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Unhallowed Grave (spoilers)
daemonios
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As a foreword, let me say that I've been a vocal critic of ESO's direction, and have namely spent a 2-year period away from the game when the current system of dungeon-only DLC started with Shadows of the Hist. I came back in late 2018, played through the chapters and DLC I'd missed, and experienced the serious issues with PC-EU everyone knows about. So much so that I'm now currently unsubbed. So going in, my mood isn't the most generous towards ZOS.
That said, I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the two new dungeons from this expansion. I went in blind for several runs of the vet versions with a PUG, and was surprised to find that this was their case as well. Only in one run did one of the members say they'd run it before on normal. With the exception of the Kiln boss, whose mechanics I found confusing, they were tough but not too tough, and I managed to complete both dungeons in vet, and Unhallowed Grave in HM (the group I ran Icereach with didn't want to try HM).
Out of the two dungeons, Unhallowed Grave was by far my favourite. The dungeon is adequately sized and the bosses have new and interesting mechanics that are not so cryptic that you need to fail a bunch of times to understand them. Again, I've enjoyed both dungeons very much, However, there are two aspects to Unhallowed Grave that give me pause for thought, and I'll put them behind a spoiler tag because they give away some cool stuff.
I'd very much like to know what everyone thought of these two dungeons, and specifically of the issues I raised under the spoiler tag. Cheers.
That said, I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the two new dungeons from this expansion. I went in blind for several runs of the vet versions with a PUG, and was surprised to find that this was their case as well. Only in one run did one of the members say they'd run it before on normal. With the exception of the Kiln boss, whose mechanics I found confusing, they were tough but not too tough, and I managed to complete both dungeons in vet, and Unhallowed Grave in HM (the group I ran Icereach with didn't want to try HM).
Out of the two dungeons, Unhallowed Grave was by far my favourite. The dungeon is adequately sized and the bosses have new and interesting mechanics that are not so cryptic that you need to fail a bunch of times to understand them. Again, I've enjoyed both dungeons very much, However, there are two aspects to Unhallowed Grave that give me pause for thought, and I'll put them behind a spoiler tag because they give away some cool stuff.
Firstly, the grappling hook. I have badmouthed it before as a gimmick and a novelty that wears out fast, and while I still hold that opinion, its use in this dungeon made for some very fun moments (the problem being that it's only really fun the first few times, then becomes just another quicktime event thing). I believe the use of the hook during boss fights is where it really shines, allowing for a feeling that you use it strategically, rather than simply a button press to advance in the dungeon. To be completely honest, if the hook had only showed up here rather than during the last Elsweyr DLC, I might view it more favourably. In the end, I'm conflicted. It's still a gimmick, you can still only use it when you specifically have a pole to grab on to, and the novelty factor is short-lived. However, there are boss fights that are more interesting for it. I guess I'll give it a positive grade in the end.
The second issue is admittedly a bit of a nitpick and can't be separated from my criticism of ESO's monetization. It's tied to the buffs you get after defeating each of the secret bosses (told you there'd be spoilers!), and which are marginally better if you are a necromancer. Now, I get that it's a necromancer-themed dungeon. I get that the additional bonus is small. And no, this is not about me not being a necromancer myself - I have two necros and actually enjoy the class, thank you very much. It just rubs me the wrong way that this sort of bonus applies to a class that still requires the purchase of the Elsweyr chapter to unlock. I would be the most happy if the game had a simple subscription model. All or nothing. You subscribe, you play the game. But it does not, it has granular DLCs and chapters that you can mix and match. To see a DLC wave the carrot of a bonus that only applies to a paywalled class from last year's chapter doesn't sit well with me.
The second issue is admittedly a bit of a nitpick and can't be separated from my criticism of ESO's monetization. It's tied to the buffs you get after defeating each of the secret bosses (told you there'd be spoilers!), and which are marginally better if you are a necromancer. Now, I get that it's a necromancer-themed dungeon. I get that the additional bonus is small. And no, this is not about me not being a necromancer myself - I have two necros and actually enjoy the class, thank you very much. It just rubs me the wrong way that this sort of bonus applies to a class that still requires the purchase of the Elsweyr chapter to unlock. I would be the most happy if the game had a simple subscription model. All or nothing. You subscribe, you play the game. But it does not, it has granular DLCs and chapters that you can mix and match. To see a DLC wave the carrot of a bonus that only applies to a paywalled class from last year's chapter doesn't sit well with me.
I'd very much like to know what everyone thought of these two dungeons, and specifically of the issues I raised under the spoiler tag. Cheers.
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Taleof2Cities✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭I don’t think easier DLC dungeons makes for a more rewarding experience, @daemonios ... but that’s why players are different and have different opinions.
Edited by Taleof2Cities on February 26, 2020 8:26PM0 -
daemonios✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Taleof2Cities wrote: »I don’t think easier DLC dungeons makes for a more rewarding experience, @daemonios ... but that’s why players are different and have different opinions.
I get you. But there's a delicate balance that must be struck. With more difficult dungeons comes more drama and toxicity, especially in PUGs. As I said, I'm not the happiest about the game right now, I've cancelled my sub and have only logged in for events and now for the new DLC. From a selfish perspective, at least this way I had fun going in blind to two new dungeons. There's still a bunch of achievements that will require more practice and better groups, and I'm ok with that.0 -
zvavi✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭With scalebreaker i really felt like they did the right step, healers felt needed in the previous dungeons, now? Back to 3 dd.0