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Concerns About Tel Var Currency and Flower Satchels in the Imperial City
Dear Elder Scrolls Online Community,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the current state of the Tel Var currency, particularly in relation to purchasing flower satchels in the Imperial City. As a dedicated player, I’ve noticed significant imbalances and issues that I believe are detrimental to both new and veteran players alike.
Issue of Imbalance:
The process of farming flowers in beginner zones is bad, yielding approximately a stack of flowers per hour. In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour. Considering each satchel costs 500 Tel Var and only gives 10-16 pieces of random flowers, this discrepancy is quite stark. Farming Tel Var to buy flower satchels is simply ridiculous compared to directly farming the flowers.
Monopoly and Unfair Competition:
The current system inadvertently promotes monopolistic behavior. Players or groups who dominate the Imperial City can essentially control the Tel Var flow, creating an environment where newer players or those less equipped struggle to compete. This disparity is exacerbated by the fact that players with substantial Tel Var reserves can potentially sell gold, introducing a pay-to-win element that is unfair and discouraging.
Impact on New Players:
For new players, especially those on the PlayStation EU server (my primary server), this creates a hostile and unwelcoming environment. The steep learning curve and the difficulty in acquiring resources make it hard for new players to progress, diminishing their gaming experience. This is compounded by experienced players who, feeling entitled to certain zones, may intimidate or threaten others to maintain their perceived control over the area.
Suggestions for Improvement:
1. Remove Flower Satchels Completely: The current system of buying flower satchels with Tel Var is imbalanced and should be removed entirely. This would eliminate the incentive for monopolistic behavior and reduce the pay-to-win aspect of the game.
2. Encourage Fair Play: Introduce stricter penalties for players who engage in harassment or threats within the Imperial City, fostering a more inclusive and fair environment.
I hope these issues are taken into serious consideration. The current exploitation of flower satchels and Tel Var currency not only affects the economy but also the overall player experience. Addressing these concerns would go a long way in making Elder Scrolls Online a more balanced and enjoyable game for everyone.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Best regards,
A concerned Guildmaster of Sparta and RedPoint.
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the current state of the Tel Var currency, particularly in relation to purchasing flower satchels in the Imperial City. As a dedicated player, I’ve noticed significant imbalances and issues that I believe are detrimental to both new and veteran players alike.
Issue of Imbalance:
The process of farming flowers in beginner zones is bad, yielding approximately a stack of flowers per hour. In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour. Considering each satchel costs 500 Tel Var and only gives 10-16 pieces of random flowers, this discrepancy is quite stark. Farming Tel Var to buy flower satchels is simply ridiculous compared to directly farming the flowers.
Monopoly and Unfair Competition:
The current system inadvertently promotes monopolistic behavior. Players or groups who dominate the Imperial City can essentially control the Tel Var flow, creating an environment where newer players or those less equipped struggle to compete. This disparity is exacerbated by the fact that players with substantial Tel Var reserves can potentially sell gold, introducing a pay-to-win element that is unfair and discouraging.
Impact on New Players:
For new players, especially those on the PlayStation EU server (my primary server), this creates a hostile and unwelcoming environment. The steep learning curve and the difficulty in acquiring resources make it hard for new players to progress, diminishing their gaming experience. This is compounded by experienced players who, feeling entitled to certain zones, may intimidate or threaten others to maintain their perceived control over the area.
Suggestions for Improvement:
1. Remove Flower Satchels Completely: The current system of buying flower satchels with Tel Var is imbalanced and should be removed entirely. This would eliminate the incentive for monopolistic behavior and reduce the pay-to-win aspect of the game.
2. Encourage Fair Play: Introduce stricter penalties for players who engage in harassment or threats within the Imperial City, fostering a more inclusive and fair environment.
I hope these issues are taken into serious consideration. The current exploitation of flower satchels and Tel Var currency not only affects the economy but also the overall player experience. Addressing these concerns would go a long way in making Elder Scrolls Online a more balanced and enjoyable game for everyone.
Thank you for your attention and understanding.
Best regards,
A concerned Guildmaster of Sparta and RedPoint.
5
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CGPsaint✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭XperiencedTBAG wrote: »In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour.
I'm having a hard time believing that anyone is farming 200K-400K Tel Var per hour consistently.
"Some enjoy bringing grief to others. They remind M'aiq of mudcrabs—horrible creatures, with no redeeming qualities."48 -
XperiencedTBAG wrote: »In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour.
I'm having a hard time believing that anyone is farming 200K-400K Tel Var per hour consistently.
Some players have a monopoly status, essentially owning the server. If there is nobody else around, there's no competition, making it easier to farm large amounts of Tel Var. However, if there is competition, harassment can occur. This is based on experiences on the PlayStation EU server.4 -
opalcity✭✭✭✭✭How do you know that people who are farming tel var are buying flower satchels?
None of this sounds factual.
11 -
1
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MidniteOwl1913✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭XperiencedTBAG wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour.
I'm having a hard time believing that anyone is farming 200K-400K Tel Var per hour consistently.
Some players have a monopoly status, essentially owning the server. If there is nobody else around, there's no competition, making it easier to farm large amounts of Tel Var. However, if there is competition, harassment can occur. This is based on experiences on the PlayStation EU server.
I often have the server to myself I've never even come close to that number. I too have a hard time seeing how it is possible.
PS5/NA11 -
MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour.
I'm having a hard time believing that anyone is farming 200K-400K Tel Var per hour consistently.
Some players have a monopoly status, essentially owning the server. If there is nobody else around, there's no competition, making it easier to farm large amounts of Tel Var. However, if there is competition, harassment can occur. This is based on experiences on the PlayStation EU server.
I often have the server to myself I've never even come close to that number. I too have a hard time seeing how it is possible.
The main point of this post was not about the amount of Tel Var you can earn per hour. The purpose was to highlight the unfair competition and to argue that flower satchels should be removed from the game. It seems like you missed that key point, and I doubt you're on the PlayStation EU server to experience it firsthand.1 -
opalcity✭✭✭✭✭XperiencedTBAG wrote: »
And are the people who are farming tel var to buy flower sacks in the forum with us now?
I didn't even know you could buy flower sacks with tel var3 -
XperiencedTBAG wrote: »
And are the people who are farming tel var to buy flower sacks in the forum with us now?
I didn't even know you could buy flower sacks with tel var
There you go. It is called Apothecary Satchels.0 -
valenwood_vegan✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Seems extreme to me. I mean I'm not on the same server so all I can say is that when I was farming and trading extensively (until the recent market collapse), I never had trouble selling my alchemy stuff at very high prices and didn't encounter some sort of telvar alchemy cartel... but even if such a thing exists, there are likely other reasonable solutions such as increasing the cost of the alchemy satchels and/or reducing the number of flowers that drop from them.
Also, if specific players are doing something unfair or exploitive, means exist to report such activity.
People should absolutely be able to turn their telvar into something of more general value that they can use / sell - else what's the point of it?Edited by valenwood_vegan on July 28, 2024 9:32PM2 -
valenwood_vegan wrote: »Seems extreme to me. I mean I'm not on the same server so all I can say is that when I was farming and trading extensively (until the recent market collapse), I never had trouble selling my alchemy stuff at very high prices and didn't encounter some sort of telvar alchemy cartel... but even if such a thing exists, there are likely other reasonable solutions such as increasing the cost of the alchemy satchels and/or reducing the number of flowers that drop from them.
Also, if specific players are doing something unfair or exploitive, means exist to report such activity.
People should absolutely be able to turn their telvar into something of more general value that they can use / sell - else what's the point of it?
It might seem extreme, but this is a real issue on the PlayStation EU server. While your experience of farming and trading alchemy items without trouble is valid, it doesn't negate the problems others face with monopolies and unfair competition. People should indeed be able to convert their Tel Var into valuable items for use or sale, but the current system needs adjustments to ensure fair competition for everyone.
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0
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EdjeSwift✭✭✭✭✭
✭Wouldn't the more reasonable solution for this to break the "cartel" rather than ask for the removal of a genuinely useful and viable resources for all platforms?Antiquities Addict8 -
Wouldn't the more reasonable solution for this to break the "cartel" rather than ask for the removal of a genuinely useful and viable resources for all platforms?
Breaking the "cartel" sounds great in theory, but it's not that simple. It's like trying to eat bread that's gone moldy, just cutting off the mold doesn't make it safe. The problem runs deeper, and without significant changes, the issue will persist. Removing the flower satchels is a necessary step to ensure fair gameplay for everyone.0 -
Orbital78✭✭✭✭You can buy alchemy mats from the IA vendors too, I think they drop better items than Tel Var don't they?0 -
ZOS_HadeostrymodGreetings,
After removing some unnecessary back and forth from this thread, we would like everyone to keep posts on the subject at hand, civil, and constructive.
If there may be any questions in regards to the rules, please feel free to review them here1 -
fred4✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭I am an IC player on PC EU. There's a bunch of stuff here that I find hard to believe. I know you're talking about console, but there is no cartel on PC EU that I'm aware of. Maybe that's a function of the game dying on console, and thus few players are around? I see no evidence you get the same with a healthy population. It's also not possible to farm 200K to 400K an hour on PC EU. That might have been almost possible many years ago, before IC became it's own campaign. However, ever since it did, the place is always busy. Not everywhere, but as far as boss farming goes, yes it is, even throughout the night. There's a bunch of competition. Tel Var are split between players participating in a kill. Tel Var gain fluctuates wildly, but I'd say 20K to 40K per hour is more realistic than 200K to 400K. Faction ownership also varies. It's not like any one faction has an iron grip on IC.
The place merely isn't for the faint-hearted. You want to get to know it well, you want to enjoy all aspects of it, you want to know what you're doing, but you also have to go with the the flow. Sometimes that means PvP, sometimes Tel Var farming. There are times where a faction completely dominates and the zerg train does the boss rounds, but I often find I can make the most Tel Var by going against the flow. You don't need to be the member of a cartel. In fact, you want to be an individual to take the most Tel Var out IMO, e.g. so you don't share kill rewards. You want to be a solo nightblade. I don't particularly mean ganking. While that's a possibility, nightblade also helps to survey the place, figure out boss spawns, squirrel away bosses, solo them, then disappear as soon as they're dead. The opportunist player, NB or not, who starts solo farming bosses when their faction almost owns the city, but others are still busy fighting over the last flag, those are the ones who make the most Tel Var. No cartel can stop you from doing that. In fact, if they do the PvP, they're doing you a favor, and if bosses are overfarmed, you can still do well killing mobs while your faction owns the city. You just need to be flexible and have the right (gank-proof) build. That said, if you're serious about approaching IC this way, it helps to have a nightblade in every faction.
I do agree that Apothecary Parcels have an impact on alchmey prices. When they were introduced years ago, Columbine prices fell. This, however, works both ways. The efficacy of harvesting is reduced, if you intend to sell that stuff. On the other hand prices in guild stores are cheaper. You have greater buying power. This basically seems a wash to me. I've never had an issue making gold for basic supplies and I don't exclusively do it via Tel Var. It also comes from daily writs, surveys, motif sales, and so on. Knowledge of market trends helps, but there are evergreen items other than reagents. For example Dreugh Wax is a useless substance in my book (personal opinion), which makes for a great income source.
As for new players, I don't buy this is an issue. You don't need to make custom potions for overland. Figuring out your gold-making niche - if that's what you need / want - is more of a long term thing, e.g. if you stay in the game long enough you grow beyond questing. But also the market always shifts. It's par for the course. Alchemy prices have varied drastically over the years, especially when you look at individual reagents. Ways of making gold have varied. IC is the PvPers way of doing it, but on PC EU that's merely competitive with other methods, which have included Infinite Archive, Elsweyr dragon farming, and so on, mostly whatever the hot new thing is. That said, the overall market on PC EU, and PC NA I believe, has fallen recently. This has been reflected in the value of Tel Var too. They're worth less now, as is Dreugh Wax, as is Perfect Roe, and so on. I see nothing much wrong here. In fact, I see a lot right with Alchemy Parcels being available from a PvP activity, because potions and poisons, and a variety of them, are arguably as essential to PvP, if not more so, than they are to PvE.PC EU: Magblade (PvP main), DK (PvE Tank), Sorc (PvP and PvE), Magden (PvE Healer), Magplar (PvP and PvE DD), Arcanist (PvE DD)
PC NA: Magblade (PvP and PvE every role)4 -
fred4✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭
What exactly does this mean? In order to farm IC efficiently, it needs to be turned one colour. If you're that faction and you farm IC, do members of the cartel log on to another faction and take you out? While your ostensible faction-mates stand by and watch? I have rarely seen this type of behavior other than as part of duelling etiquette, which is quite different. Even if that happens on PS EU, I don't see how ZOS could police it and I certainly don't see that this should be handled via game system changes affecting all platforms.Im on PSeu and I can confirm there is a Telwar cartel on this server that owns ICPC EU: Magblade (PvP main), DK (PvE Tank), Sorc (PvP and PvE), Magden (PvE Healer), Magplar (PvP and PvE DD), Arcanist (PvE DD)
PC NA: Magblade (PvP and PvE every role)3 -
MidniteOwl1913✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭
What exactly does this mean? In order to farm IC efficiently, it needs to be turned one colour. If you're that faction and you farm IC, do members of the cartel log on to another faction and take you out? While your ostensible faction-mates stand by and watch? I have rarely seen this type of behavior other than as part of duelling etiquette, which is quite different. Even if that happens on PS EU, I don't see how ZOS could police it and I certainly don't see that this should be handled via game system changes affecting all platforms.Im on PSeu and I can confirm there is a Telwar cartel on this server that owns IC
Well you can switch to a character for whatever alliance or just ignore the problem as you don't have to go near the opposing base. I often have a server to myself late at night. Sometimes it a no CP one, but it doesn't affect my ability burn down trash mobs by very much.
PS5/NA0 -
wolfie1.0.✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭XperiencedTBAG wrote: »
you know that the best way to stop these people from these farms is to find them in IC and kill them right?
steal half their Tel Var from them and you cut production in half.9 -
Amottica✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭wolfie1.0. wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »
you know that the best way to stop these people from these farms is to find them in IC and kill them right?
steal half their Tel Var from them and you cut production in half.
Excellent point.
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fred4✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭
If I read you correctly, then that would be my point as well. If you're a solo player in IC, play a solo build. I think nightblade is best for bringing Tel Var home, but you could be a sorc or whatever your poison is. You could be a mist-forming / sprinting stage 4 vamp on any class and that would probably work, or be tanky and port out to Cyro to save Tel Var. In the absense of tankiness, you can use the Esoteric Greaves and basically be gank-proof. As a nightblade you then disappear. Unless a whole "cartel" sneaks up on you systematically as a group, there is IMO nothing stopping you from taking Tel Var out of IC. If you don't want to be abused in chat, you go offline or turn chat off.MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »
What exactly does this mean? In order to farm IC efficiently, it needs to be turned one colour. If you're that faction and you farm IC, do members of the cartel log on to another faction and take you out? While your ostensible faction-mates stand by and watch? I have rarely seen this type of behavior other than as part of duelling etiquette, which is quite different. Even if that happens on PS EU, I don't see how ZOS could police it and I certainly don't see that this should be handled via game system changes affecting all platforms.Im on PSeu and I can confirm there is a Telwar cartel on this server that owns IC
Well you can switch to a character for whatever alliance or just ignore the problem as you don't have to go near the opposing base. I often have a server to myself late at night. Sometimes it a no CP one, but it doesn't affect my ability burn down trash mobs by very much.PC EU: Magblade (PvP main), DK (PvE Tank), Sorc (PvP and PvE), Magden (PvE Healer), Magplar (PvP and PvE DD), Arcanist (PvE DD)
PC NA: Magblade (PvP and PvE every role)0 -
fred4✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭
On the contrary, your claim of 200K to 400K Tel Var per hour is directly relevant to how unfair and unbalanced you perceive IC to be. You're not off by a percentage here, you're off by a whole order of magnitude by PC EU standards.XperiencedTBAG wrote: »MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour.
I'm having a hard time believing that anyone is farming 200K-400K Tel Var per hour consistently.
Some players have a monopoly status, essentially owning the server. If there is nobody else around, there's no competition, making it easier to farm large amounts of Tel Var. However, if there is competition, harassment can occur. This is based on experiences on the PlayStation EU server.
I often have the server to myself I've never even come close to that number. I too have a hard time seeing how it is possible.
The main point of this post was not about the amount of Tel Var you can earn per hour. The purpose was to highlight the unfair competition and to argue that flower satchels should be removed from the game. It seems like you missed that key point, and I doubt you're on the PlayStation EU server to experience it firsthand.PC EU: Magblade (PvP main), DK (PvE Tank), Sorc (PvP and PvE), Magden (PvE Healer), Magplar (PvP and PvE DD), Arcanist (PvE DD)
PC NA: Magblade (PvP and PvE every role)4 -
MidniteOwl1913✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭
If I read you correctly, then that would be my point as well. If you're a solo player in IC, play a solo build. I think nightblade is best for bringing Tel Var home, but you could be a sorc or whatever your poison is. You could be a mist-forming / sprinting stage 4 vamp on any class and that would probably work, or be tanky and port out to Cyro to save Tel Var. In the absense of tankiness, you can use the Esoteric Greaves and basically be gank-proof. As a nightblade you then disappear. Unless a whole "cartel" sneaks up on you systematically as a group, there is IMO nothing stopping you from taking Tel Var out of IC. If you don't want to be abused in chat, you go offline or turn chat off.MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »
What exactly does this mean? In order to farm IC efficiently, it needs to be turned one colour. If you're that faction and you farm IC, do members of the cartel log on to another faction and take you out? While your ostensible faction-mates stand by and watch? I have rarely seen this type of behavior other than as part of duelling etiquette, which is quite different. Even if that happens on PS EU, I don't see how ZOS could police it and I certainly don't see that this should be handled via game system changes affecting all platforms.Im on PSeu and I can confirm there is a Telwar cartel on this server that owns IC
Well you can switch to a character for whatever alliance or just ignore the problem as you don't have to go near the opposing base. I often have a server to myself late at night. Sometimes it a no CP one, but it doesn't affect my ability burn down trash mobs by very much.
Ok, mostly I was commenting that I just don't see another player of any flavour when I'm there. It's just me and the NPCs. If an opposing faction owns the district I just avoid the guard NPCs. I do not really farm telvar much. But it's mostly because it gets so repetitive...
If I do come upon other players it's usually a small group. Nothing in any way organized. Sometimes there will be a single ganker picking people off who are doing quests. If something like that happens I just go to no CP. That usually solves the problem.
PS5/NA0 -
kargen27✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Right near the top of the list of things this game doesn't need is less reason to go to the Imperial City. I would say we need more reason to go outside of these events.
I'm also not sure how a monopoly can occur. If you have a character that is the same faction just tag along and get your telvar. Otherwise drop down into the sewers for a while and find a good circle to run or try to stay out of the district the group is in if you want to farm the city. Usually when a group is running if you stay away from the flag and the boss you are safe in a district.
And the opening post seems to forget about surveys. Surveys can amass all kinds of good things fairly quick.
PvP takes a lot of potions so having a PvP source to generate ingredients just makes good sense. If those ingredients end in the market that is good for others that also need potions.and then the parrot said, "must be the water mines green too."1 -
fedouva✭✭✭If an alliance wants to get into a pvp in an imperial city, they will always dominate because the area is limited, there is nothing you can do, only a complete overhaul will help0
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XSTRONG✭✭✭✭✭
On the contrary, your claim of 200K to 400K Tel Var per hour is directly relevant to how unfair and unbalanced you perceive IC to be. You're not off by a percentage here, you're off by a whole order of magnitude by PC EU standards.XperiencedTBAG wrote: »MidniteOwl1913 wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »XperiencedTBAG wrote: »In stark contrast, farming Tel Var in the Imperial City, even under the bad conditions, nets around 200k-400k Tel Var per hour.
I'm having a hard time believing that anyone is farming 200K-400K Tel Var per hour consistently.
Some players have a monopoly status, essentially owning the server. If there is nobody else around, there's no competition, making it easier to farm large amounts of Tel Var. However, if there is competition, harassment can occur. This is based on experiences on the PlayStation EU server.
I often have the server to myself I've never even come close to that number. I too have a hard time seeing how it is possible.
The main point of this post was not about the amount of Tel Var you can earn per hour. The purpose was to highlight the unfair competition and to argue that flower satchels should be removed from the game. It seems like you missed that key point, and I doubt you're on the PlayStation EU server to experience it firsthand.
14k telwar for killing one boss, if you control IC you can easily get 200k telwar within 1 hour.0 -
Confirming this issue is simple. Just visit the Imperial City on the PlayStation EU server. You'll see a small group of players dominating the area, making it nearly impossible for others to farm effectively. It's not about a lack of interest; it's about a few players controlling the zone and resources. Check the Guild traders for further evidence of this monopoly.0 -
I am an IC player on PC EU. There's a bunch of stuff here that I find hard to believe. I know you're talking about console, but there is no cartel on PC EU that I'm aware of. Maybe that's a function of the game dying on console, and thus few players are around? I see no evidence you get the same with a healthy population. It's also not possible to farm 200K to 400K an hour on PC EU. That might have been almost possible many years ago, before IC became it's own campaign. However, ever since it did, the place is always busy. Not everywhere, but as far as boss farming goes, yes it is, even throughout the night. There's a bunch of competition. Tel Var are split between players participating in a kill. Tel Var gain fluctuates wildly, but I'd say 20K to 40K per hour is more realistic than 200K to 400K. Faction ownership also varies. It's not like any one faction has an iron grip on IC.
The place merely isn't for the faint-hearted. You want to get to know it well, you want to enjoy all aspects of it, you want to know what you're doing, but you also have to go with the the flow. Sometimes that means PvP, sometimes Tel Var farming. There are times where a faction completely dominates and the zerg train does the boss rounds, but I often find I can make the most Tel Var by going against the flow. You don't need to be the member of a cartel. In fact, you want to be an individual to take the most Tel Var out IMO, e.g. so you don't share kill rewards. You want to be a solo nightblade. I don't particularly mean ganking. While that's a possibility, nightblade also helps to survey the place, figure out boss spawns, squirrel away bosses, solo them, then disappear as soon as they're dead. The opportunist player, NB or not, who starts solo farming bosses when their faction almost owns the city, but others are still busy fighting over the last flag, those are the ones who make the most Tel Var. No cartel can stop you from doing that. In fact, if they do the PvP, they're doing you a favor, and if bosses are overfarmed, you can still do well killing mobs while your faction owns the city. You just need to be flexible and have the right (gank-proof) build. That said, if you're serious about approaching IC this way, it helps to have a nightblade in every faction.
I do agree that Apothecary Parcels have an impact on alchmey prices. When they were introduced years ago, Columbine prices fell. This, however, works both ways. The efficacy of harvesting is reduced, if you intend to sell that stuff. On the other hand prices in guild stores are cheaper. You have greater buying power. This basically seems a wash to me. I've never had an issue making gold for basic supplies and I don't exclusively do it via Tel Var. It also comes from daily writs, surveys, motif sales, and so on. Knowledge of market trends helps, but there are evergreen items other than reagents. For example Dreugh Wax is a useless substance in my book (personal opinion), which makes for a great income source.
As for new players, I don't buy this is an issue. You don't need to make custom potions for overland. Figuring out your gold-making niche - if that's what you need / want - is more of a long term thing, e.g. if you stay in the game long enough you grow beyond questing. But also the market always shifts. It's par for the course. Alchemy prices have varied drastically over the years, especially when you look at individual reagents. Ways of making gold have varied. IC is the PvPers way of doing it, but on PC EU that's merely competitive with other methods, which have included Infinite Archive, Elsweyr dragon farming, and so on, mostly whatever the hot new thing is. That said, the overall market on PC EU, and PC NA I believe, has fallen recently. This has been reflected in the value of Tel Var too. They're worth less now, as is Dreugh Wax, as is Perfect Roe, and so on. I see nothing much wrong here. In fact, I see a lot right with Alchemy Parcels being available from a PvP activity, because potions and poisons, and a variety of them, are arguably as essential to PvP, if not more so, than they are to PvE.
While I appreciate your perspective as a PC EU player, the situation on the PlayStation EU server is notably different. The population and dynamics can vary greatly between platforms, and on PS EU, a cartel does dominate the Imperial City, creating a significant imbalance.
Regarding Tel Var farming rates, it's indeed challenging on busy servers, but with the right strategies and during certain times, it's possible to reach those high numbers, even if it's not common. The issue isn't the Tel Var gain but the monopolistic behavior that impacts fair competition.
Your points about adapting to the environment and finding niches are valid, but the problem here is the artificial control exerted by a small group, which hinders new and solo players. The comparison to mold on bread is apt—just cutting it off doesn't solve the underlying issue. Removing flower satchels might be a drastic measure, but it addresses the root cause of the monopoly, ensuring a more balanced and fair experience for everyone on the server.
Ultimately, while your suggestions work in a more balanced environment, they don't fully address the specific problems faced by PS EU players. The game should provide equitable opportunities for all players, and addressing monopolistic practices is essential for that.0