Another Update All Focused On Group Content !

Phantax · August 2014

Well can't say as I'm surprised, another update and yet again solo players get shafted by Zenimax. 4 updates, a third of a years worth of content and they keep rolling out the same group focused stuff !

What a joke !

sdande · August 2014

you know we are playing an mmo?

Phantax · August 2014

sdande wrote: »

you know we are playing an mmo?

And your point is?

BodeanG · August 2014

sdande wrote: »

you know we are playing an mmo?

Shhhhhh!

Don't let the secret out.

Wicked_Wolf · August 2014

While I enjoy group content and don't think they should reduce development of it in any way, I do agree that some solo stuff should be released as well.

It would be nice if they started adding some new zones with regular questing. Start filling out the map with content for both groups. Repeating the same quests on a VR character and Alts gets incredibly repetitive. I personally don't like the VR system at all. I always assumed it would be entirely different quests in other factions' zones. Very dissapointing.

I think new zones with new quests for all types of players really need to be added soon.

The_Sadist · August 2014

Phantax wrote: »

sdande wrote: »

you know we are playing an mmo?

And your point is?

It doesn't take a genius to deduce what he's hinting at.

I agree questing should probably only require 2 or so people come Craglorn, but trials and dungeons are sort of always been group orientated.

Vuron · August 2014

Uhhh, what? Solo players had almost an entire patch to themselves when all the VR content was changed from "encouraging people to group" to "faceroll solo".

The only things group based in this entire game are Trials, VR dungeons, and Craglorn. Everything else, and I do mean everything else, is solo content. We've even seen videos of people soloing VR dungeons and Craglorn, so I guess Trials are the only thing in the entire game that truly require a group.

OrangeTheCat · August 2014

Phantax wrote: »

sdande wrote: »

you know we are playing an mmo?

And your point is?

Right. This may be an MMO in name, but the first 50 levels favor solo. I tried to help a lower level guildie on a quest and could not - he disappeared (just a ^ over his head) and I could not even see what he was fighting. And then, presumably when we got out of the quest area, he suddenly reappeared. Thank you phasing.

Anastasia · August 2014

Phantax wrote: »

Well can't say as I'm surprised, another update and yet again solo players get shafted by Zenimax. 4 updates, a third of a years worth of content and they keep rolling out the same group focused stuff !

What a joke !

Heh, Dragonstar Arena looks FABULOUS. ..well,

>>>>> (*) IF (*) ZOS has figured out ahead of time how to keep players from turning THAT into a grind numb spot, and if grouping there means grouping aside from or in addition to timed pressure trials, and IF grouping mechanics/phasing crap works.<<<<<<

There IS NO REGULAR PvE GROUPING IN THIS GAME ASIDE FROM CURRENT TRIALS>>>>>>>>.

NOW, get some grouping on in the levels leading UP TO the new content and THEN it will be fun for a larger number of the playerbase. Come on ZOS --- raise the grouping BONUS E X P, add in some yummy loot --- give players that don't want to group 'just for the fun of it/challenge which is cool!' something to motivate them to group and LEARN and EARN what they need, in order to arrive at endgame content ready to roll!!

Course again, there are soooo many other issues that still need major attention, this new content is some DELICIOUS icing...hopefully ZOS stays hard at work on finishing baking the cake foundation.

Add this to the Thieves and Dark Brotherhood Guilds, and the Justice System which is going to interweave PvE and PvP

SOON please!

Phantax · August 2014

The_Sadist wrote: »

Phantax wrote: »

sdande wrote: »

you know we are playing an mmo?

And your point is?

It doesn't take a genius to deduce what he's hinting at.

I agree questing should probably only require 2 or so people come Craglorn, but trials and dungeons are sort of always been group orientated.

I was fully aware at what he was hinting at. My point was that almost every time anybody mentions solo content you get some [snip] saying "This is an MMO"
Really? no [snip]....however an MMO does not mean group content or nothing. It means there are many players online at one time and that those players get choices about how to spend their game time !
Some want to solo play, others group, others PvP or RP. There are 4 player groups and yet Zenimax seem unaware (or simply don't care about) the fact they are ignoring the other 3 groups !

[Moderator Note: Edited per our rules on Cursing & Profanity]

Wicked_Wolf · August 2014

sdande wrote: »

you know we are playing an mmo?

The thing is, MMO's shouldn't be exclusively group, especially not a TES MMO. I will almost never turn down a group request, whether its friends or PUG's. I always have fun. But, there are times where I may not have enough time for a full run and/or just want to quest, level, whatever. I'm sure there are many other players like this. I think content should appeal to all groups.

The_Sadist · August 2014

Phantax wrote: »

The_Sadist wrote: »

Phantax wrote: »

sdande wrote: »

you know we are playing an mmo?

And your point is?

It doesn't take a genius to deduce what he's hinting at.

I agree questing should probably only require 2 or so people come Craglorn, but trials and dungeons are sort of always been group orientated.

I was fully aware at what he was hinting at. My point was that almost every time anybody mentions solo content you get some idiot saying "This is an MMO"
Really? no sh*t... however an MMO does not mean group content or nothing. It means there are many players online at one time and that those players get choices about how to spend their game time !
Some want to solo play, others group, others PvP or RP. There are 4 player groups and yet Zenimax seem unaware (or simply don't care about) the fact they are ignoring the other 3 groups !

The issue is there is currently months of solo content in the form of veteran levels, going from level 1 to rank 10 via questing should take a great length of time if you're not skipping dialogue and whatnot. with every little sustainable endgame.
Traditionally most 'endgame' content is focused around raids and dungeons, all of which are typically group orientated. I can't say I've played a game which focused entirely on a solo end game experience, but that's just me. In terms of RP... I don't know where to begin. Adding a few more emotes, colours and costumes would appease that audience, right? Focusing on RP content is a sure fire way to lose a great deal of subscribers fast. Lastly, PvP is still there and isn't going anywhere. They've already announced there will be PvP stuff in the future, just because it isn't happening next month it doesn't mean the world is ending.

Let's not shout wolf just yet, there might be some solo stuff in upper Craglorn, time will tell.

neueregel · August 2014

Just because it is an MMO doesn't mean you have to hunt/quest with others. There are other aspects of a game that you can interact with players. I soloed about 97% of my VR12 NB, including the public dungeons. Where a MMO is nice is that if you prefer to solo hunt/quest, but interact with others in the game in say the economy and other aspects... this suits my play style and many others I would bet. If you want to go to Craglorn, Trials or Cyridiil, then you have that choice. But there are those of us that don't enjoy that component or, don't have time to wait around to be added to a group...

Phantax · August 2014

The_Sadist wrote: »

[ I can't say I've played a game which focused entirely on a solo end game experience, but that's just me.

Never said I want it to be entirely solo end game focused, hell I wouldn't want it to be like that. But there are 4 player groups and each group should be getting something with each update.
The guys that play PvP or RP pay the same subs as me, why shouldn't they get something. Predominantly solo players like myself pay the same as the group focused guys so why shouldn't we get something !

Vuron · August 2014

Phantax wrote: »

Predominantly solo players like myself pay the same as the group focused guys so why shouldn't we get something !

Conversely, the people that like to group have gotten almost nothing and most of what we did have was removed. I guess us group guys can always run trials all day every day while the solo players have the rest of the game and still complain about it.

I didn't think that I was subscribing to an MMO to play a half-assed single player RPG, but it looks like that's what we got.

Phantax · August 2014

Vuron wrote: »

Phantax wrote: »

Predominantly solo players like myself pay the same as the group focused guys so why shouldn't we get something !

Conversely, the people that like to group have gotten almost nothing and most of what we did have was removed. I guess us group guys can always run trials all day every day while the solo players have the rest of the game and still complain about it.

I didn't think that I was subscribing to an MMO to play a half-assed single player RPG, but it looks like that's what we got.

Yeah because having the games entire end game content based on group play obviously wasn't enough... !

The_Sadist · August 2014

Phantax wrote: »

The_Sadist wrote: »

[ I can't say I've played a game which focused entirely on a solo end game experience, but that's just me.

Never said I want it to be entirely solo end game focused, hell I wouldn't want it to be like that. But there are 4 player groups and each group should be getting something with each update.
The guys that play PvP or RP pay the same subs as me, why shouldn't they get something. Predominantly solo players like myself pay the same as the group focused guys so why shouldn't we get something !

Joining a guild or 5 which are based in similar timezones as yourself and actively engaging with said guild would probably mean having constant individuals to group with. People who are adamant on soloing and not engaging with the community are simply missing out on some amazing content.
I'm all for adding new 1 man stuff, but I don't feel it should be a focus or a priority. ESO is currently lacking a real endgame experience, the sooner that's fixed the sooner they can focus elsewhere.
Like I said, PvP players are getting stuff, it has been announced. RP are confusing, surely the new content will mean they will have a new tree to sit under while they discuss the stars above, or whatever it is they do.

On an ending note, you have no idea if there's going to be solo friendly content released in upper Craglon, so perhaps hold off the shafting talk for now.

bluesodafizz · August 2014

neueregel wrote: »

Just because it is an MMO doesn't mean you have to hunt/quest with others. There are other aspects of a game that you can interact with players. I soloed about 97% of my VR12 NB, including the public dungeons. Where a MMO is nice is that if you prefer to solo hunt/quest, but interact with others in the game in say the economy and other aspects... this suits my play style and many others I would bet. If you want to go to Craglorn, Trials or Cyridiil, then you have that choice. But there are those of us that don't enjoy that component or, don't have time to wait around to be added to a group...

Yeah, I agree. I think it's just that people are used to "online" being synonymous with "pvp" and "grouping". It's sad that a game can't be online and also encourage soloing as the main type of play.

I play solo almost exclusively (and only group when absolutely necessary). But I do enjoy the economy and the socializing of meeting and talking in towns.

The whole draw of an online Elder Scrolls for me was not the group play, but the role playing aspect that happens outside of combat. I was sorely disappointed to find that this is just another regular mmo with an ES shell.

Xeres14 · August 2014

IMO the long term success or failure of ESO will be high level group content - or a lack thereof. I think ZO is on the right track with what they're putting out. Hopefully it's successful.

Csub · August 2014

I mostly play solo but I do not mind the group content. They said solo content will come soon, new guilds and Wrothgar will all be solo oriented.

If they added the new guilds, people would be complaining "Yet another solo oriented content after the whole game but trials and dungeons can be done solo".

Do we really need such threads? To be honest, I often see PvP oriented people complaining but far less than those for/against group content. And I say so as a PvE oriented player myself.

I am actually happy they add a small group focused content with all this BS about "link your achievement before I invite you to trial but only if you are LA/Staff user" going around, at least it will be easier to do some endgame group content.

I would prefer they removed achievement for trials altogether as people use these as a requirement and that if they buffed Stam builds even more so no build restrictions could apply on invites whatsoever.

Samadhi · August 2014

My mental health issues prevent me from participating in group-oriented content.

Even as such, I'm okay with this update being designed for groups. I won't be able to participate in any of the content, but I'm glad it will be there for the players that are able and want to play it.

I'm excited to see what new content comes out in update five, after this group update has been pushed forward.

stefanosbekrwb17_ESO · August 2014

What's the point having elder scrolls ONLINE if you gonna be playing solo? Makes no sense when you think about that you have superb single player choices like skyrim and oblivion.zenimax is not wrong for focusing group content. You're just playing the wrong game.

Samadhi · August 2014

stefanosbekrwb17_ESO wrote: »

What's the point having elder scrolls ONLINE if you gonna be playing solo? Makes no sense when you think about that you have superb single player choices like skyrim and oblivion.zenimax is not wrong for focusing group content. You're just playing the wrong game.

I like to duo content with my girlfriend.
I'm fine with MMOs when it comes to player-based economies and having other players in the world.
We've tried to do group dungeons before though; I've had anxiety attacks in them so bad that I have sworn off attempting any more. She is still free to do them if she is willing to group up without me though.

If there were two-player Elder Scrolls games, I would likely be playing those with her instead.
Elder Scrolls Online is the best compromise we have been offered.

neueregel · August 2014

stefanosbekrwb17_ESO wrote: »

What's the point having elder scrolls ONLINE if you gonna be playing solo? Makes no sense when you think about that you have superb single player choices like skyrim and oblivion.zenimax is not wrong for focusing group content. You're just playing the wrong game.

The point has been SPELLED out many times...

A game like this has many things to do. Not all should require a group. Some have to, like the guilds and buying/selling with others... that is obvious... But some people like to hunt/quest on their own.

For instance, some of the groups I did hunt with... they dont bother looting items off kills or containers... they are like in a race to see who gets done first... I loot everything. I fall way behind the group because of this. They yell in /g to keep up... That is not the way I want to play.

The_Sadist · August 2014

Samadhi wrote: »

My mental health issues prevent me from participating in group-oriented content.

I'm sorry, but why are you playing an MMO and actively participating on a forum when you have 'mental health issues' that prevent you from group-oriented content? I don't mean to be blunt, I'm just a little confused. I can't understand the mentality, participating in this very thread and conversing online is arguably on par with running a character through a dungeon with 3 other people.

LonePirate · August 2014

I honestly do not understand why ZOS does not use this game's mega server technology to please the group players and the solo/duo players. Why does ZOS refuse to create instances or phases for different numbers of players? Why isn't there an instance scaled for a group of 4 and another instance scaled for a solo player? When I enter a delve, why can't the game recognize the number of people in my group be it 1 or 5 or 17 and then scale the content to that number of people?

This game needs to attract and maintain a wide variety of players. ZOS' refusal to cast a wide net using technology they underutilize makes absolutely no business sense to me as it alienates so many players. Does ZOS not care about its subscribers or does it only care about a specific subset of them?

Circuitous · August 2014

Holy crap you can literally solo the entire game up to V12 and you're mad that they're finally putting real focus on group content? Please stop with this madness.

Slaunyeh · August 2014

stefanosbekrwb17_ESO wrote: »

What's the point having elder scrolls ONLINE if you gonna be playing solo? Makes no sense when you think about that you have superb single player choices like skyrim and oblivion.zenimax is not wrong for focusing group content. You're just playing the wrong game.

That's just lovely.

But ignoring the "it makes no sense that you don't like the same things I do" sentiment, the vast majority of ESOs content actually focuses on solo play, which, if you've been paying attention, has been a general trend in MMOs over the past ten years. Saying that playing solo in an MMO is "doing it wrong" is missing roughly every MMO made since 2004.

Can't we just accept that there are people who prefer group content, and people who prefer solo content, and all get along, please?

As for the update, I have absolutely zero interest in end-game group content (having no VR characters yet is, I assume, also "playing the wrong game"). I do hope that the general improvements to the group experience that ZOS mentioned will make it in for (or preferably before) issue 4 because the game, as of right now, is actively discouraging grouping (the use of phasing makes for a phenomenal solo experience, but is super awkward if you're trying to group with friends).

arkansas_ESO · August 2014

Why do people want soloable stuff in an MMO to begin with? I came here to play with friends, not go on my own and only see other players in towns.

Cyberdown · August 2014

Why is this shocking or upsetting to you? The game has most of its content built quite well for soloing...

So they are fixing, adding stuff, and making it better to group.

Typically you want to make better things that are lacking within a game....

Malpherian · August 2014

Ya know.. I really hate to say this... and man I can't believe I am even considering it but I may go back to WoW....

* The guild systems are great and there are no restrictions against groups of friends and Family.

* The Grouping mechanics for both PvP andPVE are fair, meaning the game picks the groups for you even for raids. So none of this All sorce staff/robe ***. And you can still group on your own and not use the system if you really want to.

* An AH where I can actually sell my stuff, and buy whatever I want without having to spend HOURS romping around every single zone. or look for a large enough trade guild that MIGHT have what I need at a decent price.

* Basically everything that is wrong with ESO is right with WOW. And everything that sucks about WoW is right with ESO. You just can't seem to win, but playing with my friends and family is more important on the list I suppose, as is being able to group without having to wait for hours, or get rejected entirely for days because your not a stave dress wearing individual.

ESO should be a great game, Unfortunately the discrimination, and inconveniences it places on players for what should be simple to perform actions and what should be easy to "access" content.,,,, Is a nightmare.