Do you like having surprise in-game events?

Reverb

Yes

I thinks its great for low stakes events like this. An unexpected week of bonus XP and nodes, maybe a random “pvp appreciation” week with double AP and Telvar, but no other bonuses.

Anything with event-specific rewards (tickets, motifs/style pages, rune boxes etc.) should be well communicated in advance for people to prepare for, but the bonus for doing regular gameplay, like the Explorers Event gives, shouldn’t be something players need to prep for.

One big piece though is to ensure core gameplay elements are working before a surprise event. If you offer double XP, of course people will be maximizing that by running random dungeons and BG. Doing a double XP event the same week the dungeon group finder is broken is a mess, and is just another ding on Zeni’s reputation in the eyes of many players.

FeedbackOnly

Yes

Wasn't it for the issues? This definitely made me less mad about not being to play dlc yet

Rogue_WolfESO

Yes

You could really surprise me by adding additional pvp events, or by running pvp bonuses during pve events. You know, for balance.

WithMyLaserGun

No

I would also like to know a day or so in advance so I can plan accordingly. At the very least, an email or something to let us know that the event is actually happening would be appreciated.

I also don't like having this 100%xp bonus forced on me. I just made a new character, and I am intentionally levelling very slowly. I feel like I can't play during this event because I am levelling faster than I want to. I am all for an xp bonus that I can use on my main for gaining more CP, but I do not like not having a choice about it.

DarrowLykos

I love them when they are not interrupted by broken servers

Tendrielle

Yes

Yes, I think smaller events are fun, and are probably a good tool to balance server population ;-) I just would like more creativity there, not just explorer weeks!

definitelygee

No

I love surprise events when the game is functioning correctly. I love adequate communication and acknowledgment of the issues and being advised that things are being worked on with an approximate eta. I love when a software company has some sort of understanding of the players of their game and can empathize with them. The only surprise lately is when the game is functioning correctly.

Zulera301

Yes

events like this where there are low stakes and you don't have to do a particular activity are great. events that drop tickets are better off being announced and planned for so I can see what kind of goodies are available and plan accordingly (or plan to skip out).

but ultimately, more bonus goodies > less bonus goodies so I'm not one to complain.

bighamancheese

Will it be extended due to the horrible game performance

Eira_Rosynhwyr

No

For something like the current Explorer Event, I think the notice can be very short since you're basically just rewarded for playing the game. However, it would still be nice so I can set aside extra free time in advance. Just a day or two would have been nice. For anything larger, or grindier, I'd want at least a week's notice.

Tomboski

WithMyLaserGun wrote: »

I would also like to know a day or so in advance so I can plan accordingly. At the very least, an email or something to let us know that the event is actually happening would be appreciated.

I also don't like having this 100%xp bonus forced on me. I just made a new character, and I am intentionally levelling very slowly. I feel like I can't play during this event because I am levelling faster than I want to. I am all for an xp bonus that I can use on my main for gaining more CP, but I do not like not having a choice about it.

I can relate: I recently had a run-in with my human resources department when I tried to refuse a pay raise where I work. I was all like, "Guys, please take it back... I don't want my financial status improving too quickly." The audacity, how dare they forcefully improve my life?!

nankeenheron

No

Surprise events are like surprise extended down times (especially during events.)
That's a big NOPE.

haelgaan

No

I appreciate events, but I dislike unannounced once. Why not publish your event schedule for the year, in advance?

Event schedules can impact guild group planning, so advance knowledge is appreciated.

haelgaan

No

haelgaan wrote: »

once

meant "ones"

no edit button?

RisenEclipse

I'm in the middle on this one. One hand I personally enjoy seeing surprise events pop up. On the other hand, I can see how guilds can find this horrendous as they need to replace their schedule for the week to do the event. So I'm a "maybe?" on this one.

WhiteCoatSyndrome

No

haelgaan wrote: »

haelgaan wrote: »

once

meant "ones"

no edit button?

@haelgaan There should be a little gear icon on the left side of your post for editing.

Jayne_Doe

No

I voted no only because I DOT NOT want to be surprised by the start of a "regular" event such as the Jesters Festival or a DLC celebration. For an event such as the Explorer's Event, it's a nice surprise as it's bonus gold, XP, and resources. It doesn't offer some exclusive item that we might potentially miss out on. Though I wouldn't mind a surprise event that offered a fun collectible, but it should be something more easily obtained than usual event rewards - like just for logging in during the event.

AdriRaven

No

I like having more double-xp events that weren't necessarily on the calendar, but I would still prefer to have them scheduled for planning purposes.

StormWylf

Yes

Sarannah wrote: »

Yes, but only non-ticket events.

This is a great point, If the ticket events were added to some surprise/spontaneous events my FOMO would go full on overload.

DrMuggle

No

I would have voted "yes" but the only reason we ever get surprise in-game events is because some patch went badly and we aren't able to login/play. So the surprise events are always just a "sorry".

SwansEye

No

In general, I like a few days' notice so I can free up some time, but the Explorer's Celebration is my favorite and I welcome it anytime, even if that means it's a surprise.

Magenpie

No

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

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.

This is excellent news, thank you so much!

Aerius_Sygale

No

I'm not against the events themselves happening; the more bonuses, the better, but I WOULD prefer having heads up on them going to be a thing happening, and not just suddenly have...started, and catch me unawares. : /

Cadbury

Yes

ESO is always full of surprises, so the events shouldn't be any different

DigiAngel

At this point the Activity Finder working would be a wonderful surprise.

Karivaa

Yes

Yes I do but I don’t think as many players played since the event was not announced. Xbox NA has been very slow lately.

ApoAlaia

Yes

Sarannah wrote: »

Yes, but only non-ticket events.

^ This

shadyjane62

No

Zos had one chance to regain me as a paying customer, an opportunity they missed when they did not extend the event one day even to make up for the misery of the last 5 days.

That the event ended just as things got better is just the icing on the cake.

MEBengalsFan2001

Yes

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

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.

I miss the event for the most part and even if it was planned ahead of time I'd probably miss it either way. If the event actually provide tickets I probably would of been more engaged with the event but since it was just XP, gold and extra mats I didn't really bother as I had real life priorities to work on when the event happened.

If I had time to actually play I would have spent it leveling up my NB or Necro alt. It was nice to get extra gold for the writs I did complete during the event, so thanks for allowing me to make a bit of coin for the few days the event was active.

ElfFromSpace

No

Much prefer some notice so I can plan. With surprise events sometimes I miss the announcement and don't even know the event is here til it's half over.

This event was particularly bad, I hope it will get extended due to the insane server issues. I was unable to take proper advantage of it!