Why does the world feel sparse in so many places?

marshill88

When I bought this game late Feb, the marketing said "Join over 18 million players".

In vvardenfell, my starting area, indeed I felt like the world was poppin. Players were all over the place in Vivec City. But then as I began to venture out into other zones, the population felt sparse, even desolate. Just last night I was in a public dungeon and I made it all the way to the boss after about an hour of digging through it. Then I sat at the boss and waited...and waited. I kept asking for help in the zone, but no one. Literally no one was there. It wasn't that I was being ignored, it was that there simply were no other players in the entire place. It took 55 minutes for someone to finally show up....just one champion player all alone and I managed to get credit for the boss.

I was really surprised that I would find so many desolate areas in this game. many delves are void of players....and if there are players there, they are sporadic at best, a few here or there, sometimes maybe 1 or two.

This world (in many places) definitely feels fairly deserted. I really thought there would be a feeling of more people out there. Is my opinion shared by any of you, or do you like the amount of player density the way it is?

nukk3r

It's 18 million accounts across all platforms. Some people have several accounts, some are inactive but that doesn't look good in promo materials.
Player density is mostly OK. Some zones feel empty but you have to be aware of the time and day. You're less likely to meet someone in Malabal Tor at 1 AM on Wednesday than at 7 PM on Friday.

Saccopharynx

I would say it's mostly because replayability and end-game content are factors.

A lot of the starter zones are just..boring. When you make a new character and go through the alliance zone grind again, nothing is fresh and this does cause burn-out and disinterest. Some zones feel old and outdated compared to the shiny DLC areas, the DLC quests tend to be more interesting (I'm guessing because the writing and "feel" for making stories has improved) overall as well. I can play through Vvardenfell or Summerset and enjoy it over and over, but trying to go back through main zones again doesn't hit the same.

You also have to consider a lot of people who have completed zones, tend to not go back to them unless they need to. HUB places are always full of people (Vulkhel Guard, Vivec, Elden Root, Riften, Rimmen, etc) as these places are where the daily Writs are found with all of the crafting tables, as well as Battlegrounds or Undaunted Enclaves as well depending on location. When you're to the point you're now focused on Dungeons and Trials, the questing zones are done and don't serve a purpose anymore.

Freshness comes in new content, like antiquities sending people back into places they already finished to lead-grind, or the stickerbook bringing new incentives to gear-grind, but otherwise the main zones don't really have the same appeal once you reach a certain point on a character.

VaranisArano

Certain zones are more populated because there are activities to do there or the gear from that zone is more desirable. Older questing zones with less desirable gear tend to have less players.

Also, keep in mind that zones are instanced. So it's possible that you wound up in a low-population instance.

Finally, I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure that public dungeons are also instanced. If so, your pleas for help were only broadcast within the dungeon, not to the whole zone.

Sylvermynx

I have to say, I'm seeing tons of characters everywhere on PC NA. There are so many it's annoying to even try to harvest - and I play PC NA off peak.

*sigh* Pretty sure I've never once wound up in a low-pop instance.

Kurat

Also its because the new patch just dropped which increased max cp, everyone I grinding. It's hard to get anyone to help you with WB or even run dungeons with. Theres even queue now for tanks, esp for vet dlcs. And even in Craglorn theres less trials being done. When I look at my guilds rosters I see half the people grinding in BRP, Skyreach or some other overland spot. And with the upcoming companions, group play may be dead. There are alot of players on during prime times but everyone's rather doing their own thing.
OP, welcome to Elder Skyrim Online

Tannus15

I'd be interested to know when and where. I have been jumping into random PD's to fill in some sticker book and there is usually someone there, doing their thing.

marshill88

it was Sunhold and the boss was some captain, can't remember the name. It was mostly deserted, I saw a couple players only as I pushed my way in there, but by the time I reached the captain boss, no one was left and I waited a long time until finally someone showed up.

marshill88

sorry the boss name was Admiral Viscarne, not a captain, just a correction

Hapexamendios

If you joined in late February that would have been during the Tribunal Celebration. Both Vvardenfell and Clockwork City were far busier than normal because people were doing event quests in those areas.

volkeswagon

This is where my idea of the Zone of the Day might fix that.

Lysette

From my perspective the zones feel overcrowded at times - just in the very early morning (server time) hours I can do quests at my own pace without that others spoil the fun by killing off all the enemies before I'm getting there. I'm the opposite of the OP as it seems - I'm not waiting for others at the boss - I'm happy if there is no one and I can have the full experience.

zaria

Another factor is that zones are instanced, in short it's probably multiple versions of an zone.

You probably noticed this before, you port out of an city and back fast and its all other players around and number is also changed. Same if you switch to another character.

Public dungeons are pretty popular so rare to not get any during prime time. However late at night or early morning its few people on

Sarannah

Leveling through the old zones I have the complete opposite problem. Whereever I go players are killing bosses, or have killed everything I need to kill. Public dungeons, delves, the zone, world bosses, etc. This is on PC EU. Which seems to be the most crowded server.

SeaArcanist

marshill88 wrote: »

When I bought this game late Feb, the marketing said "Join over 18 million players".

In vvardenfell, my starting area, indeed I felt like the world was poppin. Players were all over the place in Vivec City. But then as I began to venture out into other zones, the population felt sparse, even desolate. Just last night I was in a public dungeon and I made it all the way to the boss after about an hour of digging through it. Then I sat at the boss and waited...and waited. I kept asking for help in the zone, but no one. Literally no one was there. It wasn't that I was being ignored, it was that there simply were no other players in the entire place. It took 55 minutes for someone to finally show up....just one champion player all alone and I managed to get credit for the boss.

I was really surprised that I would find so many desolate areas in this game. many delves are void of players....and if there are players there, they are sporadic at best, a few here or there, sometimes maybe 1 or two.

This world (in many places) definitely feels fairly deserted. I really thought there would be a feeling of more people out there. Is my opinion shared by any of you, or do you like the amount of player density the way it is?

the game is instanced based. like your riften with 3 players could arguably be one of 10 riftens currently active.

SeaArcanist

(riften is a bad example tho ;p)

Gythral

Number of people per instance - and that they are all next to the only grid spot/worthwhile loot drop...

Lugaldu

marshill88 wrote: »

Is my opinion shared by any of you, or do you like the amount of player density the way it is?

It depends on my mood. But since I come from TES III-V as a solo player, I usually find it pleasant to be more or less alone in certain regions. On the other hand, it is sometimes unpractical if you fail to kill a worldboss because you are too weak on your own and when no other players come by and join in. The new companions will probably have a positive effect on this.

Grianasteri

Why does the world feel sparse in so many places?

Because it is?

The sheer size of ESO, accounts for much of this. Even a healthy, high player population, is not going to make everywhere feel populated by real players, nor should it really.

WiseSky

WhereArtThouVampires

marshill88 wrote: »

When I bought this game late Feb, the marketing said "Join over 18 million players".

In vvardenfell, my starting area, indeed I felt like the world was poppin. Players were all over the place in Vivec City. But then as I began to venture out into other zones, the population felt sparse, even desolate. Just last night I was in a public dungeon and I made it all the way to the boss after about an hour of digging through it. Then I sat at the boss and waited...and waited. I kept asking for help in the zone, but no one. Literally no one was there. It wasn't that I was being ignored, it was that there simply were no other players in the entire place. It took 55 minutes for someone to finally show up....just one champion player all alone and I managed to get credit for the boss.

I was really surprised that I would find so many desolate areas in this game. many delves are void of players....and if there are players there, they are sporadic at best, a few here or there, sometimes maybe 1 or two.

This world (in many places) definitely feels fairly deserted. I really thought there would be a feeling of more people out there. Is my opinion shared by any of you, or do you like the amount of player density the way it is?

Cause there is no reason to be in the overworld outside of latest dlc zones or main cities.

The world isn't dangerous. There's no challenge to do anything in this game except for queue for dungeons or PvP. Why would there be a ton of players running around in questing zones where the hardest thing to kill are entirely optional world bosses and world events (harrowstorms/dragons/anchors) that reward basically nothing?

Rukia541

Lugaldu wrote: »

marshill88 wrote: »

Is my opinion shared by any of you, or do you like the amount of player density the way it is?

It depends on my mood. But since I come from TES III-V as a solo player, I usually find it pleasant to be more or less alone in certain regions. On the other hand, it is sometimes unpractical if you fail to kill a worldboss because you are too weak on your own and when no other players come by and join in. The new companions will probably have a positive effect on this.

I can imagine the companions are going to be a favorite among solo players, and coming from guild wars way back in the day I am no stranger to having customizable NPCs to clear pve content so I think that will be a great thing for the game. I doubt they will let them in dungeons and such though. I can already solo world bosses and whatever else just fine so unfortunately it would just be fluff for me. On the other hand if I could make a full group of followers to do dungeons that would be hilarious and probably better than pugs.

Sergykid

they have to respect their base corporation standards when making content, and one is maps size and fill. They don't see or care that nothing happens in most of the land, it's just empty area for players to enjoy visually maybe. Once you saw it visually and liked it, no reason to ever come back other than just maybe wanting to admire again that tree.

BejaProphet

I get the opposite impression from the game. Every single time I go back and do an old daily world boss somebody is killing it with me. EVERY time. Wrothgar, not alone. Murkmire yesterday, there were six helping. I still regularly join crowds killing dragons. No other game I’ve experienced is like that with old content.

But part of the reason for your experience (platform and time issues aside), is that the game is getting absolutely massive. And thanks to “one Tamriel”, 100% of that content is scaled to end game level. So like all games, players are concentrated at new content and those who aren’t will be scattered all over the place.

Besides, I like not constantly being swarmed with players. Makes the game more immersive.

AcadianPaladin

Actually, I normally find crafting centers, delves and public dungeons annoyingly overcrowded.

BejaProphet

Rukia541 wrote: »

Lugaldu wrote: »

marshill88 wrote: »

Is my opinion shared by any of you, or do you like the amount of player density the way it is?

It depends on my mood. But since I come from TES III-V as a solo player, I usually find it pleasant to be more or less alone in certain regions. On the other hand, it is sometimes unpractical if you fail to kill a worldboss because you are too weak on your own and when no other players come by and join in. The new companions will probably have a positive effect on this.

I can imagine the companions are going to be a favorite among solo players, and coming from guild wars way back in the day I am no stranger to having customizable NPCs to clear pve content so I think that will be a great thing for the game. I doubt they will let them in dungeons and such though. I can already solo world bosses and whatever else just fine so unfortunately it would just be fluff for me. On the other hand if I could make a full group of followers to do dungeons that would be hilarious and probably better than pugs.

I get the impression that companions are actually going to utilize group spots. For example if me and two buddies want to do 4 man dungeons we only have room for one of our companions because it will take the place of a player.

That’s my theory anyways.

Lugaldu

BejaProphet wrote: »

I get the opposite impression from the game. Every single time I go back and do an old daily world boss somebody is killing it with me. EVERY time. Wrothgar, not alone. Murkmire yesterday, there were six helping. I still regularly join crowds killing dragons. No other game I’ve experienced is like that with old content.

It really depends on the time. 7h in the morning on PC EU there is often nobody around when it comes to worldbosses, at 21h in the evening, the situation is different.

BejaProphet

Lugaldu wrote: »

BejaProphet wrote: »

I get the opposite impression from the game. Every single time I go back and do an old daily world boss somebody is killing it with me. EVERY time. Wrothgar, not alone. Murkmire yesterday, there were six helping. I still regularly join crowds killing dragons. No other game I’ve experienced is like that with old content.

It really depends on the time. 7h in the morning on PC EU there is often nobody around when it comes to worldbosses, at 21h in the evening, the situation is different.

You are no doubt correct. I just thought the other side of the coin, and the other reasons for scarcity, deserved mention as well.

Point being, there is more at play here than ZOS giving misleading numbers. Though a touch of that as well.

zaria

Another factor is that players are doing,

WiseSky wrote: »

Now that is an rare sight. 05:00? Don't think I have seen Rawl without players, the bank yes.
Morrowind has probably fewer people overland than many other zones because so many players uses Vivec as an crafting hub and they don't want to many people in the city as you get performance issues.

RedMuse

WiseSky wrote: »

Is that from that time only five people could log into the game and for once both Vivec and the Alik'r dolmens were devoid of people?

Nestor

VaranisArano wrote: »

Finally, I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure that public dungeons are also instanced. If so, your pleas for help were only broadcast within the dungeon, not to the whole zone.

Public Dungeons are sort of Instanced. If you enter with a Group of more than 12 people, you will get split up. I am not sure of the pop cap in a PD, but it is probably around 24 or so players. Hence the large group split.