Do you like having surprise in-game events?

EnerG

Yes

I like suprise events LIKE THIS but i still want a calendar for the start times of ANNUAL events. I hate not knowing untill a week before, its not hard to plan ahead and then just say if something needs to be moved before hand. MY YES I NOT AN EMDORSEMENT OF ANNUAL EVENTS BEING A MYSTERY.

Durnik

No

No because not everyone plays every day. In short events or events with tickets people will miss out. I do like having random events but just think it should be advertised more than 24 hours in advance. Not everyone can monitor the news, announcements, forum more than 1 time a day.

cncurbanmonk

No

How about surprise me with the game flipping working after a patch like it did the day before......this having to restart my computer or log out so I can go into chrome and search the web is irking me coupled with the fact that there has been no acknowledgment of them even knowing it's a problem in thread that was made. I mean great I can log in and some folks can't but a "here's a surprise event to make you feel better" is more of a poke in the eye to me.

Zyva

No

I voted NO simply because of the timing. Please dont do surprise events when the game is already suffering horribly from long loading screens and crashes and failures to log in. Do them when things are going WELL, then its fine, who dosent like free stuff?

bachpain

I would rather have a few months of the sub that I paid for in advance refunded than a surprise in game event after a debacle of this magnitude. I mean, in game events are nice and all but not as even a distraction from reality when you can barely play the game for a week.

The point I am trying to make is unannounced event notwithstanding I (and many like me) haven't been able to play the game now besides logging in, getting frustrated because nothing works, and subsequently getting timed out since shortly after u33 dropped. This amazing "event" has been absolutely meaningless for a good population of at least PC-NA because since U33 went live the server has been almost unplayable.

Instead of an "unannounced event" while things are going to poop we would rather efforts be made to communicate empathy and a plan to fix the issues instead of what feels like throwing candy at the crowd to shut us up. The issues were only addressed after they got so bad that the servers almost shut down and dev's finally "tried to log in" and saw for themselves. An event to smooth things over and make amends AFTER everything has been fixed is appropriate, not while people are still locked out or sitting in endless loading screens getting timed out for inactivity simply trying to leave their house.

BazOfWar

Yes

Yes, an event is an event and is always welcomed. I would only like notice if it involved getting daily tickets.

Abigail

Not going to respond to the question.

ESO, like virtually all MMOs, is a carrot and stick game. Whenever something happens, like miserable service, companies will add to the carrot's allure to appease a population of easily mollified players. It costs the company nothing and quickly causes a lot of players to forget how cr@p service is.

[snip]
[edited for bashing]

tyggerbob

To be honest, I always saw the Explorer event as less of an actual event and more of a bit of an apology for some in-game issues that players were having with the servers or whatever at that point in time.. It almost always seems to coincide with a time when there are lots of login problems or disconnects.
I don't think it's something that needs to be communicated in advance.. it's more of a "Yes, we know things are messed up right now so please take this extra XP, gold and mats as an apology.
Just my $0.02.
TB

Duckytired

Yes

I love surprise events, as long as it doesn't become a NORM. I like the calendar events as well (though they have become so frequent, it takes away from me enjoying the base game and sometimes causes burnout). I remember in EQ, surprises took the form of a DEV taking over a monster or something and communicating with the players around them. A guildie and I were talking last night about how during some of the massive raids, you got ready to attack and the monster would sometimes talk back at you. He remembered a time when they started to fight a dragon, a dev got into the dragon said hi, once the dragon wiped the group...dev got back in and said "DING." Caused a huge laugh and excitement in the game.

I believe the surprise events would hold more interest and fun if it wasn't repetitive, and just a bit Wonky or Quirky. I don't know if it is possible in ESO, but that is just my suggestion from something we found cool, entertaining, and fun in previous years and/or games.

Either way, I love surprises in game...something that takes away the monotony and gives people a chance to experience something "unknown."

Ducky

Hamfast

@ZOS_Kevin As with many other polls like this one I think a 3rd option is needed, call it a "Meh" option, neither good nor bad, just ok... now granted, much of my feelings of ambivalence may be chemically induced (VA messing with my meds), but I must assume that there are folks like me that did not see the event as a plus or minus, no problems with the event (beyond the issues everyone have been having since the patch) but also no excitement from the event...

I would really like to point out that this is not a negative post about the event itself or the idea of it, just the binary choice of "Like" or "Don't like" of either the event or the nature of the event.

Whiteboy7698

The surprises are very much appreciated. Breaks up the monotony when your just farming or just wanting something new to do. The only bad events are the ones that you need DLC for. I only have a couple DLC rite now until i finish them and a couple of the events so far I couldnt fginish because I didnt have the rite DLC.

mekops_ESO

No and yes. I like to plan everything. But if its their way of saying "sorry for breaking stuff" while they get ready to patch, I cant really complain about that. It would have been an idea that precipitated and was enacted quite quickly. And that is better than nothing in the meantime.

But I have noticed that event announcement dates have been more or less creeping closer and closer to the actual start date event. With the only clue being the monthly crown store update announcement including event tickets in it.

Destai

Yes

I like them personally. I interpreted this event as a "I'm sorry" due to U33 woes, so hopefully they're not launched solely as recompense. Recompense should be something more substantial, IMO.

I think going forward, ZOS could breathe life into the base game with these surprise events by focusing on specific zones or alliances. Get creative, I think we're all excited to see what's ahead.

woodsielord

No

I missed almost the entire event because I planned a vacation on those dates. I would have taken some precautions had I known. I had been waiting for a double XP event for a while.

Drammanoth

No

VaxtinTheWolf wrote: »

More ESO+ trial weekends would be a nice surprise for us who never buy into it but really sometimes really still need the craft bag to get some breathing room after all the events and stuff dumps various craft items and stuff back into it.. (WINK-WINK-NUDGE-NUDGE)

Oh, come on - where's the gain in that? They'd lose MILLIONS!

Does not change the fact that you're correct, though.

dbourb

I don't answer these often, but to me this surprise event is more of a:

Sorry we broke the game again, here's double XP and Nodes will we figure out what we screwed up.

qwjr8989_ESO

Yes

These events are great! I was so happy when I logged in to a surprise event!

My favorite thing, however, is this poll that shows despite the voting being hugely one-sided the comments are still mostly negative meaning that it highlights the complaints are a vocal minority.

Alvar

Yes

Love it, as long as they don't have things you can't normally acquire (tickets, etc.). For those, I'd prefer the longer lead-time, formal announcements.

ZOS_Kevin

Hamfast wrote: »

@ZOS_Kevin As with many other polls like this one I think a 3rd option is needed, call it a "Meh" option, neither good nor bad, just ok... now granted, much of my feelings of ambivalence may be chemically induced (VA messing with my meds), but I must assume that there are folks like me that did not see the event as a plus or minus, no problems with the event (beyond the issues everyone have been having since the patch) but also no excitement from the event...

I would really like to point out that this is not a negative post about the event itself or the idea of it, just the binary choice of "Like" or "Don't like" of either the event or the nature of the event.

@Hamfast We hear you there. And depending on the poll, having more options or a middle of the road option can be appropriate. We really wanted the yes or no option for this one as we need that info for decision making. But we will be more aware of having more options for future polls where applicable.

ZOS_Kevin

EnerG wrote: »

I like suprise events LIKE THIS but i still want a calendar for the start times of ANNUAL events. I hate not knowing untill a week before, its not hard to plan ahead and then just say if something needs to be moved before hand. MY YES I NOT AN EMDORSEMENT OF ANNUAL EVENTS BEING A MYSTERY.

We are working on having an calendar in the future, but the is a bit down the road as it needs to be build out. But we are working on this, just no ETA at the moment.

For the time being though, we made a thread for Q1 Events and will be doing one in a few weeks for Q2.

averyfarmanb14_ESO

Yes

So far, yes, as long as the events either don't provide a one-time-only item or perk, or don't require forced participation.

Passive events, like this one, are great - some active events would be fun, too, provided the above holds true.

averyfarmanb14_ESO

Yes

Tenthirty2 wrote: »

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

Surprise fishing event.

Granamere

No

While the explores event is a one off. I would think we should have a posted schedule for all of the rest of the events. Especially the one that give tickets. Currently without a posted schedule it kind of looks very unprofessional and that ZOS does not even know when they will happen.

Reaver999

Yes

It would be nice if we didn't lose a bunch of time because of maintenance. Should extend the event.

Jofish

No

Two-edged sword. It seems it was intended to distract people away from dungeon running and focus them on overland play. whether that is the case or no RL planning for specific events is needed for those of us who have real jobs or tight schedules.

DMuehlhausen

should be the standard 3 option of take it or leave it.

Not really playing much lately since it's just mindless grinding till the expansion. Even the double xp isn't enough to make me want to play though.

As far as the pop up events take it or leave, even when playing a lot. It's nice to know so you can plan our a path of what you want to get done, but at the same time I had what I was going to be doing already in mind anyway.

Adventurer

No

Taggund wrote: »

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.

LoneStar2911 wrote: »

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.

Same here. It's nice, but if you don't play regularly, it makes me feel like I missed out if I don't login for a week and notice there was a "surprise" event that was announced a day before. For ticket events they should ALWAYS AND ABSOLUTELY be in advance, as usual.

I often come back for events, so if there is a notice it'll happen, I often plan to play during the event, but if it's a short (or longer) event without notice, I feel it would start a trend where I'd feel I'd be missing out, esp. if it's for something more than just xp and double drops. And it would always make me annoyed if I found out there was an event I had missed, so I'd prefer not to have surprise events, but planned events as usual.

Marcusorion1

No

If one factors in the " yes, but..." responses, the ratio is only a little bit in favour of "yes".

For purely solo players that log in everyday regardless a "surprise" event is pleasant, for many others it creates a time scramble and/or instills a FOMO environment which is something that should be avoided in consideration of the mental health of the player.

Players have been asked to consider/expect less content this year , in part due to the mental welfare of Zos employees and Covid considerations - it is not unreasonable to expect a reciprocal approach from Zos towards the event scheduling.

Above all, make sure the server stability is solid before considering any event - being unable to partake in an event due to game conditions just makes things worse from a players perspective.

Tomboski

If by "surprise", you mean game breaking updates... then no, I'll pass (you can keep those to yourself)

Soraka

Yes

No opinion. I guess yes more than no, depending on the type of event. If it's the type of event where there's items or titles/achievements I'll miss out on if I can't fit it in my schedule I would probably be annoyed. Explorer events seem pretty harmless to miss.