ZOS, can we expand Cyrodiil? It's time.

loyalhabsfan

I'll start off by saying I don't spend a lot of time on the forums. I apologize if this has already been discussed; I'm curious what everyone thinks about this.

This is not a performance based post; strictly content.

My gripe with Cyrodiil for the last 2 years is the "flow". Imagine a heat map of Cyrodiil, you have the flow of traffic between major keeps and of course the keeps themselves. The keeps have always been where they are, and that heat map has been relatively repetitive since launch. I have a lot of other ideas that I think would improve the PvP experience (further PvP based player customization, a rank system similar to Everquest with checks and balances, mount customization, mount differentiators, etc.) but I'll try to keep this related to the "flow" of Cyrodiil for a constructive conversation.

I do not want to ignore the PVP related developments like...
A. "capturing" the pre-existing towns, I do love that addition. Bruma is usually a good time.
B. Imperial City came out as well, but it's completely dead; no reason to go there or stay. Other than that, nothing has changed.
C. Dueling
D. Battlegrounds

Those are all great additions to the game, but I think most PvP players have this strange connection to Cyrodiil. I know I do. Choosing an alliance and fighting for it is exhilarating. Taking and losing land based on tactful decisions affecting hundreds of players makes you feel relevant, even if you're just in a small group. I'd like to propose a conversation based on implementing Cyrodiil-specific additions.

I've been getting more into the PVE aspect of the game due to the boredom of PVP. The level of intricacy, detail, voice acting, and overall quality of play in PVE is outstanding. I'm not really into Roleplaying or diving deep into my character but if I was, I'd love every quest in the game.

My ask is, can we get a couple of those developers that typically add PVE content to develop some new features in Cyrodiil? We have such a beautiful landscape in Cyrodiil, and a lot of it feels wasted. All of that land up north between Warden and Dragonclaw is amazing; but who goes there? Nobody. Here are some of my ideas (friends of mine as well) to spread out the flow and to mix things up a bit.

- A group of players can construct their own keep wherever they want on the map. Build a foundation, repair walls and build up each side. Choose resource locations. Of course can not be within a certain distance of pre-existing keeps. I think that'd add a really interesting dynamic to the game. Especially if you implement Guild Flags or guild specific decorations.
- Simply add more keeps/towns.
- Higher rewards for completing quests within Cyrodiil (spread out of course). 20k AP to capture Bloodmayne? Let's go lads.
- Add influence from High King Emeric, Queen Ayrenn, and King Jorunn. Each leader would be stationed at a keep somewhere random. Retreating your emp push to fall back and defend the High King at Warden? That would be cool.

You guys see where I'm going with this. Yes, I'm aware ZOS prioritizes PVE because it suits the majority of the players. However, the competitiveness of ESO PvP players is what keeps this game fun for many of us. In a sense, I think the current approach is tripping over a dollar to save a dime. Sure, you're catering to your current base of players and what that majority is asking for in their gaming experience. What about all of the players that are either leaving the game or not playing it due to lack of intrigue of PvP? Everyone reverts back to 1.6 because thats when Cyrodiil was so new and exciting for most players.

Zos, this game is still on the up and I'm happy to see that. I'm glad you've found success in the Crown Store, I've certainly supported you and have made several purchases. Please try to hear out the PvP community too (when it makes sense, let's keep that nerf hammer room locked for now). There are several simple changes that would mean so much to the PvP community.

PvP players, what would you change about Cyrodiil? Hoping this can stay constructive.

loyal

rfennell_ESO

I want the exterior of the Imperial City and that entire center part of the map in play.

gabriebe

A good start would be putting minor relics that gives like 1% extra spell damage to the faction in locations around the map, guarded in a small house that has like 100k health or something. Would make people move around the map a bit more and fill the empty stretches.

And they need to make IC a single zone instead of a separate one for each campaign, with fast travel possible from outside Cyro.

wolfwraith37

loyalhabsfan wrote: »

We have such a beautiful landscape in Cyrodiil, and a lot of it feels wasted. All of that land up north between Warden and Dragonclaw is amazing; but who goes there? Nobody.

...

- Add influence from High King Emeric, Queen Ayrenn, and King Jorunn. Each leader would be stationed at a keep somewhere random. Retreating your emp push to fall back and defend the High King at Warden? That would be cool.

I agree. That space needs some love. I play AD and I almost never get up there because there's little reason too. I'd love a few more reasons to go up there because I think that's visually my favorite place in Cyrodiil.

Also I would love it if the alliance leaders played a part in Cyrodiil. They could be there all the time, but maybe it would be better if they appeared on the weekends or even at random times.

geonsocal

gabriebe wrote: »

A good start would be putting minor relics that gives like 1% extra spell damage to the faction in locations around the map, guarded in a small house that has like 100k health or something. Would make people move around the map a bit more and fill the empty stretches.

And they need to make IC a single zone instead of a separate one for each campaign, with fast travel possible from outside Cyro.

stop stealing all my good ideas

Drummerx04

The most basic suggestion for expanding cyrodiil is to add capture points in the wilderness that are actually worth points. Give small scale players something to go out and do.

Right now small scale groups have two real options. Deal with the constant resource flipping and hope it's just another small group doing it... or zerg surf. Anything besides that will probably get you run over by hugely superior numbers real fast. Having actual small man objectives would give people something to fight over and also push players into battles in some of the interesting Cyro locations.

There are so many options for adding additional transit points and objectives.

Scoring could use a rework based on the difficulty of the objective. Scrolls worth 10 points, keeps worth 5 points, resources worth 1 point for instance. Nothing sucks quite like losing 15 resources 2 minutes before the score eval.

Sandman929

It needs something...anything really. I like the idea of the bridges into IC being rebuilt and making the city part of the overworld a lot. It's a quick way to cross the map and there could be some really great small scale in that city. Gankers Central.

mook-eb16_ESO

here's the main problem, make the places on the map yield to good a reward then you will only entice zergs into their areas and the object will be defeated. make them yield too little and nobody will go people are lazy and they don't want to spend traveling for little or no reward. I would like to see gates on milegates and bridges to stem/breakup the flow of people and make the activation and deactivation points deeper in enemy territory. maybe put each control for the gates in the three main home keeps for each faction. not all the gates can be closed say 2 out of the three on any one boarder .this may also counter 2 factions ganging up on 1 . just a thought... anyway just offering some ideas for some alternative mechanics.

also just thought you could add a master switch in IC to change the direction of the gates dor which you would need to capture all the flags to use. if the gates were set so ep could pass chalman mile gate but dc could not pass then maybe if you switch a master dc could pass but ep couldn't ep would then be able to pass on alesia bridge side but ad wouldn't. then you would get three fights in ic for the flags ands it would provide a link between ic and cyro which currently have no real link other than you need to be in cyro to get there.

Rohamad_Ali

This is regarding PC NA . Here is the issue and try not to take it as a personal attack against the game you love as I too love PVP and Cyrodiil ...

Right now at lowered caps 150vs150vs150 and participation at a very low point . Most campaigns empty and the main campaign seldom pop locked on all faction , the server can barely handle that . Running at minimum population the server is just bearable . Adding anything attractive to bring more people in leads to the server straining . Now people will say that is a bunch of hogwash but even Wheeler knows this and is the reason they never raised the pop caps back up . If Cyrodiil could handle the strain then the consolidation of these empty servers would happen and pop caps to accommodate more players , like we use to have would take place .

Before they even consider making Cyrodiil more attractive for players , this issue has to be addressed and no longer solved by just opening more empty servers . It has to . Otherwise this will end like every other advancement and only attract players in the short term .

Joy_Division

101 Suggestions to Improve Cyrodiil PvP

LonePirate

Joy provided a stellar and detailed list of improvements/changes and ZOS didn't even bother to say thank you or exhibit any sort of appreciation for that feedback. I can only surmise that if the feedback is not related to Battlegrounds, then ZOS is not interested in it.

As we saw during the Mid-year Mayhem event, double AP leads to a booming Cyrodiil population. While that is probably unsustainable, dropping BiS gear for all classes, roles and armor/weapon types would certainly attract more of the PVE crowd to Cyrodiil and boost the now sagging population numbers.

RMerlin

rfennell_ESO wrote: »

I want the exterior of the Imperial City and that entire center part of the map in play.

IC is a disappointment IMHO. Personally I would do something a bit like you suggest: take the IC districts and put them on the actual main Cyro map, making them earn faction points like resources. Let the current IC become just the sewers - it provides for a nice PvP dungeon.

The fact that IC is totally separate from Cyrodiil is kinda making it uninteresting for the true PvPers of Cyro.

RMerlin

loyalhabsfan wrote: »

We have such a beautiful landscape in Cyrodiil, and a lot of it feels wasted. All of that land up north between Warden and Dragonclaw is amazing; but who goes there? Nobody.

There's indeed a lot of wasted space, which acts as nothing but a time sink where you get to play Horse Riding Simulator between keeps (and even then there's a lot of space that is only visited when doing the Cyro delves).

The idea of a large scale map is nice in theory, but in practicality, it's sadly wasted. Imagine the ZOS developer who spends a few days lovingly crafting a hill and its surrounding, in some remote area that nobody will ever visit

The space north-west from Drake is the same: very detailed, a lot of variety, but outside of the Blue Road Keep - Cheydenall -
Drake corridor, you don't spend much time there.

Drummerx04

rmerlb16_ESO wrote: »

rfennell_ESO wrote: »

I want the exterior of the Imperial City and that entire center part of the map in play.

IC is a disappointment IMHO. Personally I would do something a bit like you suggest: take the IC districts and put them on the actual main Cyro map, making them earn faction points like resources. Let the current IC become just the sewers - it provides for a nice PvP dungeon.

The fact that IC is totally separate from Cyrodiil is kinda making it uninteresting for the true PvPers of Cyro.

One of the biggest annoyances I have with IC is how separated it is from Cyro. I'm DC, if I'm in the sewers base, and I see Ash under attack... I can't just walk outside and save it because I end up at Southern Highrock, and there is no way I can get to Ash in time.

Mustard

Make it a requirement that you need to own all the districts in IC and current keeps to become emperor