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You guys need to turn the reins over on the housing NPCs.
Selminus
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Your taste is extremely suspect sometimes and customizable NPCs would have people going nuts. The burn victim historian, cat people and physically unfit ex Solitude guards with weak immune systems are not most peoples cup of tea. What are you afraid of?
4
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VaranisArano✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭What are they afraid of?
Not making enough money on the new system. Think about it - making custom NPCs, especially if you allow players to change them around, pretty much short-circuits the crown store after one purchase. And you can only hike the price so high to make back that lost value from sales of premade houseguests before players just won't buy it.
Now, they might eventually release such a system for customizing house NPCs, but then I suspect it'll be after they've milked the initial desire to have guests, any guests, in player housing. My guess is It'll be something like Outfits vs Costumes. Players can use certain options they own, but ZOS will continue to sell the more interesting options from the Crown Store.6 -
max_only✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Sell good looking well mannered interesting guests. The current offers are not my style.
Or sell guest versions of already beloved NPCs.
Cadwell has his own guest furniture. I’m sure someone would want a Darien guest or a Giliron the Redbeard guest (me that someone is me).
Could also do Haskill, Stibbons, mages guild and psijics that were extras in crowd favorite quests.#FiteForYourRite Bosmer = Stealth
#OppositeResourceSiphoningAttacks
|| CP 1000+ || PC/NA || GUILDS: LWH; IA; CH; XA
""All gods' creatures (you lot) are equal when covered in A1 sauce"" -- Old Bosmeri Wisdom8 -
Vevvev✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭If they sold customizable NPC slots they could seriously monetize that! Maybe even extend it past outfitting and let you give them costumes you own! If ZOS did that they could make soooooo much money. Even if my character personally wouldn't wear something a custom house NPC could and they could get more sales like that.PC NA - Ceyanna Ashton - Breton Vampire MagDK3 -
Elvenheart✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭I plan to buy the witch houseguest for my exorcized cottage this year. I’m on the fence about the guard recovering from a recent illness during a pandemic, however.3 -
Nord_Raseri✭✭✭✭✭
✭I'd buy at least 3, maybe more, if they were fully customizable. I mean fully. Like creating a character.Veit ég aðég hékk vindga meiði á nætr allar níu, geiri undaðr og gefinn Oðni, sjálfr sjálfum mér, á þeim meiði er manngi veit hvers hann af rótum rennr.2 -
ArchMikem✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭You have an issue with Historians and Khajiit?CP2,100 Master Explorer - AvA Two Star Warlord - Console Peasant - Khajiiti Aficionado - The Clan
Quest Objective: OMG Go Talk To That Kitty!1 -
idk✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »What are they afraid of?
Not making enough money on the new system. Think about it - making custom NPCs, especially if you allow players to change them around, pretty much short-circuits the crown store after one purchase. And you can only hike the price so high to make back that lost value from sales of premade houseguests before players just won't buy it.
Now, they might eventually release such a system for customizing house NPCs, but then I suspect it'll be after they've milked the initial desire to have guests, any guests, in player housing. My guess is It'll be something like Outfits vs Costumes. Players can use certain options they own, but ZOS will continue to sell the more interesting options from the Crown Store.
Both points here. +11 -
idk✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭Nord_Raseri wrote: »I'd buy at least 3, maybe more, if they were fully customizable. I mean fully. Like creating a character.
Three or more if the cost was ten times what these are selling for?
Seriously, while the cost increase may not be ten times more, it would be significant and there are two realities, we complain about crown costs and then there is the solid fact that sometimes less expensive versions are much more profitable. Certainly less risk.0 -
Raideen✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »What are they afraid of?
Not making enough money on the new system. Think about it - making custom NPCs, especially if you allow players to change them around, pretty much short-circuits the crown store after one purchase. And you can only hike the price so high to make back that lost value from sales of premade houseguests before players just won't buy it.
Now, they might eventually release such a system for customizing house NPCs, but then I suspect it'll be after they've milked the initial desire to have guests, any guests, in player housing. My guess is It'll be something like Outfits vs Costumes. Players can use certain options they own, but ZOS will continue to sell the more interesting options from the Crown Store.
Your assertion, and/or their fear makes little sense. Custom NPC's would/could increase motif purchases which are EXTREMELY expensive for what they are. A single motif is the price of a couple indi games. Custom NPC's would/could increase character slot purchases because people (I know many who would) have additional characters if only to make custom NPC's for their homes. Custom NPC's would/could drive up the cost of hair packs, costumes, tatoos, makeup. Custom NPC's allows for guys like me, or gals like my girlfriend to now own opposite sex costumes.
Anything that has to do with character customization would see an increase in sales, and because all of that is already created and paid for, custom NPC's allows for greater monetization off those already paid for assets.
The fact that the uproar is pretty loud from the community in not being able to place our characters/custom NPC's in home suggests these people will not spend money on house guests (I know I wont, and I know others who will not). So what is better, few sales from houseguests or a sales increase on already available and paid for assets.
2 -
Pixiepumpkin✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »What are they afraid of?
Not making enough money on the new system. Think about it - making custom NPCs, especially if you allow players to change them around, pretty much short-circuits the crown store after one purchase. And you can only hike the price so high to make back that lost value from sales of premade houseguests before players just won't buy it.
Now, they might eventually release such a system for customizing house NPCs, but then I suspect it'll be after they've milked the initial desire to have guests, any guests, in player housing. My guess is It'll be something like Outfits vs Costumes. Players can use certain options they own, but ZOS will continue to sell the more interesting options from the Crown Store.
Your assertion, and/or their fear makes little sense. Custom NPC's would/could increase motif purchases which are EXTREMELY expensive for what they are. A single motif is the price of a couple indi games. Custom NPC's would/could increase character slot purchases because people (I know many who would) have additional characters if only to make custom NPC's for their homes. Custom NPC's would/could drive up the cost of hair packs, costumes, tatoos, makeup. Custom NPC's allows for guys like me, or gals like my girlfriend to now own opposite sex costumes.
Anything that has to do with character customization would see an increase in sales, and because all of that is already created and paid for, custom NPC's allows for greater monetization off those already paid for assets.
The fact that the uproar is pretty loud from the community in not being able to place our characters/custom NPC's in home suggests these people will not spend money on house guests (I know I wont, and I know others who will not). So what is better, few sales from houseguests or a sales increase on already available and paid for assets.
From a development cost and marketing perspective, this makes total sense. The voice from the housing community indicates strongly that custom house guests has more appeal than non custom house guests. +1"Class identity isn’t just about power or efficiency. It’s about symbolic clarity, mechanical cohesion, and a shared visual and tactical language between players." - sans-culottes1 -
AelonRhiadra✭✭Also, can houseguests be in a seperate catagory from other things? I have a few pets dotted around in the Gallery, and things i dug up in the event to earn it, and it says I havent the space to place the houseguest we got.
Khajiit is disappointed she cant have her house full of cats and her houseguestKhajiit wasn't stealing. She was merely moving the shinies to a place where they were more valuable7 -
VaranisArano✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »What are they afraid of?
Not making enough money on the new system. Think about it - making custom NPCs, especially if you allow players to change them around, pretty much short-circuits the crown store after one purchase. And you can only hike the price so high to make back that lost value from sales of premade houseguests before players just won't buy it.
Now, they might eventually release such a system for customizing house NPCs, but then I suspect it'll be after they've milked the initial desire to have guests, any guests, in player housing. My guess is It'll be something like Outfits vs Costumes. Players can use certain options they own, but ZOS will continue to sell the more interesting options from the Crown Store.
Your assertion, and/or their fear makes little sense. Custom NPC's would/could increase motif purchases which are EXTREMELY expensive for what they are. A single motif is the price of a couple indi games. Custom NPC's would/could increase character slot purchases because people (I know many who would) have additional characters if only to make custom NPC's for their homes. Custom NPC's would/could drive up the cost of hair packs, costumes, tatoos, makeup. Custom NPC's allows for guys like me, or gals like my girlfriend to now own opposite sex costumes.
Anything that has to do with character customization would see an increase in sales, and because all of that is already created and paid for, custom NPC's allows for greater monetization off those already paid for assets.
The fact that the uproar is pretty loud from the community in not being able to place our characters/custom NPC's in home suggests these people will not spend money on house guests (I know I wont, and I know others who will not). So what is better, few sales from houseguests or a sales increase on already available and paid for assets.
I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests. They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones. Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.3 -
Raideen✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭
I don't think you fully understand my point. ZOS is putting resources into something players are less enthused about (premade houseguests), instead of putting less resources into allowing players to create custom NPC's makes no sense. ZOS will make more money with custom NPC's than premade houseguests. This is not even debatable. The entire culture of being creative in a house and wanting NPC's to fill that house also dictates that custom NCP's are more desirable than pre-made ones. The vocal majority on the forums want custom NCP's, not pre-made.VaranisArano wrote: »I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
I don't like or dislike this. But ZOS spending money on the development of houseguests instead of custom NPC's will not favor them monetarily. All the time zos waits to release custom NPC's is time lost to sales. People are not going to rush for houseguests like they will being able to make their own NPC's.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests.
Except the time lost that they could be selling custom NPC's, something players have been more vocal about spending money on.VaranisArano wrote: »They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones.
People have been very loud, very loud about wanting custom houseguests and almost equally as loud as not wanting some random living in their home.VaranisArano wrote: »Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing to use premade houseguests cuts down on the desire for the custom NPC/houseguests players want in game. Many who have vocalized they dont want premade houseguests.VaranisArano wrote: »On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
ZOS, as with many things they do, are putting the cart before the horse.VaranisArano wrote: »Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
And during the duration of wasted time that ZOS does not implement things players actually request, is lost revenue. A LOT of lost revenue.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
To sell custom houseguests now, and then create premades to sell along with them at the same time.VaranisArano wrote: »What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.
1 -
Kalik_Gold✭✭✭✭✭
✭Make an attunable mannequin that we can select any NPC in game and make them house guests. Have a vast new voice pack of these simple sentences these houseguests say (if they can’t get the same voice actors) and wala , unlimited choices of house guests. Also allow us to give them costumes and personalities we have collected.
. Edited typoEdited by Kalik_Gold on October 10, 2020 9:43PMMain Character:PS5/NA - Ras Kalik a Redguard Templar - Daggerfall Covenant
Ras Kalik a Redguard Templar, the Vestige
PvP Pure-class:
Goliath of Hammerfell a Redguard Dragonknight
Jux Blackheart a Redguard Nightblade
Aurik Siet'ka a Redguard Necromancer
Cacique the Sage of Ius a Redguard Warden
Kaotik Von Dae'mon a Redguard* Sorcerer
PvP: Subclassed
Two-Big-Horns an Argonian Arcanist (Sorcerer)
Uri Ice-Heart the Twin a Nord Vampiric Warden (Ice-Theme)
PvP: Specialty
Movárth Piquine a Nord Vampiric Necromancer (Tank)
Voa a Priest of Sep a Redguard* Necromancer (Healer)
Tsar af-Bomba a Redguard Vampiric Nightblade (Bomber)
PvE:
Cinan Tharn an Imperial Dragonknight (Tank)
Herzog Zwei the Genesis an Akavari* Templar (Healer)
Bates Vesuius of Dawnstar an Imperial Dragonknight (Damage)
Tyrus Septim an Imperial Sorcerer (Damage)
Tav'i at-Shinji a Redguard** Warden (Arenas)
Lucky Hunch the Gambler - a Redguard Nightblade (Thief)
Leveling...
Styx of Akatosh a Goblin*** Arcanist
Zenovia at-Tura a Redguard** Lycan Sorcerer
Yesi af-Kalik a Redguard Templar
======
Passives of another race used for roleplay reasons.
*Breton
**Imperial
***Argonian
__________________________Backstories:_________________________
Ras Kalik the Vestige, a renown Redguard warrior; He has been blessed to save Tamriel from Molag Bal’s destructive Planemeld while reuniting the Five Companions. His further accomplishments after defeating Molag Bal, has been to stop the destruction of Morrowind, the Clockwork City, return order to the isle of Summerset and create a new king in Wrothgar and a queen in Elsywer. These events have made him a living legend and continue to lead him into new adventures throughout Tamriel, as well as into the hearts of many ladies including the Elf Queen, Aryenn. Over many years of adventurous travels, Ras Kalik had become a loner, until he re-visited his homeland of Alik'r.
Alik'r and it's cities were overrun by the undead Ra-Netu and therefore he made an allegiance with Alik'r's own Ash'abah tribe. These Ash'abah with his help, cleansed the city of Sentinel in Alik'r desert and it's surrounding areas of the undead brought to life by the Withered Hand. After rescuing Sentinel from the undead zombies, King Fahara’jad’s personal bodyguard the Goliath of Hammerfell, who was given this name by Imperials in the region; was asked to assist the tribe after learning of the defeat of the Withered Hand to the Ash'abah. Kalik promised Goliath he would task him with fighting living enemies on the battlefield if he so desired. Goliath being a Yokudan warrior wields a massive sword in respect to the Ansei, a gift given by the Imperial, Cinan Tharn. Not many soldiers are able to wield double two handed weapons, but Goliath loves to get up and personal in a fight, so he also carries a giant maul, both weapons laced with magical flames.
Jux Blackheart is a master thief that masquerades as a Bard at the Sisters of the Sands inn, with his younger sidekick Lucky Hunch for pilfering and gambling during this time. Jux was known to infiltrate any towns bank vault he came across and even delved into Ayelid ruins without detection. Kalik can vividly recall the night he met the famed thief. Jux found himself rummaging thru a slightly inebriated Kalik’s pocket for too long, on a full-mooned night and because of his greed and the glimmer of his golden armor in the moonlight. He lost his left pinky fingertip as a lesson! But in return, he gained a new friend, as it was his first time since a child being caught red-handed...
Upon arrival back in the Alik'r after many moons of adventuring, Ras Kalik ventures to Bergama. Visiting The Winking Jackal, he runs into Jux Blackheart, who introduces him to the coin game Crowns vs Forebearers (Heads vs Tails) and Golden Dwemer (RBG).... Jux constantly takes gold from the unfortunate thru theft or gambling, his biggest gambling victim is actually his partner in crime known as Lucky Hunch the Gambler. Lucky doesn't mind losing any gold coins to Jux... as Jux saved him from Altmer slavers in Summerset, by stealing a key and sending him on a boat to the mainland years prior. Lucky spent years in slavery with Khajiits in Summerset and picked up the art of subterfuge, using illusion magic disguises and stealing there.
Kaotik Von’Daemon an outcast, and a half-caste between a Breton mother and a Redguard father. Kaotik become a pariah due to his conjuration of Daedra pets. He was taught healing magic during his childhood years by his Breton mother. His father due to Redguard customs exiled him from the desert, sending him by wagon caravan to be a soldier in the war in Cyrodiil. He happened to meet Kalik while traveling from Alik'r, during this long caravan ride the caravan he was in was ambushed in Bangkorai by a group of bandits. Kalik by chance was also traveling thru this area on his Auridon Warhorse (which was bestowed to him by his friend, Darien Gautier). During this ambush, Kalik was able to rescue five hostages from the bandits. Kaotik was the first rescued, and Ras Kalik also recruited him to be in the Ash'abah tribe. These core Ash'abah tribesmen may never be seen together in travel as they partake in their own adventures but they always know what each other is doing; as they frequent a hideout in northern Bankorai. Their hideout an old Orc castle ruin, is kept watch by Nuzhimeh and she passes messages written between them, and frequently they also enjoy her company and her bed.
The other men rescued were a Dunmer banker, an Imperial mercenary and two other soldiers, an Imperial and a Breton Knight, stating proudly he was an Akavir descendent. One of the Imperials, Cinan, claimed to be related to Abnur Tharn the Battlemage of the Imperial Elder Council (One of Ras Kalik's mentors in the Five Companions). Cinan Tharn was really Abnur's drunkard treasure hunting illegitimate son. He was caught smuggling artifacts out of the Ayleid ruins in Cyrodiil and the elder of the two Imperials was Tyrus Septim a retired Imperial navy battle-mage (now a Lycan mercenary living in the city of Rimmen) and guard to the Tharn family. As much as Abnur Tharn hated his half-sister Euraxia, he dislikes his bas†ard son Cinan more. Tyrus now a ruffian and privateer had been paid by Abnur Tharn to watch over Cinan as much as possible. Cinan Tharn a drunkard, loves to drink at least a quarter barrel of Nord mead before he raids various delves and dungeons for relics to sell on the black market. Cinan also plans to one day, run an illegal gambling ring... which he thinks will net him more gold for his wares.
The Dunmer captive shackled to the Imperials looked familiar to Kalik from his time in Morrowind.... and he recognized him as Tythis Andromo a House Telvanni slave-owner and banker from Vvardenfell. During a rough interrogation to Tythis, Ras Kalik learnt why the bandits accosted him. The racist Dunmer was providing slaves as soldiers for the Three Banner War. The bandits were trying to negotiate a lucrative ransom for Andromo and the Imperials.... Kalik did not need any of this gold and he could never set Tythis free as he did with the two Imperial soldiers. His past involvement with slavery and war crimes, made Kalik's blood boil. He chose not to execute Tythis, as he figured the worse punishment for this former rich and opulent slave owner, is to now be an imprisoned servant for Ras Kalik and the tribe.
Herzog Zwei the Genesis a reknown Imperial/Akavirri battle-mage. His roots going back to Akavir through his mother’s bloodline. (His mother is descended from the Akaviri, through Versidue-Shae, and his Imperial father met her in Hakoshae, while traveling) Herzog earned the nickname "the Genesis" from his father as a child, as he was his mother's first born child, and last, as she tragically died in child-birth.
Herzog was seeking to purchase an artifact from Cinan Tharn, before their capture and was meeting Tyrus while in Rimmen, who introduced him to Cinan. This artifact being the Ayelid artifact; the sword Sinweaver. After their rescue and the exchange of gold to Cinan for the sword he decided to slip away before Ras Kalik could question who he was, and why the Akavir descendant really wanted that sword. Herzog was headed to Nagastani — An Ayleid ruin in eastern Cyrodiil. He had read in scrolls that the Sword would give him magical powers to meet his mothers spirit, if he performed an Ayleid ritual at an old shrine hidden there. Equipped with the artifact sword, he was off to start his own adventure but Ras Kalik, did indeed notice the sword however and instead sent a letter to Jux Blackheart (whom also was interested in Ayleid treasures), to attempt to find Herzog and acquire the sword. (*Azani Blackheart in Elder Scroll's Oblivion is Jux's descendant some 747 years later)
And so the Redguard, Imperial and Akaviri men parted ways ... While Ras Kalik went off to Elsweyr to encounter the latest threat to Tamriel, with Abnur Tharn and Sai Sahan - - DRAGONS!! Little did Ras Kalik know a few people were awaiting him in Senchal besides Sai. A necromancer survived his attack on the Withered Hand, while in Alik'r. The necromancer known as Auriek Siet'ka is also following him to the land of the Khajiits and Cacique the Sage of Ius a Shaman mystic who has become attuned spiritually with Tu'whacca (a Redguard God) and Ius (the Animal God), after being burned severely by the escaped dragons in Elsywer, is awaiting his arrival also. Aurik is a soldier of the Daggerfall Covenant that was introduced to necromancy while in the military, even though this magicka art is not spoken of openly by most of the Military leaders. He came to Alik'r and worked with the Withered Hand before Ras Kalik intervened on their plans. After the defeat of the Withered Hand, he aligned with the Worm Cult, and is constantly adapting and perfecting his necromantic arts.
After his journey to Rimmen, Kalik heads south to Senchal, in the southern regions of Elyswer. This new adventure will also put him on a path to meet a strange Redguard man. The stranger which was infected with an untreated Peyrite disease and also was the exiled from the Order of the New Moon cult, due to his sickness. He originally joined the cult to worship Laatvulon, the green dragon, mistakenly thinking it was the Daedric prince Peyrite. This confused and suffering cultist is known as Tsar al-Bomba and he is on a path to spread the disease. He was originally infected in Orccrest while recruiting members there. Can Ras Kalik and the shaman Cacique cure this poor soul, only time will tell. Little does Tsar al-Bomba know, that his infection is tied to Vampirism, and eventually the desire for blood will take over his mind. Senchal also offers Kalik his latest love interest... Aeliah. Whom he fondly led thru battles with the Dragonguard.
After the trek thru the heat, tropical and desert climate of Northern and Southern Elyswer, Ras Kalik heads north to the cold mountain range of Skyrim. His companion friend Lyris beckons for him with a letter sent by crow...
Movárth Piquine - a former vampire hunter (now infected), within the Fighter's Guild (and a secretive necromancer) was in Skyrim working with the Morthaal Guard. On a patrol mission he was caught in Frewien's ice curse outside of Morthaal with the frozen undead. Movárth's vampiric infection kept him from becoming an undead minion to the curse. He was able to use necromantic ice-magic to encase himself safely until he was freed with Freiwen, when the Vestige Ras Kalik broke the curse.
Uri Ice-Heart - brother of Urfon Ice-Heart. The twin sons of Atli and Oljourn Ice-Heart. The Ice-Heart family are originally from Markarth but now reside on the Jerall Mountain range near Cyrodiil, with their younger sister Araki. The twins had joined the Winterborn Reachmen while living in Markarth. Urfon pushed west to Orsinium with the Winterborn Clan, leaving his family behind. Uri stayed behind with his parents and sister to live in the family cabin for safety, avoiding the Vampire plague infiltrating the Reach. After news reaches him and he hears of Urfon's death... Uri leaves and heads home and is seeking vengeance. Meanwhile, his sister has also moved on to Windhelm to join the Fighter's guild. He will visit his sister, once before going to seek vengeance and she will craft him armor mixed with ice, called Stalhrim armor. Uri fearing death, after his brother's passing, falls victim to the convincing talk of Movárth at a Nordic tavern, and will also becomes a vampire.
{time moves forward through the hour-glass}0 -
VaranisArano✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭
I still don't quite see the rush. Its not like players who only want to pay for customizable Houseguests are going to quit en masse in the interim while ZOS is selling through their stock of premade Houseguests to players who want those. They'll still be there - or enough of them that it'll make no difference on the scale of an MMO - and still just as eager to buy. On the other hand, the population who wants premade Houseguests would probably rather buy customizable Houseguests. Releasing them both now means less sales for the already made premade ones. Releasing customizable ones later means some people will buy more Houseguests than they might otherwise.
I don't think you fully understand my point. ZOS is putting resources into something players are less enthused about (premade houseguests), instead of putting less resources into allowing players to create custom NPC's makes no sense. ZOS will make more money with custom NPC's than premade houseguests. This is not even debatable. The entire culture of being creative in a house and wanting NPC's to fill that house also dictates that custom NCP's are more desirable than pre-made ones. The vocal majority on the forums want custom NCP's, not pre-made.VaranisArano wrote: »I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
I don't like or dislike this. But ZOS spending money on the development of houseguests instead of custom NPC's will not favor them monetarily. All the time zos waits to release custom NPC's is time lost to sales. People are not going to rush for houseguests like they will being able to make their own NPC's.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests.
Except the time lost that they could be selling custom NPC's, something players have been more vocal about spending money on.VaranisArano wrote: »They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones.
People have been very loud, very loud about wanting custom houseguests and almost equally as loud as not wanting some random living in their home.VaranisArano wrote: »Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing to use premade houseguests cuts down on the desire for the custom NPC/houseguests players want in game. Many who have vocalized they dont want premade houseguests.VaranisArano wrote: »On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
ZOS, as with many things they do, are putting the cart before the horse.VaranisArano wrote: »Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
And during the duration of wasted time that ZOS does not implement things players actually request, is lost revenue. A LOT of lost revenue.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
To sell custom houseguests now, and then create premades to sell along with them at the same time.VaranisArano wrote: »What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.
A good example of how ZOS milks content that's "dead in the water" is Battlegrounds. Even from the beginning, it struggled for balance and population. ZOS tried to draw people in with rewards with that year's Midyear Mayhem. That didn't work, so a year later, ZOS made Battlegrounds free with the base game.
Again, look at that timeline. ZOS milked Battlegrounds sales as part of Morrowind for a year even though it wasn't attracting enough of a population to not see the same players again and again and again.
Maybe ZOS will eventually introduce customizable NPCs. I don't expect to see them until ZOS has sold most if not all of the premade Houseguests they have made at this point - which will probably be at least a year.Edited by VaranisArano on October 10, 2020 10:36PM2 -
max_only✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭On the subject of quest guests it would be nice to earn guests from Arenas. I’d love a Fa-Nuit-Hen guest. Or the “Barons who move like this”. It might even give incentive to do group arenas like DSA year round instead of only during festivals.
Or even “cheering crowd” guests.
And speaking of crowds, I’d want group guests. Even if they’re stationary I want bandits and outlaws from delves saying their lines while sitting and standing around a campfire.Edited by max_only on October 10, 2020 10:36PM#FiteForYourRite Bosmer = Stealth
#OppositeResourceSiphoningAttacks
|| CP 1000+ || PC/NA || GUILDS: LWH; IA; CH; XA
""All gods' creatures (you lot) are equal when covered in A1 sauce"" -- Old Bosmeri Wisdom2 -
Zulera301✭✭✭✭✭Like I do every time I see this thread, Im going to advocate for being able to place our alts as houseguests in some capacity. I dont care if I have to wait, if this feature becomes a reality, that's all that matters.
as for dialogue (one of the hallmarks and things that makes the existing houseguests interesting at all), I'd frankly be fine with the generic "hail"/"what is it?"/"yes?" dialogue that generic NPCs have throughout the game world already. The voice.tone would, of course, depend on the race of the character and which voice option you chose at creation.
That is all. I require nothing further from ZOS if they ever implement such a system.Shortly after the formation of the Ebonheart Pact, a Nord woman was given a tour of the Tribunal Temple. When later asked about the experience, she seemed upset. Suffice to say, the Dunmer were not pleased to hear this, and thus they inquired further.
"Well," the Nord frowned, "the priests were very angry and unwelcoming. They kept shouting things at me like "you can't drink that mead in here!" and "somebody stop her, she's running naked!" and "we can't catch her; she's covered in grease!""4 -
NotaDaedraWorshipper✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭How would they even implement custom NPCs? Or placeable alts? That sounds like a lot of data usage that is bound to bug.
I'm happy with premades, as long as we get a nice variety that is not too expensive. Also a bard houseguests. Give me some of that sweet music.[Lie] Of course! I don't even worship Daedra!2 -
Raideen✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »
I still don't quite see the rush. Its not like players who only want to pay for customizable Houseguests are going to quit en masse in the interim while ZOS is selling through their stock of premade Houseguests to players who want those. They'll still be there - or enough of them that it'll make no difference on the scale of an MMO - and still just as eager to buy. On the other hand, the population who wants premade Houseguests would probably rather buy customizable Houseguests. Releasing them both now means less sales for the already made premade ones. Releasing customizable ones later means some people will buy more Houseguests than they might otherwise.
I don't think you fully understand my point. ZOS is putting resources into something players are less enthused about (premade houseguests), instead of putting less resources into allowing players to create custom NPC's makes no sense. ZOS will make more money with custom NPC's than premade houseguests. This is not even debatable. The entire culture of being creative in a house and wanting NPC's to fill that house also dictates that custom NCP's are more desirable than pre-made ones. The vocal majority on the forums want custom NCP's, not pre-made.VaranisArano wrote: »I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
I don't like or dislike this. But ZOS spending money on the development of houseguests instead of custom NPC's will not favor them monetarily. All the time zos waits to release custom NPC's is time lost to sales. People are not going to rush for houseguests like they will being able to make their own NPC's.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests.
Except the time lost that they could be selling custom NPC's, something players have been more vocal about spending money on.VaranisArano wrote: »They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones.
People have been very loud, very loud about wanting custom houseguests and almost equally as loud as not wanting some random living in their home.VaranisArano wrote: »Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing to use premade houseguests cuts down on the desire for the custom NPC/houseguests players want in game. Many who have vocalized they dont want premade houseguests.VaranisArano wrote: »On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
ZOS, as with many things they do, are putting the cart before the horse.VaranisArano wrote: »Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
And during the duration of wasted time that ZOS does not implement things players actually request, is lost revenue. A LOT of lost revenue.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
To sell custom houseguests now, and then create premades to sell along with them at the same time.VaranisArano wrote: »What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.
A good example of how ZOS milks content that's "dead in the water" is Battlegrounds. Even from the beginning, it struggled for balance and population. ZOS tried to draw people in with rewards with that year's Midyear Mayhem. That didn't work, so a year later, ZOS made Battlegrounds free with the base game.
Again, look at that timeline. ZOS milked Battlegrounds sales as part of Morrowind for a year even though it wasn't attracting enough of a population to not see the same players again and again and again.
Maybe ZOS will eventually introduce customizable NPCs. I don't expect to see them until ZOS has sold most if not all of the premade Houseguests they have made at this point - which will probably be at least a year.
This is really simple.
Custom NPC's will make, over the course of the lifetime of the game easily 10x as much money as premade houseguests and that is being EXTREMELY conservative. I would argue 100'sx more.
Every Single Day that ZOS does not introduce custom NPC/Housguests, they are losing massive amounts of money. No amount of premade houseguests will make as much money as custom NPC's. Now that the bag is out, and the possibility exists, players are going to want to see custom NPC's. There are zero technical reasons this can't happen, every part that is needed to create them already exists in game.
Custom NPC/Houseguests tie into every customization aspect/crown store item in game. Premade houseguests do not.
Custom NPC/Houseguests create plethora of reasons for customers to purchase other things in the crown store (I already explained this, perhaps you should read my post thoroughly). Premade NPC's will not do this.
Custom NPC's/Houseguests would/could actually drive house sales, crown or for gold. Premade houseguests will not have this same effect.
If ZOS thinks that premade houseguests will be the deciding factor into whether or not players want custom houseguests in their home, then ZOS is not considering things thoroughly enough, even when this is what players are explaining what they want. As I stated before, they are putting the cart before the horse. Custom NPC/Houseguests are infinitely more desirable to the housing community than premade houseguests. If people do not buy enough custom NPC's for their homes, then they most certainly will not purchase premade houseguests, but just because players are not purchasing enough premade houseguests does not mean they would not purchase custom ones.
And as I have stated three times now. Custom houseguests, if done properly, would tie into the same items the player has purchased from the crown store.
Want to drive female attire sales to men? Give mem the option to have a female houseguest.
Want to drive male attire sales to women? Give women the option to have a male houseguest.
Want to drive any form of customization item sales to both players, give them custom NPC houseguests.
Every day ZOS waits, is money left on the table and from a business perspective that is not how things should be run.
1 -
eso_lags✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Your taste is extremely suspect sometimes and customizable NPCs would have people going nuts. The burn victim historian, cat people and physically unfit ex Solitude guards with weak immune systems are not most peoples cup of tea. What are you afraid of?
[snip] Just look at the number of mounts you can obtain in game vs a game like wow, or some other mmos. Its gross. Of course they wont let you customize npcs, they will put 100 different ones on the crown store, over time, so you buy the ones you like.
The crown store is a black hole in this game. They've stayed away from p2w, which is something people really care about it games, but some of us equally care about getting cool items and looks in game without having to spend money. But thats not how zos operates. They'll throw you a bone here and there, but 99% of the coolest new items will go on the crown store, be re skinned, and worse go in crown crates. I expect we will see some of the cooler npcs in crown crates as well.
Personally I think locking the coolest things in game behind rng loot boxes is disgusting. Especially with the radiant apex rewards where you could literally spend thousands of dollars and never see the item you want. That is something that should never happen, there should always be a way to get something. At least if there are npcs in the crates youll be able to buy them with gems.
Ive never played an mmo with such a ravenous cash shop, and its kind of mind blowing. With the money this company makes from dlcs, chapters, eso plus, crown crates, and the countless amount of items on the crown store (including the furnishing purchase tab in your housing menu), I dont know why they cant offer more epic items in game, or why they have to try to milk everything so much.
[Edited to remove Bashing]Edited by ZOS_ConnorG on October 11, 2020 1:36PM4 -
VaranisArano✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »
I still don't quite see the rush. Its not like players who only want to pay for customizable Houseguests are going to quit en masse in the interim while ZOS is selling through their stock of premade Houseguests to players who want those. They'll still be there - or enough of them that it'll make no difference on the scale of an MMO - and still just as eager to buy. On the other hand, the population who wants premade Houseguests would probably rather buy customizable Houseguests. Releasing them both now means less sales for the already made premade ones. Releasing customizable ones later means some people will buy more Houseguests than they might otherwise.
I don't think you fully understand my point. ZOS is putting resources into something players are less enthused about (premade houseguests), instead of putting less resources into allowing players to create custom NPC's makes no sense. ZOS will make more money with custom NPC's than premade houseguests. This is not even debatable. The entire culture of being creative in a house and wanting NPC's to fill that house also dictates that custom NCP's are more desirable than pre-made ones. The vocal majority on the forums want custom NCP's, not pre-made.VaranisArano wrote: »I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
I don't like or dislike this. But ZOS spending money on the development of houseguests instead of custom NPC's will not favor them monetarily. All the time zos waits to release custom NPC's is time lost to sales. People are not going to rush for houseguests like they will being able to make their own NPC's.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests.
Except the time lost that they could be selling custom NPC's, something players have been more vocal about spending money on.VaranisArano wrote: »They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones.
People have been very loud, very loud about wanting custom houseguests and almost equally as loud as not wanting some random living in their home.VaranisArano wrote: »Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing to use premade houseguests cuts down on the desire for the custom NPC/houseguests players want in game. Many who have vocalized they dont want premade houseguests.VaranisArano wrote: »On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
ZOS, as with many things they do, are putting the cart before the horse.VaranisArano wrote: »Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
And during the duration of wasted time that ZOS does not implement things players actually request, is lost revenue. A LOT of lost revenue.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
To sell custom houseguests now, and then create premades to sell along with them at the same time.VaranisArano wrote: »What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.
A good example of how ZOS milks content that's "dead in the water" is Battlegrounds. Even from the beginning, it struggled for balance and population. ZOS tried to draw people in with rewards with that year's Midyear Mayhem. That didn't work, so a year later, ZOS made Battlegrounds free with the base game.
Again, look at that timeline. ZOS milked Battlegrounds sales as part of Morrowind for a year even though it wasn't attracting enough of a population to not see the same players again and again and again.
Maybe ZOS will eventually introduce customizable NPCs. I don't expect to see them until ZOS has sold most if not all of the premade Houseguests they have made at this point - which will probably be at least a year.
This is really simple.
Custom NPC's will make, over the course of the lifetime of the game easily 10x as much money as premade houseguests and that is being EXTREMELY conservative. I would argue 100'sx more.
Every Single Day that ZOS does not introduce custom NPC/Housguests, they are losing massive amounts of money. No amount of premade houseguests will make as much money as custom NPC's. Now that the bag is out, and the possibility exists, players are going to want to see custom NPC's. There are zero technical reasons this can't happen, every part that is needed to create them already exists in game.
Custom NPC/Houseguests tie into every customization aspect/crown store item in game. Premade houseguests do not.
Custom NPC/Houseguests create plethora of reasons for customers to purchase other things in the crown store (I already explained this, perhaps you should read my post thoroughly). Premade NPC's will not do this.
Custom NPC's/Houseguests would/could actually drive house sales, crown or for gold. Premade houseguests will not have this same effect.
If ZOS thinks that premade houseguests will be the deciding factor into whether or not players want custom houseguests in their home, then ZOS is not considering things thoroughly enough, even when this is what players are explaining what they want. As I stated before, they are putting the cart before the horse. Custom NPC/Houseguests are infinitely more desirable to the housing community than premade houseguests. If people do not buy enough custom NPC's for their homes, then they most certainly will not purchase premade houseguests, but just because players are not purchasing enough premade houseguests does not mean they would not purchase custom ones.
And as I have stated three times now. Custom houseguests, if done properly, would tie into the same items the player has purchased from the crown store.
Want to drive female attire sales to men? Give mem the option to have a female houseguest.
Want to drive male attire sales to women? Give women the option to have a male houseguest.
Want to drive any form of customization item sales to both players, give them custom NPC houseguests.
Every day ZOS waits, is money left on the table and from a business perspective that is not how things should be run
I understand your point that people really want this and that ZOS will make money from related sales.
But if ZOS sells their premade Houseguests first and then sells the custom houseguests, say, a year later...people are still going to really want custom houseguests and buy related stuff. They'll still spend money on it. We can argue about "Well, they'll spend it right now instead of a year from now" but this is an MMO - "right now" is a little less important than setting up a revenue stream.
We're basically talking about planned obsolescence for a digital good here. Houseguests (as with a lot of Housing items) seem like a prime set-up for that: Coming out with a new model of premade houseguest with minor changes is cheap enough, while players who want it will buy it.
Customizable Houseguests cuts that revenue stream off at the knees by giving players exactly what they want. Why buy a premade when you can make your own? It then sets up a different second revenue stream where players buy accessories/items for their customizations.
Again, we can argue as you do that the second revenue stream is incredibly superior and thus ZOS should throw out their planned obsolescence model and immediately give players what they want.
Or, we can argue as I do, that ZOS already made a number of houseguests, so they might as well milk players for the first revenue stream and then release the customized option in order to set up the second revenue stream and pick up the players who really really want the custom NPCs while double milking players who buy both options. On the time span of an MMO, its less important to get all the cash now, and more important to manage those revenue streams over the years.
Or we can decide that we just disagree about what ZOS is gonna do and leave it there.
But tell you what.
If I'm wrong and ZOS releases custom NPCs in the near future instead of dribbling out their premade ones, I'll be delighted.2 -
Ostacia✭✭✭✭✭On the subject of quest guests it would be nice to earn guests from Arenas. I’d love a Fa-Nuit-Hen guest.
Same! Maybe it's Stockholm Syndrome, but I really like Fa-Nuit-Hen. So gracious!
PC/ NA
Imagination is the real and eternal world of which this vegetable universe is but a faint shadow. -- William Blake1 -
Raideen✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »VaranisArano wrote: »
I still don't quite see the rush. Its not like players who only want to pay for customizable Houseguests are going to quit en masse in the interim while ZOS is selling through their stock of premade Houseguests to players who want those. They'll still be there - or enough of them that it'll make no difference on the scale of an MMO - and still just as eager to buy. On the other hand, the population who wants premade Houseguests would probably rather buy customizable Houseguests. Releasing them both now means less sales for the already made premade ones. Releasing customizable ones later means some people will buy more Houseguests than they might otherwise.
I don't think you fully understand my point. ZOS is putting resources into something players are less enthused about (premade houseguests), instead of putting less resources into allowing players to create custom NPC's makes no sense. ZOS will make more money with custom NPC's than premade houseguests. This is not even debatable. The entire culture of being creative in a house and wanting NPC's to fill that house also dictates that custom NCP's are more desirable than pre-made ones. The vocal majority on the forums want custom NCP's, not pre-made.VaranisArano wrote: »I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
I don't like or dislike this. But ZOS spending money on the development of houseguests instead of custom NPC's will not favor them monetarily. All the time zos waits to release custom NPC's is time lost to sales. People are not going to rush for houseguests like they will being able to make their own NPC's.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests.
Except the time lost that they could be selling custom NPC's, something players have been more vocal about spending money on.VaranisArano wrote: »They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones.
People have been very loud, very loud about wanting custom houseguests and almost equally as loud as not wanting some random living in their home.VaranisArano wrote: »Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing to use premade houseguests cuts down on the desire for the custom NPC/houseguests players want in game. Many who have vocalized they dont want premade houseguests.VaranisArano wrote: »On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
ZOS, as with many things they do, are putting the cart before the horse.VaranisArano wrote: »Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
And during the duration of wasted time that ZOS does not implement things players actually request, is lost revenue. A LOT of lost revenue.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
To sell custom houseguests now, and then create premades to sell along with them at the same time.VaranisArano wrote: »What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.
A good example of how ZOS milks content that's "dead in the water" is Battlegrounds. Even from the beginning, it struggled for balance and population. ZOS tried to draw people in with rewards with that year's Midyear Mayhem. That didn't work, so a year later, ZOS made Battlegrounds free with the base game.
Again, look at that timeline. ZOS milked Battlegrounds sales as part of Morrowind for a year even though it wasn't attracting enough of a population to not see the same players again and again and again.
Maybe ZOS will eventually introduce customizable NPCs. I don't expect to see them until ZOS has sold most if not all of the premade Houseguests they have made at this point - which will probably be at least a year.
This is really simple.
Custom NPC's will make, over the course of the lifetime of the game easily 10x as much money as premade houseguests and that is being EXTREMELY conservative. I would argue 100'sx more.
Every Single Day that ZOS does not introduce custom NPC/Housguests, they are losing massive amounts of money. No amount of premade houseguests will make as much money as custom NPC's. Now that the bag is out, and the possibility exists, players are going to want to see custom NPC's. There are zero technical reasons this can't happen, every part that is needed to create them already exists in game.
Custom NPC/Houseguests tie into every customization aspect/crown store item in game. Premade houseguests do not.
Custom NPC/Houseguests create plethora of reasons for customers to purchase other things in the crown store (I already explained this, perhaps you should read my post thoroughly). Premade NPC's will not do this.
Custom NPC's/Houseguests would/could actually drive house sales, crown or for gold. Premade houseguests will not have this same effect.
If ZOS thinks that premade houseguests will be the deciding factor into whether or not players want custom houseguests in their home, then ZOS is not considering things thoroughly enough, even when this is what players are explaining what they want. As I stated before, they are putting the cart before the horse. Custom NPC/Houseguests are infinitely more desirable to the housing community than premade houseguests. If people do not buy enough custom NPC's for their homes, then they most certainly will not purchase premade houseguests, but just because players are not purchasing enough premade houseguests does not mean they would not purchase custom ones.
And as I have stated three times now. Custom houseguests, if done properly, would tie into the same items the player has purchased from the crown store.
Want to drive female attire sales to men? Give mem the option to have a female houseguest.
Want to drive male attire sales to women? Give women the option to have a male houseguest.
Want to drive any form of customization item sales to both players, give them custom NPC houseguests.
Every day ZOS waits, is money left on the table and from a business perspective that is not how things should be run
I understand your point that people really want this and that ZOS will make money from related sales.
But if ZOS sells their premade Houseguests first and then sells the custom houseguests, say, a year later...people are still going to really want custom houseguests and buy related stuff. They'll still spend money on it. We can argue about "Well, they'll spend it right now instead of a year from now" but this is an MMO - "right now" is a little less important than setting up a revenue stream.
We're basically talking about planned obsolescence for a digital good here. Houseguests (as with a lot of Housing items) seem like a prime set-up for that: Coming out with a new model of premade houseguest with minor changes is cheap enough, while players who want it will buy it.
Customizable Houseguests cuts that revenue stream off at the knees by giving players exactly what they want. Why buy a premade when you can make your own? It then sets up a different second revenue stream where players buy accessories/items for their customizations.
Again, we can argue as you do that the second revenue stream is incredibly superior and thus ZOS should throw out their planned obsolescence model and immediately give players what they want.
Or, we can argue as I do, that ZOS already made a number of houseguests, so they might as well milk players for the first revenue stream and then release the customized option in order to set up the second revenue stream and pick up the players who really really want the custom NPCs while double milking players who buy both options. On the time span of an MMO, its less important to get all the cash now, and more important to manage those revenue streams over the years.
Or we can decide that we just disagree about what ZOS is gonna do and leave it there.
But tell you what.
If I'm wrong and ZOS releases custom NPCs in the near future instead of dribbling out their premade ones, I'll be delighted.
So essentially, premades are nothing more than "filler" to leech on players wallets until ZOS gets the custom NPC system created.
smh....0 -
Nomadic_Atmoran✭✭✭✭✭
✭VaranisArano wrote: »VaranisArano wrote: »
I still don't quite see the rush. Its not like players who only want to pay for customizable Houseguests are going to quit en masse in the interim while ZOS is selling through their stock of premade Houseguests to players who want those. They'll still be there - or enough of them that it'll make no difference on the scale of an MMO - and still just as eager to buy. On the other hand, the population who wants premade Houseguests would probably rather buy customizable Houseguests. Releasing them both now means less sales for the already made premade ones. Releasing customizable ones later means some people will buy more Houseguests than they might otherwise.
I don't think you fully understand my point. ZOS is putting resources into something players are less enthused about (premade houseguests), instead of putting less resources into allowing players to create custom NPC's makes no sense. ZOS will make more money with custom NPC's than premade houseguests. This is not even debatable. The entire culture of being creative in a house and wanting NPC's to fill that house also dictates that custom NCP's are more desirable than pre-made ones. The vocal majority on the forums want custom NCP's, not pre-made.VaranisArano wrote: »I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
I don't like or dislike this. But ZOS spending money on the development of houseguests instead of custom NPC's will not favor them monetarily. All the time zos waits to release custom NPC's is time lost to sales. People are not going to rush for houseguests like they will being able to make their own NPC's.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests.
Except the time lost that they could be selling custom NPC's, something players have been more vocal about spending money on.VaranisArano wrote: »They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones.
People have been very loud, very loud about wanting custom houseguests and almost equally as loud as not wanting some random living in their home.VaranisArano wrote: »Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing to use premade houseguests cuts down on the desire for the custom NPC/houseguests players want in game. Many who have vocalized they dont want premade houseguests.VaranisArano wrote: »On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
ZOS, as with many things they do, are putting the cart before the horse.VaranisArano wrote: »Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
And during the duration of wasted time that ZOS does not implement things players actually request, is lost revenue. A LOT of lost revenue.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
To sell custom houseguests now, and then create premades to sell along with them at the same time.VaranisArano wrote: »What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.
A good example of how ZOS milks content that's "dead in the water" is Battlegrounds. Even from the beginning, it struggled for balance and population. ZOS tried to draw people in with rewards with that year's Midyear Mayhem. That didn't work, so a year later, ZOS made Battlegrounds free with the base game.
Again, look at that timeline. ZOS milked Battlegrounds sales as part of Morrowind for a year even though it wasn't attracting enough of a population to not see the same players again and again and again.
Maybe ZOS will eventually introduce customizable NPCs. I don't expect to see them until ZOS has sold most if not all of the premade Houseguests they have made at this point - which will probably be at least a year.
This is really simple.
Custom NPC's will make, over the course of the lifetime of the game easily 10x as much money as premade houseguests and that is being EXTREMELY conservative. I would argue 100'sx more.
Every Single Day that ZOS does not introduce custom NPC/Housguests, they are losing massive amounts of money. No amount of premade houseguests will make as much money as custom NPC's. Now that the bag is out, and the possibility exists, players are going to want to see custom NPC's. There are zero technical reasons this can't happen, every part that is needed to create them already exists in game.
Custom NPC/Houseguests tie into every customization aspect/crown store item in game. Premade houseguests do not.
Custom NPC/Houseguests create plethora of reasons for customers to purchase other things in the crown store (I already explained this, perhaps you should read my post thoroughly). Premade NPC's will not do this.
Custom NPC's/Houseguests would/could actually drive house sales, crown or for gold. Premade houseguests will not have this same effect.
If ZOS thinks that premade houseguests will be the deciding factor into whether or not players want custom houseguests in their home, then ZOS is not considering things thoroughly enough, even when this is what players are explaining what they want. As I stated before, they are putting the cart before the horse. Custom NPC/Houseguests are infinitely more desirable to the housing community than premade houseguests. If people do not buy enough custom NPC's for their homes, then they most certainly will not purchase premade houseguests, but just because players are not purchasing enough premade houseguests does not mean they would not purchase custom ones.
And as I have stated three times now. Custom houseguests, if done properly, would tie into the same items the player has purchased from the crown store.
Want to drive female attire sales to men? Give mem the option to have a female houseguest.
Want to drive male attire sales to women? Give women the option to have a male houseguest.
Want to drive any form of customization item sales to both players, give them custom NPC houseguests.
Every day ZOS waits, is money left on the table and from a business perspective that is not how things should be run
I understand your point that people really want this and that ZOS will make money from related sales.
But if ZOS sells their premade Houseguests first and then sells the custom houseguests, say, a year later...people are still going to really want custom houseguests and buy related stuff. They'll still spend money on it. We can argue about "Well, they'll spend it right now instead of a year from now" but this is an MMO - "right now" is a little less important than setting up a revenue stream.
We're basically talking about planned obsolescence for a digital good here. Houseguests (as with a lot of Housing items) seem like a prime set-up for that: Coming out with a new model of premade houseguest with minor changes is cheap enough, while players who want it will buy it.
Customizable Houseguests cuts that revenue stream off at the knees by giving players exactly what they want. Why buy a premade when you can make your own? It then sets up a different second revenue stream where players buy accessories/items for their customizations.
Again, we can argue as you do that the second revenue stream is incredibly superior and thus ZOS should throw out their planned obsolescence model and immediately give players what they want.
Or, we can argue as I do, that ZOS already made a number of houseguests, so they might as well milk players for the first revenue stream and then release the customized option in order to set up the second revenue stream and pick up the players who really really want the custom NPCs while double milking players who buy both options. On the time span of an MMO, its less important to get all the cash now, and more important to manage those revenue streams over the years.
Or we can decide that we just disagree about what ZOS is gonna do and leave it there.
But tell you what.
If I'm wrong and ZOS releases custom NPCs in the near future instead of dribbling out their premade ones, I'll be delighted.
So essentially, premades are nothing more than "filler" to leech on players wallets until ZOS gets the custom NPC system created.
smh....
I have little faith in ZOS to actually wise up in this situation. You have to have zero insight into the housing community and its culture to miss this kind of mark.Penniless Sellsword CompanyCaptain Paramount Jorrhaq VhentKorith Eaglecry - Laerinel Rhaev - Enrerion - Caius Berilius - Seylina Ithvala - Signa Squallrider - H'Vak the GrimjawlYynril Rothvani - Tenarei Rhaev - Bathes-In-Coin - Dazsh Ro Khar - Aredyhel - Reads-To-Frogs - Azjani Ma'LesKheshna gra-Gharbuk - Gallisten Bondurant - Aban Shahid Bakr - Etain Maquier - Atsu Kalame - Faulpia Severinus0 -
Shardaxx✭✭✭✭✭BAAAAAARRRRRRDDDDDDPS4 - Europe - Shardaxx - Wood Elf Nightblade - Aldmeri Dominion1 -
Hallothiel✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭Quite like the Khajiit one. Rather amusing.
Yes, dear Shardaxx, a bard would be lovely,but they would need to have an EXTENSIVE repertoire as likely to go mad if hear certain songs.
(The plane-meld is not bloody nigh, I’ve thwarted it numerous times by now)2 -
VaranisArano✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭✭VaranisArano wrote: »VaranisArano wrote: »
I still don't quite see the rush. Its not like players who only want to pay for customizable Houseguests are going to quit en masse in the interim while ZOS is selling through their stock of premade Houseguests to players who want those. They'll still be there - or enough of them that it'll make no difference on the scale of an MMO - and still just as eager to buy. On the other hand, the population who wants premade Houseguests would probably rather buy customizable Houseguests. Releasing them both now means less sales for the already made premade ones. Releasing customizable ones later means some people will buy more Houseguests than they might otherwise.
I don't think you fully understand my point. ZOS is putting resources into something players are less enthused about (premade houseguests), instead of putting less resources into allowing players to create custom NPC's makes no sense. ZOS will make more money with custom NPC's than premade houseguests. This is not even debatable. The entire culture of being creative in a house and wanting NPC's to fill that house also dictates that custom NCP's are more desirable than pre-made ones. The vocal majority on the forums want custom NCP's, not pre-made.VaranisArano wrote: »I don't think you fully understand my point. Just because there is demand for customizable Houseguests does not mean ZOS must fill that demand now. They can, and almost certainly will, wait until their current crop of premade Houseguests has been sold.
I don't like or dislike this. But ZOS spending money on the development of houseguests instead of custom NPC's will not favor them monetarily. All the time zos waits to release custom NPC's is time lost to sales. People are not going to rush for houseguests like they will being able to make their own NPC's.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS, like it or not, spent money developing premade Houseguests.
Except the time lost that they could be selling custom NPC's, something players have been more vocal about spending money on.VaranisArano wrote: »They've probably got a number in the pipeline yet to be sold. There's no need for ZOS to rush to fill this desire for customizable Houseguests when they will get sales on the premade ones.
People have been very loud, very loud about wanting custom houseguests and almost equally as loud as not wanting some random living in their home.VaranisArano wrote: »Moreover, those sales will help ZOS A) recoup their sunk development costs on the premade Houseguests, and B.) see that customizable Houseguests are desirable.
On the other hand, rushing to use premade houseguests cuts down on the desire for the custom NPC/houseguests players want in game. Many who have vocalized they dont want premade houseguests.VaranisArano wrote: »On the other hand, rushing straight to customizable Houseguests cuts down on the desire for the premade Houseguests ZOS already made, lowering those sales.
ZOS, as with many things they do, are putting the cart before the horse.VaranisArano wrote: »Hence why I said that ZOS might do customizable Houseguests.
Eventually.
And during the duration of wasted time that ZOS does not implement things players actually request, is lost revenue. A LOT of lost revenue.VaranisArano wrote: »ZOS plays a long game with the economics of the Crown Store. Typically, players ask for new features a year or three before they get introduced. Alliance change tokens, skill lines, skyshards, outfits, etc. Heck, just look at how long players have been asking for Houseguests. ZOS is not in any rush to fill player demand. They have enough players in the game (beyond the relatively tiny group that's active on the forum) that they don't particularly need to rush to meet player demand for bigger and better versions of the new feature they just introduced.
To sell custom houseguests now, and then create premades to sell along with them at the same time.VaranisArano wrote: »What's better for ZOS?
Sales on their premade Houseguests now and, maybe, sales from customizable Houseguests in the future.
A good example of how ZOS milks content that's "dead in the water" is Battlegrounds. Even from the beginning, it struggled for balance and population. ZOS tried to draw people in with rewards with that year's Midyear Mayhem. That didn't work, so a year later, ZOS made Battlegrounds free with the base game.
Again, look at that timeline. ZOS milked Battlegrounds sales as part of Morrowind for a year even though it wasn't attracting enough of a population to not see the same players again and again and again.
Maybe ZOS will eventually introduce customizable NPCs. I don't expect to see them until ZOS has sold most if not all of the premade Houseguests they have made at this point - which will probably be at least a year.
This is really simple.
Custom NPC's will make, over the course of the lifetime of the game easily 10x as much money as premade houseguests and that is being EXTREMELY conservative. I would argue 100'sx more.
Every Single Day that ZOS does not introduce custom NPC/Housguests, they are losing massive amounts of money. No amount of premade houseguests will make as much money as custom NPC's. Now that the bag is out, and the possibility exists, players are going to want to see custom NPC's. There are zero technical reasons this can't happen, every part that is needed to create them already exists in game.
Custom NPC/Houseguests tie into every customization aspect/crown store item in game. Premade houseguests do not.
Custom NPC/Houseguests create plethora of reasons for customers to purchase other things in the crown store (I already explained this, perhaps you should read my post thoroughly). Premade NPC's will not do this.
Custom NPC's/Houseguests would/could actually drive house sales, crown or for gold. Premade houseguests will not have this same effect.
If ZOS thinks that premade houseguests will be the deciding factor into whether or not players want custom houseguests in their home, then ZOS is not considering things thoroughly enough, even when this is what players are explaining what they want. As I stated before, they are putting the cart before the horse. Custom NPC/Houseguests are infinitely more desirable to the housing community than premade houseguests. If people do not buy enough custom NPC's for their homes, then they most certainly will not purchase premade houseguests, but just because players are not purchasing enough premade houseguests does not mean they would not purchase custom ones.
And as I have stated three times now. Custom houseguests, if done properly, would tie into the same items the player has purchased from the crown store.
Want to drive female attire sales to men? Give mem the option to have a female houseguest.
Want to drive male attire sales to women? Give women the option to have a male houseguest.
Want to drive any form of customization item sales to both players, give them custom NPC houseguests.
Every day ZOS waits, is money left on the table and from a business perspective that is not how things should be run
I understand your point that people really want this and that ZOS will make money from related sales.
But if ZOS sells their premade Houseguests first and then sells the custom houseguests, say, a year later...people are still going to really want custom houseguests and buy related stuff. They'll still spend money on it. We can argue about "Well, they'll spend it right now instead of a year from now" but this is an MMO - "right now" is a little less important than setting up a revenue stream.
We're basically talking about planned obsolescence for a digital good here. Houseguests (as with a lot of Housing items) seem like a prime set-up for that: Coming out with a new model of premade houseguest with minor changes is cheap enough, while players who want it will buy it.
Customizable Houseguests cuts that revenue stream off at the knees by giving players exactly what they want. Why buy a premade when you can make your own? It then sets up a different second revenue stream where players buy accessories/items for their customizations.
Again, we can argue as you do that the second revenue stream is incredibly superior and thus ZOS should throw out their planned obsolescence model and immediately give players what they want.
Or, we can argue as I do, that ZOS already made a number of houseguests, so they might as well milk players for the first revenue stream and then release the customized option in order to set up the second revenue stream and pick up the players who really really want the custom NPCs while double milking players who buy both options. On the time span of an MMO, its less important to get all the cash now, and more important to manage those revenue streams over the years.
Or we can decide that we just disagree about what ZOS is gonna do and leave it there.
But tell you what.
If I'm wrong and ZOS releases custom NPCs in the near future instead of dribbling out their premade ones, I'll be delighted.
So essentially, premades are nothing more than "filler" to leech on players wallets until ZOS gets the custom NPC system created.
smh....
To be charitable, I'm sure somebody at ZOS expected the Housing community would like the premade ones. But if the sales are as bad as you expect, yeah, that's practically what they are. Filler.
In fact, I think you've about hit the nail on the head with the "leech" comment. Most of Housing is characterized by ZOS putting in as little effort as necessary to leech money and time from Housing players, and dribbling out just enough good things that they want over time so the players keep spending some money/time on goods or content. All the while, ZOS knows the sunk costs of Housing are fantastic. Unless someone is willing to walk away from millions in gold, possibly hundreds of dollars worth of crowns even, Housing players are the sort of long term, dedicated consumers that an MMO is going to string along and leech off of for a long time. Indeed, the general unhappiness of the Housing community is testament to the success of that formula - give them just enough improvements that most people won't outright quit, and they'll stick around and spend money/time on ESO while hoping ZOS finally gives the the new thing they want.
No, its not pleasant. It's predatory monetization.
And it's probably not accidental that ZOS uses it against the Housing community, any more than its accidental that ZOS relies on Crown Crates to sell most themed and older cosmetics as opposed to more consumer-friendly methods.
Don't get me wrong - I think predatory monetization of the playerbase is a bad thing. It's certainly a bad thing for the Housing community who spend more money over time and get less desirable stuff for it. But I can see where ZOS figures its more money for less effort, as opposed to putting in more effort to make the most money from housing. Sometimes low effort to make steady money is the best return on developer effort, letting the company spend more effort on less renumerative, but still necessary pursuits.
(There's a very similar argument to be made about why ZOS does Crown Crates, which are terrible for players, but relatively low effort for ZOS and quite renumerative.)Edited by VaranisArano on October 11, 2020 2:27PM1 -
Tabbycat✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭I was thinking about the houseguest NPC's and how awesome it would be to have houseguest spouses like in Skyrim.
I would like to see more humanoid males. Barbie wants a Ken. Heck, even Ken probably wants a Ken. There are a lot of humanoid female houseguests that I've seen on the wiki. But not so much male. Don't get me wrong, I like the Khajiit. He makes me laugh. But that guard is not exactly NPC boyfriend material.Edited by Tabbycat on October 11, 2020 2:30PMFounder and Co-GM of The Psijic Order Guild (NA)
0.016%1 -
Kalik_Gold✭✭✭✭✭
✭NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »How would they even implement custom NPCs?
I basically said how in my comment above. Same as we do with attunable crafting stations, copies it.Main Character:PS5/NA - Ras Kalik a Redguard Templar - Daggerfall Covenant
Ras Kalik a Redguard Templar, the Vestige
PvP Pure-class:
Goliath of Hammerfell a Redguard Dragonknight
Jux Blackheart a Redguard Nightblade
Aurik Siet'ka a Redguard Necromancer
Cacique the Sage of Ius a Redguard Warden
Kaotik Von Dae'mon a Redguard* Sorcerer
PvP: Subclassed
Two-Big-Horns an Argonian Arcanist (Sorcerer)
Uri Ice-Heart the Twin a Nord Vampiric Warden (Ice-Theme)
PvP: Specialty
Movárth Piquine a Nord Vampiric Necromancer (Tank)
Voa a Priest of Sep a Redguard* Necromancer (Healer)
Tsar af-Bomba a Redguard Vampiric Nightblade (Bomber)
PvE:
Cinan Tharn an Imperial Dragonknight (Tank)
Herzog Zwei the Genesis an Akavari* Templar (Healer)
Bates Vesuius of Dawnstar an Imperial Dragonknight (Damage)
Tyrus Septim an Imperial Sorcerer (Damage)
Tav'i at-Shinji a Redguard** Warden (Arenas)
Lucky Hunch the Gambler - a Redguard Nightblade (Thief)
Leveling...
Styx of Akatosh a Goblin*** Arcanist
Zenovia at-Tura a Redguard** Lycan Sorcerer
Yesi af-Kalik a Redguard Templar
======
Passives of another race used for roleplay reasons.
*Breton
**Imperial
***Argonian
__________________________Backstories:_________________________
Ras Kalik the Vestige, a renown Redguard warrior; He has been blessed to save Tamriel from Molag Bal’s destructive Planemeld while reuniting the Five Companions. His further accomplishments after defeating Molag Bal, has been to stop the destruction of Morrowind, the Clockwork City, return order to the isle of Summerset and create a new king in Wrothgar and a queen in Elsywer. These events have made him a living legend and continue to lead him into new adventures throughout Tamriel, as well as into the hearts of many ladies including the Elf Queen, Aryenn. Over many years of adventurous travels, Ras Kalik had become a loner, until he re-visited his homeland of Alik'r.
Alik'r and it's cities were overrun by the undead Ra-Netu and therefore he made an allegiance with Alik'r's own Ash'abah tribe. These Ash'abah with his help, cleansed the city of Sentinel in Alik'r desert and it's surrounding areas of the undead brought to life by the Withered Hand. After rescuing Sentinel from the undead zombies, King Fahara’jad’s personal bodyguard the Goliath of Hammerfell, who was given this name by Imperials in the region; was asked to assist the tribe after learning of the defeat of the Withered Hand to the Ash'abah. Kalik promised Goliath he would task him with fighting living enemies on the battlefield if he so desired. Goliath being a Yokudan warrior wields a massive sword in respect to the Ansei, a gift given by the Imperial, Cinan Tharn. Not many soldiers are able to wield double two handed weapons, but Goliath loves to get up and personal in a fight, so he also carries a giant maul, both weapons laced with magical flames.
Jux Blackheart is a master thief that masquerades as a Bard at the Sisters of the Sands inn, with his younger sidekick Lucky Hunch for pilfering and gambling during this time. Jux was known to infiltrate any towns bank vault he came across and even delved into Ayelid ruins without detection. Kalik can vividly recall the night he met the famed thief. Jux found himself rummaging thru a slightly inebriated Kalik’s pocket for too long, on a full-mooned night and because of his greed and the glimmer of his golden armor in the moonlight. He lost his left pinky fingertip as a lesson! But in return, he gained a new friend, as it was his first time since a child being caught red-handed...
Upon arrival back in the Alik'r after many moons of adventuring, Ras Kalik ventures to Bergama. Visiting The Winking Jackal, he runs into Jux Blackheart, who introduces him to the coin game Crowns vs Forebearers (Heads vs Tails) and Golden Dwemer (RBG).... Jux constantly takes gold from the unfortunate thru theft or gambling, his biggest gambling victim is actually his partner in crime known as Lucky Hunch the Gambler. Lucky doesn't mind losing any gold coins to Jux... as Jux saved him from Altmer slavers in Summerset, by stealing a key and sending him on a boat to the mainland years prior. Lucky spent years in slavery with Khajiits in Summerset and picked up the art of subterfuge, using illusion magic disguises and stealing there.
Kaotik Von’Daemon an outcast, and a half-caste between a Breton mother and a Redguard father. Kaotik become a pariah due to his conjuration of Daedra pets. He was taught healing magic during his childhood years by his Breton mother. His father due to Redguard customs exiled him from the desert, sending him by wagon caravan to be a soldier in the war in Cyrodiil. He happened to meet Kalik while traveling from Alik'r, during this long caravan ride the caravan he was in was ambushed in Bangkorai by a group of bandits. Kalik by chance was also traveling thru this area on his Auridon Warhorse (which was bestowed to him by his friend, Darien Gautier). During this ambush, Kalik was able to rescue five hostages from the bandits. Kaotik was the first rescued, and Ras Kalik also recruited him to be in the Ash'abah tribe. These core Ash'abah tribesmen may never be seen together in travel as they partake in their own adventures but they always know what each other is doing; as they frequent a hideout in northern Bankorai. Their hideout an old Orc castle ruin, is kept watch by Nuzhimeh and she passes messages written between them, and frequently they also enjoy her company and her bed.
The other men rescued were a Dunmer banker, an Imperial mercenary and two other soldiers, an Imperial and a Breton Knight, stating proudly he was an Akavir descendent. One of the Imperials, Cinan, claimed to be related to Abnur Tharn the Battlemage of the Imperial Elder Council (One of Ras Kalik's mentors in the Five Companions). Cinan Tharn was really Abnur's drunkard treasure hunting illegitimate son. He was caught smuggling artifacts out of the Ayleid ruins in Cyrodiil and the elder of the two Imperials was Tyrus Septim a retired Imperial navy battle-mage (now a Lycan mercenary living in the city of Rimmen) and guard to the Tharn family. As much as Abnur Tharn hated his half-sister Euraxia, he dislikes his bas†ard son Cinan more. Tyrus now a ruffian and privateer had been paid by Abnur Tharn to watch over Cinan as much as possible. Cinan Tharn a drunkard, loves to drink at least a quarter barrel of Nord mead before he raids various delves and dungeons for relics to sell on the black market. Cinan also plans to one day, run an illegal gambling ring... which he thinks will net him more gold for his wares.
The Dunmer captive shackled to the Imperials looked familiar to Kalik from his time in Morrowind.... and he recognized him as Tythis Andromo a House Telvanni slave-owner and banker from Vvardenfell. During a rough interrogation to Tythis, Ras Kalik learnt why the bandits accosted him. The racist Dunmer was providing slaves as soldiers for the Three Banner War. The bandits were trying to negotiate a lucrative ransom for Andromo and the Imperials.... Kalik did not need any of this gold and he could never set Tythis free as he did with the two Imperial soldiers. His past involvement with slavery and war crimes, made Kalik's blood boil. He chose not to execute Tythis, as he figured the worse punishment for this former rich and opulent slave owner, is to now be an imprisoned servant for Ras Kalik and the tribe.
Herzog Zwei the Genesis a reknown Imperial/Akavirri battle-mage. His roots going back to Akavir through his mother’s bloodline. (His mother is descended from the Akaviri, through Versidue-Shae, and his Imperial father met her in Hakoshae, while traveling) Herzog earned the nickname "the Genesis" from his father as a child, as he was his mother's first born child, and last, as she tragically died in child-birth.
Herzog was seeking to purchase an artifact from Cinan Tharn, before their capture and was meeting Tyrus while in Rimmen, who introduced him to Cinan. This artifact being the Ayelid artifact; the sword Sinweaver. After their rescue and the exchange of gold to Cinan for the sword he decided to slip away before Ras Kalik could question who he was, and why the Akavir descendant really wanted that sword. Herzog was headed to Nagastani — An Ayleid ruin in eastern Cyrodiil. He had read in scrolls that the Sword would give him magical powers to meet his mothers spirit, if he performed an Ayleid ritual at an old shrine hidden there. Equipped with the artifact sword, he was off to start his own adventure but Ras Kalik, did indeed notice the sword however and instead sent a letter to Jux Blackheart (whom also was interested in Ayleid treasures), to attempt to find Herzog and acquire the sword. (*Azani Blackheart in Elder Scroll's Oblivion is Jux's descendant some 747 years later)
And so the Redguard, Imperial and Akaviri men parted ways ... While Ras Kalik went off to Elsweyr to encounter the latest threat to Tamriel, with Abnur Tharn and Sai Sahan - - DRAGONS!! Little did Ras Kalik know a few people were awaiting him in Senchal besides Sai. A necromancer survived his attack on the Withered Hand, while in Alik'r. The necromancer known as Auriek Siet'ka is also following him to the land of the Khajiits and Cacique the Sage of Ius a Shaman mystic who has become attuned spiritually with Tu'whacca (a Redguard God) and Ius (the Animal God), after being burned severely by the escaped dragons in Elsywer, is awaiting his arrival also. Aurik is a soldier of the Daggerfall Covenant that was introduced to necromancy while in the military, even though this magicka art is not spoken of openly by most of the Military leaders. He came to Alik'r and worked with the Withered Hand before Ras Kalik intervened on their plans. After the defeat of the Withered Hand, he aligned with the Worm Cult, and is constantly adapting and perfecting his necromantic arts.
After his journey to Rimmen, Kalik heads south to Senchal, in the southern regions of Elyswer. This new adventure will also put him on a path to meet a strange Redguard man. The stranger which was infected with an untreated Peyrite disease and also was the exiled from the Order of the New Moon cult, due to his sickness. He originally joined the cult to worship Laatvulon, the green dragon, mistakenly thinking it was the Daedric prince Peyrite. This confused and suffering cultist is known as Tsar al-Bomba and he is on a path to spread the disease. He was originally infected in Orccrest while recruiting members there. Can Ras Kalik and the shaman Cacique cure this poor soul, only time will tell. Little does Tsar al-Bomba know, that his infection is tied to Vampirism, and eventually the desire for blood will take over his mind. Senchal also offers Kalik his latest love interest... Aeliah. Whom he fondly led thru battles with the Dragonguard.
After the trek thru the heat, tropical and desert climate of Northern and Southern Elyswer, Ras Kalik heads north to the cold mountain range of Skyrim. His companion friend Lyris beckons for him with a letter sent by crow...
Movárth Piquine - a former vampire hunter (now infected), within the Fighter's Guild (and a secretive necromancer) was in Skyrim working with the Morthaal Guard. On a patrol mission he was caught in Frewien's ice curse outside of Morthaal with the frozen undead. Movárth's vampiric infection kept him from becoming an undead minion to the curse. He was able to use necromantic ice-magic to encase himself safely until he was freed with Freiwen, when the Vestige Ras Kalik broke the curse.
Uri Ice-Heart - brother of Urfon Ice-Heart. The twin sons of Atli and Oljourn Ice-Heart. The Ice-Heart family are originally from Markarth but now reside on the Jerall Mountain range near Cyrodiil, with their younger sister Araki. The twins had joined the Winterborn Reachmen while living in Markarth. Urfon pushed west to Orsinium with the Winterborn Clan, leaving his family behind. Uri stayed behind with his parents and sister to live in the family cabin for safety, avoiding the Vampire plague infiltrating the Reach. After news reaches him and he hears of Urfon's death... Uri leaves and heads home and is seeking vengeance. Meanwhile, his sister has also moved on to Windhelm to join the Fighter's guild. He will visit his sister, once before going to seek vengeance and she will craft him armor mixed with ice, called Stalhrim armor. Uri fearing death, after his brother's passing, falls victim to the convincing talk of Movárth at a Nordic tavern, and will also becomes a vampire.
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