First person view deserves some improvements.

Ancientrock · February 2020

I'm a player that plays exclusively on first person (and I'm not alone!) and I just can't help myself. Been playing like that for ages, in every TES game and as well in any game that allowed me to do so. It adds so much to the immersiveness, which is a powerful feature of ESO, even it being an MMO.

Look, we have houses, emotes, role-playing guilds and many more features that contributes to immersion as well as a better gameplay experience. I just wish that FP would be one of these. As of right now, it's quite hard to PvP and even PvE using it.

So, I would like to say that request improvements to the first person view. As many aspects of the game gets improved in the course of ESO's existence, FP deserves some love.

Problems:

1. It has a narrow fov, that even at "130", it's indefinitely inferior to third person fov.
Comparison:
First person

Third person

2. "View model" fov is too small. By that, I mean how much do we see of the arms and the weapons and how to close they are to the "eyes".

While dual wielding doesn't get in the way, it does look weird

3. Some effects completely obstructs the view

4. Treasure hunter personality doesn't appear in FP
Walking backwards shows some weird flames

The torch does appear when you loot something, which doesn't make sense.

Can't remember anything else right now but I'm sure I will while playing.

I don't know how much resources would be required for the devs to do this though I guess it isn't much.
What do you guys and gals think?

Darkstorne · February 2020

Yeah, as a huge TES fan I keep trying in first person, but it's pretty bad. Mobs move erratically, often get far too close for you to see their ground effects properly, and your own weapons/hands take up far too much of the screen.

One of the biggest issues is the architecture/object scale. This game was built for a zoomed out third person view, and first person was a late addition due to outcry from potential players on the game's reveal because it wasn't a feature. It means simple things like "low" walls and railings are still taller than you, doors, windows, buildings are comically huge, and ceilings/hallways are crazy tall and wide. All designed for a zoomed out third person view, and contributes to first person feeling really weird. You're playing in a land built for giants.

You don't really notice it in third person unless you really think about it, then you can't unsee how silly the scaling is

idk · February 2020

Get a wide screen monitor. It will help you see more around you. However, 3rd person view will always be far superior since we can see our feet and even behind us. That is something is obviously not going to be the case with FP view and it is a choice players make.

Thokri · February 2020

idk wrote: »

Get a wide screen monitor.

Can't speak for more expensive higher end ones but for most, it is pain in the ass to get games look nice on them.
Most need additional modding and even with those look weirdly stretched, atleast to me.

Ye_Olde_Crowe · February 2020

Thokri wrote: »

idk wrote: »

Get a wide screen monitor.

Can't speak for more expensive higher end ones but for most, it is pain in the ass to get games look nice on them.
Most need additional modding and even with those look weirdly stretched, atleast to me.

For me, everything looks great while playing , but maaaan, my wide-screen screenshots look weird.

BisDasBlutGefriert · February 2020

I would definitely have to agree with the posts on here so far. I'm almost always playing in first person mode, except when grouped in dungeons or battlegrounds. And for almost the exact same reason as you @Ancientrock. Immersion and because it just feels right to me in an elder scrolls game.

Even though it was a last minute decision, I still think ZOS completely smoked Rift and Wow first person mode in my opinion.

xXMeowMeowXx · February 2020

With the amount of money put into outfits and many other cosmetics....it would be unwise for ZoS to not give 3rd person the best treatment and focus.

Also, in harder content or PvP I want to see around me in third person, as much as, possible by zooming the camera out. This is the same for the majority of players in ESO that I know of.

I think it is a nice option they added but it is not D2 or COD.

NordSwordnBoard · February 2020

Maelstrom arena finally convinced me I had to let go... I only do it sometimes in non combat situations. Switching to 1st person does somehow help with rezzing in Cyrodiil, when I can't initiate the rezz in 3rd person. It's also a good way to get around pets blocking writ boxes and such.

MEBengalsFan2001 · February 2020

idk wrote: »

Get a wide screen monitor. It will help you see more around you. However, 3rd person view will always be far superior since we can see our feet and even behind us. That is something is obviously not going to be the case with FP view and it is a choice players make.

What I don't get is as a PS4 player the game automatically starts off in 1st person view. If the game is designed around 3rd person view you would think that the game would start off in 3rd person view. Another thing I noticed is whenever I use a Wayshirne once at my new location the game puts my character into 1st person view for about 1-2 minutes. In addition to this, in certain devls, builds, etc... the game puts me into 1st person view and removes 3rd person view.

I think the game original design may have been 1st person and as it was developed they modified it to 3rd person and eventually used both without giving both side the proper attention needed to ensure players who want 1st person gets a better experience and for 3rd person they are not forced into 1st person in various situations.

I get why some players like 1st and why ESO has it; it helps attract more player who enjoys the design of 1st person. But if you do both, do both very good and don't force either one on the players.

cyclonus11 · February 2020

I played first person for years before I got tired of not being able to see NPC power attack notifications happening behind me. Getting wrecking blown too many times led to third person for me, and I haven't been back.

Starlock · February 2020

I don't consider the "narrow" POV a problem, it makes it far more immersive and realistic. If they change this at all, they need to make it configurable for those of us who have no problem with how it is now.

I'm more concerned about some of the idiosyncrasies and glitches that happen in 1st person POV. Here are a few I've noticed:

[Housing Issue] Reticle Bobbing - when I have the Telvanni Magister personality equipped on my Aldmeri lightning mage, there is a slight bobbing to the reticle that makes it impossible to precisely place furniture. It's very annoying, and I have to shut the personality off whenever I do any sort of furniture placement with him. There may be other personalities that have this problem, but as placing furnishings forces you into first person, any sort of weird bobbing like this from personalities should not be happening at all.
[Gameplay/Camera Issue] Camera Swivels - this happens specifically on the Drunk personality. I had gotten it a long time ago on sale for a character concept I had on the backburner, and when I finally got around to playing with it this personality is basically unusable in first person. Every so often your character will reel, and this animation completely janks the first person camera in a way that is borderline nauseating. I mean, yes, it fits with the theme, but it makes the personality impractical to use in first person to the point that I seriously just want my money back on it.
[Gameplay/Camera Issue] Camera Jerking - this is a new bug I've noticed on one of my characters that whenever he readies his 1-handed weapon and shield, the camera jerks briefly out of first person mode to a few feet behind him and then back the way it is supposed to be. It's very disorienting, and I have no idea why this is a new problem. Crouching while drawing these weapons makes it not happen, and it also doesn't happen when drawing his bow... it only happens with his -handed weapon and shield.

There are others, but camera/reticle issues are by far the most problematic and annoying.

Darkstorne · February 2020

xXMeowMeowXx wrote: »

I think it is a nice option they added but it is not D2 or COD.

You're right, it's not. It's an Elder Scrolls game. Did you think that argument through?

CassandraGemini · February 2020

MEBengalsFan2001 wrote: »

idk wrote: »

Get a wide screen monitor. It will help you see more around you. However, 3rd person view will always be far superior since we can see our feet and even behind us. That is something is obviously not going to be the case with FP view and it is a choice players make.

What I don't get is as a PS4 player the game automatically starts off in 1st person view. If the game is designed around 3rd person view you would think that the game would start off in 3rd person view.

True. When I started playing ESO I stuck to 1st person, because the game started out that way, I was used to it from the other ES games, like others have said, and it just really helps the immersion. But when I got into group content more, I realized quickly that I would have to let it go in favor of 3rd person, because it is pretty much impossible to see the full scale of AOEs in 1st person. Half of the time you can't see that you're standing in red at all, and the other half it is really hard to tell where the red stops and the safe zone starts. 1st person is definitely inferior to 3rd person view in this game, which is a bit sad. Would be nice if some tweaks could be made, to make it a more viable alternative.

JKorr · February 2020

xXMeowMeowXx wrote: »

With the amount of money put into outfits and many other cosmetics....it would be unwise for ZoS to not give 3rd person the best treatment and focus.

Also, in harder content or PvP I want to see around me in third person, as much as, possible by zooming the camera out. This is the same for the majority of players in ESO that I know of.

I think it is a nice option they added but it is not D2 or COD.

The first testers kept asking for first person. I'm thankful they did. I play in first person only, unless the game won't allow it, like for riding. Personal opinion only; using third person is cheating, basically. I don't want to be able to see the complete area around my character, behind rocks and around corners. Exploiting being able to see npcs behind cover, or behind my character rather spoils things for me. In a game like Dragon Age: Origins, where you're directing a group, using the tactical view doesn't bother me. Elder Scrolls isn't a game I'd be able to play only in third person.

Veinblood1965 · February 2020

Why is it first and third person? What happened to second person view?

Thokri · February 2020

Veinblood1965 wrote: »

Why is it first and third person? What happened to second person view?

Second person realized views don't pay the bills and got job as narrator.

Does not really work in mmo.

xXMeowMeowXx · February 2020

Darkstorne wrote: »

xXMeowMeowXx wrote: »

I think it is a nice option they added but it is not D2 or COD.

You're right, it's not. It's an Elder Scrolls game. Did you think that argument through?

Wasn’t arguing happy tongue, just having a friendly conversation owo

xXMeowMeowXx · February 2020

JKorr wrote: »

xXMeowMeowXx wrote: »

With the amount of money put into outfits and many other cosmetics....it would be unwise for ZoS to not give 3rd person the best treatment and focus.

Also, in harder content or PvP I want to see around me in third person, as much as, possible by zooming the camera out. This is the same for the majority of players in ESO that I know of.

I think it is a nice option they added but it is not D2 or COD.

The first testers kept asking for first person. I'm thankful they did. I play in first person only, unless the game won't allow it, like for riding. Personal opinion only; using third person is cheating, basically. I don't want to be able to see the complete area around my character, behind rocks and around corners. Exploiting being able to see npcs behind cover, or behind my character rather spoils things for me. In a game like Dragon Age: Origins, where you're directing a group, using the tactical view doesn't bother me. Elder Scrolls isn't a game I'd be able to play only in third person.

Ummmm, it is not cheating or an exploit in anyway using 3rd person. That is why it is an option, a needed one.

Trying to 1 v X or small scale in first person would be a nightmare. Also, not a very smart choice as a player in this game for lots of content.

I am going to assume you’re more of a RP person, looking to immerse yourself into the beautiful content of ESO.

Thankfully we have the choice of first person and third person to cater to multiple tastes and playstyles. So everyone is happy ^^

CompM4s · February 2020

1st person view borderline gives seizures.

Kartalin · February 2020

Veinblood1965 wrote: »

Why is it first and third person? What happened to second person view?

2nd person would be how everyone else sees you, essentially it'd be like 3rd person except with the camera facing your front instead of the back. I imagine it'd be difficult to navigate, much less fight in a mode like this.

I played in 1st person when I started the game since that's how I played Skyrim and Oblivion. I even PVPed for a while in first person. However it eventually became clear, at least to me, that I would not be able to keep this up long term and be successful. In PVP in particular you lose a lot of situational awareness in 1st person.

I still think 1st person is great for overland content which is generally easy enough that the decreased perception is mostly harmless. I can't go back anymore though.

Ancientrock · February 2020

You all bring to the table very valid points.

What I would truly like to see is an improvement over some features as mentioned, even if won't be competitive on pvp and not on the same level as 3rd person. That's alright.

Those gigantic hands and the weapons being so close to the camera are what annoys me the most. I don't see why it would be like this and an update to that would be great.

And I'm really thankful for such a nice first person view, as it was said here, much better than most or any mmo.

RD065 · February 2020

When a game is in first person and others ask why not 3rd person as well. The answer is always no. So for ESO - NO. 3rd person should be top dog.

Ancientrock · February 2020

RD065 wrote: »

When a game is in first person and others ask why not 3rd person as well. The answer is always no. So for ESO - NO. 3rd person should be top dog.

No one said otherwise. I asked for improvements. A "NO" for that as well?

3rd is the focus and me as everyone gets that, I think.
But there's nothing wrong with ironing out some issues with first person view. This is an Elder Scrolls game and as we can see in this thread, many people benefit from a decent 1st person view.

Varana · February 2020

Adding to the complaints: Annoying over-the-top ability FX that persist on your screen. Especially necromancers are a top offender, I suspect because at that point, ZOS didn't really care about 1st person any more. But some status effects of necromancers have really noticeable graphics that colour much of the screen or draw a glowing border around it, or things like that.
I usually do overland story mode in 1st person except for my necromancer because it was so annoying.

RD065 · February 2020

Ancientrock wrote: »

RD065 wrote: »

When a game is in first person and others ask why not 3rd person as well. The answer is always no. So for ESO - NO. 3rd person should be top dog.

No one said otherwise. I asked for improvements. A "NO" for that as well?

3rd is the focus and me as everyone gets that, I think.
But there's nothing wrong with ironing out some issues with first person view. This is an Elder Scrolls game and as we can see in this thread, many people benefit from a decent 1st person view.

Not if it gets in the way of improving other things.

Ancientrock · February 2020

RD065 wrote: »

Ancientrock wrote: »

RD065 wrote: »

When a game is in first person and others ask why not 3rd person as well. The answer is always no. So for ESO - NO. 3rd person should be top dog.

No one said otherwise. I asked for improvements. A "NO" for that as well?

3rd is the focus and me as everyone gets that, I think.
But there's nothing wrong with ironing out some issues with first person view. This is an Elder Scrolls game and as we can see in this thread, many people benefit from a decent 1st person view.

Not if it gets in the way of improving other things.

I doubt it would.

molliemayhem · February 2020

Personally, I'd like to see a camera lock function in settings so that your character turns in the direction you are looking. It would make it much easier to position your character to lean on a wall or something instead of moving around all over the place trying to get in position.

While looking to see if there was such a setting (didn't see one), I noticed that the FP view has an adjustment for the FOV. I don't know how much good it may do since I don't like FP for the reasons everyone listed, but maybe it would help?

butterrum222 · February 2020

Allow vr support for a better 1st person experience 😉

Noxavian · February 2020

Ancientrock wrote: »

I'm a player that plays exclusively on first person (and I'm not alone!) and I just can't help myself. Been playing like that for ages, in every TES game and as well in any game that allowed me to do so. It adds so much to the immersiveness, which is a powerful feature of ESO, even it being an MMO.

Look, we have houses, emotes, role-playing guilds and many more features that contributes to immersion as well as a better gameplay experience. I just wish that FP would be one of these. As of right now, it's quite hard to PvP and even PvE using it.

So, I would like to say that request improvements to the first person view. As many aspects of the game gets improved in the course of ESO's existence, FP deserves some love.

Problems:

1. It has a narrow fov, that even at "130", it's indefinitely inferior to third person fov.
Comparison:
First person

Third person

2. "View model" fov is too small. By that, I mean how much do we see of the arms and the weapons and how to close they are to the "eyes".

While dual wielding doesn't get in the way, it does look weird

3. Some effects completely obstructs the view

4. Treasure hunter personality doesn't appear in FP
Walking backwards shows some weird flames

The torch does appear when you loot something, which doesn't make sense.

Can't remember anything else right now but I'm sure I will while playing.

I don't know how much resources would be required for the devs to do this though I guess it isn't much.
What do you guys and gals think?

As one of the only MMOs with a first person view that actually shows hand movement and isn't a "just for looks" thing, I really think the devs need to make first person a viable playing option.

I'd love to be able to play in only this perspective, but it's absolutely impossible in dungeons or any group content for the most part

cyclonus11 · February 2020

Kartalin wrote: »

Veinblood1965 wrote: »

Why is it first and third person? What happened to second person view?

2nd person would be how everyone else sees you, essentially it'd be like 3rd person except with the camera facing your front instead of the back. I imagine it'd be difficult to navigate, much less fight in a mode like this.

I played in 1st person when I started the game since that's how I played Skyrim and Oblivion. I even PVPed for a while in first person. However it eventually became clear, at least to me, that I would not be able to keep this up long term and be successful. In PVP in particular you lose a lot of situational awareness in 1st person.

I still think 1st person is great for overland content which is generally easy enough that the decreased perception is mostly harmless. I can't go back anymore though.

2nd person view happens when you open your inventory, use an outfit station/collectibles menu, or at character creation.

forfoxsakemary · April 2020

Yes yes yes!!! Devs please consider this, I was so disappointed when I found out that you can't see the torch or other things like when you use certain emotes. Especially since, as op says, you can see the torch when you loot which means it is possible. It would be so amazing and immersive to be able to see those things! Roleplayers need this! PLEAAASE!