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I have never felt so anonymous in a game

PjBrunelleub17_ESO
Usually in an MMO you see the same people over and over, you recognize their name, you see a guild tag over and over, and reputations are formed, communities develop. Not in this game. I couldn't name another guild in my home campaign besides my own, I don't know if the guy fighting next to me is the guy that was fighting next to me at the farm 10 minutes ago (Yes I know you can 'mouse' over them and get their name) I know my guild, and maybe some guy that uses /zone way too much.

The game needs nametags, and guild tags. I'm fine with the enemy being anonymous, but to create a community you can't just have a bunch of anonymous people, which from my experience is what ESO is at this point. I don't know what kind of a hit the engine would take having to generate them, but i'll take it just for the sake of some sort of community to develop.
  • GossiTheDog
    GossiTheDog
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    I disagree. I don't want nameplates, chat bubbles etc. I know my guild members and talk to them and quest with them. That's fine with me.
  • Ventroff
    Ventroff
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    +1 Agree

  • yodased
    yodased
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    They had them in Beta so the technology actually exists with no issue. They were taken out for immersion. Used to be a /nameplate to turn em off and on.

    DEVs want immersion, users want UX. I think the ability to turn them on and off fixes the problem.
    Tl;dr really weigh the fun you have in game vs the business practices you are supporting.
  • psufan5
    psufan5
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    There should be an option to turn these on though. If you don't like them, you can always turn it off.

    Surgical Incision
    Former Emperor
    USPS4
  • Doowie
    Doowie
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    I agree with @psufan5

    If they have an option, then people can turn it on and use it. if there are people who don't like it, then they don't need to use it. Have it set to [off] as default if Zenimax decided to enable such a feature in the future, so it doesn't annoy too many who don't have the intelligence to find the option to turn it off xD
    Edited by Doowie on April 17, 2014 3:21PM
    [Name]: Doowie Doucheolas
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  • jonephesb14_ESO
    Why don't you ask the guy if he is in a guild?
  • columbineb14_ESO
    columbineb14_ESO
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    In every MMO I've ever played (and I've played lots), any general sense of "community" has always been a myth anyhow. People find small regular groups or guilds they trust and interact within those, or they don't interact at all.

    I'm not saying you're wrong, and I'm genuinely pleased for you that your personal experience has been different. But to me this game's lack of visible markers just makes the reality more apparent: MMOs are mostly composed of people playing alone in the same space. I'm okay with not camouflaging that.

    That said, I wouldn't have a problem with nametags as long as I had the option to turn their display off.
    I have just told you more than I know.
  • MysticAura
    MysticAura
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    Sometimes the requests for nametags make me wonder if those people also want people to put those name stickers on in real life.

    The option wouldn't hurt for those who want it, but I never want it forced. I can easily find out someones name by doing a simple mouse-over. If I want to know their guild I'd simply ask.
  • Squishy
    Squishy
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    Because nameplates also reveals things that should not be revealed. The game was designed to be used without them, and adding them seemed to have cause other issues. It was said early in the game dev, there'll be no nameplates, no counters/indicators, as little as possible on the interface, and that visual and audio clues would be the essence of combats in ESO, within the first month of ESO being announced... Sorry to say, but if you want them, this is against what the game was originally designed to be. It is not like they were removed at the last minute :)
    "In 2014, a possible bot was sent to coldharbour by a military GM for a crime she didn't commit. This argonian promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Ebonheart underground. Today, still wanted by the developers she survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a bot problem, if no one else can bite you, and if you can find her....maybe you can hire The SQUISHY."
  • Cernow
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    Totally agree. It doesn't FEEL like a MMO. All those people running around might as well be bots (although many of them probably are, but that's another issue).

    I understand the immersion argument, but it seems to me that immersion = isolation. If you want a community to grow you need to support that with nameplates, guild tags, chat bubbles, easier interaction between players, ability to inspect players (not to check stats but to see what they are wearing), better emotes, social events and festivals to get people together to just hang out and have fun. Community is what keeps a MMO breathing in the long term.

    And of course, things like nameplates and chat bubbles should all be able to be toggled on and off, so those who want immersion can have it, those who want better interaction can have it too. CHOICE is the key. Players provided with a choice are happy players.
  • psufan5
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    Squishy wrote: »
    Because nameplates also reveals things that should not be revealed. The game was designed to be used without them, and adding them seemed to have cause other issues. It was said early in the game dev, there'll be no nameplates, no counters/indicators, as little as possible on the interface, and that visual and audio clues would be the essence of combats in ESO, within the first month of ESO being announced... Sorry to say, but if you want them, this is against what the game was originally designed to be. It is not like they were removed at the last minute :)

    No one will make a name for themselves in PVP without these. DAOC thrived because people made names, and were hunted for it.

    Sticking to lore and making a bad decision are not mutually exclusive. There is no negative to having names, if you can turn them off. Making a name for yourself is part of an MMO. If you don't want names, go play Skyrim. MMOs thrive on community, not anonymity.

    Surgical Incision
    Former Emperor
    USPS4
  • Bunk
    Bunk
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    psufan5 wrote: »
    Squishy wrote: »
    Because nameplates also reveals things that should not be revealed. The game was designed to be used without them, and adding them seemed to have cause other issues. It was said early in the game dev, there'll be no nameplates, no counters/indicators, as little as possible on the interface, and that visual and audio clues would be the essence of combats in ESO, within the first month of ESO being announced... Sorry to say, but if you want them, this is against what the game was originally designed to be. It is not like they were removed at the last minute :)

    No one will make a name for themselves in PVP without these. DAOC thrived because people made names, and were hunted for it.

    Sticking to lore and making a bad decision are not mutually exclusive. There is no negative to having names, if you can turn them off. Making a name for yourself is part of an MMO. If you don't want names, go play Skyrim. MMOs thrive on community, not anonymity.

    "Make a name for themselves"

    What, you want to become e-famous or something? guffaw
    idiot
  • Ventroff
    Ventroff
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    Squishy wrote: »
    Sorry to say, but if you want them, this is against what the game was originally designed to be. It is not like they were removed at the last minute :)

    Lol, actually they were. The game was designed with the option to show or not show. They disabled the ability to do that in beta and then later beta took the option out. So yeah whatever.

  • PjBrunelleub17_ESO
    Yes, people definitely make names for themselves in PvP, as do guilds. It's one of the best moments in an MMO, running up against a guy from the other team that has a rep, and duking it out.
  • scruffycavetroll
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    yodased wrote: »
    They had them in Beta so the technology actually exists with no issue. They were taken out for immersion. Used to be a /nameplate to turn em off and on.

    DEVs want immersion, users want UX. I think the ability to turn them on and off fixes the problem.

    functionality > immersion

    this game must have the basic tools that all MMO's have with teh OPTION to toggle off for the precious immersion / UI cleanliness.
  • Tweek
    Tweek
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    +Agree

    I think they should add toggling name tags, along with the option to select which guild you want to appear in your name tag out of all your guilds so everyone knows your main guild. For example I was at one point in one PvP/PvE guild and four trading guilds.
    psufan5 wrote: »
    Squishy wrote: »
    Because nameplates also reveals things that should not be revealed. The game was designed to be used without them, and adding them seemed to have cause other issues. It was said early in the game dev, there'll be no nameplates, no counters/indicators, as little as possible on the interface, and that visual and audio clues would be the essence of combats in ESO, within the first month of ESO being announced... Sorry to say, but if you want them, this is against what the game was originally designed to be. It is not like they were removed at the last minute :)

    No one will make a name for themselves in PVP without these. DAOC thrived because people made names, and were hunted for it.

    Sticking to lore and making a bad decision are not mutually exclusive. There is no negative to having names, if you can turn them off. Making a name for yourself is part of an MMO. If you don't want names, go play Skyrim. MMOs thrive on community, not anonymity.

    +Agree
    Edited by Tweek on April 17, 2014 3:44PM
  • Thechemicals
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    I agree that i have a strong sense of being anonymous and alone in this world. I remember Npc names but never players of guilds because i just cant point at everyone to see what they are in time. Name and guild tags would be something i would click "on" in setting for. I like meeting new people and i like seeing old faces, its why i play multiplayer.
    Vr14 Templar since release- dual resto
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  • natalia76
    natalia76
    Bunk wrote: »
    psufan5 wrote: »
    Squishy wrote: »
    Because nameplates also reveals things that should not be revealed. The game was designed to be used without them, and adding them seemed to have cause other issues. It was said early in the game dev, there'll be no nameplates, no counters/indicators, as little as possible on the interface, and that visual and audio clues would be the essence of combats in ESO, within the first month of ESO being announced... Sorry to say, but if you want them, this is against what the game was originally designed to be. It is not like they were removed at the last minute :)

    No one will make a name for themselves in PVP without these. DAOC thrived because people made names, and were hunted for it.

    Sticking to lore and making a bad decision are not mutually exclusive. There is no negative to having names, if you can turn them off. Making a name for yourself is part of an MMO. If you don't want names, go play Skyrim. MMOs thrive on community, not anonymity.

    "Make a name for themselves"

    What, you want to become e-famous or something? guffaw

    showing names and guild names would for me a pluss.

    1. you would better know what person is nice to be arround.

    2. you would better know what person to not group whit easier.

    3. you would better know what guild that is good in pvp/pve

    4. you would better know what guild to avoid like a plague if needed to.

    as it is now, you dont realy know who is griefing you if that would happen, or what guild that person is in, at same time you dont realy know what guild or person is nice and helpfull if needed to be.

    as it is now, you dont realy know who is close to you and helping you whit stuff unless you target them, and if there are a couple of people, you wont rember them.

  • Jade1986
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    Man, people must have a really hard time remembering peoples names in real life......this game is supposed to be as seamless as possible. Not a UI Christmas tree catastrophe. I have no problem remembering the few ppl I was role playing with at the tavern at night, or who was helping me out in a dungeon.
  • AlexDougherty
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    Usually in an MMO you see the same people over and over, you recognize their name, you see a guild tag over and over, and reputations are formed, communities develop. Not in this game. I couldn't name another guild in my home campaign besides my own, I don't know if the guy fighting next to me is the guy that was fighting next to me at the farm 10 minutes ago (Yes I know you can 'mouse' over them and get their name) I know my guild, and maybe some guy that uses /zone way too much.

    The game needs nametags, and guild tags. I'm fine with the enemy being anonymous, but to create a community you can't just have a bunch of anonymous people, which from my experience is what ESO is at this point. I don't know what kind of a hit the engine would take having to generate them, but i'll take it just for the sake of some sort of community to develop.

    This game needs more than just name tags, although they would help, the armour need some customisation, just to make it look different. Yes the racial styles help, but not enough, I see dozens of mages at any one time and they all look the same (When I play templar, I see dozens of players in identical heavy armour).

    Part of any MMO is the players look, when I played swtor I had multiple sets of gear unlock from their Cartel Market, it made my characters feel special (jedi Sentinels look good in Colo Nord's jacket). Please add something similar.
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  • Nox_Aeterna
    Nox_Aeterna
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    Usually in an MMO you see the same people over and over, you recognize their name, you see a guild tag over and over, and reputations are formed, communities develop. Not in this game. I couldn't name another guild in my home campaign besides my own, I don't know if the guy fighting next to me is the guy that was fighting next to me at the farm 10 minutes ago (Yes I know you can 'mouse' over them and get their name) I know my guild, and maybe some guy that uses /zone way too much.

    The game needs nametags, and guild tags. I'm fine with the enemy being anonymous, but to create a community you can't just have a bunch of anonymous people, which from my experience is what ESO is at this point. I don't know what kind of a hit the engine would take having to generate them, but i'll take it just for the sake of some sort of community to develop.

    I totally agree with you OP.

    It is horrible , totally horrible.

    This is annoying me more and more , i dont play with guild mates , my main guild got like 200 players , i have never played with even one of them. Im used to form groups with guildies on the field when we are doing the same objectives and that is how i formed most of my bounds in MMOs.

    Im lvl 43 and i NEVER formed one group with a guildie outside a dungeon , i cant tell if nobody besides me is a guildie.

    Honestly , both this and skyrim feel like a single player game , but in skyrim i dont have lag, this amount of bugs and i can mod the game to my liking. Guess i will get to vet10 to check the whole story and go back to where TES actually made a name.
    "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
    -Hanlon's razor
  • daneyulebub17_ESO
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    Why don't you ask the guy if he is in a guild?

    Yeah. That's the solution. Having to send a tell to people everytime you want to see what guild they're in. And remember them so you don't ask them again. And in a game without a cursor, moving to face each person you want to check the name of, one at a time.

    Much better than optional floating name/guild tags. THAT would be annoying.
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  • Blackwidow
    Blackwidow
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    Squishy wrote: »
    Because nameplates also reveals things that should not be revealed.

    Like what?

    Tell me how seeing your friends and npc name plates reveal anything that should not be seen?

    This is just another ZOS B.S. way for forcing us to play one way. Thier way or the highway.
  • Stonesthrow
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    I have a guild for constant babbling in the chat window, a dozen or so are already on ignore… the rest of the people in the game are moment to moment encounters. You help each other out, or not, and move on.

    Not many people even stick around to say "Thanks for the heal!" let alone "Hi. I'm a fun loving elven male, looking for same… err.. female… I like long walks on the shore, dungeon delving, daedra humping… err… killing."

    But having the option to turn them on or off would seem to solve any issues people seem to have with feeling alone.

    You do realize that every time you finish a major "phase type" quest line or log in and out, there is a very good chance the people you just saw will be gone and you will likely never see them again anyway, right?
  • scruffycavetroll
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    Squishy wrote: »
    Because nameplates also reveals things that should not be revealed.

    dude calm down...it's a nameplate, not a personal ad.
  • Ragnar_Lodbrok
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    I cant wait for these wow clone lovers to leave for wildstar orwhatever is the next thing. Then we can stop hearing the nameplate crybaby crowd.
    Edited by Ragnar_Lodbrok on April 17, 2014 4:15PM
  • deggar13b16_ESO
    I agree with the OP. I've had to turn on friendly player health bars so that I know who is a player and who is an NPC otherwise trying to interact with an NPC merchant can prove difficult when there's 7 other players around them, especially at a Blacksmith or Bank
  • WolfHeart
    WolfHeart
    I cant wait for these wow clone lovers to leave for wildstar orwhatever is the next thing. Then we can stop hearing the nameplate crybaby crowd.

    You know, people on the SWTOR forums said the same thing. "Can't wait for these WoW kiddies to leave" I guess they did leave in the end.

    Just because people want an option to toggle namesplates on, it doesn't mean they are WoW "clone lovers" I want nameplates to be an option here, and guess what? I have never even played WoW. So how does that work? Hmm. Get off your high horse.
    Edited by WolfHeart on April 17, 2014 5:10PM
  • Ragnar_Lodbrok
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    I agree with the OP. I've had to turn on friendly player health bars so that I know who is a player and who is an NPC otherwise trying to interact with an NPC merchant can prove difficult when there's 7 other players around them, especially at a Blacksmith or Bank

    I can tell an Npc from a player without even mousing over or enabling bars. You people need to use your eyes, they were given to you for a reason.
  • thegamekittenub17_ESO
    I don't think it is WoW lovers or even another MMO lover thing. I think it is part preference and part use to it. Haven't played a MMO that didn't have name tags/plates and the guild tag/plates under or over the name.

    I have no preference for it or not for it. I just go with the flow. And if someone helps my fiancé and I out in the world there is a quick thank you, and only once did we see someone more than once in all the exploring and questing in 22 levels.

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