Enjoying the New Life Festival (not a poll about server performance issues)

Loc2262 · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

I really like the idea behind it! The stories are nice, the quests are for the most part very enjoyable.

The server performance is neither nice nor enjoyable, since it prevents me oftentimes from otherwise enjoying the quests.

Getting the rewards is what I dislike. It's much too grindy and repetitive. Unlike with the Witches Festival, where the rewards dropped from doing regular dungeon stuff, I quite certainly will NOT do these quests over and over and over again until I have the motif and recipes. (Not even talking about the runeboxes, not with ZOS' reputation at implementing RNGs.)

nexxus_ESO · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

This is a fun event. I like that there are defined "mini-events" at different locations, and each one is different. The rewards are neat, nothing too game-changing but unique, and that's their intended purpose.

The drop rate seems to be pretty good for a change too, and that's how a holiday event should be–everyone should be able to get the items. Save the months of grinding for BiS gear (though that's not an idea set up, if it has to be that way, it shouldn't be for holiday events.)

Things that need work:

There needs to be a visual cue for when the XP buff runs out. Even if it's just a brief color change effect on your screen when the effect wears off.
The XP buff needs to be something we can refresh without having to trudge back to that tent every two hours. Make it a flask or special mug momento we can pull out and use wherever we are.

The towns with celebrations/event quests really need more decorations. Environmentally, a few NPCs in an allready crowded town doesn't make for a very festive feel.

Delta1038 · December 2016

Othe response and suggestions

I don't really have any interest in participating in this event so I am just ignoring it all but I think it is a fine idea

Glaiceana · December 2016

Yes, the quests are fun and the rewards are great

I think they are fun, I enjoyed them

Each one was different, and had a feel of celebration, they are light hearted and easy too

Rosveen · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

I like the quests a lot, but I wish they were a little better thought-out: higher spawn rates for mobs in quest areas, more than one location where we could pick up the quests etc. I'd also love it if the Alcaire celebration wasn't hopelessly bugged... Still, I'm having fun and the rewards are great. Unlike the horrifically ugly Witches Festival masks, I might actually use the hoods and the memento/consumables are all very fun. Mudballs ftw.

Ideally, I'd add something similar to plunder skulls so that people who are bored of quests can do something else and still participate in the festival. Or something different, just not a repeatable quest.

Loc2262 wrote: »

(Not even talking about the runeboxes, not with ZOS' reputation at implementing RNGs.)

I don't know. The RNG gods usually hate me, but after two days I got five runeboxes: three unique and two duplicates, one of which I traded for the missing fourth. I also almost completed the motif and the recipes (I will have all after trading duplicates). And I'm not even super invested into it, I run the quests with three characters.

idk · December 2016

No, this is not what I had in mind

I have no issues with the quests, but having quests like this and that is it is fairly small. The previous event was basically encouraging us to do what we already do. This even is different.

With the design of this event I would expect it to also include something larger. Maybe a couple WBs that require 20 decent players to down. One where a group of top players might be able to do it with a group of 12.

An instanced boss would be good, Trial level with Normal, Vet and HM. Rewards, besides gear, would be a mount. Low chance to get the mount on Normal, slightly higher chance on Vet and guaranteed drop on HM.

Smokinroses · December 2016

leeux wrote: »

It's really annoying having to go back to drink from the keg, the only useful thing this event brings to the game. And getting the recipes/motifs is really too grindy and there's only *one* way to get them....

I very much preferred the method from Witches festival where you could get your boxes from pretty much any activity you enjoyed, instead of shoehorning everyone into doing these absurd (and some of them very buggy) quests over and over and over to the point of mind melting.

I agree...100%! I started last night because I figured they fixed it. Which I had no lag, what so ever.. *Knock on wood.* lol But disappointed to find out it's only 9 gifts per day.. I don't see how that's an event. What if people don't get all the items associated with the event...and/or don't have multiple characters?

Just doesn't seem all too planned out for the amount of time they had to plan it...Just not too exciting. It's fun, and the quests are fun. But it's not what I was expecting at all. In my opinion....They should done this, have the nine daily quest but also once you get them done you can go do delves and so on to fight the big boss's to get more presents to grind for more rares..(With that Double XP to get the gifts.. like with the witches brew.) I don't know, maybe i'm looking at the event at different perspective.. *Shrugs.*

Elsonso · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

It has more of an event feel to it than Witches Festival. Could stand to have more social goals and achievements.

Repeating Witches Festival plunder acquisition was boring due to the lack of having to do anything. Attack boss, wait X minutes, repeat.

New Life has a whole lot more path memorization that makes interesting quests more tedious after the N'th time.

Overall, New Life is better, just because of different things to do. Want more of them to be like New Life. Suggest that in addition to daily, also add one-time quests with a little more meaning and depth to events.

tinythinker · December 2016

Messy1 wrote: »

My suggestions:

-Mud Brawl pit should be added so players can face off in their towels in a proper place

-More things for players to compete against each other like horse races, maybe a tracker on who throws the most mud balls and a leaderboard with special holiday rewards.

Otherwise, it has been a great event, really enjoying it!

Those are good. There are also things people have asked for as regular tavern features that could be included for festivals/holidays:

From this comment on tavern events...

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)

Also, have buffs based on the achievements that last for the duration of the event. For example, if you get the fishing achievement for the New Life Festival, your chances of catching rare fish go up by X% until the end of the Festival. The bonus then returns at next year's Festival. If you get the fire lighting achievement, your non-combat movement speed is boosted by X% with the same restrictions. The cat burglar achievement can apply a bonus to pick-pocketing and lock picking. These need not be huge bonuses, but they would extend the fun and value of the Festival beyond just repeating a few events over and over.

EvilCroc · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

It was fun at the first day of event. I is not so fun other days. I have few skinchanger chapters left, so I'll still do it for them. After completing all achievements with main I'll only water my alts from keg.

Messy1 · December 2016

Yes, the quests are fun and the rewards are great

tinythinker wrote: »

Messy1 wrote: »

My suggestions:

-Mud Brawl pit should be added so players can face off in their towels in a proper place

-More things for players to compete against each other like horse races, maybe a tracker on who throws the most mud balls and a leaderboard with special holiday rewards.

Otherwise, it has been a great event, really enjoying it!

Those are good. There are also things people have asked for as regular tavern features that could be included for festivals/holidays:
From this comment on tavern events...

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)

Also, have buffs based on the achievements that last for the duration of the event. For example, if you get the fishing achievement for the New Life Festival, your chances of catching rare fish go up by X% until the end of the Festival. The bonus then returns at next year's Festival. If you get the fire lighting achievement, your non-combat movement speed is boosted by X% with the same restrictions. The cat burglar achievement can apply a bonus to pick-pocketing and lock picking. These need not be huge bonuses, but they would extend the fun and value of the Festival beyond just repeating a few events over and over.

Yes, I too have made posts suggesting a more robust tavern system.

When Craglorn came out way back when, everyone complained about forced grouping to finish content (obviously this has been remedied now). What players really want is a way to get together and interact with each other in meaningful ways ( in addition to the usual list of needs). A tavern system that encourages socialization and offers some cool minigames is a great idea. I thought maybe some of these things would be implemented with Homestead, but maybe it needs it's own game patch something like "Tavern Hearth."

HoolDog · December 2016

No, this is not what I had in mind

At least the witches festival didn't stop you doing normal decent stuff to get you rewards... these quests are boring.

Double xp location is annoying it should be a token... or even better still just make the game double xp so it's always on during stuff like this.

NewBlacksmurf · December 2016

No, this is not what I had in mind

I'm only doing it for the motif and the costume and recipes

So far the RNG is bad but it's not very fun at all
Nothing about the different events was fun in any way

I do think the blowing of fire should be an emote
Maybe I'll do it again but did not t twice on two chars and I'm mostly irritated by this event

It's very adverse to using it for exp....so much so that I don't understand the design

Milvan · December 2016

No, this is not what I had in mind

They kind just want hand off things to people. They could at least add some proper challenge.

majulook · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

I really wish the quests took a little longer and had a bit more depth to them

Ivehn · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

I think the first day of the festival was really enjoyable. Barring the fact that some quests became a bit more drawn out than they would have normally been (because of the sheer number of people in the same area doing the same things), it was fun seeing so many other players congregating in the same areas, running around, dancing, swimming naked in the cold waters, etc

Even the fishing quest, which admittedly became a bit tedious for those wanting the achievement, was kind of fun when characters cheered after the holes despawned and then whole masses of people ran in tandem from one fishing spot to the next. The quest themselves were high-spirited and the humorous kind of silly, and I loved stuff like throwing mudballs at the faction leaders (Queen Ayrenn shaking the mud off her leg!), or showing appreciation via burping

I guess the quests become boring and repetitive after the first couple of times, but all in all I think the festival was a cute idea and great for enlivening certain locations in the game

LadyNalcarya · December 2016

It's fun for the most part

Tbh I think its better than killing 100 bosses to get those plunder skulls. And yeah, the quests were fun.

Im not going to grind them on every alt, but after doing all quests on one char I have almost everything this event has to offer.
Though I would prefer to have a "permanent" version of each of those consumables.

whyterose · December 2016

No, this is not what I had in mind

It is ok to do on one character, I have alts but will not be doing the quests on them. I don't need the motifs, none of my toons wears crafted gear anymore, the recipes I will buy later from a guild trader. The quests are just too much of a hassle to repeat them for me.