Veteran (soon to be champion?) Zones are so dead....and lonely

jpsgamingb14_ESO · May 2016

So Im grinding through the vet areas of the pact and soon to be daggerfall areas for Cadwells quest.

These are some of the most lonely areas ever I feel like I have solo played every zone for the last 2 weeks...well 3 zones so far.

Can they not allow us to see other factions vet players in these zones and at least not make it feel so...isolated?

Or do something?

Humatiel · May 2016

The zones your "grinding" through are by definition solo play. I would look at this as more a positive than a negative in that it assures you all the players are where they should be, in PvP/PvE.

Lenikus · May 2016

People usually grind in cyrodiil.
Very few people actually DO teh silver and gold content. This game has a very poor culture in this aspect rooted deep in teh community.

People grind in a proved and tested 3~6 spots in the whole 0~vr16 progression, blaze trough the dungeons, and then come to the forums cry about having no content to do with their aw3zum vr16 character with 3 thousand achievement points in the journal tab.

Sad thing, but unless you have a handful of friends to play with, can't be fixed.
Not like you need help to do those quests and delves, tho'

Uriel_Nocturne · May 2016

Most people just race through the Vet Alliances for Skyshards and the bare minimum of Quests to get through it.

Which is sad. People think "grinding" is the best way to reach VR16, but I've hit VR16 before ever setting foot in the last Zone of Cadwell's Gold on two characters by simply doing every single Quest I could find in each area and getting the associated "Hero" achievements.

But, to each their own...

CasNation · May 2016

They are scaling the entirety of Cadwell's gold to cp160, so that sounds help, as it opens up a lot of grind spots that weren't viable before.

Mr.Hmm · May 2016

Well i am leveling an alt(Redguard, Daggerfall Covenant) slowly now so if you are in EU i can grind with you altought my alt is at lvl 33.

BucFanJKE · May 2016

Honestly I ran through those areas as fast as possible because I was overleveled for the content by the time I got there. I hit the quests needed for the almanac, found skyshards, and smacked down those dolmens and world bosses and moved on.

The changes they are making to the zones should make them more populated because I believe it will help some with the overleveling, but even if it doesn't we have an entire faction area that is max level. I'm not sure yet if they mentioned those zones will include V16 nodes, but if they do that will increase the population just from more farmers alone.

Mr.Hmm · May 2016

BucFanJKE wrote: »

Honestly I ran through those areas as fast as possible because I was overleveled for the content by the time I got there. I hit the quests needed for the almanac, found skyshards, and smacked down those dolmens and world bosses and moved on.

The changes they are making to the zones should make them more populated because I believe it will help some with the overleveling, but even if it doesn't we have an entire faction area that is max level. I'm not sure yet if they mentioned those zones will include V16 nodes, but if they do that will increase the population just from more farmers alone.

I think the nodes will not be updated but there is a chance they will.

BucFanJKE · May 2016

Mr.Hmm wrote: »

BucFanJKE wrote: »

Honestly I ran through those areas as fast as possible because I was overleveled for the content by the time I got there. I hit the quests needed for the almanac, found skyshards, and smacked down those dolmens and world bosses and moved on.

The changes they are making to the zones should make them more populated because I believe it will help some with the overleveling, but even if it doesn't we have an entire faction area that is max level. I'm not sure yet if they mentioned those zones will include V16 nodes, but if they do that will increase the population just from more farmers alone.

I think the nodes will not be updated but there is a chance they will.

In my opinion they have to update the nodes if they are updating the area. Enemies should be dropping zone level appropriate gear and nodes should be zone appropriate as well. But who knows, it's ZOS and they don't always do what makes sense. It's probably best to keep max level mats behind that DLC wall right?

bedlom · May 2016

jpsgamingb14_ESO wrote: »

So Im grinding through the vet areas of the pact and soon to be daggerfall areas for Cadwells quest.

These are some of the most lonely areas ever I feel like I have solo played every zone for the last 2 weeks...well 3 zones so far.

Can they not allow us to see other factions vet players in these zones and at least not make it feel so...isolated?

Or do something?

Yes finishing cadwells gold n silver is not something I will ever do again. It was long, lonely and miserable but a huge relief once it was done.
I couldn't take the vet zones seriously so I just powered through it like the game was on its way out.

Vipstaakki · May 2016

Someone actually prefers to grind their way when there's quests available? I can't see the point in that.

Nestor · May 2016

I am currently taking a character through Silver. I started with my character just hitting VR1. I did most, but not all of the first 2 zones, I skipped most of the 3rd zone and I am almost VR7. I could probably be VR12 if I completed all the zones and the public and group dungeons and other content. Not sure what this is going to be like come DB, but it won't matter much to me with regards to leveling my characters. They will have a CP Rank of 501 so no need to level them anymore.

In fact, other than skyshards, there will be no reason to do Silver and Gold, especially if they keep the exp nerf on over pointed characters (where your supposed to earn 33% of the exp if you have 50 CPs more than the mobs you are facing.)

Tandor · May 2016

There's very little reason for people to do Cadwells these days.

In my own case, I deliberately took the game slowly from PC launch because I wanted to avoid Cadwells at least until I had leveled characters for each alliance through the main content, and in the hope that by the time I hit VR levels there would be alternative content in the form of DLCs. I haven't been disappointed in that, my highest is now just starting Orsinium at VR2. I'm taking another alliance character to TG and DC after completing the main story, and the third alliance character will probably do Cadwells just so I've seen how it's handled. I'm not bothered about how long it takes to get CPs, I don't play competitively and have no interest in PvP.

I doubt very much that I'm alone in my approach, a lot of players have expressed their dislike of the whole concept of Cadwells and with so little benefit in doing that content now I'm not surprised to hear the VR zones are empty.

mar1ano1987nrb18_ESO · May 2016

Leveling through quests and veteran maps its too easy now,you can solo World bosses, anchors Public dungeons events, etc you dont need other people to do it. If you want to level with someone your best chance is to join a guild and try looking for friends in there.
The real group play its in PvE dungeons, and PvP activities. Wrothgar in Orsinium and Craglorn may be the exception .

As for my personal opinion? I prefer the silence in maps, it helps with the atmosphere . Maps like Alik r Desert and Reaper`s March are more enjoyable without a millon people running around ,but thats my opinion.

phairdon · May 2016

Nothing new with veteran zones being quiet, especially compared to non vet zones. Been like that for quite a long time.

Bonzodog01 · May 2016

I'll be honest, I have my now VR14 just doing the 3rd zone of Cadwell's gold. I got everything in Cadwell's silver, and went full completionist on it.

There is still some stuff I will have to go back and do, but I have all the skyshards, got the adventurer achieve well before the end of each zones story, found Maiq in each zone, got the lightbringer/crime pays/give to the poor in each zone, and all the lorebooks for each zone.

Theres 3 public dungeons I need to go and do, so I can get the achieves for those and the memento.

I only started the 3rd zone in gold last night (shadowfen, EP for me), and my char is actually VR14 and a half. I have no doubt she will hit VR16 by Eastmarch.

I actually love doing these zones alone. disconnected the headset, logged out of voice chat, and I am able to fully enjoy the stories and think about the quests, and really take my time, and know that the majority of the time, I will get all boss mobs and dolmens to myself.

stevepdodson_ESO888 · May 2016

Uriel_Nocturne wrote: »

Most people just race through the Vet Alliances for Skyshards and the bare minimum of Quests to get through it.

Which is sad. People think "grinding" is the best way to reach VR16, but I've hit VR16 before ever setting foot in the last Zone of Cadwell's Gold on two characters by simply doing every single Quest I could find in each area and getting the associated "Hero" achievements.

But, to each their own...

This... +1

RoyalPink06 · May 2016

I took 2 characters straight through to the end of Cadwells Gold, and a 3rd almost to the end but I gave up on that character at v11. I did not level grind at all so I was not too over-levelled for the content. Questing is how I got both my v16s. The first time, I took my time and actually listened to what all the quest NPCs had to say. The second and third time, it was soooo excruciating I just burned through it as quickly as I possibly could.

But I hear ya OP, the silver and gold zones are ghost towns for the most part. Had to solo everything, but luckily it wasn't hard.

But it got to the point to where I was starting to get bent out of shape whenever I was soloing a boss or dolmen and someone else would show up, so I started to not mind that there was no else around lol. I guess it kinda makes ya selfish.

It is kinda lonely though.

Lysette · May 2016

I think the alliance base game territory is best experienced with a new character starting in those alliances. Then it is crowded and feels alive. I have no clue though, if this is really an option for you or if you have to do some of the content as a veteran, due to that I have just 8 low level characters yet and bring them at very slow pace through those base game zones.

To do it that slow paced might not be for everyone, but I have the feeling that I get the most out of those zones, which I got to know yet, because I spend a rather long time in those zone and get to see all the many details of those zones. I take my time with it and enjoy the details, which one might just miss out on when rushing through those areas. Take for example Hew's Bane, the TG DLC area - a lot say it does not have much to do in it. To me this is a quite beautiful environment and I enjoy what ZOS has created there. I tried to find pictures of real semi-deserts and deserts which look like Hew's Bane, but none of the real ones has all the beauty of those all in one - and that is what I appreciate with ZOS's creation - I get that all in one DLC.

A truely breathtaking semi-desert environment with the feel of many real world locations at the same time I find formations which look like those in the Mojave desert in Nevada, other spots look like formations in Utah or Arizona. Then there are some which are more like atlas mountains in morocco and others are like parts of Ayers Rock in Australia - just amazing what ZOS did there. That is what you guys miss out, when you "grind" in just a few spots - all the detailed beauty which ZOS has created.

Edit: and as far as loneliness goes - if you were ever out in the wilderness of a desert or high up in the mountains or hiked somewhere far away from cities, that is exactly what you would find in the real world as well - just you and nature - does it feel lonely?- Sometimes maybe, but I like to be on my own - just me and nature (and hopefully not too many predators around). Being in the wilderness is being on your own. I prefer to be alone over it being crowded like a nature park with guided tours.

With this I often wish I would have the courage and time to do something like that lady, who crossed the western outbacks of australia - just her, her dog, 3 camels and a young one - out in the wilderness with no one around for weeks - until she sees a few people again, just to be on her own for weeks again - she and her camels - a real story which made it into a movie.

The movie is called "tracks" if someone is interested to watch it.

SlayerTheDragon · May 2016

Soon you will be able to farm v16 materials (LEATHERS!), and equipment throughout the entire gold faction.

ИВАН_ВОДКА · May 2016

this zones will be full of grinders very soon

ALL mobz there will give you max exp
you will see

AdamBourke · May 2016

I prefer it. I wish the cities were a little more alive, but the majority of the zone, I prefer to do alone.

Unfortunately, I tend to play late at night, which means that Cyrodiil also seems to be pretty dead. But maybe that's just Blackwater Blade...

GreenhaloX · May 2016

Loneliness in Tom Hank's movie, Cast Away.. "WILSON.. WILSON!" Lol!

If you completed all the quests in those areas before finishing the main quests and getting to Cadwell's Gold, you'll get the achievement instantly soon as you're done talking to Cadwell.

Smitch_59 · May 2016

I like it. Silence is golden.

r.jan_emailb16_ESO · May 2016

Some people just get bored by repetitive quests that provide no challenge.

Also: please don't mistake quests that were designed to take you to v10/12/14/16 with end-game content.

Wreuntzylla · May 2016

I don't understand why we aren't dumped into the zones with the people that roll that faction.

You have been sent to those zones to get the viewpoint of the other factions.

It can't be that hard to make veterans see the same difficulty level as the lowbies. Apply Meridias Power Debuff like Battle Spirit in PvP. Or something.

NateAssassin · May 2016

I went through all the silver and gold zones almost 2 times, damn right I am going to grind levels on future characters.

Alagras · May 2016

Maybe they could merge the 3 instances now that these zones are going to be scaled on CPs (didn t get how exactly)

Now there is an Auridon instance for AD chars, an Auridon for EP chars (Cadwell silver) and a third instance for DC chars (doing Cadwell s gold). Mobs are of different levels in each.
Make them scale like Wrothgar or Hew's Bane for those who are doing the Cadwell s silver and gold and merge the whole thing. At least merge the Cad silver and Cad gold instances together.

Edit: and I understand the pleasure of being alone, I enjoy it, but... no, there are solo games for that

kojou · May 2016

A while back I took my first toon through the main quests, Silver, Gold, all dungeons delves, every skyshard, lore book, etc. He even has "Monster Hunter" and "Tamriel Hero" achievements.

Even in those days the Silver and Gold areas were pretty lonely places, but I kind of liked it. I got all the nodes to myself, I got all the chests, all the bosses and dolmens were up when I walked to them, etc...

I think with Gold areas being CP160 you will see more players in them, but they will probably be grinders and farmers.

There is just not enough incentive to do the quests more than once. It's not like you get great loot for it, and if you are already at max CP then you don't care about the XP.

I wish they would have given us more "forks" in the stories, so we could actually play on one side then the other, for more replay-ability. For example I would like to make an AD character that sided with the Veiled Inheritance and followed a different path to defeat Molag Bal instead of being a "good guy" all of the time.

Instead I went through the story a couple times then "ground" the rest of my Alts.

vladimilianoub17_ESO1 · May 2016

Well,for me is better that way.I hate it when im in a zone and all mobs are dead because many people in the zone.Or when i find a dolmen and there is so many people that it becomes a " le me see if i can hit the mob once before it dies" minigame.

I like it how it is now not crowded and not totally empty.

MasterSpatula · May 2016

See, I'm going to miss all the chests and harvesting nodes and mobs being mine, all mine.