Dolmens. Why even quest?

Beardimus · May 2018

Nestor wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

Why would you waste your time?

Doing Dolmens? I still don't know why people think this is the best way to level a character.

Sure, you get to L50 in short order, but you don't have the skill points to make a character that can do anything. You still have to get the Skyshards and Lore Books. And, if you go out and get all the Skyshards and Lore Books, you would level your character to 50 anyway.

So, the real waste of time is doing Dolmens to Level your Character.

Here is how you level your character efficiently:

1. Collect all the Skyshards in the zone. Avoid any and all quests other than those that show up in the delves that have skyshards. These quests do not give set items for rewards so no loss there.
2. Farm the dolmens a few times to get set jewelry that help your character
3. Do the Public Dungeons including all the bosses and the Group Event
4. Move to the next zone.

In doing this, I could fully gear up my character with level appropriate stuff, and it was helpful gear. May not have been the best, but you don't need the best while leveling. Any gear I farmed from Dolmens or PD's is repeatable, so I can get it at CP160 by just repeating. Then, I had all the content quests left for me once I reached CP160 as those can give you sweet Set Drops in good traits you want. And, Quest Experience is huge for gaining CPs once your past CP160. Kind of a waste before that.

In about 8 zones, I would be fully leveled in Mages, Fighters, Class, 3 Armors and Weapon Skills. Note to get the farthest in the least number of zones for Mages, concentrate on one Alliance for the first 5 zones. Then you only need a few more zones. Now you have only Undaunted to level, although I would get to almost 3 in that from Dungeon Achievements.

That's how I do it too. Grinding is pointless, gets boring, and I think impacts players detrimentally in a few ways

Androconium · May 2018

Vhozek wrote: »

A dolmen in Alik'r Desert is done in a bit over a minute while providing 2.5k exp and a chest.
There are an incredible amount of quests in the game that take around 5-7 minutes to finish and provide below 1k exp plus 1 item.
Why would you waste your time?

Join the group. 32000 xp is more what I recall.

They are the antithesis of dungeons: you just get in and kill, kill, kill. Good place to practice new roles and be builds, without upsetting the dungeon aristocracy.

Alikr is favoured, as the run between dolmens and wayshrines in not interrupted by beasts and terrain.

Drops used to be good before botters got everything nerfed

alsuran · May 2018

Depends on what you need. If I start a new character, I'll probably go the dolmen route, or some other quick leveling option.

For the main character though, and for quite a few others that I leveled up in the first year or two, questing is the way to go. For some I want the full journey and the story, for others it's just about getting them ready for end-game content in certain roles or experiencing different skill lines/classes.

Invincible · May 2018

Pretty much the only thing eso has gotten right in 4 years is the questing. The characters and scripts are beyond even WoW.

Nestor · May 2018

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

You'll have 49 skill points when you reach level 50. That's plenty to create a build with.

That can't do much more than a Dolmen Zerg. It takes 60 points just to fully invest in Class Skills, then there are the Armor and Weapon Skills and more importantly, Passives. Not to mention some of the Crafting Skills that extend the life of Potions or Foods, or allow you to upgrade gear with out spending tons of Tempers, the support skills like from the Guild Lines or the Assault/Support Lines, or the Undaunted Passives. Then there are the Racial Skills. Oh, yea, the World Skills. 64 Points is not near enough.

Yea, all a 64 Skill Point Character is going to get you is something that can run some zergs. Don't even think about bringing that weak sauce to a Group Dungeon or Trial. And I can bet you would be nothing more than Siege Fodder in PvP. A 64 SP character is weak and useless.

Except maybe to run a 2 skill rotation for doing story content, you know, to earn some skill points to make the character viable.

heaven13 · May 2018

Androconium wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

A dolmen in Alik'r Desert is done in a bit over a minute while providing 2.5k exp and a chest.
There are an incredible amount of quests in the game that take around 5-7 minutes to finish and provide below 1k exp plus 1 item.
Why would you waste your time?

Join the group. 32000 xp is more what I recall.

They are the antithesis of dungeons: you just get in and kill, kill, kill. Good place to practice new roles and be builds, without upsetting the dungeon aristocracy.

Alikr is favoured, as the run between dolmens and wayshrines in not interrupted by beasts and terrain.

Drops used to be good before botters got everything nerfed

How exactly are you practicing new builds at dolmens in Alik'r? Half the time the area is so thick with mobs (of players and enemies) you can't see jack and it's over before you have to actually think about sustain or how your abilities are actually working since ten other people are whacking away on the exact same enemy as you.

BozzyTheDrummer · May 2018

Vhozek wrote: »

A dolmen in Alik'r Desert is done in a bit over a minute while providing 2.5k exp and a chest.
There are an incredible amount of quests in the game that take around 5-7 minutes to finish and provide below 1k exp plus 1 item.
Why would you waste your time?

I got tired of the little experience I was getting farming the Alik'r Dolmens. I have been farming the Auridon Dolmens, and I get about 4.2k-5.6k experience (without 50% scrolls) and anywhere from 5K-8.6K experience with the 50% experience scroll and Ring of Mara equipped (these are the numbers I was was getting through my 30's into early 40's. My cousin at level 47 was doing the same dolmens as myself, with a scroll and Ring of Mara, and was getting anywhere from 14K-21K experience per Dolmen.

Also, not as many people at those Dolmens either.

BozzyTheDrummer · May 2018

SydneyGrey wrote: »

When you're leveling your character, dolmens are also a good source for armor, weapons, glyphs and jewelry. What you can't wear, you can deconstruct to level up crafting.

This is exactly what I have been doing with my MagSorc right now and it's helped me a lot with Items I have wanted, items to decon and make a bit of gold by selling items.

Sweetpea704 · May 2018

Because it is a lot more fun. You encounter different game mechanics fighting different kinds of bosses, so you are much
more prepared for Vet content. Also, you have to go adventure with Raz, save Stibbons from amorous Daedre, help Rigurt the Brash with his cultural exchange missions (hilarious), and help the Wilderking. You really are missing an awful lot of great stories by just doing dolmens.

kip_silverwolf · May 2018

heaven13 wrote: »

Androconium wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

A dolmen in Alik'r Desert is done in a bit over a minute while providing 2.5k exp and a chest.
There are an incredible amount of quests in the game that take around 5-7 minutes to finish and provide below 1k exp plus 1 item.
Why would you waste your time?

Join the group. 32000 xp is more what I recall.

They are the antithesis of dungeons: you just get in and kill, kill, kill. Good place to practice new roles and be builds, without upsetting the dungeon aristocracy.

Alikr is favoured, as the run between dolmens and wayshrines in not interrupted by beasts and terrain.

Drops used to be good before botters got everything nerfed

How exactly are you practicing new builds at dolmens in Alik'r? Half the time the area is so thick with mobs (of players and enemies) you can't see jack and it's over before you have to actually think about sustain or how your abilities are actually working since ten other people are whacking away on the exact same enemy as you.

Maybe the new build they're going for is a bow light attack spammer?

The only thing Alik'r dolmens are good for, are filling soul gems...

hexnotic · May 2018

I don't mind dolmen grinding for an hour here, and there. What I can't stand doing is mat grinding. I neglect mat grinding to the point where I haven't done it in months. Ugh!

All of you guys will be grinding dolmens when jewelry crafting drops. You'll need tons of jewelry to decon, so remember to keep calm, and kill daedra.

Stinkyremy · May 2018

Recremen wrote: »

Questing isn't good for leveling really, it's there if you enjoy the stories or the dyes you get. If you only care about leveling then don't fret about it, you can skip it!

I quested and have done every quest in the game and every location, dolmens included. It took me over 6 months, I farmed on my way, learnt and levelled every skill and morph for both my class and every other skill, literally every skill, vamp and werewolf too. I did every dungeon from 160 onwards, that is where you can learn the mecs instead of being so OP that you skip them, so I learnt skill, not just how to kill things and not roll out of aoe. Then I did all the DLC, up to before morrowind, and after all of that I was like 680CP, skilled at my role, class and at the game.
I did it all as a tank. Probably would have been 800+cp if I was a dd, maybe even more.

if you only care about levelling, dolmens are the least way to get XP.
The absolute best way is to have a max CP friend do a pull in a cyrodill delve while you have all the keeps. Bigger pulls, faster respawns, xp bonus from keeps. On top of the usual training gear, xp pots, scrolls and any event bonuses.
You then still need to level undaunted and go hunt for skill points which is still time consuming.
My method is the best imo. if you are high CP levelling an alt, do pub dungeon for the group bosses for skill points, killing adds along the way, while queueing for normal dungeons. leveling undaunted, getting skill points and levelling all at the same time.
Neither boring, nor grinding.

PlagueSD · May 2018

I can always spot the player in my PUG that did nothing but level on dolmen or buy skyreach runs.

They're the ones sitting in the back of the group, standing in fire, spamming light attack on the boss.

madchuska83 · May 2018

I've completed every quest in the game, most multiple times. If I roll a new toon I start by joining the fighters guild and mages guild, then I head to Alik'r for the Dolmen circle. A few days later I have a fully leveled 720CP toon who is severely lacking in skill points.

Next step is main quest, 1 skill point for each quest. Then the guild quests. Each main guild quest also provides a skill point, this includes Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood, although they take much more time.

Then I clear zones(skyshards/delves/lorebooks) picking up the main alliance quests as I go, no side quests. Completing the main quests in each zone will give 5 skill points, plus another 5 for picking up the 15 skyshards.

It's all about Skill Points! Oh, and meteor...

ShadowMonarch · May 2018

Sting864 wrote: »

ShadowMonarch wrote: »

Ardan147 wrote: »

Because you also need skill points, and doing the same thing over and over again gets mind-numbingly boring.

Almost every quest IS the same thing over and over again.
Skyshards are the same old thing over and over.
Lorebooks are the same old thing over and over.
Farming gear in dungeons is the same thing over and over when you have to run it 30times to get 5 peices you need.

Every part of progression in this game is the same old thing over and over, its a grinding game. Saying because its the same thing over and over isn't a strong argument.

Spoken as an "instant gratification" rushin' who likes dolmens because there's no dialogue or other content to skip... SMH

Did I ever say I do dolmens?

All I did was point out the weakness in another persons argument, to which you have assumed I like dolmens.

Geru77 wrote: »

ShadowMonarch wrote: »

Ardan147 wrote: »

Because you also need skill points, and doing the same thing over and over again gets mind-numbingly boring.

Almost every quest IS the same thing over and over again.
Skyshards are the same old thing over and over.
Lorebooks are the same old thing over and over.
Farming gear in dungeons is the same thing over and over when you have to run it 30times to get 5 peices you need.

Every part of progression in this game is the same old thing over and over, its a grinding game. Saying because its the same thing over and over isn't a strong argument.

You're playing a video game bub.

I said it was a game in my post, Not sure what your trying to imply. Unless you're making a assumption based off information that is not present.

Doesn't get better then

stupidity. Gotta love it!

Geru77 · May 2018

ShadowMonarch wrote: »

Sting864 wrote: »

ShadowMonarch wrote: »

Ardan147 wrote: »

Because you also need skill points, and doing the same thing over and over again gets mind-numbingly boring.

Almost every quest IS the same thing over and over again.
Skyshards are the same old thing over and over.
Lorebooks are the same old thing over and over.
Farming gear in dungeons is the same thing over and over when you have to run it 30times to get 5 peices you need.

Every part of progression in this game is the same old thing over and over, its a grinding game. Saying because its the same thing over and over isn't a strong argument.

Spoken as an "instant gratification" rushin' who likes dolmens because there's no dialogue or other content to skip... SMH

Did I ever say I do dolmens?

All I did was point out the weakness in another persons argument, to which you have assumed I like dolmens.

Geru77 wrote: »

ShadowMonarch wrote: »

Ardan147 wrote: »

Because you also need skill points, and doing the same thing over and over again gets mind-numbingly boring.

Almost every quest IS the same thing over and over again.
Skyshards are the same old thing over and over.
Lorebooks are the same old thing over and over.
Farming gear in dungeons is the same thing over and over when you have to run it 30times to get 5 peices you need.

Every part of progression in this game is the same old thing over and over, its a grinding game. Saying because its the same thing over and over isn't a strong argument.

You're playing a video game bub.

I said it was a game in my post, Not sure what your trying to imply. Unless you're making a assumption based off information that is not present.

Doesn't get better then stupidity. Gotta love it!

Take a deep breath champ, you'll be ok.

xeNNNNN · May 2018

ShadowMonarch wrote: »

Ardan147 wrote: »

Because you also need skill points, and doing the same thing over and over again gets mind-numbingly boring.

Almost every quest IS the same thing over and over again.
Skyshards are the same old thing over and over.
Lorebooks are the same old thing over and over.
Farming gear in dungeons is the same thing over and over when you have to run it 30times to get 5 peices you need.

Every part of progression in this game is the same old thing over and over, its a grinding game. Saying because its the same thing over and over isn't a strong argument.

it only does that when you've done everything on at least 3-4 characters THEN its boring and repetitive. Speaking as someone whos just completed cads gold and silver for the 5th time I can honestly say only now did I start to get fatigued by the whole thing.

Androconium · May 2018

heaven13 wrote: »

Androconium wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

A dolmen in Alik'r Desert is done in a bit over a minute while providing 2.5k exp and a chest.
There are an incredible amount of quests in the game that take around 5-7 minutes to finish and provide below 1k exp plus 1 item.
Why would you waste your time?

Join the group. 32000 xp is more what I recall.

They are the antithesis of dungeons: you just get in and kill, kill, kill. Good place to practice new roles and be builds, without upsetting the dungeon aristocracy.

Alikr is favoured, as the run between dolmens and wayshrines in not interrupted by beasts and terrain.

Drops used to be good before botters got everything nerfed

How exactly are you practicing new builds at dolmens in Alik'r? Half the time the area is so thick with mobs (of players and enemies) you can't see jack and it's over before you have to actually think about sustain or how your abilities are actually working since ten other people are whacking away on the exact same enemy as you.

I play at 2pm Australian time. Noone much is on then, but you're right; I can rarely see the targets, once there's more than eight players. They don't render in time.

zaria · May 2018

Androconium wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

A dolmen in Alik'r Desert is done in a bit over a minute while providing 2.5k exp and a chest.
There are an incredible amount of quests in the game that take around 5-7 minutes to finish and provide below 1k exp plus 1 item.
Why would you waste your time?

Join the group. 32000 xp is more what I recall.

They are the antithesis of dungeons: you just get in and kill, kill, kill. Good place to practice new roles and be builds, without upsetting the dungeon aristocracy.

Alikr is favoured, as the run between dolmens and wayshrines in not interrupted by beasts and terrain.

Drops used to be good before botters got everything nerfed

The large zerg groups give almost no xp from kills as xp is divided on members.
optimal is probably 3-4 two man groups on dolmen.

The times I have done dolmens I tended to favor the two upper Arduin ones with the lower if they go down fast just so I don't stand around waiting.

Sting864 · May 2018

Beardimus wrote: »

Nestor wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

Why would you waste your time?

Doing Dolmens? I still don't know why people think this is the best way to level a character.

Sure, you get to L50 in short order, but you don't have the skill points to make a character that can do anything. You still have to get the Skyshards and Lore Books. And, if you go out and get all the Skyshards and Lore Books, you would level your character to 50 anyway.

So, the real waste of time is doing Dolmens to Level your Character.

Here is how you level your character efficiently:

1. Collect all the Skyshards in the zone. Avoid any and all quests other than those that show up in the delves that have skyshards. These quests do not give set items for rewards so no loss there.
2. Farm the dolmens a few times to get set jewelry that help your character
3. Do the Public Dungeons including all the bosses and the Group Event
4. Move to the next zone.

In doing this, I could fully gear up my character with level appropriate stuff, and it was helpful gear. May not have been the best, but you don't need the best while leveling. Any gear I farmed from Dolmens or PD's is repeatable, so I can get it at CP160 by just repeating. Then, I had all the content quests left for me once I reached CP160 as those can give you sweet Set Drops in good traits you want. And, Quest Experience is huge for gaining CPs once your past CP160. Kind of a waste before that.

In about 8 zones, I would be fully leveled in Mages, Fighters, Class, 3 Armors and Weapon Skills. Note to get the farthest in the least number of zones for Mages, concentrate on one Alliance for the first 5 zones. Then you only need a few more zones. Now you have only Undaunted to level, although I would get to almost 3 in that from Dungeon Achievements.

That's how I do it too. Grinding is pointless, gets boring, and I think impacts players detrimentally in a few ways

I think people grind because they are used to games with limited content, and limited things to do... I do a different thing in ESO almost every day... If you can change-up every day you can't possibly get bored....

Sting864 · May 2018

heaven13 wrote: »

How exactly are you practicing new builds at dolmens in Alik'r? Half the time the area is so thick with mobs (of players and enemies) you can't see jack and it's over before you have to actually think about sustain or how your abilities are actually working since ten other people are whacking away on the exact same enemy as you.

It's a great place to test if the tape you use to hold down your mouse button is sticky enough....

ProfessorKittyhawk · May 2018

After grinding my last 3 or 4 characters from mid twenties to 50 at dolmens I must say it isn't something I care to do again. Only did it for a change of pace to questing during the anniversary event. Trying to keep up with the horde and making sure I got to each dolmen in time to tag the mobs and get credit to get xp... it's surprisingly draining.

Orticia · May 2018

Because just doing dolmens is boring as all heck.
My goal isn't getting to 50 asap either, repeating one thing over and over to get there, but to actually play the game. And for me that does not mean having to play it at level 50 (and max cp). For me the game doesn't suddenly get better then. Though honestly I always do like getting 50, as I have the cp (over 160) so gear sticks instead of being replaced every few levels and i can really play around with builds. But that isn't that good/fun that it justifies me farming dolmens till I my eyes bleed (or some other repetitive way off "efficient" leveling).

Sting864 · May 2018

PlagueSD wrote: »

I can always spot the player in my PUG that did nothing but level on dolmen or buy skyreach runs.

They're the ones sitting in the back of the group, standing in fire, spamming light attack on the boss.

But all the cool kids stand in the red....

Morgha_Kul · May 2018

See, I'm one of those that plays the game for my own entertainment. I'd play without ANY rewards or experience. Indeed, on one of my characters, I DO play that way. His premise is that he's a man of OUR world transported into the ESO world. He doesn't quest or fight or do much of anything except explore and craft... and that's it. He's not even using weapons or armour, and his skill bar remains empty.

Why do I play that way? For the FUN of it. I have a story in my mind (indeed, I'm even writing it out), and I enjoy playing it out.

To each his own.

adriant1978 · May 2018

Anyone else who played Oblivion reminded of the nightmare that was "Efficient Leveling" ?

MasterSpatula · May 2018

Best part of this game is the storyteling. For the life of me, I'll never understand how anyone who would even think the OP's question is valid would bother with this game. You can't possibly value any of the things ESO does well.

Yzalirk · May 2018

Those mindless lemmings XP farming the zombies on the beach have it worse and they do not even know it.

I have no clue why others are dismissing Dolmens at all. I get it, the process gets boring but if you spend two hours with an XP boost, it feels a little less painful. Grinding is never fun but it is not meant to get from Level 1 - 50. My take on it is that it should be used to get to Level 25 because you will have a good selection of skills to use when you hunt down Skyshards and do dungeons but not the quests. I recommend completing them at CP 160 to get the slightly better set pieces.

sevomd69 · May 2018

I'd rather level my toon by just killing mud crabs, over doing the dolmen grind...at least i'll get tons of chitin...with the same amount of mind numbing repetition...

sudaki_eso · May 2018

Dolmens are boring in my opinion. I like to go the quest route, this way you will learn your char much better, get enough skill points and for me its more fun. Does it takes longer to get to 50? Yes...but i dont mind.