Should ZOS Allow New Characters To Pick Which Expansion/Vanilla Starter Zone/Quest They Want?

Smasherx74

With an upcoming expansion in a few months, ZOS needs to get to work on this right away imo. Whether you're role playing, first time playing, or just making an alt, having the option to choose which expansion/vanilla zone and "starter quest" you want would benefit everyone. For first time players they may want to start off with the vanilla starter, also if vanilla doesnt already it should be like during beta/launch where you start on the "tutorial islands" such as Bleakrock. By having every new expansion force us to start off in that expansion we miss content and voiced dialog that is otherwise inaccessible unless we bought the vanilla game again/specific expansion. I'm guessing (hoping) ZOS has already started working on this, but I figure I'd throw a poll here just to prove people want ZOS to give us this option.

kind_hero

Sorry but your poll is biased. I would answer yes, but without skiping the wailing prison for your 1st char.

I play the game since launch, and from interacting to new players, I found it is a bad they can skip the wailing prison prelude, which is essential to the story. You will say some people don't care about the story, but OK, this bit really put people on tracks with the background of their char and who the main villain is in a mater of 10-15 mins someone needs to complete it. Also it brings people to the starter zone from where they can start story quests that give much needed skill points.
After the prelude you can do whatever you want.

The zone guide they are implementing soon is exactly because of this. New players are confused where to start story quests (for skill points), where does the story for their alliance start, and so on, because most are tempted to start in more exotic areas like Vvardenfell or Summerset. Once I helped a new player start his main quest, he had no idea where to find the hooded figure, so I had to guide him all the way to the NPC.

Siohwenoeht

Other: Wailing prison should be mandatory, then they can go wherever they wish.

YamiKuruku

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

i don't get why they even bother to do a new tutorial each time when the wailing prison is there and also the most important one imo

KhajiitFelix

No, I hate people getting what they want.

People must die.

VDoom1

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

Yes, please. I understand the logic of putting a new character in the latest expansion, I get it. But if I make a Dunmer for example it makes far more sense to start in Morrowind.

YamiKuruku wrote: »

i don't get why they even bother to do a new tutorial each time when the wailing prison is there and also the most important one imo

Agreed. It also introduces them to the Main Quest. Not sure why we need a new tutorial with every expansion.

Sheezabeast

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

I miss Bleakrock

Hurbster

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

I go back to Bleakrock occasionally, it's still a mess.

Amphithoe

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

Absolutely!

Megatto

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

I think it would be a nice quality of life feature

EvilCroc

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

They should but they will not.

haelene

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

No reason they shouldn't and several reasons why that they should. Having said that, I doubt they will allow people to pick.

idk

kind_hero wrote: »

Sorry but your poll is biased.

Very accurate and it seems OP intentionally made it biased.

Beyond that I expect it is a business decision to have the starting area in the new chapter zone since a lot of promotion goes into it which probably drives sales. They could very well expect someone who bought the game expecting Summerset but ended up starting in some far away land might get upset because they cannot find Summerset. It is a logical thought Zos could have.

Beyond that, Zos can see through self serving polls. I think some people think Zos is to dumb to see through clearly biased intents.

starkerealm

VDoom1 wrote: »

Yes, please. I understand the logic of putting a new character in the latest expansion, I get it.

If you play other MMOs, starting in the expansion is a very significant statement about the freedom the game offers you. The vast majority of games in the genre will stick expansion areas at endgame, and unless you've gotten to level cap, and possibly even finished the main game's storyline, you can't actually do anything with the expansion. This is true for a lot of games in genera.

So, dumping new players on Summerset makes a lot of sense; you bought it, you can play it. That said, dumping new players onto Vvardenfell may not have been the wisest choice.

Gythral

I would say any character can do all of them, preferably the 1st character has no choice but to do 'Wailing Prison - Coldharbor. first, after which the choice is which ever they want 1st

but this wont fly with the egos that insist on New Chapter for new characters and screw pre-Morrowind over, we've got their cash...

Aeslief

Yes, new characters should pick their expansion/vanilla start.

I almost didn't vote because your poll is grossly biased. That was quite unnecessary, as it's actually a legitimate topic of discussion.

Just as skipping a tutorial you have already played is an option, it would be great to allow players to start their story with a choice of available tutorials. It's not asking for new options, just asking for a choice of existing ones.

"A universe full of stories awaits. Join us and create your own story." Picking how your character starts their story would be a great way to begin!