Any Official Word from ZOS on More Character Slots?

MamaDruid · September 2015

For those who pay close attention to future plans for this game we all love to play: is there a plan to give us more character slots? It looks like there's room for four more on the character selection screen. *hint* *hint*

Rivan12 · September 2015

I hope they do provide more slots, I would love more slots and it would make ZoS some money for sure.

BUT

Recently they have said (and no I dont have a link) something like the game software isn't set up to allow more than 8 characters. I hope that's something they can re-write/code into the game but for now it's definitely not a soon to be added item. :'(

Gidorick · September 2015

Rivan12 wrote: »

I hope they do provide more slots, I would love more slots and it would make ZoS some money for sure.

BUT

Recently they have said (and no I dont have a link) something like the game software isn't set up to allow more than 8 characters. I hope that's something they can re-write/code into the game but for now it's definitely not a soon to be added item. :'(

How... shortsighted of them.

abuniffpreub18_ESO · September 2015

ZOS's response would most likely be "Buy a second account. You get 8 more slots and we get the money".

MamaDruid · September 2015

Granted, my only experience with an MMO is WoW where you can create up to 50 characters on a single account. Prior to WoW I played Shadowbane, but I don't recall the character count parameters. Perhaps WoW spoiled me, but 8 characters max with a max of 10 races available seems odd, as does the software explanation as to why it may not be possible.

@Gidorick is right. It is shortsighted for a game with such a robust character creation system and so many options available for character builds to only provide 8 character slots. You can do less with a single character in WoW, yet Blizzard provides 50 opportunities to mess around with limited options.

If software is to blame, and ZOS knew this, they should have expanded the name plate size to fill the character selection screen and avoid the illusion that there's room to grow (room for four more characters). Surely in development someone asked, "are you sure they won't expect that empty space to provide more character slots?" The answer must have been, "nah, won't happen."

UltimaJoe777 · September 2015

abuniffpreub18_ESO wrote: »

ZOS's response would most likely be "Buy a second account. You get 8 more slots and we get the money".

No, they don't. Don't know about PC but for consoles the only subscription required is to play online period and stuff which goes to Sony/Microsoft, not Zenimax.

MamaDruid wrote: »

Granted, my only experience with an MMO is WoW where you can create up to 50 characters on a single account. Prior to WoW I played Shadowbane, but I don't recall the character count parameters. Perhaps WoW spoiled me, but 8 characters max with a max of 10 races available seems odd, as does the software explanation as to why it may not be possible.

@Gidorick is right. It is shortsighted for a game with such a robust character creation system and so many options available for character builds to only provide 8 character slots. You can do less with a single character in WoW, yet Blizzard provides 50 opportunities to mess around with limited options.

If software is to blame, and ZOS knew this, they should have expanded the name plate size to fill the character selection screen and avoid the illusion that there's room to grow (room for four more characters). Surely in development someone asked, "are you sure they won't expect that empty space to provide more character slots?" The answer must have been, "nah, won't happen."

Of all the MMORPGs I have played in the past (on PC mind you) it is safe to say this one gives us more character slots per account than all those others. They usually cap at around 5 per account but ESO gives 8 so it's not really fair to call them shortsighted over that when frankly they raise the bar quite high toward other MMORPGs. You people just don't want to cut Zenimax any slack at all and I honestly feel for them. Seriously what else do you all want to complain about, Jason's bowling skills?

starkerealm · September 2015

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

abuniffpreub18_ESO wrote: »

ZOS's response would most likely be "Buy a second account. You get 8 more slots and we get the money".

No, they don't. Don't know about PC but for consoles the only subscription required is to play online period and stuff which goes to Sony/Microsoft, not Zenimax.

MamaDruid wrote: »

Granted, my only experience with an MMO is WoW where you can create up to 50 characters on a single account. Prior to WoW I played Shadowbane, but I don't recall the character count parameters. Perhaps WoW spoiled me, but 8 characters max with a max of 10 races available seems odd, as does the software explanation as to why it may not be possible.

@Gidorick is right. It is shortsighted for a game with such a robust character creation system and so many options available for character builds to only provide 8 character slots. You can do less with a single character in WoW, yet Blizzard provides 50 opportunities to mess around with limited options.

If software is to blame, and ZOS knew this, they should have expanded the name plate size to fill the character selection screen and avoid the illusion that there's room to grow (room for four more characters). Surely in development someone asked, "are you sure they won't expect that empty space to provide more character slots?" The answer must have been, "nah, won't happen."

Of all the MMORPGs I have played in the past (on PC mind you) it is safe to say this one gives us more character slots per account than all those others. They usually cap at around 5 per account but ESO gives 8 so it's not really fair to call them shortsighted over that when frankly they raise the bar quite high toward other MMORPGs. You people just don't want to cut Zenimax any slack at all and I honestly feel for them. Seriously what else do you all want to complain about, Jason's bowling skills?

No, eight per account is fairly normal. I can think of a few games that are stingier, because they intend for you to shell out for extra character slots. But the only MMO I can think of that actually expected you to use less than that was The Secret World's three.

Nerouyn · September 2015

Rivan12 wrote: »

Recently they have said (and no I dont have a link) something like the game software isn't set up to allow more than 8 characters. I hope that's something they can re-write/code into the game but for now it's definitely not a soon to be added item. :'(

Nah. There's nothing magical about the number 8. No technical reason it shouldn't be possible to allow more characters.

Maybe the "software isn't set up to allow more than 8 characters" is their way of implying that but really just means there's no scrollbar on the character selection screen.

That said, if not for classes (curse you Zenimax), racial passives (curse you twice!) and needing to use alts for storage (which they may be fixing), I'd have been content with one character slot. And the limit of 8 almost probably helps with name availability for new players.

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

No, they don't. Don't know about PC but for consoles the only subscription required is to play online period and stuff which goes to Sony/Microsoft, not Zenimax.

You have to buy the game. It isn't f2p. So yes they do get money.

Plus there's the added benefit of the all important sales figure. While money made in the cash shop is nice, how many copies a game sells is something to brag about. So forcing people to buy another copy of the game for storage has benefits there.

UltimaJoe777 · September 2015

Nerouyn wrote: »

Rivan12 wrote: »

Recently they have said (and no I dont have a link) something like the game software isn't set up to allow more than 8 characters. I hope that's something they can re-write/code into the game but for now it's definitely not a soon to be added item. :'(

Nah. There's nothing magical about the number 8. No technical reason it shouldn't be possible to allow more characters.

Maybe the "software isn't set up to allow more than 8 characters" is their way of implying that but really just means there's no scrollbar on the character selection screen.

That said, if not for classes (curse you Zenimax), racial passives (curse you twice!) and needing to use alts for storage (which they may be fixing), I'd have been content with one character slot. And the limit of 8 almost probably helps with name availability for new players.

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

No, they don't. Don't know about PC but for consoles the only subscription required is to play online period and stuff which goes to Sony/Microsoft, not Zenimax.

You have to buy the game. It isn't f2p. So yes they do get money.

Plus there's the added benefit of the all important sales figure. While money made in the cash shop is nice, how many copies a game sells is something to brag about. So forcing people to buy another copy of the game for storage has benefits there.

But you don't buy an account from them, therefore making extra accounts for extra character slots is of no financial gain to Zenimax.

DaniAngione · September 2015

Not saying I'm a Zenimax Online level programmer (if that's a thing) but I do know my shenanigans around programming and I see no logical reason for a "software 8 character limit".
Server limits? Sure. Account Limits? Ok. Every other explanation is plausible... But a software limitation? I mean, they frickin' own the engine, there's no way that couldn't be changed.

Sounds cheesy, just as their response to cloaks. "They wouldn't look good or realistic" Oh, come on, as if you guys were bothered by that when you added cardboard tabards.

CARDBOARD TABARDS.

Nerouyn · September 2015

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

But you don't buy an account from them, therefore making extra accounts for extra character slots is of no financial gain to Zenimax.

Every box / account sold = money in ZO's pocket. Whether you buy it directly from them or not. Because when you buy one from someone else, they had to buy it first from ZO.

UltimaJoe777 · September 2015

Nerouyn wrote: »

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

But you don't buy an account from them, therefore making extra accounts for extra character slots is of no financial gain to Zenimax.

Every box / account sold = money in ZO's pocket. Whether you buy it directly from them or not. Because when you buy one from someone else, they had to buy it first from ZO.

I apologize as I realize now I phrased my previous post incorrectly.

Again I cannot speak for PC but for console you simply create a Sony/Microsoft account and subscribe it to their online network, which only Sony and Microsoft see any profits from. Zenimax, however, sees profit only from the sales of their game. Once you buy the game that is Zenimax's profit. Every account you create to use in said game however provides no financial gain to Zenimax but allows you to use more characters. Ergo more accounts does not mean more money for Zenimax (on consoles).

CapnPhoton · September 2015

I have never played an MMO that had/has more than 8 characters allowable per server. Quite a few have less. ESO has 8 per server, which seems to be standard. What are the games that have more than 8 per server?

PinoZino · September 2015

Sorry but there's no need for more than 8 character slots.

In general they are somewhat misused anyway: most of you don't really play with 8 characters, the alts just exists for the hirelings.

But I recently discovered that you can only delete 3 characters. Why? I don't know. It's like you buy a car and you are only allowed to take the wrong road 3 times.

MamaDruid · September 2015

CapnPhoton wrote: »

I have never played an MMO that had/has more than 8 characters allowable per server. Quite a few have less. ESO has 8 per server, which seems to be standard. What are the games that have more than 8 per server?

WoW must have spoiled me.

When WoW launched nearly 11 years ago, you could create 10 characters from one faction (Horde or Alliance) per server. They added one additional slot and removed the faction restriction. You can now create 11 characters from any faction on one server. Some servers are combined creating the opportunity for a total of 22 for two or 33 for three combined servers.

Ashtaris · September 2015

If ZOS figured out a way that two seperate game accounts could link and share their online game bank accounts, then I would be happy to purchase another account for the extra 8 character slots. Otherwise you would need to send money and materials between the two only through the games mail system and that's just not practical.

Nerouyn · September 2015

CapnPhoton wrote: »

What are the games that have more than 8 per server?

Two of ESO's main competitors do.

SWTOR allows 20 something per server. I think 300 and something total across all servers?

GW2 allows 67.

No idea beyond that. Haven't played many others recently.

Yolokin_Swagonborn · September 2015

Can't Programming is too hard.

dodgehopper_ESO · September 2015

I'd like more alts, sure.

PinoZino · September 2015

dodgehopper_ESO wrote: »

I'd like more alts, sure.

Why?

UltimaJoe777 · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

dodgehopper_ESO wrote: »

I'd like more alts, sure.

Why?

Well I made 8 characters to suit my needs but they're all the same faction so I can understand his need for more alts beyond 8.

PinoZino · September 2015

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

dodgehopper_ESO wrote: »

I'd like more alts, sure.

Why?

Well I made 8 characters to suit my needs but they're all the same faction so I can understand his need for more alts beyond 8.

What needs?

Do you actual play with these 8 characters or do you just like the hirelings?

If the hirelings were connected with your account and not with your alts, few people would create 8 characters.

Wicked_Wolf · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

PinoZino wrote: »

dodgehopper_ESO wrote: »

I'd like more alts, sure.

Why?

Well I made 8 characters to suit my needs but they're all the same faction so I can understand his need for more alts beyond 8.

What needs?

Do you actual play with these 8 characters or do you just like the hirelings?

If the hirelings were connected with your account and not with your alts, few people would create 8 characters.

I'm curious, does it affect you negatively in some way if people have more character slots? Seems strange to me when people are so dismissive of things that really don't impact them

Nerouyn · September 2015

Wicked_Wolf wrote: »

I'm curious, does it affect you negatively in some way if people have more character slots?

Name availability. One of the positives of this restriction is that decent names are still available. So new players coming to the game have a chance at getting a name they like, feel attached to and want to keep playing with. That's good for them, the business and ultimately all players.

Character based hirelings and the fact alts are storage. So $$ spent on buying more slots gives a real in-game advantage.

Though given the 3 alliances, 4 classes and 10 races I can perfectly understand some players wanting more than 8 and I don't think that's unreasonable. But it's not without impact.

PinoZino · September 2015

Wicked_Wolf wrote: »

I'm curious, does it affect you negatively in some way if people have more character slots? Seems strange to me when people are so dismissive of things that really don't impact them

It does a bit.

Most people, if not all, with 8 alts, do it for the hirelings. At such, they have a competitive advantage (in receiving more or less rare items).

Currently it is not an issue. But it would be one if you could create 50 or 100 alts: prices for 'the hireling-items' would drop enormously.

Rosveen · September 2015

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

Nerouyn wrote: »

UltimaJoe777 wrote: »

But you don't buy an account from them, therefore making extra accounts for extra character slots is of no financial gain to Zenimax.

Every box / account sold = money in ZO's pocket. Whether you buy it directly from them or not. Because when you buy one from someone else, they had to buy it first from ZO.

I apologize as I realize now I phrased my previous post incorrectly.

Again I cannot speak for PC but for console you simply create a Sony/Microsoft account and subscribe it to their online network, which only Sony and Microsoft see any profits from. Zenimax, however, sees profit only from the sales of their game. Once you buy the game that is Zenimax's profit. Every account you create to use in said game however provides no financial gain to Zenimax but allows you to use more characters. Ergo more accounts does not mean more money for Zenimax (on consoles).

On PC you have to buy a new game.

I have no need for more character slots, I don't have time to play so many characters and I don't even have 8 currently. However, this software limitation excuse sounds like ***. I'd like to think they're lying because the alternative is they're incompetent and lack foresight. Selling char slots would be a good money-maker for them too, so everybody loses.

Wicked_Wolf · September 2015

Thanks for the responses. Though even after reading them I still don't think it has any great effect as long as it's not too many extra. The naming system allows for three words and hyphens. That's pretty generous. As far as the hirelings and storage; with just a few more slots I personally don't think it's really that much of an advantage.

With 3 factions, 4 classes and 10 races, 8 slots seems rather limiting. I use 7 slots and only one is really storage. But even then, I will sometimes swap the storage and play him normally.

PinoZino · September 2015

Wicked_Wolf wrote: »

Thanks for the responses. Though even after reading them I still don't think it has any great effect as long as it's not too many extra. The naming system allows for three words and hyphens. That's pretty generous. As far as the hirelings and storage; with just a few more slots I personally don't think it's really that much of an advantage.

With 3 factions, 4 classes and 10 races, 8 slots seems rather limiting. I use 7 slots and only one is really storage. But even then, I will sometimes swap the storage and play him normally.

Probably the majority doesn't need 8 or more alts.

And when you can create too many alts, it will be (legally) exploited. In such way it could damage the economy.
Maybe you and certainly I wouldn't do it, but you can bet that too many people would.

I have just one character and so is my wife.
She loves the game, but doesn't play a lot.

I'm developing my character into a craftsman and I'm exploring and fighting around a bit. I'm still learning what playstyle fits best with me.

When my craftsman is ready, I'll start a new char for combat purposes. Later I'll start others to play in the other factions.

I think I'll be settled with 4 characters in total. Maybe 5. A last one to max out PvP situations.

Jakhajay · September 2015

ZOS's excuses seem like a big cop-out. It shows a total lack of foresight on their part. 8 slots is simply not enough (see the thread linked to below for @Tessie 's well reasoned arguments as to why it's not enough. @PinoZino 's arguments fall flat as not everyone has hirelings unlocked on all their chars.

I would love to be able to buy more character slots, especially if they were reasonably priced like Star Trek Online's ones. Those come in packs of 2 (625z) or 4 slots (1065z) where 100z = $1USD Price of STO char slots Current exchange rates of Zen

Don't forget to make some noise in the Crown Store forum too! Here's the one I started a few days back

Keep making noise and hopefully ZoS will listen

PinoZino · September 2015

Jakhajay wrote: »

ZOS's excuses seem like a big cop-out. It shows a total lack of foresight on their part. 8 slots is simply not enough (see the thread linked to below for @Tessie 's well reasoned arguments as to why it's not enough. @PinoZino 's arguments fall flat as not everyone has hirelings unlocked on all their chars.

I would love to be able to buy more character slots, especially if they were reasonably priced like Star Trek Online's ones. Those come in packs of 2 (625z) or 4 slots (1065z) where 100z = $1USD Price of STO char slots Current exchange rates of Zen

Don't forget to make some noise in the Crown Store forum too! Here's the one I started a few days back

Keep making noise and hopefully ZoS will listen

The governments ruling of limiting the driving speed falls flat because not everyone is speeding.

Ok. lol

I'm pretty sure that ZOS knows much better than you and me how many people are using 8 characters for the hirelings and the inventory space.

I'm also pretty sure that they have at least one functional analyst who calculated the amount of people that would misuse the system when 20, 30, 50 or 100 alts were possible and that he analyzed what the impact would be on the overall gameplay and economy for the other players. The bulk.

Jakhajay · September 2015

PinoZino wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that ZOS knows much better than you and me how many people are using 8 characters for the hirelings and the inventory space.

Granted, I only have the anecdotal evidence of myself and several guildmates.

PinoZino wrote: »

I'm also pretty sure that they have at least one functional analyst who calculated the amount of people that would misuse the system when 20, 30, 50 or 100 alts were possible and that he analyzed what the impact would be on the overall gameplay and economy for the other players. The bulk.

And here you're overestimating ZOS's compentency. ZOS is not exactly good at thinking things through sometimes *cough*Champ System and no-life grinders*cough*. And if you think that the only reason people would buy more char slots is for the hirelings, you are sorely mistaken.