Greetings,

I've noticed something in my time playing ESO. My main, who uses alchemy, has had an increasingly hard time getting mats. Specifically, any mats that can be used to make restorative potions. And more specifically, Columbine.

I'm perfectly willing to accept that there are areas of the game I am unaware of. Nonetheless I'd like to briefly state my problem, and see if others are experiencing the same. It's been my observation that Alchemy mats will appear somewhat randomly throughout the worldspace. This is all well and good I suppose. Yet attempting to gather enough mats to create a batch of restorative potions is becoming increasingly more difficult. I feel there are a few reasons for this:

1. Lack of areas with high concentrations of alchemy nodes - If, for example, I'd like to gather wood or cloth mats I only need to go to Fel's Run (Daggerfall Covenant). There are many, many nodes there. And even if there are up to 6 others there simultaneously, we all can farm mats without frequent instances of competition. Enchanting mats have issues in frequency/concentration as well. But one has the option of visiting the starter island and running amok there. Not to mention the hireling option, which Alchemy does not possess in it's skill line. This often leads to number 2.

2. Insane competition in the one area of the game so far where Alchemy mats are abundant (Hollow City in Coldharbour). I've seen some things... lol. Botters I've reported that have thankfully mostly gone away. Sorcerers using morphed bolt escape as both a speed and distraction tool. Actual players cheating running at insane speeds invisible who are too lazy to hide their pets (thus easily noticed). This morning I was beat to every node I attempted to get to by a nightblade in sneak mode/Rapid Maneuver that moved faster than me sprinting on my horse. Players who become 'salty' due to competition often leave worms or crawlers behind. Leaving other players with the choice of leaving a node that way (which will not respawn) or ending up with only fishing materials.

3. Having one (that I've noticed so far) area of the game with abundant mats and the rest of the world areas intermittently and sparsely populated draws players to this one zone. This is counter productive as the nodes don't appear to consistently generate the same mats in relation to restoratives. Nirnroot nodes prettymuch only spawn Nirnroot. Same with Water Hyacinths, Wormwood, and Blessed Thistle. However the restorative nodes (which appear to spawn either Columbine Bugloss Corn Flour or Dragonthorn) are less numerous both actual number - but also further limited by spawning one of multiple possibilities.

4. Other professions have the option of getting a hireling, who can gather mats and send them to you. Alchemy lacks this.

My suggestion to you, ZOS, is to provide more opportunities for players to be able to gather restorative nodes. At present things appear to be congested and limited to the point of multiple players (today I counted 32 competing with me in an hour gathering session) being forced to go to one area to receive mats to craft with. This only begets bad behavior on the part of players. He who uses the most speed buffs (intended or not), wins. He who bots, wins. He who hacks the game to give advantages wins. The rest of us get mostly crawlers and worms.

Thanks for considering my request.