Major Fan Site Comments on the Lack of Content

Preyfar · April 2015

SturgeHammer wrote: »

Yep, ZOS is fortunate that the thrill of competition and sense of loyalty to the franchise has been enough to keep the pvp community active through what has been a content drought since day one. A little meaningful pvp content would be a much appreciated courtesy to pvpers, even if the battle is continuing without it.

PVP in ESO is just so damn good (downtime/travel time aside). That's the only reason people like me have stuck around. But Cyrodiil is so big and empty, lacking (even in questing). I can't even use the new cold fire siege gear, because about 50% of the time, I drop the siege down and it's completely unusable (can't interact with it).

I'd settle even for a proper timeline, but... as it is, it's just "Consoles!".

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO · April 2015

Saddiq wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

The quests in craglorn require multiple people not to complete it by fighting but you need those people or you cant do it period. I dont care if you have invulnerability and can fight 1000 mobs at once while sleeping. You physically cannot do the quests without having multiple people. So I somehow doubt you did the quests solo. Since thats impossible.

As far as content in the fall they already said nothing is even close to done. They will be working on the console long after the june launch. So you are dreaming if you think we will see any of that stuff live before 2016.

That was sloppy writing on my part, but I didn't say I'd completed all quests, but rather point out the fact that there is much, more than half as far as I can tell (and yes I could be wrong), of Craglorn quests and delves that do not, in fact, require grouping. Yes, you need groups to complete Craglorn. You do not, however, need groups to complete at least a dozen if not more of the 30 or so quests in Craglorn, nor do you need partners to complete at least half of the delves.

So on point, Craglorn was a huge amount of new content after release for both solo and group players. Players who don't care about plot (nothing against them) would not by definition have gotten as much out of them as players that do. Nothing wrong about that, just play style differences.

And yes, even though Craglorn was a lot of new content, it is nowhere near what was promised, and that is disappointing.

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

Thelon · April 2015

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

While I never tried to solo Craglorn at VR7, I can assure you that the delves can be soloed with the right build at VR 14. I've finished soloing all the Lower delves and am working on the Upper ones. You can find my build (which includes videos) in my signature.

I also agree with most of Atros post on TF. I think he did a good job capturing the sentiment of many of this game's longest and most loyal patrons.

eventide03b14a_ESO · April 2015

jkemmery wrote: »

Once the console release has settled down and a whole new swath of players has joined in, I expect we will see the map of Tamriel begin to fill out, and an increased focus on developing new content/ story lines.

Except they already said they were going to slow down content after the console release. This is from a different thread: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/147735/eso-confirms-content-development-will-slow-down-in-2015-after-tamriel-unlimited-is-launched/p1

Bouvin wrote: »

Not that they ever hit the 4-6 week mark in 2014, but Matt Frior has confirmed it will slow down even more in 2015 on the reddit AMA.

http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/2tfb48/welcome_to_the_eso_tamriel_unlimited_aua/cnym1sh

We are not going to keep up our 2014 pace of updates in 2015 - and our future update pace will focus more on new adventures and game experiences than system changes. It's time to let the game breathe a little - we've done so many new features so quickly that we want to make sure everyone is on the same page with us. 1.6 alone has a complete rebalancing of most player abilities - we don't want to do that again, for example. Our #1 priority right now is getting Tamriel Unlimited launched on PC, and then focusing on a successful console launch. While we do those things, we have other teams already working on DLC and expect to see that start rolling out at some point after console launch settles down.

..1.6 is going to be the last major update before console launch, for obvious reasons. We will continue to do interim updates as necessary. As Paul said in another thread on this AMA, we're now developing for 4 platforms at once, and it is inherently more complex. We're committed to having content hit all the platforms at roughly the same time, so it will necessarily slow things down a bit.

I wish I had your optimism.

eventide03b14a_ESO · April 2015

Thelon wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

While I never tried to solo Craglorn at VR7, I can assure you that the delves can be soloed with the right build at VR 14. I've finished soloing all the Lower delves and am working on the Upper ones. You can find my build (which includes videos) in my signature.

I also agree with most of Atros post on TF. I think he did a good job capturing the sentiment of many of this game's longest and most loyal patrons.

I have been able to solo Craglorn delves since I was V8.

xMovingTarget · April 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

Thelon wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

While I never tried to solo Craglorn at VR7, I can assure you that the delves can be soloed with the right build at VR 14. I've finished soloing all the Lower delves and am working on the Upper ones. You can find my build (which includes videos) in my signature.

I also agree with most of Atros post on TF. I think he did a good job capturing the sentiment of many of this game's longest and most loyal patrons.

I have been able to solo Craglorn delves since I was V8.

Yep. Also did em on ma DK

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO · April 2015

Thelon wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

While I never tried to solo Craglorn at VR7, I can assure you that the delves can be soloed with the right build at VR 14. I've finished soloing all the Lower delves and am working on the Upper ones. You can find my build (which includes videos) in my signature.

I also agree with most of Atros post on TF. I think he did a good job capturing the sentiment of many of this game's longest and most loyal patrons.

This guy claims hes been out there soloing them since VR7. Fact is 99% of people wont be able to solo those delves even at vr14. I want to see it then I will believe it.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO · April 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

Thelon wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

While I never tried to solo Craglorn at VR7, I can assure you that the delves can be soloed with the right build at VR 14. I've finished soloing all the Lower delves and am working on the Upper ones. You can find my build (which includes videos) in my signature.

I also agree with most of Atros post on TF. I think he did a good job capturing the sentiment of many of this game's longest and most loyal patrons.

I have been able to solo Craglorn delves since I was V8.

Again anyone can claim to have done anything. I asked for proof.

Snowstrider · April 2015

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

Not only was craglorn group only but the quests are extremely long. Also with their phasing nonsense you cant help other people get to the right point in the quests to get them caught up. So what happens is noone actually does the quests there and only grind mobs to get to vr14. Whoever designed craglorn and upper craglorn shouldnt be allowed to work on zones anymore.

This so much,I so wish that we could repeat old quests with friends who perhaps havent done those quests,Gives you more reason to return to old zones too.

jkemmery · April 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

jkemmery wrote: »

Once the console release has settled down and a whole new swath of players has joined in, I expect we will see the map of Tamriel begin to fill out, and an increased focus on developing new content/ story lines.

Except they already said they were going to slow down content after the console release. This is from a different thread: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/147735/eso-confirms-content-development-will-slow-down-in-2015-after-tamriel-unlimited-is-launched/p1

From the link you posted: " ... our future update pace will focus more on new adventures and game experiences than system changes."

I stand by my statement. They won't be making feature changes and adjusting class/ racial bonuses etc ... they will focus on making new content. It seems that they expect there to be more console players than PC players and are looking to keep them playing by adding new content, which was my point.

eventide03b14a_ESO · April 2015

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

Thelon wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

While I never tried to solo Craglorn at VR7, I can assure you that the delves can be soloed with the right build at VR 14. I've finished soloing all the Lower delves and am working on the Upper ones. You can find my build (which includes videos) in my signature.

I also agree with most of Atros post on TF. I think he did a good job capturing the sentiment of many of this game's longest and most loyal patrons.

I have been able to solo Craglorn delves since I was V8.

Again anyone can claim to have done anything. I asked for proof.

Gladly. I'm V12 now, but I don't mind having you tag along while I wipe them out. Assuming you are EP that is.

LonePirate · April 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

I wish I had your optimism.

Optimism is tough to maintain amidst the broken trust and promises.

eventide03b14a_ESO · April 2015

jkemmery wrote: »

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

jkemmery wrote: »

Once the console release has settled down and a whole new swath of players has joined in, I expect we will see the map of Tamriel begin to fill out, and an increased focus on developing new content/ story lines.

Except they already said they were going to slow down content after the console release. This is from a different thread: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/147735/eso-confirms-content-development-will-slow-down-in-2015-after-tamriel-unlimited-is-launched/p1

From the link you posted: " ... our future update pace will focus more on new adventures and game experiences than system changes."

I stand by my statement. They won't be making feature changes and adjusting class/ racial bonuses etc ... they will focus on making new content. It seems that they expect there to be more console players than PC players and are looking to keep them playing by adding new content, which was my point.

I'm not here to make that judgement, but past experience with ZOS has taught me to be skeptical. I just don't share your optimism.

jkemmery · April 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

I'm not here to make that judgement, but past experience with ZOS has taught me to be skeptical. I just don't share your optimism.

Considering that this is ZOS's first and only game, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. What seems to have happened is that they vastly underestimated the time it would take them to port from PC to console, and have spent the better part of the last year attempting to rectify that, as well as adjusting the game difficulty to have the greatest mass appeal. Once the console is launched, we'll see how things go. Considering the appeal of the Elder Scrolls franchise and it's success on the continuing success of Zenimax Media, the parent of ZOS and Bethesda, it seems that it is prudent for them to ensure the success of EOS, which, if we take the model of existing successful MMO means regularly bringing more content to the party.

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO · April 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

Thelon wrote: »

jamesharv2005ub17_ESO wrote: »

I went to craglorn today. I want to see you video yourself clearing a group delve solo at vr7. I really really want to see this. Cause not only am I calling you on it but everyone in my guild says the same thing. No way you are clearing group delves at vr7 solo. So you video that and show me a link Ill gladly eat my words. Until then Im not buying a word of it.

Craglorn has nothing for solo players to do. Its all group even the delves.

While I never tried to solo Craglorn at VR7, I can assure you that the delves can be soloed with the right build at VR 14. I've finished soloing all the Lower delves and am working on the Upper ones. You can find my build (which includes videos) in my signature.

I also agree with most of Atros post on TF. I think he did a good job capturing the sentiment of many of this game's longest and most loyal patrons.

I have been able to solo Craglorn delves since I was V8.

Again anyone can claim to have done anything. I asked for proof.

Gladly. I'm V12 now, but I don't mind having you tag along while I wipe them out. Assuming you are EP that is.

Just record it and link it here. Altho the other guy said vr7 not vr12. Ill take vr12 tho.

vovus69 · April 2015

Well, I already got used to cleanup the group dungeons solo, but I would really appreciate the schedule from zos. When they will release spellcrafting and Murkmire/orsinium. I don't care about pvp stuff, but I really would like to see the solo content schedule. And updates whenever this schedule will be changed. I don't think that I'll see something like that, but, you know, "I have a dream..."

Genomic · April 2015

Hey now, they haven't ignored the PC players. Just look at all the cash shop items they're pushing through of late...

Elsonso · April 2015

eventide03b14a_ESO wrote: »

jkemmery wrote: »

Once the console release has settled down and a whole new swath of players has joined in, I expect we will see the map of Tamriel begin to fill out, and an increased focus on developing new content/ story lines.

Except they already said they were going to slow down content after the console release. This is from a different thread: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/147735/eso-confirms-content-development-will-slow-down-in-2015-after-tamriel-unlimited-is-launched/p1

Bouvin wrote: »

Not that they ever hit the 4-6 week mark in 2014, but Matt Frior has confirmed it will slow down even more in 2015 on the reddit AMA.

http://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/2tfb48/welcome_to_the_eso_tamriel_unlimited_aua/cnym1sh

We are not going to keep up our 2014 pace of updates in 2015 - and our future update pace will focus more on new adventures and game experiences than system changes. It's time to let the game breathe a little - we've done so many new features so quickly that we want to make sure everyone is on the same page with us. 1.6 alone has a complete rebalancing of most player abilities - we don't want to do that again, for example. Our #1 priority right now is getting Tamriel Unlimited launched on PC, and then focusing on a successful console launch. While we do those things, we have other teams already working on DLC and expect to see that start rolling out at some point after console launch settles down.

..1.6 is going to be the last major update before console launch, for obvious reasons. We will continue to do interim updates as necessary. As Paul said in another thread on this AMA, we're now developing for 4 platforms at once, and it is inherently more complex. We're committed to having content hit all the platforms at roughly the same time, so it will necessarily slow things down a bit.

I wish I had your optimism.

In terms of the future content, I have optimism to spare, have some...

They have not solved the lag problem, but I think they will. I have to think that this this is one of two top priorities being addressed by the studio, even above the Crown Store. If they are treating this half as seriously as their sister studio treated the PS3 problems in Skyrim, they will stick with it until it is solved. I do not recall hearing about any of the development studios under ZeniMax Media simply giving up on a technical problem of this magnitude in a released product.

Gina Bruno, ESO Live, Friday April 10, 2015:
"We have seen some a couple posts about some lag and performance issues, this is troubling Cyrodiil, PVE, Dungeons, we've seen Pledges suffering from some poor performance recently. We can tell you that this is under some very heavy investigation, all the time. We have tried some back end things to try and fix this, unfortunately it did not work as we had hoped, but we are continuing to look at it. We are not giving up. There are some things that one of our programmers is looking at, trying to see if, maybe, certain abilities are somehow affecting Cyrodiil and other combat areas. Please rest assured that we are looking into this, we are not giving up."

I also have based a number of guesses on the fact that I think Imperial City is right around the corner, so to speak, and this statement during the last ESO Live validates that.

Jason Leavey, ESO Live, Friday April 10, 2015:
"Where is Imperial City? Are we just sitting on it? Is it done? We have mentioned this before, but we're actually still going through it and testing it. We're testing the different systems involved. It's not something that is done. We're not sitting on it. A lot of the art is getting finalized, but the actual systems are still being tested. We want it out there as quickly as we can get it, but we're not going to sacrifice a good product just to get it out quicker. So, we're still going to be working on it, and testing it internally and making sure that it is amazing."

My feeling has been for some time that they really really want Imperial City out there, and would have had it out there for the PC/Mac Tamriel Unlimited launch, and would have it for the console launch if it were possible. When it is anywhere close to being done, tested, and ready, I am sure they will find a way to deliver it.

In addition to that, the Loremaster hinted that they were warming up some of the content that they have previously announced:

Lawrence Shick, ESO Live, Friday April 10, 2015:
"Now that we have... everybody was working on the Justice System for a while, that was a huge effort. Now that we have got the first part of that out, we are back to working on new content, and so I am supporting a lot of this new content, as already been announced. Orsinium, the zone of the Orcs in Wrothgar. Murkmire, another zone in Black Marsh. The Imperial City. Eventually the Clockwork City, then guild content centered around the Dark Brotherhood and Thieves' Guild. They are all at work in the background. They'll be coming out at different times as they get completed properly. It's really good to be back working on new stuff."

I get no sense that they have dropped or are no longer planning to do any of the content that they have previously announced. They have not talked about Spell System or Justice System phase 2, but they have said that Champion System phase 4 is coming.

Preyfar · April 2015

lordrichter wrote: »

I get no sense that they have dropped or are no longer planning to do any of the content that they have previously announced. They have not talked about Spell System or Justice System phase 2, but they have said that Champion System phase 4 is coming.

I think the main problem, from my perspective, is all this information is scattered. There's no one central place to find it, there's no stickied post, there's no timeline. There's bits to be found on Reddit, bits to be found in the forum, some in ESO Live, some on fansites ZOS works with...

I feel like, as a player, I'm picking up tidbits here and there and instead of being able to go to a central source (the forums) I have to rely on other players to funnel that info back to me.

WhiskyBob · April 2015

I like the article but what I do not understand is comparison of content released in last year. They should do a comparison "what game had to offer at launch" and it would turn out that 10 year old crappy World of Warcraft had more content on release than ESO 10 years later when expectations are higher and standards are far beyond vanilla WoW.

Genomic · April 2015

In terms of future direction of the game, the most important thing to realise is that their business model has changed from the 'premium subscription experience' to B2P. Now almost all the money ESO makes will be from cash shop sales.

Previously they had 100% of their players paying $15/month. The money was regular and evenly spread across the entire playerbase, and thus the dev focus was to make the game as fun as possible for everyone. In every B2P/F2P game, it is a small % of players who make up the lion's share of the profits. And there people spend thousands. If 80% spend $0/yr, 15$ spend ~$200/yr and 5% spend $5,000 a year, then of course these 5%, the obsessive completionists, the addictive/OCD personality types ("whales"), will be THE customers to please.

So the development focus will change accordingly. They won't be making fun, engaging content for the majority to casually play through. With no sub, there's no money in catering to the 80%. In most other F2P/B2P games this means a barely fun, addictive grind, which will by deliberate design be enhanced by buying cash shop items. Thus they will hook the 'whales' (who are now their main target), who will drop lots of $ on the Crown Store.

I think a lot of people thought B2P would just be "business as usual, but with a cash shop", but of course such a major change in business model must mean a change the direction and focus of the game.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/06/10

Locke_ESO · April 2015

Betting on the console market is a fail idea imo. They may sell a lot of units initially but this "complete focus" on getting it on the consoles while their PC audience is left bored by lack of new content and eventually declining (I see it already begining on my friends list) is a bad long term strategy. "Front room" game consoles just are not built for MMOs and those sorts of gamers are in general more casual and will drop the game as soon as the new CoD/BF comes out. If it really is going to take more than a year for another decent update I think a lot of people will have moved on to other newer games. It's a shame because there seems to be a real surge in numbers atm but that will die off if it's not properly looked after.

LameoveR · April 2015

Locke_ESO wrote: »

"Front room" game consoles just are not built for MMOs and those sorts of gamers are in general more casual and will drop the game as soon as the new CoD/BF comes out.

What a nonsense.

Bouvin · April 2015

Article is spot on. Unfortunately.

ESO has so much potential.. I just hope they can get their priorities in order as PC players are likely to represent much longer subscriptions (even with B2P TU ESO+) than console.

I guess at this point I'm just keeping my eye on Camelot Unchained.

kevlarto_ESO · April 2015

I think throwing the pc player base under the buss until the console release was a bad move, I sure don't feel like a valuable customer. They really do need some content and how long after the console release do you start offering DLC's, to soon console players yell foul this should have been in at launch, wait to long the pc crowd gets even more bored, ZOS has built themselves into a conundrum, or their own version of the Kobayashi Maru..LOL

Shadesofkin · April 2015

At this point I don't even need a zone or full quest line. Add in 2 new Veteran Dungeons with gear drops and I'd be set for at least the next 3 months as I try to master them.

Evandus · April 2015

Locke_ESO wrote: »

Betting on the console market is a fail idea imo. They may sell a lot of units initially but this "complete focus" on getting it on the consoles while their PC audience is left bored by lack of new content and eventually declining (I see it already begining on my friends list) is a bad long term strategy. "Front room" game consoles just are not built for MMOs and those sorts of gamers are in general more casual and will drop the game as soon as the new CoD/BF comes out. If it really is going to take more than a year for another decent update I think a lot of people will have moved on to other newer games. It's a shame because there seems to be a real surge in numbers atm but that will die off if it's not properly looked after.

The reliance on the surge of numbers from the console isn't an unreasonable thing. Changing the business model leaves ZOS in great need of a revenue source.

Excepting the existing PC users while in the process of doing this will only create ill will. Personally, I'm concerned as well about what the aggressive expansion of the cash shop will bring to us. So far it's only mundane things. And while it is my hope it continues in that direction, history suggests otherwise in moves like this.

I don't have a dog in the PC vs Console arguments. But I have seen a few times now the scenario where a game effectively dies with these types of moves.

LameoveR · April 2015

Evandus wrote: »

Changing the business model leaves ZOS in great need of a revenue source.

Business model was changed to fulfill cosole requirements and prepare B2P base for cosoles.

Didgerion · April 2015

Bouvin wrote: »

Business model was changed to fulfill cosole requirements and prepare B2P base for cosoles.

Do you have any ZOS sources that can prove your words?

Rune_Relic · April 2015

avid_mdb16_ESO wrote: »

Bouvin wrote: »

Business model was changed to fulfill cosole requirements and prepare B2P base for cosoles.

Do you have any ZOS sources that can prove your words?

It was in a video by matt and paul with Bethesda leading the discussion.
Probably available in the past youtube videos.

Why would you switch to B2P before the very last moment possible (console release) and lose all the subscription revenue in the mean time in the gap ?
Are they so rich they can afford to dump all those subscriptions ?
Did the B2P of TU really bring in enough cash to tide them over until console release ?
Why are they dumping staff if there is so much to do and they are so rich ?