Dark Brotherhood Update: Imperial City Changes Question Thread

ZOS_JessicaFolsom · June 2016

We're arranging a Q&A with Lead PVP Designer Brian Wheeler to answer your questions about the Imperial City changes that were implemented as part of the Dark Brotherhood update. As always, please do your best to keep all questions constructive and on-topic (specific to the Dark Brotherhood IC changes.) If your question includes feedback and/or examples, awesome--just make sure there's a question in there for us to answer along with it.

Thanks everyone!

dsalter · June 2016

hate to be "that guy" but IC will continue to have the "zergs" as long as there is profit in selling tel'var items, and also there will be almost nobody there at all if there is no profit since the gear is terrible.

the only redeeming thing i can even think of are 2 things, both require a complete rework of IC, and they would be;

1: completely change the place to be it's own arena type battle ground separated from Cyrodiil to minimize impact on Cyrodiils population.

2: rework IC so that owning districts has a positive impact on the map of Cyrodiil so people won't complain about "PvE'ers" ruining population since they will be contributing buffs for controlling IC's districts for the people roaming Cyrodiil.

Option 2 is my preferred as this encourages small scale to take IC, since if large scale go IC then they will be less likely to hold Cyrodiil due to lack of players. also those inside IC also should benifit from a passive buff that reduces all AoE heals and damage while there, to encourage single target fighting instead of running around wiping out pathways.

theres a similar issue with "PvE" quest hubs in cyrodiil and also the non-essential keeps (drake, dragon, brindle)but thats a topic for another day.

bikerangelo · June 2016

Is the 1 flag district capture the cherry on top of IC that you were expecting it to be, or are you planning on adding more mechanics and improvements that don't just encourage zergs and farmers?

Have you thought about disconnecting IC from Cyrodiil altogether and using each district for instanced groups to fight each other? For example, a group of 3 to 5 queue into IC to fight another random group of equal numbers. You could include multiple capturable objectives or just something else aside from 1 flag that a group of 20 can sit on and defend with ease. If this game had small scale fights with even numbers, it'd be so much better than the lagfest, siege-fest, horse simulator in Cyrodiil.

cdobratz · June 2016

Have you all thought about selling tempering alloys/dreugh wax with tv stones? That would make IC a little bit more worth it IMO.

dsalter · June 2016

cdobratz wrote: »

Have you all thought about selling tempering alloys/dreugh wax with tv stones? That would make IC a little bit more worth it IMO.

NO. NO. NOOO. it's this exact mentality is WHY the zergs are now in IC, they are there for GREED. they are hoarding TV stones so they can SELL the polymorphs to the people they shut down from using IC in the first place this is the complete opposite of what IC needs ><

bloodenragedb14_ESO · June 2016

no offense to jessica, but a question thread, from ESO devs, is not really what you guys want.

what they are gonna do is take FEW of your questions, or suggestions, tell you why you are wrong, tell you why they are right, then tell you to deal with it.

Alpheu5 · June 2016

Why was the difficulty of the mobs decreased so much across the board?

The way I see it now, it'll encourage even more ill-prepared PvE-ers to start roaming the city and getting overpowered by average PvP-ers, to which they will start whining about how overpowered abilities are because they can't kill someone with their normal PvE setup, leading to more Cyrodiil "balance" rather than seeing the fact that the mouse (or mice) went scurrying through the crazy cat lady's house.

Dyride · June 2016

Did they change the spawn mechanic so that the owner of the Distric doesn't spawn on the capture point?

That was a ridiculous implementation. You should respawn at the topside of the ladder to your faction's sewers, so you at least have a short run to return to the flag.

Burning_Talons · June 2016

Do you actually play the game?

KenaPKK · June 2016

1. Why were the sewers left out of the PvP objective system in the DB patch? I've noticed a lot more action in the districts over the last couple of days, but only more gankers running around underground. I believe they leaked over from the district action. I'm sure you have your reasons, even if it's as simple as not having enough time -- which is an entirely acceptable answer. What was the reasoning here?

2. Will PvP objectives be coming to the Imperial City Sewers, and if so, when? "No ETA" is not a valid answer.

2. Looking back at my thread Kena's take on Imperial City PvP objectives -- A GUIDE FOR ZOS -- with pitchurs!

, are there plans for a major completion of the Imperial City PvP DLC, such as my proposal? If so, what is the timeline on such a project? I say "completion" because -- let's be honest -- IC is not done yet.

3. Are there plans to tie greater Cyrodiil directly into the Imperial City, as illustrated in Ishammael's Vision for Cyrodiil Improvements (with a Map!)? This is a fantastic post by a good friend of mine. Definitely worth a quick read.

3. Are you open to working with a player consultant (or two) on future PvP work? *cough*

arkansas_ESO · June 2016

First off, I'd like to give a massive thanks to Wheeler for answering some of our questions, and for Gina for setting this up for the community.

Tying the Imperial City into the greater picture of Cyrodiil. Have you considered bringing back Axe of Belharza? It's rule-set made it to where everybody, not just guilds pushing for emp, had a reason to actually want to go and take keeps: so they could get into the Imperial City for safer farming/to gank the farmers.
What's up with the nerf to PVE in the Imperial City? Difficult PVE is one of the few things that made it to where smaller, more co-ordinated groups could wipe larger, less co-ordinated groups, as the smaller group could force the larger group to divide their attention between difficult PVE, like a sweeper boss, and the smaller group.
What is your vision for the Imperial City? Why do you think players choose to go there over Cyrodiil? For me, I went to Imperial City for high risk, high reward gameplay and quick respawn times, but by reducing the amount of Tel Var I lose/gain on player kills and making it to where I have to own a district to spawn there, you've kinda taken away all incentive I had to go to Imperial City.

SwaminoNowlino · June 2016

@FENGRUSH @Sypher

Here's your chance gentlemen. Know you were talking about putting together a write up regarding IC.

@ZOS_BrianWheeler

The IC is such a great DLC, probably the best feature added to the game. There appears to have been a great deal of time spent designing each district and it's just a shame to see it go to waste as just a grind/farm spot where people do the same rotations and never have a reason to go into the houses or other areas. Kudos on this. There's just so much potential for quality, dynamic PVP here, unlike anything in the game so far.

On to the question: The PTS thread regarding IC was fairly unanimous if I recall correctly, in wanting more than a single flag. Are there any plans to implement this in the future, or is IC considered "complete?"

Thanks again @ZOS_JessicaFolsom for providing the opportunity!

nikolaj.lemcheb16_ESO · June 2016

Why is the agro range of the flag guards so incredible long?

If you follow the dried out water area towards the doors to the next districts then the flag guard attack you before halfway between the wall and the flag.

If you attack mobs in front of the circular structures in the Aboraterum you risk guard agro.

Jaronking · June 2016

Is it possible to make the Mobs in imperial City even stronger then they were before? Most PVPErs I know did not have trouble with any of the Mobs down their and a small group of 4 could deal with the bosses without much trouble if they know what their doing.The Mobs are incrediblyincredibly weak and not interesting to fight Plus it makes it harder for smaller groups to defeat large groups because as a large groups you will have to deal with the Adds and other players and that can turn the battle in the smaller group favor.So please @ZOS_BrianWheeler can you please make the mobs and boss even stronger I want trail mobs we have to fight in IC.Their the strongest Deadra Molag Bal can summon they should be that tough.

Beardimus · June 2016

The capture system sounds good, I like the concept but it also totally changes the bits that were good about IC.

It makes it harder for solo PvE, and also for fast paced multi alliance PvP. It has been a great place to learn your PvP skill. Now it feels like PvDoor when you are gate camped by a zerg. So you spend ages on a horse simulator, to only get pinned and have endless deaths.

I'd prefer the Flag capture to be in the sewers. That's less PvE anyway for me. I've hardly been down there but loves the quest line above ground and ability to grind stones etc if I wanted.

Q - are you not worried about the impact to solo PvEers and the 'takeover' by zergs PvDoor style thus boredom for other factions?

Turelus · June 2016

KenaPKK wrote: »

3. Are you open to working with a player consultant (or two) on future PvP work? *cough*

The only way I would ever like that to happen would be an elected system like EVE Online's CSM. No offence Kena but even with your fantastic ideas and many views I agree with I wouldn't want you tied to the games development if I wasn't able to see what was happening or have voted for you after an informed campaign of what you would be working for.

The last time ZOS announced they were talking with specific guilds over issues the community went mental. Remember when Negate Magic was "nerfed" because one specific guild kept bring up what a problem it was.

RDMyers65b14_ESO · June 2016

Actually, I like most of the changes to IC. It breathes new life into a dead area of the game. Even when the group gets ran over by three times our number. My group had fun running from district to district turning the flags. Besides, I needed to upgrade from V4 armor to 160 armor.

My question is why did you lower the difficulty on the mobs. (This may have been asked already.) It seems like a mob that used to take a full group are just melting. Second, why does it take twice as long to turn the flag in IC than it does up top in Cyrodil proper? Can you add the capture to the cities up top as well? (Er, I guess that is not quite DB related)

arkansas_ESO · June 2016

RDMyers65b14_ESO wrote: »

Second, why does it take twice as long to turn the flag in IC than it does up top in Cyrodil proper? Can you add the capture to the cities up top as well?

Check the PTS patch notes, capturing a flag in IC doesn't speed up the more people you have on it, it'll cap as fast with 100 people as with 1. It's intended to encourage solo players, but IDK how effective that is.

DDuke · June 2016

Can we get a Tel Var purchase option for the Soul Shriven Skin & Stonefire Scamp that drop from Molag Bal as well, similar to how you did the Xivkyn polymorphs?

Can we get some more incentives to kill the mini-bosses in Sewers (and in the districts)?
Currently, I see no reason to deviate from my usual grinding pattern to kill them - but what if they had a chance of dropping one of the tel var sets, or a motif?

InvitationNotFound · June 2016

question #1
will there be anything else one day? i mean it doesn't look finished at all, just a cryodiil flag in each district. where's the creativity? why should we go there? i actually think it's now worse than before.

question #2 (off topic as not directly related to pvp)
isn't 250k tv stones for a morph not way too much? i could afford a morph or two but i'd never spend that much stones on a morph when i can buy other items and sell them for gold...

question #3 (off topic as not directly related to pvp)
why did you increase the pve death penalty to 50% tv loss? your game sometimes is the opposite from stable. dying and loosing 50% stones because of bugs and other issues simply sucks.

question #4 (off topic as it is a general question about IC)
what's the reason behind splitting tv stones only among the players who dealt damage to your opponents (players)? don't you think it is a bad idea that healers won't get any stones as they haven't dealt any damage? what's the reason down there to support your friends without getting anything in return?

question #5:
has anything been changed regarding final hits and who receives the stones? before this update it was possible to flee a battle and die on a mob, resulting in loosing 10% stones instead of 80%. as far as i remember only the last hit was crucial. has there anything changed or won't i still receive my enemy's stones when the last hit is done by a mob?

edit: typos

ginoboehm · June 2016

Ok only important question for me:
@ZOS_BrianWheeler @ZOS_JessicaFolsom
Why did you only implement one flag with instant respawn for the factions? You make fighting and dying meaningless when one faction can just zombie to one flag without any kind of tactic. This is your usual buff to bigger numbers because like 3 flags in buildings would at least mean you can avoid trick and spread bigger groups and hit them with actual tactic and skill smth you seam to hate.

Haydenmango · June 2016

1. Why is the Imperial City part of Cyrodiil yet so disconnected from it? Are there any plans to change this?

What happens in the Imperial City stays in the Imperial City. While in IC you aren't helping people in Cyrodiil or the PvP campaign. The Imperial City should either make a difference in Cyrodiil and the PvP campaign or just be disconnected from it entirely.

2. Could there be more interesting rewards from Tel Var Stones?

Please add something new and interesting instead of more materials! Some Ideas -

Sigil Passive Stones -
Sell various sigil stones for tel var stones that give the player a passive bonus as long as they are held BUT they are destroyed if the player dies. Bonuses could include - More damage to daedra, more gold looted, slightly faster movement speed, etc. The bonuses would only be active in the Imperial City and shouldn't give to big of an advantage in PvP.

Traps ( inspired by @KenaPKK ) -
Sell various traps, like the traps set up in the thieves guild heists, for tel var stones. Traps should apply to both players and NPCs.

3. Will adding multiple flags to each district be considered?

The large keeps in Cyrodiil are smaller than Imperial City districts and they have 2 flags that need to be captured. Having at least 2 flags would make capturing the districts more dynamic and interesting.

Bislobo · June 2016

Here are some questions...
Will the districts have a maximum of players allowed per faction?
Can we have more flags in each district to provide a more tactical approach in the district capture?
Will we have a leaderboard to track the most active players in the IC dispute?
Did you consider removing the ladders at base, in order to drive players into the sewers? (meaning sewers will be the only access to the surface).
Have you consider to remove completely the district respawn?

NewBlacksmurf · June 2016

Why won't you just offer a PvE only campaign or just make it so the faction can enter and complete the PvE content for those of us who have absolutely no interest in these Zerg environments that you continue to intentionally create in PvP areas.

Sotha_Sil · June 2016

Q1: Why were respawning points removed/and based on district capture ? it currently feels frustrating not to be able to respawn as we used to and it created a lot of animation and fights in a zone that are now gone. With each district being separated, it means we have to get loading screens every time we look for a fight (whether if we come from the sewers or from another district). I understand the purpose is to drive people to the flags but this brings me to my second question below :

Q2: Are you working on making the flags more appealing ? The tel vars are not that much useful for PVPers
-> Could we have set boxes/potions/sieges currently available in AP made available in tel var too for example ?

Q3 : Are you working on making the flags more challenging ? why 3 npcs ?

Q4 : Is it being considered to add an extra objective like the emperor in cyrodiil unlocked by the flags ?

Q5 : What is the purpose of the flags/ the IC in terms of PVP as a whole and for the campaign ? Are you working on connecting the city with Cyrodiil ?

Working on other questions

Bfish22090 · June 2016

question:
Why not add the 30% telvar increase to the sewers as well as the districts?

ZOS_DaryaK · June 2016

We're removed a couple of posts that were not contributing constructively to this discussion. Please see this post regarding keeping forum discussions constructive.

timidobserver · June 2016

Are there any more IC improvement planned before the next DLC?

Tillalarrien · June 2016

Q1: Will you continue to work on IC?

Q2: Do you see it as a PvE grind area or you want to see some small-scale PvP?

Let me say here as I did few times on IC PTS for 2.4 that changes are step in the right direction that stopped half way. Flagg while capturable is only one and therefore zergable. On top of that it provides PvE Grind bonus.
Making a IC PvE grind in the 1st place was a poor design choice. PvE trains will destroy any fun PvPer might have.
When farmers get the gear they want they move on. By that time PvPers will be long gone cause of inhospitable enviroment and zone will become dead.
Therefore:

Q3: Even tough you want IC to be both PvP and PvE you need to focus on target audience otherwise everyone will dislike it. Who is target audience for IC?

My suggestion is focusing on PvE in sewers (more NPCs, Molag ect.) while keeping districts more PvP oriented (capturing mechanics ect).

And now few suggestions if you intent to follow the vision that was presented to PvPers before IC turned out to be a PvE Grind zone:
Essential:
-3 flaggs. Anywhere, roof, river ect. IC is amazing zone and its could be a setting for incredible back-alley fights.
-PvP bonus for flagg capture: maybe 33% tvs increase, but only from players. More hp, 5% more dmg. They can varie from flagg to flagg. (Flaggs can also determine your access to vaults/ crafting stations ect.
Optional:
-leaderbords for tvs
-emp-like title when 6 district get captured by the same alliance (18 flaggs). 1st place or maybe guy with most tvs on him atm gets special buff. Not as strong as emp, maybe just something different like 100% tvs steal from kills?
- Districts claimable by guilds

Q4: Did you read suggestions on PTS regarding IC. What did you tought about them/can PvPers be hopeful and expect things like this in the future?

Q5:
How many people are you expecting to buy polymorphs at their current cost? :P

And now finally to compliments

-Reducing NPC difficulty seems like a good move if zone is intended to be for PvP.
-Making PvE death cost as much TVS as PVP is amazing change. No longer will people just suicide on mobs and avoid PvP. Now they have to take the risk of carrying stones back to the base. About time.
-Removing one-shot bosses.

Thats all I think. Hope you read it and consider it when (hopefully) making plans for future improvements

Would be nice to have IC with some proper small-scale PvP, even if it comes a year after its release.

Tillalarrien · June 2016

Let me also highlight this as I think it is brilliant idea that would continue to build on IC being just overal more experienced - same as the PvE death costing 50% that forces you to actually travel back instead of suiciding:

Bislobo wrote: »

Did you consider removing the ladders at base, in order to drive players into the sewers? (meaning sewers will be the only access to the surface).

Enodoc · June 2016

My primary question is:

Would you consider adding additional flags to each district, so that "capturing a district" requires players to spread out across the district? This would make capture more interesting, and give the current owning alliance a better chance to defend their holdings.

(More details on this can be found in Kena's thread, and the IC feedback thread: one, two)

Additional questions:

If the answer to the above question is yes, and more flags are added, would you consider adding District Capture missions like the existing Cyrodiil missions to "Capture Chalman Mine" (etc)?
Does each district have a "default" alliance owner? If so, is there any "home district" bonus?

Thanks!