I have been thinking of returning.

Rologue · May 2016

Hi all. I was a successful guild leader for PvP. When ESO want free to play, I was extremely weary do to other games that did so. Here I see after 1 year they did not go pay to win. So, now here I am, and am thinking.... well,how is the faction balance? Is it still one sided I am not against fighting for the losing side, but being a point farm is also not in my interest. Other than that... give me both reasons why I should and why I should not return. PVP reasons will always hold the most weight for me.

Voxicity · May 2016

ESO is buy to play, not free to play.

susmitds · May 2016

The faction balance is pretty good, but usually one faction dominates a certain campaign. However, with time and new players that balance often gets tipped to the other sides.
The difference is there but not high enough to totally destroy all chances of comeback of the losing side.
The two real problems are lag and zerging.

daswahnsinn · May 2016

I try to give you some helpful input. I left the game for about three months. I was in a very active PVP guild that really tried to run 24/7. I got burnt out and my guild left to do other things, due to im-game mechanics that were sot of exploits but ZoS allows them. So I played other game single player and some multi. Then I got the idea to log in after the Thieves Guild DLC just to see how the game has changed. Well to be frank, the lag is still here and other bugs, but I still have fun and I dare to say I have more fun now. I run solo in Cyrodiil and just follow the fights. I feel after having that short break, it has renewed my love for this game, even though my guild has disbanded. If PVP was your thing and you feel the urge to come back, I'd suggest just doing it and seeing how it feels. That's the only way to really find out. I hope this has helped you. Goold luck and happy hunting.

sirrmattus · May 2016

game is great. when db dlc comes out it will be even better

Rologue · May 2016

Thank you dadwahnain for giving me the best answer. When I left, not only is the game gone free to play, but the balance was far one sided... if co use against me

. As I said. I don't mind losing, it necomming point farm goes to one's head. I will see how things are soon when I have internet back (next week?)

Averya_Teira · May 2016

Rologue wrote: »

Thank you dadwahnain for giving me the best answer. When I left, not only is the game gone free to play, but the balance was far one sided... if co use against me . As I said. I don't mind losing, it necomming point farm goes to one's head. I will see how things are soon when I have internet back (next week?)

The game is not free to play, stop saying that... It's buy to play.

Rologue · May 2016

Whatever, averya. If it make me you feel better.

kevlarto_ESO · May 2016

Since you own the game and it does not require you to spend any more money unless you want to, give it a try, somethings have changed, pvp can be fun or it can make you want to run into the street pulling out your hair at times, the game is still buy to play not free to play, there is still sub options. the store is pretty tame compared to other games, nothing in the store is pay to win.

No one can really tell you why or why not to return, you have your own play style and might be looking to get different things out of the game only you can answer that question

Stickleback · May 2016

Pro : I'll be happy to make you a new set if you decide to come back

Contra : Don't PVP, so can't comment

Sausage · May 2016

ESO is by far the best option, ES6 is going to boost population and keep the ESO on the radar too. Unless theres some big budget MMORPG coming, we are pretty much it. Resistance is futile, nuff said.

KaleidoscopeEyz · May 2016

Had ESO remained a subscription only to play, they would have died on console almost immediately. Console players aren't down with that. I'm a diehard gamer that's played for over 30 years but I refuse to pay subscriptions. Buy to play for me or I'll find another game. They can get their extra money from selling me DLC.

Rologue · May 2016

Stickleback! You are still here! I still have the last set u gave me, I am sure.

ColoursYouHave · May 2016

Well, if you already own the game, since there is no required subscription, why don't you just log on and see for yourself? Its not like you have anything to lose...

IcyDeadPeople · May 2016

Rologue wrote: »

Hi all. I was a successful guild leader for PvP. When ESO want free to play, I was extremely weary do to other games that did so. Here I see after 1 year they did not go pay to win. So, now here I am, and am thinking.... well,how is the faction balance? Is it still one sided I am not against fighting for the losing side, but being a point farm is also not in my interest. Other than that... give me both reasons why I should and why I should not return. PVP reasons will always hold the most weight for me.

I stopped playing a couple months after you did, simply got tied up with work and travel, then returned recently to check out the new updates.

If you missed 1.5, you missed the introduction of Champion Points and much improved balance between stamina and magicka builds. Overall balance is still not perfect and likely never will be, but it is so much better than it was at launch when med armor and heavy armor builds were simply not viable compared to light armor.

Certainly I wouldn't try to convince anyone to return or not, best thing would be for you to simply try it (maybe test a template Champion Point 300 character on PTS with max skills etc) and see if you still enjoy the game. There are many new mechanics and details compared to the last time you played, and there are about to be more huge changes in a few weeks with Dark Brotherhood.

I imagine for a PvP group leader, could be an interesting time to get back into the game, opportunities to develop your own original strategies for small scale or larger groups involving some of the upcoming changes to game mechanics, as well as new Imperial City zone captures etc.

I suppose the most appealing feature for returning players might be the new "catch up" mechanism, which allows you to earn champion points extremely fast if you have less than X amount, and with enlightenment bonus plus removal of the VR levels, honestly there is not much need to grind anymore. You can earn champion points and XP quickly enough just from participating in PVP while you are enlightened, and then when Dark Brotherhood drops, all your alts above 49 will be instantly max level as long as you have at least 160 CP.

As for the faction balance, on PC NA around the time you left Daggerfall Covenant were the underdogs back then. Lower population than the other two factions but some strong individual players who were used to fighting outnumbered. At this point, most people who have played a lot in PVP have characters in all three factions and currently all three seem to be about even.

Insert extreme generalization disclaimer here, but EP faction seems to a attract few more Skyrim and Morrowind fans, AD perhaps more people from other MMOs who like playing magicka sorcs, elves or khajiit and I have no idea how to stereotype DC - is it a lot of Peter Stormare fans?

Rologue · May 2016

Thanks! Your post was very helpfull and insightful! I will definitely check it out when I have internet again. Next week, hopefully.

Johngo0036 · May 2016

Reason not to come back: lag in cyrodiil and the whole game has become worse,
Reason to come back: its still the best MMORPG IMO. New sets and skill Changes coming with DB will allow for some different builds, hopefully.

imredneckson · May 2016

Rologue wrote: »

Hi all. I was a successful guild leader for PvP. When ESO want free to play, I was extremely weary do to other games that did so. Here I see after 1 year they did not go pay to win. So, now here I am, and am thinking.... well,how is the faction balance? Is it still one sided I am not against fighting for the losing side, but being a point farm is also not in my interest. Other than that... give me both reasons why I should and why I should not return. PVP reasons will always hold the most weight for me.

PvP is fun when you aren't getting killed by the lag and the loading screens are much worse but we've been told ZOS will be adding some fixes when DB comes out later to help with those. As for have the factions been balanced yes and no. AD NA PC could use another guild, DC is a bit disorganized right now but we are getting back on our feet, and EP is doing good so far they have gotten emp a few times and won the last campaign. I would say come back when DB comes out or grind a character up and grind the champion points you'll need until DB is released.