Discussion: at what difficulty do you play any game, usually? (Difficulty gap "explained")

SkaiFaith

People often lament that the game is too easy or, at the opposite, too hard; that there is a big difficulty gap between overland and Trials, Normal and Veteran Hard Mode...

I want to ask you - What is the difficulty you usually set, in any game?

Because I found an explanation that gives credit to Zos decision.
When I was a teenager I used to set any game at the highest difficulty possible, as a lot have done.
Then I grew up and noticed that, just like me, a lot of adults have switched to the easiest difficulty possible, so that they can enjoy the story in the limited time they have or with the limited capabilities they have now.

I realized I never ever played a single game in Normal difficulty AND enjoyed it. It has always been Max or Min for me, no way in between.

So I get the decision made for Elder Scrolls Online...
Do you genuinely play at Medium difficulty and enjoy it in any game? Doesn't that feel like "a useless, unrewarding, slog"?

Mine it's not a critique, I'm just curious and maybe someone else will testify a same experience to mine, so that it feels less anecdotal.

Cazador

I usually do play games on normal since most games label that as the "intended" difficulty. It's also the best starting point to adjust from for me because I can raise or lower it from there if I feel it's necessary.

Michaelkeir

I play solely on the hardest difficulty or the 2nd hardest. I find most of my enjoyment comes from over coming challenges. Granted I love the story as well and I consider my reward for overcoming a difficult boss or section of the game is the story after that ruff part. I’m married, have a family, full time job, etc, so my gaming time has been limited to say the least. But I feel like I’m cheating myself if I play on normal or easy.

If I want to know the story of a game I’d rather just watch it on YouTube instead while I’m using the restroom, lol.

Necrotech_Master

i usually for the most part play single player games on the easiest difficulty to enjoy the playthrough/story and not be frustrated by dying to stupidity

in most cases "difficulty" in games is just added by increasing enemy dmg/health/stats and or decreasing your own stats, which is not enjoyable to me, and part of the lure of the single player game is to build up to an incredibly OP state

in eso in particular, ive enjoyed all range of content, from the overland to even doing some vet HM trials

if im farming gear, i will do that on the easiest difficulty of course to increase speed and less reliance on other players, like once i got all of the perfected maelstrom weapons, i had no reason to run it on vet again unless i wanted to do it for leaderboard for gold weapons (but i dont care enough so i have the option to not to)

Soarora

Really depends on the game. I play Oblivion with godmode, Skyrim on hard+, BG3 on medium and easy… ESO I almost always do vet content.

chessalavakia_ESO

I generally play on the normal difficulty in most games to start with and adjust as I feel it's necessary which generally it isn't for me.

I find changing it to a lower difficulty can frequently leave things too easy and choosing the higher difficulties can lead to cheesing. I generally apply some minor rp restrictions in games which make them a little harder.

In my view, ESO is both too hard and too easy because too much of your characters power comes from gearing and too much of the threat npcs present comes from mechanics.

Bobargus

I prefer the lowest difficulty on any game, in order to reduce the stress level as much as possible. In terms of game becoming too easy because of this preference, i just choose to roleplay in my mind about how either my hero is powerful enough, or how my enemy is too weak. Either way, i just want to have a good time in a chill setting, and not turn things into a sweat-fest.

I must say, what a coincidence, because i was thinking about posting a "difficulty slider" suggestion, like the one on Skyrim. I know that i would probably play on novice only, if i had that option in ESO as well.

Shagreth

Hardest, always. Cause I'm a hard-ass.

AzuraFan

Usually normal. I only raise the difficulty if I play through a game again (and not all the time - sometimes I stick to normal. Depends on the game).

ZOS_Icy

Greetings,

As this thread isn't entirely focused on ESO, we've decided to close it down. Please be sure to keep our Community Rules in mind when posting on our forums. For further posts, we ask that you keep things more ESO related.

Thank you for your understanding.