When Summerset launched, the patch notes said, "The Fang Lair and Scalecaller Motif chapters and Style Items will begin dropping from their respective dungeons
shortly after the launch of Summerset."
The bolded portion was rather unusual--and unprecedented. Until now, every new in-game motif (except for limited-time holiday event motifs, of course) had been available immediately--never before had there been a delay like this. But these motifs were delayed, for an unspecified reason, until an unspecified time. (And yes, the motifs are indeed delayed--I and others have verified that they are currently not dropping in-game.)
Well, with today's
Crown Store showcase, it seems that ZOS had finally answered.
The Fang Lair Crafting Motif will be available in the Crown Store on all platforms starting on June 27. Please note that this Crafting Motif will also be available by completing Fang Lair Dungeon content via the in-game Activity Finder.
The Scalecaller Crafting Motif will be available in the Crown Store on all platforms starting on June 27. Please note that this Crafting Motif will also be available by completing Scalecaller content via the in-game Activity Finder.
It's not entirely clear how we are to interpret these two statements, but it seems like that the in-game availability is being delayed to coincide with Crown Store availability. And if this is indeed the case, then it is, frankly, a giant insult.
This is unprecedented--in the past, ZOS had the courtesy of releasing motifs on the CS after a period of time of exclusive in-game sourcing. Motifs were treated as a way to encourage people to engage with the content and to... well, play the game. But now? Instead of being enticements to play the game, they are enticements to open your wallet. Not only does this cheapen the fruits of gameplay, it also signals an alarming shift from ZOS--from the primacy of gameplay to the primacy of the Crown Store.
Furthermore, ZOS is salting this wound by the way in which they are doing this--specifically, by
artificially delaying in-game availability. The style mats for the motifs are already dropping. Master writs requiring these motifs are already dropping. And yet they are
artificially delaying the motif release not for any legitimate gameplay reason, but purely for the purposes of driving Crown Store sales.
Frankly, this is the kind of brazen disrespect that makes me question why I still support this game.
@ZOS_MattFiror @ZOS_RichLambert @ZOS_GinaBruno @ZOS_JessicaFolsom Please tell me that I'm misinterpreting the text in the article. Please tell me that you have not become so craven as to so blatantly prioritize the Crown Store over actual in-game activity.
Nightfighters ― PC/NA and PC/EU
Dungeons and Trials:
Personal best scores:
- Dragonstar Arena: 46817 (NA)
- Maelstrom Arena: 600526 (NA)
- Blackrose Prison: 99274 (EU) (Unchained)
- Maw of Lorkhaj: 165227 (EU)
- Halls of Fabrication: 220708 (NA) (Tick-Tock Tormentor #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12)
- Asylum Sanctorium: 114957 (NA) (Immortal Redeemer #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10)
- Cloudrest: 131256 (NA) (Gryphon Heart #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7)
- Sunspire: 250866 (EU) (Godslayer #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7)
- Kyne's Aegis: 235841 (EU) (Dawnbringer #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8)
Dungeon trifectas: