Vanity items & Zones: is ZoS Dominion-ist?

NovaMarx · January 2016

Warning: Possible spoilers ahead!

I love this game - and am completely hooked! But there are two things that have always annoyed me, for almost as long as I have been playing (which is since PC beta):

1: How come the Dominion starting zone is only one part (Khenarthi's Roost), while the other factions have a two part starter zone (EP: Bleakrock/Bal Foyen and DC: Stros M'kai/Betnikh)?? I have always found this completely off-balance, because it means EP and DC effectively have a zone more each to explore and have fun in. (Oh, and I have checked the size of the different zones, and it seems there is no BIG zone in AD which warrants "only" having 6 zones.)

2: The Dominion is the only alliance that does not offer a vanity item as a quest reward at some point! This too is quite off-balance (and let's face it, weird!). EP get a skeleton skin/morph and DC get a Dwemer pet.

Just out of curiosity, have there been other threads about this? And if so, has there been a Dev answer?
Oh, and am I the only one who finds this a bit odd? And Dominion-ist!

Thanks for taking the time to read!

ProfessorKittyhawk · January 2016

Actually, the Dominion does get a neat little disguise thing that you can trade over to your other charactersely through your bank. The Kallopi essence is basically a polymorph type thing. Why it didn't get included in the collectible menu idk, but that is kind of like the skeleton polymorph in that regard. It isn't a quest reward, but it is something you can use after the requisite quest is finished.

As for the starter zone only being one zone, it never really bothered me. Khenarthis Roost is bigger and has more to do on it than the other starter zones together, so I'm ok with them only giving AD the one starter zone. That's just makes AD a bit different.

Autolycus · January 2016

ProfessorKittyhawk wrote: »

Actually, the Dominion does get a neat little disguise thing that you can trade over to your other charactersely through your bank. The Kallopi essence is basically a polymorph type thing. Why it didn't get included in the collectible menu idk, but that is kind of like the skeleton polymorph in that regard. It isn't a quest reward, but it is something you can use after the requisite quest is finished.

As for the starter zone only being one zone, it never really bothered me. Khenarthis Roost is bigger and has more to do on it than the other starter zones together, so I'm ok with them only giving AD the one starter zone. That's just makes AD a bit different.

Pretty much all of this. No need to say it all again.

NateAssassin · January 2016

And that single starter zone is better than all 4 of the other side starter zones.

Bluepitbull13 · January 2016

^ yep all of the above 3 comments I agree with.

Spacemonkey · January 2016

Also AD's starting zone is unique in that it deals with a political crisis with the Maormer - introducing the Bosmer leaders in Khajiit territory to an 'Altmer' subject (you & Raz). It's the only starting zone that effectively introduces an underlying narrative that unites the Aldmeri Dominion and it's zones.

So no. I have 0 problem with it. If anything, I think it should not be skippable the way it is. People should wake up from their coldharbor escape on the island as it originally was. BUT there should be a boatswain or something nearby to fast track you to the mainland if you aren't interested in the questing.

LadyNalcarya · January 2016

In that case, EP has 2 polymorphs, there's also shadowsilk gem that transforms you to a goblin...

kenpachi480 · January 2016

well AD has more beautyfull home keeps in cyrodiil.

QQ

RAGUNAnoOne · January 2016

Anytime you use the grouping tool whose faction is it that everyone is temporary turned into? Which faction has the best magicka and stamina races in the game? oP the Dominion is already ZOS favored faction besides you can do gold and silver to get them every other faction has to spend crowns to get the advantage you have so if anything ZOS is the opposite.

Autolycus · January 2016

kenpachi480 wrote: »

well AD has more beautyfull home keeps in cyrodiil.

QQ

Nerp

Autolycus · January 2016

RAGUNAnoOne wrote: »

Anytime you use the grouping tool whose faction is it that everyone is temporary turned into? Which faction has the best magicka and stamina races in the game? oP the Dominion is already ZOS favored faction besides you can do gold and silver to get them every other faction has to spend crowns to get the advantage you have so if anything ZOS is the opposite.

Lol... go AD or you suck. Is that the takeaway here?

Good thing they have decent racials, or nobody would ever step foot into the AD zones. The AD main story is mindbogglingly boring. There is no real character development or attachment to any of the characters, save for Razum-dar who arguably the coolest cat in Tamriel. Every AD zone is near identical, all with the same enemies, the same voice acting, the same scenery, the same giant effing mountain in the middle of each zone and the same racism from nearly every NPC you come across.

Not that any of this means they aren't ZOS's favorite. Just pointing out the many drawbacks to AD.

NovaMarx · January 2016

ProfessorKittyhawk wrote: »

Actually, the Dominion does get a neat little disguise thing that you can trade over to your other charactersely through your bank. The Kallopi essence is basically a polymorph type thing. Why it didn't get included in the collectible menu idk, but that is kind of like the skeleton polymorph in that regard. It isn't a quest reward, but it is something you can use after the requisite quest is finished.

As for the starter zone only being one zone, it never really bothered me. Khenarthis Roost is bigger and has more to do on it than the other starter zones together, so I'm ok with them only giving AD the one starter zone. That's just makes AD a bit different.

True, there is the Kallopi Essence. But there are a ton of "costumes" you can get through doing quests in all the factions, one of them being the Goblin-morph (Shadowsilk Gem from EP) - although sure, costumes aren't the same as polymorphs.

I just think it would have been nice for there to be a more "special" vanity item, that could be added to your collectibles

Spacemonkey wrote: »

Also AD's starting zone is unique in that it deals with a political crisis with the Maormer - introducing the Bosmer leaders in Khajiit territory to an 'Altmer' subject (you & Raz). It's the only starting zone that effectively introduces an underlying narrative that unites the Aldmeri Dominion and it's zones.

So no. I have 0 problem with it. If anything, I think it should not be skippable the way it is. People should wake up from their coldharbor escape on the island as it originally was. BUT there should be a boatswain or something nearby to fast track you to the mainland if you aren't interested in the questing.

Truly insightful about the "political crisis" part, that introduces you to the underlying plot of AD - I've never really thought about it in that way

And I completely agree that you shouldn't be able to skip the starter zones! I, too, would rather start on the starter island and then have a boatswain ferry me to the "mainland". Like it kinda was before too many people complained about having to go through the starter zones each time...

MrDerrikk · January 2016

But...the Aldmeri Dominion are the most evil? Don't worry, I have proof:

forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/232604/which-alliance-is-the-most-evil/p1

ProfessorKittyhawk · January 2016

MrDerrikk wrote: »

But...the Aldmeri Dominion are the most evil? Don't worry, I have proof:

forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/232604/which-alliance-is-the-most-evil/p1

Signs of what's to come in a few hundred years.

UrQuan · January 2016

ProfessorKittyhawk wrote: »

As for the starter zone only being one zone, it never really bothered me. Khenarthis Roost is bigger and has more to do on it than the other starter zones together, so I'm ok with them only giving AD the one starter zone. That's just makes AD a bit different.

This is all kinds of true. Khenarthi's Roost has the same amount of content as Stros M'Kai and Betnikh combined, and the same amount as Bleakrock and Bal Foyen combined. How do I know? Because I've leveled a ton of different characters across all alliances, and no matter which alliance I'm starting a character in they all end somewhere in level 8 when I'm done the starter zones if I do everything in the starter zones and nothing in the first main zone.

Plus, Khenarthi's Roost has more easily-collected chests than any other zone in the game... If you're looking to get the Treasure Chest achievements, that's the zone to do it in.

Spacemonkey · January 2016

NovaMarx wrote: »

And I completely agree that you shouldn't be able to skip the starter zones! I, too, would rather start on the starter island and then have a boatswain ferry me to the "mainland". Like it kinda was before too many people complained about having to go through the starter zones each time...

Well originally you HAD to complete the islands MQ before having access to the boat that would ferry you to the mainland. This is what people complained about. They could have added a disgruntled NPC next to where you would wake up on each island that was planning on leaving the place immediatly, in order to piggy back you to the main zones. Or simply made one wayshrine on the mainland accessible. Instead they chose to dedicate an interior in each starting city to you waking up - and a not always so obvious npc with a quest to go figure out the entire introduction you just missed - out of which Bleakrock's no longer makes sense (being an impending invasion).

bryanhaas · January 2016

ProfessorKittyhawk wrote: »

Actually, the Dominion does get a neat little disguise thing that you can trade over to your other charactersely through your bank. The Kallopi essence is basically a polymorph type thing. Why it didn't get included in the collectible menu idk, but that is kind of like the skeleton polymorph in that regard. It isn't a quest reward, but it is something you can use after the requisite quest is finished.

As for the starter zone only being one zone, it never really bothered me. Khenarthis Roost is bigger and has more to do on it than the other starter zones together, so I'm ok with them only giving AD the one starter zone. That's just makes AD a bit different.

Isn't that more or less kinda like the goblin disguise that is not in the collections either?

Elebeth · January 2016

If I remember correctly, way back in the beta everybody started on Stros 'Mkai regardless of the alliance. After finishing the story on Stros 'Mkai you were sent to Khenarthi's Roost/Bethnik/Bleakrock + Bal Foyen* (*since they are smaller than the first two).
Can somebody confirm this, please?

NovaMarx · January 2016

Spacemonkey wrote: »

NovaMarx wrote: »

And I completely agree that you shouldn't be able to skip the starter zones! I, too, would rather start on the starter island and then have a boatswain ferry me to the "mainland". Like it kinda was before too many people complained about having to go through the starter zones each time...

Well originally you HAD to complete the islands MQ before having access to the boat that would ferry you to the mainland. This is what people complained about. They could have added a disgruntled NPC next to where you would wake up on each island that was planning on leaving the place immediatly, in order to piggy back you to the main zones. Or simply made one wayshrine on the mainland accessible. Instead they chose to dedicate an interior in each starting city to you waking up - and a not always so obvious npc with a quest to go figure out the entire introduction you just missed - out of which Bleakrock's no longer makes sense (being an impending invasion).

Elebeth wrote: »

If I remember correctly, way back in the beta everybody started on Stros 'Mkai regardless of the alliance. After finishing the story on Stros 'Mkai you were sent to Khenarthi's Roost/Bethnik/Bleakrock + Bal Foyen* (*since they are smaller than the first two).
Can somebody confirm this, please?

Yes, this is true. Back in the beta days, and shortly thereafter, everyone began their journey on the starter island after escaping Coldharbour. It was also not an option to skip Coldharbour. These two things combined (mostly being forced to go through the Coldharbour tutorial) annoyed a lot of people, enough so that ZoS remade large parts of the Coldharbour tutorial, and made it optional after having completed it once. They then went on to making it so you end up in the first major city rather than the starter island. Personally, I found it weird to suddenly wake up in the city with a new char, after having done the original playthrough.

Elloa · January 2016

Elebeth wrote: »

If I remember correctly, way back in the beta everybody started on Stros 'Mkai regardless of the alliance. After finishing the story on Stros 'Mkai you were sent to Khenarthi's Roost/Bethnik/Bleakrock + Bal Foyen* (*since they are smaller than the first two).
Can somebody confirm this, please?

If that was the case it was in a very early stage of alpha I've not been part of. Started to test ESO in Alpha3, in july 2013 and we started in Bleackrock.

The thing with the AD zones... They have been developed last, and beneficiate from the lessons served by the EP and DC. The story is betterly made, there is a long narration, a long plot that you can follow from zone to zone (which you do not really have in CD). Khanarti roost is brillant actually.
It had been created after the players complained to have too much the feeling of being enclosed in a small zone, that it didn't felt Elder Scrolls enough, that it was not open enough.

I think AD is a lot better than DC and EP.

I'm still loyal to my faction though!

gw2only1b14_ESO · January 2016

Its a secret to Unlock but you get a (choice) Bosmar scantly clad that will follow you around

Elebeth · January 2016

NovaMarx wrote: »

Spacemonkey wrote: »

NovaMarx wrote: »

And I completely agree that you shouldn't be able to skip the starter zones! I, too, would rather start on the starter island and then have a boatswain ferry me to the "mainland". Like it kinda was before too many people complained about having to go through the starter zones each time...

Well originally you HAD to complete the islands MQ before having access to the boat that would ferry you to the mainland. This is what people complained about. They could have added a disgruntled NPC next to where you would wake up on each island that was planning on leaving the place immediatly, in order to piggy back you to the main zones. Or simply made one wayshrine on the mainland accessible. Instead they chose to dedicate an interior in each starting city to you waking up - and a not always so obvious npc with a quest to go figure out the entire introduction you just missed - out of which Bleakrock's no longer makes sense (being an impending invasion).

Elebeth wrote: »

If I remember correctly, way back in the beta everybody started on Stros 'Mkai regardless of the alliance. After finishing the story on Stros 'Mkai you were sent to Khenarthi's Roost/Bethnik/Bleakrock + Bal Foyen* (*since they are smaller than the first two).
Can somebody confirm this, please?

Yes, this is true. Back in the beta days, and shortly thereafter, everyone began their journey on the starter island after escaping Coldharbour. It was also not an option to skip Coldharbour. These two things combined (mostly being forced to go through the Coldharbour tutorial) annoyed a lot of people, enough so that ZoS remade large parts of the Coldharbour tutorial, and made it optional after having completed it once. They then went on to making it so you end up in the first major city rather than the starter island. Personally, I found it weird to suddenly wake up in the city with a new char, after having done the original playthrough.

I'm aware of that but I'm not talking about starter islands. I'm talking about starting island.

Elloa wrote: »

Elebeth wrote: »

If I remember correctly, way back in the beta everybody started on Stros 'Mkai regardless of the alliance. After finishing the story on Stros 'Mkai you were sent to Khenarthi's Roost/Bethnik/Bleakrock + Bal Foyen* (*since they are smaller than the first two).
Can somebody confirm this, please?

If that was the case it was in a very early stage of alpha I've not been part of. Started to test ESO in Alpha3, in july 2013 and we started in Bleackrock.

The thing with the AD zones... They have been developed last, and beneficiate from the lessons served by the EP and DC. The story is betterly made, there is a long narration, a long plot that you can follow from zone to zone (which you do not really have in CD). Khanarti roost is brillant actually.
It had been created after the players complained to have too much the feeling of being enclosed in a small zone, that it didn't felt Elder Scrolls enough, that it was not open enough.

I think AD is a lot better than DC and EP.

I'm still loyal to my faction though!

Then it must be data-mined information. I have this information (about Stros M'kai being starter starter island) but I have no idea from where

I know for a fact that this situation was not present in the later beta stages and now you have confirmed that it was not in early alpha; so either it was in extremely early alpha or it was removed when the game testing begun and the information was leaked/data-mined later.
*shrugs*