Do you like having surprise in-game events?

ZOS_Kevin

Hi All,

Now that we are over the 24 hour mark for the surprise Explorer's Celebration being live, we wanted to follow up and ask for your thoughts on surprise events in-general. Do you like having surprise in-game events?

We've seen some chatter around this already and wanted to make a formal call for feedback. This will help for future consideration when planning potential surprise in-game events for the playerbase. Also please feel free to leave any comments explaining your choice. Thanks so much.

Onomog

No

I prefer to have advance notice so I can plan appropriately.

Sylvermynx

Yes

Love them! Especially this kind with double stuff.

duagloth

No

although i did enjoy an impromptu duel with a dev one time.

Taggund

No

It is better when there is communication in advance. It would be nice with all events if there was more notice as to when they would occur, instead of the forum posts guessing as to when they will start.

sarahthes

Yes

Yep! I prefer the more formal events to have advance notice but impromptu stuff like the current event is a nice surprise.

Gythral

No

These need 'sensable' advance warning so that groups can plan around them

saf227_ESO

No

Not really. Like others, I like to be able to plan a little in advance. Also, this doesn't feel like an 'event'. It's just, 'do whatever you normally do - and we'll give you some extra stuff (XP, mats).'

S0Z0H

Yes

Announcing that Surprise Events are officially a thing might help for one! " Oh surprise...that week you took off from the game? You missed out on double XP...Surprise! "
How this will work correctly , if you get Gina or someone to make a short video introduction "Surprise Events" and she should say " so you're not going to want to ever miss a day of logging in to ESO, cuz you'll never know what SURPRISE event may be going on! Hehehehe"
Surprise Events can work if they are announced that Surprise Events will officially be a thing. So this incentives players to stay on the game , in addition to those "exciting" daily items they get lol.

So I'm for Surprise Events , if the community at large is completely aware that their will be officially Surprise Events. No...I'm not asking for a post of when each Surprise event will happen...cuz that wouldn't make it a surprise. Lol . You following me?

If you all do this. Then make it known loud and clear on every social platform imaginable, including YOUTUBE ( hello?!) That this will be a thing.
Thank you

xXSilverDragonXx

Yes

I don't see what is bad about them. I guess a few days warning would be good for those who want to try to be on more for them. But, in that case, maybe you could extend them a couple of days? Really though, any event is better than no event. So if we were not going to have one and suddenly we do, I just don't see how that is bad?

The downside though with this event is that there are ongoing performance issues while it is happening. So if I wanted to use the double xp to level a character with some random dungeons, and the dungeon finder isn't working, then what good is the event? Or if people can't log and now there is an event, I can imagine them being rather pissed. I would be if I was having severe login issues at the time I play and suddenly there was an event. It would be a real let down. So if you are looking for ways to improve, perhaps if you do an impromptu event while there are ongoing issues, maybe consider how to adjust for that. Like if double XP is a big part of the event, and people cannot log, then maybe gift XP items so people can have that when they finally can log? Or if farming is part of the event where more mats are given, maybe give event satchels every day during the event just for logging with a bunch of nice mats.

kringled_1

No

Not a fan of surprise events in general. Explorers is such a low impact event though that it being a surprise isn't a big deal.

Dagoth_Rac

Yes

I think one important thing is that the surprise event, like this Explorers Event, not feature items you can't get if you miss out. The XP and gold is nice, but you can get XP and gold outside this event. At a slower pace, but you will get it. I would not want surprise events that feature style pages or pets or skins or other things that can only be obtained during event.

Necrotech_Master

No

regular events like ones with tickets should not be surprises

i dont necessarily consider the "explorers event" an event because it does not provide the same benefits as an event as compared to other past ESO events (no tickets, no impressario)

when i used to play city of heroes this type of "event" would be nothing more than say a "double xp weekend", which is still appreciated, but should not be elevated to the level of "event" such as the holiday ones

Gaeliannas

No

Not a fan of this sort of standard event being a surprise. That said, surprise events like a random pirate/bandit attack on a town, Molag Bal or his minions dropping in somewhere by surprise occasionally, that would be welcome and awesome.

FluffyReachWitch

No

I like to know when events are happening so I can make a note of it and decide the best time to log in later.

I also think there should be more mini-events that have no tickets or rare coffers attached, reward people for playing the game as normal, and happen a couple of times each per month.

• Explorer’s Celebration is already pretty nice, but additional rewards such as double boss drops and more transmute crystals would really encourage more people to spend time in older zones and dungeons.
• Something for PvP, with double alliance points and tel-var, and more goodies in rewards for the worthy. Like a mini Mayhem.

LalMirchi

Yes

Oh yes please. Surprise events are most often quite pleasant and a welcome addition to the daily grind. However as stated above these should only contain generic rewards as in this current event.

SydneyGrey

No

No, because if you don't play every day, you miss half the event by the time you find out about it.

NeeScrolls

No

No sorry , however....a surprise *CROWN STORE SALE!* ? Now that i can $upport!

Sylvermynx

Yes

Gaeliannas wrote: »

Not a fan of this sort of standard event being a surprise. That said, surprise events like a random pirate/bandit attack on a town, Molag Bal or his minions dropping in somewhere by surprise occasionally, that would be welcome and awesome.

I hated that kind of thing in WoW. SO not fun....

Rowjoh

Yes

What's not to like ! - it's free and extra stuff

If you survey 50 people and ask if they would like an extra 10% surprise bonus in their pay packet now and again, I guarantee you some would be disconcerted by it !

Finedaible

Yes

Yes, I will never turn down surprise bonus goodies, though I will say that having important events (specifically the ones which grant event tickets) announced beforehand does allow some of us to plan around work or class schedules.

Magenpie

No

I understand why you made it a Yes/No poll, but I hope you also read the replies here for nuance. I voted no to highlight my feelings below.

I've always wanted an official in-game calendar.

Honestly, that ESO is a AAA MMO and doesn't have a nicely organised, fixed rotation calendar of events is very surprising to me. It feels confused and unsettled, as if you don't have confidence in the game, and need to try things out all the time and keep players on their toes. Older players can't tell new players when events will happen which adds to the confusion and feeling of flux.

An esoteric events system means players can't easily indulge in their fave bits of the game. If you've been playing the game for a long time, having a good exciting joyful reason to go back to old zones is great! Not everyone likes all the content, after all. If people like a Summerset event, give them a fixed date when they know to log in. An unpredictable events system just messes around with players time. You know how players loathe RNG, well RNG events feel bad. Let people love your game and make time for it so it suits their lives. A calendar isn't boring, it's respectful. I don't use that word lightly.

But my fave reason for an events calendar is that it makes ESO feel like a proper place to live in. Ah! Lets go on holiday to Elsweyr because at this time of year it's their holiday event!! Hooray. We'll all wear our Elsweyr holiday clothes and be silly and fun there. These things happen in the real world, and it makes Tamriel feel like a real place too.

Ta for reading ^^

EDIT: Reading this back, I think I was a bit ruder than I meant to be. So apologies. I've edited accordingly.

Indigogo

Yes

Yes please, all for less formal, pop up events.
I'd happy pass up several big events a year, for more frequent, spontaneous events.

SimonThesis

No

I voted No because this event was done while the game is unplayeable due to the most recent patch. This seemed in my view as a corporate distraction to get people to stop complaining about the performance issues. I realize this was most likely not the case but the timing does look bad.

Also, guilds like to plan extra runs during events so surprise events just create last minute scrambling for guilds.

Zephiran23

No

Missing out on in game events because you decided to do something IRL that week/month etc is annoying. I missed getting Murkmire as a daily reward because I was away on holidays most of that month. That wasn't great and not something I want to see repeated.

Surprise in game events also implies that there will be more of them. Player burnout is a thing and events contribute to this. Not just the grind for those that reward tickets, but the feeling that you need to be in game doing whatever activities give the biggest reward for as many hours/day as you can.

AWA has annoyed a lot of players, don't push more of them away.

KalevaLaine

No - because I think this is just an excuse for this messed up last update.

LoneStar2911

No

I want to vote “yes” because I love events. I’d be happy with there always being some kind of event.
But… I’d prefer advance notice.

SeaGtGruff

Yes

I think it's okay for an event of this type to be held without forewarning, but events that let players earn tickets, special reward coffers, and purchase limited-time offerings from the Impresario or other event merchants should definitely be announced in advance so players can plan appropriately.

Tenthirty2

Yes

I voted 'Yes' but it is nice to have a day or so notice in advance to plan if poss.
TBH I wish the Explorer's Event came up more frequently during the year.
Beyond CP 1300 (and oddly enough Levels 45-50) the regular XP feels like a small amount and levels come much slower IMO.

Plus it's nice sometimes to take a break from grinding dailies and wander\farm mats; getting double is a guaranteed way for me to spend several hours just farming and enjoying the scenery

Sarannah

Yes

Yes, but only non-ticket events.

Lumsdenml

Yes

Non ticket events are fine for a surprise, as long as we aren't getting one every other week. Once or twice a year is cool. I would also like an annual calendar of the major events such as Mayhem, Jester's, Anniversary, Witches and New Life.