PTS V9.2.3 notes (cherry-picked.)

Skullstachio · October 2023

Nobility in Decay:
This set no longer grants Minor Resolve and Minor Protection in addition to Beautiful Corpse. Instead of these Minor buffs, it now grants you up to 12% Healing Taken and reduces your damage taken by up to 12%, both of which are based on your missing Health.

Itemization and Rewards
Cycle Bosses can now drop Overland Set Items.
Each week, 2 overland zones will be selected in a random rotation. One zone will be selected from the base game zones, available to all players, and one zone will be selected from DLC zones, only available to players with relevant content access.

Each boss will pull from the available overland sets associated with these zones.

I just need to know, possibly others too but:

Who in the right mind thought it was a good idea to copy/paste a third of the DR from the vampire undeath passive (up to 12%) and put it on a 5 piece class set during a time where quite a "few" PvP tanks, maybe more, rely on vampire Undeath for up to 30% DR based on missing health on top of other tanking combo's out there? but especially for Necromancers, from which they will be able to get up to a combined 42% DR near death from Undeath/Nobility in decay combined? (Before counting diminishing returns and other factors.)
why would you make the DLC Zone item curation in the EA available only to people with access to said DLC? Really (also counting ESO+ members being factored into said curation)... did you not factor in that said items can be traded in guild shops to players that do not have said content? Why not just allow said item curation from DLC zones to be free to the base game to anyone playing in the archives? give 'em a taste of something good without anyone having to be consistently grifted overpriced set item pieces in guild traders by bad actors? Just typing/saying.

ESO_player123 · October 2023

To be fair, right now the DLC overland set pieces are not free for those who do not have access. They need to pay for them at the guild trader (as you said). So, logically, why make them free in EA?

My biggest question regarding #2 is why add overland sets at all? They are of no particular interest for the players that can do reasonably well in EA (unless the drops are curated at least). If the drops are NOT curated, then it's just going to be junk filler to be deconned/sold for a pittance.

Just to clarify, I know that I'm not going to do well in EA, but even I have no use for overland gear (especially as a drop from the content that takes that much effort).

FantasticFreddie · October 2023

If they were random, curated dungeon drops I'd like it better.

CameraBeardThePirate · October 2023

Even with as good as the necro set looks on paper, no one is going to use it.

Necro doesn't need survivability, and they certainly don't need that much survivability. They need damage, and the Necro class set doesn't contribute to that in the slightest.

Not to mention, the self-corpse mechanic on the set is still way too gimmicky and has too long of a cooldown to actually be used with the two skills you'd want to use it on (the 2 tethers).

Lastly, % mitigation doesn't work like that. 30% doesn't stack with 12% additively to get 42%. The 12% will be factored in multiplicatively after your damage is already reduced by undeath - meaning Nobility will only reduce your damage by 12% of the 70% damage you're taking - i.e., when stacked with Undeath, Nobility in Decay will only reduce your damage taken by another 8.4%. This number will be further reduced because you're likely also stacking Major Protection from Deaden Pain as well as Major Evasion, Minor Evasion, Minor Protection, etc.

flizomica · October 2023

Like so many of the recent rewards in the game, adding overland sets to mitigate the loot/time investment/grindiness issues within EA feels *so* freaking stingy. Like yeah, we wanted better loot, but can you really not just add loot that's actually worthwhile? There are only a small handful of overland sets that are worth grinding, and everything else can be bought pretty much dirt cheap. It's almost a non-reward as there are so many quicker and easier ways to fill out your stickerbook. Can we make all EA bosses drop the class sets, with the rewards divided up based upon body or weapon/jewelry pieces like the other typical reward structures in the game?

It also again raises the question about EA's "intended audience". A newer player without piles of gear sets may appreciate the opportunity to get more set pieces, but they are unlikely to go super far in EA *and* they could farm them easier in overland content. An established player with lots of gold probably has loads of the stickerbook filled already, or they could just buy them since they're so cheap. What category of player do these new rewards actually feel good for?

To once more reiterate what's been said before - the class sets seem to generally be shaping up to be varying degrees of not particularly strong, too complicated, and very tedious to farm. Continuing to be stingy with the rewards is truly going to de-incentivize people to farm them at all. I'll happily throw on some fun RP sets if they're pretty easy to get, but I'm not going to spend hundreds of runs in harder content just to become weaker.

Bushido2513 · October 2023

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Even with as good as the necro set looks on paper, no one is going to use it.

Necro doesn't need survivability, and they certainly don't need that much survivability. They need damage, and the Necro class set doesn't contribute to that in the slightest.

Not to mention, the self-corpse mechanic on the set is still way too gimmicky and has too long of a cooldown to actually be used with the two skills you'd want to use it on (the 2 tethers).

Lastly, % mitigation doesn't work like that. 30% doesn't stack with 12% additively to get 42%. The 12% will be factored in multiplicatively after your damage is already reduced by undeath - meaning Nobility will only reduce your damage by 12% of the 70% damage you're taking - i.e., when stacked with Undeath, Nobility in Decay will only reduce your damage taken by another 8.4%. This number will be further reduced because you're likely also stacking Major Protection from Deaden Pain as well as Major Evasion, Minor Evasion, Minor Protection, etc.

I imagine those that like necro tanking or who just want another tanky set for necro will try it. Correct on the diminishing returns with mitigation and nobody really asking for necro defense but I'm sure some will still try to lean into it. It will just be more of an option set for people to try to theorycraft something fun out of. I like necro tanks so I'd be up to give it a go.

CameraBeardThePirate · October 2023

Bushido2513 wrote: »

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Even with as good as the necro set looks on paper, no one is going to use it.

Necro doesn't need survivability, and they certainly don't need that much survivability. They need damage, and the Necro class set doesn't contribute to that in the slightest.

Not to mention, the self-corpse mechanic on the set is still way too gimmicky and has too long of a cooldown to actually be used with the two skills you'd want to use it on (the 2 tethers).

Lastly, % mitigation doesn't work like that. 30% doesn't stack with 12% additively to get 42%. The 12% will be factored in multiplicatively after your damage is already reduced by undeath - meaning Nobility will only reduce your damage by 12% of the 70% damage you're taking - i.e., when stacked with Undeath, Nobility in Decay will only reduce your damage taken by another 8.4%. This number will be further reduced because you're likely also stacking Major Protection from Deaden Pain as well as Major Evasion, Minor Evasion, Minor Protection, etc.

I imagine those that like necro tanking or who just want another tanky set for necro will try it. Correct on the diminishing returns with mitigation and nobody really asking for necro defense but I'm sure some will still try to lean into it. It will just be more of an option set for people to try to theorycraft something fun out of. I like necro tanks so I'd be up to give it a go.

Oh don't get me wrong - it'll certainly be one of the best survivability sets for Necro out there. It just does nothing to help the class in the areas it needs help in.

i11ionward · October 2023

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Bushido2513 wrote: »

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Even with as good as the necro set looks on paper, no one is going to use it.

Necro doesn't need survivability, and they certainly don't need that much survivability. They need damage, and the Necro class set doesn't contribute to that in the slightest.

Not to mention, the self-corpse mechanic on the set is still way too gimmicky and has too long of a cooldown to actually be used with the two skills you'd want to use it on (the 2 tethers).

Lastly, % mitigation doesn't work like that. 30% doesn't stack with 12% additively to get 42%. The 12% will be factored in multiplicatively after your damage is already reduced by undeath - meaning Nobility will only reduce your damage by 12% of the 70% damage you're taking - i.e., when stacked with Undeath, Nobility in Decay will only reduce your damage taken by another 8.4%. This number will be further reduced because you're likely also stacking Major Protection from Deaden Pain as well as Major Evasion, Minor Evasion, Minor Protection, etc.

I imagine those that like necro tanking or who just want another tanky set for necro will try it. Correct on the diminishing returns with mitigation and nobody really asking for necro defense but I'm sure some will still try to lean into it. It will just be more of an option set for people to try to theorycraft something fun out of. I like necro tanks so I'd be up to give it a go.

Oh don't get me wrong - it'll certainly be one of the best survivability sets for Necro out there. It just does nothing to help the class in the areas it needs help in.

Who knows, maybe ZOS will increase the offensive abilities for necros in the next update, and then combined with strong class offensive abilities, Nobility in Decay looks very strong.

Chilly-McFreeze · October 2023

flizomica wrote: »

It also again raises the question about EA's "intended audience". A newer player without piles of gear sets may appreciate the opportunity to get more set pieces, but they are unlikely to go super far in EA *and* they could farm them easier in overland content. An established player with lots of gold probably has loads of the stickerbook filled already, or they could just buy them since they're so cheap. What category of player do these new rewards actually feel good for?

Would you think it would be a better incentive if they add dungeon or trial sets instead if they are stubborn enough to not let every boss drop class set pieces?

flizomica · October 2023

Chilly-McFreeze wrote: »

flizomica wrote: »

It also again raises the question about EA's "intended audience". A newer player without piles of gear sets may appreciate the opportunity to get more set pieces, but they are unlikely to go super far in EA *and* they could farm them easier in overland content. An established player with lots of gold probably has loads of the stickerbook filled already, or they could just buy them since they're so cheap. What category of player do these new rewards actually feel good for?

Would you think it would be a better incentive if they add dungeon or trial sets instead if they are stubborn enough to not let every boss drop class set pieces?

Yeah, it would be neat if the random bosses dropped gear associated with the content they came from. Still, I feel like that's less of an incentive and more of a nice bonus to running it - especially with the new grouping tool which will make farming things you can't currently queue for a lot easier. It would at least feel a lot less insulting than having overland set drops lol.

Auldwulfe · October 2023

ESO_player123 wrote: »

To be fair, right now the DLC overland set pieces are not free for those who do not have access. They need to pay for them at the guild trader (as you said). So, logically, why make them free in EA?

My biggest question regarding #2 is why add overland sets at all? They are of no particular interest for the players that can do reasonably well in EA (unless the drops are curated at least). If the drops are NOT curated, then it's just going to be junk filler to be deconned/sold for a pittance.

Just to clarify, I know that I'm not going to do well in EA, but even I have no use for overland gear (especially as a drop from the content that takes that much effort).

Depends - I have run DLC world boss loops getting sets for guild mates that didn't have access...

Auldwulfe

ESO_player123 · October 2023

Auldwulfe wrote: »

ESO_player123 wrote: »

To be fair, right now the DLC overland set pieces are not free for those who do not have access. They need to pay for them at the guild trader (as you said). So, logically, why make them free in EA?

My biggest question regarding #2 is why add overland sets at all? They are of no particular interest for the players that can do reasonably well in EA (unless the drops are curated at least). If the drops are NOT curated, then it's just going to be junk filler to be deconned/sold for a pittance.

Just to clarify, I know that I'm not going to do well in EA, but even I have no use for overland gear (especially as a drop from the content that takes that much effort).

Depends - I have run DLC world boss loops getting sets for guild mates that didn't have access...

Auldwulfe

Yes, players that do not have access to DLC can benefit from other players' generosity. So, EA as it currently is does not change that. The players without DLC access cannot get the sets themselves, but someone who has can get them in EA and gift them.

All of that however does not make overland gear a worthy reward for doing EA.

Rouja · October 2023

ZOS, can we please stick with the regular dungeon scheme? :-)

Now:
Cycle Bosses drop Overland Sets
Arc Bosses drop Endless Archive Sets

Suggestion:
Cycle Bosses drop Armor pieces of EA Sets
Arc Bosses drop Weapon & Jewelry pieces of EA Sets

This would make more sense and be more attractive from my point of view.
Especially when Body pieces can drop in all weights (Heavy, Medium, Light).

Gray_howling_parrot · October 2023

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Bushido2513 wrote: »

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Even with as good as the necro set looks on paper, no one is going to use it.

Necro doesn't need survivability, and they certainly don't need that much survivability. They need damage, and the Necro class set doesn't contribute to that in the slightest.

Not to mention, the self-corpse mechanic on the set is still way too gimmicky and has too long of a cooldown to actually be used with the two skills you'd want to use it on (the 2 tethers).

Lastly, % mitigation doesn't work like that. 30% doesn't stack with 12% additively to get 42%. The 12% will be factored in multiplicatively after your damage is already reduced by undeath - meaning Nobility will only reduce your damage by 12% of the 70% damage you're taking - i.e., when stacked with Undeath, Nobility in Decay will only reduce your damage taken by another 8.4%. This number will be further reduced because you're likely also stacking Major Protection from Deaden Pain as well as Major Evasion, Minor Evasion, Minor Protection, etc.

I imagine those that like necro tanking or who just want another tanky set for necro will try it. Correct on the diminishing returns with mitigation and nobody really asking for necro defense but I'm sure some will still try to lean into it. It will just be more of an option set for people to try to theorycraft something fun out of. I like necro tanks so I'd be up to give it a go.

Oh don't get me wrong - it'll certainly be one of the best survivability sets for Necro out there. It just does nothing to help the class in the areas it needs help in.

We’ll be getting at least 2 more class sets per class based on us having 3 class skill lines. While this patch it’s dedicated to tankiness, im sure they’ll add dps heavy and healing heavy ones in the future.

CameraBeardThePirate · October 2023

Cooperharley wrote: »

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Bushido2513 wrote: »

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Even with as good as the necro set looks on paper, no one is going to use it.

Necro doesn't need survivability, and they certainly don't need that much survivability. They need damage, and the Necro class set doesn't contribute to that in the slightest.

Not to mention, the self-corpse mechanic on the set is still way too gimmicky and has too long of a cooldown to actually be used with the two skills you'd want to use it on (the 2 tethers).

Lastly, % mitigation doesn't work like that. 30% doesn't stack with 12% additively to get 42%. The 12% will be factored in multiplicatively after your damage is already reduced by undeath - meaning Nobility will only reduce your damage by 12% of the 70% damage you're taking - i.e., when stacked with Undeath, Nobility in Decay will only reduce your damage taken by another 8.4%. This number will be further reduced because you're likely also stacking Major Protection from Deaden Pain as well as Major Evasion, Minor Evasion, Minor Protection, etc.

I imagine those that like necro tanking or who just want another tanky set for necro will try it. Correct on the diminishing returns with mitigation and nobody really asking for necro defense but I'm sure some will still try to lean into it. It will just be more of an option set for people to try to theorycraft something fun out of. I like necro tanks so I'd be up to give it a go.

Oh don't get me wrong - it'll certainly be one of the best survivability sets for Necro out there. It just does nothing to help the class in the areas it needs help in.

We’ll be getting at least 2 more class sets per class based on us having 3 class skill lines. While this patch it’s dedicated to tankiness, im sure they’ll add dps heavy and healing heavy ones in the future.

I'm aware.

The issue is Necros are trash tier in most roles. They do alright in PvE (but are mostly relegated to support for major vulnerability), and in PvP they have no use outside of group comp bomb builds.

They need help now. Not in the future (which might never come... see ZOS' plans to finish hybridization). Even the set's design is a miss - using it for the self corpse is pointless if you can't even use it effectively with the tethers because of cooldowns, and can't use it with Animate Blastbones because ZOS still hasn't patched the bug where that ult isn't counted as a corpse consumer.

It's just a headscratcher of a set. Just because they focused on the Bone Tyrant line this patch doesn't mean that the set needed to be a pure tank set. It's a selfish set that provides no group support and is entirely focused on keeping yourself alive (which isn't even that hard on a necromancer in the first place).

Auldwulfe · October 2023

ESO_player123 wrote: »

Auldwulfe wrote: »

ESO_player123 wrote: »

To be fair, right now the DLC overland set pieces are not free for those who do not have access. They need to pay for them at the guild trader (as you said). So, logically, why make them free in EA?

My biggest question regarding #2 is why add overland sets at all? They are of no particular interest for the players that can do reasonably well in EA (unless the drops are curated at least). If the drops are NOT curated, then it's just going to be junk filler to be deconned/sold for a pittance.

Just to clarify, I know that I'm not going to do well in EA, but even I have no use for overland gear (especially as a drop from the content that takes that much effort).

Depends - I have run DLC world boss loops getting sets for guild mates that didn't have access...

Auldwulfe

Yes, players that do not have access to DLC can benefit from other players' generosity. So, EA as it currently is does not change that. The players without DLC access cannot get the sets themselves, but someone who has can get them in EA and gift them.

All of that however does not make overland gear a worthy reward for doing EA.

I agreed - I was pointing out that it is possible for even free players to get DLC sets for free ..... I may have just clicked the wrong post when replying.......
If those players were blocked from being able to use the gear, because they hadn't paid, would be a different scenario.

Auldwulfe