As someone who loves solo questing, I'd rather people did not attack me at Cyrodiil quest hubs (Vlastarus and Cropsford mostly; it's annoying enough having to fight the Honor Guards sitting on the flags every time I want to turn in a quest). When they do though, I fight back and sometimes even win. That's a mix of PVE and PVP I'd rather not have, but it's in there for a reason.

I don't think other players *need* to enjoy every aspect of the game as long as they respect everyone else. Maestrom Arena, vDSA, or vet trials do not interest me at all. PVP does not interest me most of the time. Still, it's good that those things exist, this way ESO will appeal to a larger audience.

I actually did a little PVP during the Midyear Mayhem event and learned something important and valuable. I don't hate PVP, but I am pretty terrible at it. I spent all my time in Cyrodiil chasing after the battles, but not catching up to them until they were over. When I wasn't doing that, I was getting killed by huge zergs that I got in the way of. I loved the battling part of it when I could get in one, but the running around trying to find groups to run with got pretty old.

I really believe there needs to be a PVP training area for dummies so that those of us who want to try it can do so before getting flattened in real live PVP. Maybe that's what duels were created for. I don't like to duel because they usually take place in a major city with a ton of players in it. Big guy takes out little guy for all the community to see. It seems like a show off kind of thing to do.

I also think the Cyrodiil tutorial should be able to be done over and over and over again until we get the hang of it. I'm never quite sure when I should use my siege or if I should.

Anyway, that's my thoughts on PVP for what it's worth. I want to get good at it, but I don't want to bring everyone around me down while I do it. I'm just not sure that's possible.

The divide honestly doesn't come from preferences that much.

I mean, sure. There are PvPers who go "Your vMA s**ks, your vTrials s**k, you fight against computer so you're a ***, we are the true skilled players" and there are PvEers who go "You gank and you run in groups and you are horrible people, because you like to kill other players, PvP is cancer". But they are the minority and... well, they will overgrow it As much as I myself hate PvP and believe it brings out worst in people... I do understand that we are different and enjoy different things, so if you want to run for Emperor - good luck

The divide comes from balancing. PvP and PvE are not separated despite a huge amount of players asking for it to be separated. So when devs try to balance one, they ultimately hurt the other. And hence - the divide.

Take last update, for example. PvEers blame PvP for it. And I won't lie - I also do. I mean okay - changes in CP can be explained by PvE also. I honestly hardly doubt devs enjoyed seeing people burn Rakkhat on 5th pad on HM. But class abilities? Damn me if it wasn't done for Battlegrounds.

I mean, sure. Rationally, with my mind I do understand that I actually do not know why devs did what they did. I can guess - but I do not know. But... It makes perfect sence.

If devs simply wanted to nerf sustain so it becomes important, they would stop on CP system. Changes in CP and armor passives would have been enough. It's just... there is no other explanation for butchering class abilities than those f**king no-CP Battlegrounds they made.

And I won't lie to you. In times like this, it's hard to not to be bitter. When I tasted those "changes" on PTS, when they went live... I, pure PvEer, with all my heart wished that PvP just... wouldn't exist. Because in my eyes - I suffer because of things that absolutely do not concern me. In my eyes - I suffer because of PvP.

Oh, I do understand that it's not players' fault, it's devs fault. I do understand that the system is ultimately flawed and people shouldn't be blamed for it.

But... "I'm only human, after all" (c). Sometimes... it's hard to remain calm and rational

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk

if they separate them, they would be fine, but they are too interconnected in ESO

pve quests in cyro, the imperial city as a whole was designed to be a mix.

these were all designed and implemented at a time when some people in the video game industry thought this was a good idea. . .some people are idiots.

while yes pvp'ers LOVE and would jump at the chance to feed on the tears and inexperience of noobs or people trying to quest or pve or whatever (as you can tell from all those wanting open world pvp or a justice system that lets them hunt pve'rs)

its overall a terrible game idea.

imperial city tried it, it was received poorly by most.
the division tried it with its dark zone, lost most of its players within the first month.

this is what happens

elite PvP'ers flock to the aspect of pvp in general
poor pvp players flock to the aspect of killing pve'rs
pve'rs flock to the aspect of the pve experience

a few minutes later

pve'rs get mad because all the pvp'rs are killing them and ruining there pve experience (ever increasing the distain these two groups have for one another because of reasons JUST LIKE THIS) and leave

poor pvp'rs get mad because all the pve'rs they were actually able to kill have left and now all that left is elite pvp'rs that they cannot beat so also intern leave.

pvp'rs are mad that the pve'rs are mad about getting killed in a clearly marked pvp area and thus should not be mad and intern consider them to be crybabies (ever increasing the distain these two groups have for one another because of reasons JUST LIKE THIS) however, not all will leave, some will move onto other more pvp oriented games designed specifically with that in mind (lol, dota, pubg, csgo, etc.) but a small very dedicated very elite group of pvp players will stay and play the game

what you are left with is a small group of elite pvp'rs to support the game / mode / experience / etc. what THAT does is create a GIANT gap between this group and anyone dumb enough to show up to the game / mode / experience / etc. at any later date because they are just going to get destroyed (and then leave) by this small elite group thats left.

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this happened(s) to EVERY game that attempts this idea, that is why IC was abandoned, that is why the division was a flop, that is why open world justice system was cancelled. these ideas just don't mix. you design a game for one group, or you design a game for another. if you do include a pvp feature in a pve game you make sure its an isolated feature behind clearly marked menus (that's why cyrodil s in its own menu CLEARLY labeled alliance war and you have to actually select to enter then once again confirm your decision)

however I personally believe that tacked on pvp is the ruination of good games, as pvp balance usually takes priority over pve balance (DESTINY) and both groups once again hate each other because both blame the other for there own terrible game experience at the cost of the other because the devs are trying to cater and balance around both.

and that is why the BEST pvp games are pvp ONLY games (lol, csgo, overwatch, dota, pubg, etc.) that focus specificly on that balance and gameplay and the best pve experiences do the exact same thing (elder scrolls, fallout, witcher, etc.)

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whew, I'm out of breath, hope you all learned something (points aggressively to video game industry!!!!!)