Problems with Morrowind Starting Area...

cgregsweeney

So this is just me sort of reviewing the new tutorial area, and saying what I appreciated and what I personally didn't like.

First off- I really appreciated having to read the letter first, before setting anything else in motion. That gives you time to open up the options menu and reconfigure everything beforehand. I'm especially keen on making sure subtitles are enabled. I'm somewhat hard of hearing at times, and I don't like to miss a single word of dialog.

Now for a criticism- the bit where you awaken and have to talk to the dark elf assassin. When it comes time for you to brawl the dialog will close prematurely, cutting her off mid sentence. The fight shouldn't start until after you've selected "Goodbye".

Another criticism. While the Coldharbour tutorial gave you apt time to remove the two handed melee weapon, or just not equip it at all, the Morrowind tutorial has you thrown into combat immediately after equipping it.

Meaning that I unwillingly unlocked that skill tree. Somehow. Even though I didn't kill the enemy with the weapon, it still unlocked. I don't want two handed. If it comes as the result of opening a book, so be it, but otherwise I'd sooner fight barehanded until I've acquired a staff.

I managed to avoid it the second time around by sneaking behind a pillar when I equipped it, and then immediately un-equipping it. Still, would be ideal to just not force players into equipping it in the first place, or let us choose which weapon we want from a selection. Perhaps give us pants instead, I don't know.

Which brings me to yet another criticism. In Coldharbour there was lots more stuff to loot. More crates and barrels and chests and bags, all over. If you grinded it long enough, you could have yourself fully decked out before meeting Cadwell. I feel like the drop rate in this new tutorial isn't as good. I can find worthless gear, no problem, but enemies don't really drop much. I just have to find it lying around in certain places. I swear, I could look for hours and not find a single pair of homespun pants.

Last criticism for now: what's with rescuing the other captured slaves? It doesn't seem to grant you any reward, not that I mind. What really bugs me is there's one slave that I can't rescue. The Khajiit one. I keep clicking rescue, and my character will bend down and try to undo his manacles, but to no end. It makes my eye feel like twitching.

Also, what happens if I destroy the slaver's disguise? Will I still be arrested for being found in the shipwreck wearing the guise? Will the dialog change? If not, it really should.

Anyway, that's it for now. It's easier to recognize what's wrong than what's right, so forgive me for having only one good thing to say.

Wait, no, one tiny bit more criticism. The "Why should I help an assassin?" response could use a secondary dialog option, effectively just saying "Sure, I'll help". Okay, that's enough out of me. Sorry if this is a lil' much.

Noggin_the_Nog

Morrowind Starting Area-
I've done this twice with new alts, and have to agree with you. It's a very weak introduction to the game; rather like a dumbed down version of the Skyrim Intro.
On my first runthrough I thought 'where's the Wailing Prison?', until I eventually found it. On my second I just rushed through, picked up some training gear from the starter Island, and then off to the Wailing Prison.
It does explain why you see max CP in the Prison.
I'm sorry ZOS but you have got this wrong. Wailing Prison first for everyone. It's a good area to learn basic skills and level your first class abilities. It fits into lore, and the whole story line, much better. Then set up a quest for Morrowind once out of prison.

cgregsweeney

Noggin_the_Nog wrote: »

Morrowind Starting Area-
I've done this twice with new alts, and have to agree with you. It's a very weak introduction to the game; rather like a dumbed down version of the Skyrim Intro.
On my first runthrough I thought 'where's the Wailing Prison?', until I eventually found it. On my second I just rushed through, picked up some training gear from the starter Island, and then off to the Wailing Prison.
It does explain why you see max CP in the Prison.
I'm sorry ZOS but you have got this wrong. Wailing Prison first for everyone. It's a good area to learn basic skills and level your first class abilities. It fits into lore, and the whole story line, much better. Then set up a quest for Morrowind once out of prison.

I didn't say most of this, but I agree with all of it.

Also, I've heard people say there's a skill point that only those who start in Morrowind can get? If that's true, it should probably be fixed so even older characters who started in the Wailing Prison can get it.

Anyway, I'm currently in Vvardenfell running errands for an alleged "living god" so I should probably get back to that. The amount of quests in that area is kinda overwhelming, especially for a starter area.

Sekero

There's no reward for rescuing the captured slaves because that's part of another quest you can pick up if you skip the tutorial.

carljokl

cgregsweeney wrote: »

Noggin_the_Nog wrote: »

Morrowind Starting Area-
I've done this twice with new alts, and have to agree with you. It's a very weak introduction to the game; rather like a dumbed down version of the Skyrim Intro.
On my first runthrough I thought 'where's the Wailing Prison?', until I eventually found it. On my second I just rushed through, picked up some training gear from the starter Island, and then off to the Wailing Prison.
It does explain why you see max CP in the Prison.
I'm sorry ZOS but you have got this wrong. Wailing Prison first for everyone. It's a good area to learn basic skills and level your first class abilities. It fits into lore, and the whole story line, much better. Then set up a quest for Morrowind once out of prison.

I didn't say most of this, but I agree with all of it.

Also, I've heard people say there's a skill point that only those who start in Morrowind can get? If that's true, it should probably be fixed so even older characters who started in the Wailing Prison can get it.

Anyway, I'm currently in Vvardenfell running errands for an alleged "living god" so I should probably get back to that. The amount of quests in that area is kinda overwhelming, especially for a starter area.

I thought that only Wardens started in Vvardenfell but then I haven't tried creating characters of any other class since the Vvardenfel update.

Then I hear Summerset will include yet another starter tutorial. Whichever order the tutorials happen it is going to be a bit awkward. Either you are a potentially established vestige suddenly being a slave on a boat learning the basics that you learned in the Wailing Prison. Otherwise as now where you learn the basics on the slave ship then again in the Wailing Prison. The tutorial is something that can be skipped anyway. The Wailing Prison could take into account that you don't need to be taught the basics again. Yet it could be skipped altogether before. Is it mandatory now to start the main quest? I know about speaking to to the hooded figure but can't remember if the option is given to skip over it.

Sekero

Nope, once you speak to the hooded figure's patron, next stop Coldharbour and no avoinding it.

BTW, I agree with your comments re tutorials. I don't see why the game doesn't open with you meeting the hooded figure.

DanteYoda

Why does it start me in morrowind and not in the starter zone.. on a new character.

Nothing worse than having to jump two loading screens just to get to my appropriate areas..

carljokl

Does every new character created after installing Morrowind start in Morrowind?

ProfessorKittyhawk

carljokl wrote: »

Does every new character created after installing Morrowind start in Morrowind?

Yes. And I assume you will be starting in Summerset after installing it as well.

Vercingetorix

The Morrowind starting area is actually the best IMO. You can actually pick whatever weapon/armor combo you want before the scripted enemy attack. There's a hut you can pick the lock to and gain access to a bunch of weapons, including a few destro staves and a resto staff by the cauldron. I ALWAYS go to this optional hut first to get my armors and weapon squared away before going to the sleeping guard in the other hut.

You have to pick up the 2H sword and equip it, but can immediately un-equip it and choose your preferred weapon instead - then you can fight him. You are only forced to keep the 2H in your inventory until the tutorial is over - you don't have to actually use it. I like the tutorial because it lets you customize your armor/weapon far more than Coldharbour did and it looks like the Summerset tutorial is set up to give you some weapon/armor choices before combat as well.

jedtb16_ESO

op...

i don't understand why you equipped a weapon before you spoke to naryu.

there is no need to.

Esquirel

ProfessorKittyhawk wrote: »

carljokl wrote: »

Does every new character created after installing Morrowind start in Morrowind?

Yes. And I assume you will be starting in Summerset after installing it as well.

Which afaik does not give you that extra skill point that was exclusively given through the Morrowind tutorial.

If you do want this extra skill point and are planning to create more characters I would consider to do it now and rush them through the Morrowind tutorial while you still can.

N00BxV1

Esquirel wrote: »

ProfessorKittyhawk wrote: »

carljokl wrote: »

Does every new character created after installing Morrowind start in Morrowind?

Yes. And I assume you will be starting in Summerset after installing it as well.

Which afaik does not give you that extra skill point that was exclusively given through the Morrowind tutorial.

If you do want this extra skill point and are planning to create more characters I would consider to do it now and rush them through the Morrowind tutorial while you still can.

Summerset currently has a tutorial that will replace morrowind’s tutorial if you own summerset. Characters created post-summerset will get a skill point from that tutorial and the morrowind tutorial will no longer be available for new characters. So it doesn’t matter if you create a character now and do morrowind’s tutorial or wait to create and do summerset's tutorial, you’ll still get a skill point for doing a chapter’s tutorial.

On the other hand, if your character was created pre-morrowind you’ll always be behind one skill point because you can’t do either chapter’s tutorial. Hopefully they fix this though and allow all characters to do any chapter’s tutorial so they can also get a skill point - but slim chance of that happening...

Nestor

cgregsweeney wrote: »

let us choose which weapon we want from a selection.

what's with rescuing the other captured slaves? It doesn't seem to grant you any reward, not that I mind. What really bugs me is there's one slave that I can't rescue. The Khajiit one. I keep clicking rescue, and my character will bend down and try to undo his manacles, but to no end. It makes my eye feel like twitching.

Also, what happens if I destroy the slaver's disguise? Will I still be arrested for being found in the shipwreck wearing the guise? Will the dialog change? If not, it really should.

Yes, we should have a rack that we can pick a weapon from, the original tutorial did this, at least at some point it did. Anyway, unless you invest any skill points in the line, it kind of does not matter if it's unlocked. Me, I unlock them all early on just because that is how my first 10 characters were leveled, with all skill lines other than guilds unlocked. I want to see my choices.

There are numerous slaves all over the place we can rescue or release with no apparent rewards. So, this is simply an RP thing, as in are you a nice person or a callous twit.

The whole idea is to get you into Vvardenfell, so it matters now what you wear.

As for Tutorial Gear, it has been a year since I last did this, when Morrowind released in fact, but there are plenty of NPCs on Firemoth that drop loot so you can get equipped that way

cgregsweeney

Okay, so, I for one think we should either-
A: pick one tutorial area, stick with it, improve as needed
B: let players choose where they wanna start

I definitely agree that players who started in Coldharbour shouldn't be a skill point behind anyone else.

"jedtb16_ESO" I don't know what you're talking about. I did not equip a weapon before talking to her. "Nestor" (nice name btw) I guess it must be flavor/character building rp option, unless that other person was right and it's part of a quest? In my experience, enemies drop less loot in Firemoth, if any. It seems like they drop mostly gold, actually. "Vercingetorix" yeah, I found that hut. Kinda sucks that it's so easy to miss, since it isn't part of the quests.

ESO forums should have a multiquote feature. Would make it easier to respond.

Donari

Out of curiosity, why don't you want the skill line unlocked? You never have to spend any skill points on it or put any of its skills on your bar.

I'm a little baffled because I'm the opposite, I want to unlock every single line so if I want to work on it I can. I'm not judging at all, just surprised as this is the first I've ever heard of someone not wanting a skill unlock that costs nothing. Is it just to keep the character sheet tidier?

DanteYoda

If you unlock the house before the slaver you can pick any weapons..

I also agree this tutorial is bad.. and why aren't we meeting the associate and going to coldharbor immediately? Makes no sense to do kearthis roost then coldharbor the kearthis roost again.. i mean disjointed much?

Zhaedri

Even if you don't take the main storyline and just do the Morrowind tutorial, and just keep running away every time the Hooded Figure tries to give you the quest that sends you to the wailing prison, the rest of the game still considers you the soulless one. Every quest that would have mentioned it before, still mentions it.

If we are getting pigeonholed into being the Vestige, why make going there optional? Having to do Coldharbor first and then having the OPTION of doing the morrowind starting quest would also eliminate the 'missing skillpoint' issue where characters made after Morrowind that have that chapter get an extra skillpoint that characters made before then cannot gain.

Azuramoonstar

Vercingetorix wrote: »

The Morrowind starting area is actually the best IMO. You can actually pick whatever weapon/armor combo you want before the scripted enemy attack. There's a hut you can pick the lock to and gain access to a bunch of weapons, including a few destro staves and a resto staff by the cauldron. I ALWAYS go to this optional hut first to get my armors and weapon squared away before going to the sleeping guard in the other hut.

You have to pick up the 2H sword and equip it, but can immediately un-equip it and choose your preferred weapon instead - then you can fight him. You are only forced to keep the 2H in your inventory until the tutorial is over - you don't have to actually use it. I like the tutorial because it lets you customize your armor/weapon far more than Coldharbour did and it looks like the Summerset tutorial is set up to give you some weapon/armor choices before combat as well.

unless i bugged my start out, I picked up an ice staff and i never picked up the greatsword. Just the slaver cloths.
I just went through the intro the other day.

having tried both coldharbor and morrowind. I prefer morrowind, I like getting to see the intro to coldharbor. I found it jarring you wake up in coldharbor with no context. like "oh hi, your dead in an oblivion prison" like umm gee thanks... how i die?

At least morrowind gives you come rp control. ya it best to do coldharbor at some point

N00BxV1

Zhaedri wrote: »

Even if you don't take the main storyline and just do the Morrowind tutorial, and just keep running away every time the Hooded Figure tries to give you the quest that sends you to the wailing prison, the rest of the game still considers you the soulless one. Every quest that would have mentioned it before, still mentions it.

If we are getting pigeonholed into being the Vestige, why make going there optional? Having to do Coldharbor first and then having the OPTION of doing the morrowind starting quest would also eliminate the 'missing skillpoint' issue where characters made after Morrowind that have that chapter get an extra skillpoint that characters made before then cannot gain.

The base game tutorial/quests should be default and DLC should be optional and not forced on us like it is. I get why they’re throwing the DLC in our face like this, they want new players to be able to jump right into the new content when it’s released but I just don’t think it’s really the best solution. Most games I’ve played will have you follow the base game first then it leads into the DLC, but usually doesn’t alter the flow like what’s happening here.

IMO they’re just ruining the natural flow the game was originally intended and making things more complicated for new players. I’ve encountered several people who had no idea what a mundus stone or dolmen was because the DLC doesn’t even have any, what are their alliance’s starting zones and how to get there, what order should the zones be played etc.

Please just make all DLC optional with the ability to start it when we’re ready for the stories. It’s kind of ridiculous being forced to start new characters in different DLC just because marketing...

cgregsweeney

Donari wrote: »

Out of curiosity, why don't you want the skill line unlocked? You never have to spend any skill points on it or put any of its skills on your bar.

Is it just to keep the character sheet tidier?

Short answer, yes. Longer answer, I'm crazy neurotic. Oh- I guess both answers are actually short. Go figure.

Zhaedri wrote: »

Even if you don't take the main storyline and just do the Morrowind tutorial, and just keep running away every time the Hooded Figure tries to give you the quest that sends you to the wailing prison, the rest of the game still considers you the soulless one. Every quest that would have mentioned it before, still mentions it.

If we are getting pigeonholed into being the Vestige, why make going there optional? Having to do Coldharbor first and then having the OPTION of doing the morrowind starting quest would also eliminate the 'missing skillpoint' issue where characters made after Morrowind that have that chapter get an extra skillpoint that characters made before then cannot gain.

Agreed, agreed, 100 times over agreed.

My word, it would drive me to distraction if I was treated as a Vestige before actually becoming a Vestige. I've finally created a character I like, and I've made significant progress- I'd have to scrap him if that happened. I'm THAT bothered by such things.

Azuramoonstar wrote: »

Vercingetorix wrote: »

The Morrowind starting area is actually the best IMO. You can actually pick whatever weapon/armor combo you want before the scripted enemy attack. There's a hut you can pick the lock to and gain access to a bunch of weapons, including a few destro staves and a resto staff by the cauldron. I ALWAYS go to this optional hut first to get my armors and weapon squared away before going to the sleeping guard in the other hut.

You have to pick up the 2H sword and equip it, but can immediately un-equip it and choose your preferred weapon instead - then you can fight him. You are only forced to keep the 2H in your inventory until the tutorial is over - you don't have to actually use it. I like the tutorial because it lets you customize your armor/weapon far more than Coldharbour did and it looks like the Summerset tutorial is set up to give you some weapon/armor choices before combat as well.

unless i bugged my start out, I picked up an ice staff and i never picked up the greatsword. Just the slaver cloths.
I just went through the intro the other day.

having tried both coldharbor and morrowind. I prefer morrowind, I like getting to see the intro to coldharbor. I found it jarring you wake up in coldharbor with no context. like "oh hi, your dead in an oblivion prison" like umm gee thanks... how i die?

At least morrowind gives you come rp control. ya it best to do coldharbor at some point

Well, most Bethesda games do that.

The whole appeal of just "poof" being dropped into the world with no backstory is it's like you're a blank slate to write on. You can sort of just imagine who you were and what you were doing before your journey began, and build on that.

Fallout 4's huge downfall was breaking away from this formula, making you married with children, a veteran of some future war, yada yada yada.

Bokumetsu

Vercingetorix wrote: »

The Morrowind starting area is actually the best IMO. You can actually pick whatever weapon/armor combo you want before the scripted enemy attack. There's a hut you can pick the lock to and gain access to a bunch of weapons, including a few destro staves and a resto staff by the cauldron. I ALWAYS go to this optional hut first to get my armors and weapon squared away before going to the sleeping guard in the other hut.

Where is this hut??

Sylvermynx

IIRC, it's the one almost directly across from where you wind up at the bottom of the hill before you go left to the hut with the sleeping guard.

I did the MW start twice I think. I liked it better than the Summerset one. But I wanted Summerset for a variety of reasons. But I just skip the tuts now so I can go direct to questing, usually firing off the MQ first.