Is Maelstrom Arena Really Not For Everyone?

UltimaJoe777 · October 2016

You can have the title and simply not use it. So many titles out there and those are pretty old news now.

Browiseth · October 2016

It's to be expected that only a small percentage of the playerbase is A) skilled enough and B ) willing to put the painful hours into beating VMA

ethanthefox · October 2016

Normal is for everyone. Veteran is for those willing to put time learning the Arena./
The Rng is the worst but since weapon drop 100% its really better. Not perfect(looking at you token system) but acceptable.
Ive finished grinding for all the weapons I needed but I still run it (working on my flawless) I guess I like it now honestly, made me a better player , better awareness of your surrounding, understanding priorities,etc
Ive recorded my first playthrougth in 1st person view this week to upload on YouTube. Yup, the Arena is doable in first person haha. It was really fun!

Zos, Please dont nerf
With questing mobs so easy, there is a need for difficulty solo content. There is tons of build without vma weapons and if you want max dps cause you want to do veteran trials, then you should have the level of skill needed to clear vma.

Wollust · October 2016

Marto wrote: »

Just make maelstrom weapons drop from nMA...

If the meta is going to revolve around a certain weapon, the weapon has to be obtainable by most high-end players.

Otherwise all builds are basically "I'm using this crappy staff, since I'm never going to get a maelstrom weapon"

You are not a high end player if Maelstrom is an obstacle for you.
What needs to be fixed is the RNG behind the drops, not the fact that it only drops in Vet. That is fine.

altemriel · October 2016

Ch4mpTW wrote: »

I've been noticing that there really are far and few people with Stormproof and Flawless Conqueror titles, as well as without Maelstrom weapons. The content has been out for months now, and even had a few tweaks and a 100% drop-rate added for a Maelstrom weapon to be in the last chest. And yet... There are still few people with Maelstrom clears. Let alone people who even want to be bothered with it. In fact, I know plenty of people on PS4-NA who have their buddies complete it or in a sense pay others to clear it for them. I've even been offered to do clears for people and get paid, but refused. I also noticed that on a lot of forum polls asking about people's involvement with the content, they often state how it's a waste of time. Or, how they want nothing to do with it in the slightest. Why is this?

And ZOS, are you aware of the incredibly low percentage of players with VMA clears? Let alone those who want to partake in attempting it, and or completing it? If so, that should tell you something about the content. Whether it be: Difficulty, mechanics, loot tables, and overall RNG.

It is meant to be engame content some say, like trials or Vet Dragonstar Arena. I have tried non-vet MA and did not do it very far. That was before I switched my Altmer to Redguard with Barber shop. I should try it again on her.
I have to go play my magNB Khajiit

LadyNalcarya · October 2016

Pvp is not for everyone.
Raiding is not for everyone.
Roleplaying is not for everyone.
Fishing is not for everyone.
The list goes on...

The real question is: why do you think that everything should be for everyone? Im not even sure if that would be possible for a game with such a diverse playerbase.

Perwulf · October 2016

GreenhaloX wrote: »

If you look at the many youtube clips on no death runs and how-to, majority of the toons' health are averaging around 21-22k. There are a few with health around 18k. Yet, these guys (or gals) are flying through those vMA stages and bosses and seemingly without getting damaged. Knowing the mechanics or not, you can dodge, block, roll all you want.. with so many adds and enemy DoT and AOE coming at you, you are going to get hit constantly. There is no avoiding it, and many of the adds/bosses hit freaking hard, and you're constantly vigoring yourself; throwing any kind of self-heal you have.

I'm still scratching my head. I'm way over 531 with my physical and spell resist in the mid-to upper 20k, when buffed. My health is 31k and have put in as much CP into the hardy and elemental slot as possible and getting 15% for each. I'm still getting hit and can be killed within 3 shots, if I'm not careful. My weapon (non-Maelstrom) dam is in the 3800 unbuffed and can get to 4500 when procked. I can dps. I can literally sustain at most times not losing any stamina. I have no problem with trials, vet dungeons. I solo any world boss pit and can do it without dying. Yet, I'm still getting damaged like crazy in vMA and of course dying. So, how are these guys seemingly not getting damaged going through all those stages of vMA?

Similarly, in a lot of those vet dungeon and hard mode, there are many one-shot kill stuff coming at you from the bad guys and again, a lot of the youtube clips are showing toons/players seemingly not getting damaged whatsoever from those that are normally a one-shot kill hit. Not normal to me.. I still complete normal Maelstrom easily and without dying cause the adds/mobs/bosses in normal are squishy with the level/weapon dam of my toon, yet guys are blazing through vMA like I would in normal Maelstrom. Something else is up..

I disagree you can dodge any skill they throw at you, I've done it myself many times but not always since i'm sitting ducks at 250+ ping and everything is delayed even if you moved away before the red circle procs I'd still get hit, perfectly timed block/dodge rolls doesn't work unless you're 1.5 seconds ahead before it hits. These was done back then when i was a stamina Templar but i recently come to my senses and went on magicka build and it was indeed cheesier than before, however I still haven't completed vMA because I'm currently leveling my DK.

altemriel · October 2016

But ZOS could add a super-newbie level MA, which will prepare you for the higher level content.

Lets create a continuation of the Story of VMA. There were 4 lesser worlds, or better to say other worlds created, the lower arenas, or other realms (AKA small-scale PVE arenas

). All new created other-realm content, with casted species and questing arenas/areas, which will grant each some unique item to the game, 2 piece bonus let`s say.

Let`s call them the Other realms of the VMA.

hmr13.76preeb18_ESO · October 2016

Arena is not for whiners (Fa Nuit Hen)

DocFrost72 · October 2016

ravenarc wrote: »

The very first on the list is the root of all problems so VMA is not for you if
You have 250+ because no matter how you memorized patterns because they are 1.5 sec ahead of you, e.g. inability to dodge AoE, timed blocks, & dodge rolls.

A casual gamer.

A stamina Templar.

Unless..

You're build utilizes in healing, survivability, & damage TLDR Magicka build. Stamina on the other hand is hard mode so it's recommended to have the top tier gears and tons of CP e.g. 531CP then disregard all of the above. However If the requirements are met and you're still struggling then sadly it's an L2P issue.

My first clear and farm runs are on a stamina templar. Too many people shift from one build to the next for FOTM and wonder why they never do as well as the ones that set the "meta".

Spoilers, if you do something very often for 2 years, you get good at it

kadar · October 2016

Drummerx04 wrote: »

You really don't see many people running around with Stormproof or Flawless Conquerer?

I feel like I can't walk through wayrest without running into some dude with stormproof or flawless that I don't recognize. Same with the vet trial clear titles and even the maw skin.

I'm sure that the number of people with said accomplishments are a minority of the playerbase, but they are most definitely not rare on PC NA.

Agreed. I feel like folks with one or both titles are all over the place on PC NA.

Also... I don't understand the OP. Every single instance of content in the game is "not for everyone." vMA isn't even the most unforgiving content in the game, group or solo-wise (the twins in vMoL taught me this). Soloing in PVP in nearly impossible for any new-ish player. Of course vMA isn't for everyone. In fact, isn't that the whole point of it in the first place?

Chori · October 2016

I just think the content in there is overall hard to the average player, and not rewarding enough upon completing it, and yes I'm talking about RNG.

Now for some of the players that can complete it without issues but don't want to do it, because its just not worth it. The gold you need to complete it in terms of repair costs, sometimes even pots, and the gear that you need to come up with to be able to do decently in there for a *** reward which is a weapon with a crap trait... If I wanted to do that kind of grind I would go play an asian mmo, pretty sure it would be more rewarding overall.

RAGUNAnoOne · October 2016

Perhaps if those poison stage AOEs give you more than .5 seconds to get out of it I would have a chance to get to the next stage

when every time I get close I get double poison bombed as soon as the argonian spawns it shows that it is only for those whom RNGEESUS favors and he hates me

MushmouthThomas · October 2016

No, its not for everyone. I find it very annoying when people who have already completed it and now have it on farm mode like to talk down to others about VMA. I am sure you beat it your first couple of tries...

Mic1007 · October 2016

Ah, vMA. A curse and a blessing combined in one twisted rope. It makes a player find out more about their class than any other content does, and yet can kill that same player's hope of ever getting a fitting reward for all their effort.

It has probably more rage threads dedicated to it than any other content, a majority of them targeting its horrid RNG or high difficulty. Most of those threads end up in debates about this content really loved or hated - sometimes a mix of both loved and hated.

Frankly, only one saying can describe vMA: "The Maelstrom Arena! There's nothing like it in all Oblivion!"

There are many reasons that lead to few people wearing Stormproof as their title. Other, even cooler titles could take precedent, for example. Yes, the number of people who have beat could be low, but that alone is not what is causing Stormproof's rarity.

Magic_Doogies · October 2016

Ch4mpTW wrote: »

I've been noticing that there really are far and few people with Stormproof and Flawless Conqueror titles, as well as without Maelstrom weapons. The content has been out for months now, and even had a few tweaks and a 100% drop-rate added for a Maelstrom weapon to be in the last chest. And yet... There are still few people with Maelstrom clears. Let alone people who even want to be bothered with it. In fact, I know plenty of people on PS4-NA who have their buddies complete it or in a sense pay others to clear it for them. I've even been offered to do clears for people and get paid, but refused. I also noticed that on a lot of forum polls asking about people's involvement with the content, they often state how it's a waste of time. Or, how they want nothing to do with it in the slightest. Why is this?

And ZOS, are you aware of the incredibly low percentage of players with VMA clears? Let alone those who want to partake in attempting it, and or completing it? If so, that should tell you something about the content. Whether it be: Difficulty, mechanics, loot tables, and overall RNG.

To answer the question- No, Maelstrom arena isn't for everyone. It hasn't BEEN for everyone since it's inception and the fact that some users on here are actually having revelations about this makes me laugh.

On the first point- just because content has been out for a while doesn't mean everyone is going to finish it. You can see that even today with people talking about how vICP and v WGT are still too hard to beat despite apparently being nerfed so hard that you can do it in your sleep.
So consider this-
1. Some people literally don't care about Maelstrom arena and being 'the best'. They simply want to have fun and socialize in the game. So long as they can do the content they are fine with having no Mael weapons.
2. Some people straight up don't have the time to do it. Early vet Maelstrom runs require a lot of *** time to do and a lot of frustration before it gets 'easier'. Not everyone wants to spend 4 hours wasting resources and being angry as opposed to having fun in the game.
3. You have users that are fully capable of beating it but would rather not get sucked in to the RnG rage fest that clogs up the forums via QQ threads every other day.

On to your second point- of *** course ZoS is aware that there is a low completion rate? Are you *** kidding me? Quite frankly you are one of the last users on this forum that should be making such a call out like this. Because when ZoS acted upon that data for trials and dungeons such as vICP and vWGT and attempted (but still failed for the most part) to make it more accessible for the average player to beat it was nothing but endless crying, accusing, tantrums, and dev accusations because once again ZoS 'pandered' to lazy millennial gamers who don't like working for rewards.
And now you are low key asking them to NERF vet Maelstrom arena?

What the hell do you people want? When they nerf they get yelled at.
When they leave it as is you accuse them of not caring about low completion feedback.

Sit down and enjoy your damn Stormproof title with other hardcore players. Leave the rest of the players to squalor in supposed inferiority and misery.

Personofsecrets · October 2016

We have maelstrom not because the players like and wanted the idea, but because the lead devs like and wanted the idea.

Funkopotamus · October 2016

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

This game has two issues.

1.Maelstrom, needs reworked, badly.But the hardcore crowds want to jump down the throat of anyone trying to ask for it, will ensure it'll never happen. It remains one of the few reasons I will never roll stamina DPS.

2.Enough with this pandering to the 10% that do this sort of content. And I'm not talking about trials.

1. Im sorry but if you cannot play a stam DPS correctly without your Maelstrom weapon then you are doing it wrong..
2. Those same people finally get something in the game that is not "Pandering" to the carebear crowd and you fly off the deep end?
3.
Come on people just because it is good does not mean it should be HANDED to you!

Doctordarkspawn · October 2016

I''ve seen the pattented 'work toward' it excuse people love to bring into threads like this again.

I'll say it again, then.

Content that is needlessly difficult in a way that isn't fun, will not make me play it over and over to get better at it. I use crafted sets. Most of the Meta is crafted sets with the notable exeption being healers. If content is not fun to do, I will not do it because I dont need to do it. End of story. VMA is all these things, and is these things because they decided, when in doubt with design, to go back to trial design tendancies.

Nobody asked for Maelstrom. The people who would of liked Maelstrom hated how it was done. It needs. Changed. And denying that fact is denying change for the sake of it.

Content does not have to be for everyone, but if you dont have a target audience, it isn't worth making.

Mojmir · October 2016

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

I''ve seen the pattented 'work toward' it excuse people love to bring into threads like this again.

I'll say it again, then.

Content that is needlessly difficult in a way that isn't fun, will not make me play it over and over to get better at it. I use crafted sets. Most of the Meta is crafted sets with the notable exeption being healers. If content is not fun to do, I will not do it because I dont need to do it. End of story. VMA is all these things, and is these things because they decided, when in doubt with design, to go back to trial design tendancies.

Nobody asked for Maelstrom. The people who would of liked Maelstrom hated how it was done. It needs. Changed. And denying that fact is denying change for the sake of it.

Content does not have to be for everyone, but if you dont have a target audience, it isn't worth making.

you'd be surprised at how many things get implemented in this game because certain players have an "in" with developers.

Destyran · October 2016

Why would i go back in to get *** on by RNG??? I dont have 1 flame staff

Funkopotamus · October 2016

Doctordarkspawn wrote: »

I''ve seen the pattented 'work toward' it excuse people love to bring into threads like this again.

I'll say it again, then.

Content that is needlessly difficult in a way that isn't fun, will not make me play it over and over to get better at it. I use crafted sets. Most of the Meta is crafted sets with the notable exeption being healers. If content is not fun to do, I will not do it because I dont need to do it. End of story. VMA is all these things, and is these things because they decided, when in doubt with design, to go back to trial design tendancies.

Nobody asked for Maelstrom. The people who would of liked Maelstrom hated how it was done. It needs. Changed. And denying that fact is denying change for the sake of it.

Content does not have to be for everyone, but if you dont have a target audience, it isn't worth making.

If the target audience is so small and the items suck that bad.......

Then why all of the salty threads over the difficulty?

The target is larger than you think my friend. And I for one think it is a good thing that every tom *** and harry are not running around with those weapons.

Just like VDSA heal staffs and the BIS tank sword.. It is hard, but all of our guild members are working to get them as a guild for the end goal of making the guild better!!

FrostFallFox · October 2016

I think it's fine, besides the RNG. I just want a divine Winterborn sash and sharpened ice staff

Frozenmosquito · October 2016

is vMOL really for everyone ZOS? Why cant I see people with the dromthra skin I dont know.. ZOS? Anyone?

Eleusian · October 2016

Problem with the arena is it takes time , effort , and some skill. Most players these days just don't have the patience or are used to be carried by others in tougher content.
OP is rite on the money about the pay for completions on PS4 US NA. I knew one guy personally that would play on at least 10 other people's accounts weekly for leaderboards. SMFH

Bobby_V_Rockit · October 2016

I'm all legendary meta stam sorc DPS. I wont go near it because I suck

idk · October 2016

@Ch4mpTW

Zos is fully aware of the challenge vMA is. Devs have completed it on their personal account.

To answer your question, vMA is for everyone but it is a choice to dedicate time and effort to first figure out how to play the character effectively, second figuring out how to play it solo in challenging content and survive and third figure out the mechanics for the content itself.

Many just do not want to. It is a choice and for them Zos also build a normal version. Even those that are strong players sometimes choose not to do the content merely because it is solo and they prefer to play in a group.

SlayerTheDragon · October 2016

Here it is:

VMA is not fun. Nothing at all about it is enjoyable.
I prefer to go to work to do work, and enjoy my time in ESO.

SublimeSparo · October 2016

Still haven't got a Sharpened offensive weapon

lol. One day. Probably when they are no longer BIS

Chuga_Rei · October 2016

DRXHarbinger wrote: »

Grand overlord is just a time sink. All that says to me is....I have no life.

Something that is difficult to achieve via HARD content or not by looking at a guide such as fore master thief is what's needed. Like the Horvar pet that was very very hard to get. One mistake and it was back to the start. Trial titles just require them to be sweated out and bad players can still be carried through.

Just like getting a good vMA time, you can greatly cut down on the time it takes to get GO. Not only do I "have a life" but I have taken multiple month+ breaks from this game.

the difference between farming GO and some pve title is nothing in PvP is scripted, so you are guaranteed a different fight every time. And even when you earn your achieve, there is a difference between being a walking achievement and people knowing you are to be feared.