Please explain how PvP is "fun"

Rave the Histborn · August 2019

dagrdagaz_5912 wrote: »

Beating a dead horse again

Either remove PvE content from Cyrodill, or make a seperate PvE Cyrodil.

Why?

Why can't you just go to the 7 day no CP campaign if you want PVE Cyrodiil, that's what it already is anyways. Why do the people that enjoy it have to suffer because you're incapable of doing very easy content solo?

Rave the Histborn · August 2019

thatlaurachick wrote: »

OK, trying to unlock IC dailies on a new toon. Sadly, these quests are not solo-able for me, so I brought a friend.

1. We're in the Arena quest, almost done - one EP guy bombs us both and we have to re-do the last fights.
2. We move on to Nobles, working on defending the building... two EP keep attacking an running away until we're down to 5% on the last boss, then gank us and take the chest.
3. We return to Nobles to finish the quest... 12 "man" EP zerg comes through and runs us over. Complete with tea bagging 2 people who didn't even fight back.

Please explain how this is "fun" and how "being good" would have helped.

IC quests are PVE, they are very easily soloable.

1. Shields and major ward will prevent bombing and should be up anyways as you were in a boss fight.
2. But you still got credit for the boss right? The chest is full of PVP things that you wouldn't even have liked because you loath pvp so much. Not really a loss in my mind and I'd imagine you'd be much happier without icky pvp gear. It just gives PTSD afterall.
3. Invis pots are your friend as is crouching.

Please explain how this is "fun" and how "being good" would have helped.

Most people (not you) have a competitive nature about them so getting killed only drives them to get better or as you put it "being good." This is usually fun as it gives people something to work and strive to, they want to get better and getting better would have helped with points 1 and 2 but probably not 3. Sometimes you just get ganked though.

xxthir13enxx · August 2019

Okay so...you’re PvE in a PvP environment..
Soo...look at it as a PvE trial...

Get a 5man group minimum and cover your standard bases for positions

Catch is...this trial has a wicked AI that likes to throw lots of random Adds at you...be prepared to...
turn n run...
have detect pots...
AOE defenses like the Templar circle thingy and Caltrops(oh..wait...soon you can...lol)
Give your tank invis pots...so they can break away n lose attackers to come back and res your group if needed.
There are lots of ways to Prepare...just don’t assume your going in to 2man a Trial...
Also...paranoias is your friend...lol

Agenericname · August 2019

Its fun (for me) for the same reasons that I find other content, like vMA or the vet DLCs, fun. It presents a problem to solve. Instead of learning spawn points or phases I learn strategies, tactics, and patterns. One of the main differences however is that the problems change, almost constantly.

Imperial City is one of the few places in ESO where I may actually need to sneak to survive. I usually need to use the terrain to my advantage. I may need to wait. I may need to retreat. I always need to pay attention, to my immediate surroundings, to choke points, to the entire map. I need to be defensive most of the time because as much as I am paying attention, there's a night blade out there that is doing the same.

You can do everything right and still die. There's little 2 people can do against 12, assuming that both groups are equally skilled. I'm well aware that I may, or will die, when I go there. It's not a big deal to me.

thatlaurachick wrote: »

Well, so I can't go to Cyro, and I can't go to IC... how am I supposed to get skills? There's not a special vendor selling Assault skills so I don't have to PvP ever.

There's no reason why you can't go to Cyrodiil for the skills. Go to one of the smaller campaigns. Ask for a group, do some pvp, repair walls, take some resources, etc, you'll be maxed in very little time.

It may never be fun for you. Its not everyone's cup-of-tea, but it's a different set of problems to solve than what's usually found in PvE and different measures need to be taken. It may never be truly fun for you, but you can make it less painful.

Kidgangster101 · August 2019

thatlaurachick wrote: »

KillsAllElves wrote: »

Answer to your quandary~ dont go to IC or wait till another time to finish your quest, go with a zerg.

The word "FUN" is subjective, one persons fun is anothers misery vice versa.

Well, so I can't go to Cyro, and I can't go to IC... how am I supposed to get skills? There's not a special vendor selling Assault skills so I don't have to PvP ever.

You seem to have hit on the point "fun" is subjective. Considering what I describe in the post is very literally the same PvP experience I've had for 5 straight years, please explain how I'm supposed to "care" that PvP is "unplayable."

Unplayable for who?

PvP is about playing it alot and getting use to it's playstyle. It is very very different than pve. You have to learn to kite, hide behind objects, when to set up a burst combo, try to learn what another player is doing like do they only have buffs on their back bar. If they do go full out on them right when they go to their back bar and you see them trying to re up their buffs.

You can have the "best" gear for a class all golded out, but if you lack experience (not Zerg experience roll with a low man group to get better) you can dominate with a small group. I play with my wife and 1-2 others often and we hit and run, find the healer take them out first, then see if we recognize anyone and determine if they are good or bad and take out the bad ones fast so you have less pressure on you. Also don't just throw out your CC, that is very important in bursting someone down. A good wrecking blow can have someone dead before they even land lol.

Again if you only PvP a short time a day and don't learn why you are having trouble then you will always stay inexperienced. Everyone starts off bad then they practice and get better.

Firstmep · August 2019

My Grand Overlord rank charachter gets jumped by gankers in Ic all the same, but ofc if they smell new players they will prioritise.
Its a zone with pvp enabled and pvp objectives, you cant go in there not expecting pvp.

jadarock · August 2019

geonsocal wrote: »

Uryel wrote: »

20 years playing MMOs, and I still wonder what fun is to be had in PvP.

I like to play WITH people, not AGAINST people, so maybe there's that.

1v1 is just one form of pvp - dueling...

battlegrounds, cyro, IC you have allies, even if you're not grouped up or familiar with that player...easy to rp your way in to some great fun supporting other players...I love healing and keeping folks on my side alive, totally can make a huge difference pvping...

^this 100%

Aurielle · August 2019

Those of you who are valiantly trying to help the OP are doing so in vain. As I suggested earlier, the OP’s entire reason for posting this thread was to mock the idea that she should “care” about PVP being unplayable at the moment. OP clearly has zero intention of learning how to PVP, and instead is irritated with all of the posts about PVP performance. OP wants to PVE in PVP zones without encountering PVPers, and would rather see the PVP portion of the game disappear completely.

Quote from the OP in another thread that got closed:

I'll take less PvP whining for 100 Alex. Also, I would like my stamina regen while blocking back, block cost reduction glyphs back, healers put back, and a lot of other things that got taken away because of PvP whining.

Maybe BGs would be fun without the "hardcore" PvP toxicity?
And I could finally get PvE parts of Cyro done without dying every 10 seconds.

I do like this idea of getting rid of PvP. Win-win. Let the PvPers go play another game they'll likely enjoy more (they do like to complain about this one) and the rest of us get some peace.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/490549/discontinue-pvp-indefinitely-please/p1

SidraWillowsky · August 2019

yodased wrote: »

@SidraWillowsky in my experience the only 2 times this happens is when the quarter is especially lippy and that feeds the pvp ego or when a pvp person is super bored.

Most times if you get killed and wgisper the person who killed you and have a dialogue that you just need to finish the quest they will leave you alone.

Its when you send passive aggressive tells or antagonize the pvper that they will make it their mission to ruin your day

I've actually never tried that, usually I can't catch their names. I'll try next time, thanks.

Again, I enjoy PvP and love the Imperial City zone and understand that it's got a higher risk, but it's also exciting in that regard. As a PvE-er as well, I do wish that there was an easier way to do the IC quest line since I find it so interesting. I prefer questing alone though, so it makes it really difficult to complete something like the arena, where I'm super vulnerable. Especially now that the districts are a lot more populated--not complaining, I've just noticed that there's a lot more flag-flipping.

Alas, I'll persevere...

AlnilamE · August 2019

thatlaurachick wrote: »

KillsAllElves wrote: »

Answer to your quandary~ dont go to IC or wait till another time to finish your quest, go with a zerg.

The word "FUN" is subjective, one persons fun is anothers misery vice versa.

Well, so I can't go to Cyro, and I can't go to IC... how am I supposed to get skills? There's not a special vendor selling Assault skills so I don't have to PvP ever.

You're not going to level Assault/Support by doing the IC quests.

I'm not sure why you can't go to Cyro? That would be the fastest way to get those skills.

Kagukan · August 2019

PvP is fun. PvE is fun. IC is PvE+PvP which isn't fun at all.

AlnilamE · August 2019

thatlaurachick wrote: »

starlizard70ub17_ESO wrote: »

Don't worry, you can buy the PvP skill line now. So you never have to go to Cryodiil again.

You act like I have any toon with PvP skill lines above 6.

Pick one toon to take all the AP daily rewards to level the skill line. Or do scouting missions on a campaign where your faction owns the map.

Ryath_Waylander · August 2019

I will never be able to explain why it's "fun" to someone who has already decided otherwise, nor could I be bothered to do so. I am a pve player that enjoys sieging and healing during assaults in Cyrodiil. I am a Templar with no pvp skill so hiding in IC is essential. I go in to IC as a blind man walking into a minefield. I don't get cross if a player kills me, it's a pvp zone. Running in Cyro has accustomed me to dying and the thrill when we successfully take a keep when outnumbered gives me insight into why people like pvp. I have bumped into a player once or twice and panic killed them before realising they must have been pve players. Crouch everywhere, take invis and stam pots along. When entering a new area, just sit and watch for a bit. Change directions, don't follow a pattern. Try not to follow the easiest path, don't stop and read your map at a choke point. If you aren't a pvp player, don't get attached to any telvar you pick up. There are lions and mice in IC, I am comfortable with being a mouse. Maybe one day I will improve enough to hold my own but within the framework of my expectations, even surviving close encounters gives a rush of adrenalin that is fun. For me...

Knootewoot · August 2019

I never understand people who go to PvP area's to get skills/skyshards or do meaningless quests, and then complain they get attacked and die. It is a PvP area (yes it's still PvP even though there are quests / mobsavailable. A quest does not make an area PvE only or all open world PvP games wouldn't have existed)

And PvP is just fun. Team vs team. It's the reason games like battlefield, COD and the like exist. For me, i enjoy taking/defending keeps and clear zones in IC with friends. PvE in ESO is boring. Overland is to easy and dungeons are the same everytime with same tactics. PvP is always differents (and yes it does have it's problems nothing is perfect about it)

And if it is not fun.... why do you go there? I don't like trials or most dungeons. Instead of crying on the forums about it i just don't go there despite i miss out on gear, skillpoints i could get there.

Typical

Reverb · August 2019

Aurielle wrote: »

Those of you who are valiantly trying to help the OP are doing so in vain. As I suggested earlier, the OP’s entire reason for posting this thread was to mock the idea that she should “care” about PVP being unplayable at the moment. OP clearly has zero intention of learning how to PVP, and instead is irritated with all of the posts about PVP performance. OP wants to PVE in PVP zones without encountering PVPers, and would rather see the PVP portion of the game disappear completely.

Quote from the OP in another thread that got closed:

I'll take less PvP whining for 100 Alex. Also, I would like my stamina regen while blocking back, block cost reduction glyphs back, healers put back, and a lot of other things that got taken away because of PvP whining.

Maybe BGs would be fun without the "hardcore" PvP toxicity?
And I could finally get PvE parts of Cyro done without dying every 10 seconds.

I do like this idea of getting rid of PvP. Win-win. Let the PvPers go play another game they'll likely enjoy more (they do like to complain about this one) and the rest of us get some peace.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/490549/discontinue-pvp-indefinitely-please/p1

Ah she’s one of those. The people so eager to vilify pvp that they ignore any info from Zeni that runs counter to their rant.

Permablocking was determined to be a problem in pve as well as pvp. Cost reduction was nerfed due to infinite sustain in pve. Springs and Orbs nerfed because the pve healing meta was stale, those weren’t skills overused in pvp. Sharpened nerf was 100% due to pve overperforming (and frankly was long overdue). CP cap due to power creep in pve creating an insurmountable gap for new players to close. Proc sets were nerfed because when dps’ing vet content 3 of my top 5 sources of damage were entirely from what I was wearing and not what I was doing.

YES some nerfs were exclusively due to overperforming in pvp. Sloads and Goliath come to mind easily, probably shields too. But contrary to the community’s best tantrums, most changes people dislike are NOT rooted in pvp.

Arthg · August 2019

Aurielle wrote: »

Those of you who are valiantly trying to help the OP are doing so in vain. As I suggested earlier, the OP’s entire reason for posting this thread was to mock the idea that she should “care” about PVP being unplayable at the moment. OP clearly has zero intention of learning how to PVP, and instead is irritated with all of the posts about PVP performance. OP wants to PVE in PVP zones without encountering PVPers, and would rather see the PVP portion of the game disappear completely.

Quote from the OP in another thread that got closed:

I'll take less PvP whining for 100 Alex. Also, I would like my stamina regen while blocking back, block cost reduction glyphs back, healers put back, and a lot of other things that got taken away because of PvP whining.

Maybe BGs would be fun without the "hardcore" PvP toxicity?
And I could finally get PvE parts of Cyro done without dying every 10 seconds.

I do like this idea of getting rid of PvP. Win-win. Let the PvPers go play another game they'll likely enjoy more (they do like to complain about this one) and the rest of us get some peace.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/490549/discontinue-pvp-indefinitely-please/p1

Awesome.

I thought the OP wasn't a toxic PvE'er.

Reistr_the_Unbroken · August 2019

yodased wrote: »

Why is it anyone's job to convince you that pvp is fun? If you don't like it don't do it.

Someone on the forums told me I’d be a sucky team member despite never doing dungeons (which I still refuse to do)

And before someone cries “gET FRIENDS”, I do have friends. Three real friends, who’d rather spend more time on another game than on whatever fire ESO is.

Edit: spelling

Theignson · August 2019

thatlaurachick wrote: »

OK, trying to unlock IC dailies on a new toon. Sadly, these quests are not solo-able for me, so I brought a friend.

1. We're in the Arena quest, almost done - one EP guy bombs us both and we have to re-do the last fights.
2. We move on to Nobles, working on defending the building... two EP keep attacking an running away until we're down to 5% on the last boss, then gank us and take the chest.
3. We return to Nobles to finish the quest... 12 "man" EP zerg comes through and runs us over. Complete with tea bagging 2 people who didn't even fight back.

Please explain how this is "fun" and how "being good" would have helped.

There is a lot about the game that isn't really "fun". However it is challenging.

DLC vet dungeons aren't fun (at least the first 12 times until you learn mechanics and can finish them).

Vet trails aren't fun (again until you learn them which can take months with a new group).

PvP: dying immediately isn't fun for anyone. Getting ganked isnt fun. Getting stomped by a zerg that outnumbers you 6v1 isn't fun.

But again if you do the learning curve thing, you can find it challenging and absorbing and sometimes fun.

Cerotonin · August 2019

If you’re in PvP, you’re going to die. Even the highest ranked players in Cyrodiil have died many times.

Some people will chase you throughout the whole map. If you’re teabagged, don’t get upset or angry. They may be provoking a reaction from you, it’s immature.

I once saw a guy (in my faction) struggling to put any decent damage onto an enemy player. The ally was at about 25%-50% health and was running away. He went to hide behind some rocks and the enemy player saw me, so I fought him and killed him. The ally then comes out from the rocks and starts teabagging him even though he didn’t really do anything at all. I should’ve just let him die first lol

Jeremy · August 2019

ll.

WaltherCarraway wrote: »

IC is a subset of the ESO PvP

You didn’t enjoy IC but that doesn’t mean the whole PvP is boring

Queue for Battleground

Yeah I agree. Battlegrounds are the way to go because the odds are kept relatively even. This game's PvP functions best on a smaller even scale and battlegrounds can actually provide a fun PvP experience.

Cyrodil can sometimes. Though sadly the enemy often just calls in the zerg every time a decent fight gets going and ruins it. But at least Cyrodil is wide open and allows for safer PvE activites.

Imperial City though is nothing more than ganker's wet dream. It's basically designed as an all you can eat buffet for ambushing Nightlbades and patrolling zergs.

AlnilamE · August 2019

Jeremy wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

HaruKamui wrote: »

Jeremy wrote: »

thatlaurachick wrote: »

OK, trying to unlock IC dailies on a new toon. Sadly, these quests are not solo-able for me, so I brought a friend.

1. We're in the Arena quest, almost done - one EP guy bombs us both and we have to re-do the last fights.
2. We move on to Nobles, working on defending the building... two EP keep attacking an running away until we're down to 5% on the last boss, then gank us and take the chest.
3. We return to Nobles to finish the quest... 12 "man" EP zerg comes through and runs us over. Complete with tea bagging 2 people who didn't even fight back.

Please explain how this is "fun" and how "being good" would have helped.

Imperial City is a lot of things, but fun isn't one of them.

I recommend avoiding that place unless you want to be some troll's entertainment for the evening. That or level a Nightblade. Otherwise you're just a sitting duck in there for what ever ganker or zerg comes along.

IC is the most fun I have because of the risk reward with telvar

Do you play as a Nightblade?

I play a lot of classes in IC.

I bet when you're solo you go in there as a Nightlbade then. Otherwise it's anything but fun.

Nope I find that templars are actually the safest in IC. But I enjoy playing solo there using any of my classes. Please don't assume, thanks!

Also you can see zergs from a mile away so if you really are prepared, you should be aware of your surroundings.

haha

I want to see what your Templar does when a zerg comes you're way while soloing in Imperial City. I'm safe to assume you'll go splat, because that's what's going to happen.

There is no "risk and reward". There is just death. And while you're in the middle of a daily you can't run away because you magically saw some zerg coming toward you from a mile away - certainly not on Templar. I don't think you've even tried soloing in there as anything but Nightlbade. I can tell from the way you are posting.

I'm going to agree with HaruKamui here that my Templar feels like the best to handle IC (if I'm planning on killing things).

How would she do when faced with a zerg? She will die, just like any of my characters.

I understand that my chances in a 1v1 are less than 50%, and you can take off another 10-15% for each additional player in a group. That's the reality and I can live with it.

AlnilamE · August 2019

pdblake wrote: »

Izanagi.Xiiib16_ESO wrote: »

pdblake wrote: »

Orjix wrote: »

you get to kill other people, im not sure how its NOT fun. sure you die a lot but that doesnt make it not fun. you were PvEing in a PvP zone, so of course it's not going to be "fun" for you. you are not asking why PvP isnt fun, all you're saying is that you were killed in a PvP zone while you were trying to PvE, your question does not match your situation. also if you choose any other faction besides EP you do kinda need to die, so...

To me, it more begs the question, why is there PvE content in a PvP zone at all?

To increase player participation and reward. Wolves need sheep to hunt. Sheep need grass (pve content).

Makes sense I suppose, but it doesn't work for me. I've still not been to Cyrodil at CP399, not even been tempted. I don't like PvP save for the odd mad 15 minutes in BGs, where I get my backside kicked every time (though it does leave me laughing most of the time). I just don't like the idea of having to do a quest or try to farm certain drops (for thing's I've done perfectly well without so far) while someone else is trying (and likely succeeding) to kill me all the time. It doesn't sound like fun at all, though I suppose at some point I'll bite the bullet and try it (just cos I like to get my money's worth) and might prove myself wrong.

Then when I read all the posts about sets and DPS, it all just sounds so serious too.

That's really interesting, because I tried Battlegrounds and I feel completely clueless and stressed out. I'm not very good at PvP, but I enjoy going to IC or Cyrodiil. I don't care for 1vWhatever, but I enjoy siege and counter-siege a lot. So there are different ways to get stuff based on your preference.

Aurielle · August 2019

Jeremy wrote: »

ll.

WaltherCarraway wrote: »

IC is a subset of the ESO PvP

You didn’t enjoy IC but that doesn’t mean the whole PvP is boring

Queue for Battleground

Yeah I agree. Battlegrounds are the way to go because the odds are kept relatively even. This game's PvP functions best on a smaller even scale and battlegrounds can actually provide a fun PvP experience.

Cyrodil can sometimes. Though sadly the enemy often just calls in the zerg every time a decent fight gets going and ruins it. But at least Cyrodil is wide open and allows for safer PvE activites.

Imperial City though is nothing more than ganker's wet dream. It's basically designed as an all you can eat buffet for ambushing Nightlbades and patrolling zergs.

This is the OP’s opinion of BGs:

I'll take less PvP whining for 100 Alex. Also, I would like my stamina regen while blocking back, block cost reduction glyphs back, healers put back, and a lot of other things that got taken away because of PvP whining.

Maybe BGs would be fun without the "hardcore" PvP toxicity?
And I could finally get PvE parts of Cyro done without dying every 10 seconds.

I do like this idea of getting rid of PvP. Win-win. Let the PvPers go play another game they'll likely enjoy more (they do like to complain about this one) and the rest of us get some peace.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/490549/discontinue-pvp-indefinitely-please/p1

Again, this is a PVEer who just wants to trash PVP and PVPers. They do not legitimately want to know how to have fun in PVP.

Linaleah · August 2019

fun is in the eye of the beholder. 100% subjective

for me pvp is ONLY fun when its purely pvp in a controlled environment like battlegrounds. i do not find combination of pvp and pve any more fun than you do.

some people seem to find that added sense of danger fun. and some people find it fun to waste other people's time by preventing them from being able to finish whatever it is they are doing just as they are almost done.

there's just no accounting for taste

Artim_X · August 2019

Npcs are overly predictable while players can always surprise you and imo this can be quite fun. Especially in the Imperial City with the Dark Souls eque loss of currency upon death and high currency gain for killing other players/dangerous bosses.

When IC gets hot use a sigil of imperial retreat, always check the map to determine if enemies are present (flag flipping and warnings in chat), use tab target to keep track of enemy movements, use cloak or invisibility pots with a dash of major expedition to dip from a nasty encounter, travel to a Cyrodiil campaign to freely escape IC, bank telvar often, use a set or the vamp dark stalker passive to ignore movement speed while sneaking, and check to see if the other IC campaign is less hectic when your preferred campaign feels overly dangerous.

Aurie · August 2019

The most sensible suggestion so far has been to take PvE out of PvP areas.

I am not a PvP’er and frankly have no interest in becoming one for the moment, although I don’t rule it out for the future.

I have a lot of sympathy with @thatlaurachick as it is soul-destroying to be constantly killed while just trying to keep a low profile and quietly finish collecting skyshards/quests. I personally creep into Cryodiil on a no CP 7 day, and so far this has been OK.

But Cryodiil is PvP land, and it is not reasonable to expect to not be killed and go on one’s way unmolested by PvP’ers. It’s what they do, and Cryodiil is their domain.

We have seen some extreme views on each side in this thread, and this proves to me that PvP’ers and PvE’ers will never see eye-to-eye, with the exception of maybe those who do both out of choice. So I do think it is really up to @ZOS to defuse the situation by separating the two factions. And while they are at it, to balance them separately as well.

Orjix · August 2019

pdblake wrote: »

Orjix wrote: »

you get to kill other people, im not sure how its NOT fun. sure you die a lot but that doesnt make it not fun. you were PvEing in a PvP zone, so of course it's not going to be "fun" for you. you are not asking why PvP isnt fun, all you're saying is that you were killed in a PvP zone while you were trying to PvE, your question does not match your situation. also if you choose any other faction besides EP you do kinda need to die, so...

To me, it more begs the question, why is there PvE content in a PvP zone at all?

to make it more enjoyable? dynamic? im not sure the word im looking for here. IMO IC is great. I enjoy doing the PvE element while knowing that at any moment it could turn into PvP or PvEvP, the thrill is just fantastic. it adds an extra flavor to both PvE and PvE at the same time.

mikemacon · August 2019

Well, something is “fun” when one derives enjoyment from it.

And since there are many who derive enjoyment from PVP, for them (myself included) it’s “fun”.

If what you meant to ask was “explain why PvP isn’t ‘fun’ for me,” can’t help you there except to point out that if it isn’t fun...well, it isn’t fun...for you.

Delparis · August 2019

when you play at 15 fps in cyrodiil with a 8700k and 1080ti and you get lag and you get wrecked by cheaters.

It's total fun

mikemacon · August 2019

thatlaurachick wrote: »

KillsAllElves wrote: »

Answer to your quandary~ dont go to IC or wait till another time to finish your quest, go with a zerg.

The word "FUN" is subjective, one persons fun is anothers misery vice versa.

Well, so I can't go to Cyro, and I can't go to IC... how am I supposed to get skills? There's not a special vendor selling Assault skills so I don't have to PvP ever.

You seem to have hit on the point "fun" is subjective. Considering what I describe in the post is very literally the same PvP experience I've had for 5 straight years, please explain how I'm supposed to "care" that PvP is "unplayable."

Unplayable for who?

If you just want to advance your Assault and Support still lines and get skill points from rank ups, do BGs.

Even if you’re dead the entire match and are lying on the ground staring at the death recap, you get AP.

The grindingly obvious point is, however, if Cyrodiil/IC isn’t fun for you, don’t do it.

There are other options to grind out AP.