What the heck is going on?

starseed28 · August 2014

So I started about a week ago and am still at a complete loss. The lack of any tutorial or direction makes this game frustrating. If I would not have years of mmo and tes experience behind me I wouldn't know where to begin. Is there a main story line? Am I doing it? Where am I? What am I supposed to do? All these questions and more are making this game more work than it needs to be. Sure there shouldn't be too much hand holding but they don't even extend a hand it seems.

I had to go online and look at new player guides that ppl have posted as well as go thru the entire settings for hotkeys on my own, I still didn't know what some buttons did as a small pop up appears and disappears immediately. I have no idea who is a player and who is an npc and who is a enemy. I had no idea I could set magic skills and have more than just left click to attack. Sure there are hints and tips that you should find on your own but a player shouldn't have to scour site after site made by fans to figure out basic things that should be in a basic tutorial.

Frankly this game is not friendly to those who are not dead set on playing. After a week I am ready to unsub due to frustration. This game is NOT worth $15 a month when I can just play Skyrim, which by all accounts is more fun, more user friendly and easier to understand.

This game seems to have been made by fan boys for fan boys and to hell with everyone else. BIIIIIIG disappointment, maybe I should have just listened to the poor reviews as well as my own poor impression from beta and stayed away completely.

OK now that the rage part is over, am I just letting my frustration get the best of me or does this game actually have some direction? Cause as it stands right now Final Fantasy XIV, the original version seems to have been better planned and laid out.

UnholyPerfection · August 2014

I find it hard to believe that you have years of MMO and TES experience and you're lost in this game.
My wife has only played 2 other MMO's (and only to mid level) and never played an MMO and she's never been stuck.

starseed28 · August 2014

Well believe it cause I do. This game just seemed to plop me down somewhere and said "there you go" and left me to my own devices. Sure the basic hotkeys are the same but outside that there is a whole lot of "whats going on?" The complete lack of a UI doesn't help either

GFBStarWars · August 2014

Main quest is under the "main quest tab" under your journal, this quest continue every 5 level, you complete the level 5 one and at level 10 you get a new one.
By looking at the map you can pretty much see everything you need to know, if that is not enough i can mail a compass to you.

UrQuan · August 2014

Um, what? I've never played an MMO before (although I have played TES games before), and I found it super easy to figure out how to play, what I should do, what was part of the main story, etc. The whole Wailing Prison beginning teaches you just about all of the basics you need to know, and from there it all flowed pretty easily for me. Some of the more complex stuff (like exactly how the armour cap works, etc) isn't obvious at all, but all of the basics that you need to play the game are spoon fed to you.

tordr86b16_ESO · August 2014

working on my 3'rd veteran character... he is almost vr7 (nb). the leveling experience in this game is so on rails that you could play it blindfolded. also, check your quest log (j) /thread.

GFBStarWars · August 2014

starseed28 wrote: »

Well believe it cause I do. This game just seemed to plop me down somewhere and said "there you go" and left me to my own devices. Sure the basic hotkeys are the same but outside that there is a whole lot of "whats going on?" The complete lack of a UI doesn't help either

During the tutorial you have on screen pop up with the key combination and by going in the controls setting you can customise almost all of them to your need.

For the lack of UI there is a website where nice addon dev create usefull addons (esoui.com

Probitas · August 2014

Reading the text in the quest dialogues and during cut scenes explains what is going on as soon as you create your first character in Cold Harbour. You have to stop Molag Bal from merging Tamriel with his own plane.

What's hard about that?

kimboh · August 2014

starseed28 wrote: »

Well believe it cause I do. This game just seemed to plop me down somewhere and said "there you go" and left me to my own devices. Sure the basic hotkeys are the same but outside that there is a whole lot of "whats going on?" The complete lack of a UI doesn't help either

So, basically like every other Elder Scrolls game.

Surliman · August 2014

I agree, hardly sounds like someone with tons of experience. Yes, there is a main storyline, and it starts as soon as your fresh-faced baby boy/girl enters the game in Coldharbour. Beyond that, once you hit the starter zone, your main man tells you that you are free to do whatever. Which is the point of a tes game.

Sure, I had a few questions myself about magic use and what not, but fellow players set me on the right path (when I could find their replies hidden away in all the trader spam and/or gold sellers).

My only experience was with World of Warcraft. Was enough when I started to understand skill points and their usage.

Dominoid · August 2014

starseed28 wrote: »

Well believe it cause I do. This game just seemed to plop me down somewhere and said "there you go" and left me to my own devices. Sure the basic hotkeys are the same but outside that there is a whole lot of "whats going on?" The complete lack of a UI doesn't help either

Sounds like classic Elder Scrolls to me. Based upon the success of the franchise I'd say it's functioning as designed.

Csub · August 2014

Well, lol.

No, this is a TES game, of course it does not have any story, what did you expect?

Of course you can't have any abilities on the ability bar, it's not that it is like that in any MMOs or in TES games by that matter, that you can bind abilities to numbers.

Yep, that is like that in every game, if you personally don't like something because you don't understand it, it makes it a bad game, unworthy playing and everyone disagreeing with you is a fanboy.

And yes, buying a game that you did not like in the beta nor after reading reviews and then coming to complain about it was indeed the idea of the year, nicely done.

Innocente · August 2014

I don't think anyone would call me a 'Fan-Boy', but ESO does have direction, and depth. Here are some tips:

1. Since you are not far in, reroll either Sorcerer or Templar (Breton race).

2. After you finish the Tutorial, immediately go back to the newbie area. You will get a quest to talk to the transport person. Do not start with the town they drop you into.

3. Concentrate your training on your Class skill lines, and one weapon line. Destruction Staff if you are Sorcerer, Restoration Staff if you are Templar.

4. Complete EVERY area in the zone; look for solid black icons on the map. They indicate there is still something there for you to do.

5. Don't bother with crafting except for Alchemy and/or Provisioning. DO pick up every plant you find and sell them in zone chat (50g to 150g EACH).

6. If you are Templar, put all your attribute points into Magicka. If you are Sorcerer, 50/50 Magicka and Health.

7. Strive for Light Armor Magicka / Mundus Stone gear. For accessories, Magicka / Magicka Regen. Find the Magicka Regen Mundus Stone in Cyrodiil and get that one.

8. Join a few Trading guilds, and at least one guild for Adventure friends to do Instances, World Bosses, and such with.

ESO is not a traditional 'hub' theme-park. You are meant to explore and discover things in the world. Take your time. Enjoy the story lines and the scenery.

Don't forget, go to the NEWBIE zone after the Tutorial. Don't start in the zone they drop you into.

Good Hunting!

Xnemesis · August 2014

Do us all a favor and read your quest dialogue, K!

KariTR · August 2014

i=inventory
j=journal
k-skills
m=map
drag and drop skills from your skill book into the skill bar

All elementary and common to MMOs...really don't see the issue.

Certainly all health bars being red (except for PvP?) often had me running into a group of enemy NPCs when I first started playing. But I prefer having to be wary when exploring. It always makes me giggle when, for example, I am running into a dungeon at the same time as another player is running out and we both stop dead in our tracks for the second or so it takes to register each other as 'friendly'.

As for the story: take time to listen to the main players, read the dialogue, the written clues/lore littered (literally) about the world and you will get there eventually. Or have moved on if it isn't your thing.

DogFaceInBananaPatch · August 2014

I found there was so much hand holding I had to remove the meta-information with addOns so I wouldn't be inundated with information taking me directly to objective resolve. Honestly I never seen a more theme-park (linear, on-rails) game environment in an MMO until I completely removed the quest trackers, compass, map, and overhead markers.

Rosveen · August 2014

It would help if you made a list of specific problems and questions.

Innocente wrote: »

1. Since you are not far in, reroll either Sorcerer or Templar (Breton race).

Why the hell would he do that? And why are you pushing him to be a cookie cutter mage, for that matter? I know it's the best competitive build right now, but come on, he's just starting out, not going for the record in Trials.

liquid_wolf · August 2014

When you start the game in Coldharbour it should give you most of the introduction you need.

You escape, and the prophet tells you to meet him at the harborage. make sure you accept the quests, because if you walk away from the NPCs when they try to talk to you... you will need to find them again.

Look around where you washed up on shore, you should see the image of the prophet.

If you use the compass, they show up as triangles in whatever direction they are in relation to you.

Innocente · August 2014

Rosveen wrote: »

It would help if you made a list of specific problems and questions.

Innocente wrote: »

1. Since you are not far in, reroll either Sorcerer or Templar (Breton race).

Why the hell would he do that? And why are you pushing him to be a cookie cutter mage, for that matter? I know it's the best competitive build right now, but come on, he's just starting out, not going for the record in Trials.

I gave this as the player is new to the game, and both these classes have GOOD survivability and are fun to play. When he/she is more familiar with the game and mechanics, that is the time to decide if DW Nightblade or Fire Mage Dragonknight is a thing to be tried.

The OP is expressing frustration at getting into the game. Making it easy by having a nice Race / Class combination with a good load-out will help.

Rosveen · August 2014

Innocente wrote: »

Rosveen wrote: »

It would help if you made a list of specific problems and questions.

Innocente wrote: »

1. Since you are not far in, reroll either Sorcerer or Templar (Breton race).

Why the hell would he do that? And why are you pushing him to be a cookie cutter mage, for that matter? I know it's the best competitive build right now, but come on, he's just starting out, not going for the record in Trials.

I gave this as the player is new to the game, and both these classes have GOOD survivability and are fun to play. When he/she is more familiar with the game and mechanics, that is the time to decide if DW Nightblade or Fire Mage Dragonknight is a thing to be tried.

The OP is expressing frustration at getting into the game. Making it easy by having a nice Race / Class combination with a good load-out will help.

I see. But dragonknights have great survivability as well. The only class I wouldn't recommend to a newcomer is nightblade because IMO it's the most difficult one to learn, but it was an extremely popular class right after launch and people somehow managed, even when it was terribly broken, so with that in mind I believe all classes are fine and the OP should choose a playstyle he finds the most enjoyable.

Race is irrelevant early on because you don't have any passives. By the time it starts to matter, you know the game well enough to deal with a seemingly mismatched combination too.

Pallmor · August 2014

Innocente wrote: »

Don't forget, go to the NEWBIE zone after the Tutorial. Don't start in the zone they drop you into.

This! When I first started, it wasn't obvious to me that I was supposed to go to a starter island. I tried to just wander off and start exploring and got my butt kicked. It wasn't until I started reading up on the game that I realized I was supposed to be on a starter island learning to do stuff like basic crafting and fighting appropriate enemies.

The game really needs to make this more obvious.

GFBStarWars · August 2014

Pallmor wrote: »

Innocente wrote: »

Don't forget, go to the NEWBIE zone after the Tutorial. Don't start in the zone they drop you into.

This! When I first started, it wasn't obvious to me that I was supposed to go to a starter island. I tried to just wander off and start exploring and got my butt kicked. It wasn't until I started reading up on the game that I realized I was supposed to be on a starter island learning to do stuff like basic crafting and fighting appropriate enemies.

The game really needs to make this more obvious.

The game worked like this before, pressure from media made the dev change this concept

UrQuan · August 2014

Pallmor wrote: »

Innocente wrote: »

Don't forget, go to the NEWBIE zone after the Tutorial. Don't start in the zone they drop you into.

This! When I first started, it wasn't obvious to me that I was supposed to go to a starter island. I tried to just wander off and start exploring and got my butt kicked. It wasn't until I started reading up on the game that I realized I was supposed to be on a starter island learning to do stuff like basic crafting and fighting appropriate enemies.

The game really needs to make this more obvious.

Yeah, this is because in beta people whined about having to start in the starter islands, and ZOS made the mistake of listening to those people and changing it so that you started out in the first full zone. You can easily learn the game and play without ever going to the starter islands, but it's better if you do.

Rosveen · August 2014

GFBStarWars wrote: »

Pallmor wrote: »

Innocente wrote: »

Don't forget, go to the NEWBIE zone after the Tutorial. Don't start in the zone they drop you into.

This! When I first started, it wasn't obvious to me that I was supposed to go to a starter island. I tried to just wander off and start exploring and got my butt kicked. It wasn't until I started reading up on the game that I realized I was supposed to be on a starter island learning to do stuff like basic crafting and fighting appropriate enemies.

The game really needs to make this more obvious.

The game worked like this before, pressure from media made the dev change this concept

The single worst decision the made in beta, IMO. All they had to do was let us take a boat to the mainland if we wanted to. But no, Angry Joe's opinion was more important than logical story progression.

Vizier · August 2014

This game is TES lite vanilla. It takes you by the hand and leads you everywhere, tells you who to talk to, where to go. Exploration is a joke. Whatever you need to know and where to go is pretty much on your map and compass. Maybe I don't get what your saying or perhaps there's a setting for hardcore mode I haven't seen. If you figure that out please make note of it here thanks.

eventide03b14a_ESO · August 2014

This game is pretty much 98% hand holding. Just do the quests and you pretty much reach the end. The quests even show you exactly where to go so you don't even have to read them or try to figure them out most of the time. I seriously don't get how anyone could be lost in this game.

GFBStarWars · August 2014

Vizier wrote: »

This game is TES lite vanilla. It takes you by the hand and leads you everywhere, tells you who to talk to, where to go. Exploration is a joke. Whatever you need to know and where to go is pretty much on your map and compass. Maybe I don't get what your saying or perhaps there's a setting for hardcore mode I haven't seen. If you figure that out please make note of it here thanks.

There are lots of addon that mixed together let you play without a map, compass and icon over quest giver.
There is even a real journal and a true exploration mod (esoui.com/downloads/info500-TrueExploration.html)

Royalroacho · August 2014

"I had no idea I could set magic skills and have more than just left click to attack."

But the skills are auto loaded onto your bar when you purchase them...

eventide03b14a_ESO · August 2014

Rosveen wrote: »

GFBStarWars wrote: »

Pallmor wrote: »

Innocente wrote: »

Don't forget, go to the NEWBIE zone after the Tutorial. Don't start in the zone they drop you into.

This! When I first started, it wasn't obvious to me that I was supposed to go to a starter island. I tried to just wander off and start exploring and got my butt kicked. It wasn't until I started reading up on the game that I realized I was supposed to be on a starter island learning to do stuff like basic crafting and fighting appropriate enemies.

The game really needs to make this more obvious.

The game worked like this before, pressure from media made the dev change this concept

The single worst decision the made in beta, IMO. All they had to do was let us take a boat to the mainland if we wanted to. But no, Angry Joe's opinion was more important than logical story progression.

I actually posted on "Angry Joe's" youtube video. Needless to say I didn't have anything nice to say and I got plenty of negative feedback about my post but I stand by what I said. For the record I find him neither insightful nor funny.

GFBStarWars · August 2014

Royalroacho wrote: »

"I had no idea I could set magic skills and have more than just left click to attack."

But the skills are auto loaded onto your bar when you purchase them...

you can unequip skill and equip other by dragging new skill on the bar

Royalroacho · August 2014

GFBStarWars wrote: »

Royalroacho wrote: »

"I had no idea I could set magic skills and have more than just left click to attack."

But the skills are auto loaded onto your bar when you purchase them...

you can unequip skill and equip other by dragging new skill on the bar

Right, but why would he not know there were skills and abilities? It equips them for you initially. I guess you could not know what those pictures in the little boxes at the bottom of your screen are, and why they have corresponding numbers attatched to them. i think ive seen something similar somewhere before, though. Maybe it was in another game or something...