Race Changes: The End or a Fresh Start?

j.greenmanb16_ESO · February 2019

I see a lot of posts and comments about changes to racial passives being the sign of the end times, a reason to quit playing, or simply a reason to kick and scream as loud as they can. I'm personally not a big numbers guy, my builds are good enough for me, I can partake in all the games content without feeling completely incompetent :P

But why do these racial passives have to be the end for so many people? Why cant it be a reason to try new things? Try different builds, races, skills, gear, etc? Why not take it as a chance to take a fresh approach to a nearly 5 year old game or a challenge instead of a kick to the nuts?

As an old man at heart, I can get behind shaking my cane to the heavens and shouting "I don't like chaaange!" but at the same time, I don't see these changes as the straw that broke the camels back that some people are making it out to be. Hell, any race in this game can do any role if you do your builds, skills and stats right. They might not stack up to a particular race in a particular role if you had to compare numbers, but I dare say that they aren't huge valleys apart.

Anyways, I dont care either way. I will leave it up to the rest of you to discuss, rant, rave and mitigate :P

Siohwenoeht · February 2019

I think timing is part of it. The changes are to a fundamental part of the game that has been roughly the same for 5 years. This has some reacting like they're being forced to change careers irl, but not of their own choice. I do get where it's coming from.

That said, it's a dev team in flux, with a new lead combat designer and truly every mmo has these moments during the games life cycle. Cataclysm for WoW is probably the best example. It not only significantly changed the literal landscape but shook up the combat landscape as well.

I remember the forums for WoW looking very similar to what the ESO forums currently look like and it will lead some to leave, some to stay, and frankly those who will start after the changes won't know any different.

Tasear · February 2019

was not even 2 years ago when racials where changed last. There an issue or concern with vision of gameplay that can be a worry. The change though had to be done, but were they for better depends on who you ask.

P.S
fix bosmer

sionIV · February 2019

It's not just a race, or a class. It's the combination of those two, along with a fitting background story and love put into that character. When you make radical changes to one of those, it will have an effect on the entire character. A good example of this was the Bosmer Nightblade who focused on thieving/stealth and ambush. With the removal of increased damage from stealth, you're losing the ambush identity, and with the removal of the stealth passive, you lose the natural affinity for stealth. I'm sure that someone will say "You can still roleplay it..." but part of the immersion in the game for some people (me included), is that the gameplay elements fit in so perfectly into the character and playstyle. I had a Dunmer Dragonknight that specialized in fire magic, and with the removal of the increased fire damage passive, my character lost that part of his identity.

Some races have number changes, but kept their identity (Redguard), while other races were completely changed (Bosmer, Dunmer) and some races didn't even get any changes (Imperial) and still doesn't have any solid identity at all.

max_only · February 2019

Nothing really matters. Life is suffering.

j.greenmanb16_ESO · February 2019

max_only wrote: »

Nothing really matters. Life is suffering.

Someone who gets it.