Returning Player Frustration

Jordan.nick11b14_ESO · August 2015

After taking some time off from the game to wrap up some irl stuff (new baby, new job, etc-etc) - I was pretty excited about sitting down to my Vet1 Templar tank again.

Expecting a vibrant, bustling community though was my mistake. What I've found is a world that's very difficult to find a niche into now. It seems like the game is held together by small pockets of players that don't want anything to do with someone outside their circles.

I hoped maybe to find some fun in a group using the LFG Finder, however that didn't pan out despite waiting for over 2 hours; it was largely was unhelpful. My options while playing were basically left to running completing quests in desolate places alone and asking in various zone chats for any guilds looking for a vet 1 tank - or people looking for a group. In 3 hours I didn't ONE response. I play as part of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Is this pretty much the state of the game now?

icontested · August 2015

Jordan.nick11b14_ESO wrote: »

After taking some time off from the game to wrap up some irl stuff (new baby, new job, etc-etc) - I was pretty excited about sitting down to my Vet1 Templar tank again.

Expecting a vibrant, bustling community though was my mistake. What I've found is a world that's very difficult to find a niche into now. It seems like the game is held together by small pockets of players that don't want anything to do with someone outside their circles.

I hoped maybe to find some fun in a group using the LFG Finder, however that didn't pan out despite waiting for over 2 hours; it was largely was unhelpful. My options while playing were basically left to running completing quests in desolate places alone and asking in various zone chats for any guilds looking for a vet 1 tank - or people looking for a group. In 3 hours I didn't ONE response. I play as part of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Is this pretty much the state of the game now?

Congrats on the new baby

Jordan.nick11b14_ESO · August 2015

Thanks!!

IOUAT · August 2015

I guess so.: / sad isn't it

Kaitona · August 2015

The Devs really need to force the players to play differently, instead of the way they'd like to play, so this can never happen again.

Blutengel · August 2015

Only thing they need to change is the group finder and maybe have a board of guilds that are taking players. Other than that I'm happy with everything

phairdon · August 2015

Kaitona wrote: »

The Devs really need to force the players to play differently, instead of the way they'd like to play, so this can never happen again.

As in, force people to group? No thanks.
Very common for veteran zones to be reasonably empty, with the exception of grind spots. If you're a returning player on pc, you should know this. Not sure what console veteran area's are like.
At a guess, a good percentage of veteran players will be in Cyrodiil or Craglorn.

AlnilamE · August 2015

Have you checked the Guild Recruitment forums here? You may find a guild that suits you.

I don't have a vet in AD, so I can't help you directly.

And the group finder doesn't seem to work properly, which sucks.

Volkodav · August 2015

Kaitona wrote: »

The Devs really need to force the players to play differently, instead of the way they'd like to play, so this can never happen again.

They better never try to force me to sit there waiting for someone to group with! Keep it as it is.Options only. I wont play a game that forces me into grouping.And I dont care what anyone says.

Magdalina · August 2015

Are you familiar with Undaunted pledges? These are daily quests that basically require you to complete a certain dungeon(there're 2 pledges a day, one for a veteran dungeon, one for a normal one). A LARGE portion of players do those daily, group finder basically doesn't work so try just asking in zchat of the zone where your Undaunted Enclave is situated(it depends on the faction, for EP it's Deshaan, AD it's Greenshade(I think), DC I can't remember, Stormhaven?). Or just look for all those people spamming "lfg vet(non vet) pledge" in zchat of that zone;)
Asking in other zones(aside from maybe Craglorn) is pretty hopeless indeed.

Tessie · August 2015

WhiskeyRiver.AZub17_ESO wrote: »

Kaitona wrote: »

The Devs really need to force the players to play differently, instead of the way they'd like to play, so this can never happen again.

They better never try to force me to sit there waiting for someone to group with! Keep it as it is.Options only. I wont play a game that forces me into grouping.And I dont care what anyone says.

Agreed. Some of us are anti-social or just prefer solo play. I don't mind that there's group PvE content out there, such as Craglorn. Or that there's PvP content out there, such as Cyrodill and IC. But I certainly don't want a game that has you spend all your time leveling in solo PvE, and then suddenly expects you to have a personality change and want to always group or always PvP.

<sarcasm>I understand that you "can't please everyone", and that's okay, as long as they please me.</sarcasm>

Leeric · August 2015

Group finder has been broken since release...pc version...

Avenias · August 2015

Jordan.nick11b14_ESO wrote: »

After taking some time off from the game to wrap up some irl stuff (new baby, new job, etc-etc) - I was pretty excited about sitting down to my Vet1 Templar tank again.

Expecting a vibrant, bustling community though was my mistake. What I've found is a world that's very difficult to find a niche into now. It seems like the game is held together by small pockets of players that don't want anything to do with someone outside their circles.

I hoped maybe to find some fun in a group using the LFG Finder, however that didn't pan out despite waiting for over 2 hours; it was largely was unhelpful. My options while playing were basically left to running completing quests in desolate places alone and asking in various zone chats for any guilds looking for a vet 1 tank - or people looking for a group. In 3 hours I didn't ONE response. I play as part of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Is this pretty much the state of the game now?

U should not have returned. Much better to play other games and let ZOS get their *** together first before playing again.

RazielSR · August 2015

If you leave this game, you are doomed. This mmo is maybe the least friendly for newcomers or returning players. Its designed in a way that you can just grind and be better than the rest or not. Then you have that theres no way to gain exp doing random things. Its all quest based or grind with crown exp pots.

Im playing since beta. I have 1 vr14 and 1 vr8 (grinded this one from level 22 past week). I will leave for Fallout 4 and I wont return I think. Because if you are some months out, you are doomed. The game is just for kids playing 24/7 or people without work/life.

P3ZZL3 · August 2015

I genuinely wonder if this is more of an issue with which group/pact you choose.

I've not experienced anything like this in DC. Chat's always going on, people buying and selling in the channel, people looking for Guilds or responding to the Adverts being posted.

I have people approach me randomly when I advertise some things for sale in public chat and bring them into the guild - be it from a PVE group or a PVP team perspective - or even just traders.

As I said, I'm DC/PC/EU... *shrugs*

Edit: Just wanted to add that I only joined in January, have a life and am not a kid (in my 40's working 60hrs a week minimum and married!

) - Running 3v14's fully geared and have about 280CP's

RazielSR · August 2015

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

I genuinely wonder if this is more of an issue with which group/pact you choose.

I've not experienced anything like this in DC. Chat's always going on, people buying and selling in the channel, people looking for Guilds or responding to the Adverts being posted.

I have people approach me randomly when I advertise some things for sale in public chat and bring them into the guild - be it from a PVE group or a PVP team perspective - or even just traders.

As I said, I'm DC/PC/EU... *shrugs*

Edit: Just wanted to add that I only joined in January, have a life and am not a kid (in my 40's working 60hrs a week minimum and married! ) - Running 3v14's fully geared and have about 280CP's

Its true that the alliance and guilds have a lot to do. In fact,ep seems dead nowadays compared to dc for example. Anyway your example have nothing to do with his. Did you leave monts having just 1 vr1? no. Just reroll now and you will see what he means. When people hits vr14 is dif. When you joined it was dif. Try now...the game is not friendly at all for newconers or returning. Well,almost no mmo is but this one is going that way too soon imho.

Mighty_oakk · August 2015

On ps4 2% of players have completed their starting factions 5 group dungeons.

starkerealm · August 2015

Mighty_oakk wrote: »

On ps4 2% of players have completed their starting factions 5 group dungeons.

That's not as instructive as it might seem. Off hand I know my V14 has completed 13 of the 16 non-vet dungeons. I've just never gotten around to cleaning up the last three (and it's one in each alliance), for the achievement... and they never seem to pop on the days I'm actually running silver pledges.

starkerealm · August 2015

Leeric wrote: »

Group finder has been broken since release...pc version...

I'm not sure if it's actually broken, or just that no one uses it.

Winterpsy · August 2015

It does not take too much time to get aquinted with players and get into guilds.

I started this game on PS4 without having any friends playing this. I joined a few random groups via the group finder, I did my job I picked in the dungeon, they invited me next time too. If they were on the voice chat I chatted up, it did not take too much effort to switch on the mic and say hello.

In a week or so, I am in 5 guilds, from which 2 are trade ones, the rest are dungeoneering groups, end game players, PVP-ers. Every day I get a lot of opportunity to do stuff.

So. My experience is totally different. The players are really nice, we have a lot of fun. And a week ago they were just randoms.

Mighty_oakk · August 2015

starkerealm wrote: »

Mighty_oakk wrote: »

On ps4 2% of players have completed their starting factions 5 group dungeons.

That's not as instructive as it might seem. Off hand I know my V14 has completed 13 of the 16 non-vet dungeons. I've just never gotten around to cleaning up the last three (and it's one in each alliance), for the achievement... and they never seem to pop on the days I'm actually running silver pledges.

Obviously some people can't be botherd todo dungeons. But in an mmo you have to assume a whole lot more then 2% of players would want to experience the begginer group content.

Volkodav · August 2015

RazielSR wrote: »

If you leave this game, you are doomed. This mmo is maybe the least friendly for newcomers or returning players. Its designed in a way that you can just grind and be better than the rest or not. Then you have that theres no way to gain exp doing random things. Its all quest based or grind with crown exp pots.

Im playing since beta. I have 1 vr14 and 1 vr8 (grinded this one from level 22 past week). I will leave for Fallout 4 and I wont return I think. Because if you are some months out, you are doomed. The game is just for kids playing 24/7 or people without work/life.

That's not true.This game is for anyone who wants to play it.Regardless of age,or time available.It IS friendly for newcomers.I dont get why you think it isnt. I've been in since betas as well.That has nothing to do with the issue of who should or who shouldnt be forced to play whatever style.Some people just dont want to always have to hgroup.Sometimes it can be fun if it is impromptu. Meaning that it just happens when you head into a delv ,or near a particularly rough boss. You ask for help,or someone else does. Many people over the age of 30 or more play this game.Some on the weekends,some after work.Just because they play it doesnt mean they have no life.Get a grip,please.

Troneon · August 2015

Fix the flipping LFG Tool ZOS....

Kuroinu · August 2015

EDIT: Lol, posted in the wrong thread.

RazielSR · August 2015

WhiskeyRiver.AZub17_ESO wrote: »

RazielSR wrote: »

If you leave this game, you are doomed. This mmo is maybe the least friendly for newcomers or returning players. Its designed in a way that you can just grind and be better than the rest or not. Then you have that theres no way to gain exp doing random things. Its all quest based or grind with crown exp pots.

Im playing since beta. I have 1 vr14 and 1 vr8 (grinded this one from level 22 past week). I will leave for Fallout 4 and I wont return I think. Because if you are some months out, you are doomed. The game is just for kids playing 24/7 or people without work/life.

That's not true.This game is for anyone who wants to play it.Regardless of age,or time available.It IS friendly for newcomers.I dont get why you think it isnt. I've been in since betas as well.That has nothing to do with the issue of who should or who shouldnt be forced to play whatever style.Some people just dont want to always have to hgroup.Sometimes it can be fun if it is impromptu. Meaning that it just happens when you head into a delv ,or near a particularly rough boss. You ask for help,or someone else does. Many people over the age of 30 or more play this game.Some on the weekends,some after work.Just because they play it doesnt mean they have no life.Get a grip,please.

Get a grip you...You are overreacting. The game is not new user friendly,nor returning players. You will always be behind and you wont be able to be good in pvp. Exp pot p2w can help. Why do you think zos is earning money thanks to that? It was a good strategy. Create gaps between players and force them to buy exp pot trying to catch others. Simple and effective.

The game is going the typical mmo way where you are just good if you are always playing. Take a break like the op and then return...and you will have this same topic again. There will be more cp added in the near future and vr18 or level 68 instabuy with crowns and you will have just to farm cp. Exp pot will help too. Just wait and see. And its normal from a moneymaker pov...and Zos is, just like other videogames companies are.

In the meantime they will shadow it all making you believe on the contrary and making you blame users like me, cause you know I'm the devil itself XD. It's happening since the beginning of times. At least I play but I know WHAT I REALLY play, not what they want me believe I'm playing. If you dont know what are you playing, its your problem. You are playing an mmo leading to p2w paths by creating gaps and will be completely f2p once all of the DLCS planned will be out. More or less about that times TES VI will be released and this will be a niche game that made some good money for Zenimax. Thats my opinion, of course it can be different from yours without getting a grip.

ObsidianMichi · August 2015

That's weird, I had people begging for tanks AD side in Grahtwood about a week ago for the Undaunted pledges and just in general. AD has a tank shortage on PC! Hurry! To Grahtwood!

I'm actually pretty serious. Most of them were in the lower VR ranges, so I suspect you just had a bad night. If you're looking to dungeon, the best place to hang out is in those early second area zones like Grahtwood and Deshaan and Stormhaven because that's where most of the veteran players are these days. Hang out in Craglorn too, though that can be more difficult to get a group going in. Broadcast that you're looking for a guild, you'll probably find someone. Or check out the forums for guilds, there are some here that can probably help you out.

Tandor · August 2015

Forced grouping isn't the answer, it would simply drive those who don't want to group away from the game.

I'm not convinced that improving the LFG tool would make any difference either. That's because we see these complaints time and again in most MMOs, and they stem from the fact that a lot of players simply aren't interested in grouping any more (especially in a quest-centric game), while those that are will not take part in PUGs which is all that the LFG tools offer. If you want to group these days, you need to be in a good guild (unless you're playing with friends). It's that simple, and it's been that way across the MMO genre for quite a while now. There's no reason why ESO will ever be any different.

amgame308_ESO · August 2015

Yeah I found this to be the case. There are so many 30 to 90 player guilds that are on the cusp of getting stuff done but never have enough for a full trial. They don't want to recruit because don't want get too big but always fall short on raid nights. I spent 3 months brokering guild mergers to get trials done, GM could see his control slipping and banned any further recruitment. They got past Manticora after about 9 months of trying.

The high end guilds I've been in have sent warnings for getting trial raids together within the guild if they are not sponsored a small group of officers they got upset because they were not leading them.

Last, there are just guilds with bad GMs who are even worse players, I've run into two of these where the leaders.

I really wish there was a system like Guild Wars 2 that had a guild reputation system and skills lines for guild and unlock missions for guilds. PvP, PvE and economic skill lines.

I like a lot about ESO, but the guild system falls really short in comparison to Guild Wars, but I guess this is not Elder Guilds Online. Trade offs I guess.

mrskinskull · August 2015

Kaitona wrote: »

The Devs really need to force the players to play differently, instead of the way they'd like to play, so this can never happen again.

Sarcasm?

This guy can't find a group becaus he's not playing a healer.

Everybody wants to DPS. No body wants to heal.

The group finder isn't broken, the community just wants to hit more than heal, IMO.

k2blader · August 2015

Jordan.nick11b14_ESO wrote: »

After taking some time off from the game to wrap up some irl stuff (new baby, new job, etc-etc) - I was pretty excited about sitting down to my Vet1 Templar tank again.

Expecting a vibrant, bustling community though was my mistake. What I've found is a world that's very difficult to find a niche into now. It seems like the game is held together by small pockets of players that don't want anything to do with someone outside their circles.

I hoped maybe to find some fun in a group using the LFG Finder, however that didn't pan out despite waiting for over 2 hours; it was largely was unhelpful. My options while playing were basically left to running completing quests in desolate places alone and asking in various zone chats for any guilds looking for a vet 1 tank - or people looking for a group. In 3 hours I didn't ONE response. I play as part of the Aldmeri Dominion.

Is this pretty much the state of the game now?

I'd say yes, that is the state of the game now. Initially the 5 guild concept was an avenue for opportunity, but over the course of time I've seen how fast player turnover is which leads to guilds dwindling away. I have a very short list of friends I've made in-game that I chat/play with occasionally-- otherwise I am solo the vast majority of the time, not counting PvP pugs which is close to being solo IMO. :-P