Laura wrote: »

I'm curious what faction all the people are that think the game is doing fine? you DO know there is only one server right? EP is like one of the more empty SWTOR servers at its worst point ON ONE SERVER.

I rolled an AD out of curiosity last night and WOW people everywhere! it was almost annoying! I haven't tried DC yet but if you think the game is doing fine go try EP out for a while - there is more going on a random EQ1 server than EP NA

You can't even get a group for anything in EP not outside of guilds (and that is fading away now) in AD people were spamming LFG... I hope ZoS does population transfers at some point.

It's too bad that ZOS doesn't publish fun (and harmless) facts like a census breaking out the percentages of the player base by faction, race, class, and current level.

The funny thing is that people initially expected EP to be the biggest faction during beta because of Skyrim (and Argonians too!). Then elvish fever took hold and the 'cool kids' indicated they would roll AD. The roll any race in any faction deal unlocked Argonians from EP. Throw into the mix that the AD and DC low level zones are less alien.

For me the major points why I am not playing so often anymore is:

1. in the Vet zones it is not hard but it is always a struggle with low rewards. Its simply not relaxing for me. Yes i'd like to have a challenge here and there, but if every stupid wolf or rat has a fair potential to kill me - even as a veteran player who defeated a deadric prince - then something simply feels wrong and not immersive (why is the wolf in one zone easier than the wolf in the other). For me the immersive aspect of the previous TES games were always a big plus. And at one point I want to feel that my character grows in strength even when I am going into an unknown area.

2. The maps are really too small and not immersive for me. They are so fully packed with mobs you cant simply walk around and enjoy the landscape like in Skyrim. All the time you are in danger to pull some trash.... The visual range is also not far and dimished by fog. Often you encounter wild tigers/wolfs walking or sitting in the vicinity of a town or the bandits hideout right behind the next corner in a town which totally breaks my immersion.

3. Almost all dungeons are tiny circle parcours. For me they dont deserve to be called dungeons... Where are the dungeons with several levels, difficult puzzles, originalitiy? Compare this to dungeons in other games (especially the classic games, for example BG1:Durlag's Tower), the predecessors or creations by fans.... Now you can respond that there have to be made some compromises since they are meant to be public, but we all know that this sort of system also breaks immersion: You enter a dungeon just to find out that everything is cleared and you can walk right to the boss spawn where there are already 4 other dudes waiting. Its totally boring in most times.

I suggested to instance me only with those players who entered the dungeon at a similar time than me but that suggestion was ignored. (I dont even know why I am giving this feedback, it wont be read by anyone responsible anyways....

4. ... and this is also a critic: there is simply no communication with the devs on this forum.

5. Many zones are missing originality ... For example, for me a big disapointment was Valenwood. The wood in grathwood doesnt deserve to be called 'wood' at all IMO. No deep forests where light barely reach the ground. Instead we have a (tiny) map packed full of towns and roads and grass. Why are the roads in that area not in between the leafes instead on the ground? every area looks similar and most cities (and house interiors) look like sandbox creations. The diversity should have been alot higher.

6. The voice actors did a good job, but they are simply too few voices... Also where are childs playing around like in Skyrim? No old men, no childs... all people have the same age, look similar, sound similar. Its like in WoW... I thought that in 2014 we can do it better or not? Even quests are getting repetitive... and the is no epicness for an epic character anymore.

7. PvP is unplayable for me due to crashes, lags and unresponsible abilities, but probably that is only me...

***
Now if you see these points you can say by yourself how good the chances are that these points will be adressed. I appreciate that ZOS is going to fix bugs etc, and I really like the skill and character development. But all of the above points are hardly possible to change; they are done by poor game design choices. And these are the major reasons why I am absent.

Relyk04 wrote: »

Initially, launch was a rocky road to say the least, but do you feel that overall the game is bouncing back?

Bouncing back from what? I've been having a blast, so I guess I dunno what you mean.

RatsnevE wrote: »

Do you realize ZOS has redefined MMOs to mean single player only boss battles? Who let them get away with that?

Every player who has made it beyond Level 50 and hasn't raised an objection to the game's construct let the developers get away with it.

But one thing I've discovered is that the majority here either prefer single-player-only gaming, or they're "leet" speed-levelers, so they've no reason to oppose single-player-only boss battles.

You and I are one of the few who hang on, submitting tickets in-game and posting here to get the choice to group such battles. Most others simply unsubscribe when they see something so ridiculous.

BBSooner wrote: »

RatsnevE wrote: »

RatsnevE wrote: »

Maybe a slow comeback as things continue to get fixed and balanced. But it will depend on exactly what keeps coming too. For instance if the rest of the new maps only concern guilds and groups and PvP then I'm out as soon as I finish all I can with the existing PvE. This could be a rich perfect experience for the Solo gamer if they could have only held off for a year after release--and the reviewers too.

Change my vote to NO COMEBACK every.

Do you realize ZOS has redefined MMOs to mean single player only boss battles? Who let them get away with that?

Just beat the bosses and move on, I'm not seeing a problem.

Of course you don't, since you fit in one of the two categories I mentioned above. The problem is that many who found they could not remained grouped in an MMO said, "WTF?!" and have already unsubscribed, without uttering a word why.

Of course, if ZOS doesn't care about bleeding subscriptions, then I suppose it really isn't a problem.

Huckdabuck wrote: »

3. I seriously doubt anyone will be saying "yeah those first 3 months were rough but boy gee golly everything is just swell now" without
a. Templars getting dps buffs
b. NB's having passives fixed where they actually work
c. DK's not being nerfed into the ground
d. Sorcs not being nerfed into the ground
e. Vampire passives working properly
f. WW line getting some love
g. Cyrodiil lag becoming nonexistent
h. Insert other pertinent needs from any of the QQ threads

Aside from H, absolutely agree. Could not have put it better.

The game devs have a few lessons to learn about when to make new content and fixing current issues but its a good game.

GreySix wrote: »

BBSooner wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

BBSooner wrote: »

RatsnevE wrote: »

RatsnevE wrote: »

Maybe a slow comeback as things continue to get fixed and balanced. But it will depend on exactly what keeps coming too. For instance if the rest of the new maps only concern guilds and groups and PvP then I'm out as soon as I finish all I can with the existing PvE. This could be a rich perfect experience for the Solo gamer if they could have only held off for a year after release--and the reviewers too.

Change my vote to NO COMEBACK every.

Do you realize ZOS has redefined MMOs to mean single player only boss battles? Who let them get away with that?

Just beat the bosses and move on, I'm not seeing a problem.

Of course you don't, since you fit in one of the two categories I mentioned above. The problem is that many who found they could not remained grouped in an MMO said, "WTF?!" and have already unsubscribed, without uttering a word why.

Of course, if ZOS doesn't care about bleeding subscriptions, then I suppose it really isn't a problem.

Shrug, I neither prefer single player nor am I a 'leet speed leveler'. But I also just don't have a problem with solo boss fights. My fiance and I just temporarily join these solo instances, beat them, talk about what we choose, laugh, and move on. There's never been a rage, table flip moment because we don't get to press buttons against the same red bar.

Well, many do have a problem with being forced into a solo instance, and its simply preposterous that an MMO would choose that route, especially for main story quests. Unlike me, most of them simply unsubscribe without uttering a word. Now y'all may not think that's a problem, but perhaps you will once the game goes F2P.

Eh, if the game goes F2P we likely won't blame it on something we don't have a problem with. It'll be blamed on something wedo have a problem with, as will everybody. If people have a problem completing content by themselves that is designed to be completed by themselves then I'm sure people will blame that.

Requiemslove wrote: »

@GreySix You really are a melodramatic so and so. Did it ever occur to you maybe the main quest line and possibly the faction quest line was designed to be solo and was done like that for a reason?

If so, then it is a bad design. How would it adversely affect your game-play, if you choose to solo an instance that others can group?

Requiemslove wrote: »

I get your point I really do but just because this is supposed to be a MMO does not mean you have to be in a group all the time.

I never asserted a group requirement, but rather that is should be allowed where currently prohibited. Again, how would it adversely affect your game-play, if you choose to solo an instance that others can group?

Requiemslove wrote: »

Those who have left [and no doubt there are many] did so for many and varied reasons but the root cause is dis-satisfaction.

Of course, but we can't know the reasons, can we? We can be sure that among them is the forced-solo requirementS of this particular MMO.

Requiemslove wrote: »

As is the cause of your own comments but the reality is you don't understand why they wanted the main quest to be solo.

Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand. The forced-solo aspect of this MMO is stupid, and folks are unsubscribing because of it.

Requiemslove wrote: »

That reason is to give players the illusion that their actions matter and make a positive difference and that they are [in fact] the hero, that and the story.

... and I get the same illusion when assisting my wife's character in her main story instances in SWTOR, so not buying it.

Requiemslove wrote: »

Sound business strategy is to cater to as many specific kinds of MMO gamer as possible. If they just went solo's it would be bad for business. If they just went group's it would be bad for business, if they just went raids it would be bad for business, if they just went RPers it would be bad for business, so have something for all.

Then the fix is easy: Continue to permit solo instancing, without forcing it.

BBSooner wrote: »

Just beat the bosses and move on, I'm not seeing a problem.

I can't "just beat the bosses and move on...". If I could I wouldn't be pissing, moaning, and groaning about these single player only boss battles have ruined the MMO normal play style of the genre. If you aren't hardcore; if you aren't full of strategy; if you need group help in ANY battle; if unknown to you your character or skills are nerfed then its no problem for a solo player in a real MMO--you group. ZOS has bastardized MMO and you shouldn't let them get away with it and I dare say you aren't.

I at least who struggle on with the game would like to see the problem fixed. I am now stuck in what might be the last PvE single player only boss battle--up against Molag Bal this time. Yet another truly miserable game stopping (its all locked up in the main story this time with no way to bypass or skip) battle. Well, I'm stopped and I'm stumped and I'm V1 even but all that means nothing because I want to play a Nightblade with a sword and shield (that turns out to be nerfed apparently) and not a NB in light armor with a staff.

I wish people would stop using discount sales as evidence. The only thing it is evidence of is lower prices in those outlets. It could mean anything from -'We overstocked' through 'the game is tanking' to 'the game is doing so great we know we'll hook a lot of long term customers this way.'

It means nothing at all and the next person who mentions it should take themselves off the internet.