good grief, the West Weald is bare

amapola76 · June 30

I know I'm late to the party, but I haven't had time to explore the new chapter until today, even though I preordered, and... what the heck? Leaving aside all the buildings that are locked altogether, even the open ones have scarcely so much as an urn or sack to loot, much less all the desks, nightstands, wardrobes, and trunks that we would normally see. This is seriously ridiculous.

amapola76 · June 30

And backpacks! Where the heck are all the backpacks?

EdjeSwift · June 30

Try exploring outside of Skingrad, there are tons of these things outside of the gates.

Jaimeh · June 30

I wanted to make a post about the fact that the chapter is a bit lazy design-wise. Most of the buildings are closed off in the city, the world events and basically rehashed IA fights on a fancy floor, Scribing is using old Summerset assets, and the main quest line, is nothing by Ayleid delves (with a lot of repetition, I might add). It all seems to point out to a rather lazy chapter design, compared other years at least.

ArchMikem · June 30

There have been multiple points in my exploration where the background scenery ZOS put out of bounds has been more interesting than the Zone itself.

After two weeks in I'm already waiting for the next chapter, West Weald has been pretty underwhelming.

CrashTest · June 30

I don't know if it's because people are just sucking up all the nodes, but those seem few and far between too.

Luthivar · June 30

The ridiculous part isn't the lack of containers, but the extremely low drop rates. Why do I have to loot 1000 backpacks to get 1 purple furnishing plan? And in 50 percent of the cases, it's one from the basegame, not even the zone I'm looting in and that I have paid 40 bucks for. I don't even bother anymore, I'll buy them with master writs once the plans appear at the corresponding trader.

Luthivar · June 30

I wish you would find those furnishing plans more naturally while questing and actually playing the new content. Significant loot would make more sense as a reward system rather than fake content/ stretched gametime.

CGPsaint · June 30

Luthivar wrote: »

The ridiculous part isn't the lack of containers, but the extremely low drop rates. Why do I have to loot 1000 backpacks to get 1 purple furnishing plan? And in 50 percent of the cases, it's one from the basegame, not even the zone I'm looting in and that I have paid 40 bucks for. I don't even bother anymore, I'll buy them with master writs once the plans appear at the corresponding trader.

I've pulled 4 purple plans and they were all base game plans. My 1 homemaker double-drop thus far was for 2 rubbish Wood Elf plans that I just deleted. Good times.

tsaescishoeshiner · July 1

I finished West Weald and haven't noticed fewer lootables than in other zones. I've found furnishing plans, and there are even 3 furnishing plan farm spots, which is more than a lot of zones.

They even added lootable urns and wardrobes and stuff for Ayleid ruins, which is new.

It would be cool if there was more thieving in Skingrad—but my standard for this is Abah's Landing, which was just so nicely designed for it with multiple outdoor layers, secret wall panels etc.

Pelanora · July 1

Zone relies a bit too much on colourful trees to make it special.

DinoZavr · July 1

Luthivar wrote: »

The ridiculous part isn't the lack of containers, but the extremely low drop rates. Why do I have to loot 1000 backpacks to get 1 purple furnishing plan? And in 50 percent of the cases, it's one from the basegame, not even the zone I'm looting in and that I have paid 40 bucks for. I don't even bother anymore, I'll buy them with master writs once the plans appear at the corresponding trader.

This would not resolve the issue completely. Master Writs Vendor's envelopes normally cover only about 1/2 of purple plans, which may drop in the zone. So the remaining half is to be grinded or bought from the Guild Traders.
I expect the prices when stabilized to match vampiric purples (at PC/EU they average about 350K..450K a plan).

TheNuminous1 · July 1

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

I finished West Weald and haven't noticed fewer lootables than in other zones. I've found furnishing plans, and there are even 3 furnishing plan farm spots, which is more than a lot of zones.

They even added lootable urns and wardrobes and stuff for Ayleid ruins, which is new.

It would be cool if there was more thieving in Skingrad—but my standard for this is Abah's Landing, which was just so nicely designed for it with multiple outdoor layers, secret wall panels etc.

What are the other two spots, the only one I know is outcast inn, I'd love to shake things up I'm so bored of that room

MidniteOwl1913 · July 1

I went to the outcast inn, I looted every container I saw and found no recipes at all just materials.

I went all over the place.

ESO_player123 · July 1

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

I went to the outcast inn, I looted every container I saw and found no recipes at all just materials.

I went all over the place.

You need to farm it (a lot) to get any plans. Ideally, you need to do it on multiple toons. Keep to the kitchen and loot only the 8 cupboards and the backpack. Reset them using the door to the courtyard.

Luthivar · July 1

ESO_player123 wrote: »

You need to farm it (a lot) to get any plans. Ideally, you need to do it on multiple toons. Keep to the kitchen and loot only the 8 cupboards and the backpack. Reset them using the door to the courtyard.

Have fun! And aside from the irony, good luck!

Orbital78 · July 1

I haven't had an issue finding places to loot urns, there are many youtube videos on the Outcast Inn. I have also found one of the Aleyid ruins POI's associated with the main quest that has a nice spot too. The public dungeon with the undead, minos, and goblins/ogres fighting also has some areas with a decent number of urns and packs. It sounds like you haven't had the chance to explore enough. I started doing some more of the side quests and the zone has grown on me much more, I think I enjoy some of the side quests more than the main story almost.

MidniteOwl1913 · July 1

ESO_player123 wrote: »

MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »

I went to the outcast inn, I looted every container I saw and found no recipes at all just materials.

I went all over the place.

You need to farm it (a lot) to get any plans. Ideally, you need to do it on multiple toons. Keep to the kitchen and loot only the 8 cupboards and the backpack. Reset them using the door to the courtyard.

Thanks! Wow that sounds annoying...

ESO_player123 · July 1

Luthivar wrote: »

ESO_player123 wrote: »

You need to farm it (a lot) to get any plans. Ideally, you need to do it on multiple toons. Keep to the kitchen and loot only the 8 cupboards and the backpack. Reset them using the door to the courtyard.

Have fun! And aside from the irony, good luck!

My advice was for those people that do want the plans quick. If someone does not feel like farming (which is understandable), they do not have to do this. I think the situation with the furnishing plans is similar to Necrom, Galen, and High Isle. They were hard to come by if you do not farm them.

Edit: my comment above does not include the banners from Nerom which were dropping with alarming rate.

Edit2: for me it's the number of locked buildings that is the most annoying.

LunaFlora · July 1

TheNuminous1 wrote: »

tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »

I finished West Weald and haven't noticed fewer lootables than in other zones. I've found furnishing plans, and there are even 3 furnishing plan farm spots, which is more than a lot of zones.

They even added lootable urns and wardrobes and stuff for Ayleid ruins, which is new.

It would be cool if there was more thieving in Skingrad—but my standard for this is Abah's Landing, which was just so nicely designed for it with multiple outdoor layers, secret wall panels etc.

What are the other two spots, the only one I know is outcast inn, I'd love to shake things up I'm so bored of that room

i believe it's Silorn and Rustwall

CGPsaint · July 2

I've been farming the Legionary Barracks which is located at Rustwall Estate, just south of Skingrad. There are 24 containers that can drop furnishing plans. The first couple of days were complete rubbish, with very few new green/blue plans dropping, and all purples being base zone plans. Today has been much better with 2 single purple drops and a homemaker double drop for 4 new purple plans. I've parked 10 characters inside and am just rotating through them while waiting for 4-man or trial groups to get going. Give that try and hopefully you'll get some of the new plans to drop as well.

Shadowbinder7 · July 2

Pelanora wrote: »

Zone relies a bit too much on colourful trees to make it special.

I was feeling the same after a few days

El_Borracho · July 2

It feels like another Northern Elsweyr, but better planned out and easier to move around. The major improvement with this expansion is the trial, Lucent Citadel, again just like Sunspire was the major improvement with the Northern Elsweyr expansion.

But like Northern Elsweyr, I don't see myself spending a lot of time in West Weald after finishing the quests. Its definitely not on the level of Telvanni Peninsula or Western Skyrim. But at least it isn't as barren and huge as Blackwood.

As for scribing, the advertised big deal to come with West Weald, I haven't even used it.

CGPsaint · July 2

El_Borracho wrote: »

As for scribing, the advertised big deal to come with West Weald, I haven't even used it.

That's really for the best. It's honestly not worth tinkering with until ink becomes more readily available.

TaSheen · July 2

Pelanora wrote: »

Zone relies a bit too much on colourful trees to make it special.

I can see how people would feel that way.... but for me it's perfect. I'm buying Merryvine and will live in West Weald forever....

Now, the odd thing is that I never felt that way about The Rift (either in ESO or in Skyrim). But West Weald.... I'm a fall (and winter) person, I hate spring and summer and wish I could IRL live somewhere there was never either one!

If wishes were horses.... *sigh*

Pelanora · July 3

It is better than the rift just through the better graphics they have now, but it's not better enough thru game play design.

I only want to live near the sea anyway. Not enough medium houses like that for me. I've only found the solitude house, because I can build up and get a sea view.

TaSheen · July 3

Well, there's the one in Vvardenfell, but unless you're a dunmer fan it's certainly not ideal! Hmm. I really can't think of any others near the sea. There's the one UNDER the sea - oh, and there's the Lighthouse one! Or the ship....

I so desperately wanted Erlibru's Cottage - not far from the coast. *sigh*

Pelanora · July 3

The lighthouse is too big and expensive likewise the ship. Just a house by the sea....solitude house is enough.

Really missed opportunity with high isle. But they don't do medium houses so much.

TaSheen · July 3

No, they don't. Erlibru's Cottage would have been perfect - yes, I like the larger houses, but I also like that cottage. And I'd like a Mage's Tower (like Tor Draioch's tower) in a medium size. I also want a nice medium sized house outside of Morthal.

Morthal is my "TES V home". I love the area.... I've written reams of fanfic about Idgrod Ravencrone - from the POV of a minor relative. And more reams about a descendent and the current (in her story's timeline) High King. Fanfic is SO much fun!

Pelanora · July 3

You must be buying all the trees from the furniture guy in skingrad! Very bright autumn colours.

AnduinTryggva · July 3

amapola76 wrote: »

I know I'm late to the party, but I haven't had time to explore the new chapter until today, even though I preordered, and... what the heck? Leaving aside all the buildings that are locked altogether, even the open ones have scarcely so much as an urn or sack to loot, much less all the desks, nightstands, wardrobes, and trunks that we would normally see. This is seriously ridiculous.

I was reading your title and first thought: Well the landscape is actually well designed and it is one of those that came out better than some others.

But you mean lootables. Yeah, this is a HUGE setback. There is so little to loot. At Vashabar you can break into homes but only steal a savebox. The containers in there are unlootable despite being lootables outside of these homes. This is really a very bad thing.