New zone content for accomplished players in Tamriel Unlimited

tinythinker · January 2015

During the special edition of "ESO Live!" featuring Matt Firor and Paul Sage on the announcement of Tamriel Unlimited, it was mentioned that new zones which are sold as DLC will automatically scale to your character's level, no matter what that level is. (The question of whether only some, most, or all new zones will be DLC -- and what that means for new end-game content -- has been raised in another thread.)

It makes sense that if I am a new player and the game is advertising the cool new Wrothgar zone, or Mephala's Web, or Clockwork City, etc, that I would not purchase them if I needed to be level 50. ZOS wants to make money from such purchases. So, the purchasable zones will scale to everyone.

Yet even new players will eventually reach level 50, and while yes, you can go to new zones and have it scale up to you, having more challenging content is about more than just scaling. Also, level 50 means more if there are new things waiting for you once you hit that level -- it feeds the anticipation/reward psychology behind the desire for character progression to feel that you can do things and go places you couldn't before.

So do you as a current, new, or returning player want to see new zones that aren't all DLC/scalable?

Not instead of DLC, but in addition to? If so, do you have any ideas for what places you'd like to see, the kinds of stories/villains, or NPC mechanics? Share your thoughts here.

I've suggested some ideas for villains/zones/plots to which others previously contributed, so maybe those examples will spark some inspiration. I also still think, now more than ever, that recycling old Alliance zones could be helpful by adding/opening entrances to new areas on the existing maps as part of new storyline featuring familiar NPC faces. These new questlines would require having completed the storyline for any given Alliance in order to access them.

Personally, I would also like to see a zone, just one, DLC or no, that requires that you to have completed Cadwell's Silver and Gold.

I mean, just what were you being "prepared" for, anyway? What are those challenges that lie ahead, and who are the potentially "worse" masters of Tamriel?

Maximis_ESO · January 2015

I just want some higb end zones with better gear. Scaling sucks because no matter how much i progreaa, because it all scales i never feel stronger. In gw2 it was terrible, id go back to noob lands to help my brother only to be svaled down and noy very helpful. Im disappointed in this announcement and think zos should reconsider scaling all of the dlc content.... Thats going to be a huge turn off for many people.

SantieClaws · January 2015

I think some scaled areas or dungeons are necessary if you have a constant new stream of players (with perhaps not all of them sticking around for long). I just don't see how this can work though unless the whole area is instanced just to you? Then you will be the only person there - which would be weird and dull. How can you have a whole area in an MMO with many players where it scales to each one of them individually - unless it is instanced.

A whole area instanced with no other players in it? Then it stops being a MMO doesn't it?

Wifeaggro13 · January 2015

tinythinker wrote: »

During the special edition of "ESO Live!" featuring Matt Firor and Paul Sage on the announcement of Tamriel Unlimited, it was mentioned that new zones which are sold as DLC will automatically scale to your character's level, no matter what that level is. (The question of whether only some, most, or all new zones will be DLC -- and what that means for new end-game content -- has been raised in another thread.)

It makes sense that if I am a new player and the game is advertising the cool new Wrothgar zone, or Mephala's Web, or Clockwork City, etc, that I would not purchase them if I needed to be level 50. ZOS wants to make money from such purchases. So, the purchasable zones will scale to everyone.

Yet even new players will eventually reach level 50, and while yes, you can go to new zones and have it scale up to you, having more challenging content is about more than just scaling. Also, level 50 means more if there are new things waiting for you once you hit that level -- it feeds the anticipation/reward psychology behind the desire for character progression to feel that you can do things and go places you couldn't before.

So do you as a current, new, or returning player want to see new zones that aren't all DLC/scalable?

Not instead of DLC, but in addition to? If so, do you have any ideas for what places you'd like to see, the kinds of stories/villains, or NPC mechanics? Share your thoughts here.

I've suggested some ideas for villains/zones/plots to which others previously contributed, so maybe those examples will spark some inspiration. I also still think, now more than ever, that recycling old Alliance zones could be helpful by adding/opening entrances to new areas on the existing maps as part of new storyline featuring familiar NPC faces. These new questlines would require having completed the storyline for any given Alliance in order to access them.

Personally, I would also like to see a zone, just one, DLC or no, that requires that you to have completed Cadwell's Silver and Gold.
I mean, just what were you being "prepared" for, anyway? What are those challenges that lie ahead, and who are the potentially "worse" masters of Tamriel?

This is a cop out and a clear greed scheme. This means there will be no additional , or traditional end game activities. I was fine with the B2P and eso plus, this is a clear pandering to make money off of generic garbage content while still charging a sub , and the cost of a DLC. Someone please tell me i am having a nightmare Did they just hire Ritchetello ? WTH is this, In no way shape or form is this good for end game people 70 % of the server population has a v 14 chr, and is currently playing the end game. Scaled content is not the same as end game content , its just not. there are far more mechanics in end game encounters then the current scaled content. with far more challenge + better rewards.

LtCrunch · January 2015

wenxue2222b16_ESO wrote: »

I think some scaled areas or dungeons are necessary if you have a constant new stream of players (with perhaps not all of them sticking around for long). I just don't see how this can work though unless the whole area is instanced just to you? Then you will be the only person there - which would be weird and dull. How can you have a whole area in an MMO with many players where it scales to each one of them individually - unless it is instanced.

A whole area instanced with no other players in it? Then it stops being a MMO doesn't it?

This is a concern I've had, but thinking about it now. If it scales based on level then wouldn't there just be an instance for each level of player? Then if you're in a group scale to group leader as dungeons do now.

tinythinker · January 2015

wenxue2222b16_ESO wrote: »

I think some scaled areas or dungeons are necessary if you have a constant new stream of players (with perhaps not all of them sticking around for long). I just don't see how this can work though unless the whole area is instanced just to you? Then you will be the only person there - which would be weird and dull. How can you have a whole area in an MMO with many players where it scales to each one of them individually - unless it is instanced.

A whole area instanced with no other players in it? Then it stops being a MMO doesn't it?

They could scale it the group leader like four person dungeons, but some of it may in fact be geared toward solo adventuring like the original Alliance zones. No way to know yet just how it will work.

Wifeaggro13 wrote: »

This is a cop out and a clear greed scheme. This means there will be no additional , or traditional end game activities. I was fine with the B2P and eso plus, this is a clear pandering to make money off of generic garbage content while still charging a sub , and the cost of a DLC. Someone please tell me i am having a nightmare Did they just hire Ritchetello ? WTH is this, In no way shape or form is this good for end game people 70 % of the server population has a v 14 chr, and is currently playing the end game. Scaled content is not the same as end game content , its just not. there are far more mechanics in end game encounters then the current scaled content. with far more challenge + better rewards.

It is possible that some new zones won't be DLC/won't scale, or that some future DLC zones may require level 50/not scale, but it is unclear, which is why I asked ZOS about this after watching that "ESO Live!" yesterday. Hoping that they will give some kind of answer in the somewhat near future.

Wifeaggro13 · January 2015

Brandalf wrote: »

wenxue2222b16_ESO wrote: »

I think some scaled areas or dungeons are necessary if you have a constant new stream of players (with perhaps not all of them sticking around for long). I just don't see how this can work though unless the whole area is instanced just to you? Then you will be the only person there - which would be weird and dull. How can you have a whole area in an MMO with many players where it scales to each one of them individually - unless it is instanced.

A whole area instanced with no other players in it? Then it stops being a MMO doesn't it?

This is a concern I've had, but thinking about it now. If it scales based on level then wouldn't there just be an instance for each level of player? Then if you're in a group scale to group leader as dungeons do now.

No currently there are End game VR dungeons which do not scale they are true end game, mechanics content and rewards . They are more complex in mechanics they have better rewards and require player skill and knowledge.This generic here ya go content that scales . the only thing different form a lvl 1 mob to a lvl 50 mob is Hp and damage done. The only difference in gear is Stats. It de values your chr at end game this is bad news for the launch player that stuck it out and worked his way up the Vr ranks and did all the VR content, real bad news. On top of it now they are gonna charge the subs for new content lol . I have no problem paying another 40 bucks for a full blown expansion with new lvl increments new zones and features. But i got serious issue with them charging me 20 dollars for a zone and a new guild or skill line. this is a money grab and they know it. you can Bronze a turd and try to tell people its gold but it's really just a turd

tinythinker · January 2015

Wifeaggro13 wrote: »

Brandalf wrote: »

wenxue2222b16_ESO wrote: »

I think some scaled areas or dungeons are necessary if you have a constant new stream of players (with perhaps not all of them sticking around for long). I just don't see how this can work though unless the whole area is instanced just to you? Then you will be the only person there - which would be weird and dull. How can you have a whole area in an MMO with many players where it scales to each one of them individually - unless it is instanced.

A whole area instanced with no other players in it? Then it stops being a MMO doesn't it?

This is a concern I've had, but thinking about it now. If it scales based on level then wouldn't there just be an instance for each level of player? Then if you're in a group scale to group leader as dungeons do now.

No currently there are End game VR dungeons which do not scale they are true end game, mechanics content and rewards . They are more complex in mechanics they have better rewards and require player skill and knowledge.This generic here ya go content that scales . the only thing different form a lvl 1 mob to a lvl 50 mob is Hp and damage done. The only difference in gear is Stats. It de values your chr at end game this is bad news for the launch player that stuck it out and worked his way up the Vr ranks and did all the VR content, real bad news. On top of it now they are gonna charge the subs for new content lol . I have no problem paying another 40 bucks for a full blown expansion with new lvl increments new zones and features. But i got serious issue with them charging me 20 dollars for a zone and a new guild or skill line. this is a money grab and they know it. you can Bronze a turd and try to tell people its gold but it's really just a turd

Well, if they do decide to respond in the other thread on whether there will be new end-game zones or in this one on whether players want/what they want from new end-game zones, we might have better picture of just what we would be paying for.

I mean, they've already dropped the B2P bomb, so why not let us know just what exactly that means. I think if they are going to have more meaningful end-game zones it might help convince some current subbers who are sitting on the fence to give the new pay model a try. I'm not asking them to discuss details of the DLC or non-DLC zones, just a confirmation of whether we will have both.

And if we will have both, I'm curious what people want to see for new zones that require a particular degree of quest or character progression.