PvE Combat is too easy! Please add a Vet mode for overland content.

Insomnia rex

It's one of the things I loved about Guild Wars 1.

seedubsrun

I love OPs idea. A vet difficulty for overland would absolutely make regular gameplay much more fun., especially for new DLC. Better XP and more consistent epic drops would be fantastic. Maybe even some other little perks.

I see a lot of people saying "Normal difficulty is already hard enough for new players". I don't see where it was suggested that all overland play just be harder. The suggestion was being able to switch to vet difficulty while overland questing and have harder battles. You can't even switch difficulty until level 50 anyway so any toon 1-49 would still continue to play as normal.

I still haven't completed Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, or Morrowind with any of my toons only because they're so easy it feels like a boring grind. Sure I can do vet dungeons and such but I've done those 100 times already. There's content in this game I've never done because I know it'll be easy and boring. I want to be able to hone my build and quest at the same time.

DeadlyRecluse

naked noCP is vet mode for overland.

tunepunk

seedubsrun wrote: »

I love OPs idea. A vet difficulty for overland would absolutely make regular gameplay much more fun., especially for new DLC. Better XP and more consistent epic drops would be fantastic. Maybe even some other little perks.

I see a lot of people saying "Normal difficulty is already hard enough for new players". I don't see where it was suggested that all overland play just be harder. The suggestion was being able to switch to vet difficulty while overland questing and have harder battles. You can't even switch difficulty until level 50 anyway so any toon 1-49 would still continue to play as normal.

I still haven't completed Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, or Morrowind with any of my toons only because they're so easy it feels like a boring grind. Sure I can do vet dungeons and such but I've done those 100 times already. There's content in this game I've never done because I know it'll be easy and boring. I want to be able to hone my build and quest at the same time.

Thank you! You understood exactly what I was talking about. I love to do a little bit of this and that on my higher characters, Group Dungeons, questing, farming, xp grinding with a mate or just strolling around in overland content, collecting crafting nodes and chests... but....

... it's a walk in the park.

So as you say, playing through new expansions Like Morrowind and Orsinium, or any overland content (including delves and public dungeons) on a high level CP360 character, is not very rewarding with the current difficulty. Just a simple toggle would be fine for a bit more challenge, and a bit better rewards just like all other veteran content.

tunepunk

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

naked noCP is vet mode for overland.

Why don't they remove all vet dungeons and vet trials then, and you can run normals naked? With no greater rewards at all.

AcadianPaladin

tunepunk wrote: »

I'm not saying everyone should have to do the more challenging Vet mode. Those who wish can still do normal mode overland content.

* Group dungeons have a Normal mode and a Vet Mode - perfect!
* Trials have a normal mode and a Vet Mode - Perfect!
* Maelstorm arena has ha Normal Mode and a vet mode - Perfect!
* Quests and exploration do not have it <- a Vet mode for this is what I'm looking for!

I don't want newbies to struggle more, I want me to struggle more.. I want it to be an option... just like group dungeons, Maelstorm arena etc....

I just leveled a new alt to 50, now I still have 2 factions, several DLC's and expansion that I'm forced to "enjoy" on easy mode, because it doesn't have a vet mode.

I very much respect your desire for an optional 'harder' mode for normal overland, delves and quests. The reason is that key word 'option'. You have clearly indicated no desire to force that upon those of us who like normal stuff, well, normal. I am always in favor of more options as long as they are exactly, as you say, options.

starlizard70ub17_ESO

Remember back awhile ago (about 8 - 9 months ago) when the NA PC server died and it took ZOS a few days to fix it. I, like many other NA players started a character on the EU server just for something to do. No CP, no large hoard of mats stored in the bank, no millions of gold sitting in the bank and no master crafter who could make everything that could be crafted. It was actually hard just to survive as a new character. And I have been playing since the start and knew where everything was. This is how most new people start out playing, so I understand why the overworld is as "easy" as it is. If it was possible for the game to have a normal and a vet mode you could turn on and off, I'd have no problem with that. But I don't see ZOS cranking up the difficulty level of the general play areas any time ever.

kylewwefan

Well, after rethinking this a bit. No. Even Overland content is just about perfect IMO. Leveling toons up in all purple training gear, they don't feel overpowered in any way. Even on max level toons it feels about right. I don't feel like there's any real danger, and with legendary gears....I shouldn't IMO.

I do feel some of these world bosses could be toned down a bit though. Trying to farm gear, there's not always large groups to help out. Like any of the world bosses farming Spinners or spriggans are not so easy to solo. They should be more like the Dolmens difficulty level.

Septimus_Magna

@seedubsrun I did the DB quest-line to get the costume but it was soo boring. At least give me some boss at the end thats stronger than a trash mob in vet dungeons.

starlizard70ub17_ESO wrote: »

Remember back awhile ago (about 8 - 9 months ago) when the NA PC server died and it took ZOS a few days to fix it. I, like many other NA players started a character on the EU server just for something to do. No CP, no large hoard of mats stored in the bank, no millions of gold sitting in the bank and no master crafter who could make everything that could be crafted. It was actually hard just to survive as a new character. And I have been playing since the start and knew where everything was. This is how most new people start out playing, so I understand why the overworld is as "easy" as it is. If it was possible for the game to have a normal and a vet mode you could turn on and off, I'd have no problem with that. But I don't see ZOS cranking up the difficulty level of the general play areas any time ever.

The only thing I can think of that makes it hard to survive is the latency. Rapid regen/Rally is enough to stay alive while questing with random green gear equipped. Any hit that deals significant dmg is telegraphed for like 3 seconds so you can interrupt/dodge/block it.

blabliblargh

Also agree with OP.

Overland difficultly is perfectly fine for new players between level 1-50. I remember struggling at the beginning while I was learning game mechanics with sub optimal gear and skills.

Now CP 350, I melt overland stuff (except world bosses) in mere seconds and there's no challenge. I'd like to continue questing but the super easy difficulty make combat boring. Too bad because I do enjoy questing. I could create a new character for just that and make it a bit more challenging, but I like the idea of doing everything on a single character for achievement tracking. And I need to advance in CP for my current character anyway since not yet at max CP.

I think ZOS should really think of a solution to make regular questing more interesting combat wise past level 50, if you want to. Not sure there is an easy way to do it though. A toggle to ignore CP would be a start.

Lord-Otto

tunepunk wrote: »

Lord-Otto wrote: »

Or you could just stop complaining about endgame gear being something to strife for and craft yourself some gree CP140 gear to use for challenge runs.

Just another hollow bragger here who can't think like a true challenge player.

It's not bragging. I'm not even near being a top dps player with BiS gear. I'm talking adding a vet mode option to make regular quests and exploration more enjoyable/rewarding with a bit more challenge for high CP characters.

But you can do that by using inferior gear. What do you need a whole game mode for?

seedubsrun

Just seems like an optional vet difficulty for overland play would make sense. I bought all the DLC and it's not even fun due to lack of a challenge. I enjoy the storylines for the most part and some of the new gear and costumes are cool it's just boring to play.

Lord-Otto wrote: »

tunepunk wrote: »

Lord-Otto wrote: »

Or you could just stop complaining about endgame gear being something to strife for and craft yourself some gree CP140 gear to use for challenge runs.

Just another hollow bragger here who can't think like a true challenge player.

It's not bragging. I'm not even near being a top dps player with BiS gear. I'm talking adding a vet mode option to make regular quests and exploration more enjoyable/rewarding with a bit more challenge for high CP characters.

But you can do that by using inferior gear. What do you need a whole game mode for?

I'm sorry but "creating" a harder difficulty by intentionally gimping your character is stupid. Cool you can kill world bosses naked. If as a personal achievement that does it for you than more power to you, nude on. As someone who would like more substance to the content I paid for, a new optional difficulty that not only made enemies harder but also provided better rewards and perhaps new achievements, costumes, mementos, etc would be quite welcome I think. Considering there's already Vet mode for everything else it seems like they could pull it off without it being a huge deal

Lord-Otto

seedubsrun wrote: »

Just seems like an optional vet difficulty for overland play would make sense. I bought all the DLC and it's not even fun due to lack of a challenge. I enjoy the storylines for the most part and some of the new gear and costumes are cool it's just boring to play.

Lord-Otto wrote: »

tunepunk wrote: »

Lord-Otto wrote: »

Or you could just stop complaining about endgame gear being something to strife for and craft yourself some gree CP140 gear to use for challenge runs.

Just another hollow bragger here who can't think like a true challenge player.

It's not bragging. I'm not even near being a top dps player with BiS gear. I'm talking adding a vet mode option to make regular quests and exploration more enjoyable/rewarding with a bit more challenge for high CP characters.

But you can do that by using inferior gear. What do you need a whole game mode for?

I'm sorry but "creating" a harder difficulty by intentionally gimping your character is stupid. Cool you can kill world bosses naked. If as a personal achievement that does it for you than more power to you, nude on. As someone who would like more substance to the content I paid for, a new optional difficulty that not only made enemies harder but also provided better rewards and perhaps new achievements, costumes, mementos, etc would be quite welcome I think. Considering there's already Vet mode for everything else it seems like they could pull it off without it being a huge deal

So it IS bragging you want. Achievements in your list, costumes to show off. Enough costumes in the store already otherwise. You don't care so much for overcoming a challenge, but rather telling about it. Even if you deny it, you know I'm right.

Well, Trial hard modes are for that. You can also stream it on Twitch or make clips for YouTube. Dark Souls players have challenged themselves for decades. And they are most satisfied with their results. No need to waste resources and trash a system just because a couple people wanna show off.

seedubsrun

Lord-Otto wrote: »

seedubsrun wrote: »

Just seems like an optional vet difficulty for overland play would make sense. I bought all the DLC and it's not even fun due to lack of a challenge. I enjoy the storylines for the most part and some of the new gear and costumes are cool it's just boring to play.

Lord-Otto wrote: »

tunepunk wrote: »

Lord-Otto wrote: »

Or you could just stop complaining about endgame gear being something to strife for and craft yourself some gree CP140 gear to use for challenge runs.

Just another hollow bragger here who can't think like a true challenge player.

It's not bragging. I'm not even near being a top dps player with BiS gear. I'm talking adding a vet mode option to make regular quests and exploration more enjoyable/rewarding with a bit more challenge for high CP characters.

But you can do that by using inferior gear. What do you need a whole game mode for?

I'm sorry but "creating" a harder difficulty by intentionally gimping your character is stupid. Cool you can kill world bosses naked. If as a personal achievement that does it for you than more power to you, nude on. As someone who would like more substance to the content I paid for, a new optional difficulty that not only made enemies harder but also provided better rewards and perhaps new achievements, costumes, mementos, etc would be quite welcome I think. Considering there's already Vet mode for everything else it seems like they could pull it off without it being a huge deal

So it IS bragging you want. Achievements in your list, costumes to show off. Enough costumes in the store already otherwise. You don't care so much for overcoming a challenge, but rather telling about it. Even if you deny it, you know I'm right.

Well, Trial hard modes are for that. You can also stream it on Twitch or make clips for YouTube. Dark Souls players have challenged themselves for decades. And they are most satisfied with their results. No need to waste resources and trash a system just because a couple people wanna show off.

lol such aggression. It's funny you suggest I'm not interested in overcoming a challenge in a post that I ask for a harder difficulty mode. Your comment about there being plenty costumes in the store is nonsensical. They're behind a paywall and you don't earn them at all. Suggesting that people get rewarded for completing harder content somehow makes me a cocky jerk? I don't brag about any of my accomplishments in this game as I'm just an average player that just wants a bit more difficulty in my game that isn't self manufactured. I suggested additional rewards because 1) We would be earning them with a harder difficulty and 2) the rewards in this game are often sad with some of the best ones only available if you buy them.

Yep, trials hard modes are good for a challenge. You're right about that. Doesn't have anything to do with the difficulty of overland game play though, which is what we're talking about. There would be no wasted resources or any supposed system trashing. There would be an optional harder difficulty for most overland and solo play. Perhaps you were triggered by me saying gimping yourself for added difficulty is stupid. Apologies if that's the case. What I meant was that if there are people out there intentionally gimping themselves just to squeeze a bit more challenge out of the game then that suggests a harder difficulty should be introduced. Since just making everything harder would be a bad idea and since there's already precedent for a normal and vet difficulty it seems like a no brainer.

Zordrage

people with hundreds of Account wide CP says leveling content is easy.........

oh realy ? you dont tell....

meanwhile my friend that i just showed this game is getting lost in the cities and getting his ass handed by some easy solo mini bosses.....

seedubsrun

Zoliru wrote: »

people with hundreds of Account wide CP says leveling content is easy.........

oh realy ? you dont tell....

meanwhile my friend that i just showed this game is getting lost in the cities and getting his ass handed by some easy solo mini bosses.....

Did you actually read what the OP was suggesting or just read the title and rage out?

Darkestnght

You can always remove all your CP points and put on some un-matched gear or less gear. There are ways to make overland harder other than making a vet version. I run around with no armor sometimes just to make it more difficult.

Zordrage

Darkestnght wrote: »

You can always remove all your CP points and put on some un-matched gear or less gear. There are ways to make overland harder other than making a vet version. I run around with no armor sometimes just to make it more difficult.

agree with this..

lets not waste the devs time shall we ? and let them focus on more important stuff...

Lord-Otto

seedubsrun wrote: »

Lord-Otto wrote: »

seedubsrun wrote: »

Just seems like an optional vet difficulty for overland play would make sense. I bought all the DLC and it's not even fun due to lack of a challenge. I enjoy the storylines for the most part and some of the new gear and costumes are cool it's just boring to play.

Lord-Otto wrote: »

tunepunk wrote: »

Lord-Otto wrote: »

Or you could just stop complaining about endgame gear being something to strife for and craft yourself some gree CP140 gear to use for challenge runs.

Just another hollow bragger here who can't think like a true challenge player.

It's not bragging. I'm not even near being a top dps player with BiS gear. I'm talking adding a vet mode option to make regular quests and exploration more enjoyable/rewarding with a bit more challenge for high CP characters.

But you can do that by using inferior gear. What do you need a whole game mode for?

I'm sorry but "creating" a harder difficulty by intentionally gimping your character is stupid. Cool you can kill world bosses naked. If as a personal achievement that does it for you than more power to you, nude on. As someone who would like more substance to the content I paid for, a new optional difficulty that not only made enemies harder but also provided better rewards and perhaps new achievements, costumes, mementos, etc would be quite welcome I think. Considering there's already Vet mode for everything else it seems like they could pull it off without it being a huge deal

So it IS bragging you want. Achievements in your list, costumes to show off. Enough costumes in the store already otherwise. You don't care so much for overcoming a challenge, but rather telling about it. Even if you deny it, you know I'm right.

Well, Trial hard modes are for that. You can also stream it on Twitch or make clips for YouTube. Dark Souls players have challenged themselves for decades. And they are most satisfied with their results. No need to waste resources and trash a system just because a couple people wanna show off.

lol such aggression. It's funny you suggest I'm not interested in overcoming a challenge in a post that I ask for a harder difficulty mode. Your comment about there being plenty costumes in the store is nonsensical. They're behind a paywall and you don't earn them at all. Suggesting that people get rewarded for completing harder content somehow makes me a cocky jerk? I don't brag about any of my accomplishments in this game as I'm just an average player that just wants a bit more difficulty in my game that isn't self manufactured. I suggested additional rewards because 1) We would be earning them with a harder difficulty and 2) the rewards in this game are often sad with some of the best ones only available if you buy them.

Yep, trials hard modes are good for a challenge. You're right about that. Doesn't have anything to do with the difficulty of overland game play though, which is what we're talking about. There would be no wasted resources or any supposed system trashing. There would be an optional harder difficulty for most overland and solo play. Perhaps you were triggered by me saying gimping yourself for added difficulty is stupid. Apologies if that's the case. What I meant was that if there are people out there intentionally gimping themselves just to squeeze a bit more challenge out of the game then that suggests a harder difficulty should be introduced. Since just making everything harder would be a bad idea and since there's already precedent for a normal and vet difficulty it seems like a no brainer.

There are also plenty of costumes for in-game achievements. And skins.

Read closer. Beating the challenge is your secondary concern. You foremost want a reward. Neither is gimping yourself nor having beaten a challenge run a suitable reward for you. You want something materiel, something to show. That is literally showing ofg.

Again, difficulty can easily be generated. Ever since the NES days, probably prior, people have done that. For easy and difficult games alike. We have no need to spend time on something so trivial. There are far more important things.

seedubsrun

Darkestnght wrote: »

You can always remove all your CP points and put on some un-matched gear or less gear. There are ways to make overland harder other than making a vet version. I run around with no armor sometimes just to make it more difficult.

I think this is missing the point. First, removing your CP and putting on crap gear to make the game harder suggests you would like the game to be more difficult or at least that the game gets too easy. If that's the case why not just have a developed harder difficulty that doesn't require you getting naked and gimping yourself?

Second, and probably more importantly, all new area based DLC (Dark Brotherhood, Thieves Guild, Orsinium, Morrowind) is all way too easy for for most players with toons above level 49 to the point where even running the material is boring and almost all rewards are useless. If you're paying for content don't you feel like you deserve and adequate challenge and rewards for meeting that challenge?

The CP cap is going to keep on increasing making our characters even more powerful and making this overland content even easier. Making all content harder hurts new players trying to get their bearing still but adding an optional harder difficulty gives everyone the chance to play at their level. If you went out and bought a brand new game and then finished it in a couple hours because it was far too easy, you'd feel like you just wasted your money for nothing. That's how overland content will continue to feel if there is no challenge

humpalicous

Turelus wrote: »

Overland I feel is in the right place, sure it's a cake walk when you're legendary gear, C630 optimised builds but that's not what the content was designed or balanced around.

The end game challenge is veteran group content or Maelstrom, that's where the testing is. Sure some of it's old and easy now due to mechanics being known etc.

As I always say if you want to have a hard time in overworld content at end game just take your gear off for a while and make yourself some low level weapons.

I agree, Overland is not where the challenges are or where the real testing is done.

I would like to see a slight increase in difficulty, sure, but it's not the end of the world if that never happens since the hard content comes in the form of hardmode veteran dungeons and trials, and of course VMA.

Overland is for leveling, questing and getting to know the game as a new player.

blabliblargh

humpalicous wrote: »

Overland is for leveling

That's the problem past level 50: you still need leveling and overland/questing is the primary way to level, but too easy.
There is a real need for a vet mode for questing. And just a toggle, not existing suggestions to combat naked or with crappy gear or resetting CP to 0 (because you still need your full CP build for regular hard content).
I own Morrowind but still refuse to play it because I do not (currently) want to make a new char and my current CP 350 char makes the overland trivial.

seedubsrun

humpalicous wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Overland I feel is in the right place, sure it's a cake walk when you're legendary gear, C630 optimised builds but that's not what the content was designed or balanced around.

The end game challenge is veteran group content or Maelstrom, that's where the testing is. Sure some of it's old and easy now due to mechanics being known etc.

As I always say if you want to have a hard time in overworld content at end game just take your gear off for a while and make yourself some low level weapons.

I agree, Overland is not where the challenges are or where the real testing is done.

I would like to see a slight increase in difficulty, sure, but it's not the end of the world if that never happens since the hard content comes in the form of hardmode veteran dungeons and trials, and of course VMA.

Overland is for leveling, questing and getting to know the game as a new player.

So if you have all your characters all max CP rank and a new overland DLC comes out that you'd like to enjoy but can't because all the content for it is mind numbingly easy then is that DLC just for new players to get to know the game better? Even if you paid for it hoping for challenging content that rewarded you?

tunepunk

seedubsrun wrote: »

humpalicous wrote: »

Turelus wrote: »

Overland I feel is in the right place, sure it's a cake walk when you're legendary gear, C630 optimised builds but that's not what the content was designed or balanced around.

The end game challenge is veteran group content or Maelstrom, that's where the testing is. Sure some of it's old and easy now due to mechanics being known etc.

As I always say if you want to have a hard time in overworld content at end game just take your gear off for a while and make yourself some low level weapons.

I agree, Overland is not where the challenges are or where the real testing is done.

I would like to see a slight increase in difficulty, sure, but it's not the end of the world if that never happens since the hard content comes in the form of hardmode veteran dungeons and trials, and of course VMA.

Overland is for leveling, questing and getting to know the game as a new player.

So if you have all your characters all max CP rank and a new overland DLC comes out that you'd like to enjoy but can't because all the content for it is mind numbingly easy then is that DLC just for new players to get to know the game better? Even if you paid for it hoping for challenging content that rewarded you?

Exactly, I think i'm not the only one having a few characters and been playing for years waiting for new content and dlc's. If all of the dlc quest content are made for newbies? we just continue to run the same dungeons on vet mode? I wanna quest and explore also sometimes, but i's all too easy to be enjoyable, so an option to turn on vet mode for overland (including delves and public dungeons) would be nice.

tunepunk

Current level of difficulty exploring Morrowind with a CP630 char:

-"Step aside goblins i'm getting that tomb rubbing!"


Where I wish it would be just a liiiittle bit more like:

-"Hmmm, how do I get past goblins for the tomb rubbing"

RainfeatherUK

If you think overworld is 'fine' you either haven't tried it recently or you are severely mentally deficient.

A friend of mine recently brought her brother to the game - clean account, no cp or decent gear; just what he picked up at a dolmen run and from quest rewards/greens+whites.

He wen't afk to answer the front door, leaving his character being beat on by two mobs as part of a quest in auridon. His natural regen was almost too high for the mobs to even kill him...he wasnt even at the controls of his character for several MINUTES for goodness sakes.

How in any shape or form is that fine? This game has been so laughably neutered I have difficulty understanding how many can defend it at this stage. I mean you must literally care about nobody but yourselves, if the lack of challenge presented to new players (of average gaming skill) forces them to give up out of sheer boredom.

He's already heading right back to FFXIV. Not because he didn't like the game. But because all meaning is stripped from questing if the mobs are literally blown away spamming one button without effort.

People like to say 'oh nobody cares about the 1% elitist'. He's hardly that...he just got his first pc!

In reality I think many of you people might be handicapped, or just plain lying. Sorry to be blunt but this game offers next to no challenge to most people I meet. Some find that ok (they rush to the few trials, solo what they can and pvp) but if this game wants to step on to the level of other mmo's, then sorry. Having baby difficulty for 90% of the content just wont do.

You can get level 50 in a single day watching a guide from a single google search. So lets not pretend its hard, or that people are as bad at this game as you apologists claim. Theres no effort required over world in the slightest.

tunepunk

Spent the whole weekend questing and collecting skill points, skyshards and achievements on my alt.

Doing things like cadwell's silver, exploring morrowind and collecting skill points from quests and skyshards one a high CP char is not enjoyable at all. I don't know why overland content has to be reserved for new players. It needs some kind of vet mode to add a bit more difficulty, so it can be fun even if you have a high level character.

Devs - Please consider a VET mode for overland content. There's a whole world to explore but no challenge doing it. Even as a high CP char it should be enjoyable to go do some random questing and exploration, in between VET dungeons, and other VET content, it doesn't make it sense that this part of the game is designed only for new players to enjoy.

Septimus_Magna

Its in ZOS' interest to make new DLCs/chapters attractive to everyone, not just for beginning players.

Adding a vet-mode slider for overland and quest content will take nothing away from beginners but will make the game more attractive for seasoned players. Therefor this suggestion is good, it wont hurt anyone but will make a ton of players happy.

A lot of content in this game used to be out of reach for casual players because trails and many dungeons only had vet modes. Now all trails and dungeons have normal modes to make it more accessable. Why not do the same thing for seasoned players?

Khumbu

I've been playing MMOs for 15 years now and have been through the full lifespan of a couple. Any time players QQ about more hard content tailored to them, and the devs actually listen, it's a disaster. 2/3rds of these "hardcore" people quit, any casuals who bumble into it quit, and everyone cries on the forums. While there ARE a small amount of people who enjoy the challenge and are satisfied, or suck at it but L2P without complaining, this minority of players are almost never worth the total dev time/effort it took to make the content hard in the first place.

If you want a legitimately hard solo MMO overworld experience, go boot up a classic EQ1 server. You just won't find it in this generation of MMOs outside of specialized encounters... this is coming from someone who chased that goal for years before giving up.

seedubsrun

Khumbu wrote: »

I've been playing MMOs for 15 years now and have been through the full lifespan of a couple. Any time players QQ about more hard content tailored to them, and the devs actually listen, it's a disaster. 2/3rds of these "hardcore" people quit, any casuals who bumble into it quit, and everyone cries on the forums. While there ARE a small amount of people who enjoy the challenge and are satisfied, or suck at it but L2P without complaining, this minority of players are almost never worth the total dev time/effort it took to make the content hard in the first place.

If you want a legitimately hard solo MMO overworld experience, go boot up a classic EQ1 server. You just won't find it in this generation of MMOs outside of specialized encounters... this is coming from someone who chased that goal for years before giving up.

Again, seems to have missed what the OP was asking for. Not generally harder content but the option to toggle a harder difficulty. This would give options but not hurt anyone. Also, I'm always hesitant to accept opinions that basically say "It's never worked before so it'll never work in the future". Every game is a bit different and there's a;ways those games that figure out what no one else could. ESO has a choice between normal and vet and even a hard mode vet (for certain things) for everything except overland content. There's already determined values for the differences between normal and vet foes as far as damage dealt, health, resistances, etc. It shouldn't be that big of a stretch to implement this for overland play.