, the arrows felt like nothing more than paper aeroplanes. And it felt like the only way to level up was to grind and grind away.

Slowly I just stopped playing the game. It didn't hold my interest.

But alas! People said it had been updated and reworked into something beautiful! So about seven months ago (today) I began anew with the game, new character, new faction, new everything. Much to my dismay I was faced with many of the same troubles. The combat still felt ineffective and boring, it wasn't loud, strong and proud like I hoped it would be. The group system wasn't that much better (at least that I could tell). And the grinding was still there. Yet again, I was put off the game and quit playing altogether.

Still, after all these troubles with the game and generally being uninterested in the MMO genre as a whole, I feel enchanted by it. I always get this warm feeling thinking about playing ESO. So here I am to ask, ladies and gentlemen, is ESO any better? Have the issues been fixed? Or is it still just one big cluster fu*k of grinding and mindless questing?

Regards, Crimson

Ra'Shtar

After carefully reading your post i must say you will end leaving again, you don't see the game as you should an MMO you see it as continuation of the TES saga which will only make you see the negatives and you wont be attracted by the MMO side of the game. I advice you to either wait 4 more months or start playing the game with a new mind setting try to enjoy the MMO aspect of the game and most importantly this is not in any way Skyrim 2.0 so please don't treat it like it.

Turelus

As Ra'Shtar said you're probably not going to enjoy the game even with the additional content added.

This is first and foremost an MMO and has to make a lot of changes from the standard TES systems to incorporate that fact.
They have a lot of TES lore and flavour and a someone who loves the TES games I have found enjoyment in the content and stories even the simple aspects of seeing the zones and cultures all in one game again.
However when it comes to combat and gameplay I need to make sacrifices to that TES style and play it as an MMO.

I am really not sure what can be said to help you find a place here if you're simply not interested in MMO mechanics. If possible let go of the smaller issues and enjoy the game for what it is, new, fresh and enjoyable TES story/lore with a different system behind it.

Reevster

Ra'Shtar wrote: »

After carefully reading your post i must say you will end leaving again, you don't see the game as you should an MMO you see it as continuation of the TES saga which will only make you see the negatives and you wont be attracted by the MMO side of the game. I advice you to either wait 4 more months or start playing the game with a new mind setting try to enjoy the MMO aspect of the game and most importantly this is not in any way Skyrim 2.0 so please don't treat it like it.

I agree will this.

If your uninterested you "will " leave, again.

Take up crafting, farming resources to sell, do quests but don't think of them as a pain that has to be endured rather something to look forward to , lots of other things you can do in a MMO, its all in the mindset of the player whether he/she thinks its 'boring" or not.

If you find any MMO or other type of game boring you definitely shouldn't play it.

Gidorick

Honestly OP, you should come back, sub for 1 month, check out Orsinium and Thieves Guild (I think you shouldn't bother with Imperial City) and then decide after that month if ESO has "changed" enough to keep you around.

Keep in mind though, the things that caused you to leave the game are still there.

Morathras

come back, but dont play templar. ^^

Tandor

It certainly doesn't sound your type of game, but if you already own it then you have nothing to lose by giving it another look. I've often found with games (and films) that appreciation is often dependent on one's mood at the time, and if you take a second look you might see it in a different light.

mattymaats

I think this sums it up for you.



In a nut shell for me this is the best mmo I've played so far and it's good parts are bigger than the bad parts, you need to have a guild/group of friends to play with though otherwise things get a bit stale.

Xellos77

-The combat is some of the best that any MMO has to offer; you don't stand still watching GCD's all the time.
-Quests can be interesting at times, but even "decisions in red" (meaning they supposedly reflect major decisions) are really just an illusion as to how you are affecting things. In essence, your decisions never make any significant difference.
-PvP is PvP. Except now you've got IC instead of something better like arenas or XvX scenarios.
-End game is still virtually non-existent. Take your pick of Vet Dungeons or motif grinding. Or PvP.
-More mounts.
-More styles.
-More tweaks which make some people happy, some people very angry, and some people merely indifferent.
-ESO OGs clamoring for special titles or capes. Or something.
-People complaining about new gear not being available unless they sub or buy the DLC. It's tragic.
-Some people still comparing it as Skyrim 2.0. Which it's obviously not. It's now 2.1.
-Missing key MMO elements, but I hope they implement them. It'd be a loss to leave ESO behind forever.



You'll probably end up leaving again.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO

I guess it depends what you are here for. I personally came back recently after taking a hiatus. I like Orsinium its a great DLC in my opinion. I didnt buy Imperial City and its one of the main reasons I didnt play for a while. I thought the entire idea behind it was flawed. I wasnt going to pay for something I didnt like. I think they got the message and in the future hopefully will focus again on the core audience.

My only disappointment so far is the latency. Few months ago when I played I rarely if ever went above 50-60ms. Now I cant get less than 100ms and hover between 100 and 150. Combat seems more herky jerky. Nothing as changed on my end I have the same connection havent moved or anything. So ya I dont know why latency all the sudden became an issue.

Its worth it to come back because its free. You can play orsinium at any level so not like you have to level up first. Id give it a try.

TheShadowScout

Personally I consider the combat in ESO way above any other game I ever played. No staring at dozends of cooldown timers here, but moving around, using your limited selection of skills to their best effect, blocking, bashing, dodging at the tight time... I don't ever want to go back to any other combat system!
And speaking as someone running two archers... it can be rather effective a combat style, if you do it right. of course, it has to be balanced against the other choices, so no more insta-kill lethal arrow these days... (though some builds still can come pretty close)

The quests... yeah, are nice enough, but nothing special, really. I'd have wished for more varietee, more quests where you get several options leading towards a goal, but... its fairly standard. I do like the ones where the quest objective changes halfway through the quest though!

But in the end... it is all in the eye of the beholder. Thuse who are such milk-drinkers they slink away when things aren't -just right- for them will likely leave again. Those who keep going despite sometimes suboptimal experiences will keep enjoying ESO.

vyrusb23

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO wrote: »

Hello all!

I am and have been for quite some time a massive TES fan. When this game was first launched I was super excited for it, I partook it several BETA tests and absolutely loved the time I spent there. Come release and I started playing the game quite religiously. Much to my dismay it got boring pretty fast. The quests were uninteresting, the group system was completely broken, forcing every member of the group to complete each objective separately. It was a mess. Magic combat felt ineffective and boring rather than powerful. Being an archer was a total joke, the arrows felt like nothing more than paper aeroplanes. And it felt like the only way to level up was to grind and grind away.

Slowly I just stopped playing the game. It didn't hold my interest.

But alas! People said it had been updated and reworked into something beautiful! So about seven months ago (today) I began anew with the game, new character, new faction, new everything. Much to my dismay I was faced with many of the same troubles. The combat still felt ineffective and boring, it wasn't loud, strong and proud like I hoped it would be. The group system wasn't that much better (at least that I could tell). And the grinding was still there. Yet again, I was put off the game and quit playing altogether.

Still, after all these troubles with the game and generally being uninterested in the MMO genre as a whole, I feel enchanted by it. I always get this warm feeling thinking about playing ESO. So here I am to ask, ladies and gentlemen, is ESO any better? Have the issues been fixed? Or is it still just one big cluster fu*k of grinding and mindless questing?

Regards, Crimson

No, it's not worth it for you. You won't enjoy it any more than you did before.

Gidorick

mattymaats wrote: »

... for me this is the best mmo I've played so far...

I've seen a few people make this statement. I think it's pretty interesting when the "Best MMO" and a "Mediocre TES title" is the same game.

WalkingLegacy

Ra'Shtar wrote: »

After carefully reading your post i must say you will end leaving again, you don't see the game as you should an MMO you see it as continuation of the TES saga which will only make you see the negatives and you wont be attracted by the MMO side of the game. I advice you to either wait 4 more months or start playing the game with a new mind setting try to enjoy the MMO aspect of the game and most importantly this is not in any way Skyrim 2.0 so please don't treat it like it.

But the game has so much solo content and Thieves guild is adding to it.

Could be worth it for OP to play Wrothgar and TG but not worth sticking around with current project management leadership.

Milvan

I can't really understand why people hate grinding so much. I mean, I don't do it myself, but if other people want to do it, what's the problem? It's not like you are paying for their sub or anything.

Anyway, ESO is not the MMORPG of your dream, you can have a lot of fun with it, but far from perfect or even epic.

wolfydog

In some ways it sounds like you just don't like MMO's.

I found the quests in this game very entertaining overall. Yes there is a few duds here and there, but since overall the quests were very enjoyable, it was very easy to move from quest to quest and level up, no grinding needed at all. And even if you want to grind its very easy nowdays that there is exp pots in the game. I was playing with my low level friend just running through public dungeons killing trash and bosses and he was getting about 2 levels and some change for every exp pot. I think they last 30 min or so without any passives? And I myself without using a potion was earning 2 champion points in that time so pretty good progress (I did have enlightenment though). We've done this a few times at different level ranges. Yes grinding from vet 1-16 is going to take longer. But if you cant manage getting to vet 1 in this game, its probably not for you.

I never really understood why people complained about the combat in this game at all. As far as MMO's go I think its one of the better ones, maybe top 3 all time so far. And comparing this game to a single player ES game isn't even fair since the single player combat is so simple and boring.

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

Ra'Shtar wrote: »

After carefully reading your post i must say you will end leaving again, you don't see the game as you should an MMO you see it as continuation of the TES saga which will only make you see the negatives and you wont be attracted by the MMO side of the game. I advice you to either wait 4 more months or start playing the game with a new mind setting try to enjoy the MMO aspect of the game and most importantly this is not in any way Skyrim 2.0 so please don't treat it like it.

That's the conclusion I always drew. Yet I find my self strangely attracted to the game, constantly. Originally I was very let down because, as you said, I was expecting (or rather hoping for) a TES game with multiplayer. Regardless I think the game is beautiful, I just found it very hard to enjoy with friends due to the flaws.

I would love to change my mind set, I just don't know how. I'm open minded enough to try if you have any suggestions as to where to begin.

Sav72

Save yourself the grief and aggravation. Game nose diving.

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

Milvan wrote: »

I can't really understand why people hate grinding so much. I mean, I don't do it myself, but if other people want to do it, what's the problem? It's not like you are paying for their sub or anything.

Anyway, ESO is not the MMORPG of your dream, you can have a lot of fun with it, but far from perfect or even epic.

I don't mind grinding being there, but I absolutely hate when it's a necessary part of the game. And it is in ESO, to get to the higher regions you have to grind for levels, and that bothers me a lot. It's uninteresting and a time waster.

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

wolfydog wrote: »

In some ways it sounds like you just don't like MMO's.

You are absolutely correct, but I just think I never got the "point". Not that they're pointless, rather that I missed something everyone else seems to get. I want to get that, or get high trying.

Ra'Shtar

Hmm i can only provide this poor advice, don't level up by grinding take your time and enjoy the quests, once you are ready try the dungeons using the grouping tool that will be refined in the next DLC, if you don't enjoy doing dungeons then try PvP if you get frustrated too often i would suggest you to stop doing it it will only kill the game for you and lastly i would say making friends joining guilds and try building some friendship with people.

WalkingLegacy

I have yet to have to grind anything while leveling up to 50.

End game is ALWAYS a grind so to speak in an MMO. You're usually grinding for a combo of currency, tokens, gear drops, and against RNG.

If you don't like that, MMOrpg is not for you.

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

wolfydog wrote: »

And comparing this game to a single player ES game isn't even fair since the single player combat is so simple and boring.

Fundamentally disagree. Single-player combat systems always feel more viceral and real to me. Like I'm causing actual damage and pain. Whether it's swinging a sword in Skyrim or throwing a punch in Batman Arkham (series) it always feels more satisfying.

And my main complaint about the ESO combat system is that I always prefer being an archer. And I just hate that as an archer your bow really does *** all, it's mainly just ability based combat, which is all fine and dandy, but the bow just seems like a set dressing that doesn't do anything.

nimander99

Ra'Shtar wrote: »

After carefully reading your post i must say you will end leaving again, you don't see the game as you should an MMO you see it as continuation of the TES saga which will only make you see the negatives and you wont be attracted by the MMO side of the game. I advice you to either wait 4 more months or start playing the game with a new mind setting try to enjoy the MMO aspect of the game and most importantly this is not in any way Skyrim 2.0 so please don't treat it like it.

Well said, it is an MMO and a very good one at that but it will never be Skyrim 2

That being said, the problems you listed have been solved and it shouldn't cost you a penny to come back and try the game again, so wth? Give it a shot, its free.

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

TheShadowScout wrote: »

And speaking as someone running two archers... it can be rather effective a combat style, if you do it right. of course, it has to be balanced against the other choices, so no more insta-kill lethal arrow these days... (though some builds still can come pretty close)

Does it not bother you that the bow feels like it's shooting blanks, rather than arrows? At least to me it feels like that.

DMuehlhausen

Milvan wrote: »

I can't really understand why people hate grinding so much. I mean, I don't do it myself, but if other people want to do it, what's the problem? It's not like you are paying for their sub or anything.

Anyway, ESO is not the MMORPG of your dream, you can have a lot of fun with it, but far from perfect or even epic.

The problem isn't with "grinding". The issue is when it's required to get where you want in the game.

Other games like WoW didn't really require much grinding. Yes you had to run the same dungeon a few times to get some Fire Resistance gear back in Vanilla, or if you want some Fire Resist Pots you had to grind the mats, but you could get those in like 30 minutes and be set for a raid.

When you have to go out though and grind for hours upon hours, or play through the game essentially three times to hit max level it's not good design.

DMuehlhausen

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO wrote: »

Ra'Shtar wrote: »

After carefully reading your post i must say you will end leaving again, you don't see the game as you should an MMO you see it as continuation of the TES saga which will only make you see the negatives and you wont be attracted by the MMO side of the game. I advice you to either wait 4 more months or start playing the game with a new mind setting try to enjoy the MMO aspect of the game and most importantly this is not in any way Skyrim 2.0 so please don't treat it like it.

That's the conclusion I always drew. Yet I find my self strangely attracted to the game, constantly. Originally I was very let down because, as you said, I was expecting (or rather hoping for) a TES game with multiplayer. Regardless I think the game is beautiful, I just found it very hard to enjoy with friends due to the flaws.

I would love to change my mind set, I just don't know how. I'm open minded enough to try if you have any suggestions as to where to begin.

You begin at level 1. Just go in understanding it's an MMO and not a single player game with friends running around.

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Milvan wrote: »

I can't really understand why people hate grinding so much. I mean, I don't do it myself, but if other people want to do it, what's the problem? It's not like you are paying for their sub or anything.

Anyway, ESO is not the MMORPG of your dream, you can have a lot of fun with it, but far from perfect or even epic.

The problem isn't with "grinding". The issue is when it's required to get where you want in the game.

Other games like WoW didn't really require much grinding. Yes you had to run the same dungeon a few times to get some Fire Resistance gear back in Vanilla, or if you want some Fire Resist Pots you had to grind the mats, but you could get those in like 30 minutes and be set for a raid.

When you have to go out though and grind for hours upon hours, or play through the game essentially three times to hit max level it's not good design.

Thank you!

Makes my point perfectly.

WalkingLegacy

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

Milvan wrote: »

I can't really understand why people hate grinding so much. I mean, I don't do it myself, but if other people want to do it, what's the problem? It's not like you are paying for their sub or anything.

Anyway, ESO is not the MMORPG of your dream, you can have a lot of fun with it, but far from perfect or even epic.

The problem isn't with "grinding". The issue is when it's required to get where you want in the game.

Other games like WoW didn't really require much grinding. Yes you had to run the same dungeon a few times to get some Fire Resistance gear back in Vanilla, or if you want some Fire Resist Pots you had to grind the mats, but you could get those in like 30 minutes and be set for a raid.

When you have to go out though and grind for hours upon hours, or play through the game essentially three times to hit max level it's not good design.

Well said

xxmonzoonxxb16_ESO

You people have split my mind both ways. Some of you have really good points, I don't generally like MMO's but I really want to.

I'm going to give it a go. At worst it get's boring again, right? What's the harm.