When will ZoS update the game difficulty?

jainiadral · September 2019

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

jainiadral wrote: »

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

jainiadral wrote: »

They already did "update" the difficulty-- with the insane nerfs this last patch. Watch a few newbies overland sometime and you can see it for yourself.

I wish ZOS would work on a vet difficulty setting so we could stop these endless threads. Base overland difficulty is fine IMHO.

There are daily threads on Reddit by new players about the game being too hard lol. The difficulty is fine for levelling up.

The problem is that overland content loses all semblance of challenge the moment you hit endgame. And the vast majority of new content released is overland content. I enjoy the stories, but being able to blow through every quest boss before they even finish their speech is certainly immersion-breaking and not very fun.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, some easy solutions would be:

1. A player debuff you can toggle in options
2. Include some actual group content in the overland zones (like Craglorn's quest hubs)

Oh, believe me, I know. If I'd been a Reddit poster, I'd have posted that myself Getting started in this game is straight-up brutal. I almost quit multiple times, especially once I hit level 20. You can't craft anything yourself yet because research times are ridiculous. Tutorial tips are woefully inadequate at teaching you the game. You have no gold, your gear drops age out fast. Plus some Alliance questlines are honestly harder than others. Delves take forever and are next to impossible to complete. You run out of skyshards early before you've unlocked any skills. You can't run from any battle because your mount is slower than molasses.

I started in DC, where city liberation takes frigging forever, trash mobs litter a good half of the paths (Stormhaven, you suck!). I couldn't even finish the zone questline in Stormhaven because one of the quest bosses was insanely hard. Meanwhile, the AD is easy, and EP is manageable.

Now? The game's a piece of cake, even for someone who sucks like me. I'm two-shotting everything, and four-shotting bosses on my level 22 Templar. That's fine, though. Overland content is made for everyone.

TBH, it should be easier for those starting out, but say that and you're in for a massive flaming

I'd like a solution that makes everyone happy. Instances would be best, toggleable debuff could totally work too. The problem I've found with group content in zones is that no one does it. Last time I was in Craglorn, the group areas were crammed with populated mini-portal thingies and the vast middle of the map was virtually empty. I don't know how viable that would be for anyone.

The current group content in Craglorn is soloable (it's around the difficulty of Fungal Grotto 1 on normal). That's what I was referring to with that suggestion. If you're decently geared and have good DPS/awareness, you can easily solo it. If you're a mediocre player, you can group up with a friend and breeze through it.

But a debuff would ultimately be a much easier solution.

Well, those weird portals with the masses of elites around them I couldn't hack. Wandering through the core group areas has basically been ok for me-- if stressful and annoying-- since about CP 300. That said, I don't see anyone there. For whatever reason, the Craglorn population's really low unless you're at the zone's perimeter or in the north. There, the flow of mats farmers never stops.

I don't know how populated areas like this would be in future content. I get the impression that most people would prefer not to deal with them. I'm one of them. I actually love my cakewalk

But, heck, if there's a population for it, I'm in favor of it so long as the story is a one-off that doesn't tie into anything else. I really hate how ZOS has been gating story behind group content.

Vhozek · September 2019

It's an MMO. If you need help then group up.

jainiadral · September 2019

Vhozek wrote: »

It's an MMO. If you need help then group up.

No.

Vhozek · September 2019

jainiadral wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

It's an MMO. If you need help then group up.

No.

Waah? dascrazy
You'd think since it's an MMO...

Rungar · September 2019

i think most people like overland relatively easy.

Vhozek · September 2019

ESO Classic when?

Ogou · September 2019

Vhozek wrote: »

"iF yOu waNt cHalEnGE pLaY rPg"
Meanwhile in ESO: nobody groups

That is just false. Join a guild (multiple even). You'll get all the grouping you need.

BlueRaven · September 2019

Overland content is fine. It is designed so that a new player with one or two spells and no CP can kill them.

If you load up a new character with CP the game becomes trivial, obviously.

If you need a challenge there is always vMA, enjoy it. But don't impose vMA type difficulty on new players unless you are looking to destroy your game.

idk · September 2019

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

idk wrote: »

Vhozek wrote: »

idk wrote: »

I tend to not look at overland trash for my challenge. Being every MMORPG I have played in the past decade the difficulty came in tiers based on content. Overland, Dungeons, raids. Often multiple difficulties in dungeons and raids. I am thinking some feel overland should play like their single player game. idk.

Trash mobs shouldn't be trash mobs from the very beginning

Trash mobs should not be trash mobs. Made me laugh.

Seriously, I do not look for a challenge with silly quest mobs. I do quests to enjoy the quest. I do trials for the challenge. I do realize some do not get that point and just want the most basic aspect of the game set to a difficulty that suites them and choose to ignore that there is a tiered difficulty built into the game that seems pretty standard in MMORPGs these days. If that is not enough for you then I suggest a single player game so you can set the difficulty yourself.

That's not a tiered difficulty system though.

You're describing two segregated pieces of content (overland and group content).

Tiered difficulty is what we have in dungeons/trials (normal, vet, HM). Overland comes in only one variety.

It is very much tiered difficulty. That is very much a fact that you even acknowledge. Just because this game happens to be an MMORPG which most MMORPGs focus mostly on group content does not change facts as they are. Further, you seem to leave out the simple fact that there is an solo instance that has a more difficult setting which tosses out the little discrepancy you attempt to point out.

It is like some people want this to play out like their single player game and that is not consistent with any major MMORPG I have played in the last decade. Since no one is disputing this I can only assume it is true that this is the desire.

Naftal · September 2019

Just add a seperate veteran overland mode.

NO, it will not split the playerbase. The players who want to play veteran overland mode aren't grouping with the noobs in overland.

NO, it will not make things harder for new players, it's a seperate mode.

Vlad9425 · September 2019

If you want difficulty go into Vet trials or try Solo some vet dungeons. I don't see how basic overland stuff aside from world bosses need a difficulty increase.

JusticeForJilarga · September 2019

This One thinks you should try fighting the same enemy with light armour instead of heavy if you are looking for a challenge.

idk · September 2019

Naftal wrote: »

Just add a seperate veteran overland mode.

NO, it will not split the playerbase. The players who want to play veteran overland mode aren't grouping with the noobs in overland.

NO, it will not make things harder for new players, it's a seperate mode.

However, it adds to additional coding and requires more server hardware to support once the zone is not as popular since it can require two instances be up for as few as two players.

Little things like that are probably why there is not a means to adjust difficulty in overland. Most suggestions ignore the business side and merely make a less than compelling argument from a personal desire standpoint.

ayu_fever · September 2019

if by difficulty balancing you mean “nerfing dlc dungeons” then YES PLEASE!!!!!!!
bring on the nerfs because all of them need it very badly.

mitchtheelder · September 2019

80%+ cant do vCR trial

wtf u want more

Michae · September 2019

Can't you try to do this conted naked? Using fists only? With zeroed CP assignment? Really, if you lack the challenge then make the challenges yourself.

JusticeForJilarga · September 2019

Michae wrote: »

Can't you try to do this conted naked? Using fists only? With zeroed CP assignment? Really, if you lack the challenge then make the challenges yourself.

This One thinks that would make for a good challenge.

Tigerseye · September 2019

Girl_Number8 wrote: »

Overland in ESO is to pull new players in and allow them a chance to figure things out. It wasn't meant to ever be looked at as hard or endgame content.

Not end game, no, but when I first played (at launch) you had to be careful not to pull too many mobs at once.

I'm not saying it should be like that again, as it might put some new players off, but it is fair to say it appears to have got significantly easier than it was.

MLGProPlayer · September 2019

BlueRaven wrote: »

Overland content is fine. It is designed so that a new player with one or two spells and no CP can kill them.

If you load up a new character with CP the game becomes trivial, obviously.

If you need a challenge there is always vMA, enjoy it. But don't impose vMA type difficulty on new players unless you are looking to destroy your game.

vMA is one piece of content that you can complete in under an hour.

Overland is over 400 hours of content.

There is absolutely a lack of challenging content.

BrightOblivion · September 2019

Given it's a groundwork-level decision they've explained and defended as recently as their big presentation at QuakeCon (along with quarterly content updates and tutorials in each chapter)? I'm gonna go with never.

Curse it, rail at it, rage against it, argue it, or, ultimately, accept it. I suspect it won't make a great deal of difference. This is the framework they've chosen and it's not likely to change. They want a mudcrab to be a mudcrab, wherever you find it in the open world, and they want the story- the entire story- to be readily beaten by the casual player. They want people who are drawn in by the advertising for a new chapter to be able to instantly jump into it, without being forced to level in or run through everything released prior to it.

You may dislike or disagree with it, but it's the path they've chosen to take.

Rave the Histborn · September 2019

Vhozek wrote: »

idk wrote: »

I tend to not look at overland trash for my challenge. Being every MMORPG I have played in the past decade the difficulty came in tiers based on content. Overland, Dungeons, raids. Often multiple difficulties in dungeons and raids. I am thinking some feel overland should play like their single player game. idk.

Trash mobs shouldn't be trash mobs from the very beginning

When do trash mobs become trash mobs then? Oh wait, they should start as trash mobs, that's why they're there. Well solved that brain buster for you.

redlink1979 · September 2019

Try harder content instead of killing mudcrabs...
You know overland content is the easiest content in the game.
People also forget about the casual players who don't know much or nothing at all about MMOs, changes were made to make this game to be casual gaming friendly.

JadonSky · September 2019

I don't really care about the trash mobs since they are "trash mobs". Really the disappointment comes with the quest bosses you fight in my opinion. The quest talks the main boss your going to fight like they are this amazing warrior, powerful mage, vampire, etc. You finally make it to the battle with this "most powerful warrior" just to kill them in 1.5 seconds.

For example Faolchu (DC Glenumbra quest) is suppose to be this unkillalbe werewolf unless he is set on fire. There is a mechanic to shoot fire arrows at him but even without this you can kill him in 1.5 seconds without even using his weekness against him. It just takes away form the epicness the battle feels like it should be.

I mean I know i'm going to win but at least make it feel like these bosses have a fighting chance. Add mechanics to draw out the fight a little. Add a few one shot attacks that can be dodged or blocked fairly easily but if your not paying attention can kill you.

I'm not saying make the quest boss as strong as a world boss. But stage them to draw out the battle a little. Similar to the final story quest boss in Elsywer because the battle lasted longer then 1.5 seconds because of how the mechanics worked so it was very enjoyable and felt like you were actually battling something of power.

redlink1979 · September 2019

JadonSky wrote: »

Really the disappointment comes with the quest bosses you fight in my opinion. The quest talks the main boss your going to fight like they are this amazing warrior, powerful mage, vampire, etc. You finally make it to the battle with this "most powerful warrior" just to kill them in 1.5 seconds.

Yes but we control the Soulless One...
What are you expecting to happen when a mere mortal/creature/monster tries to challenges the Soulless One?

"Soulless One CV: Was sacrificed to Molag Bal by Mannimarco as part of a dark ritual. With the aid of former emperor Varen Aquilarios, the Soulless One escaped their prison in Coldharbour in 2E 582. They then reformed the Five Companions and fought back against Molag Bal and the Planemeld, with help from the Mages Guild and Fighters Guild, and eventually regained their soul. The Soulless One also participated in the Three Banners War in some capacity, and aided King Kurog in his rebuilding of Orsinium.

They then became involved in a Daedric war involving the Daedric Triad, consisting of the Daedric Princes Clavicus Vile, Mephala, and Nocturnal. The Soulless One first foiled their plot to sap the Tribunal god Vivec of his power, and protected the Clockwork City from being taken over by them. The Soulless One then traveled to Summerset and became a member of the Psijic Order. After Nocturnal betrayed Clavicus Vile and Mephala, Sotha Sil made negotations with the two princes, and they assisted the Soulless One. With the combined forces of the Soulless One, members of the Psijic Order, a champion of Meridia, and the two daedric Princes, they managed to prevent Nocturnal from using the Crystal Tower to engulf Tamriel and the entire multiverse in her darkness.

The Soulless One subsequently was unintentionally involved in the release of a rage of Dragons when they assisted the Imperial Battlemage Abnur Tharn in retrieving the fabled Wrathstone, and brought it to the Halls of Colossus. There, the Wrathstone released the Dragons from their prison, and once free, unleashed their fury upon the denizens of Elsweyr. The Soulless One then assisted in putting a stop to the Dragon threat. They killed Euraxia Tharn and liberated Rimmen from the Euraxians, and then traveled to the Plane of Jode to stop the Dragons from eating its source of power, Jode's Core. In the Plane of Jode, they banished Kaalgrontiid, the leader of Dragons. With the Dragon threat gone, Rimmen was taken back by the Khajiit people and the Khajiiti royalty was reinstated. These events brought peace to Anequina"

JadonSky · September 2019

redlink1979 wrote: »

JadonSky wrote: »

Really the disappointment comes with the quest bosses you fight in my opinion. The quest talks the main boss your going to fight like they are this amazing warrior, powerful mage, vampire, etc. You finally make it to the battle with this "most powerful warrior" just to kill them in 1.5 seconds.

Yes but we control the Soulless One...
What are you expecting to happen when a mere mortal/creature/monster tries to challenges the Soulless One?

lol true this is how I play it out in my head. Like i'm basically as powerful as a deadric prince just to make it fell ok

idk · September 2019

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

BlueRaven wrote: »

Overland content is fine. It is designed so that a new player with one or two spells and no CP can kill them.

If you load up a new character with CP the game becomes trivial, obviously.

If you need a challenge there is always vMA, enjoy it. But don't impose vMA type difficulty on new players unless you are looking to destroy your game.

vMA is one piece of content that you can complete in under an hour.

Overland is over 400 hours of content.

There is absolutely a lack of challenging content.

Plenty of vet HM Trials which his the common challenging format in an MMORPG. It really seems people are forgetting this is not a single player game and the design of ESO is pretty common with current MMORPGs to varying degrees. Simple fact.

BlueRaven · September 2019

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

BlueRaven wrote: »

Overland content is fine. It is designed so that a new player with one or two spells and no CP can kill them.

If you load up a new character with CP the game becomes trivial, obviously.

If you need a challenge there is always vMA, enjoy it. But don't impose vMA type difficulty on new players unless you are looking to destroy your game.

vMA is one piece of content that you can complete in under an hour.

Overland is over 400 hours of content.

There is absolutely a lack of challenging content.

Then petition for more vMA style dungeons. Don't break the base game.

I help run a "are you new to ESO, here is how the game works" monthly workshop in one of my guilds. And there is a TON of people who join this game every month who don't understand the basic mechanics of the game. One level 16 was trying to a get a HoF group together with other level 20's and no healer or tank. I had to spend an hour going over what the different content means.

This person would never have made it to level 16 under the difficulty you are describing. If you want less players playing that's fine, but that is not in the games best interest. Don't "Wildstar" the game please.

idk · September 2019

BlueRaven wrote: »

MLGProPlayer wrote: »

BlueRaven wrote: »

Overland content is fine. It is designed so that a new player with one or two spells and no CP can kill them.

If you load up a new character with CP the game becomes trivial, obviously.

If you need a challenge there is always vMA, enjoy it. But don't impose vMA type difficulty on new players unless you are looking to destroy your game.

vMA is one piece of content that you can complete in under an hour.

Overland is over 400 hours of content.

There is absolutely a lack of challenging content.

Then petition for more vMA style dungeons. Don't break the base game.

I help run a "are you new to ESO, here is how the game works" monthly workshop in one of my guilds. And there is a TON of people who join this game every month who don't understand the basic mechanics of the game. One level 16 was trying to a get a HoF group together with other level 20's and no healer or tank. I had to spend an hour going over what the different content means.

This person would never have made it to level 16 under the difficulty you are describing. If you want less players playing that's fine, but that is not in the games best interest. Don't "Wildstar" the game please.

Very good point. Unfortunately people wanting this change do not seem to care. It is common to rebut this type of point tha my friend just started this game and finds the questing to easy type of story regardless of it really happening. As I have stated, I think these people want it to play more like a single player game instead of an MMORPG since we can adjust the difficulty of a single player game to our preferences. I am pretty sure Zos sees through this.

Kiralyn2000 · September 2019

What I'm curious about is (based on the various MMOs I've played) - are there any modern MMOs that have overland content that would be "challenging" for players who know what they're doing?

Urvoth · September 2019

It would be nice for overland mobs and world bosses to actually feel significant/challenging and actually worth fighting rather than just an annoyance.