Cadwell’s Silver—Why?

Memory_In_Motion

Did solver and gold on main as well as collect every skyshard in the game... I have 35 unused skill points for some later purpose?

zaria

Cadwel silver and gold is kind of redundant with one Tamriel. Back at launch you could not visit the other two factions zones.
Cadwel silver and gold put you in one faction shoes then the other if AD its EP followed by DC.

Today you can do the other factions quests from launch. Even select who faction to start in, independent on you pvp faction.
Think the only benefit of silver and gold now it that it point you towards the other factions main quests.

SilverBride

Quenzar wrote: »

This quest to play through all the other factions’ quest lines seems like a bad idea. Why would I make an alt now?

You don't do this on an alt. You do it on the player who received the quest.

Paralyse

Essentially, when this game was still in alpha and then beta, players were far from excited about the fact that they would be paying for a game and then only able to see 1/3 of the content they were paying for unless they rolled two alts, one for each other factions. Cadwell's Silver and Cadwell's Gold were a good compromise.

In addition, since there was no "battle leveling", as soon as you hit 50, and finished killing Molag Bal, you were effectively "done." The only way to increase your Veteran rank at all or earn any kind of experience was to grind endlessly in Coldharbour, or do Cadwell's quests, because Craglorn did not exist at launch. It's worth noting that levelling was not quite as fast then as it is now (with no experience scrolls, your only options were training gear and ambrosia, and you tended to outlevel zones fairly quickly, meaning by the time you completed a zone's storyline you were getting much-reduced exp gains.)

A lot of people wanted the experience to feel like a single-player ES game, where you only have one main character, so this worked out fine for people who had neither the time nor the desire to play or level alts, just to see the other 2/3 of a game they purchased but couldn't otherwise experience.

For those of us who enjoy stories and lore, too, it was fascinating, because you get to see three different points of view to the same conflict, including the strengths (and weaknesses) of each faction. That is one thing that helped me decide that the Daggerfall Covenant was the one that most closely aligned with my worldview, despite starting out on EP (in Beta) and AD (in Retail.)

When ESOTU came out (aka One Tamriel) Cadwell's Silver and Cadwell's Gold were relegated to curiosities, suitable more for completionists, since you can now quest anywhere you like, at any level, and your faction choice affects mainly Cyrodill, and little else in-game, for better or worse. They are far from essential -- but in my opinion, they are still very valuable to learn the lore and history of other factions, to get a different point of view on the events in Cyrodill and throughout Tamriel, and to gain some extra skill points now and again. Some players aren't really concerned about such things, which is a totally fine and acceptable way to play ESO.

Holycannoli

It's a relic of the pre-One Tamriel days, where you couldn't quest in the other alliance zones before finishing your own.

Amottica

SilverBride wrote: »

Quenzar wrote: »

This quest to play through all the other factions’ quest lines seems like a bad idea. Why would I make an alt now?

You don't do this on an alt. You do it on the player who received the quest.

That was the point they were making: there was no need to roll an alt to see the other alliances since the Cadwell quest does that on one toon.

SilverBride

Amottica wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Quenzar wrote: »

This quest to play through all the other factions’ quest lines seems like a bad idea. Why would I make an alt now?

You don't do this on an alt. You do it on the player who received the quest.

That was the point they were making: there was no need to roll an alt to see the other alliances since the Cadwell quest does that on one toon.

This wouldn't stop anyone from making an alt. There are many reasons to make an alt, such as trying a new class or experiencing a new race.

notyuu

it is a hold out from the past where it was the only means to access the other factions zones and quests with the same character

disintegr8

notyuu wrote: »

it is a hold out from the past where it was the only means to access the other factions zones and quests with the same character

I actually had a character in each faction because I thought that was the only way I was ever going to play the whole map. It wasn't until my first completed her zone that I found out that Cadwells Silver and Gold opened them up for one character.

Of course, this was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away...... Now you can do what you want and go wherever you like.

Kiralyn2000

In the end, the answer to "why" is "because not everyone has the same priorities & viewpoints as you". /shrug

disintegr8 wrote: »

I actually had a character in each faction because I thought that was the only way I was ever going to play the whole map. It wasn't until my first completed her zone that I found out that Cadwells Silver and Gold opened them up for one character.

Yep. I also started three characters in the three factions way back in the days of Tamriel Unlimited edition.
(I also bought a cheap Crown Store horse because I didn't realize that gold-bought horses were also account-wide in the Collection, and thought that saving 10k gold per character was a huuuuuge amount! Of course, I'm still riding that horse, and prefer it's looks to the gold horses, so it's all good. )

Quenzar

Thanks everyone for the replies, explanations, and discussion.

I’ve decided that I’ll make a character of each faction, do each of the faction campaigns “legit”, and then just speed run through the others to get Cadwell out of my life.

Seems the simplest solution. I understand my dedication to narrative stability/RP is unusual, but barring an option to abandon and ignore, it’s the best solution I can come up with.

Amottica

SilverBride wrote: »

Amottica wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Quenzar wrote: »

This quest to play through all the other factions’ quest lines seems like a bad idea. Why would I make an alt now?

You don't do this on an alt. You do it on the player who received the quest.

That was the point they were making: there was no need to roll an alt to see the other alliances since the Cadwell quest does that on one toon.

This wouldn't stop anyone from making an alt. There are many reasons to make an alt, such as trying a new class or experiencing a new race.

I agree, which is clear if you read my first post here. My first post provided reasons for creating an alt and why Cadwell's quest exists in the first place.

My point was your previous post does not address their actual question since they are stating they see no reason to roll an alt since Cadwell's quest brings us through all the zones on our first character.

CompM4s

I just wish you could remove it from your active quest list

Amottica

CompM4s wrote: »

I just wish you could remove it from your active quest list

I agree here. Every quest except the main quest leading to Molag Bal should permit dropping it.

Adding here, especially if we have already done the quest on an alt. Same with all the heralds calling out to start a quest for a DLC if we have already done the main quest in that DLC on another character. They should just stand there and say nothing unless we interact with them since we have already experienced that story.

Bouldercleave

Quenzar wrote: »

FluffyBird wrote: »

If you don't want to do those quests - don't, no one is forcing you. Your personal inability to ignore a quest marker doesn't make the availability of that quest a bad decision

From a narrative design standpoint it does though. It kills any replay value for alts which is central to MMO’s and it forces your character—who is already committed to a faction—to go through and literally play for their enemies.

It doesn't "force" your character or YOU to do anything. Just don't take the quest - it's really just that simple.

Everest_Lionheart

I got bored with endgame so I recently rolled a sorc (first time playing sorc in ESO after 3 years) and I am doing all the quests in order including side quests so that I can hear all the stories again. My main character woke up in Elsweyr, had no idea that Cadwell or Abnur Tharn were characters from you past, joined the thieves guild, completed Orsinium and got halfway through Morrowind and Summerset before realizing there was even a main quest. Despite finishing silver and gold on my main I skipped most of the side quests. So even some of the characters I’ve met in all the other DLC also feel out of place.

I’m 2/3 of the way through my alliance quest on my new alt and it’s so much better to have actual context instead of just a rough outline of what’s going on. It’s also refreshing to not have to rush an alt and skip 98% of content grabbing skyshards and lore books or grinding out FG and exp points for skill lines to be trials ready in a couple days.

rpa

I've competed Cadwells gold with several chars. Last one is the char I was doing all overland until the AWA happened. If you are not interested of that kind of thing, just play as you want.

SilverBride

I've completed Cadwell's Silver and Gold on all my characters. One of them completed both at launch and it was quite an unpleasant experience. If it wasn't for One a Tamriel the rest may never have done them, but it's much more fun now.

BlueRaven

Kiralyn2000 wrote: »

In the end, the answer to "why" is "because not everyone has the same priorities & viewpoints as you". /shrug

disintegr8 wrote: »

I actually had a character in each faction because I thought that was the only way I was ever going to play the whole map. It wasn't until my first completed her zone that I found out that Cadwells Silver and Gold opened them up for one character.

Yep. I also started three characters in the three factions way back in the days of Tamriel Unlimited edition.
(I also bought a cheap Crown Store horse because I didn't realize that gold-bought horses were also account-wide in the Collection, and thought that saving 10k gold per character was a huuuuuge amount! Of course, I'm still riding that horse, and prefer it's looks to the gold horses, so it's all good. )

Did the same thing. 3 characters all in separate factions.

I came from WoW and I just assumed each faction would never see the others quests.

To me it was a happy surprise that I could keep questing. 😆

grkkll

for the soul shriven motifs reward?

Mik195

Quenzar wrote: »

FluffyBird wrote: »

If you don't want to do those quests - don't, no one is forcing you. Your personal inability to ignore a quest marker doesn't make the availability of that quest a bad decision

From a narrative design standpoint it does though. It kills any replay value for alts which is central to MMO’s and it forces your character—who is already committed to a faction—to go through and literally play for their enemies.

And this quest unlocks before one has even probably finished their own faction’s story.

It’s entirely nonsensical from any perspective other than wanting the rewards, in which case, I’d appreciate the option to abandon it until I’m ready.

I hope that you are aware that some of us think the whole faction thing is silly (your world is being invaded by a god that wants to enslaved everyone, but sitting on the IC throne is priority one). I've managed to get my alliance skills to max on 13 kills and 11 of them were because someone forced the fight (2 were in Bruma and I wanted a fast teleport out so didn't want the flag flipped right then).

Its fairly easy to just rewrite the story to turn all the armies into the zone bad guys (not Dominion, they are Heritance). The game writing is messy enough that creating your own path is not hard.

kaushad

Bouldercleave wrote: »

It doesn't "force" your character or YOU to do anything. Just don't take the quest - it's really just that simple.

While the game doesn't force any player to do the quest, we don't have a choice not to take the quest, short of choosing not to complete the main quest.

Sirona_Starr

ChunkyCat wrote: »

I completed Caldwell’s Silver and gold on three characters. 👁️👄👁️

I've completed them on 15 characters

Sirona_Starr

Amottica wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

Quenzar wrote: »

This quest to play through all the other factions’ quest lines seems like a bad idea. Why would I make an alt now?

You don't do this on an alt. You do it on the player who received the quest.

That was the point they were making: there was no need to roll an alt to see the other alliances since the Cadwell quest does that on one toon.

Well, some people have more than one accounts worth of alts. I have 18 on the NA server and 15 on the EU. Many ways to play this game, and I would LOVE MOAR ALT SLOTS - PLEASE!!!

Maybe the OP should be a pvp'er? Doesn't sound much interested in repeating story quest content.

heaven13

Quenzar wrote: »

FluffyBird wrote: »

If you don't want to do those quests - don't, no one is forcing you. Your personal inability to ignore a quest marker doesn't make the availability of that quest a bad decision

And this quest unlocks before one has even probably finished their own faction’s story.

This change occurred later. Originally you had to progress a certain number of levels to unlock the next quest (which typically got you to the next zone if I remember) and then the Prophet would appear again. Same with Mage and Fighters guilds. I hate that as soon as you finish one you immediately get bombarded with demands to turn around and go back inside because you’re needed again. The delay made it way more immersive.

rpa

If you do the other faction zones with a new char and choose Pact for Dominion, Dominion for Covenant or Covenant for Pact character, Cadwell's Silver is basically done when you finish that and the main quest. And only need to do the other faction for Gold without doing your own faction at alI. Did it myself with one of my chars. If I remember right I had to leave Harborage for gaem to register I had already done the requirements after picking the quest from Cadwell.

Northwold

As people have said, Cadwells Silver and Gold is a carry over from the launch of the game when you could not access zones and stories outside your alliances without it.

It's very close to incomprehensible to anyone playing now unless they know the history: that the three alliance regions used to be gated from one another.

It's also why, I can't remember for which alliances, there's a whole story point of them trying to break through to the territory of another alliance. Which, for anyone who started playing after the block on the player going to other alliances' regions was removed, is a very "huh??" moment, since you can just pop down to the nearest wayshrine and immediately travel to the zone they're trying to break into.

jtm1018

I finished cadwells silver to get that samurai sword skin for the sword in the outfit station.

Yes just for that.

TaSheen

jtm1018 wrote: »

I finished cadwells silver to get that samurai sword skin for the sword in the outfit station.

Yes just for that.

I did too, once. I'm not doing it again though on my other accounts PC NA and EU - I just bought the Ebony Blade for them instead.

Castagere

This line is all about exploring the game world. I have 3 characters and the first time it was pain. But with my other alts I did not start the questline I just explored the game world for months questing and doing all the overland stuff. So when I started the quest line most of it was already done.