ZOS Communication vs Class Rep

Skoomah

To be honest... I’d rather have direct communication from ZOS instead of unpaid class reps who semi-represent the player base.

Just pay a few dozen people to play the game professionally and give feedback about the game on live servers.

We barely get direct quality feedback from ZOS and it’s annoying how ZOS admittedly doesn’t know what it’s like to play their own game, cheaps out and gets a bunch of unpaid labor from class reps who inherently have all sorts of conflicts of interests whether merely perceived or real.

Most forum posts are learn to play issues so they are inherently biased and the changes have slowly turned away one chunk of the player base after another.

Just pay professionals who can dispassionately work on truly making a better game and who will keep there mouths shut at the same time instead of creating havoc and drama in the forums.

Tasear

While I really shouldn't comment on this thread. Would it actually make a difference if they are paid? There's conflicts of interest in everything in life aka politics.

Question B how much time do you actually want zos to spend.

Skoomah

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

FakeFox

Tasear wrote: »

While I really shouldn't comment on this thread. Would it actually make a difference if they are paid? There's conflicts of interest in everything in life aka politics.

Question B how much time do you actually want zos to spend.

Payed employees could be professionals, like the gamemasters other MMOs have, instead of players.

Tasear

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

I think I recall they do though. I mean someone is testing things before live. I don't disagree with the premise just wondering how you would actually evision it. Would they be more like consultants or community managers.

Numerikuu

Tasear wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

I think I recall they do though. I mean someone is testing things before live.

Yeah... the community. For free. On the PTS. Though half or more of our feedback ends up completely and utterly ignored.

LeagueTroll

Reps are not diverse enough, we need:
1. archer rep,
2. hybrid rep,
3. Dps with a shield rep,
4. Tank with no shield rep,
5. Stam healer rep

Tasear

Numerikuu wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

I think I recall they do though. I mean someone is testing things before live.

Yeah... the community. For free. On the PTS. Though half or more of our feedback ends up completely and utterly ignored.

I mean ...I want to believe this can't be true... right. There has to be people behind the scenes checking things.... right?

MaxwellC

Honestly I feel the class rep program was a bad idea and I don't specifically blame them for the in-action but some of these proposed changes just shows it was a waste of time.

idk

FakeFox wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

While I really shouldn't comment on this thread. Would it actually make a difference if they are paid? There's conflicts of interest in everything in life aka politics.

Question B how much time do you actually want zos to spend.

Payed employees could be professionals, like the gamemasters other MMOs have, instead of players.

I do not see what the difference is between having a paid professional vs some of the top players of the game give them feedback as Zos has done for several years. It seems totally irrelevant if they are paid employees of Zos vs skilled players already playing ESO.

The issue is Zos has not listened to them on some important issues. In one glaring case Zos flew about a dozen players out to play test aspects of Morrowind changes plus the new class. However, that play testing did not include the biggest change made which was the hammer to sustain in CP and various skills plus the additional nerfs to CP.

So paying different players to test their game seems like a pointless effort if they do not listen and especially if they do not even have them test or give feedback on the most important changes they are considering.

Granted, some of the current class reps have demonstrated they are not as knowledgeable as we would hope but that is a different story and fortunately not all of them. ofc I will not mentioned any names. BTW. Paid players would not necessarily be more knowledgeable.

Sylvermynx

idk wrote: »

FakeFox wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

While I really shouldn't comment on this thread. Would it actually make a difference if they are paid? There's conflicts of interest in everything in life aka politics.

Question B how much time do you actually want zos to spend.

Payed employees could be professionals, like the gamemasters other MMOs have, instead of players.

I do not see what the difference is between having a paid professional vs some of the top players of the game give them feedback as Zos has done for several years. It seems totally irrelevant if they are paid employees of Zos vs skilled players already playing ESO.

The issue is Zos has not listened to them on some important issues. In one glaring case Zos flew about a dozen players out to play test aspects of Morrowind changes plus the new class. However, that play testing did not include the biggest change made which was the hammer to sustain in CP and various skills plus the additional nerfs to CP.

So paying different players to test their game seems like a pointless effort if they do not listen and especially if they do not even have them test or give feedback on the most important changes they are considering.

Granted, some of the current class reps have demonstrated they are not as knowledgeable as we would hope but that is a different story and fortunately not all of them. ofc I will not mentioned any names. BTW. Paid players would not necessarily be more knowledgeable.

Well.... the difference is that those "top players" always have agendas relating to their own "top player" crap. Paid professionals don't. Generally. Yes, there have been times when those paid pros have.... skewed results. But that's not a general thing.

Bhaal5

Why would zeni pay someone to talk to you when people, ie class reps, now do it for free?

oxygen_thief

why would zeni do something if people keep paying for the game?

Beardimus

What would be cool with this type of thread would be a response from ZOS. I.e. Boom - here's how it is. We have these testers. You are wrong about xxx and right about xxx and we are going to do xxxx etc etc

I wa unsure about the class reps prog, then i really got into it, then sadly i saw their feedback ignored and nerfmire. Now i don't really see the visability from it that we did, I'm unsure ZOS is using it as best poss

idk

Sylvermynx wrote: »

idk wrote: »

FakeFox wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

While I really shouldn't comment on this thread. Would it actually make a difference if they are paid? There's conflicts of interest in everything in life aka politics.

Question B how much time do you actually want zos to spend.

Payed employees could be professionals, like the gamemasters other MMOs have, instead of players.

I do not see what the difference is between having a paid professional vs some of the top players of the game give them feedback as Zos has done for several years. It seems totally irrelevant if they are paid employees of Zos vs skilled players already playing ESO.

The issue is Zos has not listened to them on some important issues. In one glaring case Zos flew about a dozen players out to play test aspects of Morrowind changes plus the new class. However, that play testing did not include the biggest change made which was the hammer to sustain in CP and various skills plus the additional nerfs to CP.

So paying different players to test their game seems like a pointless effort if they do not listen and especially if they do not even have them test or give feedback on the most important changes they are considering.

Granted, some of the current class reps have demonstrated they are not as knowledgeable as we would hope but that is a different story and fortunately not all of them. ofc I will not mentioned any names. BTW. Paid players would not necessarily be more knowledgeable.

Well.... the difference is that those "top players" always have agendas relating to their own "top player" crap. Paid professionals don't. Generally. Yes, there have been times when those paid pros have.... skewed results. But that's not a general thing.

What you are calling an agenda is their opinion based on their experience. So those paid "professionals" would also have an opinion and there is nothing to suggest it would be more in line with your opinion or even good for the game.

The big issue is you have presented anything to suggest it would be better. Only that it would be different. And who are those paid "professionals"? eSport players would be a joke and hopefully you are not suggesting Francis, lol. Merely saying paid "professional" means nothing.

While I do not agree with every "class rep" some of them are very knowledgeable and experienced in the game. That is what Zos needs to listen to in the context the class rep and previous play testing groups are formed. Not some half baked "professional" who does not know jack about the game.

Back to the point of the OP.

OP speaks of wanting to hear from Zos vs the class reps. We do hear from Zos. Directly from Zos. Twice we have heard from Rob himself with good information and I am not even talking about some occasions he has replied in a thread.

Further, the class rep meetings are class reps and Zos devs talking together. The notes Gina publishes are not her and the Class Reps talking. That is the Devs and class reps talking. Essentially those notes are official communication from Zos.

Numerikuu

Tasear wrote: »

Numerikuu wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

I think I recall they do though. I mean someone is testing things before live.

Yeah... the community. For free. On the PTS. Though half or more of our feedback ends up completely and utterly ignored.

I mean ...I want to believe this can't be true... right. There has to be people behind the scenes checking things.... right?

[x-files theme plays in the background]

But for real, there's of course some level of checking... juuuust nowhere near enough imo.

SaintSubwayy

Tasear wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

I think I recall they do though. I mean someone is testing things before live. I don't disagree with the premise just wondering how you would actually evision it. Would they be more like consultants or community managers.

Cannot believe that ZOS has employees capable of running vAS+2 (back when it was in beta)

Else they would have known from thr start that olms hitbox is garbage
That the cone cleave of the sorc miniboss hits you before the area is fully build up, and the dmg goes beyond the marked area.

Same goes for things like ST dots proccing enchants
They were warned about it a trillion times on the pts forum, still it went live
IF they test things themselves, then they are doing a terrible job.

Peekachu99

Tasear wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

I think I recall they do though. I mean someone is testing things before live. I don't disagree with the premise just wondering how you would actually evision it. Would they be more like consultants or community managers.

PTS is used almost exclusively for Hodor to practice their “World Firsts”, and, for other players to learn the latest cheese that will make it to Live and then fester in the game till the next major update.

It’s been five years and this is pretty much how things go and we all know it.

Edit: Also the Class Rep program is a proven sham, since they still don’t have a console PTS (or any reps that play on console really) and that’s discounting 2/3 of the player base.

Vildebill

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Reps are not diverse enough, we need:
1. archer rep,
2. hybrid rep,
3. Dps with a shield rep,
4. Tank with no shield rep,
5. Stam healer rep

No.3 on your list reporting for service
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/450613/the-pug-predator-a-tank-dd-build-for-everyday-dungeon-success-all-classes-ish#latest

Tandor

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

How will these people play the game? Your way, or in any or all of the other playstyles?

Lake

Aren't ZOS' QA testers supposed to be doing that?

Iluvrien

Tandor wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

How will these people play the game? Your way, or in any or all of the other playstyles?

Well considering that the viewpoints that seem to be in evidence at the moment are endgame or endgame... I would think that any widening of that pool would be a good start.

FakeFox

LeagueTroll wrote: »

Reps are not diverse enough, we need:
1. archer rep,
2. hybrid rep,
3. Dps with a shield rep,
4. Tank with no shield rep,
5. Stam healer rep

You forgot fistfighting drunken nord rep and spellcasters don't need weapons rep!

Tandor

Iluvrien wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

How will these people play the game? Your way, or in any or all of the other playstyles?

Well considering that the viewpoints that seem to be in evidence at the moment are endgame or endgame... I would think that any widening of that pool would be a good start.

I agree, but my suspicion is that whenever these sorts of topics come up - i.e. how to improve "the game" - they usually are based around the OP's personal game and invariably relate as you say to endgame and then probably the elite form of endgame that represents something like 5% of the playerbase.

Tasear

Tandor wrote: »

Iluvrien wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

How will these people play the game? Your way, or in any or all of the other playstyles?

Well considering that the viewpoints that seem to be in evidence at the moment are endgame or endgame... I would think that any widening of that pool would be a good start.

I agree, but my suspicion is that whenever these sorts of topics come up - i.e. how to improve "the game" - they usually are based around the OP's personal game and invariably relate as you say to endgame and then probably the elite form of endgame that represents something like 5% of the playerbase.

I would mail your community manger if you truly don't feel represented.

Skoomah

What are you guys talking about? The communication from ZOS stinks.

For example, there are rumors that fester for months and don’t get cleared up like exactly how inkdrik mounts will work. There is still half the population base that is collecting feathers after they’ve collected a base inkdrik mount. Should we or should we not be collecting the extra feathers? Who the heck knows.

Another example, server performance blows. When was the last time we got a message about that one from ZOS? Vivec is garbage whenever the battles are worth anything. Who cares about upcoming changes if the game doesn’t function to begin with?

Tasear

Skoomah wrote: »

What are you guys talking about? The communication from ZOS stinks.

For example, there are rumors that fester for months and don’t get cleared up like exactly how inkdrik mounts will work. There is still half the population base that is collecting feathers after they’ve collected a base inkdrik mount. Should we or should we not be collecting the extra feathers? Who the heck knows.

Another example, server performance blows. When was the last time we got a message about that one from ZOS? Vivec is garbage whenever the battles are worth anything. Who cares about upcoming changes if the game doesn’t function to begin with?

Extra feathers are for the contest. In regards to get all varations this seems to be more something we have to discover ourselves.

TheValar85

Class reps basicly usless anyway with ambasidors as well. I agree with your post.

Cloudless

Tasear wrote: »

Numerikuu wrote: »

Tasear wrote: »

Skoomah wrote: »

I want ZOS to use a fraction of their multi billion dollar business to pay professionals to play their game on live servers and give feedback that is unaffected by conflicts of interests.

I think I recall they do though. I mean someone is testing things before live.

Yeah... the community. For free. On the PTS. Though half or more of our feedback ends up completely and utterly ignored.

I mean ...I want to believe this can't be true... right. There has to be people behind the scenes checking things.... right?

ESO_Nightingale

you guys mustn't talk to the reps. you wouldn't be saying this otherwise.

Tasear

ESO_Nightingale wrote: »

you guys mustn't talk to the reps. you wouldn't be saying this otherwise.

The reps should be the ones talking to them not other way around.