Your Environments! Definitely in the right direction ZOS!

ArchMikem · August 2017

30GB update later I log in to walk into nFH (Falkreath Hold) to see what it looks like and wonder if I could somehow solo it carefully on my StamBlade PvE main. No. No I can't. Even on normal the difficulty is annoyingly hard. Not so much "impossible" hard, just REALLY annoying. What's up with these new mob attacks anyway? If you're not being knocked back you're being thrown off balance, then after you recover you're knocked back again. But whatever.

I find the cart in Craglorn, load in and the first thing I see,...

Wut?

Zenimax...

Zenimax stop. Just stahp what is this?

ZOS what are you doing, this game is usually kinda ugly WHY IS THIS DUNGEON SO PRETTY??

THIS is what I'd been holding out for in visuals with new content. I realize this is incredibly linear and compact so the quality is amped up because of that but LOOK AT THIS. The terrain detailing, the sheer amount of vegetation and flora, the distinct representation of a legit wilderness! I'm nerding out so hard over a well made little section of woods in a Group Dungeon this is stupid. If only you guys made everywhere look like this. It's exactly what pulls me away from the achievement hunting and the daily chores. This is what makes me desire to just walk around and explore. To take in the sights as I find out whats behind those trees or on the other side of that ridge or around that boulder. This, is beautiful. But the sad reality is this kind of quality will only exist in small instances such as Dungeons cause I'm positive replicating this level of detail to the overworld questing zones would take monumental effort not to mention require a heavy performance hit.

But regardless, ZOS you've made a gorgeous looking environment for Falkreath Hold and I REALLY appreciate that, even if I can't enjoy it as much as I'd like due to it being in sorta difficult group content. And I just wanted to share my feelings on the matter.

....oh. And inside the town of Falkreath itself lags like nothing else. Might wanna look into that.

Morgul667 · August 2017

Looks great

OutLaw_Nynx · August 2017

I agree. Easily the most eye appealing dungeons yet.

Cadbury · August 2017

Needs more trees.

MLGProPlayer · August 2017

I'd like to see overland zones have this much vegetation density. The older zones especially all feel like open fields.

ArchMikem · August 2017

Cadbury wrote: »

Needs more trees.

After loading in I legit immediately felt I had launched Skyrim instead, they did a great job replicating the feel of the region.

Banana · August 2017

Add some more trees to other zones

LuminaLilly · August 2017

In Elder scrolls v skyrim, the falkreath hold was very beautiful, much like a Lake Forest, CA (zing)

MrDenimChicken · August 2017

omg this literally looks like Skyrim.....beautiful

The old zones (at game's release) look like *** compared to this, and compared to morrowind and even wrothgar

paulsimonps · August 2017

Nice thick forestry like this should have been in Greenshade, Grathwood and parts of the Rift. As it stands overworld zones are too open at times.

Feanor · August 2017

I agree. As far as aesthetics are concerned Bloodroot Forge is very well done on my opinion too.

ZunaRoath · August 2017

Definetly agree! I absolutely love how it looks, I even wish it was a really damn big forest xD

I'm soon doing an RP event in the dungeon. We'll clear it out first and then RP in Falkreath

Problem will be... lol, the catapults, and the knockbacks xD

red_emu · August 2017

I really really really wish one day Zenimax will pull their resources together and come up with a visual update to the original zones. I understand this would take a lot of work and investment but I'm quite sure the player base would be more than happy to chip in. This is the only MMO I play and it's mainly due to incredible, realistic and believable visuals. The game still looks stunning but it needs an update. As Falkreath Hold proves, the game's engine is more than capable.

AlienSlof · August 2017

The new dungeons are really beautifully realised. So much attention to detail and colour. I'd love to see the rest of the game get a facelift to match.

GreenSoup2HoT · August 2017

if only pvp foliage was that grand.

Beardimus · August 2017

Not been into the dungeon yet but from your screen shots I disagree - I hate unclear over grown foliage.

As an EP Loyalist, I hated Shadowfen - all about EastMarch for me.

But cool if they have upped graphical effort!

TelvanniWizard · August 2017

paulsimonps wrote: »

Nice thick forestry like this should have been in Greenshade, Grathwood and parts of the Rift. As it stands overworld zones are too open at times.

Totally agree. There is not a single real-like dense, dark forest. I understand that Valenwood is more like a rainforest, but Daggerfall and Cyrodiil are shaming when it comes to forests. They are all peacefull open areas, more like a city park than a real wild forest. It would be epic to venture into a forest without much sun light and dense trees, close between them and irregular in their placement.

ArchMikem · August 2017

red_emu wrote: »

I really really really wish one day Zenimax will pull their resources together and come up with a visual update to the original zones. I understand this would take a lot of work and investment but I'm quite sure the player base would be more than happy to chip in. This is the only MMO I play and it's mainly due to incredible, realistic and believable visuals. The game still looks stunning but it needs an update. As Falkreath Hold proves, the game's engine is more than capable.

The thing is, I'm not entirely sure the Engine ZOS is using actually is all that good for that kind of detail. From what I understand they didn't use an all that great Engine when developing the game and what we've seen with Morrowind is basically ZOS squeezing as much as they could within the confines of maintaining performance. I remember from one of their DevBlog-whatevers they specifically said they decided not to include the island of Sheogorad off the north shore cause it just would've been too much. Sure the game may seem to run great when it's just you running around but it gets noticeably horrible the more you throw in other players doing the same on your screen.

Only logical reason Falkreath Hold looks as lush as it is, most likely because it's such a confined space meant only for four players per instance instead of the usual 50 running around a larger map spamming AoEs in their duels.

danno8 · August 2017

Beardimus wrote: »

Not been into the dungeon yet but from your screen shots I disagree - I hate unclear over grown foliage.

As an EP Loyalist, I hated Shadowfen - all about EastMarch for me.

But cool if they have upped graphical effort!

I love the look of the new dungeon, but I get what you are saying. The foliage can make it annoying to see the action.

The solution is to have the trees fade or become semi transparent when they come between the player character and the camera. I've seen lots of games do this.

MrBetadine · August 2017

Remind me of Skyrim. Oh wait......

altemriel · August 2017

ArchMikem wrote: »

30GB update later I log in to walk into nFH (Falkreath Hold) to see what it looks like and wonder if I could somehow solo it carefully on my StamBlade PvE main. No. No I can't. Even on normal the difficulty is annoyingly hard. Not so much "impossible" hard, just REALLY annoying. What's up with these new mob attacks anyway? If you're not being knocked back you're being thrown off balance, then after you recover you're knocked back again. But whatever.

I find the cart in Craglorn, load in and the first thing I see,...

Wut?

Zenimax...

Zenimax stop. Just stahp what is this?

ZOS what are you doing, this game is usually kinda ugly WHY IS THIS DUNGEON SO PRETTY??

THIS is what I'd been holding out for in visuals with new content. I realize this is incredibly linear and compact so the quality is amped up because of that but LOOK AT THIS. The terrain detailing, the sheer amount of vegetation and flora, the distinct representation of a legit wilderness! I'm nerding out so hard over a well made little section of woods in a Group Dungeon this is stupid. If only you guys made everywhere look like this. It's exactly what pulls me away from the achievement hunting and the daily chores. This is what makes me desire to just walk around and explore. To take in the sights as I find out whats behind those trees or on the other side of that ridge or around that boulder. This, is beautiful. But the sad reality is this kind of quality will only exist in small instances such as Dungeons cause I'm positive replicating this level of detail to the overworld questing zones would take monumental effort not to mention require a heavy performance hit.

But regardless, ZOS you've made a gorgeous looking environment for Falkreath Hold and I REALLY appreciate that, even if I can't enjoy it as much as I'd like due to it being in sorta difficult group content. And I just wanted to share my feelings on the matter.

....oh. And inside the town of Falkreath itself lags like nothing else. Might wanna look into that.

the same goes for Bloodroot Forge, it is also super-pretty

zaria · August 2017

ArchMikem wrote: »

red_emu wrote: »

I really really really wish one day Zenimax will pull their resources together and come up with a visual update to the original zones. I understand this would take a lot of work and investment but I'm quite sure the player base would be more than happy to chip in. This is the only MMO I play and it's mainly due to incredible, realistic and believable visuals. The game still looks stunning but it needs an update. As Falkreath Hold proves, the game's engine is more than capable.

The thing is, I'm not entirely sure the Engine ZOS is using actually is all that good for that kind of detail. From what I understand they didn't use an all that great Engine when developing the game and what we've seen with Morrowind is basically ZOS squeezing as much as they could within the confines of maintaining performance. I remember from one of their DevBlog-whatevers they specifically said they decided not to include the island of Sheogorad off the north shore cause it just would've been too much. Sure the game may seem to run great when it's just you running around but it gets noticeably horrible the more you throw in other players doing the same on your screen.

Only logical reason Falkreath Hold looks as lush as it is, most likely because it's such a confined space meant only for four players per instance instead of the usual 50 running around a larger map spamming AoEs in their duels.

You are right in that in an 4 man instance they can add better graphic as its just 4 players.
Morrowind is also an improvement but not in the same degree because of this, also larger scale.
Island of Sheogorad should have no impact as its just more land.

FakeFox · August 2017

I wouldn't say the game is usually ugly. I actually like it a lot, but yeah, vanilla zones lack detail. They are in my opinion getting better with their world design with every DLC, hope they will rework the old zones at some point.

Onefrkncrzypope · August 2017

Honestly hated it. Yeah it's pretty but it's in the way. Look over there... Tree in the way. Over there house. I warn my guildies that if you are claustrophobic not to go to FH. I laugh every time that giant Minotaur squeezes through that window... Insert Harry Potter bus scene here

Merlin13KAGL · August 2017

Yeah, the level designers did a hell of a job with the aesthetics of both dungeons.

They could ease back a bit on the foliage in combat areas though, or have the camera fade them out during combat. Little worse than trying to focus the boss and having your screen filled with palm leaf or clumps of daffodils.

LadyNalcarya · August 2017

I agree, the design is really awesome.

DMuehlhausen · August 2017

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

I'd like to see overland zones have this much vegetation density. The older zones especially all feel like open fields.

That would be such a drain on systems that top end. That's why it's not like that. Sure should they have it and can turn it on I guess? But the extra development time to get all the foliage and what not in the game just wouldn't be worth it when probably less than 2% of your users can see it.

CrisXD · August 2017

I havent done any of the new dungeons yet but FH looks awesome fair play!

Chackan · August 2017

I would be happy if the zones before Morrowind would receive a graphical update to look as good as Morrowind.

First time I want travelling in VVanderfell I was in awe! Much prettier than the resto of the "world".

ArchMikem · August 2017

DMuehlhausen wrote: »

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

I'd like to see overland zones have this much vegetation density. The older zones especially all feel like open fields.

That would be such a drain on systems that top end. That's why it's not like that. Sure should they have it and can turn it on I guess? But the extra development time to get all the foliage and what not in the game just wouldn't be worth it when probably less than 2% of your users can see it.

For Consoles at least, PS4 Pro and Xbox One X should fix that for a lot of people.

Drelkag · August 2017

Agreed. Was really impressed by the vegetation and would love to see them put the same work in new zones going forward.