The Very First Quest to Completely *** Me Off

ProfesseurFreder · July 2017

Normally I am one of those folks who is really positive of the game.

Today I am venting, because today after nearly three years of playing, I ran into the very first quest that Truly Madly Deeply pissed me off.

"Into the Woods" -- Coldharbour:

1) Touch the stupid wisp so you can see the runner.
2) No GD runners in sight.
3) Run around like an idiot trying to find runners. No dice.
4) "Mission Failed!"

#@%$*&! -- Okay, I'mm already angry. But it gets worse.

5) Repeat steps 1-4 three times.
6) Finally find a runner; dutifully take off after the son of a #@$%!.
7) Chase that @#$&*%!er around all over Kingdom Come. Sense that you MUST be getting close to finishing this stupid quest.
8) Runner invariably passes too close to some monster or group of monsters, who then attack you. You would be perfectly content to ignore the attack and keep on following the damn runner -- but NOOOOOO -- runner stops in his &*$# tracks and goes "DUHHHHHHH -- what's that sound?"
9) Fight the *&# @%&! monsters.
10) Wait for the runner to start running again.
11) Runner takes two steps, then goes "POOF!"
12) "Mission Failed!"
13) Repeat steps 1-12 FIVE MORE GD TIMES.
14) Abandon Quest.
15) Oh, wait -- the stupid, swirly, glowy effect around your wrist won't bloody well GO AWAY -- NOR will the even more annoying swirly, whiney SOUND EFFECT.
16) Get a monster to kill you on the theory that maybe that will put an end to the GD sound effect.
17) No dice: the annoying sound effect follows you even in death, you're stuck with the GD thing.
18) Rage quit game.

Is this dumb-ass quest something that I can safely bypass? Or is it some torture that I have to complete in order to finish the main quest?

Ghanima_Atreides · July 2017

Unfortunately, you need to complete it. After you cross the bridge and pick up the first wisp, the runner should be somewhere in front of you. Keep picking up wisps that you come across as you follow him, they will refresh the duration. Try to keep away from monsters and if you're not a Nightblade, some invisibility potions might help?

DocFrost72 · July 2017

Op, you can actually just grab the light, then head to where the runner stops. Lemme see if I can get you a map.

And for the record...yeah I hate that quest. I hate all follow quests, tbf. And the "right" way to do it is pick up light wisps to extend your time.

Edit:

You have to find three NPCS surrounding something at that red circle, or near to it. Check north and west, if not immediately there

ProfesseurFreder · July 2017

That's the worst news I've heard all week.

But thanks for the advice!

lasertooth · July 2017

Omg I remember that quest! And it happened exactly like you described. I was so frustrated. I had such a horrible experience in cold harbour that I didn't even go back to get all the skyshards. I hate that place lol

Can you group up with someone and then share the quest? It's easier to follow the guy if one person kills the mobs.

Good luck! And hopefully they change/update the quest because I remember being very frustrated too

Hippie4927 · July 2017

Run the path backwards and kill everything in sight. Then grab the wisp and follow the runner and, hopefully, the monsters will not have respawned yet.

ofSunhold · July 2017

So much agree. The first time I completed it, when we FINALLY got where we were going I had a trail of spriggans and misc angry things following me and half my health because I just ignored everything but the stupid runner.

Several of the coldharbour quests have high-annoyance mechanics. I skip everything I don't absolutely have to do in coldharbour.

ProfesseurFreder · July 2017

Thank you so much for the map and all the help and suggestions -- and also for not laughing at me!

Hippie4927 · July 2017

ProfesseurFreder wrote: »

Thank you so much for the map and all the help and suggestions -- and also for not laughing at me!

There's no way I could laugh at you! I hate that quest as much as you do!

My new alt just arrived in Coldharbour. I certainly won't be laughing when I get to that quest!

TequilaFire · July 2017

Tab target the runner so you can see him through trees and stuff, stay in stealth, pick up the light wisps and avoid the mobs he goes near.
It is not one of my favorite quests either, but necessary to advance the main and cold harbor quests.

AlMcFly · July 2017

I don't remember this quest being that frustrating. After touching the wisp, it was clear the path I needed to follow. Though, the game HAS been bugging out a lot since Morrowind so you might be getting the shaft due to lag/bugging. Hopefully you complete it and continue further. The conclusion of the Cold Harbor content, in my opinion, is the more enjoyable quest arcs.

DocFrost72 · July 2017

ProfesseurFreder wrote: »

Thank you so much for the map and all the help and suggestions -- and also for not laughing at me!

If all else fails and you're on PC NA, I can always give you an armed escort!

OC_Justice · July 2017

All I read was

"18) Rage quit game"

Can i has your stuff?

generalmyrick · July 2017

hahaha, this mission was tough the first time i did it...the second time i remember having a tiny anxiety, but knew i had to finish it.

to my dismay, the second time doing it i didn't fail once! but that was about 6 months between when i had to do it for an alt.

s7732425ub17_ESO · July 2017

There should also be a timer on your screen somewhere that tells you when you have to refresh your seeing buff. It will run out midway through the chase if you actually follow the runner.

Spacemonkey · July 2017

I really dont remember having had any trouble with this at all, but that was a LONG time ago. It does sound (from your account) pretty terrible - hopefully the advice the others gave is enough to get you through it.

Nyghthowler · July 2017

That quest sucks. But, even if you get the you failed message, if you know where the scout is leading you you can complete it and be done with it. That's what I do.
Also, who ever designed this quest probably tortures puppies and kittens for fun.....

Prof_Bawbag · July 2017

There's a helluva lot more than that in the game as far as infuriating quests go. Some quests still remain buggy from when the game first released. That one with the brewer in the camp in Malabal Tor springs to mind. Doesn't move and regardless of how sneaky you are, you have no choice but to slay the entire camp in the hope it moves him on. Not only that, there are multiple dupes of him at times.

Bonzodog01 · July 2017

Also worth noting that the runner follows EXACTLY the same path every time. SO I actually go over the path area before getting the wisp, and kill all mobs I can find. Their respawn timer is around 5 minutes, so if you do the quest then, you are grand.

The mobs he encounters are at a crossing point near the river - kill them BEFORE starting the quest.

MasterSpatula · July 2017

Yeah, this quest was always bad. Not broken, just badly designed.

However, what I really want to know is how OP managed to go three years in game without ever having done it before.

BrightOblivion · July 2017

It was a kind of annoying quest. Just keep re-upping your buff as it winds down and the guy won't spontaneously vanish, at least.

On the plus side, you can both start and finish the quest. The one giving me grief right now is a Cyro one I can't even START because of a bug. But such is the life of an ESO player, I guess?

Khenarthi · July 2017

I usually have invisibility potions for this quest - and this quest alone - to avoid the critters. And for one of the nexts steps because I always help a certain faction but can't be bothered sneaking and waiting.

Super annoying quest... but I've done it over 20 times now, so at least I know the general direction the runner is heading.

Enemy-of-Coldharbour · July 2017

I agree OP. That quest usually takes me a couple of tries (unless I'm a Nightblade).

Nyladreas · July 2017

So many people seem to have problems with this... I'm confused. I found it annoyingly easy when I've done it.

Merlin13KAGL · July 2017

Yeah, the pattern doesn't change, and they pause to 'lookout' from time to time.

Give it a few more, and go around the monsters, and you'll get it. Worst case, have a friend log in and stand near where you keep losing sight & to deal with any spawns.

It's more about memorization than the chase.

Runs · July 2017

Once you learn the path you can avoid every monster by running just out of their reach, this does involve knowing just how close you can get to a mob without getting agro. You shouldn't need to if you avoid all agro, but I also suggest about half way through the run make sure you interact with another wisp/light whatever so you don't lose your the buff that makes you invisible to them.

Wreuntzylla · July 2017

Hippie4927 wrote: »

Run the path backwards and kill everything in sight. Then grab the wisp and follow the runner and, hopefully, the monsters will not have respawned yet.

This. After running several toons through the quest, clearing mobs first became mandatory. Once the mobs are cleared, it's pretty straightforward. You will also have fewer issues seeing the runner.

MLGProPlayer · July 2017

I did it on my warden the other day. Drove me mad as well. Then I remembered I can just walk to the end of the quest.

Sigma957 · July 2017

I remember that quest, failed it a couple of times then I went and killed the npc first that were a long the way before re doing the quest, was easy after that.

magicsprout · August 2017

God i hate that quest. Now i just grab a wisp amd go straight ro the end point where the group of npcs are waiting. Saves much swearing

KingYogi415 · August 2017

Just watch it on youtube. Makes it real easy...