I hate non-CP play. I just do. I would wait seven hours in queue for a CP campaign before I stepped foot in the epic fail that is non-CP pvp. And I won't touch battlefields other than trying to get some achievements...and feeling that I have to commit to play that I hate to get my event rewards pissed me off SO MUCH...ugh.
It took me a while to figure out why non-CP content is toxic. At first I was inclined to buy into the argument that players become reliant on Champion Points...that it's just an L2P issue. But then I started to realize that's not the issue at all. It's not that CPs are a handicap for lesser skilled players...it's that non-CP content utterly breaks the game.
CPs have been in the game for over 2 1/2 years. During that time, every ability and class balance ZOS has made has been done under the CP system. If they consider amping DK damage or NB resistance, they do so taking into account the CP math. The resulting balance is far from perfect...but it's something that a lot of time and effort has been put into. In CP pvp, Viper's Sting hits hard enough to...well...sting, but it's damage is offset by red tree CPs and other factors.
Move into a non-CP area, and damage and resistance all occurs with absolutely zero thought to balance. There are winners and losers...some abilities perform off-the-charts well (like Vipers Sting) while some become duds. Class balance is tossed out the window. The problem there is that balance in the current meta has been attempted through abilities, gear and CPs. Non-CP content removes some the equation, but not all, so if your class overcame their weaknesses via abilities or sets you're ok, but if it did so via CPs you're utterly screwed. Example...over two years mag sorcs have had their squishiness addressed via wards and heals. They keep these in non-CP content. Nightblades have had their squishiness addressed via defensive CPs...which is lost entirely.
On top of this, I have learned my toon under the CP system. I've set the bars accordingly. I've invested in gear accordingly. I've learned exactly how far my stamblade can cloak without crouching...to the meter. I know when he's pulled his very last attack before his tanks are empty. I know how much damage he's going to take if he jumps off a keep Wall. Go into non-CP content, and none of my gear or abilities work the same. It's extremely uncomfortable gameplay, and it's like learning to play an entirely different game.
I get that some people like non-CP play, and I respect that. I found Azura's Star annoying and pointless, but go crazy if you like it. Enter Morrowind, and all of a sudden ZOS forced all of these non-CP campaigns on us...despite an entire year of zero population in Azura's and the clear customer feedback that PS4 PLAYERS DO NOT WANT NON CP CONTENT. On top of that, I paid for the expansion, and a big chunk of that was battlegrounds. But they've been set entirely to non-CP for no discernible reason. They aren't fun, and feeling locked out of one of the core features has pissed me off so much...I can't even describe.
I'd be fine if CPs went away and the whole game was rebalanced. (Which I don't see happening). I'd be fine if pvp and pve was set to perform more distinctly from one another, which they sort of already do. But I will NOT be forced into imbalanced, horrid non-CP content, and the more ZOS tries to corral me into it the more annoyed I will get, respectfully. And right now I am furious that I have to play battleground content that I HATE to earn my midyear achievements.
It's time for ZOS to strongly consider customer feedback on this issue. Take a look at PS4 NA Azura's population for its entire non-CP run. Take a look at the midyear mayhem populations, with people willing to wait in queue position 400 rather than enter Sotha Sil with a zero wait time, which has become a toxic EP farm server. It's not just me...players are clearly rejecting the concept. It's time for the concept to go the way of vet ranks...so long, farewell, don't let the door hit you on the way out non-cp play.
Cc: @ZOS_GinaBruno
@HeathenDeacon I don't buy your reasoning for the non-cp camps being deserted. Mainly because we had like six campaigns on PS4 and they all had healthy competitive play, then the second Azura's went non-CP it had zero bars 24/7. The other campaigns stayed populated. And back then I'd campaign swap with guildies all the time. Once Azura's went no-CP, nobody would go in there.
It's fine to enjoy non-CP pvp. Some people think Transformers 3 is a great movie, lol.
@Solariken Nope, it's not an L2P issue. I played a long time before CPs were introduced...I know how my characters played back then. Like I said, the problem is that since then the Devs have used CPs, gear and ability adjustments to seek balance. When you remove one but not the others the play is all out of whack...which is why it's entirely unpopular. I can respect that some people prefer it, but I don't really like the idea of walling of sections of the game for 1% of players.
None of the Transformers movies were great movies. Even the animated one from the 80s was flawed but great by comparison.IxskullzxI wrote: »@HeathenDeacon I don't buy your reasoning for the non-cp camps being deserted. Mainly because we had like six campaigns on PS4 and they all had healthy competitive play, then the second Azura's went non-CP it had zero bars 24/7. The other campaigns stayed populated. And back then I'd campaign swap with guildies all the time. Once Azura's went no-CP, nobody would go in there.
It's fine to enjoy non-CP pvp. Some people think Transformers 3 is a great movie, lol.
@Solariken Nope, it's not an L2P issue. I played a long time before CPs were introduced...I know how my characters played back then. Like I said, the problem is that since then the Devs have used CPs, gear and ability adjustments to seek balance. When you remove one but not the others the play is all out of whack...which is why it's entirely unpopular. I can respect that some people prefer it, but I don't really like the idea of walling of sections of the game for 1% of players.
Watch your tongue. Transformers 3 was a great movie.
Araviel2 I've played since console release and I've made top 2% in the main campaign leaderboards for the last 6 30'day campaigns in a row, with about 95% of my AP earned in solo and 2-man direct combat play. I consider myself a B+ player...not top tier, but I know how to play, thanks. Enough to know when the mechanics aren't working well.
Solariken Nope, it's not an L2P issue. I played a long time before CPs were introduced...I know how my characters played back then. Like I said, the problem is that since then the Devs have used CPs, gear and ability adjustments to seek balance. When you remove one but not the others the play is all out of whack...which is why it's entirely unpopular. I can respect that some people prefer it, but I don't really like the idea of walling of sections of the game for 1% of players.
IxskullzxI wrote: »@HeathenDeacon I don't buy your reasoning for the non-cp camps being deserted. Mainly because we had like six campaigns on PS4 and they all had healthy competitive play, then the second Azura's went non-CP it had zero bars 24/7. The other campaigns stayed populated. And back then I'd campaign swap with guildies all the time. Once Azura's went no-CP, nobody would go in there.
It's fine to enjoy non-CP pvp. Some people think Transformers 3 is a great movie, lol.
@Solariken Nope, it's not an L2P issue. I played a long time before CPs were introduced...I know how my characters played back then. Like I said, the problem is that since then the Devs have used CPs, gear and ability adjustments to seek balance. When you remove one but not the others the play is all out of whack...which is why it's entirely unpopular. I can respect that some people prefer it, but I don't really like the idea of walling of sections of the game for 1% of players.
Watch your tongue. Transformers 3 was a great movie.
Thunderknuckles wrote: »I have yet to try battle grounds. Just came back after several years of being gone. After reading some of the posts here it's even more clear to me why OWPvP in ESO is a turn off to so many. The CP gap is, obviously, monumental between lvl 10 and CP630. I mean, it's one shotsville for anyone below about CP 300 (it seems). I just got my main to CP 167 and was routinely 2 shotted by 630's in Imperial City.
What people who love to utterly crush other players who have no hope of a fair fight don't ever get in any MMO in existence ever is that ...this...is....not....fun....for.....them....and if it's not fun they'll quit doing. Sure, you'll get a very few people who will put up with that for months till they get the required lvl, gear, stats, whatever but most won't and eventually it'll just be you and your few buddies running around looking for someone to lawlstomp.
Gonna give battlegrounds a try and hope it's better. I love PvP much more then PvE, but there has to be a fighting chance.
The reality is Zenimax has been dropping the ball on balance ever since thieves guild and the later patches - and no-CP PvP is where this is the most obvious. It's just a silly little playground where people blow each other up with whatever overpowered toys (gear/abilities) ZOS throws their way, and without CP to help offset the power creep said toys are even more dominant.
It's not a fun and engaging PvP, and the people saying no-CP PvP requires more skill are just trying to pat their own backs. Procs, destro ulti, soul assault (vs stamina builds), s&b ulti, resto ulti, resource poisons, to name just a few things. If you use any of the mentioned things you've instantly got a huge advantage over people that don't. Skill takes a backseat to gear and slotted abilities (even more so than in CP PvP)
This is coming from a guy who used to love and play nothing but no-CP PvP when it was just introduced (with Thieves Guild). There's just been so much cancer introduced to the game that it's impossible for no-CP PvP to really be an engaging experience at this point.
I'm sure people will get offended when you dare suggest no-CP isnt the skillful paradise they think it is, but whatever. I'll just keep dominating BG matches on my procblade, and then switch to the next FOTM overperforming spec after that gets nerfed (and I highly doubt HotR will nerf it enough)Thunderknuckles wrote: »I have yet to try battle grounds. Just came back after several years of being gone. After reading some of the posts here it's even more clear to me why OWPvP in ESO is a turn off to so many. The CP gap is, obviously, monumental between lvl 10 and CP630. I mean, it's one shotsville for anyone below about CP 300 (it seems). I just got my main to CP 167 and was routinely 2 shotted by 630's in Imperial City.
What people who love to utterly crush other players who have no hope of a fair fight don't ever get in any MMO in existence ever is that ...this...is....not....fun....for.....them....and if it's not fun they'll quit doing. Sure, you'll get a very few people who will put up with that for months till they get the required lvl, gear, stats, whatever but most won't and eventually it'll just be you and your few buddies running around looking for someone to lawlstomp.
Gonna give battlegrounds a try and hope it's better. I love PvP much more then PvE, but there has to be a fighting chance.
Hopefully you find what youre looking for in no-CP PvP. If anything gear and specific abilities are way more dominant than anything else in no-CP PvP, so you won't be able to escape having to farm for gear or grind to unlock said abilities.
In no-CP PvP the outcome of a fight is going to be largely pre-determined already based on what you and your opponent are wearing and/or have slotted, so keep that in mind
Thunderknuckles wrote: »I have yet to try battle grounds. Just came back after several years of being gone. After reading some of the posts here it's even more clear to me why OWPvP in ESO is a turn off to so many. The CP gap is, obviously, monumental between lvl 10 and CP630. I mean, it's one shotsville for anyone below about CP 300 (it seems). I just got my main to CP 167 and was routinely 2 shotted by 630's in Imperial City.