danno816_ESO wrote: »

Most UI addons are nice but not necessary I agree. But some are just such big QoL improvements you wonder how they are not in the game.

The research ones that tell you if you have researched something in you inventory, and cross references with your bank, as well as the one that shows a chart of what you have researched has saved me hours and hours of searching through inventory tabs at a crafting table and using a hand written chart to keep track of things.

These ones in particular:

Research Assistant
AI Research Grid

I'd like to add Show Motif's to that list. When someone asks you "What motif is this staff? It's awesome looking." there is no way to tell without this addon. Amazing to me that Zenimax left out a way for in-game items to be identified since crafting is such a big part of the game.

nerevarine1138 wrote: »

I have no idea where the add-on authors are going, but have you tried playing without addons?

I haven't used an addon since day 1, and my main is VR12. Never had an issue.

How is this a good counter argument? The allowance of addons is part of the game design by ZOS. That's great that you enjoy playing without addons, as you can tell others do not. No need to post on something you just wish to be inflammatory about.

As others have pointed out, sometimes it can be a few days after a patch before the addons catch up. This patch particular changed the API in a way that broke a lot of addons. Sometimes the players making the addons quit and it's up to other players to try and take over the updating of said addon. If the mod happens to be a lesser used one, the chances of someone taking over tend to be pretty slim.

Slightly off topic: Most UI stuff I personally don't think should be included in the game. I actually prefer a minimalist approach, and in other MMOs have either been frustrated with what I thought to be a cluttered UI that I couldn't change, or downloaded a fair share of addons in an attempt to shrink everything down and mostly clear my screen.

There are some QoL things I think should be included in the game, such as a text search for the guild store (though I do love the improvements the most recent patch gave to filtering, I don't miss a text search nearly as badly now), and an option to show both buffs/debuffs on yourself/enemies.

Treachery wrote: »

danno816_ESO wrote: »

Most UI addons are nice but not necessary I agree. But some are just such big QoL improvements you wonder how they are not in the game.

The research ones that tell you if you have researched something in you inventory, and cross references with your bank, as well as the one that shows a chart of what you have researched has saved me hours and hours of searching through inventory tabs at a crafting table and using a hand written chart to keep track of things.

These ones in particular:

Research Assistant
AI Research Grid

I'd like to add Show Motif's to that list. When someone asks you "What motif is this staff? It's awesome looking." there is no way to tell without this addon. Amazing to me that Zenimax left out a way for in-game items to be identified since crafting is such a big part of the game.

Have you updated that add-on? I did yesterday and it work fine again. I use the Minion Add-On manager and start it before playing. It will tell if an add-on has an updated before I play.

Arsenic_Touch wrote: »

API changes are continuing to be the bane of the addon community.

As well as a poorly designed game be the bane of keeping interest in it.

No one 'needs' addons, of course not. I am not sure how much testing you would get done without some of them though. The damage addons allow you to see if something is actually working the way it should, besides trying to guess.

Addon updates are slow because the authors have to figure out what API changes were made because ZOS does not publish them or even discuss them. Generally games of this size that support addons are pretty forthcoming about any changes made.

KariTR wrote: »

Mortosk wrote: »

Like for example:

Why doesn't the game let you see your experience bar at all times?

Using this one as an example. In any game that has a permanent exp bar with the option to toggle it off. I toggle it off.

Does that answer your 'Why?'.

Considering that many people are looking for a way to toggle it 'on', no, you toggling it off doesn't answer the question.

The bar ought be an option to toggle on/off depending on the player.

Unless one was a control freak, and felt that anything they didn't want to see shouldn't even be an option for anyone else....

Just saying.

I think it's interesting that these kinds of threads tend to have 2 kinds of people in them and each type has one of these viewponts:

1.) "I'd like to have the option to....."

Or,

2.) "I don't want 'XXX', and no one else should be allowed to have it either".

It's really that simple.
Zeni decided not to include it, but made it clear that add-on devs could write add-ons that people could 'OPT' to use.
Many players made it clear that they 'PREFER' certain add-ons, and appreciate them.
Some other players make it clear that they prefer that the first group not have the option, and seem to revel in any roadblock thrown in the path of add-on writers.

You mix these two types of people together, both groups PAYING for the same access to the game and forums, and then people wonder why there's a certain amount of disharmony on the boards.

You tell me, cuz I sure don't have the brains to figure THIS one out.

It isn't growing (the community) and we no longer care. Every hotfix and patch, any work we did with add ons had to be reworked. When you are dedicating 30+ hours a week to make gameplay a little smoother to be *** on bi-weekly you lose interest and move on to games with developers that don't go out of their way to make play as painful as possible.

Nate wrote: »

Instead of whining and making veiled innuendo regarding the games current state (i.e. failing), why don't you go and start developing some addons?

Have you ever made ui modifications? it doesn't just happen. we are given a foundation o work with and it takes months for some of the more useful add ons. The devs feck up the coding every gd week thus screwing up the coding used to create the mods and add ons in the first place.

Point: We stopped because we were sick of trying to add to a game who's developers were clueless and careless in helping to maintain.

guess I am lucky as i only had to update 1 addon after the latest patch to get it to work. I did update a couple of other, however they were working without the updates as were the rest. So out of 7 addons only one needed and update, 2 had updates that were not "needed" to function and 4 had no updates nor required any.

Fuzzylumpkins wrote: »

Nate wrote: »

Instead of whining and making veiled innuendo regarding the games current state (i.e. failing), why don't you go and start developing some addons?

Have you ever made ui modifications? it doesn't just happen. we are given a foundation o work with and it takes months for some of the more useful add ons. The devs feck up the coding every gd week thus screwing up the coding used to create the mods and add ons in the first place.

Point: We stopped because we were sick of trying to add to a game who's developers were clueless and careless in helping to maintain.

Yes. Yes I've written addons for several games but what the hell does that have to do with what I said? If you're going to whine about there being no addons, then start making addons. API changes are the norm in games like this. You blaming the devs is like being mad at Sony because the PlayStation 4 can't run PlayStation games... or whatever, maybe it can but you get the idea.

EQBallzz wrote: »

I can't think of a game more in need of addons than ESO and some of them are almost required to play the game IMO. There are some huge gaps in the base functionality, UI and just general preferences that I think addons fill quite well atm. Over the last month or so a good number of my go-to addons seem to be going dormant because the addon authors are no longer active. Some have stated they were "trying" WS and never returned and others have just sorta disappeared.

ESO allows addons, but do not of course supports them. You have to go to the addon creator and ask them.

ESO is perfectly playable with no addons. I have 30 days "played". I do guild bank work every day. I rather do that, then getting the dup item bug back.
I also manage very well in the game without addons telling me everything or doing stuff on auto.

I got 2 tradeskills maxed. Not only level, but all points and in my case recipes and mats for provisioning. I know whats needed for what. And we have more then enough room for mats in our guildbank. Along with my own.

"Base functionality" is a very different view depending who you ask?
For me, works great! For someone who wants everything on their UI, there are addons, but again, dont blame ESO for this. They allow addons. You need to ask the Addon creator, or make one yourself?


I am vet level. Tanked several Vet dungeons.

I have no found even close to all the skyshards, but I have not had the need to respec yet. And I have skills enough to handle myself. I do however NOT have all skills, since I have to choose.


I am not saying I am a good player. I AM saying ESO is perfectly playable without addons, and I think more people would enjoy the game if they did not have all kinds of info flowing to them.

Boss fights in instanced dungeons for example. I have NO clue what to do. Me and my team have to figure it out and this starts at newbie level. 12-16!

You actually get a "raid" experience. You get to actually BEAT an encounter yourself. No youtube, no info. Just you and your groups ability to work together and by player skill, work out tactics.

One of ESO main features was that player skill will matter. They deliver this.
With or without addons.

someuser wrote: »

To those who don't think ESO UI needs any add-ons:

I could not disagree more. I played from four day early release till the present. Up until about a week and a half ago (or so) I played vanilla. Yes, ESO is completely playable vanilla but once you see what add-ons can do with the right set-up I honestly cannot go back. After the latest patch I pretty much didn't play for three days (not complaining, no biggie to me) until the add-ons I used were up and going again.

I am sorry but I have to correct that statement. I played since early launch and tanked all my way up to vet areas, where I tanked Vet dungeon bosses.

Never used a single addon. The game works perfectly fine without addons.

You have to do more? YES, but that's intended and keeps at least me interested.

Stating that the game cant be played without addons, is wrong.


However, dont mix this with, being able to play the game more to your liking or being more effective. Please use addons. But just because you do not see combat numbers for example, does not make the game unplayable.

If ESO needed addons in order to be able to play it, I must be one of the best players in the game. Cause I manage to do the same thing as everyone else who uses addons do.

Yes! Having to look for skyshards yourself does take a lot of time!
This is intended. And fun....

However, addon are allowed. You can choose to use them for whatever.