Tamrielic Skyshards: A Big Middle Finger

Dapper Dinosaur · December 2017

So I decided today I was going to make a concerted effort to finish off my skyshard collection on my main character so I can unlock the dye to go along with the achievement. This of course means I have to get ALL of them, even the ones in Cyrodiil.

No problem, I thought. I can just stealth past the obstacles, I'm a nightblade, I thought.

NO.

Not only have I fallen into the tiniest of rivers and been immediately devoured by surprise-slaughterfish at least twice, but i am literally unable to get through the gate in the dominion territory to even attempt to get at least one skyshard, the one by the dominion scroll temple. Who at Zenimax made the decision that, for this achievement, you had to get the skyshards belonging to the other alliances? Even if killing all of the dominion guards would open the gate (which I don't even know is the case), every time I was about halfway through the npcs, at least one player would come through and chase me off, nearly killing me, then the guards would all reset and respawn. I got fed up with wasting haf an hour of my time trying to do this, so I went over to the strange standalone stone structure off the right side of the map, used rapid maneuver, and swam across easily. Wondering why I didn't do that earlier, I reached the opposite shore, jumped on a rock to start climbing the hill, and...

I hit a load screen, and popped up back at my alliance wayshrine.

[Snip].

[Edited to remove bashing]

Samadhi · December 2017

Getting the Skyshards behind other alliance's gates requires you to either go to a campaign where your faction owns the map
or help your faction make a push to capture enemy scrolls, as capturing the three keeps in front of the gates opens the gates for access

monktoasty · December 2017

They want unchangevalliance get shard then change back

DeadlyRecluse · December 2017

Not everything is easy.

The only way to open those gates is to take the "middle" home keep (Fargyle for AD gates) and the nearest gate keep (Bloodmayne or Blackboot for AD gates). The NPCs will still be there, but the gates will lift up and allow you to pass through.

Good luck.

Draxys · December 2017

Chill dog, not everything needs to be handed to you. It’s not like there’s a skill point shortage anyway.

Dapper Dinosaur · December 2017

Draxys wrote: »

Chill dog, not everything needs to be handed to you. It’s not like there’s a skill point shortage anyway.

If you had read the topic, you would know I'm doing it for the dye. My main character is already a master crafter capable of barswapping to tank or DPS, and I have at least a dozen unfinished zones with skyshards.

So I really was wasting my time trying to open the game myself. Awesome.

G1Countdown · December 2017

I don't know if its still possible, but here is what I did when I was exploring Cyrodil.

Sneak up to the gate you have to get thru. Eat a stamina and health food. Make sure the coast is clear and there are no players about. Get on your mount that has max speed. Do a quick loop to get your speed up. Cast vigor (I think that's the Alliance war buff for speed). And hightail it thru the gate. You should make it right past or underneath your gate before you are unhorsed and knocked down. Drink a health/stamina or trifecta potion. Sprint forward. Cast heal 3 or 4 times. Keep running forward at a a sprint each time you get knocked down.

Once you get far enough the NPCs will disengage. Now sneak the rest of the way to your destination as it isn't worth getting sniped by an enemy player.

Takes-No-Prisoner · December 2017

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

Not everything is easy.

The only way to open those gates is to take the "middle" home keep (Fargyle for AD gates) and the nearest gate keep (Bloodmayne or Blackboot for AD gates). The NPCs will still be there, but the gates will lift up and allow you to pass through.

Good luck.

Those shards will be guarded against, not necessarily at their location, but if the enemy sees the gates up...The likely hood of seeing a enemy alliance member rises really high. Even when I did it on my NB, I had to very carefully calculate a good time to go through the gates to get it.

Dapper Dinosaur · December 2017

I just can't stand the fact that I am forced to not only PVP (which I hate in this game), but also that I have to completely depend on other players to even get the route open to me. If I could do it all myself, fine, but now I'm looking at spending hours being bored/frustrated being part of a zerg ball hoping they choose to attack the castles I need before I can even attempt to get the skyshard.

This is not good design, Zenimax.

DeadlyRecluse · December 2017

Dapper Dinosaur wrote: »

I just can't stand the fact that I am forced to not only PVP (which I hate in this game), but also that I have to completely depend on other players to even get the route open to me. If I could do it all myself, fine, but now I'm looking at spending hours being bored/frustrated being part of a zerg ball hoping they choose to attack the castles I need before I can even attempt to get the skyshard.

This is not good design, Zenimax.

1. Home a campaign that your faction does well in. Or even completely dominates.
2. Check the cyrodiil map from time-to-time. If you see your faction owning the trikeeps to open the gate, they are most likely going for the enemy scroll in that temple. Jump into cyrodiil and ride like mad. Cloak through the gate, stealth near skyshard, grab it when you get a chance (you can even wait inside the gate until the scroll is out, then there won't be many people left inside the gate).
3. Be patient.

Or alternatively, accept that some things in this game only come through PvP. Legate Black, for instance is a really cool dye, as is Ruby Throne Red.

zaria · December 2017

Takes-No-Prisoner wrote: »

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

Not everything is easy.

The only way to open those gates is to take the "middle" home keep (Fargyle for AD gates) and the nearest gate keep (Bloodmayne or Blackboot for AD gates). The NPCs will still be there, but the gates will lift up and allow you to pass through.

Good luck.

Those shards will be guarded against, not necessarily at their location, but if the enemy sees the gates up...The likely hood of seeing a enemy alliance member rises really high. Even when I did it on my NB, I had to very carefully calculate a good time to go through the gates to get it.

Best to take them at slow hours like early morning on an low pop campaign. then it an good chance your alliance own most of the map and you can pass. This also reduces the chance of getting hit by enemy players with an magnitude. If its lots of castle flipping going on you can join the fight until gate is open.

I remember doing the last one on the DC side, the main gate was closed but the side gate was up, it was guards but rode trough. maxed horse with vigor and it was no issues. Gate was closed then I came back, I was killed by guards, and did not matter as I could not get out. I had to pass another gate for the DC northern one, taken one with an group earlier.

TheShadowScout · December 2017

Dapper Dinosaur wrote: »

So I decided today I was going to make a concerted effort to finish off my skyshard collection on my main character so I can unlock the dye to go along with the achievement. This of course means I have to get ALL of them, even the ones in Cyrodiil.

No problem, I thought. I can just stealth past the obstacles, I'm a nightblade, I thought...

Whoever said things woudl always be easy?

Yeah, the two skyshards each in the enemy core territory are annoying. But once you get past the "I can sneak there..." delusion, and start to think...
...you realize only PvP will get you there. By design and intention.

So, as has been mentioned, you need a campaign where your alliance owns the map, join a scroll raid, or something like that. Because those gates only open if the two castles guarding them fall (the middle one and the one next to the gate). And yes, it IS possible to do one of them when another alliance has opened the way, but very stressful...

Once the gate is open, forget sneak, just run, run, run past the defenders. With luck and potions (and breaking LoS to the defenders at the first possibly opportunity), you can make it. Its best done following a whole warband of course, then the enemies attacks will be spread over too many to take down any. One of the few instances where zone chat is worth looking at... or asking in your guild if any want to give it a try. Even if you suck at PvPness (like me), tagging along with a big enough zerg will still win the day, after all, quantity has a quality of its own... also, if you do get slapped down, someone might rez you so you don't have to respawn all the way back...

Once you are past the gates, then your sneaky time may have come! If you are with a warband, you need not worry, just plow along, grab the skyshard near each scroll as they make their rush to grab same. But otherwise... sneak to the skyshard, watch for enemy players, and when you see none, grab the shard. Even if someone should gank you after, as long as you get the shard, who cares, right? Then rinse and repeat at the next enemy temple.

And yes, these skyshards are some of the more annoying to get. it may take several days, several attempts, several annoying respawns. So what? That makes the final victory all the sweeter...

Taleof2Cities · December 2017

Dapper Dinosaur wrote: »

I just can't stand the fact that I am forced to not only PVP (which I hate in this game), but also that I have to completely depend on other players to even get the route open to me.

This is not good design, Zenimax.

Remember that I have to get undaunted mettle for PvP. So, not only am I required to PvE, but I’m also completely dependent on other players to get through pledges quickly.

Is that bad design too??

Takes-No-Prisoner · December 2017

zaria wrote: »

Takes-No-Prisoner wrote: »

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

Not everything is easy.

The only way to open those gates is to take the "middle" home keep (Fargyle for AD gates) and the nearest gate keep (Bloodmayne or Blackboot for AD gates). The NPCs will still be there, but the gates will lift up and allow you to pass through.

Good luck.

Those shards will be guarded against, not necessarily at their location, but if the enemy sees the gates up...The likely hood of seeing a enemy alliance member rises really high. Even when I did it on my NB, I had to very carefully calculate a good time to go through the gates to get it.

Best to take them at slow hours like early morning on an low pop campaign. then it an good chance your alliance own most of the map and you can pass. This also reduces the chance of getting hit by enemy players with an magnitude. If its lots of castle flipping going on you can join the fight until gate is open.

I remember doing the last one on the DC side, the main gate was closed but the side gate was up, it was guards but rode trough. maxed horse with vigor and it was no issues. Gate was closed then I came back, I was killed by guards, and did not matter as I could not get out. I had to pass another gate for the DC northern one, taken one with an group earlier.

It's the guards at the choke that can be tricky to deal with. If they pull you out of stealth or you get caught fighting them when a enemy player shows up, it's usually GGs.

I've had a couple of instances on Saturday/Sunday morning where I got the AvA alert to the gates opening that sparked my interest to go get those shards. It's one of the things it's actually really useful for.

boyteco_ESO · December 2017

Somebody who refuses to play pvp thinks that the way cyro works is a middle finger to their progression?
Come pvp with us. You will get much better at the game, make new friends and have fun in the real end game!

D0RID0RI240 · December 2017

tl;dr I'm very very angry that I have to possibly play with, or around, multiple other players in an MMO. Poor MMO design in your MMO game, MMO devs.

Jamini · December 2017

Just wait until any alliance has the gates you need open in your campaign (it will happen), sprint through, pop an invisibility potion once you get past. (You can loot those out of TG boxes if you don't want to craft some) then just leisurely walk up to the shard.

It's really not terribly hard to get the gate shards.

DeadlyRecluse · December 2017

Takes-No-Prisoner wrote: »

zaria wrote: »

Takes-No-Prisoner wrote: »

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

Not everything is easy.

The only way to open those gates is to take the "middle" home keep (Fargyle for AD gates) and the nearest gate keep (Bloodmayne or Blackboot for AD gates). The NPCs will still be there, but the gates will lift up and allow you to pass through.

Good luck.

Those shards will be guarded against, not necessarily at their location, but if the enemy sees the gates up...The likely hood of seeing a enemy alliance member rises really high. Even when I did it on my NB, I had to very carefully calculate a good time to go through the gates to get it.

Best to take them at slow hours like early morning on an low pop campaign. then it an good chance your alliance own most of the map and you can pass. This also reduces the chance of getting hit by enemy players with an magnitude. If its lots of castle flipping going on you can join the fight until gate is open.

I remember doing the last one on the DC side, the main gate was closed but the side gate was up, it was guards but rode trough. maxed horse with vigor and it was no issues. Gate was closed then I came back, I was killed by guards, and did not matter as I could not get out. I had to pass another gate for the DC northern one, taken one with an group earlier.

It's the guards at the choke that can be tricky to deal with. If they pull you out of stealth or you get caught fighting them when a enemy player shows up, it's usually GGs.

I've had a couple of instances on Saturday/Sunday morning where I got the AvA alert to the gates opening that sparked my interest to go get those shards. It's one of the things it's actually really useful for.

Invis+speed pot gets any class through the gate with zero aggro. As long as there isn't a player spamming AOEs in the choke for no reason--just go in and hook to the side (off of the road) with 3-4 seconds left on the invisibility, then crouch stealth and you are golden.

OmniDo · December 2017

The OP's contention is that unlike all other Skyshards, the Cyrodil ones FORCE players to compete in some nonsensical rivalry in order to obtain them.
All other skyshards in the entire void are accessible via solo-play.
That this specific achievement for Furniture requires players to "duke it out" against other players in pitched circumstances is what is irritating.
Give the player another option; a long quest chain or some other time-consuming activity that doesnt require them to /twitch against trolling sadists, and perhaps the OP (and many others) would be less aggravated.

Samadhi · December 2017

Dapper Dinosaur wrote: »

I just can't stand the fact that I am forced to not only PVP (which I hate in this game), but also that I have to completely depend on other players to even get the route open to me. If I could do it all myself, fine, but now I'm looking at spending hours being bored/frustrated being part of a zerg ball hoping they choose to attack the castles I need before I can even attempt to get the skyshard.

This is not good design, Zenimax.

Fortunately the achievement and associated dye are entirely for purposes of vanity,
there are players that hate PvE in this game and have to completely depend on other players to have a chance at Trial Skins or Dyes

Personally suffer from severe anxiety conditions that inhibit my capacity to play in groups,
but working with my therapist, have enacted a CBT routine to challenge myself to participate in group activities
Warrior's Steel, Julianos White, Ophidian Jade, Colossus Brass, Ruby Throne Red, Transliminal Violet
all merely cosmetic rewards, none particularly special in the scheme of things,
but now attached to memories of being attained by challenging myself to grow as a person
still do not enjoy the PvE endgame content in this game, but made an honest effort

There are probably players who have performed really well in end-game trials
that don't have The Flawless Conqueror as a vanity title

Can respect that you, personally, do not like that part of the cosmetic rewards in this game are gated behind content you do not like
but that is just how the game is set up -- you are only exposed to this particular one due to your own personal frame of reference

Jade1986 · December 2017

Dapper Dinosaur wrote: »

Draxys wrote: »

Chill dog, not everything needs to be handed to you. It’s not like there’s a skill point shortage anyway.

If you had read the topic, you would know I'm doing it for the dye. My main character is already a master crafter capable of barswapping to tank or DPS, and I have at least a dozen unfinished zones with skyshards.

So I really was wasting my time trying to open the game myself. Awesome.

Solution, since it is an mmo after all, get 10 people together, capture the keeps closest to the gates of other factions in the EMPTY servers, and magic, you got them. Its not hard. It is however a warzone, so you should expect to be attacked. PvPers have to pve to get the majority of skyshards, soooooo, only fair.

Runefang · December 2017

So you can get all the skyshards in the game without help except for 2 and it's a big middle finger?

Please, whine some more.

DeadlyRecluse · December 2017

Runefang wrote: »

So you can get all the skyshards in the game without help except for 2 and it's a big middle finger?

Please, whine some more.

Technically 4--2 from behind each of your opposing alliance gates.

DoccEff · December 2017

I really wanted to get all vet-trial achievements, but it turned out I needed 11 more people to do it. Bad gamedesign ZOS!!

TequilaFire · December 2017

Suck it up and get them the way the rest of us did, PvP with a group.
Nobody cares if you don't like it, that is why it is an achievement not a gift.
Go fishing in Cyrodiil while your at it.
Just be careful not to feed the fish. lmao

Pheefs · December 2017

& You can wait for someone else to engage at the gate and sneak through.

Rainraven · December 2017

Surprise slaughterfish are the very best slaughterfish.

God I love Cyrodiil.

Beardimus · December 2017

Dapper Dinosaur wrote: »

I just can't stand the fact that I am forced to not only PVP (which I hate in this game), but also that I have to completely depend on other players to even get the route open to me. If I could do it all myself, fine, but now I'm looking at spending hours being bored/frustrated being part of a zerg ball hoping they choose to attack the castles I need before I can even attempt to get the skyshard.

This is not good design, Zenimax.

It's a great design, its encouraging you to do other areas of the game and give them a chance, who knows you might enjoy it

But as others just said find a dead campaign. Right now Sotha on Xbox is all red, all gates open you can handle the gate adds and wander through free as a bird. So either time it right, or give PvP a chance and find a group pushing for the scrolls.

Or ask a guild for help.

Or great a group of mates and go for them if you dont like playing randoms.

Plenty of ways.

zaria · December 2017

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

Takes-No-Prisoner wrote: »

zaria wrote: »

Takes-No-Prisoner wrote: »

DeadlyRecluse wrote: »

Not everything is easy.

The only way to open those gates is to take the "middle" home keep (Fargyle for AD gates) and the nearest gate keep (Bloodmayne or Blackboot for AD gates). The NPCs will still be there, but the gates will lift up and allow you to pass through.

Good luck.

Those shards will be guarded against, not necessarily at their location, but if the enemy sees the gates up...The likely hood of seeing a enemy alliance member rises really high. Even when I did it on my NB, I had to very carefully calculate a good time to go through the gates to get it.

Best to take them at slow hours like early morning on an low pop campaign. then it an good chance your alliance own most of the map and you can pass. This also reduces the chance of getting hit by enemy players with an magnitude. If its lots of castle flipping going on you can join the fight until gate is open.

I remember doing the last one on the DC side, the main gate was closed but the side gate was up, it was guards but rode trough. maxed horse with vigor and it was no issues. Gate was closed then I came back, I was killed by guards, and did not matter as I could not get out. I had to pass another gate for the DC northern one, taken one with an group earlier.

It's the guards at the choke that can be tricky to deal with. If they pull you out of stealth or you get caught fighting them when a enemy player shows up, it's usually GGs.

I've had a couple of instances on Saturday/Sunday morning where I got the AvA alert to the gates opening that sparked my interest to go get those shards. It's one of the things it's actually really useful for.

Invis+speed pot gets any class through the gate with zero aggro. As long as there isn't a player spamming AOEs in the choke for no reason--just go in and hook to the side (off of the road) with 3-4 seconds left on the invisibility, then crouch stealth and you are golden.

As said I just galloped trough, make sure horse is rested, activate vigor and sprint get trough get out of line of sight.
Keep of roads and you can just as well ride if you run into enemy players they are likely to do pve to and is unlikely to chase an fast horse.
Sneak up to soulgem, in slow hours its unlikely to be gankers, flipping keeps give way more AP but it might be some from the 3rd faction.

MasterSpatula · December 2017

You will have to team up for this. Best bet is go when your Alliance is trying for an enemy scroll, or get guildies and friends together and try for it. I would suggest a low-pop Campaign, but ZOS and most of the PVP community is against there being such a thing as low-population campaigns. But you probably don't want to try it on Vivec, because getting past that gate on Vivec may consume a lot of your time and still fail.

zaria · December 2017

OmniDo wrote: »

The OP's contention is that unlike all other Skyshards, the Cyrodil ones FORCE players to compete in some nonsensical rivalry in order to obtain them.
All other skyshards in the entire void are accessible via solo-play.
That this specific achievement for Furniture requires players to "duke it out" against other players in pitched circumstances is what is irritating.
Give the player another option; a long quest chain or some other time-consuming activity that doesnt require them to /twitch against trolling sadists, and perhaps the OP (and many others) would be less aggravated.

I have been killed once by other player doing pve in cyrodil, it was my own fault, I was doing the town quests and saw an nice Khajiit tail so I ignored the blue marker, he seeing me running towards him and killed me. A few other times both avoided each other.

Se my other post on how to get them solo, sneak+invisibility potion should also work I think.