Witches Festival - Archaic MMO Design 101

Remag_Div

When I first saw the Witches Festival announcement on the launcher I was excited as it sounded like some sort of party or event leading into Halloween. Then I read what it was and was sorely disappointed.

It's simply more of the same archaic MMO grind fest. I wish MMO's would do away with this uninspired "content." It simply comes off as an afterthought when it's so lazily implemented, even adding stuff in the store immediately so people can just pay money right away.

Instead of having people grind bosses for days, why can't we have an actual Halloween themed event or party led by GM's who give out themed loot throughout the night? This game needs less grinding and more community interaction in inventive ways. Of course this is not the norm and a hassle, so they just resort to simple and boring grind mechanics that MMO gamers have seen and done the last 20 years.

NewBlacksmurf

Well if I can be completely honest. You're on the right track but I disagree with your event description entirely.

Ideally if I was @ZOS_GinaBruno sharing something for her to read and relay back to the Deb's I'd suggest the following:

-First release housing

Then with events like this one
Have trick or treat similar to how we in America go from house to house on one night but because it's a game, you allow this every night during the event period.

Housing theme event decorations
Players would go to player and NPC houses with an event bag for trick or treat. Players can also craft things as event quests and leave these items at their houses for other players to go to a node. Each day a player does the quest the node is created and the creation of a node increases the players chance for treats and lessens the chance to be tricked.

Treats are any drop as well as items gained from the trick or treat nodes.
Tricks- would be debuffs or polymorphism that have short timers from nodes and drops

---

Fast forward to Thanksgiving event with housing

-players can do a quest to invite players to a feast or gathering of sorts
These gathering would occur by NPC and player houses with nodes themed for the event.

Food crafting and costumes as well as motifs
Food could increase recipe drops and hard to find mats
Housing theme decorations

---

Christmas event with housing

Basically quest for gift giving via crafting, motif, costumes, recipes, mailed gifts, and a visit from Sheogorath and a host of other deadra in towns delivering gifts daily for players.
Inviting players over into a house for gift exchanges with interior housing event theme decorations

---

Easter with housing

Yes....shard hunting (not eggs) but these shards perhaps don't give skills but instead they collect an give a chance towards magic items, motif, costumes and I'd personally like to see our cat friends like the liar being the "Easter bunny"


These are American ideas, but there are plenty of other event ideas that could be on rotation and be a drastic break from the typical event grinds that do get boring and often make some players feel griefed

bedlom

Probably don't need GM's present for it but the event definitely could have been more fun and original.

LadyLethalla

@NewBlacksmurf I really like your ideas, very well-thought out. Shame there's little chance of it happening like that...

NewBlacksmurf

LadyLethalla wrote: »

@NewBlacksmurf I really like your ideas, very well-thought out. Shame there's little chance of it happening like that...

Thanks

Annalyse

I have to agree - I was kind of excited about a new event, but all I did today was stand in a delve and repeatedly kill a boss. Most boring thing I have ever done and now that I have all the motifs I will just ignore the "event" and go back to questing. I'd really hoped for something more interactive and entertaining that I'd want to do on all of my characters.

Ommamar

Annalyse wrote: »

I have to agree - I was kind of excited about a new event, but all I did today was stand in a delve and repeatedly kill a boss. Most boring thing I have ever done and now that I have all the motifs I will just ignore the "event" and go back to questing. I'd really hoped for something more interactive and entertaining that I'd want to do on all of my characters.

That seems to be what everyone is doing which makes no sense as the items drop of ANY boss as long as you have used the cauldron. So why not travel around? Or just quest as normal it is likely you will get a good amount of drops. That is what I have done during my two play sessions and gotten a fair amount of the motifs and recipes.

As to your statement I recall in game events run by GM's that where a lot of fun, except the performance was terrible as everyone gathered where the GMs where. It might of been DAoC I am recalling or even Everquest you know the games coming out some 20 years ago! I think it was a decent idea to have unique drops for a limited time attached to "bosses" unfortunately the idea like so many once placed into a community often goes awry.

SlayerTheDragon

Another RNG grind.

This game and its core mechanic of RNG.

Suter1972

it is a grind fest youre right but its two weeks long. Theres no need to grind as you've got two weeks to collect everything which should be plenty. Although it was like a mad rush last night with everyone running around on countdown!

I expect it will level off after a day or two.

In terms of 'party' that would be cool but can you imagine the lag!

P3ZZL3

Want to see how a successful and engaging Holiday event in a RPG should be? Have a look at GW2.

Especially the Jumping Games

Very well done, thought out, etc.

Prime example... It's a spooky holiday event. Why aren't the main cities all decked out like that?

Prime example here in these 2 screen shots.





It's a shame really. Rivenspire would look awesome all decked out!

sadownik

I admit that in terms of events im waiting for 18 oct - gw2 does this kind of thing much better. But on the plus side - art departement did very well, brewery and effects very well done.

Suter1972

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

Want to see how a successful and engaging Holiday event in a RPG should be? Have a look at GW2.

Especially the Jumping Games

Very well done, thought out, etc.

Prime example... It's a spooky holiday event. Why aren't the main cities all decked out like that?

Prime example here in these 2 screen shots.





It's a shame really. Rivenspire would look awesome all decked out!

point well demonstrated there.... that looks awesome

Bryanonymous

Some people will never be satisfied. If you don't like it, don't participate. That simple.

So many threads like this screech in my head while I read them with an entitled whine as if they were being written by Veruca herself...
https://youtu.be/Pqsy7V0wphI

newtinmpls

Don't be such a crabby poop head about it.

Enjoy! Have fun! Admire the tails on the Argonian skeletons!

Ankael07

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

Want to see how a successful and engaging Holiday event in a RPG should be? Have a look at GW2.

Especially the Jumping Games

Very well done, thought out, etc.

Prime example... It's a spooky holiday event. Why aren't the main cities all decked out like that?

Prime example here in these 2 screen shots.





It's a shame really. Rivenspire would look awesome all decked out!

I like the idea but it looks absurdly shiny in GW2. Lets keep it lore friendly I mean look at that moon for crying out loud.

P3ZZL3

@Ankael07

Couldn't agree more - Keeping it Lore friendly and subtle is imperative. But having nothing is....well....just a little "Meh"

sadownik

@Ankael07, de gustibus... of course, but the existence of obliviion gives us some space i assume . But whats more important events like this in gw2 include something for all kinds of players - you have jumping puzzles, silly social games, something for pvp, grinders and open world.

P3ZZL3

I think the point generally is there has been considerable thought, over a reasonable period of time, where the GW2 team have invested heavily to make it look right, work well and really engage the community.

This is something relatively new for the ESO team as far as I can tell.

I'd like to think that they might take the main cities and look at how they can make them some what "Christmasy". IT only needs to be done one - as the style for each house now that there is some "snow" doesn;'t change every year

Suter1972

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

I think the point generally is there has been considerable thought, over a reasonable period of time, where the GW2 team have invested heavily to make it look right, work well and really engage the community.

This is something relatively new for the ESO team as far as I can tell.

I'd like to think that they might take the main cities and look at how they can make them some what "Christmasy". IT only needs to be done one - as the style for each house now that there is some "snow" doesn;'t change every year

You see the definition of 'chrismasy' is different for everyone. My father in law used to spend xmas lunch on the beach BBQ'ing in perth Australia, while I was tucking into turkey and shivering in cold wet rain

Likewise some in Canada could be 4 deep in snow.

Youre not going to please everyone, all the time so I think ZOS have a superhard job.

Rev Rielle

Guild Wars 2, Lord of the Rings Online, and especially Everquest 2. Look at the festivals in those MMOs. I was really hoping for something comparable in ESO. What we got though is fairly uninspired. Once again; so much wasted potential. Where's the passion from those making the decisions?

P3ZZL3

True, but you take what is generally accepted as the "norm" in terms of that seasonal festivity.

Say Christmas and most people will respond with Snow and Presents.
Say Easter and most will say bunnies and chocolate eggs.
Say Halloween and obviously people think spooky ghosts, etc.

Certainly, even with Christmas and "snow" there would clearly be little to none in Alik'r Desert - but they would still more than likely have presents and maybe a tree?

Obviously one would implement with a little consideration of the environment :0)

Gargath

Bryanonymous wrote: »

Some people will never be satisfied. If you don't like it, don't participate. That simple.

So true, want more and more. Reminds me of one classic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK6W0szX7zM

vyndral13preub18_ESO

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

Want to see how a successful and engaging Holiday event in a RPG should be? Have a look at GW2.

Especially the Jumping Games

Very well done, thought out, etc.

Prime example... It's a spooky holiday event. Why aren't the main cities all decked out like that?

Prime example here in these 2 screen shots.





It's a shame really. Rivenspire would look awesome all decked out!

Now i will agree that there are some valid points about gw2 and how they treat holidays better. But as the primary issue being raised by the op was the grind, GW2 has a massive grind in all the hiliday events i have seen them have.

Annalyse wrote: »

I have to agree - I was kind of excited about a new event, but all I did today was stand in a delve and repeatedly kill a boss. Most boring thing I have ever done and now that I have all the motifs I will just ignore the "event" and go back to questing. I'd really hoped for something more interactive and entertaining that I'd want to do on all of my characters.

I have to ask, why did you do that? You say it was the most biring thing ever, but how long did it take you to see that the motifs were actually really easy to get? Why didnt you stop and go play the game, collecting all you want in one night was a choice you made.

Heck so many motifs are dropping you could probably ignore the event, do whatever you want and buy the motifs with the gold you get.

I know that isnt great because now you arent even playing the event, so what is the point of having an event. But the whole, I stood around being bored even though i didnt really have to, is sort of on you.

JD2013

At this point, I am starting to think that anything that is added into this game, people will just complain about it.

Wolfhammer

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

Want to see how a successful and engaging Holiday event in a RPG should be? Have a look at GW2.

Especially the Jumping Games

Very well done, thought out, etc.

Prime example... It's a spooky holiday event. Why aren't the main cities all decked out like that?

Prime example here in these 2 screen shots.





It's a shame really. Rivenspire would look awesome all decked out!

Please, no jumping games/puzzles in this game.. I hate jumping in this game, it's the clunkiest unrealistic useless mess of any MMO I have played... It takes 10 goes just to jump on something knee high, character goes straight up, defies gravity for 4 secs, I don't get on the rock so I run around it instead..

I'm pretty sure I moaned about jumping when this game was in beta..

kevlarto_ESO

Well there were different ways they could have done it if you have played this game for a while ZOS seems to have a pattern on how they do things, seems like they strive for the easiest and least creative way to get new things in game, and lack imagination when it comes to adding new things in game, but it is a hundred times better than what we had last year, which was nothing, I will take what I can get just never expect much from ZOS and you will not be disappointed.

Slurg

newtinmpls wrote: »

Don't be such a crabby poop head about it.

Enjoy! Have fun! Admire the tails on the Argonian skeletons!

I was very pleased with my glorious skeletal tail!

Does anyone know, will we still be able to transform our appearance with the cauldron after the event is over? I assume we keep the memento - without the activation for plunder skulls/XP, of course.

Zenzuki

Slurg wrote: »

newtinmpls wrote: »

Don't be such a crabby poop head about it.

Enjoy! Have fun! Admire the tails on the Argonian skeletons!

I was very pleased with my glorious skeletal tail!

Does anyone know, will we still be able to transform our appearance with the cauldron after the event is over? I assume we keep the memento - without the activation for plunder skulls/XP, of course.

Yes. Memento is yours to keep and use to your hearts content post Holiday. (Minus it's XP/plunder skull effects of course.)

Carbonised

OP has a point about the grindiness of the festival. It's starting to become rediculous. I see world bosses turned to vapor in literally less than 5 seconds by 25+ people. You're lucky to even get in a hit that counts. Everything about the current festival is related to grinding, since that's the only way to obtain the limited loot.

Anyway, positives about these events:
- No super low RNG (!!!). I really like this. You can get most of this stuff without too much effort, and it's not limited to extremely low RNG and being sold in guild stores for fortunes (I'm looking at you, Yokudan motif). It's immensely funny to see hollowjack motif and gold recipes trying to get sold for 15-20k a piece, and surprisingly it's also getting bought. I guess some people are just made of gold and don't care. But I like that even if you're broke, you'll still be able to get all the festival stuff easily in the limited time. Nice one ZOS, festivals should be for everyone, not only the rich.

- The overall mood and stuff. I mean, it's nice to see everyone dressed up as skellies. Would be nice to have seen a bit more variety, maybe several polymorphs, maybe polymorphs for your steed(!), and you could have decorated the cities a bit. Placed jack o' lanterns and stuff around. But it's a nice start anyway.

- If you look at New Life festival in a couple of months, you see that the achievements and stuff are for doing miniquests, minigames, fishing (yay!) and other things that will hopefully be fun. Not so much grinding as Halloween, hopefully something more immersive and lore appropriate, I like that.

AndyTGD

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

Want to see how a successful and engaging Holiday event in a RPG should be? Have a look at GW2.

Especially the Jumping Games

Very well done, thought out, etc.

Prime example... It's a spooky holiday event. Why aren't the main cities all decked out like that?

Prime example here in these 2 screen shots.





It's a shame really. Rivenspire would look awesome all decked out!

This is exactly correct. I mean, how hard is it to deck out the major cities with some pumpkin lanterns here and there? I thought this finally would be an opportunity for the devs to make the cities seem less static and boring, but once again an opportunity is wasted on the easy, uninspired option. Even ArcheAge manages to decorate its cities for seasonal events, and its nothing more than a pathetic cash grab game!

luen79rwb17_ESO

Pretty simple and straight forward. I love this event! Extra rewards in stuff you normally do: delves, dungeons, dolmens.