Players Scaling to DLC Zone Level

Draylen · March 2015

If new DLC zones like Orsinium are going to scale the player to the level of the zone, can we at least have the option to turn it off if we like? Maybe I misinterpreted an article but this seems to be the only way to introduce a full size zone and make it accessible to all levels of players. I actually like Guild quests being scalable but I don't like the idea of it happening with entire zones. If I have the option to turn it off I'm actually okay with this. That way if I want to earn exp I can have my Vet character scaled down to whatever is needed but if I just want to explore and kill things I can have my character at full strength. After all, we all spent a long time leveling them.

Or is everything going to be level 50 onward and players are scaled up?

Enodoc · March 2015

I think this is designed so that new content can be a challenge for everyone, without anyone being too overpowered/underpowered to enjoy it. I guess they also don't want VR14s flying through it while Lvl 10s struggle to get a hit in before they're killed.

Interesting question on whether it'll all be Lvl 50; I would assume so, but I guess they could always set the "true" level at anything without affecting the setup of the system. 50 is probably easiest to implement though.

WraithAzraiel · March 2015

It'll work the same way battle leveling in Cyrodiil works.

kongkim · March 2015

I dont' really have much against it scale.
But it is taking a little of the fun away that you work your self. up to a point where you get the feeling "Now i can do it and have gained it"

Anvos · March 2015

Honestly even if you scale it most natural levels are likely not going to be too interested in running with somebody of low level due to them having a poor skill set and gear.

Merlin13KAGL · March 2015

WraithAzraiel wrote: »

It'll work the same way battle leveling in Cyrodiil works.

@WraithAzraiel , you think so? They'll (effectively) crank your level up?

I'm assuming certain content will have minimum level recommendations, or it will kind of defeat the purpose.

tinythinker · March 2015

Merlin13KAGL wrote: »

WraithAzraiel wrote: »

It'll work the same way battle leveling in Cyrodiil works.

@WraithAzraiel , you think so? They'll (effectively) crank your level up?

I'm assuming certain content will have minimum level recommendations, or it will kind of defeat the purpose.

Maybe, maybe not, but here are a couple of threads from when scaling was announced asking about some potential consequences of level scaling. Good thoughts from the comments moreso than the original posts.

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/147091/no-more-new-end-game-only-vr-level-50-only-content

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/147369/new-zone-content-for-accomplished-players-in-tamriel-unlimited

WraithAzraiel · March 2015

Yep, the content will not scale down to you. You will scale up to the content. I could be wrong but I do believe it was verified in Twitch chat on the ESO Live before the most recent. By 1 of the ZOS employees that was responding in the chat.

But like I said, I could be wrong. I've slept AND drank since then.

UrQuan · March 2015

Here's the best way to do open-world scaling (note: I'm not saying this is what ZOS will do with the new DLC, I'm saying this is what I think they should do):

All mobs are set to level 50 (VR1) behind the scenes.

When a player sees a mob, the level of the mob is displayed to that player scaled to the player's level.

When a player attacks a mob, the player's attack is scaled to what it would be if the player was level 50.

When a mob attacks a player, the mob's attack is scaled to what it would be if the mob was at the level of the player.

The same goes for heals.

If you wanted, you could even set this so that if a mob is higher level than a player then it will scale to no less than 3 levels higher than the player's level, or 4 levels, or whatever, and vice versa for scaling up if the player is higher level. That way a lower level player still gets more of a challenge than a VR 14 does, but it's not ridiculously difficult to do the content.

It's a much better system than battle leveling IMO.

Draylen · March 2015

Hey thanks guys for the thoughtful input. Sorry I kind of ditched the thread after I created it. I hope there's something better than what's done in Cyrodiil. I dislike the idea of level scaling in most cases. There's something satisfying about knowing who you can and can't beat, building yourself up and tackling a challenge later. It's an old principle of RPGs in general. That level 20 draugr that once terrorized you is no match anymore. I think Oblivion was a good example of how level scaling can take away from the feeling of accomplishment. Every 5 levels a bear would be replaced with a stronger bear, or a bandit with a stronger bandit.

Though like I said, I do like the fact that they level scaled the guild quests. It's something you can pick up any time and the enemies are meant to be a challenge in a main quest. The NPCs you encounter in them feel like they could be level independent of the zone you're in as well. When entire zones are level 50 and continue to be 50, being 50 becomes less special.

I'll check out those threads tinythinker

phairdon · March 2015

Very much used to this through playing gw2, where you scale down to the level of the zone. Never found it a problem as it only effected your health level & not your abilities or weapon strength.
To gain XP in any new zones, scaling is going to be important.

kelly.medleyb14_ESO · March 2015

Draylen wrote: »

If new DLC zones like Orsinium are going to scale the player to the level of the zone, can we at least have the option to turn it off if we like? Maybe I misinterpreted an article but this seems to be the only way to introduce a full size zone and make it accessible to all levels of players. I actually like Guild quests being scalable but I don't like the idea of it happening with entire zones. If I have the option to turn it off I'm actually okay with this. That way if I want to earn exp I can have my Vet character scaled down to whatever is needed but if I just want to explore and kill things I can have my character at full strength. After all, we all spent a long time leveling them.

Or is everything going to be level 50 onward and players are scaled up?

Yeah this type of move makes me worried, mass scaling of everyone is very cheesy.