Can't Progress Solo Content Since Patch

rhunrunnerub17_ESO · September 2015

Since the last patch, I've found it nearly impossible to progress through the main story line. I'm a casual player that logs in 3-4 times per week, and I've got a V1 sorc (reached V1 the week before the patch). I'm just curious if anyone else has seen a drastic increase in the difficulty for solo content with the patch.

Prior to the patch, I had worked my way up to the Orchard in Coldharbor with little difficulty. Taking on 3-4 mobs was pretty easy, since I built my spec with some CC and health regen skills. Post-patch, I've barely been able to get through the Orchard and I can't get past the Reaver Citadel. A single Harvester or 2-3 mobs are more than enough to kill me.

Some specific issues I'm seeing

Major issues with targeting. I can't seem to hold the same target when I need to, and I can't seem to switch targets when I mean to. As a result, I'm having trouble focusing a mob down and I'm breaking a lot of CCs that I never had issues with maintaining before.
Stuns and disorient duration less than what they're supposed to be, or they don't take effect at all.
Major lag when in combat, especially when casting Destructive Clench.
Attacks missing completely
Significantly less damage being done compared with what I was doing prior to the patch

MissBizz · September 2015

For holding the same target, try using tab target. It's not like a super glue but it helps your attacks stay focused on the mob you intend to hit.

Yes, difficulty did go up with mobs this patch.

What weapon are you using? Look over the patch notes, some changes were made with staffs.

Addons seem to be making the lag worse. Try updating them, I'd that doesn't help, completely remove them (not just uncheck them). I'm thinking this will improve with some patches. If you don't use addons, check the forums. There are some suggested things to do such as deleting the shader cookie.

Attacks not happening could maybe just be visual, or maybe a side effect of the lag.

I personally have noticed that my resource management is bad with this patch, so we need to adapt. This patch had many changes with skills, so try out new skills and new builds.

Oh, and if you include more info such as your weapona and stam or magicka based etc. A few people may be able to help with suggestions. Many helpful folks helped me realize how my build had changed so I could make it better

Tessie · September 2015

Since the patch I also noticed my playstyle needed to change. One thing that's been working for more challenging fights is to use both of the sorcerer's pets.

You should probably have all of your points in health, but if you have a few in magicka that will work too.
7 pcs of light armor. I prefer 5x seducer and 3x magnus. Make certain your jewelry has magicka cost reduction (not recovery).
Your traits would probably be best as infused and put magicka enchantments on all 7 light armor pieces.

First toolbar is Destruction staff:

Force Pulse (Force Shock) (destruction staff ability) as spam attack until Crystal Fragments procs
Crystal Fragments (Crystal Shard) as opener and when it procs
Liquid Lightning (Lightning Splash) after opener and refresh when duration ends or target moves
Unstable Clannfear (Unstable Familiar) always have called (tanks for you)
Summon Twilight Matriarch (Summon Winged Twilight) always have called (ranged combat and emergency heal)
Ultimate: Greater Storm Atronach (Summon Storm Atronach)

Second toolbar is a resto staff for emergencies.

Mutagen (Regeneration)
Healing Springs (Grand Healing)
Dampen Magic (Annulment) (Light armor ability) or Hardened Ward (Conjured Ward)
Unstable Clannfear (Unstable Familiar) always have called (tanks for you)
Summon Twilight Matriarch (Summon Winged Twilight) always have called (ranged combat and emergency heal)
Ultimate: Greater Storm Atronach (Summon Storm Atronach)

Opening rotation: (really only need first 3 if its a boss / hard fight)

Switch to resto toolbar
Dampen Magic
Mutagen
Switch to desto toolbar
Crystal Frag
Liquid Lightning
Weave light attack with Force Pulse

Rotation:

Weave light attack with Force Pulse
Crystal Fragments if proc
Liquid Lightning if duration ended or mob moved out

because your Clannfear will tank for you, its possible to switch to the resto bar as needed and heal you and your pets, and re-apply mutagen if needed. This would only be for boss fights.

kurioskurion · September 2015

I'm playing a V11 stam based NB. This changed drastically for this patch. But I welcome it. The content before patch was a little too easy imo. I had to redistribute character points, skills... Had to change up rotation. Big change was to stam regen for me.

But hey! Fun when it's not a cakewalk!

Tessie · September 2015

As far as your specific bullet points:

Targetting - I'm not experiencing a difference
Stuns - There are new timers for the CC immunity that could be changing what you're experiencing
Lag - Yes, a lot of that was due to my addons. I switched from manually installing them to using Minion because many are being updated daily since the patch. http://minion.mmoui.com/
Attacks Missing - I noticed more misses than pre-patch, and don't remember seeing any notes on what would affect that. I assume its related to their combat changes. I'm just guessing
Damage Output - I know fights (TTK) were supposed to be longer in PvP, but they also seem slightly longer in PvE. It definitely changes my sorc fights because before the patch I was able to kill most things before they could get up to me.

Tonturri · September 2015

Don't forget that Crit Surge is a lot more useful (and bearable) to use now. The healing can be quite nice.

rhunrunnerub17_ESO · September 2015

Thanks for the feedback. My only addons are LUI and Skyshards. I'll disable them to see if that helps.

Regarding my build, it's a dark elf using an Inferno Staff (Seducer, precise trait, fiery weapon enchantment). I've maxed out the Dark Magic, Destruction Staff, and Light Armor passives. All light armor - 3 Seducer and 4 Twilight's Embrace pieces, all enchanted for magicka. Attributes: 25/12/12 (magicka, health, stam). Action bar: Crystal Fragments, Flame Clench, Crushing Shock, Degeneration, Rune Prison.

phairdon · September 2015

Getting lag spikes & stuttering, frame rate drops too. Especially bad when around other players in cities. Combat is not quite as bad, still noticeable though.
Targeting works. The animation is different now. In the past I would see a bracket around the enemy. Now they glow.
As for difficulty increase, yes. My char is two levels above their current zone. Combat against 3 enemy is/was a lot tougher.

Scyantific · September 2015

Drop one of your summons (Twilight or Atro) and use Daedric Mines (if replacing Twilight) or Suppression Field (if replacing Storm Atro).

In all honesty I would say drop pets completely and get Entropy from Mages' Guild and Velocius Curse, and invest in some CC because that's what you're seriously lacking. Volcanic Rune/Shattering Prison/Daedric Mines are fantastic at keeping enemies at bay while you ping at them with magic.

Also consider using Overload as it opens up a 3rd skill bar for you, where you can put all of your utility spells at. I like to run Overload on my back bar and go with Boundless Storm, Hardened Ward, and Dampen Magic (I use Dark Conversion for magicka regen).

AshTal · September 2015

The game is much harder now that is good if you want the challenge have good gear and champion points it sucks a lot if your new taking it slow and don't have an alt to drop gear to power you up. I have done very little PvE outside IC but suspect I will need to respect my chars who are below Vet 14

phairdon · September 2015

AshTal wrote: »

The game is much harder now that is good if you want the challenge have good gear and champion points it sucks a lot if your new taking it slow and don't have an alt to drop gear to power you up. I have done very little PvE outside IC but suspect I will need to respect my chars who are below Vet 14

Game difficulty was similar to this last year. Going into zones, fighting mobs of 3 was a hard task, especially so when one of the mob was a healer. Problem back then was trying to find other players to group with for pve veteran content. Due to this (assuming) & other factors, difficulty was lowered. Now its ramped up again.

Btw. Using sorc pets. Get the pets to target enemy as it takes the pressure off you. Setting the winged twilight morp to heal you helps a lot too. Fighting harvesters, get as close to them as possible, makes life easier when they spawn those floating healing balls (whatever they're called) to destroy them.

Elektrakosh · September 2015

God knows how I'm going to get through once this patch drops.I'm lvl 41 and my gear is terrible! I have to solo as every one of my friend abandoned the game.
No one can escape The Base Patch Horror!

Mitchblue · September 2015

There are things you can make tougher, like delves/bosses and public dungeons and what not.. But, imo, regular mobs should not be all that difficult. It takes the fun out.

ADarklore · September 2015

Scyantific wrote: »

In all honesty I would say drop pets completely

Say WHAT? I use my Clannfear pet to draw aggro away from me, he can be a serious source of CC. In fact, I created a Sorc JUST for the pet and have been playing a DW/Bow full Stamina build and having a blast. My Clannfear draws the aggro and I can either use Bow from range or attack with DW from behind. Previously I was running a Stamina NB but was not enjoying being the center of the aggro-attention, I much prefer having the Clannfear take the heat. In fights against Group bosses and such, he dies somewhat often, but it's not a big deal to resummon- especially since the Bow gives me a lot of mobility.

Rikal · September 2015

My view is that basic questing difficulty has changed but not by much. What's changed a lot are some of my builds and tactics needed to achieve (nearly) the same results.

Tessie · September 2015

Scyantific wrote: »

Drop one of your summons (Twilight or Atro) and use Daedric Mines (if replacing Twilight) or Suppression Field (if replacing Storm Atro).

In all honesty I would say drop pets completely and get Entropy from Mages' Guild and Velocius Curse, and invest in some CC because that's what you're seriously lacking. Volcanic Rune/Shattering Prison/Daedric Mines are fantastic at keeping enemies at bay while you ping at them with magic.

Also consider using Overload as it opens up a 3rd skill bar for you, where you can put all of your utility spells at. I like to run Overload on my back bar and go with Boundless Storm, Hardened Ward, and Dampen Magic (I use Dark Conversion for magicka regen).

Using pets I never have to worry about running out of magicka. If you have highly mobile mobs, the pets adapt, where you'll have to potentially recast high cost runes/mines, and therefore may need dark conversion, more heavy attacks, or just have to pay more attention to resource management than you did pre-patch.

While I'm not a "casual" player, I'm certainly not hard core and twitchy. After the patch I did try to return to the three toolbars, but found that the lag/delays/misfires made it so I couldn't have a smooth rotation. I was spending more time pausing to ensure an ability actually fired. Staying on my main bar once combat started except for emergency heals helped my rotation. I feel that for someone who may not have as fast of reflexes or is experiencing lag/delays/misfires that the pets may be a really good survivability option.

If you haven't tried pets post-patch you may want to. (not directed @Scyantific, but just in general)

Benie · September 2015

Personally, solo gameplay seems nearly as hard as Wildstar now. Before the patch, it was also challenging but it was at least doable (because I have poor gear choices).
Now it just feels pretty difficult, and I don't really like it. Though I've always used pets as a Sorcerer, it just seems like enemies take longer to kill and ignore being knocked down more than before the patch.

Though however, I was using a bow before I learned how they nerfed stamina regen. I like using ranged attacks. But now it seems I'm going to have to use two staffs instead of one (like maybe that healing staff idea someone had in here).
Still sucks, though.

ADarklore · September 2015

Benie wrote: »

Personally, solo gameplay seems nearly as hard as Wildstar now. Before the patch, it was also challenging but it was at least doable (because I have poor gear choices).
Now it just feels pretty difficult, and I don't really like it. Though I've always used pets as a Sorcerer, it just seems like enemies take longer to kill and ignore being knocked down more than before the patch.

I know they changed some of the staff abilities, removed a stun from Flame Touch in the Destruction Staff, etc... and of course they buffed enemies, giving them more life, resistance, etc.

What level are you currently at? I've recently started playing a Sorcerer but with full Stamina build using DW and Bow and I absolutely destroy everything, including Group Bosses... I'm currently at level 29. I also use XP Boosters so I'm typically 4-5 levels above most enemies but even when I go into the solo instances where I face enemies at level, I never have a problem... and I have all attributes and enchantments into Stamina; I'm also wearing 6-Med/1-Heavy crafted set armor as well and using Purple food buffs. The only thing I use Magicka for is my Clannfear pet, Critical Surge, Boundless Storm... and eventually Hardened Ward. The pet is awesome because it draws aggro away from me so I can sit in the back and deal damage... I tend to remain highly mobile and am constantly moving while filling the enemies full of arrows.

I think one of the biggest mistakes that people who try to go a Stamina Sorc route is when they try to go Hybrid and use both weapons AND spells for damage. The problem is- spell damage scales off Max Magicka and weapons off Max Stamina... if you're dividing your attributes, it means you're doing mediocre damage on both. The only options is to focus on one or the other... which is what I've done... using weapons as my only source of damage and spells for support.

Benie · September 2015

I'm using a Magicka-based build, as I use mainly Destruction Staff abilities. Currently VR1(Veteran Rank 1). I'm using a mix of Seducer and Magnus gear(all with buffs in Magicka), given to me from one of my guilds.

ADarklore · September 2015

Benie wrote: »

I'm using a Magicka-based build, as I use mainly Destruction Staff abilities. Currently VR1(Veteran Rank 1). I'm using a mix of Seducer and Magnus gear(all with buffs in Magicka), given to me from one of my guilds.

This is why the Bow would not have worked for you previously, however, switching to dual Staff is good because a Staff's damage is based off Max Magicka and Spell Power/Damage, while other weapons are based off Max Stamina and Weapon Damage and the set gear you are wearing should work well for your build. Just be sure to use BLUE food matching your level, which you can buy from any Guild Trader- look for Magicka/Health food. Also, be sure to use Magicka and/or Health enchantments and jewelry. If you are still having problems, you might want to mix Light armor with some Heavy... I know in my early leveling I would typically go with 2pcs Heavy and 5pcs Light; with 5pcs Light you still receive the "full set" passives in the Light Armor tree.

Cherryblossom · September 2015

Not noticed any real change in difficulty on my Templar, may be they are the new OP class

ADarklore · September 2015

Cherryblossom wrote: »

Not noticed any real change in difficulty on my Templar, may be they are the new OP class

There have definitely been some drastic changes, especially to enemy AoE's which some are now persistent even after they die- which is annoying. Also, last night I completed "Valley of Blades" main quest with my new character and I died THREE times! Previously, it wasn't uncommon to die once, but because of them increasing enemy health, damage/spell resistance, the fights against those crypt bosses went on forever and the damage they were doing was outrageous.

Rescorla_ESO · September 2015

The PVE content is more challenging now but that is good. It was faceroll too easy before the patch. On my sorcerer I will intentionally aggro two groups of mobs so that I have to fight 4-6 at a time. With the changes in the patch I now have to think quick on my feet and often use a potion during fights. Haven't had a chance to run a vet pledge yet but I'm looking forward to it.

Cuyler · September 2015

Pro tip @rhunrunnerub17_ESO :

Sorcs have some really powerful shields. Try "Annulment" from the light armor skill tree to negate spell damage (not exclusive to sorcs). Try "Conjured ward" from the Daedric summoning skill tree to negate physical damage. Refresh them when chipped away and cast damage in between.

Also, "Lightning form" from storm calling and "Bound armor" from daedric summoning will make you tankier increasing your armor/spell resistances and base armor respectively (also max magicka

).

The big difference with this patch is mobs spell resistances increased which in turn increased the TTK (time to kill). This means you need to be able to take more damage over time in every mob encounter. Using shields or a clanfear to tank for you will go a long way to keeping you alive.

Finally, wait......the patch is new and there are many bugs. Like persistent snares, jumping while snared/stealthed, some regen among others. Hopefully they can pinpoint fixes and improve the experience over time.