Playable Virtual Instruments

FrazzleRastur

Greetings everybody

I have recently come across the emotes in ESO where you can play instruments - they are beautiful, but is there any way to actually play them?

In The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) instruments are objects that players can find (via loot drops) and/or purchase from merchants. These objects act as virtual instruments and can be played using either the keyboard or a midi interface, provided that the player character using the instrument has obtained the required skill for the specific instrument to be played.

The only other game I know of that has this feature is ArchAge but I am not familiar with its implementation.

The result of this feature is that in-game music groups form and perform at the quarter-yearly festivals that occur in the game. A LOTRO version of Woodstock, called Weatherstock even takes place occasionally. Many of the players who still play LOTRO, even though it is mechanically and graphically dated, play for this feature and the roleplay elements the game still offers.

I am sure, given The Elder Scrolls series' rich musical history it would be a welcome addition for ESO players. Plus, with the vast collection of lore concerning the cultures on Nirn and beyond, there is a great deal to be played with in terms of instrument- and sound design.

Is there a feature like this in ESO?

Thank you for your time and consideration

Mystrius_Archaion

This would be great until Joey down the street wants to share his musical talent with us that his mother tells him is amazing.
We all wouldn't be able to shut our sound off fast enough.


I just would like to be able to pick whatever bard song I want to play and possibly even sync it with other players using the /lute or /flute emotes.

PocketNova

Sadly you don't get to choose what song you play. It's been the same sounds since launch. Hopefully one day they'll introduce new instruments with new songs.

Indaghdha

Hmm, this thread has got the last brain cell in me thinking. I might like to retire from thievery one day, and being a professional touring musician in Tamriel has always been my dream! Or how about crazy huge music festivals with many bands right in the middle of Cyro?? YEAH, Mosh pit for sure! \m/ \m/

Bleakraven

It would be very cool, I'd love that. Also, add playable harps!

ZOS_Holden

Hey there, @FrazzleRastur,

Playable instruments, playable in the sense that the player can actually create music, sounds like an awesome idea! We can definitely imagine the amazing things the community could create with functional instruments.

That being said, unfortunately, we can't guarantee your idea will make it into the game but it's a great suggestion and we hope you'll continue to share any suggestions or feedback you may have in the future.

rumple9

No! It was horrendous in LOTRO

RaddlemanNumber7

ZOS_Holden wrote: »

Hey there, @FrazzleRastur,

Playable instruments, playable in the sense that the player can actually create music, sounds like an awesome idea! We can definitely imagine the amazing things the community could create with functional instruments.

That being said, unfortunately, we can't guarantee your idea will make it into the game but it's a great suggestion and we hope you'll continue to share any suggestions or feedback you may have in the future.

Please, no. Not unless the use of these instruments is strictly restricted to inside private instances like player homes.

In my experience giving any musical instrument to a novice is a recipe for torture, even if it is a well-intentioned novice.

Giving musical instruments to eleven million trolls to play on the street has got to be some kind of crime against humanity that should be punishable under international law.

Dimski

Mystrius_Archaion wrote: »

This would be great until Joey down the street wants to share his musical talent with us that his mother tells him is amazing.
We all wouldn't be able to shut our sound off fast enough.

That's what PVP is for.

HappyLittleTree

I just would be fine if there was at least a system, that your instrument synchronize if you are in a party.
say someone plays the lute and you group and play the flute you would play the same song...

sea of thieves like

stewhead2ub17_ESO

rumple9 wrote: »

No! It was horrendous in LOTRO

I disagree entirely. I think it was an awesome feature and extremely well executed. Would love to see that here in ESO!

cptconundrum

ZOS_Holden wrote: »

Hey there, @FrazzleRastur,

Playable instruments, playable in the sense that the player can actually create music, sounds like an awesome idea! We can definitely imagine the amazing things the community could create with functional instruments.

That being said, unfortunately, we can't guarantee your idea will make it into the game but it's a great suggestion and we hope you'll continue to share any suggestions or feedback you may have in the future.

I'm confused as to which situations suggestions will be considered. It was earlier today that another dev linked to a page that basically said 'For legal reasons we can't read any suggestions. If you have suggestions, please tell us on facebook'

ZOS_JesC wrote: »

In case anyone is interested. Here is an article that contains the policy @Merlin13KAGL is referring to.

Scorpiodisc

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

ZOS_Holden wrote: »

Hey there, @FrazzleRastur,

Playable instruments, playable in the sense that the player can actually create music, sounds like an awesome idea! We can definitely imagine the amazing things the community could create with functional instruments.

That being said, unfortunately, we can't guarantee your idea will make it into the game but it's a great suggestion and we hope you'll continue to share any suggestions or feedback you may have in the future.

Please, no. Not unless the use of these instruments is strictly restricted to inside private instances like player homes.

In my experience giving any musical instrument to a novice is a recipe for torture, even if it is a well-intentioned novice.

Giving musical instruments to eleven million trolls to play on the street has got to be some kind of crime against humanity that should be punishable under international law.

Relax, that ZOS mesg is the canned response to things like this. It is the dev equivalent of your parents hanging your macaroni owl on the refrigerator.

Sandman929

Scorpiodisc wrote: »

RaddlemanNumber7 wrote: »

ZOS_Holden wrote: »

Hey there, @FrazzleRastur,

Playable instruments, playable in the sense that the player can actually create music, sounds like an awesome idea! We can definitely imagine the amazing things the community could create with functional instruments.

That being said, unfortunately, we can't guarantee your idea will make it into the game but it's a great suggestion and we hope you'll continue to share any suggestions or feedback you may have in the future.

Please, no. Not unless the use of these instruments is strictly restricted to inside private instances like player homes.

In my experience giving any musical instrument to a novice is a recipe for torture, even if it is a well-intentioned novice.

Giving musical instruments to eleven million trolls to play on the street has got to be some kind of crime against humanity that should be punishable under international law.

Relax, that ZOS mesg is the canned response to things like this. It is the dev equivalent of your parents hanging your macaroni owl on the refrigerator.

This got a laugh, but my macaroni owl rocked. Try suggesting that the game should have stable performance added to it and you won't get the ZOS kudos on a great idea, however, they will still couldn't guarantee your idea will make it into the game.

Merlin13KAGL

@cptconundrum it comes down to whether or not they ask for the /feedback or suggestion.

If they've requested the ideas (FB, Mod created thread), then brain storm away. It doesn't guarantee they look at it, implement it, or keep it in it's presented form.

If they haven't asked for it, then it's considered unsolicited, and however you provide it, the odds of it getting considered is minimal.

If you send them Idea A in a thread or FB request, it can be considered.

If you send them the same Idea A via mail, email, carrier pigeon, etc, the policy applies.

forwardbias83

I remember with LOTRO you could use a txt file coded with ABC notation scripting. You could then load that script into the console to play a song. I remember the U2 With or Without You sounded nice with the lute instrument. There was a LOTRO related site where you could download scripting txt files that was transcoded. I think there was an option to sync the script with multi instruments so that a band could play as well. I think there was also an option to "free play" notes by tapping on your keyboard once you were in the play instrument mode.

Lauranae

forwardbias83 wrote: »

I remember with LOTRO you could use a txt file coded with ABC notation scripting. You could then load that script into the console to play a song. I remember the U2 With or Without You sounded nice with the lute instrument. There was a LOTRO related site where you could download scripting txt files that was transcoded. I think there was an option to sync the script with multi instruments so that a band could play as well. I think there was also an option to "free play" notes by tapping on your keyboard once you were in the play instrument mode.

And you still can, the Spring Music Festival April 2018 went well, and Weatherstock X will happens in July again (10th anniversary)

But for this, you need a community, a real one loving music and willing to share and spend time. This is a different game and different community.
I love this one too, dont mind me, but this is nothing to compare with the people i met on Landroval and other servers, as it involves a more lot of RP than on ESO

KraziJoe

FREEBIRD!

Gandrhulf_Harbard

rumple9 wrote: »

No! It was horrendous in LOTRO

One of the most innovative, creative and brilliant things in any MMO.

LOTRO Music System and Cosmetic System (especially when considering Crafted Dyes) are still (despite all the years and $Millions spent developing newer MMORPGs) the best there are in any MMORPG.

The total freedom of the cosmetic system, and the music system are two of the reasons I still have LOTRO installed after all these years.

A Dwarf playing The Misty Mountains Cold on Bagpipes, in Moria - just awesome.

All The Best

greenmachine

I love it, have an awesome. Of course there needs to be a way to mute it, but I wouldn't mind seeing this in game. If it was, I know I would spend all my time and gold at LuteCenter.

Onefrkncrzypope

Well the Midi controller or keyboard sounds neat, but that would leave out the consoles(keyboard does work). Maybe being able to arrange a music sheet that will auto play with the character emote would work.

LOL music station 125 writs not bad but I want the A Tune-able station.... sorry

akredon_ESO

I think this would be awesome, I freakin loved this about LOTR Full midi play and if people feel like it gets annoying you can just mute it no issue found.

essi2

@ZOS_Holden Would syncing instruments within a group be possible? So that every player plays the same song atleast.

Tasear

This sounds fun! Can you imagine music guilds? Or music training?

I once read a book where bards in game who gave better songs gave better buffs to players.

Minyassa

Some of the weird reactions are leading me to believe that more detail is necessary, because I can't imagine anyone seriously protesting the addition of a system like this into the game. It would only attract more players, and increase the amount of time people spend socializing and organizing social events. So here's to cover the "omg no that's awful" people, based on the way it's set up in LOTRO:

1. You don't have to hear it. There are toggles in settings that allow you to put the volume of player generated music to zero.
2. Play-by-keyboard is only one way to use the instruments, and in LOTRO I never encountered anyone actually performing that way as it's ponderous to do with number keys and lacking a full scale. Pre-written .abc files are used, which can be composed from scratch for original pieces, or even made from converted MIDI pieces.
3. Novices invariably download popular, proven pieces shared with the community by experienced, talented writers, so nobody's ears get tortured unless someone's deliberately trolling.
4. Who in the world would EVER try to inflict something on other players that would ruin their exp....oh wait.

Nevermind. The one thing we can't emulate from LOTRO is their community. But seriously you can turn the music off so that even a determined troll can't make you hear his bad music.

We can't turn off player instruments alone in this game NOW, a fact of which I am reminded every single time I am in a crowd of people because invariably someone has to play their lute and then are immediately joined by a floutist and another lutist, both of which are playing completely different songs...we've already overachieved in the "hellish ear torture" department, so there's really nothing more anyone can do to hurt us that way.

Madhattr64

I wish when more than 1 person in a group plays an instrument they all played the same song in sync.

Caroloces

Being a classical guitar player when I'm not on ESO, I find this idea immensely appealing. It would add to the non-combat options in the game (fishing, crafting) and allow players to diversify their social gatherings in guild events. I can envision adding a lute player to my current assistants (banker, merchant), placing this character in one of the classic or notable homes, and inviting guildmates over for an evening concert of music that I've incorporated into the game.

I can imagine, though, the immense difficulty of implementing this feature. I hope ZOS gives serious consideration to ideas like this.

Rogue_Ghost

FrazzleRastur wrote: »

Greetings everybody

I have recently come across the emotes in ESO where you can play instruments - they are beautiful, but is there any way to actually play them?

In The Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) instruments are objects that players can find (via loot drops) and/or purchase from merchants. These objects act as virtual instruments and can be played using either the keyboard or a midi interface, provided that the player character using the instrument has obtained the required skill for the specific instrument to be played.

The only other game I know of that has this feature is ArchAge but I am not familiar with its implementation.

The result of this feature is that in-game music groups form and perform at the quarter-yearly festivals that occur in the game. A LOTRO version of Woodstock, called Weatherstock even takes place occasionally. Many of the players who still play LOTRO, even though it is mechanically and graphically dated, play for this feature and the roleplay elements the game still offers.

I am sure, given The Elder Scrolls series' rich musical history it would be a welcome addition for ESO players. Plus, with the vast collection of lore concerning the cultures on Nirn and beyond, there is a great deal to be played with in terms of instrument- and sound design.

Is there a feature like this in ESO?

Thank you for your time and consideration

I would enjoy it if they at least made the instruments play the same song when paired together. It would be a nice touch, rather than three to four people playing different instruments and totally different tunes.

One of those "nice to have" items.

Ral'nor

Creating our own music is likely technologically prohibitive. However, I do think there could be 2 and half things that would go a long way.

1. Let player choose what song they play. It'd be from a list of available songs.
(i) Players sync up together.

2. More songs available in the crown store. C'mon ZOS, I know you love monetizing everything. Start adding new songs that we buy just like we do with costumes and emotes.



3. Ok, I just had a third idea (not going to change my first sentence though). I can't confirm this right now, but if memory serves, I believe most songs have the same tempo and possibly even the same key. If point 1 and 1i were implemented, players would be able to create their own compositions of sorts by combining different existing songs.

Gandrhulf_Harbard

essi2 wrote: »

@ZOS_Holden Would syncing instruments within a group be possible? So that every player plays the same song atleast.

In LOTRO it is.

IIRC the command is /play <filename> sync

As long as all the players are in the same group, and has the same ABC file no one plays until everyone has issued the command, and then everyone plays in sync. There are multi-part ABC files, with different musical notation for different instruments. And there are a lot of playable instruments: https://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Music#Instruments

Weatherstock has well established in-game bands that play together.

It really is a gem of a feature, especially as it was only added in because one of the original Devs thought it would be cool, and built it himself as a weekend project. Unfortunately, that has meant that feature really has had no support, overhaul since - but then it really doesn't need it.

It is IMO one of the best features in any game I have ever played.

All The Best

inthecoconut

Warframe has a character where you can go in and make your own music and it plays whenever you use their abilities. Its a cool concept, but I got plenty of headaches listening to horrible music, and if I ever hear the Final Fantasy Chocobo theme ever again it will be too soon.

At the very least it would be fun to allow people to 'sync' their intruments together. IE if I play the lute, my friend should be able to play the same song on their flute.