Not impressed with Infinite Archive

Kitziboo

I wasn’t initially interested but I read that you can get book furnishings which are not available elsewhere so I am trying it with a few characters every day for the currency. Only one has completed the initial quest so far though as I’m not very good.

I discovered that the containers in the two little shops in the ‘foyer’ are a fantastic source of furnishing recipes, not only the new Apocryphal ones but purple ones my mains have never seen from other zones so I try to send as many characters in as I can every day to read the books and loot.

fizl101

Its one of my facorite activities. I try and get one long run with a friend every week, one with a companion or solo and do the daily (its the only daily I regularly do).

I have book furnishings coming out of my ears though, I could run my own library

FlopsyPrince

Araneae6537 wrote: »

I mostly enjoy it — the Archive relaxes me in a way, clears my head of other things. I like that I can go however far I go I get currency so it doesn’t feel like I HAVE to do a lot or it’s not worth it. That said, to me, the only worthwhile rewards besides the currency are the furnishings and plans — which is fine for me since I’m not only into housing but like the Apocrypha aesthetic. The gear though… I feel like more gold or currency or transmute stones or something would be better than overland gear and I wish the class sets were better — maybe even meta for a particular role on a class — and didn’t have the VFX.

Those saying it is too hard — it really does get easier if you keep at it and if you’re not doing it with another player, having a companion tank really helps a lot! I had trouble getting to and past Tho’at 1 at first and switched to a much tankier build, but then the other day I accidentally went in with a more glass cannon dps build and was amazed at how much easier it was than when first I tried, primarily because I know what to expect, what enemies hit hardest, etc.

That is the claim for much content, like PvP as well, but some of us are never likely to get good enough, so it is more a frustration. I did fairly well on my higher end pet sorc (not the perfect build, but good enough for most things for me) with Tank Bastian. I did fine overall until I hit the one that keep pushing me off the platform. A couple of deaths otherwise, but I could live with those. Getting nuked off the platform is not fun at all.

I don't do Maelstrom Arena either because I sucked at it when I tried it quite a while ago. I think I have the bow pattern now through a drop, but I wasn't motivated enough to finish it, nor will I likely be for IA. I heard so much hype for this even when I was taking a break for the game I thought it would be better.

I never did find anyone else in IC sewers when I was on and I was not going to try and solo one of the patrolling horrors. I might have been able to, but most likely I would have failed along the way or gotten ganked at some point.

Although maybe I was wrong about needing the sewers. Did I misread that? I still would have been ganked above ground, but at least I might have found one in Arena to jump in on....

Rowjoh

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

I haven't been as enamored with the Infinite Archive as I originally hoped I'd be, mostly because my two main characters aren't "gud enuf" to kill all of the Arc 1 bosses and the first Tho'at-- most of the time I don't even get to the first Tho'at.

It doesn't help that my approach is to leave once I lose my first thread, treating IA as a sort of "perma-death" challenge, since I'm not into grinding the same content to figure out mechanics. I'm happy to wait to fight a given boss another day-- unless I'd gotten it down to 20% or less of its health before it wiped me, in which case I might rez and immediately try again.

Ironically, I've had fun fighting the Arc 1 mobs and the bosses I've been able to kill, which seems to be the part of IA that most players seem to hate because they think it's too easy and boring.

Last night I finally managed to kill the first Tho'at. The fight took a long time because of how little damage I do, but now I think I'll at least be able to enjoy IA a bit more.

On the other hand, I died during the first mob fight of Arc 2 after a Marauder appeared. I did manage to stay alive for a while, but I wasn't putting much of a dent in the Marauder, so that wasn't much fun. Arc 1 seemed a lot more fun to me.

Go in with a companion or guildmate and you'll find it easier and go further, but more importantly you'll get a better understanding of mechanics which will then make soloing easier too

Rowjoh

Infinite Archive spookily mirrors my school report:

Design: [Snip] could do better
Mechanics: Over complicates things
Art: Poor. Little to no originality
Activities: Takes far too long and never completes anything.
Objectives: Lacks ambition

[Edited for bashing]

supersonic_kitten

People have been complaining for ages about arenas being tedious bc stuff takes too long to spawn in. There is a reason no one wants to touch vMA and vDSA with a 10-foot pole after they've farmed the gear they need. No one wants to waste an hour on relatively easy content that is artificially stretched out by waiting for spawns.

So what do they do with the Infinite Archive? Same damn thing.

I think vVH is the best thing they've ever done arena wise. It's just a lot more fun because you go in.......... and all the enemies are already standing there. Didn't think I'd ever define that as a great QoL feature but here we are.

Pixiepumpkin

Rohamad_Ali wrote: »

[snip]

Your post deserves more votes. Sadly, few know how to read between the lines.

[edited to remove quote]

Pixiepumpkin

supersonic_kitten wrote: »

People have been complaining for ages about arenas being tedious bc stuff takes too long to spawn in. There is a reason no one wants to touch vMA and vDSA with a 10-foot pole after they've farmed the gear they need. No one wants to waste an hour on relatively easy content that is artificially stretched out by waiting for spawns.

So what do they do with the Infinite Archive? Same damn thing.

I think vVH is the best thing they've ever done arena wise. It's just a lot more fun because you go in.......... and all the enemies are already standing there. Didn't think I'd ever define that as a great QoL feature but here we are.

Ya, going through trash mobs to extend the time spent in a place called "infinite archive" feels pointless. I get trash mobs in dungeons, I get trash mobs in trials (often used as a GS check/DPS check) but in EA they just feel like a waste of time.

Meh, I don't really care. I am done with that place.

Daoin

I like IA, its like trial night, can do it just once a week with a friend but unlike trial or dungeon no 2 runs are likely to see the same mobs in the same order

Anifaas

I find IA to be rather lacklustre. It feels like a dungeon simulator tool for testing NPCs. ToT seems misplaced as well. A card game inside of a fully fleshed out RPG. Hmmmmm. Next they'll tell me we're getting florals for spring.

Ulvich

I went into Infinite Archive one time just to see what it was all about. I fought two rounds, which may or may not be enough to come to any conclusion, but I got so bored with it. I left there with the impression that it's just another arena type of deal. I'm not saying that Infinite Archive is a waste of time and that you shouldn't go there. I'm just saying that it's not for me.

Silaf

Infinite archive is really repetitive at the moment but i believe it holds a great potential.

For example what if zos where to select a random location in the game as a background for the boss arena. Maybe some never seen background from the upcoming dlc too.

Or what if we were to get another player as a pvp boss in rare occasions.

Kiyakotari

fizzylu wrote: »

[...] the new outfit styles that will start dropping there being class restricted is just another reason to not do it.

You can say that again! I'm probably not going to bother doing IA after Update 41, and might even actively avoid it. I've been waiting for those outfit styles, and the fact that they're going to be class restricted has me absolutely livid.

Pixiepumpkin

Kiyakotari wrote: »

fizzylu wrote: »

[...] the new outfit styles that will start dropping there being class restricted is just another reason to not do it.

You can say that again! I'm probably not going to bother doing IA, and might even actively avoid it. I've been waiting for those outfit styles, and the fact that they're going to be class restricted has me absolutely livid.

Agreed. The only reason I would step back in there would be for the class outfits, but now that they are restricted....mess on it, not gonna bother.

I can see the chest pieces being restricted due to the class icon being on them, but the rest of the set not so much.

I doubt most people would even be able to tell what gloves, boots, belt, pants, shoulders etc one is wearing.

Wise_Will

one of my main issues with IA, besides the boss platform is the difficulty from Arc 1 - Arc 2 is a good step up, but Arc 3 - Arc 4 onwards is just too much in 1 go. It feels like you have skipped 4 Arcs

Syldras

I usually do archive runs (as long as I have time and feel like it, not necessarily as far as possible) when there's several advantages simultaneously, which normally means that there's also a daily or weekly endeavor about it, so I get that currency too, as an extra to the usual archive currency (another positive aspect is that the archive is quite useful for leveling companions).

Other than that, I can rarely be bothered anymore, to be honest. Even if the map designs and watchling comments are neat, it gets boring after some time. It's just always the same: same background, same enemies, same friendly npcs, same voice lines. I can see them adding more to this over time (I'm not even sure whether they already added new voice lines? I think a few days ago I heard something I could not remember from before), then it might get a bit more interesting again for a while, but also only for a limited amount of time.

If I wouldn't "need" the archive points for the weekly book furnishings (and rarely other leads), I'd probably care for it even less. It would end like it ended with ToT, probably: I wouldn't play it anymore at all (although ToT bored me even faster than the archive).

tauriel01

Yeah, I really can't stand IA. It was billed as an "endless dungeon." It's not a dungeon, it's an arena. And it's a million times more tedious than vDSA. At least the latter has a defined end.. and one you actually can win. The mind numbing drudgery of IA just goes on and on and on until you are simply too gimpy to go any farther. So it inevitably ends in defeat. How.... enjoyable.... not

SpacemanSpiff1

rewards could be better, but it's fun to go in with a friend and see how far we can go. it also encourages situational awareness and strategy, which keeps me from getting too lazy. it's a pretty easy way to get seals of endeavors when possible.

i check it every week to see what undaunted style pages and leads are for sale.

BlueRaven

Smitch_59 wrote: »

I hate IA because I suck at combat. I can't do it, nor can I do vet dungeons or trials. Been playing since 2015 and I still suck. I hate that I can't complete any difficult content. It makes me want to quit the game altogether.

You are 100% not alone in your take on the games combat. I know plenty of players who feel exactly the same way.

I can do vet content, but I do think the combat system this game has is its biggest flaw.

Pixiepumpkin

BlueRaven wrote: »

Smitch_59 wrote: »

I hate IA because I suck at combat. I can't do it, nor can I do vet dungeons or trials. Been playing since 2015 and I still suck. I hate that I can't complete any difficult content. It makes me want to quit the game altogether.

You are 100% not alone in your take on the games combat. I know plenty of players who feel exactly the same way.

I can do vet content, but I do think the combat system this game has is its biggest flaw.

I would argue that the monetization model is its biggest flaw....but then again I can't disagree with your assessment on the combat. I don't find it very engaging and its a chore to watch anyone stream this game doing a trial or PVP because of how simplistic the combat looks.

ThelerisTelvanni

Well I tryed Infinite Archive twice. Both times I ended up defeated by the new Stroy boss... The pack waves? No problem! The regular bosses from whereever? No problem! The cycel Endboss? Seems like my build does not work with it. Or I was just unlucky. So I tryed with a tanking conpanion... Well lets say the companion AI sucks as always standing in stupid (the aoe damage). I'd love to learn the new boss but doing all the trash in between just for a few tryed is mega annoying. So I have not been there is some time.

Maybe having an unranked version where you have as many tryes as you want might help. Or fixing companion AI to not always stand in stupid. And maybe letting them interrupt.

But in general just endless waves of enemys that are only getting stronger in an area they do not fit into, is not my thing.

I'd perfer endless dungeons to explore cool locations. Like ruins (Aylied, Dwemer, whatever) with the respective enemy types and loot the normaly contain. Maybe player created dungeons in a pocet dimention of Oblivion? Some cool puzzels, some cool bosses and some cool cosmetics. Nothing to tedios. Just some nice dungeons to explore and have fun with ind a difeculty of my choice!

Syldras

tauriel01 wrote: »

The mind numbing drudgery of IA just goes on and on and on until you are simply too gimpy to go any farther.

In my case (and I don't believe I'm the only one) it's also a time matter. With no save function, I'll never get to see later arcs just because I don't have time to run around for hours. The best runs so far all did end not because I had no threads of fate left, but because I ran out of time and had to quit the game.

Wise_Will

ThelerisTelvanni wrote: »

Well I tryed Infinite Archive twice. Both times I ended up defeated by the new Stroy boss... The pack waves? No problem! The regular bosses from whereever? No problem! The cycel Endboss? Seems like my build does not work with it. Or I was just unlucky. So I tryed with a tanking conpanion... Well lets say the companion AI sucks as always standing in stupid (the aoe damage). I'd love to learn the new boss but doing all the trash in between just for a few tryed is mega annoying. So I have not been there is some time.

Maybe having an unranked version where you have as many tryes as you want might help. Or fixing companion AI to not always stand in stupid. And maybe letting them interrupt.

But in general just endless waves of enemys that are only getting stronger in an area they do not fit into, is not my thing.

I'd perfer endless dungeons to explore cool locations. Like ruins (Aylied, Dwemer, whatever) with the respective enemy types and loot the normaly contain. Maybe player created dungeons in a pocet dimention of Oblivion? Some cool puzzels, some cool bosses and some cool cosmetics. Nothing to tedios. Just some nice dungeons to explore and have fun with ind a difeculty of my choice![/quote]

Thats what i thought it was going to be in the first place

Dragonredux

Syldras wrote: »

tauriel01 wrote: »

The mind numbing drudgery of IA just goes on and on and on until you are simply too gimpy to go any farther.

In my case (and I don't believe I'm the only one) it's also a time matter. With no save function, I'll never get to see later arcs just because I don't have time to run around for hours. The best runs so far all did end not because I had no threads of fate left, but because I ran out of time and had to quit the game.

Nah you're not the only one. It's my problem as well. My family is frantic and sometimes I have to get called away or sometimes my fingers start hurting in a long run.

Besides there's no real reason to go beyond arc 5 in a leaderboard run. Probably earlier tbh.

metabLast3r

Echoing @SpacemanSpiff1, I actually enjoy it. I'm definitely not the best player. I have played most MMO's, and out of them all, I enjoy the ones with more action combat, twitch finger gameplay. If it tells you anything I like ESO and New World combat the best out of all of them.

I'm a theorycrafter when it comes to builds and try different things to get the most out of my time in game. I've completed the solo trials with the intent of getting better, even when it frustrates me I keep trying. I can't quit until I beat it mentality.

However, everyone doesn't enjoy the same things, some folks have alot of give up (and thats okay!). If it's not for you after trying it, don't let it get you down!

Varana

I really like it. Running through arc 1 for the daily and maybe arc 2 because I'm in the mood is relaxing and fun and doesn't take too long.
I rarely bother going further except for the achievements, though.

Yes, the environment definitely could have more variations.

AzuraFan

SeaGtGruff wrote: »

I haven't been as enamored with the Infinite Archive as I originally hoped I'd be, mostly because my two main characters aren't "gud enuf" to kill all of the Arc 1 bosses and the first Tho'at-- most of the time I don't even get to the first Tho'at.

I'm in the same situation with the second Tho'at (though I've only reached her twice). Can't beat her. Also, if that one particular marauder arrives in Arc 2, I'm dead. There's no incentive to do something like the IA when I know there's a brick wall early on for me. Also, the rewards are terrible, so there's no incentive there either.

I only go into the IA when there's a (reasonable) endeavor related to it. And for me, the archival fortunes (or whatever they're called) are valuable only because of the vendor that sells antiquities leads. If that vendor didn't sell leads, and if there were no endeavors attached to the IA, I'd never go in.

Ironically, I enjoy fighting the trash mobs. It's fun to go through the stages. But many of the cycle bosses are tedious (some impossible for me) and ruin the experience.

AzuraFan

Syldras wrote: »

In my case (and I don't believe I'm the only one) it's also a time matter. With no save function, I'll never get to see later arcs just because I don't have time to run around for hours. The best runs so far all did end not because I had no threads of fate left, but because I ran out of time and had to quit the game.

Good point. For me, it's physical limitations. When there was an IA endeavor a few days ago, I made it to Arc 2 with all my threads, but quit because one of my wrists was hurting (both my wrists have RSI problems). It would have been great if I could have saved and continued the run another time.

reazea

I was not at all impressed with infinite archive either. It's all recycled fights from other parts of the game. It's redundant before you even enter the archive. There's already too much grinding in ESO IMO.

I_killed_Vivec

I find it a bit meh. I don't mind it, but I'm all too well aware that "progression" just means I will end up spending even more time in there, and to be honest it just doesn't have enough to hold my attention.

So when I start up the game and think "what shall I do?" IA just doesn't spring to mind (Maelstrom doesn't either, seen those zones too many times, but at least that is time limited).