Storytime with Bastian in Normal Dungeons (and why we need a story mode)

  • ApoAlaia
    ApoAlaia
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    For as long as dungeon-specific loot is removed from the leveled lists I see having this option as a positive thing.

    The stories in many dungeons are interesting but many DLC dungeons even in normal are not within everyone's reach to solo.

    Finding a like-minded 'story partner' to duo them may seem like a tall order for some too.

    One things is for sure, one has a snowball's chance in hell to convince three other people to pace themselves because one would like to follow the story - more so in dungeons like the OP's example which is already long and laden with mechanics that bring everything to a screeching halt - if they are there to farm gear, which would be the majority of the players who venture there (Tzogvin's is still very much serviceable).

    It would even be a taller order if this was a daily random PUG where players only wanted the XP/Crystal reward and found themselves landing in Frostvault of all places.

    For as long as ZOS is prepared to devote the resources required to make this happen I don't think it would be detrimental to anyone to have the option available.
  • Thechuckage
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    I'm finding the parallels between this and the vet overland discussions quite entertaining.
  • spartaxoxo
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    I'm finding the parallels between this and the vet overland discussions quite entertaining.

    Vet Overland is different because people often think they should get better or different rewards. I don't think most people object to no-reward hard mode buttons for vet bosses or sliders that just make your own personal experience more difficult without additonal rewards.

    What people don't want to see is Vet overland content that splits the playerbase by making Vet Overland rewarding.
  • Linaleah
    Linaleah
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    ThorianB wrote: »
    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    ThorianB wrote: »
    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    So a few things about this video. I made this video so people can be more aware that they can now see dungeon stories they couldn't before thanks to the companions. And also so that ZOS can see why a story mode in this game is needed.

    This video has been edited to remove a large portions of each of the boss fights, most add fights, and a lot of traversal for the sake of time. Afterall it's not to show the mechanics but the story of the dungeon. It's also done on a hero with relatively low dps, but still more than many players who have like 5-10K dps apparently. This character has 20k. I haven't even learned a rotation on it yet.

    Despite extensive editing to shorten the length of this dungeon, it's still about 36 minutes long.

    Is there any wonder people in a pug don't want to sit around and wait for someone else to do this? And yet, the story is pretty interesting and full of lore! Is there any wonder why players new to the dungeon want to experience it?

    And while you can solo them to hear and enjoy it, not all dungeons are able to be done that way. Or are really painful to try. Look at the first boss here. I couldn't have done that prior to the companions and even with it, it was incredibly frustrating. That's a lot of cc and very little opportunity to fight. Group dungeons just aren't built for this kind of thing, nor should they be. A solo story mode with no monster helm or set pieces would be so much better.

    Anyway please enjoy the Frostvault story.

    https://youtu.be/ubaLwmBeOmg

    I agree we need a system that allows us to run dungeons more casually and discourages speed runners and pledge runners from using it, but not a solo mode.

    We have that it's called normal mode. And you see exactly how it turns out when someome wants to quest and someone else wants to farm.

    I don't know how you expect to have a mode where you can do whatever you want and listen to the other npcs while forcing everyone else to follow you around without talking.

    No we don't because ZOS made several mistakes that led to "normal" being hijacked by pledge runners and people looking for dungeon rewards. Ive ran many dungeons with groups that were casual and we all hang our and chill and run it casually no one is in a hurry no one cares about someone else not pulling enough DPS, we dont complain about wipes or whine about how long it is taking. All you have to do is remove that group of toxic players that are there for selfish reasons and don't care why anyone else is there all they care about is ME ME ME. And that can be done without making a solo mode.

    I will always be against making more of the game solo even though i mostly play solo or with one other person. And solo story dungeons aren't necessary. I much rather them fix dungeons so that casual runners don't have to deal with speed runners. That would benefit far more people than a solo story mode.

    except. even when running with group of friends, it was still far from ideal due to all the factors i have described in a prior post, but let me reiterate.

    someone still always feels rushed. someone is always waiting. someone misses npc interaction because they are triggered by proximity and you may not be there when someone else gets to close. not one person has the exact same pace or pays attention in the same way.

    best case scenario that I had in pugs is that people waited for me to progress the quest, but solely for the purposes of getting a skill point. not for enjoyment of the story. as in.. there were always limits to how long people would wait.
    Edited by Linaleah on June 28, 2021 3:12PM
    dirty worthless casual.
    Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself. Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the ***
    Lois McMaster Bujold "A Civil Campaign"
  • spartaxoxo
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    Linaleah wrote: »
    best case scenario that I had in pugs is that people waited for me to progress the quest, but solely for the purposes of getting a skill point. not for enjoyment of the story. as in.. there were always limits to how long people would wait.

    Yup. That's why I also read the notes I managed to find. People can skip that part of the video if they'd like but I lingered on notes for a few seconds because I never got to read them until I could solo.

    Some people would wait for you to quickly skip through the dialogue so you could get your skill point. But they weren't trying to be for double the time of normal because you wanted to hear the audio.

    People really ought to watch the videos to see just how much dialogue is being missed. It's a lot. Most of the runtime of that video is just cutscenes and dialogue boxes.
    Edited by spartaxoxo on June 28, 2021 6:30PM
  • Thechuckage
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    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    I'm finding the parallels between this and the vet overland discussions quite entertaining.

    Vet Overland is different because people often think they should get better or different rewards. I don't think most people object to no-reward hard mode buttons for vet bosses or sliders that just make your own personal experience more difficult without additonal rewards.

    What people don't want to see is Vet overland content that splits the playerbase by making Vet Overland rewarding.

    Story mode receiving no rewards was objectionable (agreed) but reduced rewards was agreeable.

    Easier content, less rewards with the corollary of harder content receives greater reward. I would simply like to see some consistency in the argumentation.
  • spartaxoxo
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    Easier content, less rewards with the corollary of harder content receives greater reward.

    And that's the problem that people have with people who want Vet Overland. Some kind of content that you can get ALL of the rewards and associated achievements even when you're new is vital to the health of the game. If you cater all of it to established players you get a shrinking community with the gap between new and old ever increasing.

    Right now Overland is the newbie's thing. So any plan to augment it should include changes that ensure that's not undermined.

    So not separate instances or better rewards. But stuff like a hard mode toggle to fight a harder boss with the only difference being purple drops and increased exp wouldn't be objectionable.

    This same consistent principle is also why I wouldn't be in favor of a solo story mode to have drops.

    No drops or unique rewards for either mode ensures that they don't undermine existing content for the primary playerbase they are aimed at. In the case of storymode that's groups and in the case of vet overland it's new players.

    My position is very consistent. These optional QOL changes for immersion should not come with rewards, so as not to undermine existing content.
    Edited by spartaxoxo on June 28, 2021 7:40PM
  • ADarklore
    ADarklore
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    It still amazes me that people keep saying "this is an MMO" when in reality, it has NEVER been a traditional MMO... in fact, when it tried, at launch, it was such a failure the game almost went under. Even Brian discussed how bad it was in the beginning and how it had no clear definition... and most of the players playing it were NOT MMO players but were Elder Scrolls players wanting "Skyrim with friends". So then came One Tamriel, and it was their plan to make it "Skyrim with friends". Even internally, Matt Firor stated in an interview they consider ESO to be an "online RPG with MMO elements".

    So for people who keep saying, "this is an MMO"... it's clearly NOT.

    Which brings me to the original post... YES, every dungeon that is associated with a story should have a 'story mode' that can be completed solo so that players can enjoy the story but not include the usual drops associated with the more difficult group version.

    In fact, another topic, IMO every group dungeon should be made to be soloable, as in removing all the 'pressure plates', so that they can be completed solo if properly equipped and skilled.
    Edited by ADarklore on June 28, 2021 8:37PM
    CP: 2078 ** ESO+ 2025 Content Pass ** ~~ ***** Strictly a solo PvE quester *****
    ~~Started Playing: May 2015 | Stopped Playing: July 2025~~
  • newtinmpls
    newtinmpls
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    Wow, I love this, thank you so much
    Tenesi Faryon of Telvanni - Dunmer Sorceress who deliberately sought sacrifice into Cold Harbor to rescue her beloved.
    Hisa Ni Caemaire - Altmer Sorceress, member of the Order Draconis and Adept of the House of Dibella.
    Broken Branch Toothmaul - goblin (for my goblin characters, I use either orsimer or bosmer templates) Templar, member of the Order Draconis and persistently unskilled pickpocket
    Mol gro Durga - Orsimer Socerer/Battlemage who died the first time when the Nibenay Valley chapterhouse of the Order Draconis was destroyed, then went back to Cold Harbor to rescue his second/partner who was still captive. He overestimated his resistance to the hopelessness of Oblivion, about to give up, and looked up to see the golden glow of atherius surrounding a beautiful young woman who extended her hand to him and said "I can help you". He carried Fianna Kingsley out of Cold Harbor on his shoulder. He carried Alvard Stower under one arm. He also irritated the Prophet who had intended the portal for only Mol and Lyris.
    ***
    Order Draconis - well c'mon there has to be some explanation for all those dragon tattoos.
    House of Dibella - If you have ever seen or read "Memoirs of a Geisha" that's just the beginning...
    Nibenay Valley Chapterhouse - Where now stands only desolate ground and a dolmen there once was a thriving community supporting one of the major chapterhouses of the Order Draconis
  • Artim_X
    Artim_X
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    At minimum companions should be able to do group mechanics like interrupt, pull levers, stand on platforms, etc. A change like that would allow all dungeons to technically be soloable.

    At this point in time a straight up story mode would also be nice considering how often people complain about players rushing through dungeons (your mileage may vary). I agree that this version of a dungeon should not reward set pieces if it were implemented.
    (AD) Artim X/Xirtām/Måtrix |PC/NA| Casual staff wielding vampire sorcerer/templar/arcanist
    Electric-Stun
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    • Gear: 5 Infallible Aether (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 Slimecraw Guise for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchants), Maelstrom's Perfected Lightning Staff (infused/shock enchant), and Kinras's jewelry (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant)/lightning staff (infused/flame/weapon damage enchant). 1 Mora's Whispers.
    • Ability-Bar 1: Critical Surge, Boundless Storm, Mages' Wrath, Lightning Flood, Shocking Soul (Shock damage, Class Mastery Signature Script, and Empower), and Power Overload.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Storm Pulsar, Streak, Shock Reach, Unstable Wall of Storms, Shocking Burst (Shock Damage, remove 1 negative effect, and interrupt) and Thunderous Rage.
      Solo: Use Kinras's chest, replace Mora with Ring of the Pale Order, and use a heavy Slimcraw piece for max critical.
    Electric-Pets
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    • Stress free one bar pet build .
    • Gear: 5 Infallible Aether (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants. No chest piece), 1 medium Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, medium, Max Mag Enchants), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant ring and necklace (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant), Oakensoul ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant)
    • Ability-Bar: Daedric Prey, Summon Volatile Familiar, Bound Armaments, Unstable Wall of Storms, Summon Twilight Matriarch, and Greater storm Atronach.
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    • My Healer Build.
    • Gear: 5 Spell Power Cure (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 Slimecraw Guise for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchants), Maelstrom's Perfected Lightning Staff (Charged/shock enchant), and Infallible Aether jewelry (arcane with spell damage enchant)/restoration staff (Powered with absorb magicka enchant). 1 Mora's Whispers.
    • Ability-Bar 1: Power Surge, Boundless Storm, Blessing of Restoration, Energy Orb, Twilight Matriarch, and Replenishing Barrier.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Dark Deal, Overflowing Altar, Elemental Drain, Blockade of Storms, Twilight Matriarch, and Aggressive Horn.
    Electric-Ward
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    • My Meme Tank Build that uses high resistance and variety of wards.
    • Gear: 5 Brands of Imperium (All body pieces except Head and Shoulders, with Divine trait, and with Prismatic Defense Enchants), full Iceheart (1 light and 1 medium. Divines and Prismatic Enchant), and Combat Physician jewelry (bloodthirsty with Prismatic Recovery Enchants), Combat Physician restoration staff (Infused with hardening enchant), and combat physician ice staff (Infused with crusher enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Critical Surge, Bound Aegis, Deep Thoughts, Boundless Storm, Healing Ward, and Replenishing Barrier.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Silver Leash (Elemental Drain if healer isn't running it), Bound Aegis, Frost Clench, Blockade of Frost, Empowered Ward, and Temporal Guard.
    Electric-Vamp
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    • Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
    • Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (medium chest and body pieces light. All Impenetrable with Prismatic Enchants). Gaze of Sithis and 1 light Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton (light shoulders, and impenetrable with Prismtaic Enchants). Knight Slayer (Swift with spell damage enchant)/lightning staff (infused with oblivion enchant)/restoration staff (infused with oblivion enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Structured Entropy, Boundless Storm, Soul Splitting Trap, Radiating Regeneration, Healing Ward, and Life Giver.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Drain Vigor (Elemental Susceptibility), Race Against Time, Rune Cage, Radiant Magelight, Regenerative Ward, and Shatter Soul.
    Dawnfang
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    • My casual one bar heavy attack Templar build that primarily utilizes Aedric Spear abilities.
    • Gear: 5 Noble Duelist (Head or Shoulder and body pieces except Chest. All body pieces Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 light Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchant), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant's Mail jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Puncturing Sweep, Aurora Javelin, Toppling Charge, Blazing Spear, Radiant Ward/Breath of life, and Crescent Sweep.
    Duskfang
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    • Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
    • Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (Heavy Chest with light Head, Waist, Hands, and Feet. All body pieces Impenetrable. Health enchant on chest/head/legs and everything else Prismatic Enchants), 1 Medium Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton Shoulder (Impenetrable, Prismatic Enchant), Knight Slayer Restoration Staff (Infused/Decrease Health enchant), and Knight Slayer jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both Swift with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (Swift with Spell Damage Enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Radiant Oppression, Race Against Time, Aurora Javelin, Breath of Life, Resolving Vigor, and Life Giver.
    Eye of the Queen
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    • My casual one bar heavy attack Arcanist build that primarily utilizes Herald of the Tome abilities.
    • Gear: 5 Noble Duelist (Head or Shoulder and body pieces except Chest. All body pieces Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 light Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchant), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant's Mail jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Escalating Runeblades, Pragmatic Fatecarver, Cephaliarch's Flail, Rune of Displacement, Inspired Scholarship/Evolving Runemend, and The Languid Eye.
    Eye of the King
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    • Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
    • Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (Heavy Chest with light Head, Waist, Hands, and Feet. All body pieces Impenetrable. Health enchant on chest/head/legs and everything else Prismatic Enchants), 1 Medium Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton Shoulder (Impenetrable, Prismatic Enchant), Knight Slayer Restoration Staff (Infused/Decrease Health enchant), and Knight Slayer jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both Swift with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (Swift with Spell Damage Enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Escalating Runeblades, Race Against Time, Rune of Uncanny Adoration, Evolving Runemend, Resolving Vigor, and Life Giver.
    PvE Starter Gear
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    • Gear: 5 Law of Julianos (heavy chest, gloves/belt light, and the rest can be light or 1 medium piece if you're not wearing medium anywhere else on your body. All in training if grinding for XP or divines), Armor of the Seducer or Magnus' Gift head, shoulder, and staves (light with 1 medium piece if you are not already wearing 1 medium Julianos piece. All in training or divines. The staves should be training or infused), and 3 purple Willpower Jewelry with Arcane trait (can be bought from trading guilds for relatively cheap.
    • Check tamrieltradecentre.com for the best deals if you're not using a price checking addon).
    Race
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    • High elf, since you will not have issues with sustain, but other mag based races are also fine so this is more of a personal choice.
    Mundus Stones
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    • PvP: The Steed for speed. Gotta go fast!
    • PvE Healing/Damage: The Thief for decent crit rate.
    • PvE Tanking: The Lady to get close to resistance cap.
    Current Champion Points
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    • DPS: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Exploiter, Weapons Expert, Fighting Finesse, Master-at-Arms, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    • Healer Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Hope Infusion, Weapon's Expert, Arcane Supremacy, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    • Tanky Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Ironclad, Enduring Resolve, Reinforced, Duelist's Rebuff, Bastion, Ward Master, Rejuvenation, Fortified.
    • PvP Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Weapon's Expert, Occult Overload, Arcane Supremacy, Bastion, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    • PvP Temp/Arcanist: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Weapon's Expert, From the Brink, Arcane Supremacy, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    Favorite Foods and Potions
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    • Parse Food for PvE:(DPS) Ghastly Eye Bowl (increases Max Magicka by 4592 and Magicka Recovery by 459 for 2 hours).
    • Gold/Purple Food for Sorc PvP and Meme Tanking:(PvP) Clockwork Citrus Filet (increases Max Health by 3326, Health Recovery by 406 [useful if stage 1 vampire], Max Magicka by 3080, and Magicka Recovery by 338 for 2 hours). Witchmother's Potent Brew (Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours.
    • Trash Potions when feeling cheap: Regular CP150 Essence of Magicka pots that I obtain frequently from playing the game or Crown Tri-Restoration Potion obtained from dailies.
    • Crafted Potions: Essence of Spell Critical (Bugloss, Lady's Smock, and Water Hyacinth). Without magelight this is my primary means of obtaining Major Prophecy on my Sorc, which increases my Spell Critical Rating. This also heals and restores magicka. Essence of Immovability (Columbine, Corn Flower, and Wormwood). I use this in PvP, since this gives me stealth detection, knockback immunity, and restores magicka (better to use it when competent allies are nearby, since it might reveal that you are surrounded by multiple players in stealth and you will not have an emergency pot available after use). Essence of Invisibility with only 2 ingredients (Blue Entoloma, Namira's Rot, Nirnroot, or Spider Egg). I use this in PvE content that requires stealth and if I need more speed I'll use Rapid Maneuver before using the potion. Essence of Invisibility with 3 ingredients (Blessed Thistle, Blue Entoloma, and Namira's Rot). Very useful in PvP alongside the vampire Dark Stalker passive, since you'll be invisible, ignore movement speed penalty while in Crouch, and you'll have a 30% movement speed boost from Major Expedition (I always have this slotted when riding from point A to B in PvP land, since gankers are always lurking). My templar/arcanist will mostly use Essence of Health (Tri-Stat Potion) Ingredients: (Mountain Flower, Columbine, and Bugloss).
  • Rick_S1
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    I am now doing a lot more with my healer than I had been previously.
  • Kwoung
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    Whatever, when will we talk about veteran overland and veteran questing content?

    /glances at pinned threads
  • Kwoung
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    I don't know if storymode is the answer, although if it basically only rewarded the XP for doing the story quest and killing whatever incredibly easy mobs they used for it, then sure. Set gear, treasure chests, heavy sacks... all should be removed, if it is really about just wanting to do the story and not some veiled attempt to be able to complete content meant for a group (yes, I know lots of us can solo it).

    Alternatively, they could add a Story Group queue to each dungeon, but I would guess that the queue would take days, unless they removes the role requirements from it... and even then it would still be a long wait. Which if true, would pretty much prove how many folks are actually interested in doing this.

    Also, keep in mind that story mode is pretty much a one time deal per character (maybe account). You went, you saw, you left, there should really be no reason to ever do it again in storymode. So that is a considerable development effort for something that a small subset of players will do once. I say small, because almost no one I have ever met in a MMO really takes the time to enjoy the entire story, most simply click through the dialog to start the next step, and many are actually fine doing it with a pre-made in the real version of the dungeon, because the difficulty is actually part of the story. That said, if it was available, I might go back through some of them, just to see what I missed.

    I suppose it could even be argued, that for the best story experience, being as the antagonists are supposed to be these big bad powerful evil dudes most of the time... doing it on vet hard mode is the only way to really engage in the story. Its not much of a story when the bad guy dies when you sneeze in his general direction... just sayin.
    Edited by Kwoung on November 25, 2021 7:49PM
  • Facefister
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    I am ok with a story mode as long as they don't drop gear, title and skins.
  • spartaxoxo
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    Facefister wrote: »
    I am ok with a story mode as long as they don't drop gear, title and skins.

    Agreed. Gear, titles, and skins are absolute no-gos.

    I don't see why stuff that isn't exclusive to dungeons shouldn't be there like whatever you'd find in a public dungeon, but not the group rewards.
  • spartaxoxo
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    Kwoung wrote: »
    I say small, because almost no one I have ever met in a MMO really takes the time to enjoy the entire story, most simply click through the dialog to start the next step, and many are actually fine doing it with a pre-made in the real version of the dungeon, because the difficulty is actually part of the story. That said, if it was available, I might go back through some of them, just to see what I missed.

    The devs themselves have said that the story is by far the most used and liked content in this game and that the vast majority of players play it for the story.
    What would you say players want today?

    Lambert: The vast majority of our player base loves the exploration, loves the lore, loves the story side of things. So we focus a lot of our time and effort on that. Two of our four major updates every year are focused on story and exploration. The other two are focused on quality of life, are focused on group-oriented activities with the dungeons or adding new systems.

    It goes against the devs vision for the game so it will probably never happen, but regardless the devs themselves have confirmed the vast majority of players in this game enjoy the story.
    Kwoung wrote: »
    I suppose it could even be argued, that for the best story experience, being as the antagonists are supposed to be these big bad powerful evil dudes most of the time... doing it on vet hard mode is the only way to really engage in the story. Its not much of a story when the bad guy dies when you sneeze in his general direction... just sayin.

    Story mode is so everyone can hear the story. Vet players looking for a challenge can already solo normal, as I demonstrated in the video.
    Edited by spartaxoxo on November 25, 2021 8:12PM
  • spartaxoxo
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    Anyway while this would be my ideal. Now that I have played with companions more I think they could just make the companions able to help you out with the few multiplayer mechs in the game like stand on pressure plates. Then people could just stick with soloing normal
  • Kwoung
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    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    The devs themselves have said that the story is by far the most used and liked content in this game and that the vast majority of players play it for the story.
    What would you say players want today?

    Lambert: The vast majority of our player base loves the exploration, loves the lore, loves the story side of things. So we focus a lot of our time and effort on that. Two of our four major updates every year are focused on story and exploration. The other two are focused on quality of life, are focused on group-oriented activities with the dungeons or adding new systems.

    It goes against the devs vision for the game so it will probably never happen, but regardless the devs themselves have confirmed the vast majority of players in this game enjoy the story.

    Yes, in any game that offers a story/quest that rewards experience, the players engage with it. That however, is not indicative of how "into it" the players are. ZOS can measure clicks, how many folks clicked this quest mob, how many have completed the quest. They can choose to interpret that as everyone loved the story or loves doing stories, but that would not be true. It simply says that folks love making XP, receiving rewards, and they also love having something to do... unlike a sandbox MMO, in which you have to makeup and feed yourself such things, and players like me get bored of them fairly quickly and return to games in which I am fed things to do/achieve.

    I have done almost every overland quests in the game, for the story quests I actually blew through them to just level up and get my skill points, as have most of the folks I know. For the side quests, I am actually reading some of them now, but it is mostly about completion and something to do, not because I am into the story or lore that much. By ZOS's logic, I must love stories and exploration, I have done almost all of them... but that is simply not true. Granted, ESO seems to have many more players into the lore than other MMO's, but unless you unlink XP and rewards from stories, you will have no idea how many folks really care about just the story.

    The fact that they also sell "Story Skips" in the crown store, kinda supports this. If everyone loved all those lines so much the first time, why not do it again and again? Well because, we didn't and it was a huge slog we never want to go through again.
    Edited by Kwoung on November 25, 2021 9:20PM
  • spartaxoxo
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    Kwoung wrote: »
    The fact that they also sell "Story Skips" in the crown store, kinda supports this. If everyone loved all those lines so much the first time, why not do it again and again? Well because, we didn't and it was a huge slog we never want to go through again.

    They can tell who's just skipping everything really fast and who's actually listening/reading. Many many people listen to the story the first time around and then skip it for alts.

    Elder Scrolls is a pretty story loving fandom.
    Edited by spartaxoxo on November 25, 2021 9:30PM
  • Kwoung
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    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    Kwoung wrote: »
    The fact that they also sell "Story Skips" in the crown store, kinda supports this. If everyone loved all those lines so much the first time, why not do it again and again? Well because, we didn't and it was a huge slog we never want to go through again.

    They can tell who's just skipping everything really fast and who's actually listening/reading. Many many people listen to the story the first time around and then skip it for alts.

    Elder Scrolls is a pretty story loving fandom.

    I totally get that, but that is actually not normal MMO player behavior. ESO also happens to be one of the "Last men standing" in the AAA MMO realm, so the folks here are far from simply being Elder Scrolls fans, many/most are just MMO fans. Current surveys I heard about (not a fact I saw first hand), actually show that it has been so long since a decent MMO was released, that most players who enjoy the genre, have played most or all of them at this point, and somewhat regularly flip back and forth between them to keep from burning out. New Worlds release was agreat example of how badly folks wanted a new title, too bad they screwed it up and are bleeding players now.

    And to be clear, as I mentioned previously, I totally support a Story Mode for dungeons or anything else for that matter... except Cyrodiil/IC.
    Edited by Kwoung on November 25, 2021 9:53PM
  • peacenote
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    Linaleah wrote: »
    honestly it feels like people are insecure about "no one is going to run group dungeons anymore" as if people who would utilize these mode the most are the people who are right now repeatedly running dungeons AND are people with the kind of performance these naysayers actualy want to see in their groups. (answer is - they are not. these are the people that normally dungeon runners rant about)

    At this point, for me it is about two things.

    1-- Resources and performance: There are tons of things that would be "nice to have." Do I mind if we get this feature? No. Do I think that doing this is the best use of limited dev time, when to me it is basically a slightly easier version of normal dungeons? Will a large portion of the community benefit more from this than new features and content? I don't think so. Is it worth potential performance to have the servers hosting many solo/story instances? Also no (imo).

    2-- Community tolerance: I like to do the quest stories on my alts. I like how the skill points are given through the quests. I can't imagine how much more difficult it would be to do quests in the dungeons if there is a story mode. Devs would really have to change all the dungeon quests to "completion" only because the patient people do have for the questers would be completely gone. And, this is adds more work to the #1 bucket.

    Earlier in the game's timeline I might have thought differently, but normals are so easy now with power creep I just feel that resources would be better spent elsewhere.

    I DO think they should stop making the dungeon stories be tied to the yearlong arc... but that's a different post. ;)
    My #1 wish for ESO Today: Decouple achievements from character progress and tracking.
    • Advocate for this HERE.
    • Want the history of this issue? It's HERE.
  • AlnilamE
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    Make a story mode that gets unlocked by running the dungeon on Normal (or Vet) first. Then you get a repeatable story mode and if there are any things that require another player, there's an NPC that joins you to step on plates or whatnot.
    The Moot Councillor
  • TheImperfect
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    Just wanted to say many thanks for doing this, I will watch later as I am outside right now.
  • roqueforty
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    yeah, that's why i'm STILL reluctant to run newer dungeons.
  • spartaxoxo
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    https://youtu.be/_P0scyLwz7s

    A new story mode dungeon, this time Moongrave Fane/

    Also I didn't include all the boss deaths I had in here. But I died once to the first boss, like 5 times to the second to last boss, and I did include the one time I died at the last boss just because the dialogue was interesting, IMO. The other ones didn't have any that I hadn't heard during the successful attempts, so I didn't bother to include those deaths as this meant to showcase the story, not the combat. The combat once again is largely edited out.
    Edited by spartaxoxo on January 13, 2022 6:57PM
  • TheImperfect
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    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    https://youtu.be/_P0scyLwz7s

    A new story mode dungeon, this time Moongrave Fane/

    Also I didn't include all the boss deaths I had in here. But I died once to the first boss, like 5 times to the second to last boss, and I did include the one time I died at the last boss just because the dialogue was interesting, IMO. The other ones didn't have any that I hadn't heard during the successful attempts, so I didn't bother to include those deaths as this meant to showcase the story, not the combat. The combat once again is largely edited out.

    Thanks so much ❤️
  • Necrotech_Master
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    spartaxoxo wrote: »

    I figured I'd do depths of Malatar too since I had done Frostvault. Might as well do the whole Wrathstone dlc since it's connected to the storyline of Elysweyr.

    A lot of people blame only Abnur for what happened in Elysweyr because all they did was the prologue. But actually Abnur didn't even become interested in the Wrathstone until Tharayya unearthed it despite knowing that the Ayelids and Dwarves went to such drastic lengths to keep them sealed. The Wrathstone hadn't been seen for a thousand years. She dismissed concerns about digging it up and was mostly concerned about proving herself to be a great scholar.

    i know its late to the party, but technically your interactions with tharayya started in volenfell (which is also where you inadvertently kill quintus who also reappears in depths of malatar)

    im not entirely sure if your interactions with her there have any relation with the wrathstone dungeons though
    plays PC/NA
    handle @Necrotech_Master
    active player since april 2014

    i have my main house (grand topal hideaway) listed in the housing tours, it has multiple target dummies, scribing altar, and grandmaster stations (in progress being filled out), as well as almost every antiquity furnishing on display to preview them

    feel free to stop by and use the facilities
  • spartaxoxo
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    spartaxoxo wrote: »

    I figured I'd do depths of Malatar too since I had done Frostvault. Might as well do the whole Wrathstone dlc since it's connected to the storyline of Elysweyr.

    A lot of people blame only Abnur for what happened in Elysweyr because all they did was the prologue. But actually Abnur didn't even become interested in the Wrathstone until Tharayya unearthed it despite knowing that the Ayelids and Dwarves went to such drastic lengths to keep them sealed. The Wrathstone hadn't been seen for a thousand years. She dismissed concerns about digging it up and was mostly concerned about proving herself to be a great scholar.

    i know its late to the party, but technically your interactions with tharayya started in volenfell (which is also where you inadvertently kill quintus who also reappears in depths of malatar)

    im not entirely sure if your interactions with her there have any relation with the wrathstone dungeons though

    I was speaking moreso about her responsibility to the Dragon event in Elsweyr moreso than meeting her in the dungeons. Her dialogue does indeed change and I included the changes when able in the videos, if you're curious to see how
  • IsharaMeradin
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    I like the idea of a solo story mode. I even think that some rewards should be given, skill point included. But that said, it should be a one and done deal. Do it once on a character and it cannot be done again on that character. After all, the point of the dungeons are to group up to complete them.
    PC-NA / PC-EU
    ID @IsharaMeradin
    Characters NA
    Verin Jenet Eshava - Dark Elf Warden (main)
    Nerissa Valin - Imperial Necromancer (secondary)
    Lugsa-Lota-Stuph - Argonian Sorcerer
    Leanne Martin - Breton Templar
    Latash Gra-Ushaba - Orc Dragonknight
    Ishara Merádin - Redguard Nightblade
    Arylina Loreal - High Elf Sorcerer
    Sasha al'Therin - Nord Necromancer
    Paula Roseróbloom - Wood Elf Warden
    Ja'Linga - Khajiit Arcanist

    Characters EU
    Shallan Veil - Wood Elf Warden

    ID @IsharaMeradin-Epic
    Characters NA
    Ja'Sassy-Daro - Khajiit Nightblade
    Natash af-Ishara - Redguard Warden
    Shallan Radiant Veil - Dark Elf Arcanist
  • Necrotech_Master
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    spartaxoxo wrote: »
    spartaxoxo wrote: »

    I figured I'd do depths of Malatar too since I had done Frostvault. Might as well do the whole Wrathstone dlc since it's connected to the storyline of Elysweyr.

    A lot of people blame only Abnur for what happened in Elysweyr because all they did was the prologue. But actually Abnur didn't even become interested in the Wrathstone until Tharayya unearthed it despite knowing that the Ayelids and Dwarves went to such drastic lengths to keep them sealed. The Wrathstone hadn't been seen for a thousand years. She dismissed concerns about digging it up and was mostly concerned about proving herself to be a great scholar.

    i know its late to the party, but technically your interactions with tharayya started in volenfell (which is also where you inadvertently kill quintus who also reappears in depths of malatar)

    im not entirely sure if your interactions with her there have any relation with the wrathstone dungeons though

    I was speaking moreso about her responsibility to the Dragon event in Elsweyr moreso than meeting her in the dungeons. Her dialogue does indeed change and I included the changes when able in the videos, if you're curious to see how

    ive probably heard them before doing the dungeons numerous times lol

    i do like when they include stuff like that (extra or different dialog options), i know there are some contacts in some zones which vary their dialog depending on your characters race too (like high elf characters in summerset for one)
    plays PC/NA
    handle @Necrotech_Master
    active player since april 2014

    i have my main house (grand topal hideaway) listed in the housing tours, it has multiple target dummies, scribing altar, and grandmaster stations (in progress being filled out), as well as almost every antiquity furnishing on display to preview them

    feel free to stop by and use the facilities
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