Add ons, or no add ons...

Kingcroft

I for one like the simple visual ques while not having any specific numbers scrolling as I have seen in some you tube vids. I came to ESO from skyrim and am not competitive pvp guy so I like world to feel more 'natural', less technical.

Sarenia

There are some addons that I would go so far as to call invaluable, which do not detract from the minimalistic HUD/UI in the game.

To name a few...
NoWrittenDialogue -- removes dialogue subtitles from NPCs.
Azurah -- allows hiding/moving of HUD elements.
IRememberYou -- allows rating/notes on group members for future reference.
FastReport -- makes reporting cheaters extremely easy.
Librarian -- saves a library of ALL books you discover, including notes.
LootFilter -- auto deletes user designated loot types, like bait.
LibAntiSpam -- blocks 99.9% of spam. I almost never see it.

Really, there are so many other great addons that don't clash with the minimalistic design element of the game. I highly recommend checking them out.

One of the greatest strengths of TES games is their modability. Bethesda recognized that they couldn't make a perfect game, and that people would want to modify them anyway, and built TES titles with that in mind. While Zeni can't go so far as to allow invasive mods, they are trying to find a nice compromise with addons/public API, and it's an aspect of the game very much worth exploring.

nerevarine1138

Doesn't Librarian kind of ruin the Eidetic Memory reward for the Mages Guild?

Kingcroft

Wow, thanks. I had no idea there were things like that out there.

Sarenia

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Doesn't Librarian kind of ruin the Eidetic Memory reward for the Mages Guild?

Did they ever fix that?

Back in April people were losing discovered books and other craziness. Personally I don't want to take the chance. Since keeping a record of books isn't "metagaming" in the same sense that displaying Skyshards on the map is, it should be kosher for any but the most zealous vanilla game advocates.

nerevarine1138

Sarenia wrote: »

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Doesn't Librarian kind of ruin the Eidetic Memory reward for the Mages Guild?

Did they ever fix that?

I haven't checked recently. But it seems odd that they'd allow an addon to circumvent a quest reward. I mean, I assume they don't mean to leave it broken and require the addon to get the same functionality.

Sarenia

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Sarenia wrote: »

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Doesn't Librarian kind of ruin the Eidetic Memory reward for the Mages Guild?

Did they ever fix that?

I haven't checked recently. But it seems odd that they'd allow an addon to circumvent a quest reward. I mean, I assume they don't mean to leave it broken and require the addon to get the same functionality.

If Eidetic Memory is functioning properly, I agree that closing related API functionality wouldn't be a bad idea.

Then again, it's nice to have an alternate means of cataloging and sorting them, for people like myself who enjoy re-reading books regularly. Perhaps only allowing the API function to work for people who have Eidetic Memory unlocked would be more reasonable.

Then again, I staunchly believe that allowing the marking of skyshards and lore books on maps via the API is not a good idea either.

Selstad

Hm, didn't know it was broken, works for me at least.

Anyway.

I run with a few addons, such as crafting addons, a buff addon (that is utter useless for me as a sorcerer anyway as it only tracks Inner light and I know about that easily enough due to the big orb floating around me) and some minimalistic addons to help track certain things. But I don't run any addons that significantly alters the original UI because I think it's good as it is.

I think the best addon I have is the MobileBank addon, which catches my inventory for my alts, which is very useful since my bank is full with only 2 professions, and enchanting really takes up a whole lot of space. So having a rune bank alt with all the runes on, and an addon that shows me all the time what runes I have, is for me at least, essential.

I've tried some MMOs and my biggest concern always is that the UI detracts from the immersion of the game - i.e you look more on the UI and minimap rather than the world around you. I like that feeling, looking around the world, taking in the things around me. That's why I don't do too much to alter the UI that came with the game, because I think it works perfectly as it is.

trahe

Addons or No addons? ADDONS!! There are some wonderful addons that help me enjoy the game. ESOUI.com is my source and with Minion the updating is always seemless.

ChairGraveyard

Kingcroft wrote: »

I for one like the simple visual ques while not having any specific numbers scrolling as I have seen in some you tube vids. I came to ESO from skyrim and am not competitive pvp guy so I like world to feel more 'natural', less technical.

I agree OP.

That said I use lots of addons, but only ones that make the game more Elder Scrolls-like.

For instance, I use one that makes it so the reticule is hidden 99% of the time until I actually look at something that I can interact with or attack (or I get into combat).

The same one also hides the quest tracker (I can see quest objectives fine on the compass).

Several do stuff behind the scenes for inventory management.

I use ZERO add-ons that put extra stuff on the screen.

nudel

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

Doesn't Librarian kind of ruin the Eidetic Memory reward for the Mages Guild?

Eidetic Memory has never worked properly and still doesn't. The vast majority of books you have found and continue to find will not be learned or will unlearn themselves, which effectively makes it useless. I for one added the Librarian mod because I was sick and tired of waiting for Eidetic Memory to actually function.

Csub

I also only use some very basic ones, most of them are mentioned by Sarenia.
I did try LibAntiSpam, though, but stopped using it since it also ignored many normal messages and NPC speech too. As I am not a native English speaker, I prefer seeing those in chat in case I missed or misheard certain parts or the environment was so loud that it made it hard to make out what the NPC was saying.

Rotherhans

Easily my most essential "quality of life" addon for this game:
Greymind Quick Slot Bar
IMHO best to place it over the chat input window, as it has an autohide just for this case.

Rotherhans wrote: »

Pretty much essential addons for altoholic crafters:

• AI Research Grid
• Craft Research Timer
• Research Assistant
• Vicster's InventoryInsight
• Borrower And Lender

Selfquoting for laziness! Also @Csub‌, X4D´s LibAntiSpam never gave me these problems.
Try the latest version.
Which is generally a good idea. Most guys do update their addons relatively frequently.

Zubba

I know most people love addons. However I enjoy the games how they was meant to play. And not a million numbers on screen. If I wish that I go do some accounting.

Rotherhans

And there are addons that actually improve even that @Zubba‌ !
Back in beta Zeni disabled the worst offenders in that regard anyway.

Though some addons indeed manage to still flood the screen with superfluous statistics. Easily remedied, don´t get those.

Zubba

Any suggestions @Rotherhans ?

Empu

I haven't read all the replies, but addons are optional, if you feel you do not need them... then you do not need them There's a variety of addons, not necesarily just the floating combat numbers ones etc.

Thechemicals

I use addons to show me where all the skyshards and lorebooks and treasure maps are. I also use addons to show me all the damage i am dealing and all the damage i am recieving plus buffs and debuffs. I also use an addon for a cusom reticle that tells me exactly how many meters away you are from me and an addon that tells me what your magicka/stamina is at in numbers and %. I could go on but its clear, addons are for winners.

Froobert

I feel like game enhancing addons that give great visual effects are the best type. I love graphics, who doesn't? Being able to see face creases on NPCs is what Nostalgia is about. (Kinda)

stabbykitteh

Like others have said, I avoid the things that clutter the screen. I use:

Research Assistant
Research Grid
Sous Chef
Khajiit Speak

and now, thanks to @Sarenia, No Written Dialogue

poodlemasterb16_ESO

I dunno. I have a few now. Foundry Tactical Combat can be configured to be as minimal as you want, but actual real time numbers have made a difference as to how I play the game. To actually watch the various buffs, debuffs, damage and healing numbers real time is very helpful and somewhat enlightening.

To have the actual numbers on your 3 bars is also useful, FTC combines them but will put the numbers on your normal bar if you want. The ability to range anything and to see what health that troll actually has, is again very useful.

After a while I might just turn it all off again but I will have learned a lot of stuff I could not learn any other way. I imagine I'll always use autoloot though and the Bazgrim toolbar has so much info in such a small bar that it too will probably stay.

achimb16_ESO3

Thechemicals wrote: »

I also use an addon for a cusom reticle that tells me exactly how many meters away you are from me and an addon that tells me what your magicka/stamina is at in numbers and %. I could go on but its clear, addons are for winners.

I'd call those "addons for losers" - if you can't estimate a distance or the percentage of live that a hit takes away (from the mob or yourself) and let addons do the work. I much prefer to get a feel for those things by experience instead of staring on tables with numbers.

Sarenia

achimb16_ESO3 wrote: »

I much prefer to get a feel for those things by experience instead of staring on tables with numbers.

Oh, you would love Everquest 2.

Or better yet, EVE Online - Spreadsheets in Spaaaaaace!

poodlemasterb16_ESO

achimb16_ESO3 wrote: »

Thechemicals wrote: »

I also use an addon for a cusom reticle that tells me exactly how many meters away you are from me and an addon that tells me what your magicka/stamina is at in numbers and %. I could go on but its clear, addons are for winners.

I'd call those "addons for losers" - if you can't estimate a distance or the percentage of live that a hit takes away (from the mob or yourself) and let addons do the work. I much prefer to get a feel for those things by experience instead of staring on tables with numbers.

How are you ever going to get a feel for the game without the actual numbers? They are in no way intuitive.

My game has improved faster than ever before, as I try to understand the game. A lot of that comes from real time display of what I am doing and the effects that have. I can figure out why something does not work much faster.

I intend to get good. I have never played an MMO before and I don't know about the others but this one is very rich for combat oriented people. The difference between doing it right and doing it wrong is large.

reggielee

i like the clean ui so dont add all those ui clogging addons. I do like however the souschef, which was invaluable in letting me know which provisioning mats I could get rid of, and AI Research Grid to help me keep track on what the heck im researching for crafting and Research Assistant so I know at a glance while at a vendor which pcs to sell off. all these help immensely with keeping inv at a min and time at a vendor short

poodlemasterb16_ESO

So addons for your stupid crafters, I have 4 dedicated and several addons for them, are good but anything for your fighters is OP or distracting or something.

Sure.

reggielee

need a nap? I didnt say your set up was wrong but that I didnt like them.

Enteum

Couldn't care for add-ons myself. I don't use them. There is no need.