The player base is becoming larger and it is getting harder to farm mats

QuantumPie

As of One Tamriel, farming for mats changed because any level player on any factions can go anywhere to farm mats. It has been noticeably more difficult to do because of the amount of players in every zone. The re-spawn time of mats still feels the same as well as there is no phasing/instancing that is noticeable. With the Thieves Guild Anniversary event there is not a single inch of land where I don't see a player. In the 30 minutes I was trying I got about 1.5 nodes per minute. A majority of the time I saw a node a stamina character would quickly rapids and grab it before I could. If this isn't already a problem you have noticed Zenimax then you might want to take this into consideration so the higher level players can go back to having the original efficiency before all of the lower levels came. One last note, the time I have to farm mats is usually only during peak hours when the problem is at its worst. Any other time and this problem is much less noticeable.

STEVIL

QuantumPie wrote: »

As of One Tamriel, farming for mats changed because any level player on any factions can go anywhere to farm mats. It has been noticeably more difficult to do because of the amount of players in every zone. The re-spawn time of mats still feels the same as well as there is no phasing/instancing that is noticeable. With the Thieves Guild Anniversary event there is not a single inch of land where I don't see a player. In the 30 minutes I was trying I got about 1.5 nodes per minute. A majority of the time I saw a node a stamina character would quickly rapids and grab it before I could. If this isn't already a problem you have noticed Zenimax then you might want to take this into consideration so the higher level players can go back to having the original efficiency before all of the lower levels came. One last note, the time I have to farm mats is usually only during peak hours when the problem is at its worst. Any other time and this problem is much less noticeable.

HINT: the gathering of nodes right now is FANTASTIC - everywhere except for hews bane.

i make a point to not "farm" for mats. i gather mats as i pass them as i move thru my regular things and on occasion i spend time out collecting surveys when i have 5-10 or more of a given spot banked but i dont just head over there to run circles gathering nuts and berries.

if you aren't in a populated or overpopulated area you practically trip over mats.

the "good spots" which draw a lot of attention are only "good spots" if you are alone.

Before 1T the mats "you wanted" were in very limited areas.
Since 1T mats "you want" (are specced out to get) flow like water from everywhere - unless you want mats that you are not specced out for. Thats a lot more space to find mats all your own than before 1T.

Now, rare mats... not so much but hey thats what rare means.

AcadianPaladin

Like @STEVIL I don't really farm mats. I find that keeping an eye out (assisted by a couple keen eye points to spot ancestor silk) during normal exploration yields plenty. I do go after them as I see them and sometimes that makes me take a long time to get where I'm going, but I don't really go out strictly to look for them. Have not recently spent time in Hews Bane.

clocksstoppe

So, if everyone goes to hews bane to farm mats, then why don't you go somewhere else where it's low traffic because of it?

Tannus15

clocksstoppe wrote: »

So, if everyone goes to hews bane to farm mats, then why don't you go somewhere else where it's low traffic because of it?

Now is the time to be farming upper craglorn for those nirncrux drops

Blacksmoke

I wonder where you go then? Because Hew's bane and craglorn are the only zones with lots of people farming at the moment go to in between zones like Deshaan, Shadowfen, Greenshade, Rivenspire and you will drown in resources at least in my experience.

ADarklore

LoL! I love farming with my Stamina Sorcs because I can sprint while using Rapid Maneuver along with Dark Deal to recover Stamina as I go! Makes for very quick farming runs... although I swear I still get beat by bots sometimes... but I also think that some players may think I'm a bot because of my rapid movements to/from nodes. However, I have a specific track I follow and know exactly where the nodes are.

Duragon_Darko

So, as most MMO's lose players year by year, ZOS has found a way to keep ESO thriving and fresh with an influx of new players to add to the existing player base who can now play all together and keep the game exciting and playable..... and this is bad how?

Not being able to farm is a GOOD thing. Trust me. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

MLGProPlayer

You need to get better at farming if people are beating you to nodes.

Grab some stamina gear (fiord's, darkstrider, jailbreaker), unlock rapid maneuvers, and make some food and potions. I farmed around 300k worth in 2 hours on my magicka character yesterday in Hew's Bane.

Now that the word is out, it probably isn't an efficient farming spot any more, so find another spot (there are dozens of good ones).

QuantumPie

clocksstoppe wrote: »

So, if everyone goes to hews bane to farm mats, then why don't you go somewhere else where it's low traffic because of it?

You could definitely do that and that's what I am doing but it's still disappointing that you can't take advantage of the double mats in Hue's Bane.

kyle.wilson

I've been doing some PVE questing, and I'm not having any competition for nodes outside hew's bane.
They may not be 2x, but I'm gathering a lot more mats.

colig

I have had zero issues farming mats since One Tamriel. More zones with max level mats equals more mats for everybody.

STEVIL

AcadianPaladin wrote: »

Like @STEVIL I don't really farm mats. I find that keeping an eye out (assisted by a couple keen eye points to spot ancestor silk) during normal exploration yields plenty. I do go after them as I see them and sometimes that makes me take a long time to get where I'm going, but I don't really go out strictly to look for them. Have not recently spent time in Hews Bane.

Dead on. keen eye (even at just 1 each) and hiking off-road to get where i go (esp if its near water) thats the way i roll.

STEVIL

Blacksmoke wrote: »

I wonder where you go then? Because Hew's bane and craglorn are the only zones with lots of people farming at the moment go to in between zones like Deshaan, Shadowfen, Greenshade, Rivenspire and you will drown in resources at least in my experience.

Exactly. keep stubbing my toes over nirmroot.

STEVIL

QuantumPie wrote: »

clocksstoppe wrote: »

So, if everyone goes to hews bane to farm mats, then why don't you go somewhere else where it's low traffic because of it?

You could definitely do that and that's what I am doing but it's still disappointing that you can't take advantage of the double mats in Hue's Bane.

But... By going elsewhere and gathering more nodes with almost no competition, you ARE taking advantage of the double nodes. You will likely gather three times as many by hitting "good sites" in those other zones that usually wquld have their own crowds.

The "dig one get one free" flashy blinky special event signs are there to attract the suckers. The "back room" (other zones) is where the real money is. if i farmed more, this would be great.

nine9six

Nirnroot needs to not be as in-demand as it is, IMO. It's supposed to be somewhat rare, isn't it?

Looking at you, Crafting Writs.

Everything else I'm cool with.

lagrue

nine9six wrote: »

Nirnroot needs to not be as in-demand as it is, IMO. It's supposed to be somewhat rare, isn't it?

Looking at you, Crafting Writs.

Everything else I'm cool with.

Atleast now it's not the only thing the writs ask for anymore lol
They just wanted 3 water from me today, nbd

Good thing too because I was running low on roots, now I can accumulate again.

Thoosa

Craglorn is better for silk and wood over Hew's Bane imo, plus its nice and quiet (and bigger) and I can wander from mode to node without having to compete for them.

JWKe

Not that hard for me... tbh. Maybe its because I usually get on at the weirdest times (e.g. pst 11am , 1-3am ). lol, college life. Schedule is all messed up.

Turelus

I've never had an issue farming nodes on PC EU.
I just go to Bleakrock and farm away.

There are loads of missive zones and most are dead, we're far from crisis point at the moment.

mariskaas

Not at all hard if you avoid the popular areas, Hew's bane right now but usually also craglorn and wrothgar in my experience. If i'm wandering in grahtwood or greenshade theres not a soul around, not even for questing..

Hashtag_

I wish mats were still area specific for the level of which they are located.

Gandrhulf_Harbard

I was helping a guild mate clear through the Stormhaven bosses last night, just from that I farmed well over 50 Nirnroot, and other mats - including 30+ Heartwood. No idea what they are worth in Gold, I'm a hoarder.

All The Best

Jemcrystal

Hashtag_ wrote: »

I wish mats were still area specific for the level of which they are located.

God, no.

To OP -
Just take up farming a different zone for a bit. Remember you level crafting up a bit and those nodes will glow. Much easier to spot. You can do it. I believe in you!

Hashtag_

Jemcrystal wrote: »

Hashtag_ wrote: »

I wish mats were still area specific for the level of which they are located.

God, no.

To OP -
Just take up farming a different zone for a bit. Remember you level crafting up a bit and those nodes will glow. Much easier to spot. You can do it. I believe in you!

Why not? If I needed a stack of maple I could go farm for 30-45 minutes to get a full stack. Now to get that same stack it takes far longer.

ZoM_Head

The zones where usually you find quests in are completely empty.

A vast majority of those new players are farming dolmens or certain mobs/trash to grind asap.

Then they either go to pvp or just change zones for a change in pace.

I find a lot of basic zones (non starter) very empty in quest areas.

hmsdragonfly

Hashtag_ wrote: »

Jemcrystal wrote: »

Hashtag_ wrote: »

I wish mats were still area specific for the level of which they are located.

God, no.

To OP -
Just take up farming a different zone for a bit. Remember you level crafting up a bit and those nodes will glow. Much easier to spot. You can do it. I believe in you!

Why not? If I needed a stack of maple I could go farm for 30-45 minutes to get a full stack. Now to get that same stack it takes far longer.

Why the hell do you need a stack of maple? To craft low level gear for an alt? Then just use that alt to farm instead.

Right now, as you can farm mats wherever you want, there's far less competition, if Wrothgar for example is too crowded you can go to Bal Folyen, or even Deshaan to farm instead. There are 20 times more farming spots than before. You can farm mats in the zone you love most, it will make farming far more enjoyable. It's good for the game.

THEDKEXPERIENCE

Step 1: Go to a starter island
Step 2: Collect underpants
Step 3: Profit

Junipus

QuantumPie wrote: »

As of One Tamriel, farming for mats changed because any level player on any factions can go anywhere to farm mats. It has been noticeably more difficult to do because of the amount of players in every zone. The re-spawn time of mats still feels the same as well as there is no phasing/instancing that is noticeable. With the Thieves Guild Anniversary event there is not a single inch of land where I don't see a player. In the 30 minutes I was trying I got about 1.5 nodes per minute. A majority of the time I saw a node a stamina character would quickly rapids and grab it before I could. If this isn't already a problem you have noticed Zenimax then you might want to take this into consideration so the higher level players can go back to having the original efficiency before all of the lower levels came. One last note, the time I have to farm mats is usually only during peak hours when the problem is at its worst. Any other time and this problem is much less noticeable.

"Farming" nodes at peak hours on the EU server I'm normally able to get a continuous stream of nodes so never having to run anywhere without seeing a node within highlight range. I normally farm in some of the lesser frequented zones since everywhere now drops the same level of mats so I would suggest finding a new source of material nodes to harvest instead of whichever ones you're currently using.