It would sure give the role play part of the game a boost but on the other side you should consider the amount of game features that would become too much over time.

Why not change any buffs to be more effective, the longer you stay?

hang out for 5 minutes and get 1%, or stick around for an hour and get 5%

AndyTGD wrote: »

Umm, because some of us don't want ESO to descend further into an ERPing mess like Second Life which is infamous for furries engaging in glorified simulated zoophilia between players (visuals or not)? One would also want to avoid glamorising the glorified sex slavery, trafficking and sexual abuse of desperate women. There are plenty of sleazy MMORPGs out there, I'd rather ESO refrain from becoming more like them. But hey.

But in The Elder Scrolls a prostitutes guild exists... it would make sense contextually and like I said, it could be done tastefully. It wouldn't be an activity for role play at all, but would rather be a gameplay mechanic and a skill line.

The glorification of sex slavery, trafficking and sexual abuse of desperate women is entirely on you @AndyTGD . No where did I say there need to be pimps or that player be forced to do anything or that prostitutes should only be women. You brought every bit of that to the table yourself.

Besides, ever single person playing ESO should be mature enough to not let their outlook on the world be swayed by activities performed in a fictional world, on a fiction planet, by fictional characters. ZOS shouldn't have to design their game to accommodate for crap parenting.

But... You're right in that they have to be socially considerate... which is why I'm not suggesting the simulation of sex in any way, shape, or form. In fact, what I'm suggesting would be less graphic than the stuff I already see taking place out in public spaces. Some of that would make Molag Bal blush.

So, as for ESO "becoming" more like one of those sleazy MMOs. I think we're too late.

INN EVENTS

After looking at the OPs suggestions and revisiting Giddy's thread, as well as considering the way development has gone and trying to get the most players into it, my own recommendations would be:

1. Have the events be short and repeatable with XP/gold rewards and also with achievements for successfully completing something 10, 50, and 100 times. Or 5, 15, 30 times. Or 10, 100, 200 times. Depends on the event, but you get the idea. This encourages players to come to inns for as long as they want without feeling like they have to stay a long time to get anything out of it. If the events are fun, have decent rewards, and unlock achievements with funny/clever titles, people will still visit inns more and stay longer.

2. Have some events be universal, and others rare (original new events or unique versions of universal events). Drinking contests, patterned after the event already present at Geirmund's Hall in The Rift, could be universal. Others could be rare, only spawning at certain times like the Lightbringer, Crimes Pays, Give to the Poor, and I Like M'aiq achievements. The rare ones encourage people to stop more often at different inns. Have NPC comments-in-passing come up if you get the full achievement series for one of the event types ("I heard you can really hold your mead! You're no milk-drinker!").

3. Have a focus on NPC events. That isn't to say no player vs player contests should be available, but if most or all inn events require other players to try/complete the concept will flop. Some players prefer to be solo all of the time, and some play at odd hours. Having fun, rewarding events (see #1) that have some rare, achievement based elements mixed in (see #2) will get people into the inns. But if I go in a certain inn off-hours and no one is there or they are busy, I don't want to have to wait around. Certainly though, have one or two events that players can do together with some nice rewards.

As for the event types/categories I would endorse:

- Bar Brawls. These would be fists only, no ability bar, and without pushover NPCs. You wouldn't be 100-0. You'd have to work for the wins and lose a fair amount. Special/rare version would involve getting drunk first as part of the NPC's challenge as you do in some fights in Ebonheart. The drunk versions would be like rare spawns and have their own achievement. Another rare version would be special named bar brawler champion types that are particularly tough and spawn randomly.
Rewards: XP, Gold, Credit Toward Achievement(s)

- Drinking Contests. Like Geirmund's Hall include a mechanic that allows you to not pass out (like eating food every so many drink) but with fast/hard drinking NPCs competing at the same time to make it a challenge. This one could include an option for multiple players to join in after the event is triggered but the NPCs would still compete.
Rewards: XP, Gold, Credit Toward Achievement

- Gambling. Something simple that is easy to follow with text prompt and a basic graphics display but that requires some strategy and luck, like a slightly more sophisticated version of rock-paper-scissors. It should have a chance to make a mistake/lose a round at least twice before the event ends with the player winning or losing, like picking a master lock on a door or chest. Have it be a single game so players can learn/practice it and work on the achievement anywhere in Tamriel.
Rewards: XP, Gold, Credit Toward Achievement

- Singing. Again, goes back to Geirmund's Hall (and every karaoke night in a bar ever). You pick up a job as an entertainer and have a choice to get a drink (or two, or three, or... the bottle... what was I you me?) before you proceed. You then get a glance at the lyric sheet and begin. The more you have to drink the greater the potential rewards but also the less time you have to read the lyrics at the start and the faster the text prompts go by (if you miss one the default is "..."). The more accurate you are the higher the reward.

So getting tanked and hitting every lyric is a big pay day. Also the drunker you are the blurrier the lyric sheet is at the start. The song book from which your selection is drawn is quite large and some songs are region specific. Achievements for completing songs, completing songs totally wasted, completing songs perfectly, completing songs perfectly while totally wasted, and a single achievement for gloriously blowing a song while totally wasted are included.
Rewards: XP, Gold, Credit Toward Achievement(s)

INN FEATURES

As for features other than humorous NPC dialogue and being able to buy food and drink or prepare food and drink:

Rent a room for enlightenment bonus. Log out for the night (or at least so many hours) in a room you've rented at the inn and find that your enlightenment bonus has been magnified when you log back in.

Player Guild recruitment board. Click to search guilds by categories and name (level 50 only, crafting, trading, raiding, PvP, etc)

Innkeeper quests. Like prior TES games for an expanded, One Tamriel.