Guild Tabard System - What Are Your Thoughts?

Maole1989

Whether I’m chilling in town, exploring Tamriel, or fighting the Dominion and Covenant hordes in Cyrodiil, I’m always amazed at how many players do not wear tabards. Sure, there are many who wear their colours loud and proud, but around 50% (from what I see) of players appear ‘guildless’. Why is this? This led me to critically think about our guild tabard system. I came to the conclusion that there may or may not be a simple answer and perhaps there are multiple factors that contribute to the current situation.

I’ve created this poll/discussion in order to gain (and share) visual feedback and also to open a discussion regarding this topic. I also aim to create an opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts and ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Please select a poll response that resonates with you and share your thoughts and ideas regarding the guild tabard system.

Discussion:
- What are some of the factors that contribute to the lack of representation?
- What is the reason you wear or don’t wear your guild tabard?
- What are your thoughts regarding the guild tabard system?
- Is there anything you would like to see changed or implemented?



Note: A quick search of ‘guild tabard’ in the ESO forum database today revealed this similar thread posted recently. I was unaware this thread existed during the construction of my post, but I wanted to share the link to give credit where credit is due.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/354938/guild-tabard

Maole1989

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

Because a guild tabard overshadows my character’s look, most of the time I choose not to wear one. I know it sounds a little vain but when you spend hours on a character’s appearance and style you want a guild tabard to complement your style, not ruin it! For example: My orc stamplar currently wears a Trinimac cuirass but when I equip a tabard, his cuirass is removed and replaced with tight spandex-like material and streamlined tabard. Not cool! The rest of my bulky armor remains the same, leaving my orc looking disfigured and self-esteem at an all-time low. Ok, the last part was perhaps an exaggeration (or was it?) but you get the drift!


When I enter Cyrodiil I’m often prompted by friends to ‘represent’. Should I change the color of my armor to match the colors of the guild tabard? Or should I embrace it and charge in to battle hoping to dazzle and disorientate my opponents with the colors of the rainbow? Dignity seems a steep price to pay. Sure, I can wear a costume to hide the tabard but I like to showcase those beautiful motifs and colors I’ve taken the time and gold to acquire.


Changes I would like to see implemented are:
- Guild tabards can be ‘hidden’ when equipped (like helmets)
- Allow tabards to flow more naturally over armor (as opposed to removing the armor as it sometimes does now)
- Additional tabard designs (perhaps a cape)
- Additional emblems and the introduction of letters
- The introduction of guild emblems on shields (perhaps painted over the design of the shield, can be equipped on and off)


Of course these ideas are simply suggestions that I would like to see implemented. This does not mean they should be implemented in complete disregard to another person’s ideas (as I’m sure there are many other great ideas out there).

Morgul667

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I use them for the nametag but they look ugly so I hide them below a costume

Azurya

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I think it is good to show what guild you are in, but
1. it would be nice if you could wear tem over your custome, or skin
2. cauze that is needed because most of the dropsets are so endless ugly, that you need those

MrGarlic

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I only use mine when My toon is wearing a costume to hide it.

I don't mind the guild name displayed in the name-tag, but I don't want to see it covering my clothes/armour.

Ostaradoe

I believe the guild tabard system could do with a complete overhaul.

I don't like the appearance of them, when I have spent ages getting the style motif that suits my character and adds to the immersion I don't want to cover it with my grandmothers apron

Maybe an option to add a symbol to existing armour would be better. Or even better yet, remove the tabard system and let us choose whether to display our guild name in name tags options..

SirGabenOfSteamia

I believe the guild tabard system could do with a complete overhaul.

Those sort of armor-mounted banners (I don't know what to call them) that the Fighters in Dragonstar wear would make for some awesome guild-themed apparel if we could customize them and wear them ourselves.

MakoFore

i think this is interesting- because i play on both servers - back and forth pc EU and pc NA - and have for the past year and a half. on the EU the first thing i noticed with regard to giulds- is that players represent guilds far more strongly and proudly. I'm not sure why that is- but if u got around craglorn EU- you ll see most players above cp300 wearing tabards, and representing. on the NA- its less so.
in fact upon joining my 5 EU guilds- 3 of them- the leaders gave me 10k to buy the tabard upon joining.
speculate what you will- feel free to make cultural and racial dispersions. but just something interesting.

max_only

They are ugly as sin tbh

Khenarthi

Other

I've been in 4 of my guilds for over 2 years, but I do not wear the tabards. One reason is I'd have to pick one guild (and I love all those 4) and the other reason, many tabard aesthetics are very unappealing (sorry guys, I got a particular sense of what colours and patterns each of my characters will wear).

Fishoscandi

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I like the system, I don't like the colors. Maybe players could customize their tabard's color but not its symbol?

agegarton

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I mostly wear a costume, as I can't (yet) have the armour style of my choice. One of the main drawbacks of the Guild Tabbard system is that tabbards and costumes don't mix.

I'd like to see some other options, too, beyond the basic tabbard. Either way, there's too much clipping around armour for them to be particularly useful right now.

Riddari

I believe the guild tabard system could do with a complete overhaul.

I would love the ability to put our guild symbol on a shield and for our horses to have tabards.

Also if there were different places the tabards could go. Scarves, banners, painted pauldrons with guild symbols.

I'm also very fond of the toga style robes that both mages and vigilants of Stendarr wear in skyrim and wouldn't mind some of those over my armor.

We also really need transmog system. Maybe more people would wear tabards if they weren't too busy wearing costumes to hide their hideous armor

Dubhliam

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I would simply like for incentive for poeple to wear them.

But this is closely related to guild tools and activities that should be added to the game.

F.e. Guild quests: finish X trial with all members wearing your tabard.

Karthos

Other

Other: I don't care.

Mostly because I've yet to find a guild with joining that isn't a trading guild. Also the thought of covering my armour with some crappy design does not interest me.

RainfeatherUK

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

Simply needs more customization and art department work/detailing.

The system is historically correct and a good idea in itself. Armor doesn't always have to match the tabard, have made some cool contrasting looks with light and dark myself. Would just prefer a higher graphical appeal.

It needs more color/symbolization potential. You can't increase the popularity of something by improving it (more use) and then restrict its potential customization or you'll get too many copies running around.

I do like it though. I'm one of few still rolling around with the Tamriel Foundry Tabard after all.

IcyDeadPeople

Personally I don't like the cluttered look of the UI when there are hundreds of players with nameplates, so I don't enable that setting in UI. As a result I have no idea who is in what guild.

Tasear

I believe the guild tabard system could do with a complete overhaul.

Would be nice if it was a cape or maybe a hat, but right it's just displeasing yo look at.

Why not give a small guild related bonuse for wearing it.

Like 2% gold gain, 2 faster speed, 1% more healing, 1% more health, 1% healing received, 1 magicka point per guild level, magicka regain, posion restiances, fire restiances, shock damage restiances, cold restiances, posion restiances, sleath decection, less damage from traps, less damage from guards, 1% pickpocket chance, 5% chance to find costumes (in game ones for to) or get rare pet drops.3% sneak speed.

Give guilds a more purpose. Also make it progressive where you have to quests or x with taberb on.

Then again maybe use it hold save for vdsa for guild.

dan958

I'd rather be able to add a guild emblem to an existing costume/armour piece.

Jamascus

Other

Stop gating the tabards behind 10 members.

Linaleah

I believe the guild tabard system could do with a complete overhaul.

I tend not to like tabards because of just how badly they cover up the chest piece and part of the pants/skirt. I do wear one, with a costume (so it doesn't show) to represent one of my guilds, because.. and this is the part that annoys me about ESO system far FAR more then even look of the tabard - its the only way to have a guild name with your character name. why is guild name tied to wearing a tabard exactly? it excludes smaller guilds that don't have enough people to have a trader to buy a tabard from (it takes 50 people to just acess the tabard, I have been in plenty of tight knit, guilds of maybe 2 dozen people guilds that were quite lovely to be a part of - still am actualy.. and they would be / are excluded from, forget trading - SHOWING THEIR GUILD NAME)

displaying your guild name should NOT be tied to a minimum amount of people in a guild and it should NOT be tied to wearing a tabard. I should be able to wear a tabard without displaying a guild name and I should be able to display a guild name without wearing a tabard. oh and rather then having to hide your tabbard via costume - you should be able to hide or display at will, regardless of wether you are wearing a costume or a set of armor IMO.

redshirt_49

I am happy with the guild tabard system and believe it does not need to be changed.

They look terrible on my gear items of choice. Simple as that.

Also, which one should I wear? I don't have a favorite guild out of all my guilds.

Strider_Roshin

I believe the guild tabard system could do with a complete overhaul.

Guild capes/cloaks would be great. They can appear in PvE outside of trials in order to reduce performance issues. The guild nameplate will still remain though.

Cardhwion

Other

I would wear the tabard if I liked it, meaning color/symbol and so forth. As I don't, I do not wear it. End of story.

Vipstaakki

I am happy with the guild tabard system and believe it does not need to be changed.

I always wear my tabard no matter what.

Rickter

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

Tabards are a fantastic feature and well thought out in ESO.

But I would like to see more variations (why the surcoat design only?) gives us the banner back flags, a cape/cloaks
oh and because im a big fan of Legacy of Kain/Soul Reaver, I would love to see these:

ookami007

I believe the guild tabard system could do with a complete overhaul.

Guild tabards suffer from a few maladies.

1) IDIOT DESIGNERS - I get that your guild is called Mighty Dragon Slayers of Tamriel, but your bright pink tabard with a green unicorn head tells me that the dragons die more from being blinded by your horrible choice in colors than anything else. Let's face it, people think they are being clever or making a statement but they're just being an eye sore. It wouldn't wear them if it meant Molag Bal would personally hand me my soul back.

2) TOO MANY GUILDS - Since you're a member of 5 guilds, how do you really decide which tabard to wear? And when? If I REALLY, REALLY wanted to wear a guild tabard, I'd simply pick the best looking one. Not the bright pink unicorn on a bright green tabard.

3) FASHION STATEMENT - It's difficult enough to come up with a good combination of armor that looks good, let alone find a tabard, armor, color combination that works well together. I've seen a few but ONLY a few.

4) COSTUMES - Guild tabards don't work with costumes and those of us who enough using costumes have no option to wear them and it breaks our character concept to go back to mismatched armor pieces.

Sandman929

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I'd like the option to display or not, on costumes/polymorphs or armor. Guild capes would also be nice.

Mauin

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I don't typically wear tabards because they're ugly. They cover or remove my armor, the colors might not match the color schemes I have for my characters, and so on. It's just mainly cosmetic for me. I have very few characters who wear tabards, and if they do, they're usually wearing a costume to cover it up. My main wears the tabard for my own guild, but I will admit it's because I thought it would be funny to have my nameplate saying "Order of Large Fries" to anybody who actually has those ugly things enabled.

If tabards could be made to look better, or if they could be changed so that they covered all armors instead of covering some and removing others, I might be more inclined to wear them on other characters. Otherwise... I'll just stick with my armors and costumes.

Jamini

I just don't have a tabard I would want to wear.

Guild #1 - Private/RL friends guild
-I carry this tabard, and it's tasteful and in good colors. However I don't really have a desire to wear it without my RL friends around and most of them don't play very often.

Guild #2 - RP hub guild
- I'm not wearing a tabard for a 500-member hub guild. Why would I do that?

Guild #3 - Social/PvP guild
- I would wear it more, but the design they picked it UGLY AS SIN on PURPOSE. As such, I only wear it when we are PvPging or doing trials together and I want to represent. Also, nobody is expected to wear a purple tabard with a red mudcrab on it.

Guild#4 - Trade guild
-See hub guild above. Pass, unless I'm going to a guild event. (Like dueling night)

Guild#5 - Raiding guild
-I have no reason to wear this outside of raid nights.

Reverb

I like the guild tabard system overall, but believe it could benefit from some tweaks.

I wish it could be worn over costumes. Most drop sets are damn ugly, so even on raid nights more than half of the party is in costume, preventing us from wearing the tabards. Shame for ugly gear outweighs pride for guild