Can i play this game more like elder scrolls game or do i need to play it as standard mmorpg?

Sewedir · January 24

I have a similar problem with Lotro.
Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?
Or can I approach this game in a more laid-back fashion?
I played wow for over 15 years and I would prefer to find an MMO in which I can play more casually.
In wow basically everyone is following guides on how to play, how to build your characters etc.
It eliminates any fun from the game. It is like a more advanced version of Diablo.
Thanks for the info,
Cheers,

IsharaMeradin · January 24

You can approach the game in a casual manner and be able to complete much of the content. If you put in a little bit of effort you can even solo some of the base game dungeons. Where you might run in to issues is trying to complete Veteran content (group dungeons and trials).

My advice: Take it easy, enjoy the zone quest lines, the side quests, the main quest line and the various guild quest lines. After that if you want to take on harder content, check out some builds designed for that content and tweak it to your liking.

Lumsdenml · January 24

You can do a lot of content solo and very casual. The main storyline and all of the zone overland main stories and quests, delves and public dungeons are easily done solo. That will give you, literally, hundreds of hours of content. Many of the base game dungeons can also be soloed, but that would probably push you out of the casual tear. If you jump in and are on PC NA, hit me up and I'll send you some gear to get you started!

Nilandia · January 24

If your main concern is questing and overland, then almost any build will do fine. One of the major debates among the player base is how easy overland is, actually.

If you plan on doing group content, such as 4 person dungeons or 12 person trials (aka raids), there is a bit higher expectation. However, it's only at the very high end that you'll find people demanding that you run a specific build. Otherwise, so long as you know what you're doing and you do your job (DPS/tank/heals), people tend not to stress too much about a build.

Build guides are out there, but there is no "one size fits all best everywhere" build. A lot of people run similar builds because it's seen as the most optimized, but most people don't run content where extreme optimizing is necessary.

Vulkunne · January 24

Sewedir wrote: »

I have a similar problem with Lotro.
Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?
Or can I approach this game in a more laid-back fashion?
I played wow for over 15 years and I would prefer to find an MMO in which I can play more casually.
In wow basically everyone is following guides on how to play, how to build your characters etc.
It eliminates any fun from the game. It is like a more advanced version of Diablo.
Thanks for the info,
Cheers,

Yes.

Lumsdenml · January 24

Sewedir wrote: »

I have a similar problem with Lotro.
Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?
Or can I approach this game in a more laid-back fashion?
I played wow for over 15 years and I would prefer to find an MMO in which I can play more casually.
In wow basically everyone is following guides on how to play, how to build your characters etc.
It eliminates any fun from the game. It is like a more advanced version of Diablo.
Thanks for the info,
Cheers,

As a side note, for my solo build, I haven't changed a thing on him for 5 years and he is still can run 90% of the content...

Hurbster · January 24

It's got defined character classes rather than guides like in the single-player games.

So if you choose a Templar you are stuck with that skillset.

Mores the pity.

BejaProphet · January 24

Overland content can be done naked with your fists.

spartaxoxo · January 24

In order to the hardest trials you'll need a build.

But, if you just want to quest, run dungeons and other group content in normal mode, and can play casually, you play anyway you want. You don't need a build for the vast majority of the game.

The requirement for most vet dungeons and the trials in Craglorn are also pretty low compared to what is needed for Vet DLC trials.

So really only the absolute most hardest content requires much building. 90% of it doesn't requires no particular build or only a very easy build with a ton of options.

GooGa592 · January 24

Sewedir wrote: »

I have a similar problem with Lotro.
Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?
Or can I approach this game in a more laid-back fashion?
I played wow for over 15 years and I would prefer to find an MMO in which I can play more casually.
In wow basically everyone is following guides on how to play, how to build your characters etc.
It eliminates any fun from the game. It is like a more advanced version of Diablo.
Thanks for the info,
Cheers,

MMO's don't get any more casual than ESO has become. Overland and normal dungeons are crazy easy. ESO has driven away the majority of their end game trials and PvP players in various ways, and focused on casual play and the crown store ahead of all other aspects of the game. You can do overland and normal dungeons wearing gear you find along the way while leveling your toon and be just fine.

chessalavakia_ESO · January 25

Somewhere in the middle.

The TTK on many enemies is a little longer than Skyrim and the number of enemies is higher.

If you don't put any effort into your build at all and don't luck into something effective, you'll find the combat in ESO turns into a slog if you aren't using a companion and have leveled up enough the bolster isn't doing much to help you.

If you put much effort into your build or are in the low levels, you'll likely find that most of the content ends up feeling too easy.

katanagirl1 · January 25

You don’t need a best in slot build for questing. My main character runs around in two crafted sets and does fine.

I know guides done by guys like Deltia will give a good beginners build and that would be suitable for what you want to do.

freespirit · January 25

You can definitely play ESO like a single player TES game.

As others have said DLC vet dungeons and trials may require more build refinement.

Base game dungeons and Craglorn Trials however need pretty much no thought at all.

Hell we've run and finished all three Craglorn Trials naked....... no gear just weapons. We did a Templar only run, using only jabs, it was messy but we finished

Ye_Olde_Crowe · January 25

freespirit wrote: »

You can definitely play ESO like a single player TES game

Been doing just this for the last 9 years, so yes, very possible

.

Darkstorne · January 25

Sewedir wrote: »

Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?

Just want to expand on this a bit for you:

Every MMO has a "meta", and ESO is no exception. There are theory crafters pumping out guides and videos that breakdown how and why X gear is better than Y gear, making it best in slot, because that's how they make their living. And that's fine, some people really do want to maximise their builds to the nearest 0.1% of damage output.

However...

A lot of these gear sets you'll see cited as best in slot (Arms of Relequen for example) are tested on individual static target dummies. That don't die in less than 10 seconds, don't move, and don't hit you back. A lot of your gameplay, especially questing and exploring, will be spent fighting targets that die a lot faster, are often grouped in twos and threes, move around a lot, and of course fight back. Arms of Relequen is absolutely not the best set for damage in those scenarios.

So always keep in mind that the "meta" builds are typically tested on target dummies and designed for the best DPS output against trial bosses if they factor in any use case outside of dummy DPS testing at all. Also keep in mind that this game is specifically catering to solo TES fans more than any other player these days, and pretty much any gear set can be powerful enough to solo group dungeons with when set up with some appropriate pairings (complimentary sets and skills). If you read through a list of sets online and find one you think sounds like a fun playstyle, I guarantee you can ask for some help with complimentary sets to make it shine and you'll be flooded with ideas

I know, because I'm the kind of weirdo that uses sets like Frozen Watcher and Ice Furnace on my two-handed-sword-wielding frost warden

DigiAngel · January 25

Eh. First time I played I was trying to do stealth in a delve and sneak up on an enemy.....some dude wizzed by and smoked that same enemy and agro'd the rest so yea. You CAN approach this as a single player game, but there are certain aspects that just don't work the same. That and some content you won't be able to do solo.

ghastley · January 25

DigiAngel wrote: »

Eh. First time I played I was trying to do stealth in a delve and sneak up on an enemy.....some dude wizzed by and smoked that same enemy and agro'd the rest so yea. You CAN approach this as a single player game, but there are certain aspects that just don't work the same. That and some content you won't be able to do solo.

This makes a good point. Although you can build a character that can handle content alone, there is no mechanism for shutting out other players from “assisting” you. There have been a few threads about the etiquette for joining in with a World boss fight in progress, for example.

KlauthWarthog · January 25

Sewedir wrote: »

Or can I approach this game in a more laid-back fashion?

You do not need best in slot to play the game. You will not get locked out of anything as long as you use a sensible build.
Of course, the harder achievements will require more specialized setups, as would be expected anyway.

Pixiepumpkin · January 25

@Sewedir ESO is not as "play it your way" as promoted. I played wow for 16-17 years (only reason I am not playing now is they refuse to implement housing). I have spent a much more time in my few years in ESO reading guides and trying out how to DPS good enough to not get kicked from raids, then I ever did in WoW...and I am not saying its not a thing in wow, I used wowhead as anyone does.

There is a lot of theory crafting and testing and grinding in ESO to get gear that is good enough to be vet dungeon worthy.

Even some of the overland content (bosses) will require a real build, not just something you put together that sounds like it should work on paper, but it does not.

There are just a lot of inconsistancies in ESO. For example, the channeled lighting staff heavy attack does not count as a channel. So passives like Spell Recharge from High Elf racials do not work with lightning heavy attacks, even though it is clearly "channeling" in game. Or the 5 piece set bonues from the Dearly Strike set: "(5 Items) Increase the damage and damage over time and channeled attacks do by 15%". Except that set does not buff lightning staff channeled heavy attacks as one would rightfully assume.

Becaues of these weird inconsistances, you can't just build based off the tooltips, you have to either test them yourself, or find information where someone else has tested it.

ESO is a good game, but no less grindy than wow and I would argue there is more grind here. You also have to pay for 99% of the mounts you see in game or any collectable for that matter vs getting them as rewards.

EDIT: That being said, you can absolutely play how you want...but how effective you are at getting things done is another matter. ESO requires specific gear combos like any MMORPG, and they change as the devs balance like any MMORPG.

OtarTheMad · January 25

You can, absolutely, because that’s what I do most of the time and I do just fine.

For any build, if you can get anywhere from 20k-30k dps then you can do the majority of the game. Heck, even at 15k you got a giant chunk of the game you can do.

Just like in any non-MMO game you might run into fights that are tougher and require a different approach like more health, constant healing etc so you make adjustments. Maybe switch up your build or just get more health and adjust CP or change the role and gear your companion has.

I’ve truly, on the PvE side of the game, only had two builds and I only switched my old one because Order’s Wrath is hard to ignore lol.

DMuehlhausen · January 25

If you only want to play on you're own you can make it veryTES single player like.

If you want though to be seeing all the content and getting all the items and sets etc you don't have to be min/max the meta builds, but you can't be doing builds either that hold the rest of the group back either.

Udrath · January 25

You can solo every normal dungeon in the game if you have a decent build, except a few that have requirements like Direfrost Keep where you need another person to stand on a platform the open a gate. All arenas can be solo’d with BRP being the toughest. All overland and world bosses can be solo’d and public dungeons, harrowstorms can be tough though. Only time you really need a group is for veteran and trials, but there are people who can solo some of those too.

sarahthes · January 25

Darkstorne wrote: »

Sewedir wrote: »

Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?

Just want to expand on this a bit for you:

Every MMO has a "meta", and ESO is no exception. There are theory crafters pumping out guides and videos that breakdown how and why X gear is better than Y gear, making it best in slot, because that's how they make their living. And that's fine, some people really do want to maximise their builds to the nearest 0.1% of damage output.

However...

A lot of these gear sets you'll see cited as best in slot (Arms of Relequen for example) are tested on individual static target dummies. That don't die in less than 10 seconds, don't move, and don't hit you back. A lot of your gameplay, especially questing and exploring, will be spent fighting targets that die a lot faster, are often grouped in twos and threes, move around a lot, and of course fight back. Arms of Relequen is absolutely not the best set for damage in those scenarios.

So always keep in mind that the "meta" builds are typically tested on target dummies and designed for the best DPS output against trial bosses if they factor in any use case outside of dummy DPS testing at all. Also keep in mind that this game is specifically catering to solo TES fans more than any other player these days, and pretty much any gear set can be powerful enough to solo group dungeons with when set up with some appropriate pairings (complimentary sets and skills). If you read through a list of sets online and find one you think sounds like a fun playstyle, I guarantee you can ask for some help with complimentary sets to make it shine and you'll be flooded with ideas

I know, because I'm the kind of weirdo that uses sets like Frozen Watcher and Ice Furnace on my two-handed-sword-wielding frost warden

What a lot of people don't realize is that in endgame the meta changes per boss and sometimes even based on how fast the team is capable of killing the boss.

Anumaril · January 25

I usually play the game like a typical TES game, and most of my gameplay is solo doing questing, world content, or making up storylines in my head. So you can certainly engage in the game in that way, just be aware of certain caveats:

ESO does not give you the same player freedom that single-player TES games do. They give A LOT more than most other MMOs (especially older ones like WoW), but the freedoms they give you as a player just leave you wondering why you can't have only a bit more... E.g., if you like to play a daedra-worshipping necromancer then you'll not have much luck due to being restricted with classes. Only Sorcerers have access to daedra summoning, and only Necromancers have access to undead summoning.
Mods are not as expansive in ESO like in TES games. With games like Skyrim it's common to find yourself browsing Nexus Mods or YouTube to find a mod that will freshen up the game experience. Those kinds of mods are not nearly as common in ESO, as they can't modify game content. Mods certainly exist that will freshen up the game experience for you, but they've purely visual like a reshade pack, a mod that disables fast travel, etc.
If immersion is a big point for you, know that it's not a huge priority in ESO. Something I noticed which breaks my immersion to no end is that NPCs don't have any lives. Unlike in Oblivion or Skyrim they do not have a routine. They do not go hunting, or go to sleep, or even move around in many cases. The world is very static, so if you want to play this like a regular TES game, and you're really into inhabiting a living breathing world, you may get frustrated.
If immersion isn't a huge priority for worldbuilding, it's certainly not a priority for the players. Players regularly wear the most gaudy costumes and skins, use the brightest-coloured dyes, and ride the glowiest mounts. You'll encounter this a lot especially in big population centres, but really anywhere you encounter players in general. So the "characters" inhabiting the world alongside you may not necessarily look like they belong there...

Uvi_AUT · January 25

Sewedir wrote: »

I have a similar problem with Lotro.
Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?
Or can I approach this game in a more laid-back fashion?
I played wow for over 15 years and I would prefer to find an MMO in which I can play more casually.
In wow basically everyone is following guides on how to play, how to build your characters etc.
It eliminates any fun from the game. It is like a more advanced version of Diablo.
Thanks for the info,
Cheers,

ESO is probably the easiest MMO out there.
Every content in the game besides Veteran and Trial can be done using any skill in any combination. You can even finish all the storycontent with just clicking the left mousebutton.

katanagirl1 · January 26

I forgot to mention that I use Bastian as a tank companion. He helps me get through more difficult content like soloing world bosses. He keeps the boss busy so I can concentrate on dps. He can also help me solo a few easy group dungeons too.

The Pale Order ring mythic is also a great help for solo builds.

SeaGtGruff · January 26

As far as normal base-game dungeons, I don't think they're as crazy-easy as people are making them out to be-- if you don't have a lot of crazy-powerful gear. If you do, then sure, they should pretty much be a piece of cake for you, depending of course on other considerations such as your familiarity with the mechanics, your active skills, and your passive skills and CP perks. My point being, the OP specifically implied that they do not want to play by following some checklist that tells them where to go and what to do to collect all of the crazy-powerful gear that most ESO players feel is essential to having a "minimally acceptable" degree of DPS. For a casual, laid-back player who hasn't collected all of the best gear because that's not on their list of "gotta do" stuff for enjoying the game, normal base-game dungeons can be challenging to solo.

ZOS_Hadeostry · January 26

Greetings,

After further review we have decided to move this thread to a category we think is more appropriate for this topic, as it's asking the community for assistance.

Thank you for your understanding

Danikat · January 26

Darkstorne wrote: »

Every MMO has a "meta", and ESO is no exception. There are theory crafters pumping out guides and videos that breakdown how and why X gear is better than Y gear, making it best in slot, because that's how they make their living. And that's fine, some people really do want to maximise their builds to the nearest 0.1% of damage output.

Not just MMOs. I first encountered the concept of meta-gaming with Pokemon, where players would work out ideal team combinations, and then other players would work out teams to counter those ones. (Which also meant the meta would keep shifting even without the game being updated.)

In strategy games I've known some players to insist one faction is better than another and the only valid choice even if they're designed to be identical, because one unit has an attack animation which is 0.1 second faster.

The only gaming format I know of where it doesn't happen (or at least not as often) is table-top role-playing because the GM usually won't tell the party what's coming up. (But then the opposite often happens where they'll plan the encounters to fit the party.)

sarahthes wrote: »

What a lot of people don't realize is that in endgame the meta changes per boss and sometimes even based on how fast the team is capable of killing the boss.

That's exactly how meta-gaming is supposed to work. Meta means 'beyond' or 'self-encompassing' (it's Greek so there isn't a direct English translation), meta-gaming is playing 'outside' the game - finding out what you're going to face and planning ahead for it, rather than figuring it out during the fight (which would mean having to use whatever you brought).

Sometimes that means designing a multi-purpose build, especially if you need to go between a lot of things and can't keep swapping, but other times it means planning for the specific opponents you know are coming up.

XSTRONG · January 26

Sewedir wrote: »

I have a similar problem with Lotro.
Do I have to follow best in slot build like in wow to have optimal experience?
Or can I approach this game in a more laid-back fashion?
I played wow for over 15 years and I would prefer to find an MMO in which I can play more casually.
In wow basically everyone is following guides on how to play, how to build your characters etc.
It eliminates any fun from the game. It is like a more advanced version of Diablo.
Thanks for the info,
Cheers,

You can play how you want in Eso, there is alot of content even if you dont have best gear or whatever. Ask housing players or story questers

Reverb · January 26

BejaProphet wrote: »

Overland content can be done naked with your fists.

Can confirm. I’ve leveled two characters naked and unarmed.