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Voice Chat in ESO on PC

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said no one ever
said no one ever
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Basically I'm glad that voice chat isnt part of eso on pc like it is on console. Even so people use discord to bypass this feature they think is missing. Frankly i'm glad there is no voice chat in ESO. Not too long ago i was selected to join a guild and then after joining i was daily harassed by officers of the guild that being on discord in mandatory for being a member of their guild. Flatly explained i don't use discord and i never will and about a week of this later they finally booted me from their guild. Now i'm in a new guild and they are starting to pressure me to join discord. I hate voice chat, don't call me on the phone, talking is over rated. If it cant be said briefly in a text message i dont want to know it. I dont care if it costs me member ship in a guild. I don't want it. I'f i have to i'll desolder the mic input from my pc. Same goes with zoom and all the rest.

how do the forums feel about voice chat? dis/agree?
  • Orbital78
    Orbital78
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    Discord isn't specifically voice chat, it is just how most guilds communicate. Chit-chat, organize events, and such. Personally I wish there were an optional built in group voice-chat since I don't use a keyboard most of the time. I opt to just go in offline mode most of the time, they can ping or dm me in discord if they want to talk.

    I'm sure there are plenty of guilds that don't require discord, but if they state they require it, I mean you should know what to do if you join...
  • belial5221_ESO
    belial5221_ESO
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    Private voice chat should be enabled,like for groups.Zone voice,no way,since ppl are bad about turning off/down mics,and who knows what audio spam they'll be doing,and streamers would have to mute to not get copyright striked for music in someone's voice.Bad enough with text spam all over,imagine all the heavy breathing,dogs barking,ppl yelling,etc.Also means they'd need voice servers,and the game has issues as is with some stability,also means more hardware,and more costs.
    Edited by belial5221_ESO on March 4, 2025 3:17PM
  • Artim_X
    Artim_X
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    I've never been in a guild where speaking in discord was mandatory so often times one could just mute themselves while running content. Although there are in-game quick chat options that one can slot to say something in chat, it is usually easier to talk about mechanics via voice especially in harder content where coordination is key.
    (AD) Artim X/Xirtām/Måtrix |PC/NA| Casual staff wielding vampire sorcerer/templar/arcanist
    Electric-Stun
    https://media.giphy.com/media/Av0zcKH3i2BkaY1GXW/giphy.gif/https://c.tenor.com/jQHdFftrgwMAAAAC/tenor.gif
    • Roleplay Damage Dealing Build.
    • Gear: 5 Infallible Aether (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 Slimecraw Guise for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchants), Maelstrom's Perfected Lightning Staff (infused/shock enchant), and Kinras's jewelry (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant)/lightning staff (infused/flame/weapon damage enchant). 1 Mora's Whispers.
    • Ability-Bar 1: Critical Surge, Boundless Storm, Mages' Wrath, Lightning Flood, Shocking Soul (Shock damage, Class Mastery Signature Script, and Empower), and Power Overload.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Storm Pulsar, Streak, Shock Reach, Unstable Wall of Storms, Shocking Burst (Shock Damage, remove 1 negative effect, and interrupt) and Thunderous Rage.
      Solo: Use Kinras's chest, replace Mora with Ring of the Pale Order, and use a heavy Slimcraw piece for max critical.
    Electric-Pets
    https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNHVjemwxZHI2ZmQ2bTg1ZG0xOTZ3b2QwajBzNGxmaHh6OXRpN3p6YSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/eBgWizk5dmZRS/giphy.gif
    • Stress free one bar pet build .
    • Gear: 5 Infallible Aether (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants. No chest piece), 1 medium Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, medium, Max Mag Enchants), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant ring and necklace (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant), Oakensoul ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant)
    • Ability-Bar: Daedric Prey, Summon Volatile Familiar, Bound Armaments, Unstable Wall of Storms, Summon Twilight Matriarch, and Greater storm Atronach.
    Electric-Heal
    https://media.giphy.com/media/5ibGIHneWS6ek/giphy.gif
    • My Healer Build.
    • Gear: 5 Spell Power Cure (All apparel light and Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 Slimecraw Guise for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchants), Maelstrom's Perfected Lightning Staff (Charged/shock enchant), and Infallible Aether jewelry (arcane with spell damage enchant)/restoration staff (Powered with absorb magicka enchant). 1 Mora's Whispers.
    • Ability-Bar 1: Power Surge, Boundless Storm, Blessing of Restoration, Energy Orb, Twilight Matriarch, and Replenishing Barrier.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Dark Deal, Overflowing Altar, Elemental Drain, Blockade of Storms, Twilight Matriarch, and Aggressive Horn.
    Electric-Ward
    https://media.giphy.com/media/Wa0TGmtDvwW3e/giphy.gif
    • My Meme Tank Build that uses high resistance and variety of wards.
    • Gear: 5 Brands of Imperium (All body pieces except Head and Shoulders, with Divine trait, and with Prismatic Defense Enchants), full Iceheart (1 light and 1 medium. Divines and Prismatic Enchant), and Combat Physician jewelry (bloodthirsty with Prismatic Recovery Enchants), Combat Physician restoration staff (Infused with hardening enchant), and combat physician ice staff (Infused with crusher enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Critical Surge, Bound Aegis, Deep Thoughts, Boundless Storm, Healing Ward, and Replenishing Barrier.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Silver Leash (Elemental Drain if healer isn't running it), Bound Aegis, Frost Clench, Blockade of Frost, Empowered Ward, and Temporal Guard.
    Electric-Vamp
    https://media.giphy.com/media/ukDQiYZzRAxMZKcK86/giphy.gif
    • Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
    • Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (medium chest and body pieces light. All Impenetrable with Prismatic Enchants). Gaze of Sithis and 1 light Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton (light shoulders, and impenetrable with Prismtaic Enchants). Knight Slayer (Swift with spell damage enchant)/lightning staff (infused with oblivion enchant)/restoration staff (infused with oblivion enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Structured Entropy, Boundless Storm, Soul Splitting Trap, Radiating Regeneration, Healing Ward, and Life Giver.
    • Ability-Bar 2: Drain Vigor (Elemental Susceptibility), Race Against Time, Rune Cage, Radiant Magelight, Regenerative Ward, and Shatter Soul.
    Dawnfang
    https://media.tenor.com/ogWfvDdsqBIAAAAd/anime-black-clover.gif
    • My casual one bar heavy attack Templar build that primarily utilizes Aedric Spear abilities.
    • Gear: 5 Noble Duelist (Head or Shoulder and body pieces except Chest. All body pieces Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 light Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchant), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant's Mail jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Puncturing Sweep, Aurora Javelin, Toppling Charge, Blazing Spear, Radiant Ward/Breath of life, and Crescent Sweep.
    Duskfang
    https://media.tenor.com/Jo8aG_ouy_oAAAAd/ac-odyssey.gif
    • Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
    • Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (Heavy Chest with light Head, Waist, Hands, and Feet. All body pieces Impenetrable. Health enchant on chest/head/legs and everything else Prismatic Enchants), 1 Medium Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton Shoulder (Impenetrable, Prismatic Enchant), Knight Slayer Restoration Staff (Infused/Decrease Health enchant), and Knight Slayer jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both Swift with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (Swift with Spell Damage Enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Radiant Oppression, Race Against Time, Aurora Javelin, Breath of Life, Resolving Vigor, and Life Giver.
    Eye of the Queen
    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fd/44/1c/fd441c8242af6ec35ada94496feb0901.gif
    • My casual one bar heavy attack Arcanist build that primarily utilizes Herald of the Tome abilities.
    • Gear: 5 Noble Duelist (Head or Shoulder and body pieces except Chest. All body pieces Divines with Max Mag Enchants), 1 light Slimecraw for max spell critical (Divines, light, Max Mag Enchant), Lightning Staff of the Sergeant (precise/shock enchant), Sergeant's chest (Divines and max magicka enchant), and Sergeant's Mail jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (bloodthirsty with spell damage enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Escalating Runeblades, Pragmatic Fatecarver, Cephaliarch's Flail, Rune of Displacement, Inspired Scholarship/Evolving Runemend, and The Languid Eye.
    Eye of the King
    https://i.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOTAzdjV1eTgwbDFmM3lrZmxuMXRqdDR3Y3h1ZDRpajR0M3VjZzQ3NSZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/zXmbOaTpbY6mA/giphy.gif
    • Tanky stage 4 vampire utility focused PvP healer that can take down very inexperienced players but is primarily focused on working alongside others in an organized group, PUGs, or zergs.
    • Gear: 5 Torug's Pact (Heavy Chest with light Head, Waist, Hands, and Feet. All body pieces Impenetrable. Health enchant on chest/head/legs and everything else Prismatic Enchants), 1 Medium Mighty Chudan/Pirate Skeleton Shoulder (Impenetrable, Prismatic Enchant), Knight Slayer Restoration Staff (Infused/Decrease Health enchant), and Knight Slayer jewelry (One Ring and one Neck. Both Swift with spell damage enchant). 1 Oakensoul Ring (Swift with Spell Damage Enchant).
    • Ability-Bar 1: Escalating Runeblades, Race Against Time, Rune of Uncanny Adoration, Evolving Runemend, Resolving Vigor, and Life Giver.
    PvE Starter Gear
    https://media.giphy.com/media/6CovzgyTig7M4/giphy.gif
    • Gear: 5 Law of Julianos (heavy chest, gloves/belt light, and the rest can be light or 1 medium piece if you're not wearing medium anywhere else on your body. All in training if grinding for XP or divines), Armor of the Seducer or Magnus' Gift head, shoulder, and staves (light with 1 medium piece if you are not already wearing 1 medium Julianos piece. All in training or divines. The staves should be training or infused), and 3 purple Willpower Jewelry with Arcane trait (can be bought from trading guilds for relatively cheap.
    • Check tamrieltradecentre.com for the best deals if you're not using a price checking addon).
    Race
    https://media.giphy.com/media/sdEkeWpiaGz0A/giphy.gif
    • High elf, since you will not have issues with sustain, but other mag based races are also fine so this is more of a personal choice.
    Mundus Stones
    https://media.giphy.com/media/cT3wMhLGQWdKU/giphy.gif
    • PvP: The Steed for speed. Gotta go fast!
    • PvE Healing/Damage: The Thief for decent crit rate.
    • PvE Tanking: The Lady to get close to resistance cap.
    Current Champion Points
    https://media.giphy.com/media/l4FGDAx6u3hthMhgI/giphy.gif
    • DPS: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Exploiter, Weapons Expert, Fighting Finesse, Master-at-Arms, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    • Healer Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Hope Infusion, Weapon's Expert, Arcane Supremacy, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    • Tanky Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Ironclad, Enduring Resolve, Reinforced, Duelist's Rebuff, Bastion, Ward Master, Rejuvenation, Fortified.
    • PvP Sorc: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Weapon's Expert, Occult Overload, Arcane Supremacy, Bastion, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    • PvP Temp/Arcanist: Shadowstrike/ Master Gatherer, Meticulous Disassembly/Plentiful Harvest, Steed's Blessing, Sustaining Shadows, Enlivening Overflow, Weapon's Expert, From the Brink, Arcane Supremacy, Celerity, Rejuvenation, Fortified, Boundless Vitality.
    Favorite Foods and Potions
    https://media.giphy.com/media/3otPoTggaYFNd1FdAI/giphy.gif
    • Parse Food for PvE:(DPS) Ghastly Eye Bowl (increases Max Magicka by 4592 and Magicka Recovery by 459 for 2 hours).
    • Gold/Purple Food for Sorc PvP and Meme Tanking:(PvP) Clockwork Citrus Filet (increases Max Health by 3326, Health Recovery by 406 [useful if stage 1 vampire], Max Magicka by 3080, and Magicka Recovery by 338 for 2 hours). Witchmother's Potent Brew (Increase Max Magicka by 2856, Max Health by 3094, and Magicka Recovery by 315 for 2 hours.
    • Trash Potions when feeling cheap: Regular CP150 Essence of Magicka pots that I obtain frequently from playing the game or Crown Tri-Restoration Potion obtained from dailies.
    • Crafted Potions: Essence of Spell Critical (Bugloss, Lady's Smock, and Water Hyacinth). Without magelight this is my primary means of obtaining Major Prophecy on my Sorc, which increases my Spell Critical Rating. This also heals and restores magicka. Essence of Immovability (Columbine, Corn Flower, and Wormwood). I use this in PvP, since this gives me stealth detection, knockback immunity, and restores magicka (better to use it when competent allies are nearby, since it might reveal that you are surrounded by multiple players in stealth and you will not have an emergency pot available after use). Essence of Invisibility with only 2 ingredients (Blue Entoloma, Namira's Rot, Nirnroot, or Spider Egg). I use this in PvE content that requires stealth and if I need more speed I'll use Rapid Maneuver before using the potion. Essence of Invisibility with 3 ingredients (Blessed Thistle, Blue Entoloma, and Namira's Rot). Very useful in PvP alongside the vampire Dark Stalker passive, since you'll be invisible, ignore movement speed penalty while in Crouch, and you'll have a 30% movement speed boost from Major Expedition (I always have this slotted when riding from point A to B in PvP land, since gankers are always lurking). My templar/arcanist will mostly use Essence of Health (Tri-Stat Potion) Ingredients: (Mountain Flower, Columbine, and Bugloss).
  • valenwood_vegan
    valenwood_vegan
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    Agree that discord does not automatically mean voice chat. Guilds have minimal tools available in-game to organize and socialize (in-game chat is kinda bare bones, only visible to people who happen to be in-game at the time, and difficult to use / monitor if one is actually running difficult content).

    So they use discord to let people organize and communicate outside of the game. People can see and sign up for upcoming events. Post screenshots or pics of their pets or vacations or food. Text chat about their day outside of eso. Ask for help with a build or whatever. Contact guild management about an issue. Etc. And those who didn't happen to be online at the exact right time can catch up and participate in the conversation later if they want.

    That doesn't mean they do so in voice (though they might - I don't know the details of the guilds OP is talking about).

    In fact, I'm in multiple guilds that require members to join discord, and I have literally *never* in five years voice chatted with any of them, except when my social guild does trials. At endgame, there's content where a group really needs to be able to coordinate, and it's gonna be difficult to find groups that will run it without voice. But this still doesn't mean a guild is gonna expect everyone to be in voice outside of group content.

    In general, best to check and understand guild requirements before joining.

    That said, I'm personally not a big fan of voice chat... I often play eso to wind down from work and want peace and quiet. I do *not* wanna listen to random people yelling, ranting, eating, listening to music, having a conversation that doesn't involve me, etc. Other times, I might be playing while working and really wouldn't be able to voice chat. Other times I might be watching a movie while I'm playing and I'd rather listen to that. So I do agree with OP in the sense that I'm glad voice chat isn't forced on us, and I would mostly avoid any game or guild that made it a regular requirement.
    Edited by valenwood_vegan on March 4, 2025 6:21PM
  • Grizzbeorn
    Grizzbeorn
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    I joined Discord specifically so I'd have an option for voice-chat in this game.
    I refuse to attempt to communicate in group content in any game by typing in chat.
    It doesn't work for me; neither the typing while trying to play, nor trying to keep up with reading chat while playing.
    Voice-chat keeps my hands and eyes involved with actually playing.

    I am also very picky about who I group with, so I don't have to put up with childish, annoying randos in my ear while playing.
    Edited by Grizzbeorn on March 4, 2025 3:31PM
      PC/NA Warden Main
    • Soarora
      Soarora
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      I’m glad eso doesn’t have proximity chat on pc, I do not want to experience zone chat in my ears, or be harassed by random people to talk, etc. Discord I can pick and choose who I’m interacting with and when— I have turned people down before for having a frustrating voice or personality.
      PC/NA Dungeoneer (Tank/DPS/Heal), Trialist (DPS/Tank/Heal), and amateur Battlegrounder (DPS) with a passion for The Elder Scrolls lore
      • CP 2000+
      • Warden Healer - Arcanist Healer - Warden Brittleden - Stamarc - Sorc Tank - Necro Tank - Templar Tank - Arcanist Tank
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    • Orbital78
      Orbital78
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      An example of why discords are encouraged and IMO awesome:

      gek7jpcwa1o9.png


      You won't see these things in a guild MOTD most likely and it is no where near as accessible for sign ups and such. Sifu has one of the best setups for discords that I have run across. I don't think discord is required for any of my guilds, and voice chat is only required for organized groups and you don't NEED to talk just listen to instructions. I know I wouldn't want to type all that stuff out!
      Edited by Orbital78 on March 4, 2025 3:34PM
    • Estin
      Estin
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      I do wish PC would get voice chat enabled for groups only so discord isn't a requirement to talk to players. I have a discord, but I'm not interested in joining somebody's discord just to hear callouts in a pug.
    • Orbital78
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      Soarora wrote: »
      I’m glad eso doesn’t have proximity chat on pc, I do not want to experience zone chat in my ears, or be harassed by random people to talk, etc. Discord I can pick and choose who I’m interacting with and when— I have turned people down before for having a frustrating voice or personality.

      ya I wouldn't want to hear squeakers carry on in proximity but an OPTIONAL built in voice chat for group content would be nice. Since I can't be bothered to type most of the time, I'm not trying to be antisocial but I just don't have all my characters setup with quick chat hello's.
    • Thysbe
      Thysbe
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      I personally have a clear preference for selective voice communication (discord, teamspeak) over in game voice. A Discord or teamspeak I can join or leave and I dont have to talk to some random strangers I dont want to talk to. Dont think I would use an ingame voice chat.

      It´s easy to find guilds not demanding discord and and I think its up to the guild (or raidlead) to boot players who don´t want to fulfill any mandatory requirements. They have their preferences and their reasos as you have yours. Just look for others who have the same mindset and don´t want to communicate via Discord and you are set. Reading guild descriptions before applying helps - they usually state what they expect you to do (fees, Discord, participation).
      Edited by Thysbe on March 4, 2025 4:13PM
    • Nathanbreakfast
      Nathanbreakfast
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      Basically I'm glad that voice chat isnt part of eso on pc like it is on console.
      Okay
      Even so people use discord to bypass this feature they think is missing.
      What?
      Not too long ago i was selected to join a guild
      You were "selected"?
      after joining i was daily harassed by officers of the guild that being on discord in mandatory for being a member of their guild
      Leave guild
      I'f i have to i'll desolder the mic input from my pc
      Why are you people like this?
      Edited by Nathanbreakfast on March 4, 2025 5:42PM
    • UrQuan
      UrQuan
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      There's certain content in the game (vet trials being the most obvious example that comes to mind) that pretty much requires voice chat if you want to complete it. That doesn't necessarily mean that everyone needs to speak in voice chat: it's more about being able to hear what the raid leader/tank(s)/healer(s) are saying to follow their directions.

      In every guild I've ever been in, voice chat (either Discord, or before Discord became so popular we used to use Teamspeak or Vent) has been completely optional outside of content like trials, and for trials it's always been fine if some people can't/don't want to use their mics as long as they listen. I've never heard of a guild that requires people to use voice chat outside of content like that, so if you don't care about doing that kind of content probably nobody is going to care if you never go into a voice channel.

      Having said that, guilds use Discord for a lot of things other than voice chat, and I would actually say that in most guild servers it's used far less for voice chat than it is for the different text channels where guildies can chat whether they're in-game or not, guild announcements can be posted, and bots can post news and updates about the game. Some of the guilds I've been in have even had dedicated text channels on Discord for people who don't use mics to type in so they can talk to their group while they're doing content and listening to the other people in their group speak in the voice channel. If a guild requires its members to use their Discord server, odds are extremely good that the reason isn't to force people into using voice chat: it's most likely to ensure guildies see guild announcements and stuff in text channels.

      If a guild requires its members to use Discord and you're that opposed to it, even though it's highly likely that the reason they want you to use Discord has nothing to do with voice chat, then you're not right for that guild, and that guild isn't right for you, so find another and move on.
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    • twisttop138
      twisttop138
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      I question a bunch of what you said but that's ok. As for discord. I'm in my 40s. My kids use discord. Back when I played mmos all the time and raided we had to use team speak. I recently returned to the game after a 4 year break and joined to raid and do dungeons besides the regular awesome ESO stuff. The guilds I joined required discord for organization really and I thought I'd hate it. I thought I'd be too old to get it but it's great. Great for sign ups and guild events. Also really great to get to know the guild mates better. We text chat while at work. People share pics of pets. We talk builds, content or even weather. It's not what I expected. I have not once used it for voice comms. I'm PS5 anyway but voice chat isn't some big boogey man. If you dislike hearing folks, there's an option for you. I don't listen to any zone chat. Only group stuff and maybe join a guild channel to talk about stuff if asked. I'd be weary of any guild requiring voice in discord but I'm thinking you jumped to a conclusion.

      Anyway, don't trip chocolate chip. If you don't wanna talk that's totally ok, but native voice chat for PC (again I'm PS5) would be great because options are always better.
    • SkaraMinoc
      SkaraMinoc
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      Nathanbreakfast wrote: »
      I'f i have to i'll desolder the mic input from my pc
      Why are you people like this?

      If you want an honest answer, from my perspective there's a lot of really annoying, stupid people in voice chat and I don't have the tolerance for it like I did 20 years ago. I'd rather watch Twitch/YT, play some music, or just have peace and quiet while I play video games. So I don't even have a mic plugged into my gaming PC anymore.

      Edited by SkaraMinoc on March 4, 2025 6:31PM
      PC NA
    • CalamityCat
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      Guild discord is not just voice chat. Every guild I'm in has really useful resources and info on their Discord. Often guilds have info, build discussions and experienced players you can ask for advice or help with stuff. You're really missing out by worrying about the voice chat thing. I think you'll be surprised when you actually join some Discord channels.

      If you want to look without any guild commitment etc, there are some Discords just for information related to ESO that would let you see what it actually looks like.

      In my guilds, voice chat is only used during group events to co-ordinate and call out mechanics/tactics. In which case leads often prefer if you are just listening in because there's less chatter for them to talk over. In my guilds, it's entirely normal that just a few of us speak, the rest are silent or mute their mics. It's totally fine to use group chat and you can do text chat in Discord alongside the voice.

      FWIW, I also don't like phone calls and used to be really nervous on voice, but my guild mates have cured me of that entirely. We've sat up chatting about random stuff until 2am many nights. Try listening to voice chat initially. Then you can decide if you want to use the mic and join in. But certainly don't dismiss guilds because of discord, there are some really useful ones.
    • CatoUnchained
      CatoUnchained
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      As someone who very much dislikes discord I think it would be nice to have an in game voice chat option.

      I don't mind using a secondary program for voice chat, I just don't like discord. It's too many things at too many times and it's too much like social media, and they are a data mining service. (read the terms of use and you'll see they state clearly they collect and market user data) Teamspeak was so much better than discord IMO.

      At any rate, I think voice coms would be an excellect addition to ESO. I don't think it will ever happen though. It seems like I remember reading a very long time ago, like in 2016 or so, that ESO would never implement in game voice coms because there is no need due to there being third party software that covers that function.
    • UrQuan
      UrQuan
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      CatoUnchained wrote: »
      It's too many things at too many times and it's too much like social media, and they are a data mining service.
      Well, Discord literally is social media. If your objection to using Discord is that you don't want to use any social media, that's perfectly valid.
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    • Amottica
      Amottica
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      Orbital78 wrote: »
      Discord isn't specifically voice chat, it is just how most guilds communicate. Chit-chat, organize events, and such. Personally I wish there were an optional built in group voice-chat since I don't use a keyboard most of the time. I opt to just go in offline mode most of the time, they can ping or dm me in discord if they want to talk.

      I'm sure there are plenty of guilds that don't require discord, but if they state they require it, I mean you should know what to do if you join...

      This and having in-game VoIP are irrelevant to the issue the OP dislikes. Guilds that currently require Discord would still need it because it is useful and provides better chat control.

      There are plenty of guilds that do not require Discord. Discord benefits any guild with good leadership and an active membership. Ofc, both of those go hand in hand.

      A player that does not want to be in a guild's Discord will not get as much benefit out of the guild, nor will they be able to contribute to the guild via participation and other aspects.

    • JemadarofCaerSalis
      JemadarofCaerSalis
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      SkaraMinoc wrote: »
      Nathanbreakfast wrote: »
      I'f i have to i'll desolder the mic input from my pc
      Why are you people like this?

      If you want an honest answer, from my perspective there's a lot of really annoying, stupid people in voice chat and I don't have the tolerance for it like I did 20 years ago. I'd rather watch Twitch/YT, play some music, or just have peace and quiet while I play video games. So I don't even have a mic plugged into my gaming PC anymore.

      This is precisely why I don't like having to have a mic or voice chat, even if I can mute my own mic. I do not want to listen to someone while playing my game. This is the same reason I hate so many youtube tutorials or walkthroughs. I just want to do what I need to do without having to listen to someone.

      My solution is just avoid that type of content that people feel requires it. I haven't found a pair of headphones (and since I use them like once in a blue moon and have no reason to do so now, I can't justify paying for really expensive sets) that were comfortable, and sometimes I have someone else with me, where having a person speaking would be distracting to them (since I can mute/turn down in game sounds if need be) or I want to listen to music or something else while doing things.
    • Nathanbreakfast
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      SkaraMinoc wrote: »
      Nathanbreakfast wrote: »
      I'f i have to i'll desolder the mic input from my pc
      Why are you people like this?

      If you want an honest answer, from my perspective there's a lot of really annoying, stupid people in voice chat and I don't have the tolerance for it like I did 20 years ago. I'd rather watch Twitch/YT, play some music, or just have peace and quiet while I play video games. So I don't even have a mic plugged into my gaming PC anymore.

      I meant why is everything so dramatic with you people? Just don't do voice chat lol.
    • sans-culottes
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      CatoUnchained wrote: »
      As someone who very much dislikes discord I think it would be nice to have an in game voice chat option.

      I don't mind using a secondary program for voice chat, I just don't like discord. It's too many things at too many times and it's too much like social media, and they are a data mining service. (read the terms of use and you'll see they state clearly they collect and market user data) Teamspeak was so much better than discord IMO.

      At any rate, I think voice coms would be an excellect addition to ESO. I don't think it will ever happen though. It seems like I remember reading a very long time ago, like in 2016 or so, that ESO would never implement in game voice coms because there is no need due to there being third party software that covers that function.

      It’s baffling that this is the one feature console players have that PC players would actually benefit from and use. Seems like a big oversight.
      Edited by sans-culottes on March 4, 2025 7:47PM
      Just the forum’s resident gadfly, here to keep the horse from sleeping.
    • Kartalin
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      There's a lot of content in game that doesn't warrant needing to be in voice chat to complete. Pugging a normal trial for instance, or just doing daily undaunted quests.

      Voice comms are absolutely vital to endgame pve and organized pvp activities. That doesn't mean you ever have to speak though, pretty much every discord I've been in has people that just listen and never speak.

      Besides voice chat though, as many others have already said, discord is a vital tool for asynchronous communication that persists outside of the game. And unlike other social media platforms where you might already have an established presence under your real name, you can be as anonymous and private as you want to be in a discord server.
    • sans-culottes
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      Kartalin wrote: »
      There's a lot of content in game that doesn't warrant needing to be in voice chat to complete. Pugging a normal trial for instance, or just doing daily undaunted quests.

      Voice comms are absolutely vital to endgame pve and organized pvp activities. That doesn't mean you ever have to speak though, pretty much every discord I've been in has people that just listen and never speak.

      Besides voice chat though, as many others have already said, discord is a vital tool for asynchronous communication that persists outside of the game. And unlike other social media platforms where you might already have an established presence under your real name, you can be as anonymous and private as you want to be in a discord server.
      I think it bears repeating that the same guilds are very unlikely to require you to actually speak in these channels. I tend to dislike these sorts of systems, but being able to listen in has never been an issue.

      Just the forum’s resident gadfly, here to keep the horse from sleeping.
    • said no one ever
      said no one ever
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      Orbital78 wrote: »
      An example of why discords are encouraged and IMO awesome:

      gek7jpcwa1o9.png


      You won't see these things in a guild MOTD most likely and it is no where near as accessible for sign ups and such. Sifu has one of the best setups for discords that I have run across. I don't think discord is required for any of my guilds, and voice chat is only required for organized groups and you don't NEED to talk just listen to instructions. I know I wouldn't want to type all that stuff out!

      literally every thing in that image can be typed out in any free and open source office suite word processing program ie libreoffice.org and then copied and pasted into an email and sent to guildies via in game email. I know it can because i have another guild that does just that. every coupkle days i get an email in game with all the happenings going on. don't need discord for that. in game tools working ok as evidenced by anpother guilds use of them.

      Nathanbreakfast wrote: »
      Basically I'm glad that voice chat isnt part of eso on pc like it is on console.
      Okay
      Even so people use discord to bypass this feature they think is missing.
      What?
      Not too long ago i was selected to join a guild
      You were "selected"?
      after joining i was daily harassed by officers of the guild that being on discord in mandatory for being a member of their guild
      Leave guild
      I'f i have to i'll desolder the mic input from my pc
      Why are you people like this?


      dictionary.com thesaurus.com if you really dont know what the words i used mean.

      Why are people like this? because everyone does not literally wish to be part of a conversation just to play a video game.

      UrQuan wrote: »
      CatoUnchained wrote: »
      It's too many things at too many times and it's too much like social media, and they are a data mining service.
      Well, Discord literally is social media. If your objection to using Discord is that you don't want to use any social media, that's perfectly valid.


      not on social media either. this forum and occasions other forums are as much as i'll go. if i had to talk to you via voice chat to partipate here i would never come.
      Edited by said no one ever on March 4, 2025 8:05PM
    • Nathanbreakfast
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      Why are people like this? because everyone does not literally wish to be part of a conversation just to play a video game

      Then don't. What are you even trying to say here? LOL
    • Morvan
      Morvan
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      Even if it had a voice chat, you could just turn it off.

      And if you don't like Discord, just don't use it, free will is a bliss.

      There's no reason to antagonize a tool just because you don't like it, what is bad for you can be good for other people, and that's a perfectly valid reason to not stress over it, especially something that will only affect you if you allow it.
      @MorvanClaude on PC/NA, don't try to trap me with lore subjects, it will work
    • Orbital78
      Orbital78
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      said no one ever wrote: »
      literally every thing in that image can be typed out in any free and open source office suite word processing program ie libreoffice.org and then copied and pasted into an email and sent to guildies via in game email. I know it can because i have another guild that does just that. every coupkle days i get an email in game with all the happenings going on. don't need discord for that. in game tools working ok as evidenced by anpother guilds use of them

      perhaps so, but that seems like more effort than need be, when users can just simply check for themselves and not be flooded with information that might not even be noticed. In the end it is moot. You aren't forced to be in a guild, guilds aren't forced to cater specifically to your wants/needs. It sounds like you have found a guild, so it is what it is. I'll just be over here enjoying mine. B)

      This was one specific thing I liked about a specific discord, but there are many other social interactions that cannot be done in the way you mentioned. Pictures of vacations, pets, plants, gaming, etc.
      Edited by Orbital78 on March 4, 2025 8:46PM
    • DenverRalphy
      DenverRalphy
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      sans-culottes wrote: »
      CatoUnchained wrote: »
      As someone who very much dislikes discord I think it would be nice to have an in game voice chat option.

      I don't mind using a secondary program for voice chat, I just don't like discord. It's too many things at too many times and it's too much like social media, and they are a data mining service. (read the terms of use and you'll see they state clearly they collect and market user data) Teamspeak was so much better than discord IMO.

      At any rate, I think voice coms would be an excellect addition to ESO. I don't think it will ever happen though. It seems like I remember reading a very long time ago, like in 2016 or so, that ESO would never implement in game voice coms because there is no need due to there being third party software that covers that function.

      It’s baffling that this is the one feature console players have that PC players would actually benefit from and use. Seems like a big oversight.

      To be fair, ESO's implementation of voice chat on consoles isn't anything to get excited about either. It piggybacks on the console's built in voice comms, and yet still manages to make it, well, suck.. at least on PSN anyway. Can't speak for XBox.

      Every guild I'm in actively uses PSN's native chat whenver possible. Because ESO's chat doesn't allow you to adjust volume levels (or even mute) specific people, blocked players can still speak to you, and the voice latency and quality is nowhere near as good as the native chat.
      Edited by DenverRalphy on March 4, 2025 8:48PM
    • Amottica
      Amottica
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      Nathanbreakfast wrote: »
      Why are people like this? because everyone does not literally wish to be part of a conversation just to play a video game

      Then don't. What are you even trying to say here? LOL

      Agree completely.

      Even beyond that, this is not really about VoIP. The title and the OP statement are in extreme conflict. It is about not wanting to join Discord, which is entirely irrelevant for in-game VoIP. The OP clearly specifically stated that they do not like voice chat to the degree that they would desolder the mic input.

      So in-game VoIP would not solve the issue OP is having.

      We have made it about VoIP in our replies, and to be clear, just disagreeing on a topic is not antagonizing in and of itself. Sure, some of us prefer Discord and other products since they offer significantly more utility than in-game VoIP ever has, but stating as much is not antagonizing anyone.



    • CalamityCat
      CalamityCat
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      said no one ever wrote: »
      Orbital78 wrote: »
      literally every thing in that image can be typed out in any free and open source office suite word processing program ie libreoffice.org and then copied and pasted into an email and sent to guildies via in game email. I know it can because i have another guild that does just that. every coupkle days i get an email in game with all the happenings going on. don't need discord for that. in game tools working ok as evidenced by anpother guilds use of them.
      That's great if you have a guild that only sends out small amounts of info and it can work via game mail. Five active guilds doing that simultaneously would make a mess of your mail box. :)

      Put it another way, a guild Discord is really just like in the past where game guilds had a website. But in Discord players can also communicate via text and voice. That's all. It's not some terrible evil thing just because there is a voice feature attached. Having information organised and arranged neatly in each guild is infinitely better than a whole jumble of guild mails. When an event is posted and players can see at a glance what roles need filling and sign themselves up, I think that's a great system. Then you can remind players before the event starts too. Much more pleasant than game mails because they just aren't always reliable.
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