Would you like the floaty combat to be overhauled?

Kaladinar

I've played for hundreds of hours in ESO, mostly in the first couple of years after the PC launch. After stopping for a while, I've always continued to follow the game's updates and expansions, planning to return at one point or another since I like most of the game's core mechanics and I have enjoyed exploring the various regions.

However, there is one system that kept me from coming back for good and that is combat. The game's clunky and disappointing combat (mostly due to poor animations) has been the source of constant complaints ever since the beta, but the developers never really did focus on making it substantially better even if it's the single most important activity in the game, whether you are doing PvE content or PvP content. Whenever there is a public announcement of a new DLC and expansion, such as Elsweyr, you'll find plenty of people on Reddit and other gaming forums saying that they like ESO but cannot stand its combat and have stopped playing because of it.

I've always hoped the time would come when they'd address this open issue, but they haven't so far, which is a bit surprising to me since several MMORPGs did something similar over time, improving their combat systems (I'm not talking about balance here, mind you). Meanwhile, I ask you how important this would be for you personally. Hopefully, we can get a more accurate snapshot of how much this issue is truly felt in the community.

ezikeo

This game would probably be the best MMORPG on the market if it had better combat system/animations.

Kaladinar

ezikeo wrote: »

This game would probably be the best MMORPG on the market if it had better combat system/animations.

Agreed, that's why I'd love to hear something from Zenimax...At least if they're thinking about it or not.

twofaced

This never happens. The engine doesn't support good animation blend.

Everstorm

Not really bothered by it but I would like to see animations depend on the type of weapon you're wielding. The stabbing animation of Flurry for instance looks ridiculous with axes and maces.

idk

I like combat as it is. I guess what OP calls floaty is what I call fluid and vibrant. I am so glad this game's combat has evolved past the style old games like WoW, FF and SWTOR have.

The game is a top MMORPG because of the combat design.

ezikeo

idk wrote: »

I like combat as it is. I guess what OP calls floaty is what I call fluid and vibrant. I am so glad this game's combat has evolved past the style old games like WoW, FF and SWTOR have.

The game is a top MMORPG because of the combat design.

It may have evolved, but that’s not saying much. If the combat was like BDO, I would agree. But sad it’s not, so digress.

JadonSky

Everstorm wrote: »

Not really bothered by it but I would like to see animations depend on the type of weapon you're wielding. The stabbing animation of Flurry for instance looks ridiculous with axes and maces.

Agree the same with the Sword and Shiled taunt. Stabbing with an Axe or mace does not really make any since lol. I don't see why it would be hard to upgrade the animation a little. We have seen with the warden release, and i'm sure the necro as well,that they can add really cool animation effects to skills.

But from a combat stand point I love the flow of it. I can't go back to another MMO because of it. I tried guildwar 2 again for a while but the point and click combat and skills having to recharge it just wasn't fun at all. I really feel like i'm in the fight and there is skill to it with ESO.

Red_Feather

I see it cited so often as why someone isn't playing the game.
MMORPG reddit bashes ESO all the time because of it's combat and animations.

Banana

Id rather my ping improved

Kaladinar

Red_Feather wrote: »

I see it cited so often as why someone isn't playing the game.
MMORPG reddit bashes ESO all the time because of it's combat and animations.

Exactly!

Uviryth

We all stopped playing because of the awful combat. IF they fix that, ESO would pretty much be the best mmorpg out there. But thats not gonna happen if the singlemost important part of the game is a joke.

VaranisArano

Considering that the Devs made it clear in the latest Q&A that even bug fixes are taking a back seat to producing more content for players, I think the chances of getting a full animation overhaul is slim to none. ZOS seems to be making small changes to combat with the timings of skills, so if you want even more, be prepared to wait a long time for it.

And, of course, for all the people who quit the game because of combat, there's plenty of people playing the game right now enjoying the combat, or at least, not minding it. Why should ZOS chase after the players who want something different and risk losing currently satisfied, or at least not-unsatisfied, customers?

I don't really understand why some people think "If you change this major aspect of your game to suit me, I'll give you my money" is supposed to sound appealing to game Devs, who already have plenty of people playing the game, as is.

Trinity_Is_My_Name

I think the combat system is the best in any MMO available. Fluid, fast and a lot of fun. No problem with it at all. This isn't WOW.

Trinity_Is_My_Name

idk wrote: »

I like combat as it is. I guess what OP calls floaty is what I call fluid and vibrant. I am so glad this game's combat has evolved past the style old games like WoW, FF and SWTOR have.

The game is a top MMORPG because of the combat design.

Agree 100%.

Madrax573

How would you like the combat 'improved'?

Often people ask for it but they don't have any actual suggestions apart from 'make it better'

Having played many MMO's over the years I'd like to know how you would improve it?

Sure animation could be improved etc but that can be said for every game MMO or not out there.
Tab target style that many mmo's favor? No thanks.

So how? What would make you come back? Be specific.

Cerra

When you hit and do damage there should be a change to the animation. Your sword shouldn't just whoosh through the target's body like you missed. Also, if you cancel an animation it should cancel the attack the animation was representing. Don't lock you into an animation if you need to cancel to block or dodge, but also don't allow the previous attack to finish if you didn't give it the time to finish.

Uviryth

Trinity_Is_My_Name wrote: »

I think the combat system is the best in any MMO available. Fluid, fast and a lot of fun. No problem with it at all. This isn't WOW.

Look at this!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-tFnbvHhSs

Its like the character is an Epileptic Parkinsons-Victim on Crack!

Plus, its all stupid Groundtargeted AoE-Dots, the worst kind of damage for dynamic Boss-Battles and good Encounterdesign.
Next, the difference between someone doing all the glitching and exploiting and someone actually just playing the character an be up to three times the damage! No wonder the Encounterdesigns are so bad. No creator can build a good encounter witch numbers like that.

I am happy you are having fun with it, I truly am. That doesnt mean it isnt a very bad system.

Uviryth

Madrax573 wrote: »

How would you like the combat 'improved'?

Change animation clipping. Clipped animations should result in LESS dps, not MORE.
Make it "partially accepted damage". There are other mmorpgs that do it like that.
Light attack weaving should mean a light attack instead of a skill, not in addition. That would get rid of the Parkinsons.
Groundtargeted AoEs should be an option and should result in DPSloss at singletarget.

And, on a different but similar note; Overlandmobs should surivive more than 0,2 seconds....

Elwendryll

I don't know what you're talking about, the animations are great. The combat is fluid, dynamic. And you feel the impacts. It really feels great.

Fermian

I like the combat. My biggest issue is not the quality of animations but the design. Which does not look immersive to me.
Like Nightblade skills are made for dual wield only.
Some skills have minor visual effects while others are over the top. Like the necromancer graveyard skill, why those huge stones?

bulbousb16_ESO

This whole "weave"/rotation/animation cancelling has to go.

cpuScientist

Oh so this is a animation cancelling weave thread. Got it LOL

That would make more players leave than anything. This game is popular because of the weave/rotation system most fluid combat in an MMORPG that's worth playing. People leave when they burn out playing way to much and blame on the game. Usually balance is cited. And they almost all say the combat is great but the balance yadda yadda.

But you know cool don't try and learn to light attack before a skill or anything...

bulbousb16_ESO

cpuScientist wrote: »

This game is popular because of the weave/rotation system most fluid combat in an MMORPG that's worth playing. People leave when they burn out playing way to much and blame on the game.

No. People hate the "weave" nonsense. It's an annoying gimmick that the game would be better without.

Seriously, do we want combat to be based around intelligent use of skills and situational awareness, or manual dexterity in mindless button pressing?

Sevn

Would love to see improvements to the combat animations, but won't happen for several reasons. No way in hell that most of the votes are from melee characters. No way you are melee focused and like how flurry looks. No way. You enjoy your character looking like a spinning ballerina when using whirlwind? I've played so many dungeons and dragons type games that have similar skills but look so much cooler.

Nope. Lots of mag users who could not give two bleeps about their animations as they all look quite similar anyway.

Then you have the elephant in the room, AC. No way folks are going to risk losing a big time crutch to their dps. No way. This game is all about stats and numbers for them, the bigger the better for these players. Who cares that their character looks like its having a seizure or something, do you see my dps?!

To each their own, I for one enjoy seeing cool looking animations. I mostly play solo now because of this, can't stand grouping up with players who have twitchy characters.

kojou

I won't complain if they dress up light and heavy attacks a bit and make them look and feel like they connect better.

I also would like it if all animations matched the internal GCD better for better rotation queuing.

I wouldn't say it is a reason a lot of people quit though.

SomeDogsAreCops

Trinity_Is_My_Name wrote: »

I think the combat system is the best in any MMO available. Fluid, fast and a lot of fun. No problem with it at all. This isn't WOW.

BDO has better combat.

Darkstorne

The combat is undeniably awful, but most players will compare it to decade-old MMOs and cite literally any improvement over those as a sign that it’s in a good place. The fact that animation cancelling still causing damage before an animation connects has now been labeled a “feature” shows that combat is never going to change though. Yet again, a lot of players embrace that as a good thing, because they think “fixing” animation cancelling means removing the ability to cancel animations altogether rather than adjusting the point in an animation that damage is dealt.

That said, I still don’t think combat is the biggest issue in this game, and the time/effort required to fix it means I won’t get my hopes up. Halving server ping would be a better improvement for the game since that affects all aspects of ESO, so that would be my priority. And save any combat overhauls for an eventual sequel, where they can use new animation tech, slow down the pace so it doesn’t look so jittery and finally has a sense of weight, and embrace the grittier more physical combat TES should have, rather than focusing on spammable combat where ever skill is an explosion of shiny particle effects. Also, heavy attacks should be heavy attacks, not “let me catch a breath” attacks that restore stamina and Magicka. That’s such a bizarre design...

Uviryth

cpuScientist wrote: »

Oh so this is a animation cancelling weave thread. Got it LOL

That would make more players leave than anything. This game is popular because of the weave/rotation system most fluid combat in an MMORPG that's worth playing. People leave when they burn out playing way to much and blame on the game. Usually balance is cited. And they almost all say the combat is great but the balance yadda yadda.

But you know cool don't try and learn to light attack before a skill or anything...

Ehm, no its not. People play this game in spite of it. The combat in ESO is kind of a running gag in the community. [snip]

[Edited to remove Offensive Content]

LukosCreyden

I find the gameplay itself to be just fine. I really love the combat. New, improved animations would certainly be welcome though.

BNOC

bulbousb16_ESO wrote: »

cpuScientist wrote: »

This game is popular because of the weave/rotation system most fluid combat in an MMORPG that's worth playing. People leave when they burn out playing way to much and blame on the game.

No. People hate the "weave" nonsense. It's an annoying gimmick that the game would be better without.

Seriously, do we want combat to be based around intelligent use of skills and situational awareness, or manual dexterity in mindless button pressing?

Who is people? I'm people and I like weaving.

Tell me about "intelligent use of skills and situational awareness" and why it differs from what we do now?

Clicking once between skills is not "mindless button pressing"

Can you not weave?

Uviryth wrote: »

cpuScientist wrote: »

Oh so this is a animation cancelling weave thread. Got it LOL

That would make more players leave than anything. This game is popular because of the weave/rotation system most fluid combat in an MMORPG that's worth playing. People leave when they burn out playing way to much and blame on the game. Usually balance is cited. And they almost all say the combat is great but the balance yadda yadda.

But you know cool don't try and learn to light attack before a skill or anything...

Ehm, no its not. People play this game in spite of it. The combat in ESO is kind of a running gag in the community. [snip]

Which community? The role playing one?