What ESO Taught Me

GreySix · September 2015

I'm not an MMO gamer.

Just ain't one.

Wife and I wanted to play a TES game cooperatively, and ESO appeared to be the only way to answer the mail on that. So we both purchased and subscribed to it, and we played it on-and-off for a year.

One thing we discovered and didn't like was that the main quest did not allow cooperative play, which we thought strange, because SWTOR had no such limitations. But we persevered with the forced-solo quests there and reached the end. We saved the world from evil, and endgame was achieved!

Once our individual characters beat Molag Bal, we tried to get into the Cadwell quests, but it looked like we were starting all over again as nobodies. It seemed anticlimactic and stupid. So we unsubscribed.

Understand that many of y'all enjoy the chance for gaming trophies, new digital gear, and bragging rights offered by the post-endgame content. Those held no interest to me or my wife. We're endgame completionists only. IMO, it would have been better to move endgame to after the two Cadwell quests, but Zenimax made their decision. I still log in to play one of my alts from time to time, but it seems a case of "been there, done that, and got the t-shirt," so I don't stay on for long.

So, ESO taught me what SWTOR should have ... well, it reinforced what I'd already suspected: I'm just not an MMO gamer.

PinoZino · September 2015

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

Teiji · September 2015

Honestly GreySix it's just the game not having enough tools to satisfy everyone.

Specifically in the future it may and should be like this;

Character creation
Character progresses through content
Character beats Molag Bal - main quest concludes [Imperial City quests offers more narrative on this]
Character then looks to progress through other content, Craglorn, Cyrodiil, Orsinium [solo PvE adventure zone], solo adventure zone, solo adventure zone, player housing sandbox adventure zone, PvP adventure zone and what have you

With how it stands and because of lack of Orsinium, Cadwell's Almanac is loosely forced content as the only other stuff you can do is Cyrodiil as Craglorn is a group adventure zone, many people enjoy going there to solo for the increased difficulty but that's about it.

If the Veteran System didn't delay so much content we know and don't know about we'd probably have already had Orsinium as all the efforts working on the Champion System wouldn't have happened. Regardless, I just think you'd have had a better experience joining once the dust had settled from the chaos which is original launch, development time dedicated to fixing the Veteran System issue with it being replaced by the Champion System.

As it stands, we're all still playing catch-up.

GreySix · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

This is a discussion forum, no?

Figured I'd discuss my insights, and I suspect others share them.

PinoZino · September 2015

GreySix wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

This is a discussion forum, no?

Figured I'd discuss my insights, and I suspect others share them.

Why should we discuss you are or you are not an MMO man?

It's your personal taste. Nobody can argue that.

I don't understand your goal, that's all.

Thymos · September 2015

I feel the same as @PinoZino .

It's all about personal taste. I don't try to convince anyone to play this game, because words aren't really going to work. If you're on the fence about this game, then you're better off not playing. I'd rather have a bunch of people that want to play this game, than people that are still making decisions.

Kuroinu · September 2015

Even though I like the MMO genre, you are spot on with the Main Quest story, in that it is all out of order and leads to less motivation to care post-Main Quest. Myself and many others have posted about this before.

Kuroinu · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

This is a discussion forum, no?

Figured I'd discuss my insights, and I suspect others share them.

Why should we discuss you are or you are not an MMO man?

It's your personal taste. Nobody can argue that.

I don't understand your goal, that's all.

You realise that you don't need to discuss this and you do this by not posting in the thread. Is that so hard to understand? What compelled you to post is that you wanted to complain to the OP whilst being ignorant of this fact lol.

PinoZino · September 2015

Riko_Futatabi wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

This is a discussion forum, no?

Figured I'd discuss my insights, and I suspect others share them.

Why should we discuss you are or you are not an MMO man?

It's your personal taste. Nobody can argue that.

I don't understand your goal, that's all.

You realise that you don't need to discuss this and you do this by not posting in the thread. Is that so hard to understand? What compelled you to post is that you wanted to complain to the OP whilst being ignorant of this fact lol.

Alrighty.

My favourite dish is pasta alla puttanesca.

Discuss!

Or don't discuss, I just feel it is important that the world knows my favourite dish.

It's of the same level.

GreySix · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

Riko_Futatabi wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

This is a discussion forum, no?

Figured I'd discuss my insights, and I suspect others share them.

Why should we discuss you are or you are not an MMO man?

It's your personal taste. Nobody can argue that.

I don't understand your goal, that's all.

You realise that you don't need to discuss this and you do this by not posting in the thread. Is that so hard to understand? What compelled you to post is that you wanted to complain to the OP whilst being ignorant of this fact lol.

Alrighty.

My favourite dish is pasta alla puttanesca.

Discuss!

Or don't discuss, I just feel it is important that the world knows my favourite dish.

It's of the same level.

If the thread really bothers you so much, why waste your valuable time posting here? You do realize that if you ignore it, the thread will eventually fall off the front page.

But thanks for keeping it alive.

Elektrakosh · September 2015

Yeah, I feel the same way OP. Unfortunately this is the only game I have for the One. I shall leave this as a lesson learned.

FelixTheCatt · September 2015

Taught me Fallout 4 can't come out soon enough.

PinoZino · September 2015

GreySix wrote: »

If the thread really bothers you so much, why waste your valuable time posting here? You do realize that if you ignore it, the thread will eventually fall off the front page.

But thanks for keeping it alive.

It's not that it bothers me, I just don't understand why you expect that we should discuss your personal taste and opinion.

Or is this a kind of therapy for you? Many people feel better after a good chat with their dog.

Woof-woof!

GreySix · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

If the thread really bothers you so much, why waste your valuable time posting here? You do realize that if you ignore it, the thread will eventually fall off the front page.

But thanks for keeping it alive.

It's not that it bothers me, I just don't understand why you expect that we should discuss your personal taste and opinion.

Or is this a kind of therapy for you? Many people feel better after a good chat with their dog.

Woof-woof!

Thanks for the bump.

Keep up the good work, son.

KhajitFurTrader · September 2015

In the light of recent developments, it's refreshing to read a calm, reflective, and thoughtful insight.

What @GraySix could've done instead (and I'm grateful he didn't):

demand that the game is changed to be more pandering to his personal preferences and tastes
conclude that, because this isn't happening, or not happening fast enough, that the game is trash and its developers don't care
generally take the attitude of "it's them, not me" and deny every positive aspect of the game in the light of this attitude

Would the game profit from improvements in various areas? Absolutely no question! But the secret is, it's being improved all the time. The ESO we're playing now is different from the game we've all been playing a year ago. If those improvements don't hit home where one thinks they ought or need to, one can either question the vision of its developers (fair enough, if the immense time spans needed for content and system development are taken into account), or ask oneself if the game is (or ever was) the right one. I know I needed to find out that WildStar couldn't give me the things I expected from it, but learning this took some time; and it was totally ok, because the game surely meant different things for different people, and if someone's getting fun out of it, why shouldn't they?

I wish you and your wife all the best, @GreySix. Here's to the hope that there someday is an epic co-op-player RPG game with the scope of TES!

Kuroinu · September 2015

KhajitFurTrader summed it up nicely, apparently a few people read Graysix's post in the wrong tone.

Yolokin_Swagonborn · September 2015

There was very high demand for a game that was basically co-op skyrim. Everyone thought this game was going to be co-op skyrim.

No one asked for a themepark on rails MMO with a thin coating of elder scrolls paint on top. But that's what we got. I'm glad people are finally starting to see this game for what it really is. Especially now that it is getting increasingly grindy and cash shoppy.

BaldusMageezack · September 2015

This really falls short of a proper MMO even a generic one. Most MMO's don't make you play the story three times to reach endgame. You're not the only one who thinks it's anticlimactic or stupid

olsborg · September 2015

I only play this game for the pvp, and it is alot of fun. The pve...I couldnt really care less, and the undaunted stuff and passives and gear (thats rly good for pvp) will forever be out of my reach. The closest I get to do pve is the IC sewers looking for ppl to kill for their stones, sometimes you have to slay some deadra thats in your way.

I got turned off the pve at early days, for reasons you can probably guess. Thankfully the pvp weighs up for it and then some.

GreySix · September 2015

Were I into PvP, I'd probably play this game a lot more.

Gidorick · September 2015

You should keep an eye on one of the handful of Skyrim Multiplayer mods that are being worked on @GreySix.

http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/67038/?

I think we are all justified in being disappointed. ESO was and is touted to be "An Elder Scrolls game you can play with friends." It should have been advertised as "An MMO set in the Elder Scrolls universe".

Riga_Mortis · September 2015

ESO taught me that every mmo should have text chat regardless of platform.

Personofsecrets · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

No offense, PinoZino, but why does you question matter?

Darlgon · September 2015

Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »

Especially now that it is getting increasingly grindy and cash shoppy.

Funny how those two go together, isn't i?

Welcome to the world of a game, Elder Scrolls Online, that promised to be supported by sub only, then got closed down and renamed.

The NEW game, Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is NOT sub based, so it HAS to be financially supported by a cash shop. To give players a reason to by from the cash shop, grinds have to be more obvious.

Gidorick · September 2015

Darlgon wrote: »

Yolokin_Swagonborn wrote: »

Especially now that it is getting increasingly grindy and cash shoppy.

Funny how those two go together, isn't i?

Welcome to the world of a game, Elder Scrolls Online, that promised to be supported by sub only, then got closed down and renamed.

The NEW game, Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is NOT sub based, so it HAS to be financially supported by a cash shop. To give players a reason to by from the cash shop, grinds have to be more obvious.

Hmm... I've never viewed it this way before. That ESO got shut down... that ESOTU is a different product. interesting.

BigTone · September 2015

@GreySix I completely agree that Caldwell's silver and gold are anti-climactic. It should have been going through these zones and conquering each land for your faction, leading to the dominance of that faction across Tamriel, except for Cyrodil. I played through the main story with my girlfriend and wished they had some content geared towards duos.

PinoZino · September 2015

Personofsecrets wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

No offense, PinoZino, but why does you question matter?

My question matters because it's maybe important that the world knows why he's not an MMO man.

Besides, 'the MMO man' doesn't exist. We all play the game in another style.

Some PvP
Some like to be a Veteran Level 16 in 2 hours
Others are completionists and like to discover all the lore's and whatever
Some just like to hang around, play and chat a bit
Some want to make friends
Others want to create a magnificent guild
Others want to be rich in the game
Some like the crafting aspect
Others want to try out all factions and all races
Some are just interested in the quests
Some are roleplaying
And most of us combine the above and other things

Odds are high that GreySix didn't try out all aspects of the game.

Or he's feeling lonely and seeking some attention.

ArcVelarian · September 2015

I do find it somewhat puzzling as to why they haven't changed that about the main quest. On another note though, if you're saying SWTOR is a better game you must really value story over gameplay. SWTOR is a buggy, depopulated, POS WoW clone.

Personofsecrets · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

Personofsecrets wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

Ok.

No offense, GreySix, but why is it so important that the world knows you're not an MMO man?

No offense, PinoZino, but why does you question matter?

My question matters because it's maybe important that the world knows why he's not an MMO man.

Besides, 'the MMO man' doesn't exist. We all play the game in another style.
Some PvP

Some like to be a Veteran Level 16 in 2 hours

Others are completionists and like to discover all the lore's and whatever

Some just like to hang around, play and chat a bit

Some want to make friends

Others want to create a magnificent guild

Others want to be rich in the game

Some like the crafting aspect

Others want to try out all factions and all races

Some are just interested in the quests

Some are roleplaying

And most of us combine the above and other things

Odds are high that GreySix didn't try out all aspects of the game.

Or he's feeling lonely and seeking some attention.

Besides psychoanalyzing OP, what is the point of your list?

PinoZino · September 2015

Personofsecrets wrote: »

Besides psychoanalyzing OP, what is the point of your list?

The list is the ammunition, or the argumentation if you like, for the fact that 'The MMO man' doesn't exist.

I'm sorry that it was too difficult for you to assimilate.

newtinmpls · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

Some PvP

Some like to be a Veteran Level 16 in 2 hours

Others are completionists and like to discover all the lore's and whatever

Some just like to hang around, play and chat a bit

Some want to make friends

Others want to create a magnificent guild

Others want to be rich in the game

Some like the crafting aspect

Others want to try out all factions and all races

Some are just interested in the quests

Some are roleplaying

And most of us combine the above and other things

.

I love this list, thanks!

Didn't like PvP till I 1-happened to run in a raid with a really nice leader who was patient with newbies and explained things. Unfortunately this is still a rarity, even in guilds which claim to be noob friendly.

Can't stand the idea of grinding or going too fast - coming up on 2 years of this game and still my highest character is vet 3.

I'm not a completionist. I'm too disorganized for that.

I definitely hang and chat. I tend to skype with my ex-live RP group.

Haven't met too many new friends; I'm not on enough .... without a confirmed group ... to make the relationships stick well. I do have regular buds on forums.

I do like crafting, but don't have it maxed on anyone (yet

I love trying out new races - but just haven't gotten into redguards or khajiit. Not sure why. Started out only rolling up sorcs, 'cause I love familiars. I really wish they would dissemble classes. I'd want all my characters to be able to summon things.