West Weald - that's all to explore for the next 12 months?

Lugaldu

First of all, thank you for the new chapter and the new content, I'm looking forward to the new quests and scribing as well as collecting all the new furnishing plans and antiquities.

But I also have to say that I'm disappointed with the size of the new region. You can look the entire map in 10 minutes and now I'm already depressed and thinking that that's all to explore for the next 12 months.

Lord_Draevan

I haven't fully explored it yet, but it seems the same size as Telvanni Peninsula in last year's chapter, but that one also had the Apocrypha zone whereas West Weald doesn't have any such other zone attached to it

LucyferLightbringer

Expansions keep getting smaller and smaller

Syldras

Lord_Draevan wrote: »

I haven't fully explored it yet, but it seems the same size as Telvanni Peninsula in last year's chapter, but that one also had the Apocrypha zone whereas West Weald doesn't have any such other zone attached to it

Exactly. It's like they've reduced the map(s) by around 50%. Or is there some "inaccessible through map multiverse thing" going on in the main quest with Ithelia? Haven't played that on PTS. Although, even if there is, it's not comparable to having a permanently available zone like Apocrypha.

Lord_Draevan

Also, there's only 5 main quests for this expansion (or more likely, 4, since the last one is usually a quick quest where all you do is talk with the expansion's cast) compared to Necrom's 9/8 quests

Syldras

Lord_Draevan wrote: »

Also, there's only 5 main quests for this expansion (or more likely, 4, since the last one is usually a quick quest where all you do is talk with the expansion's cast) compared to Necrom's 9/8 quests

That's one thing I wouldn't judge yet. Maybe the quests are longer instead (although I'm not sure how hopeful I should be about this).

vsrs_au

I found the zone to be fairly large. I ported to the Skingrad Vineyard wayshrine, and it took quite a while to gallop to the Gold Coast gate. No idea how much content is in the zone, though, I've only just started looking at it, and it's past my bedtime.

P.S. (off-topic) Connectivity is good, too: the zone has gate access to both Reaper's March and Gold Coast.

Maitsukas

There are a total of 4 side quests for the following locations, that are mandatory to progress through the Chapter's Storyline:

Rustwall Estate's and Ostumir's quests are required for the first Zone Story quest.
Feldagard Keep's and the Outcast Inn's quests are required for the third Zone Story quest.

Sheridan

Syldras wrote: »

Lord_Draevan wrote: »

Also, there's only 5 main quests for this expansion (or more likely, 4, since the last one is usually a quick quest where all you do is talk with the expansion's cast) compared to Necrom's 9/8 quests

That's one thing I wouldn't judge yet. Maybe the quests are longer instead (although I'm not sure how hopeful I should be about this).

There's also an additional "capping" quest line after the completion of Gold Road and Necrom.

Syldras

Sheridan wrote: »

There's also an additional "capping" quest line after the completion of Gold Road and Necrom.

There had always been an epilogue that connected the chapter and the Q4 story dlc (as long as there still was one) since the Elsweyr year. It usually consisted of 3 quests. Is the one after Gold Road longer?

TX12001rwb17_ESO

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Syldras

vsrs_au wrote: »

I found the zone to be fairly large. I ported to the Skingrad Vineyard wayshrine, and it took quite a while to gallop to the Gold Coast gate.

Now try something like that with Vvardenfell, Summerset or Western Skyrim Or even the Peninsula. This year's map is definitively not bigger.

Soarora

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Summerset/Gold Road spoilers, a criticism of the writing if ZOS reads this:

Leythen and Darien had something to fight for, to live for, to die for. We only knew Leythen for a single DLC and yet I got to know him, his damaged relationship, the whys, only for Val to lose her husband too. His death was heartbreaking as it dug deep despite my knowledge of the lore, he’s not just hanging out in an afterlife, he’s truly dead.

Darien we got to know over so many nonDLC quests as he discovered himself, but I hadn’t even done those quests before Summerset. I didn’t know who he was when the Golden Knight appeared, and yet his sacrifice hurt me all the same. Because he was actually likeable. He was flirty but accepted boundaries, he seemed to actually care about the people around him. Yet his noble sacrifice wasn’t just a man giving his life for me, it was a tool fulfilling it’s duty— there’s so much to him I wish to better understand. This chapter would’ve been perfect to bring him back. But you didn’t… why? Is it because you’re afraid of continuity issues? Can’t get the same or a similar VA? You keep joking “we’re not bringing him back” but WHY… he is one of your best written characters while every single new npc I couldn’t care less about.

They have nothing to fight for, live for, or die for. Scruut can’t really die. Leramil is just there as a quest guide and is just like “oh the daedric prince hermaeus mora wishes me to say this” all the time. The wood elf guy is just there because he happens to be there. The dunmer guy sacrifices himself very quickly (no time to process) only to be brought back immediately, which I knew would happen, so there was 0 emotional impact…

You don’t need 3 chapters, you don’t need 2, Summerset and Wrothgar seem to be the best DLCs in the game. Please look into why.

SkaiFaith

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

Warhawke_80

The content...to dollar ratio is making it not worth the purchase going forward... I'll wait for the expansion to go on sale next time.


Really ZoS you should have known that a paltry amount of content in the expansion would be a huge issue for most of us...and that will effect the number of units you sale next time because who wants to shell out Fifty bucks for a couple hours of content? Without enough to do people leave...it's that simple.


Edit: I also want to note that throwing a bunch of AI generated fetch quest at us isn't content...so please don't come back and tell us about the "Hours" of quest you put in. A half-measured expansion such as this should at the very least have sweeping bug/graphic and quality of life fixes...seriosuley what have you guys been doing?



I usually am positive on this forum...but this was a let down

Soarora

SkaiFaith wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

That’s exactly what I think happened as well. That said, I edited my post with a rant about Summerset versus Gold Road and honestly, I don’t think story arcs are exactly what we need. What we need is better writing. Summerset is a part of a 3 story arc, yes, but I played Summerset /first/ and it still had a huge impact. Wrothgar I see many people love too (havent done it myself) and that’s also one DLC.

WhiteCoatSyndrome

Soarora wrote: »

SkaiFaith wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

That’s exactly what I think happened as well. That said, I edited my post with a rant about Summerset versus Gold Road and honestly, I don’t think story arcs are exactly what we need. What we need is better writing. Summerset is a part of a 3 story arc, yes, but I played Summerset /first/ and it still had a huge impact. Wrothgar I see many people love too (havent done it myself) and that’s also one DLC.

Agree. We got an entirely new Daedric Prince in this story arc and the best I can call it is ‘middling.’

Soarora

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

SkaiFaith wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

That’s exactly what I think happened as well. That said, I edited my post with a rant about Summerset versus Gold Road and honestly, I don’t think story arcs are exactly what we need. What we need is better writing. Summerset is a part of a 3 story arc, yes, but I played Summerset /first/ and it still had a huge impact. Wrothgar I see many people love too (havent done it myself) and that’s also one DLC.

Agree. We got an entirely new Daedric Prince in this story arc and the best I can call it is ‘middling.’

Mhm. We did all that questing just for the world to just be the exact same as before. I had hopes for Necrom, I liked it. Torvesard at least had something to fight for. Yet, now it all blurs together and I don’t even really remember what happened except for a few moments.

Syldras

When was that announcement in which ZOS declared that they used the years from ESO's release until then to figure out what players want and expect from the game? Was that the 2023 Christmas/New Year post? Or was it even earlier? I'm wondering whether this chapter is already designed according to what they think players wish for... Although I'm sceptical anyway when it comes to marketing speech. It's always "the players wanted this".

SkaiFaith wrote: »

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

I'm quite sure that with "multi-year stories" people meant story arcs like Morrowind - CWC - Summerset in which every chapter also felt meaningful in itself. Not splitting one average story's content over several years.

Warhawke_80

Soarora wrote: »

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

SkaiFaith wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

That’s exactly what I think happened as well. That said, I edited my post with a rant about Summerset versus Gold Road and honestly, I don’t think story arcs are exactly what we need. What we need is better writing. Summerset is a part of a 3 story arc, yes, but I played Summerset /first/ and it still had a huge impact. Wrothgar I see many people love too (havent done it myself) and that’s also one DLC.

Agree. We got an entirely new Daedric Prince in this story arc and the best I can call it is ‘middling.’

Mhm. We did all that questing just for the world to just be the exact same as before. I had hopes for Necrom, I liked it. Torvesard at least had something to fight for. Yet, now it all blurs together and I don’t even really remember what happened except for a few moments.

That is the problem with ESO more lately than ever...there just is no "consequence" in anything you do.

Log in
do your dailies because you finished the content in a couple hours
Log out

What excitement!

Why can't we have a living breathing world where consequential things happen?

Soarora

Warhawke_80 wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

WhiteCoatSyndrome wrote: »

Soarora wrote: »

SkaiFaith wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

That’s exactly what I think happened as well. That said, I edited my post with a rant about Summerset versus Gold Road and honestly, I don’t think story arcs are exactly what we need. What we need is better writing. Summerset is a part of a 3 story arc, yes, but I played Summerset /first/ and it still had a huge impact. Wrothgar I see many people love too (havent done it myself) and that’s also one DLC.

Agree. We got an entirely new Daedric Prince in this story arc and the best I can call it is ‘middling.’

Mhm. We did all that questing just for the world to just be the exact same as before. I had hopes for Necrom, I liked it. Torvesard at least had something to fight for. Yet, now it all blurs together and I don’t even really remember what happened except for a few moments.

That is the problem with ESO more lately than ever...there just is no "consequence" in anything you do.

Log in
do your dailies because you finished the content in a couple hours
Log out

What excitement!

Why can't we have a living breathing world where consequential things happen?

Yes, and I think ZOS’ fear of killing characters is a big problem. I love Summerset BECAUSE the death count is so high— over 50 people if not hundreds of people, let alone any we may have cared for. Even an NPC we see only once (while she’s dying) feels impactful because she has story.

Now, obviously we can’t have every DLC have everyone die or we’ll avoid attachment but it’s clear in Gold Road and VERY clear in Markarth that ZOS won’t kill. High Isle I applauded that ZOS killed one person but honestly I didn’t care about him either. At least the one NPC cared about that one.

RomanRex

Warhawke_80 wrote: »

The content...to dollar ratio is making it not worth the purchase going forward... I'll wait for the expansion to go on sale next time.

This is why pre-purchasing is advertised and pushed so hard. Buying it sight unseen.

OtarTheMad

SkaiFaith wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

This.

I remember when, last year, in an interview someone at ZOS, maybe Rich, said that they had things planned out until 2026. So that hinted to me that at one point this multi-year story was actually a year long story format initially.

SkaiFaith

OtarTheMad wrote: »

SkaiFaith wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

Soarora wrote: »

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

If it was not for the scribing feature it would feel EXACTLY like a Q4 zone DLC.

Also much of the questing involves having completed Necrom beforehand which makes it feel even smaller, it does not feel like an expansion at all.

I’m convinced that’s exactly what it is— a Q4 DLC with a little extra padding. This isn’t what we asked for when we said we wanted story arcs, ZOS. Connection to characters is better than with year-long stories but you’re still afraid to kill people and honestly I don’t even like any of the npcs like how I did with Summerset.

Remember that in 2022 with the High Isle and "year story" outrage, when people weren't happy, Zos shifted immediately so we could get multi-year stories.

Necrom + West Weald at that point was likely already developed so it's fair to assume that West Weald was in fact a Q4 DLC, so the "strange dimensions" fit with how we got here.

My theory is reinforced by the fact it has an epilogue quest and everything ends here - no part 3 of the story, it seems... So we have to hope that from next year going on we'll start having more proper Chapters.

This.

I remember when, last year, in an interview someone at ZOS, maybe Rich, said that they had things planned out until 2026. So that hinted to me that at one point this multi-year story was actually a year long story format initially.

Ouch! Let's just hope the next couple years are more... rich.

GuuMoonRyoung

Until High Isle, they release a bonus zone like Galen, Deadlands, Murkmire to finish off the entire saga. But since this saga started, they have not done so. So maybe they will add another bonus zone six months from now or maybe not.

I_killed_Vivec

LucyferLightbringer wrote: »

Expansions keep getting smaller and smaller

I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it further... and make it a contraction.

Margha_Ralmoren

Soarora wrote: »

I don’t think story arcs are exactly what we need. What we need is better writing. Summerset is a part of a 3 story arc, yes, but I played Summerset /first/ and it still had a huge impact. Wrothgar I see many people love too (havent done it myself) and that’s also one DLC.

The problem is that we have no choice in the quests.

It's not like Baldur's Gate 3, New Vegas or rarely in base game quests or near the end of the Wrothgar chapter, when you have to pay attention to the dialogues in order to choose who you'll be allied with and how to end the story.

Here you're on rails all the way, you can spam-click to skip all the dialogues since the outcome will be the same regardless.

Plus with the combats being mind-numbingly easy there's literally nothing to hold your attention.

Vivec must be pitying players, we choose to come to Tamriel just to have as much agency as NPCs XD

xclassgaming

LucyferLightbringer wrote: »

Expansions keep getting smaller and smaller

no they dont

Syldras

Margha_Ralmoren wrote: »

The problem is that we have no choice in the quests.

That's one aspect, but I think, even with that problem, at least a meaningful, emotionally engaging story can be told (or otherwise people couldn't be immersed in movies either, because there you don't interact at all). It's about the writing. Morrowind, CWC and Summerset were wonderful. I wish they'd get back to that level when it comes to quality.

xclassgaming wrote: »

LucyferLightbringer wrote: »

Expansions keep getting smaller and smaller

no they dont

First, the number of quests was reduced (a lot, if you don't believe it, you may look at the quest lists for Morrowind and Summerset on UESP and compare that with High Isle, for example), then they removed the Q4 story dlc, now even the map is much smaller. It is, it's undeniable. Telvanni Peninsula wasn't huge either, but it had Apocrypha as a second map, Western Skyrim had Blackreach, etc.

LunaFlora

im confused by how West Weald is seen as small like Galen?

small zones like that have 0 public dungeons, only 2 delves, 2 world bosses,
if they have any other towns it's usually just 1 friendly town. Telvanni Peninsula had 1 and Galen had 0.

West Weald has as far as I have seen a similar size to chapters like Blackwood.
Like other chapters it has 2 public dungeons, 6 delves, 6 world bosses,
and multiple small towns besides the major city:
Ostumir, Vashabar, Sutch, and Ontus.





just look at the difference in maps?

and telvanni peninsula



Telvanni Peninsula is part of a chapter so it does also have a public dungeon, but beyond that it is way different.

TaSheen

Hmm. On the close up map of Skingrad is a "Caravan Rakamati". Where is Rakamati?

Oh, UESP says Rakamati is a person. So why the caravan?