Should players be allowed to inspect gear and looted items from other players?

Erickson9610

Inspired by this thread, this poll is meant to ask the forums community whether they would like an "inspect" feature to allow other players to see what equipment you are wearing, as well as what items you loot from chests and enemies.

Note that we already do have partial support for inspecting others, via commands and addons, but it's in no way feature-complete. Would you like the ability to inspect others to be more fleshed out? Why or why not?

ESO_player123

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

If they ever add such a feature I hope there will be an option to turn it off. I played an MMORPG where inspection was available and it had such an option. So, everyone could choose how they felt about this.

As for inspecting other players' loot, I know that there is an addon for that. It annoys me when I receive a whisper the moment I get an item that the addon user wants. I will gladly give out the gear at the end of a dungeon/trial if I do not need it. But if I receive such whispers mid-run, most likely my answer will be a NO.

TaSheen

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

PVE: I hated that in other games. I would hate it here. If you want to know what I'm wearing, you can ask politely, and I'll tell you.

As for PVP, I don't know, I don't PVP in this game.

Taril

I feel the main issue with this is that this type of thing normally goes against Jolly Cooperation and feeds into gatekeeping players whom aren't playing meta.

Or results in unsolicited advice about builds which not everyone finds welcoming.

For things like Vet Trials, we already have people asking for links to their associated completion acheivement which is enough of a qualifier to show that someone is competent enough to get through the thing.

In regards to PvP, knowing what you're up against can be helpful. Though again, there's always that issue of inspecting allies and deriding them for not playing what is meta (Or the flip side of spewing hate at an opponent who is playing meta and is beating you)

For loot drops, specifically the tradable set pieces from dungeons there's more of a case to be made. Since it doesn't reflect on the player in question, but can help with the stickerbook grind when knowing if someone got a piece you need.

Of course, this can still end up with negative experiences, such as someone demanding an item someone else got (Who themselves might also need)...

So yeah, in general it could have benefits to enabling such things. One does however, need to keep in mind that people are often being people and therefore terrible. Especially in settings such as randomly formed groups that have a level of anonymity where you're unlikely to cross paths with people in the randomly formed group again.

Hapexamendios

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

No to both.

In trials, if I'm tanking or healing I'll make sure we don't have overlapping sets.

As far as drops, I'll link what I don't need.

That's all that is necessary imo.

AScarlato

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

I'm fine with allowing inspecting gear I'm wearing, but I don't want to be bothered for things I won from RNG drops. If I want to give it out at the end of a dungeon I will, and almost always hand over things people are working on if I don't need it as is.

majulook

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

The inspect "gear"part, I do not understand the want or the need for this. The only thing I can think this is for would be disqualifying player's from being part of a group.

The Loot drop part. I do not like it.

spartaxoxo

Other (please describe your thoughts)

I think we should have been allowed because the way things work in PVP absolutely hurt it's appeal. But, at this point, I think it's probably too late to fix that.

SilverBride

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

It breeds elitism.

shadyjane62

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

If this was mandatory, that would be my last day in ESO. Been there done that it was a disaster.

DreamyLu

Other (please describe your thoughts)

A simple compromise could be that we can simply ask if the other person does agree, and that the other person has a button to accept or decline like for duels.
Now, I tend to believe that a vast majority would always decline. So I'm not sure it's worth investing in such a feature.

Probably the easiest ist just to talk: ask the other politely what he/she is wearing and what loots he/she got. Usually, done that way, people are willing to answer.

Personally, I'm strongly against the possibility to inspect others without their consent.

ArchMikem

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

There should definitely be a consent toggle, if allowed. Bullying and belittling people based on just their gear is a thing.

JinKC98

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

No. It's annoying enough in PVE already.

Or maybe make it a toggle thing like if the person wants to inspect others has this feature active, and the other person has it active too, only then can they inspect each other. If any one party does not have the feature on, then it's disabled, the person can't inspect anyone else, and everybody else can't inspect that person.

Bobargus

Yes, we should be allowed to inspect others.

The idea is invasive, to be sure, but it would also make it easier to get reference from other players in terms of making a build.

Ph1p

Other (please describe your thoughts)

Yes in PVE, but only if a player has to opt in to be inspectable or if it’s limited to pre-formed groups, for example. Then it would be a QOL feature and not a spying tool.

No in PVP, especially if inspection would be possible before combat by just looking at a player. This incentivizes spying and adjusting instead of just jumping into combat and gives an advantage to gankers. It would also mostly benefit experienced/veteran players who know how to adjust and have the builds to do so.

Peacatcher

I think it would be good for motifs and outfit styles..not everyone is comfortable striking up conversations with strangers and given how many styles we have it could take forever to try to work it out on your own. I can't see how that could be abused or used to another player's detriment.

But for gear and drops - no thank you. For the reasons others have stated above.

davidtk

Other (please describe your thoughts)

PVE: If you are in the group going to trial / dungeon / group arena. Anyone can record encounterlog and then inspect everything about your build. And if you have set appear anonymous your ID and char name will be changed to Anonymous #.
I don't know if encounterlogs are working on consoles but on the PC i just use esologs and open log to see what anyone wearing.
PVP: I don't know if it is somehow possible, some say that if you are in the group you can guess it with CMX when you see buffs/debuffs and proc from sets.
Personaly I don't know if encounterlog work in BGs

DreamyLu wrote: »

A simple compromise could be that we can simply ask if the other person does agree, and that the other person has a button to accept or decline like for duels.
Now, I tend to believe that a vast majority would always decline. So I'm not sure it's worth investing in such a feature.

Probably the easiest ist just to talk: ask the other politely what he/she is wearing and what loots he/she got. Usually, done that way, people are willing to answer.

Personally, I'm strongly against the possibility to inspect others without their consent.

Anyway I can vote for something like that.

JinKC98 wrote: »

No. It's annoying enough in PVE already.

Or maybe make it a toggle thing like if the person wants to inspect others has this feature active, and the other person has it active too, only then can they inspect each other. If any one party does not have the feature on, then it's disabled, the person can't inspect anyone else, and everybody else can't inspect that person.

Interesting idea, if you want to inspect someone's gear, you need to have that option enabled and then when you inspect someone's build, it will automatically show that person your build. I think it would be very well fair, if you want to see my build, show me yours.

Calastir

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

No. I know such an addon already exists since I've been stalked by one obnoxious player at the end of a PUG dungeon run who kept whispering me demands to sell him some gear item I'd earned during that run. When I refused, they insulted me. So no, I never want to experience that ever again.

GloatingSwine

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

Nope, guaranteed route to toxic behaviour and people being kicked from dungeons if they're not exactly meta (usually by people who just want an easy ride instead of having to git gud).

Renato90085

Other (please describe your thoughts)

cant wait see ppl use meta build but still do 5k dps in RND

in PVE: We can use log check this, last week we do vdsr and leader found a dps use pvp build do 4k dps and dont know mech so we wipe and kick he ,so I think it's useful for identifying bad players
PVP: I really not care,95% player in last use same build

Grizzbeorn

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

Bobargus wrote: »

The idea is invasive, to be sure, but it would also make it easier to get reference from other players in terms of making a build.

Because asking them is so hard.

xylena_lazarow

Other (please describe your thoughts)

Not opposed to it, but don't see it as necessary. You aren't going to get much in PvP just from looking at someone's gear. Doesn't say how to pilot it, why those build choices were made, how to fight against it, etc. I even gave out my DK PvP build in that other thread because I see no competitive disadvantage in doing so.

I could see such a feature causing friction in Vet PvE where players might be judged unfairly for bringing "bad" gear so care would need to be taken in implementing it. The upside is that it would help make build information more freely available in a game where it is extremely hard to find good building resources.

thatnewcatsmell

Yes, we should be allowed to inspect others.

People can already find out what you're using in combat by logging the fight and gatekeep you based on your gear and a myriad other ways even without logging, just make inspecting players a base game feature. I'm not opposed to making it 'optional' and disabling the feature for you if you got it on private (assuming that setting comes with some kind of cooldown of course), but that doesn't alleviate the gatekeeping problem of course.

colossalvoids

Other (please describe your thoughts)

It would make sense for a more gear centric game, but this one is more of a skill based overall rather than gear. Not opposed to it in any way, but don't think of it as any necessary as we already have logs and linking as means to it.

spartaxoxo

Other (please describe your thoughts)

colossalvoids wrote: »

It would make sense for a more gear centric game, but this one is more of a skill based overall rather than gear. Not opposed to it in any way, but don't think of it as any necessary as we already have logs and linking as means to it.

Console doesn't have logs.

M0ntie

Yes, we should be allowed to inspect others.

I assume most people commenting No are on console. On PC it has been available for years to see other's drops, and logs show what people are wearing. And NO the game doesn't degenerate into a horrible place.

If someone sees your drops, you don't have to give them anything you don't want to. You can always say "I bound it".
It actually saves you the extra work of linking things you don't want.
The gear you are wearing doesn't 100% determine your effectiveness in your role. But also if you're doing group content why would you care if your group sees what gear you have? They might have constructive suggestions for improvement.

The only place anyone hides their gear is in Cyrodiil.

Dragonnord

No, others should not be allowed to inspect us.

Why there should be an option to invade people's privacy?

spartaxoxo

Other (please describe your thoughts)

Dragonnord wrote: »

Why there's should be an option to invade people's privacy?

It's not really an invasion of privacy for someone to know what you're doing to their character and how. Inspect is a pretty normal part of MMOs.

sans-culottes

Yes, we should be allowed to inspect others.

This is a common feature in other MMORPGs. For instance, EQ and WoW feature this. I’m not sure why ESO players are so opposed to such a basic idea.

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Dragonnord wrote: »

Why there's should be an option to invade people's privacy?

It's not really an invasion of privacy for someone to know what you're doing to their character and how. Inspect is a pretty normal part of MMOs.

Agreed. I’m not sure I even understand the “privacy concerns” people have been expressing.

spartaxoxo

Other (please describe your thoughts)

sans-culottes wrote: »

This is a common feature in other MMORPGs. For instance, EQ and WoW feature this. I’m not sure why ESO players are so opposed to such a basic idea.

spartaxoxo wrote: »

Dragonnord wrote: »

Why there's should be an option to invade people's privacy?

It's not really an invasion of privacy for someone to know what you're doing to their character and how. Inspect is a pretty normal part of MMOs.

Agreed. I’m not sure I even understand the “privacy concerns” people have been expressing.

I think it's a bunch of people concerned they'll be harassed out in overland for wearing "bad gear" or rejected from pugs. It's a fair concern that it will be misused but all tools are misused. And people can do that without an inspect too.

Also some PvPers don't want people to know the build they used to kill someone.

Ph1p

Other (please describe your thoughts)

sans-culottes wrote: »

This is a common feature in other MMORPGs. For instance, EQ and WoW feature this. I’m not sure why ESO players are so opposed to such a basic idea.

Genuine question: How does the inspection feature exactly work in those games? How and under what circumstances can you view other people’s setups?