Two types of ESO players

duendology

I've been playing this game since December last year. I did not join it as a diehard ES fan. I didn't have much experience with other MMOs (apart from LoL and Divinity: Original Sin [it's co-op, not mmo really though]) or the community.
So it's been almost almost one year and I still am INexperienced in a lot of aspects of ESO..and only recently decided to get more "zehrious" approach..but that's a different story.

Anyway, I still consider myself an observer and wandered, and probably an outlander, here. And after nearly one year of playing and observing this forum [started to post not a long ago though] and chat within the game I noticed that two groups in particular seem to be active here. It's fascinating really.. I bet someone's writing phd about it!

Now, it's not like only these two types of players "wander" Tamriel. So, in advance, I'd like to point out that nowhere here I suggest that [/b]only[/b] these two groups exist within ESO.

So..

Group One:
The Elite aka "I remember when ESO..". These are very experienced players who know ESO through and through, with CP above one million and counting probably. They most likely do trials and dungeon runs while asleep. They're so "old" they forgot what it's like to be new. Everything is so obvious and easy to them BUT they're oblivious to the simple fact that when you're new NOTHING is easy and obvious. I think it's very important and what causes most of misunderstanding here.

Group Two
The new players aka The Impatient Ones aka "When I reach level 50,I'll be a god". These new players seek quick solutions. They want quick formulas how to become an eso god..and believe that when they reach level 50 (of course as fast as possible) the magic happens and they become best of the best of the best of the best. BUT upon reaching the magical level 50, they discover they must now level up CP, they're most likely without free skill points, rotation knowledge, skills maxed..and no practise. They're oblivious to the fact that everything needs practice and that those top players did not become "top" over one week of playing.

What do you think? Like I said, I am not saying these are only types of ESO players..as I myself was fortunate enough to meet experienced players very laid back and patient and not treating this game like their raison d'etre, so to speak. I also, encountered new players who take their time and do not rush things in order to start trials within two weeks from starting playing.

Just an observation from an.....outlander. It's sort of fascinating to observe the community.

morrowjen

Group 3

Those who've never played an MMO and come from single-player games. Because, ESO has "Elder Scrolls" in the title a ton of players came from this perspective. They often don't understand even the most basic concepts (e.g. what is a tank? what is dps?). However, most are wiling to learn. They start out as lore hounds but stay if they hook up with friends and guilds willing to show them the ropes. They also add a ton to guild chat and are great at explaining why x needs to happen.

Ghettokid

Group Orc:
Orcs.

AlienatedGoat

I think that this kind of generalization is dangerous and inconsistent with reality.

You can't lump everyone into a couple categories and expect that to be an accurate representation. It's not.

People can have wildly different reasons for acting or believing the way they do, even if the result looks similar from the outside.

Instead of trying to categorize people into generalized labels, maybe try inviting them to a discussion where they can express their true selves. Maybe then you'll see what I mean.

T4T2FR34K

So, in summary you have observed that ESO has experienced and inexperienced players...awesome thanks.

ezeepeezee

You're pretty much describing people in general.

UnseenCat

Well, those are two very notable characterizations... I'm certainly not arguing that they're out there. I tend to feel that PvP-focused and guild-focused players might factionalize a bit along the lines of their preferred play styles.

That's fine, though. An MMO game should have room for many styles.

Myself, I focus on PvE play, and group up occasionally with my wife and other family members from time to time. It's a far more laid-back approach. PvE players are often more focused on the exploration and storyline of the game... There's room for all kinds, really.

Motherball

Its an interesting observation. I also wonder about demographics and motivations of players and find the psychology of groups of players fascinating.

I think theres a lot more casuals who dont fit into either groups mentined in the OP. The majority of players probably spend less than 10 hours a week playing and arent the slightest interested in progression beyond normal dungeons. They are here for the story and the combat and any interaction they have with other players is usually the opposite of competitive.

idk

That group one, those that have been in the game since it came out and know the history very well encompassed a huge swath of the game. Everyone from hard core raiders and die-hard PvPers to those that prefer to pick plants all day.

In reality they are no different than the group two. The only exception is the group two might have some work to do to figure out what works well.

In the end, it does not matter how long someone has been in the game. The interests vary greatly which is why ESO has different things to do.

duendology

Phage wrote: »

I think that this kind of generalization is dangerous and inconsistent with reality.

You can't lump everyone into a couple categories and expect that to be an accurate representation. It's not.

People can have wildly different reasons for acting or believing the way they do, even if the result looks similar from the outside.

Instead of trying to categorize people into generalized labels, maybe try inviting them to a discussion where they can express their true selves. Maybe then you'll see what I mean.

Hmm, I find it fascinating how people get so defensive when it comes so called categories, when they themselves need/and create categories in order to get some order in life all the time. Even here on the Forums...They categorize and judge all the time. but that's a different topic, I guess.

Anyway, No, I was not lumping everyone. Where did I give such impression? Again nowhere I even used the word "everyone". I merely observed two groups being specifically "visible" to me within this ESO community. Whether they like it to be categorised as such.. is a different story.
And of course people are different and play for different reasons enjoying different aspects of ESO.

T4T2FR34K wrote:

So, in summary you have observed that ESO has experienced and inexperienced players...awesome thanks.

Actually, right now I am observing that some people feel the obsessive-compulsive need to comment no matter what.. or they'll suffocate and die otherwise.

You're pretty much describing people in general.

@ezeepeezee
Heh, I do see your point.

victoriana-blue

I've been here a year and a half, but I only recently learned that pressing enter brings up the chat box (I've been using "/" then backspace).

Does this make me a hybrid?

a1i3nz

Yeah these people exist everywhere

No insightful for you

Iccotak

group 4. people who are just minding their own business and always finding new things

leeux

Have you seen this? Your categorization reminded me of this video:

https://youtu.be/yxpW2ltDNow

It's probably related in somewhat, I'm not a theorist of psychologist myself, but at least sounds related.

In the end, IMO, It all ends being related to what each one of of wants from the game.

Ruckly

Group Section 8

Not actually a category but an existential. Out patient. Recently got a third star. Sums most everything up as ect. ect. Leaves a reply. Never saves draft. Doesn't farm but likes potatoes and butter. Sees balance as some political thing. Reaches across the aisle. Always wins at ESO. Likes the grooves one can get into that makes the game flow like cream...sliding down strawberries on a warm summer evening in Coldharbor. ect.

duendology

leeux wrote: »

Have you seen this? Your categorization reminded me of this video:

https://youtu.be/yxpW2ltDNow

It's probably related in somewhat, I'm not a theorist of psychologist myself, but at least sounds related.

In the end, IMO, It all ends being related to what each one of of wants from the game.

That's something! I think the relation is obvious! I enjoyed this video! And quite insightful.
Thanks!

I think it deserves its own discussion

AlienatedGoat

duendology wrote: »

Hmm, I find it fascinating how people get so defensive when it comes so called categories, when they themselves need/and create categories in order to get some order in life all the time. Even here on the Forums...They categorize and judge all the time. but that's a different topic, I guess.

Anyway, No, I was not lumping everyone. Where did I give such impression? Again nowhere I even used the word "everyone". I merely observed two groups being specifically "visible" to me within this ESO community. Whether they like it to be categorised as such.. is a different story.
And of course people are different and play for different reasons enjoying different aspects of ESO.

I'm not defensive at all. I do object to your use of generalizations to describe players.

Your limited, single point of view is hardly enough to constitute the creation of labels. Especially when those labels sound a lot like a stereotype.

duendology

@Phage ,I thought I described those "stereotypes" , perhaps briefly but, well enough that they're not meant to be stereotypical but symptomatic here , So, then, in that case..what do you think about "generalisation" in the video which @leeux posted here?

zyk

I see the division differently. I'm speaking generally, but I think it's more of a divide between the pioneers that supported the growth of online computer gaming and a mainstream audience that is now discovering it.

The pioneers used to be the target audience but they've been supplanted by a larger, more general audience. As a result, games are becoming lighter and easier to digest. Learning the rules is optional and there are rewards for everything, no matter how rudimentary. I facepalmed at the start of 2.3 after I was given an achievement and a reward for merely traveling to Abah's Landing via Wayshrine...

We saw the same thing happen to single player games. Most aren't really games anymore, but rather interactive media.

logarifmik

Every attempt to divide people into groups is omits someone, if you don't use a group, which can be defined as "others". Things are far more complicated, but even though your classification is incomplete, it tells a truth. The partial truth.

AlienatedGoat

duendology wrote: »

@Phage ,I thought I described those "stereotypes" , perhaps briefly but, well enough that they're not meant to be stereotypical but symptomatic here , So, then, in that case..what do you think about "generalisation" in the video which @leeux posted here?

The video is about developers identifying their target audiences and designing games to fit their audience's needs. Developers do create ideas of the types of players they want to target for their games - targeting specific customers who are prone to certain behaviors. Every other company that makes a product does this. They do lots of painstaking research to formulate these archetypes, most of which is done with significant input from the subjects themselves.

Your descriptions are nowhere near that level of analysis. You make many assumptions and judgments based on your own, personal observations, and your bias in interpreting those observations colors your conclusions.

"They most likely do trials and dungeon runs while asleep. They're so "old" they forgot what it's like to be new. Everything is so obvious and easy to them BUT they're oblivious to the simple fact that when you're new NOTHING is easy and obvious."

"They want quick formulas how to become an eso god..and believe that when they reach level 50 (of course as fast as possible) the magic happens and they become best of the best of the best of the best. [snip] They're oblivious to the fact that everything needs practice and that those top players did not become "top" over one week of playing."

Both of these descriptions are weighted heavily in assumption and your personal bias. They aren't accurate representations of a veteran player or of a newbie player. For example, most newbies don't consider level 50 to be god-like status - it would be silly, considering how many high level CP players they see running around every day. Or consider that not all old players do dungeons or trials - some are roleplayers, and some are strictly solo players who dabble in dungeons.

I don't find your descriptions to be accurate representations of this community - at all. This community is rich and diverse, and while we might have certain traits and behaviors in common here and there, they are not cookie-cutter people. I think you aren't giving them enough credit, and you do them a disservice when you make these assumptions about them.

Insandros

Forgot a third kind, the whiners that wants all things to be nerfs that is making their only toon they play being underpower.

duendology

@Phage
But nowhere I stated these are the only groups I noticed. Whether my observation is based? Perhaps. Did I make a disclaimer that it's the universal truth and objective outlook? No. It's MY observation based on my experience. I think I can share mine here..regardless whether it's "trendy" and earns some acknowledgement. o_0.
Is my observation biased? I don't know. Perhaps.. Like I stated in the OP, I too encountered other types of players, I thought I made that clear. I even made sure to not take it's like some "revelation", didn't I?

And by your way of looking at things I could argue that what you're saying now is just your interpretation of what I wrote. And that you're biased because you're obviously committed to the game and community and subconsciously you get defensive, seeing /reading things in my post that are not there.

You don't agree with me. It's alright. It's your right and choice. I actually find your explanation quite reasonable and agree with it. Of course I could have written wall of words to get into detail with everything..to meet, perhaps, your "standards"..Who would read it though? I decided to be somewhat...laconic. My bad... I learnt. Mea Culpa

geonsocal

Ruckly wrote: »

Group Section 8

Not actually a category but an existential. Out patient. Recently got a third star. Sums most everything up as ect. ect. Leaves a reply. Never saves draft. Doesn't farm but likes potatoes and butter. Sees balance as some political thing. Reaches across the aisle. Always wins at ESO. Likes the grooves one can get into that makes the game flow like cream...sliding down strawberries on a warm summer evening in Coldharbor. ect.

very well said

rustic_potato

You missed out the group that only exists to troll others and have fun at their expense. Exists in every MMO.

PrayingSeraph

Phage wrote: »

duendology wrote: »

Hmm, I find it fascinating how people get so defensive when it comes so called categories, when they themselves need/and create categories in order to get some order in life all the time. Even here on the Forums...They categorize and judge all the time. but that's a different topic, I guess.

Anyway, No, I was not lumping everyone. Where did I give such impression? Again nowhere I even used the word "everyone". I merely observed two groups being specifically "visible" to me within this ESO community. Whether they like it to be categorised as such.. is a different story.
And of course people are different and play for different reasons enjoying different aspects of ESO.

I'm not defensive at all. I do object to your use of generalizations to describe players.

Your limited, single point of view is hardly enough to constitute the creation of labels. Especially when those labels sound a lot like a stereotype.

Why do you oppose generalizations? You must hate statistics and any attempt to order things.

Sorry, I'm unaware of the rule that states a single person should not attempt to create labels, and I hope you're not making a fallacious implication that a single viewpoint is inherently wrong because it's limited.

Betsararie

It's just way too broad of generalizations.

You think you can categorize the entire population of the game within only those 2 groups? I would have to say that makes little no sense

There is the veterans vs noobs dynamic, that is true, but you might be surprised to learn many CP 690s don't even know the game.

duendology

Blanco wrote: »

You think you can categorize the entire population of the game within only those 2 groups? I would have to say that makes little no sense

No. Didn't even attempt to.

PrayingSeraph

Blanco wrote: »

It's just way too broad of generalizations.

You think you can categorize the entire population of the game within only those 2 groups? I would have to say that makes little no sense

There is the veterans vs noobs dynamic, that is true, but you might be surprised to learn many CP 690s don't even know the game.

Except he expressed very specifically that they are not the only groups. Please read his entire post.

duendology

PrayingSeraph wrote: »

Except he expressed very specifically that they are not the only groups. Please read his entire post.

A She..
And it does seem people are selective when reading the OP... hmm..

TheShadowScout

morrowjen wrote: »

Group 3

Those who've never played an MMO and come from single-player games. Because, ESO has "Elder Scrolls" in the title a ton of players came from this perspective. They often don't understand even the most basic concepts (e.g. what is a tank? what is dps?). However, most are wiling to learn. They start out as lore hounds but stay if they hook up with friends and guilds willing to show them the ropes. They also add a ton to guild chat and are great at explaining why x needs to happen.

...guilty as charged! ;-)
(although since I have had chances to learn the MMO terms in other games, I never was -that- bad... right?)