VMA RNG Should it be changed?

r3ap3rsg · August 2017

I think judging by the achievement you get when you complete VMA that says under 1% of people have it completed that maybe the RNG system needs to be changed. Instead of having it go by chance have it give you the same weapon and trait you are using when you complete the final boss. Then that forces people that want stam weapons to beat it on a stam character wielding the weapons they desire or vise versa. Making VMA more skill based and not chance based. BIS should not be earned by chance it should be earned by skill and it is BS that potentially you can farm it indefinitely and never get the weapon and trait you are looking for. My last two runs I pulled the same exact weapon both runs same trait as well. (Resto powered). How about we worry more about the other 99% of people's feelings in this game then the .5% that have what they wanted because they got lucky and don't want anyone else to have it. This is coming from someone that only does endgame content and hits 40K without it. Not everyone that plays this game has an unlimited amount of time to play and farm. I preordered this game and probably have spent upward of $2000 on this game I'm an ESO Plus member and I want to be able to jump on and do what I want I don't want to be forced to grind things over and over again when there is so much other content I could be doing and enjoying. So if you want a dagger and axe sharpened then jump on that character of yours and beat VMA with a dagger and axe sharpened. Make sure your not on your bow bar when the finial boss dies. VMA is long enough and hard enough where I don't believe it is going to impact the game by allowing people to get the weapons they want especially considering under 1% of people complete it and hey maybe just maybe if people knew that they would actually get the weapon they want they may put more effort into trying to beat it in the first place hence causing people enjoy more of what this game has to offer.

Danksta · August 2017

1% isn't exactly honest. It includes people that only logged in once and never played the game again, non-ESO+ members without the DLC, people not interested in beating even the normal version let alone vet, new players that aren't even leveled up enough to enter vMA, etc.

Go check how many people have beaten the normal version or the main quest line. Both are extremely low too.

Also in HotR pretty much only the bow sounds like it's still BiS.

Asardes · August 2017

The honest completion rate is probably around ~20% or even higher as I see a large number of players in Belkarth with Maelstrom weapons, Stormproof and even Flawless title. Among my in game friends I was the last to do it. The others had all done it.

r3ap3rsg · August 2017

Danksta wrote: »

1% isn't exactly honest. It includes people that only logged in once and never played the game again, non-ESO+ members without the DLC, people not interested in beating even the normal version let alone vet, new players that aren't even leveled up enough to enter vMA, etc.

Go check how many people have beaten the normal version or the main quest line. Both are extremely low too.

Also in HotR pretty much only the bow sounds like it's still BiS.

The very last line brings up another discussion all together but basically reiterating what I said above who is going to beat VMA if the weapons aren't even BIS? The weapons need to be superior by a long shot and VMA needs to have more of a guarantee that you will get what you want and yes I do realize about the percentages but it doesn't change the fact that those people bought the game. Do you deny that if VMA was more rewarding and people knew that they would get the weapon they wanted that more people would attempt it? Keep in mind this is coming from someone that has completed the craglorn trials on HM and gets on the leaderboards regularly and that actually plays this content so my opinion should matter more then those that don't play this content.

r3ap3rsg · August 2017

Asardes wrote: »

The honest completion rate is probably around ~20% or even higher as I see a large number of players in Belkarth with Maelstrom weapons, Stormproof and even Flawless title. Among my in game friends I was the last to do it. The others had all done it.

Doubtful..... Your seeing a very small scale over 8.5 Million players have purchased the game according to Forbes Magazine. The percentages are probably closer to 5% if not less. Still stating the obv what's more important 5% or 95%?

Danksta · August 2017

r3ap3rsg wrote: »

Danksta wrote: »

1% isn't exactly honest. It includes people that only logged in once and never played the game again, non-ESO+ members without the DLC, people not interested in beating even the normal version let alone vet, new players that aren't even leveled up enough to enter vMA, etc.

Go check how many people have beaten the normal version or the main quest line. Both are extremely low too.

Also in HotR pretty much only the bow sounds like it's still BiS.

The very last line brings up another discussion all together but basically reiterating what I said above who is going to beat VMA if the weapons aren't even BIS? The weapons need to be superior by a long shot and VMA needs to have more of a guarantee that you will get what you want and yes I do realize about the percentages but it doesn't change the fact that those people bought the game. Do you deny that if VMA was more rewarding and people knew that they would get the weapon they wanted that more people would attempt it? Keep in mind this is coming from someone that has completed the craglorn trials on HM and gets on the leaderboards regularly and that actually plays this content so my opinion should matter more then those that don't play this content.

I do agree that the RNG is an issue, though with the trait changes in HotR it's less of an issue. I much prefer a token system of some kind over what you're suggesting, which is essentially getting to pick your weapons on every run. I think the leaderboards would be even emptier than they are now if you could get all the weapons you wanted in a dozen or so runs.

The token system I've heard suggested that I think I'd like the most is just keep it as it is now with RNG weapon drops. The difference would be if you deconstructed a weapon you'd get two tokens (only one for DW weapons because they drop in pairs and shield aren't technically Maelstrom shields so mace/swords can drop two). After so many tokens you can pick your weapon and trait. This gives you the light at the end of the tunnel that you're looking for.

I feel I've been relatively lucky with my vMA drops, but even after over 150 runs I'm still looking for that sharpened inferno staff. So I get that the RNG sucks. I'm at the point now I can't motivate myself to run it for a weapon. If I run it now it's because I want to, which I have to be in the right mood for.

hitman2nine · August 2017

At the end of the day it is the greatest single player challenge in the game, but the drops are horrible. you would think that the rewards from the leaderboards would be better, but unfortunately they are just as bad.

This week rewards were 2 gold defending lightning staffs. They really need to do something about those drops because the way it is now it's no incentive to really push hard for those scores.

Just from my other runs I received 1 defending inferno, 3 ice staffs, 1 restro, mace and shield, and 1 defending lightning.

Morgul667 · August 2017

I dont play vma at the moment, basically got bored of RNG and anyway the weapons are not so good anymore.

Truckdriver · August 2017

Change it already

Morgul667 · August 2017

Yeah the rng is boring and discouraging

Asardes · August 2017

In about 30 runs I've gotten quite a few weapons in decent traits so I really see no problem with the RNG, especially with the recent trait rework:

Mace: Infused
Dagger: Sharpened and Infused
Battleaxe: Sharpened, Nirnhoned and Precise
Maul: Infused
Bow: Precise
Lightning Staff: Infused and Nirnhoned
Inferno Staff: Sharpened
Healing Staff: Precise

Qbiken · August 2017

r3ap3rsg wrote: »

Danksta wrote: »

1% isn't exactly honest. It includes people that only logged in once and never played the game again, non-ESO+ members without the DLC, people not interested in beating even the normal version let alone vet, new players that aren't even leveled up enough to enter vMA, etc.

Go check how many people have beaten the normal version or the main quest line. Both are extremely low too.

Also in HotR pretty much only the bow sounds like it's still BiS.

The very last line brings up another discussion all together but basically reiterating what I said above who is going to beat VMA if the weapons aren't even BIS? The weapons need to be superior by a long shot and VMA needs to have more of a guarantee that you will get what you want and yes I do realize about the percentages but it doesn't change the fact that those people bought the game. Do you deny that if VMA was more rewarding and people knew that they would get the weapon they wanted that more people would attempt it? Keep in mind this is coming from someone that has completed the craglorn trials on HM and gets on the leaderboards regularly and that actually plays this content so my opinion should matter more then those that don't play this content.

The mainreason the stamina vMA weapons (aside from the bow) isn´t BiS anymore you´ve Morrowind to thank for. It´s impossible to sustain a vMA rotation atm

Izaki · August 2017

vMA makes you a better player. That alone is a reason to do it for the first time.

vMA makes you a better player. That alone is a reason to do it without deaths. (The level of concentration and awareness needed for a first Flawless run without sigils is very demanding, which obviously makes you a better player.)

vMA makes you a better player. That alone is a reason to do it weekly for leaderboards and talk with other people about tactics. (Discussing tactics with other players and then applying them to your gameplay is not only how you get better scores but also what makes you a good player. Repeating content and developping tactics yourself makes you better by definition.)

vMA gives you weapons on top of all that? Sweet. vMA has crap RNG? Luckily it makes you a better player which means that running it several times will not only grant you more chances at looting that weapon but also more chances to improve yourself as a player.

See? You can look at it several ways. Half full, half empty thing, right?

Now, I agree that the RNG is crap. But the RNG in vMA is nothing compared to literally any 4 man dungeon where you're looking for a specific weapon (not only are there 3 sets, 8 traits and 12 weapon types but you also only have a 50% chance at even getting A weapon, you might get jewelry instead). RNG in vMA should definitely become a token system however, since that wouldn't change the fact that you gotta do it several times before getting your weapon. But RNG in the whole game should be revised.

r3ap3rsg · August 2017

IzakiBrotherSs wrote: »

vMA makes you a better player. That alone is a reason to do it for the first time.

vMA makes you a better player. That alone is a reason to do it without deaths. (The level of concentration and awareness needed for a first Flawless run without sigils is very demanding, which obviously makes you a better player.)

vMA makes you a better player. That alone is a reason to do it weekly for leaderboards and talk with other people about tactics. (Discussing tactics with other players and then applying them to your gameplay is not only how you get better scores but also what makes you a good player. Repeating content and developping tactics yourself makes you better by definition.)

vMA gives you weapons on top of all that? Sweet. vMA has crap RNG? Luckily it makes you a better player which means that running it several times will not only grant you more chances at looting that weapon but also more chances to improve yourself as a player.

See? You can look at it several ways. Half full, half empty thing, right?

Now, I agree that the RNG is crap. But the RNG in vMA is nothing compared to literally any 4 man dungeon where you're looking for a specific weapon (not only are there 3 sets, 8 traits and 12 weapon types but you also only have a 50% chance at even getting A weapon, you might get jewelry instead). RNG in vMA should definitely become a token system however, since that wouldn't change the fact that you gotta do it several times before getting your weapon. But RNG in the whole game should be revised.

RNG is better in four man groups because you have 4 people that may get what your looking for and give it to you or sell it. Also most four man content can be done in 10 minutes not 45 minutes plus. I have also got the helms needed in only a few runs. Shoulders are a different story though. I no death all craglorn trials and VDSA how much better do I need to be? Videos games are not my life they are something I enjoy as entertainment.