Alikr Desert anchors

Ulvich

In the past I have picked up the Fighter’s Guild daily which sent me out the Alikr Desert to shut down anchors. When I arrive I discover large groups farming them. These groups are also spamming chat with “X”, “Y”, and “Z”. It is so bad that I can’t keep in contact with friends because the chat is scrolling so fast. And the anchors are getting destroyed in an instant. This goes on every day, all day long.
What is going on out there? Are these bots, or are they really players? And what is the reason for the chat spamming? Are they announcing coordinance? Anyone can open the map and see which anchor will spawn next. That’s not rocket science.

proprio.meb16_ESO

Welcome to Alikr!
Where ths trip ws->anchor is the shortest of all game, so anchor farming groups gather in flocks for easy xp grind... it's this way since ages

whitecrow

They are players who think "grinding" is the way to play.

Sylvermynx

They're players using the dolmen train to level to 50 really fast.

Jaimeh

The group size being nerfed hasn't helped because now groups are filled twice as fast so more have to be made. But yeah, it's players who are looking to join the dolmen train. If you want to keep track of your whispers from friends, just create a new chat setting tab (using the gear icon in the chat box), and disable zone chat in the options, so you can only see the whispers and the text doesn't scroll so fast. You can toggle between this new chat tab and the zone tab, so you can still read zone if you like.

Ulvich

Jaimeh wrote: »

The group size being nerfed hasn't helped because now groups are filled twice as fast so more have to be made. But yeah, it's players who are looking to join the dolmen train. If you want to keep track of your whispers from friends, just create a new chat setting tab (using the gear icon in the chat box), and disable zone chat in the options, so you can only see the whispers and the text doesn't scroll so fast. You can toggle between this new chat tab and the zone tab, so you can still read zone if you like.

I rarely go out there, but next time I do I will make the adjustments. As for the groups attacking anchors.... I really prefer to do them solo. It helps keep me sharp.

Odovacar

The Alik'r Dolmen train...always a mess of players rolling clockwise or counter. I usually swing through while queued for dailies while leveling alts. When double xp events are going on it gets even more packed then usual.

Suddwrath

As others have said, these are players who want to quickly level new characters and the fighter’s guild skill line.

The X/Y/Z’s in chat are from players requesting to be invited to groups participating in the dolmen train. If you play on PC, many players use an add-on which automatically invites other players to a group based on chat text. For instance, someone with the add-on can automatically invite someone to their group if that person types “X” in the zone chat. However, since so many players participate in these dolmen trains, the groups quickly fill up. Therefore, another group may use “Y”, “Z”, “XX”, etc as their invite keyword if the X group is already full. If you play on console, the group leader might say in the zone chat “X for inv” or “Y for inv” and what they are saying is type X in zone chat for an invite. It’s just a matter of saving time since typing “X” in the chat is quicker and more efficient than typing “may I please be invited to a dolmen train group?”

Also, just as a side note- in ESO “X” is synonymous with “invite”. So if you ever say something like “Forming a group to run suchandsuch trial/dungeon” in the zone chat and someone responds with “X”, they are asking for an invite. So as a general rule of thumb whenever you see letters in a chat it’s most likely players asking for an invite to something.

madrab73

Ulvich wrote: »

In the past I have picked up the Fighter’s Guild daily which sent me out the Alikr Desert to shut down anchors. When I arrive I discover large groups farming them. These groups are also spamming chat with “X”, “Y”, and “Z”. It is so bad that I can’t keep in contact with friends because the chat is scrolling so fast. And the anchors are getting destroyed in an instant. This goes on every day, all day long.
What is going on out there? Are these bots, or are they really players? And what is the reason for the chat spamming? Are they announcing coordinance? Anyone can open the map and see which anchor will spawn next. That’s not rocket science.

5 minutes to clear the dolmen daily made you angry enough to make a forum post? You could just turn of text chat for the duration

Ulvich

madrab73 wrote: »

Ulvich wrote: »

In the past I have picked up the Fighter’s Guild daily which sent me out the Alikr Desert to shut down anchors. When I arrive I discover large groups farming them. These groups are also spamming chat with “X”, “Y”, and “Z”. It is so bad that I can’t keep in contact with friends because the chat is scrolling so fast. And the anchors are getting destroyed in an instant. This goes on every day, all day long.
What is going on out there? Are these bots, or are they really players? And what is the reason for the chat spamming? Are they announcing coordinance? Anyone can open the map and see which anchor will spawn next. That’s not rocket science.

5 minutes to clear the dolmen daily made you angry enough to make a forum post? You could just turn of text chat for the duration

Not angry, just trying to understand what is going on out there and why people can't solo them. My level 15 had no problem doing these solo, so why cant others?

etchedpixels

It's not about being able to solo one. It's about being about to 1500 of them in the shortest time possible.

There are a bunch of reasons people do it

- They are levelling a new character and have done all the story stuff anyway
- They are getting fighters guild to 10 for dawnbreaker
- They are people who simply don't care about anything but end game or pvp so just want to be 50
- Farming for purple jewellery materials
- Levelling some less used skills up by sticking them all on the bar and just light attacking and getting the dolmen completions.

and now and then low levels farming sword singer bits because for 2H it's a very nice easy to get levelling set.

(or sometimes several of the above)

It's the same reason that everyone farms dragons in Southern Elsweyr not Northern - it's fractionally faster travel times.

Deter1UK

Ulvich wrote: »

Not angry, just trying to understand what is going on out there and why people can't solo them. My level 15 had no problem doing these solo, so why cant others?

Possibly to guarantee credit for the kill? Did a Daily anchor while passing through and the boss went down so fast I did around 2% of the damage and no gear awarded (not that I needed either). If you are level 5 your wasting your time unless grouped I suspect.

whitecrow

Deter1UK wrote: »

Ulvich wrote: »

Not angry, just trying to understand what is going on out there and why people can't solo them. My level 15 had no problem doing these solo, so why cant others?

Possibly to guarantee credit for the kill? Did a Daily anchor while passing through and the boss went down so fast I did around 2% of the damage and no gear awarded (not that I needed either). If you are level 5 your wasting your time unless grouped I suspect.

If they want to guarantee credit they should do dolmens that don't have 1000 people at them...

Ulvich

whitecrow wrote: »

Deter1UK wrote: »

Ulvich wrote: »

Not angry, just trying to understand what is going on out there and why people can't solo them. My level 15 had no problem doing these solo, so why cant others?

Possibly to guarantee credit for the kill? Did a Daily anchor while passing through and the boss went down so fast I did around 2% of the damage and no gear awarded (not that I needed either). If you are level 5 your wasting your time unless grouped I suspect.

If they want to guarantee credit they should do dolmens that don't have 1000 people at them...

Agreed. Some of the dolmens go down even before most of the group arrives. No credit for the slow ones.

AcadianPaladin

Good answers above. As for why Alikr, I figure it is because the dolmens are all conveniently located near wayshrines, making moving among all three pretty efficient. Auridon is somewhat similar in this regard, but not nearly as mobbed at Alikr.

Ulvich

AcadianPaladin wrote: »

Good answers above. As for why Alikr, I figure it is because the dolmens are all conveniently located near wayshrines, making moving among all three pretty efficient. Auridon is somewhat similar in this regard, but not nearly as mobbed at Alikr.

Unlike KING'S GUARD in Glenumbra where you have to ride around an entire mountain range. I really don't care much for that one. LOL! It's obvious why no one ever shows up.

Necrotech_Master

Deter1UK wrote: »

Ulvich wrote: »

Not angry, just trying to understand what is going on out there and why people can't solo them. My level 15 had no problem doing these solo, so why cant others?

Possibly to guarantee credit for the kill? Did a Daily anchor while passing through and the boss went down so fast I did around 2% of the damage and no gear awarded (not that I needed either). If you are level 5 your wasting your time unless grouped I suspect.

the dolmen "boss" doesnt give any set gear, barely any drops at all (its mainly a problem during the halloween event since plunder skull drop from that boss)

to get the end chest (which has the jewelry set item in it) you need to do literally any dmg to even just 1 enemy in the entire dolmen and you get credit for completing the dolmen regardless if you are grouped or not (and thus get the chest reward at the end as well as the completion xp)

Giraffon

Can you imagine what a brand new player might experience if they were at the goat oasis just taking in the sights and then this random stampede of players went tearing by?

Many of us are used it, but from a short distance away, it's quite a site!

Aubrey_Kidona

Giraffon wrote: »

Can you imagine what a brand new player might experience if they were at the goat oasis just taking in the sights and then this random stampede of players went tearing by?

Many of us are used it, but from a short distance away, it's quite a site!

I still remember when I first started playing and was doing the zone quest there. A MASS number of people came by and I was so stunned and intrigued. I couldnt stop thinking about what had just happened lol. Then I saw them again and I could not let it go for weeks. Found out later about the Dolmen Group thing.

M_Volsung

I liked it when I would get the Alik'r dolmen run from the fighter's guild, I knew the whole thing be done in just a few minutes.

AlnilamE

whitecrow wrote: »

Deter1UK wrote: »

Ulvich wrote: »

Not angry, just trying to understand what is going on out there and why people can't solo them. My level 15 had no problem doing these solo, so why cant others?

Possibly to guarantee credit for the kill? Did a Daily anchor while passing through and the boss went down so fast I did around 2% of the damage and no gear awarded (not that I needed either). If you are level 5 your wasting your time unless grouped I suspect.

If they want to guarantee credit they should do dolmens that don't have 1000 people at them...

You can't tell the NPC you don't like today's daily. You take it or leave it.

jaws343

Necrotech_Master wrote: »

Deter1UK wrote: »

Ulvich wrote: »

Not angry, just trying to understand what is going on out there and why people can't solo them. My level 15 had no problem doing these solo, so why cant others?

Possibly to guarantee credit for the kill? Did a Daily anchor while passing through and the boss went down so fast I did around 2% of the damage and no gear awarded (not that I needed either). If you are level 5 your wasting your time unless grouped I suspect.

the dolmen "boss" doesnt give any set gear, barely any drops at all (its mainly a problem during the halloween event since plunder skull drop from that boss)

to get the end chest (which has the jewelry set item in it) you need to do literally any dmg to even just 1 enemy in the entire dolmen and you get credit for completing the dolmen regardless if you are grouped or not (and thus get the chest reward at the end as well as the completion xp)

Either 1 hit of damage on any of the enemies, or closing 1 pinion will give the credit.

driosketch

etchedpixels wrote: »

It's not about being able to solo one. It's about being about to 1500 of them in the shortest time possible.

There are a bunch of reasons people do it

- They are levelling a new character and have done all the story stuff anyway
- They are getting fighters guild to 10 for dawnbreaker
- They are people who simply don't care about anything but end game or pvp so just want to be 50
- Farming for purple jewellery materials
- Levelling some less used skills up by sticking them all on the bar and just light attacking and getting the dolmen completions.

and now and then low levels farming sword singer bits because for 2H it's a very nice easy to get levelling set.

(or sometimes several of the above)

It's the same reason that everyone farms dragons in Southern Elsweyr not Northern - it's fractionally faster travel times.

Guaranteed piece of jewelry every 2 minutes or less, the only faster place to farm is anomalies in Craglorn. And even then you need, a ) your own group, and b ) hope no one interups your rotation.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

I really never understood this. Yes, Alikr has the shortest distance between Wayshrines and Dolmens, so it is the fastest of all the zones to clear them, but there are so much better ways to power level if that is your goal. I suppose the answer is that it requires almost no skill or effort, where as the better farms at least require you to be half awake.

jaws343

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

I really never understood this. Yes, Alikr has the shortest distance between Wayshrines and Dolmens, so it is the fastest of all the zones to clear them, but there are so much better ways to power level if that is your goal. I suppose the answer is that it requires almost no skill or effort, where as the better farms at least require you to be half awake.

Alikr also helps level Fighter's Guild while you are leveling normal XP. Plus the jewelry mats you get.

Zama666

etchedpixels wrote: »

It's not about being able to solo one. It's about being about to 1500 of them in the shortest time possible.

There are a bunch of reasons people do it

- They are levelling a new character and have done all the story stuff anyway
- They are getting fighters guild to 10 for dawnbreaker
- They are people who simply don't care about anything but end game or pvp so just want to be 50
- Farming for purple jewellery materials
- Levelling some less used skills up by sticking them all on the bar and just light attacking and getting the dolmen completions.

and now and then low levels farming sword singer bits because for 2H it's a very nice easy to get levelling set.

(or sometimes several of the above)

It's the same reason that everyone farms dragons in Southern Elsweyr not Northern - it's fractionally faster travel times.

"Farming for purple jewellery materials" - what? really? dolmens drop purple jewelry

PeacefulAnarchy

Odovacar wrote: »

The Alik'r Dolmen train...always a mess of players rolling clockwise or counter.

Speaking of this, I have not seen a counterclockwise rotation since Deadlands drop.

starlizard70ub17_ESO

Giraffon wrote: »

Can you imagine what a brand new player might experience if they were at the goat oasis just taking in the sights and then this random stampede of players went tearing by?

Many of us are used it, but from a short distance away, it's quite a site!

Even after several years, it's still impressive to witness a hoard of 30 or so riders on various colorful mounts thundering by.

Oreyn_Bearclaw

jaws343 wrote: »

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

I really never understood this. Yes, Alikr has the shortest distance between Wayshrines and Dolmens, so it is the fastest of all the zones to clear them, but there are so much better ways to power level if that is your goal. I suppose the answer is that it requires almost no skill or effort, where as the better farms at least require you to be half awake.

Alikr also helps level Fighter's Guild while you are leveling normal XP. Plus the jewelry mats you get.

So does farming Zombies in a place like Skyreach. I might give you that it is slightly more profitable than some grinds, but it is not faster, not by a long shot (i am not even convinced on the profitability side, as you dont get gold from the trash). I have power leveled toons in almost every conceivable way. My fighters guild is always at level 10 when I hit 50 (assuming I remember to pick up the skill line before I start ). I have done the alikr grind to 50, its on the slower side of things.

Nanfoodle

whitecrow wrote: »

They are players who think "grinding" is the way to play.

Its a great community thing. Need to burn enlightenment, need to make some quick cash or mats. Its one of the best ways to do so. I have made a ton of money there. It does get boring so I only do it once in a while. Also if you need jewelry mats, its one of the best ways,

Necrotech_Master

Zama666 wrote: »

etchedpixels wrote: »

It's not about being able to solo one. It's about being about to 1500 of them in the shortest time possible.

There are a bunch of reasons people do it

- They are levelling a new character and have done all the story stuff anyway
- They are getting fighters guild to 10 for dawnbreaker
- They are people who simply don't care about anything but end game or pvp so just want to be 50
- Farming for purple jewellery materials
- Levelling some less used skills up by sticking them all on the bar and just light attacking and getting the dolmen completions.

and now and then low levels farming sword singer bits because for 2H it's a very nice easy to get levelling set.

(or sometimes several of the above)

It's the same reason that everyone farms dragons in Southern Elsweyr not Northern - it's fractionally faster travel times.

"Farming for purple jewellery materials" - what? really? dolmens drop purple jewelry

jewelry from dolmens can be green to purple, so it is a half decent way to get large quantity of jewelry to decon for temper mats (or the stupid grains in the case of jewelry to make the plates)