What does ESO mean to you?

Lysette · April 2022

Zyva wrote: »

ESO was my very first online game, and first time taking a game seriously. steam says I've put in almost 14 thousand hours now since I bought it when Homestead came out. early 2017 maybe? I dont even remember anymore.

Ironically, I bought it because it was on sale and it advertised housing. No other reason, never played any other elder scrolls game or knew anything about the lore. The story hooked me in Auridon after playing casually for about two months and putting it down a couple times. I was that typically low level player dying to quest bosses for a while. Then I finished the Aldmeri questline, got into my first, then second, then third guild which led me to trials.... and thats where I found what kept me truly hooked.

The community. Working together with a team to finish first one goal, then another. I made it my mission for YEARS to get every achievement in the game. I'd roleplay the story content as it came out, but my main focus was always different groups of friends and people that I met, getting trial completions and eventually trifectas. I love to go back and watch youtube videos and twitch clips of some of those first clears, how excited everyone was.

After pve was pretty much thoroughly explored, I spent a year delving into pvp. Worked for nearly an entire campaign my first month in to get emperor on the most populated place I could find because I wanted the experience, which at that time was called Kaalgrontiidd. It took two weeks of grinding AP to get into first place, playing nearly 16 hours a day to try and keep up with the people in first and second. I didnt yet have a pvp guild, but started to network right away. I ran pug groups taking resources, called them zig-zag-zergs and met a ton of people, learned how to use siege then taught other people how to use siege, it was like having one giant extended work group of random people jumping in all getting more and more excited. On the day I finally emped, It was prime time and we had groups of random people I had met running around to all the emp keeps trying to stave off attackers, and a nearly 45 minute fight for the last fort I needed WHILE the hammer was being fought back and forth by two opposing groups. People were shouting in zone chat, cheering, when we finally took Chalman, everyone who had run with me that campaign or been in my groups or a part of the effort excited, people I'd only just met and random friends from pve who had jumped into Cyrodil just to run help.

So for me, ESO had always been about the people. As performance has suffered a lot the last year, and content to me has not been as good, I've stayed for the people. I've attended funerals in ESO for people I've known for years, seen others get married and yes still others get divorced. I get sad as more of my old friends leave for other games. Lately I think I might be the next one of those people, the AwA tore apart a lot of my independent reasons for ongoing play, but I hope things turn around.

Thank you for sharing, it is interesting to get a glimpse into that side of the game, which I will never experience myself. The latter with relationship I experience a lot in Second Life - that is the crux with playing a game for a decade or more - some of your fellow friends will have died, some will have found someone they love and others will get their x-th divorce. A lot will leave over time, but that is not because they wouldn't like the game, often their real life is changing in ways, which doesn't allow them to continue with their former gaming habits - and they have to adapt their gaming experience to their real life. You might experience that even more, because your play style is time consuming and when someone is starting a family, there is not that much time left anymore to continue with time consuming gaming. They are levelling up in real life now.

ArchMikem · April 2022

The game is an escape. I found it at Gamestop in the middle of my Chemotherapy treatments almost 7 years ago, and it's helped me in ways I can't even comprehend. There's so much investment in my characters and account and I'm always appreciative for what I've had and continue to have.

I owe a lot of memories and eased hard times to my Khajiit. Those girls mean a lot to me.

They're literally the only friends I have left...

coletas · April 2022

Mean? Nothing... Just a game I want to play while is unplayable
Meant? The must fun PvP battles I ever played. With bugs, broken things and boring pve just to be able to play PvP, but fun after all.

Now is all past

Khenarthi · April 2022

I started playing ESO for a chance to explore more of Tamriel, and then it grew on me (at first I did not like the combat much, or that here were other players around).

Nowadays, I play to relax - one random normal dungeon, a few writs, sometimes a heist or just ever some thieving, and a couple of overland quests before bed. Oblivion and Skyrim are still great but I know those games inside and out, even with mods. And starting another character over does not benefit from accumulated perks/mats like in ESO.

When TES VI comes out I will certainly play it to death but it does not mean I'll abandon ESO. In any case, that is years from now.

SASChris · April 2022

Iselin wrote: »

ESO is life! ESO is love!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GIyTFl4Cb4

Blinx wrote: »

ESO is my first venture into Tamriel, I was playing FF14, and was getting a bit bored in Eorzea, so decided to try this game out.
It wasn't exactly smooth sailing at first, I purchased Elsweyr on PS4, and was literally lost, and confused most of the time, so I uninstalled it.
Wasn't until Xbox GamePass, that I saw it listed for free play, that I gave it another chance, and so glad I did, because this time the game started me off in Coldharbour, I met Lyris, and the Prophet. Suddenly the game clicked, and I became hooked.
I practically lived on Tamriel when Covid hit, and we were all on lockdown!

The initial experience can be quite daunting, that's for sure. I had never really played an MMO for any super significant amount of time before ESO so it was difficult for me just starting out as well. Now though I can safely say that the TES franchise has introduced me to more new types of experiences than any other game series out there!

SASChris · April 2022

DreamyLu wrote: »

To me, ESO is a side game, to take a breath aside of my main. Thanks to ESO, I discovered something I had never experienced in any games before: full freedom.

I explain a bit more: I use ESO to chill solo. I have short term objectives only, based on what I feel for when I log in. I don't care about achievements. I don't feel the need to complete anything. I do some of the daily endeavors, by luck, when it happens that it does match what I'm currently doing (ex: if I cut off a wood log and see in chat that it's for dailies, I go cut next ones).
Generally, I wander through out the game, doing stuff here and there depending on my mood, free of any obligations. It's so great to be free this way!!!!

In the end, it's a true paradox: the fact that I'm not a fan of the game (by far too many things I don't like), makes that I'm detached emotionally, what supports my feeling of freedom and I enjoy that so much that it makes me love ESO!

Hey, as long as it works for you, that's all that matters!

Lysette wrote: »

.

DreamyLu wrote: »

To me, ESO is a side game, to take a breath aside of my main. Thanks to ESO, I discovered something I had never experienced in any games before: full freedom.

I explain a bit more: I use ESO to chill solo. I have short term objectives only, based on what I feel for when I log in. I don't care about achievements. I don't feel the need to complete anything. I do some of the daily endeavors, by luck, when it happens that it does match what I'm currently doing (ex: if I cut off a wood log and see in chat that it's for dailies, I go cut next ones).
Generally, I wander through out the game, doing stuff here and there depending on my mood, free of any obligations. It's so great to be free this way!!!!

In the end, it's a true paradox: the fact that I'm not a fan of the game (by far too many things I don't like), makes that I'm detached emotionally, what supports my feeling of freedom and I enjoy that so much that it makes me love ESO!

This makes a lot of sense - I just realized, that I played all the TES games this way - detached from the storyline pretty much every time - yes, I have played through the main story line in Oblivion and Skyrim once, but I never really touched it in Morrowind, I simply forgot about the Blades. Like you I don't feel compelled to follow any given role of the game, I just do as I please enjoying my time on Nirn.

I started out in Morrowind, which felt to me like an alien world full of wonders - it was fascinating how quickly I adapted to that everyone is using some kind of magic in this world. I really forgot about the main story quest while playing and other things got into focus - like what about this dwarven race, has there been another forgotten civilization before them. I basically did a lot of things, which were not intended by the game designers, I guess - but I had fun, better than follow a given task.

And you just made me realize, that I never really played TES like intended - but in my very own way. The game has been always more about discovery and exploration than about story line to me - I could well live without any storyline in it. I do as well not that many quests - it is often more by accident that I complete one, or it is a special organization like the psijic order.

I basically use TES and ESO as a backdrop for my own way to play my characters - they have own character sheets, abilities and disabilities which are outside the game, and I role play them like this and let them have their own minds and I'm curious how they turn out based on their experiences. This is much different from the intended game play - but so what, I love it. So yes, ESO is about freedom to play as I want and be it by playing it in a totally different way than intended by the devs.

I am attached to the world of Nirn and want to see and experience all of Tamriel - but I am detached from the story lines in it, I basically give a damn about the story and the 3 faction war. I ignore it the best I can and just enjoy Tamriel in my own way. And yeah, that is freedom and I love it that way and am quite happy that I'm not forced to play it in a certain way.

Now thinking a bit longer about it - pretty much all the games I love are like this - where I can do as I please and don't have to follow a given task or which have no goal at all but to enjoy yourself. And those games, which are not really of that kind, offered a lot of different ways to approach the goal - like the fantastic Dishonored games - as well an IP of the Zenimax group. They are in a way linear, but one can play them nevertheless in a variety of ways, which differ from each other that much, that these games can be replayed many many times.

While I'm sure the devs at ZOS and BGS have intentions in mind when they design how they want their games to be played, I stand by the thought that they still very much support the idea of going around just doing as you please in their titles. I remember reading some years back on the old Bethesda forums back before they switched over to Bethesda net about someone who just avoided all the combat in Oblivion and really preferred to just go around picking alchemical ingredients and spending time in the cities. I'm betting most folks don't play these games like that, but knowing that for some it can still be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience to play like that has since made me feel a certain kind of way - not sure how to describe it but however I feel about it, it sure is positive! The freedom to carve your own path in these games is nearly unmatched IMO, not too many titles offer the same level of structure and handmade content whilst also allowing the player to ignore most ofg it if they wish and go do their own thing, and it means a lot to me that the devs of both teams trust the player enough to do that sort of thing.

Dragonnord · April 2022

After AwA was implemented, I'm really not sure anymore.

priestnall.andrewrwb17_ESO · April 2022

Self abuse - like bashing your head against a wall till you black-out. Or screaming into a hole in the ground. That being said its a decent game.

SASChris · April 2022

chllorcab16_ESO wrote: »

That's basically any ES game really : you're not bound to a linear story. Don't wanna do it? Wanna do something else? No problem.

Exactly!

Danikat wrote: »

It's an Elder Scrolls game which lets me explore more of Tamriel (and Oblivion) than any single previous game, and which I hope will eventually include all of Tamriel and some other parts of Nirn.

Morrowind was the first TES game I really played (technically I played a bit of Daggerfall before that, but not enough to really count) and while the map was massive for it's time and very detailed I was disappointed when I learned you were restricted to an island and all these other places I kept hearing about weren't in the game at all. Getting to explore the whole continent in one game is fantastic, and I always look forward to going to new places, particularly ones that haven't featured in a game before at all.

Haha, well technically Arena included all of Tamriel in it, but I know what you mean. Seeing it all put together in a manner similar to the structure of the more modern, hand-crafted games has been quite a treat over the past near-decade.

Lugaldu wrote: »

I've been in Tamriel almost every day for 17 years. The world has accompanied me through very different phases of my life, beautiful ones and very difficult ones. I started ESO as a solo player and I never imagined that would ever change. But I met someone very special and important to me here, and now I'm no longer alone in Tamriel.

It's very wonderful to hear about such a thing occurring. I'm glad you were able to connect with someone so special through a shared love of something!

KitLightning · April 2022

ESO==ElderSilenceOffline

Am I right or right

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priestnall.andrewrwb17_ESO · April 2022

Its a place I can feel I'm in control - where my actions matter. Rather than being a passenger - Its a chance to BE what I should be. It 's escapism and its a game and I love it.

LostHorizon1933 · April 2022

Back in 1975, my dad wrecked the car, and I’ve had spine problems the entire rest of my life. My most recent surgery was 2018.

When I’m playing the game, I don’t become the character in the sense of identifying with them. Something about using the controls and interacting with the virtual space on the screen causes me to not be in my own body. I become the character on screen in terms of kinesthetics and special orientation, to the point that if I’m trying to move on screen I can’t do things like stand up or walk in the real world.

However, while I’m in game, the pain goes away for a little bit.

And maybe ESO is the one chance that I have to be a hero, since that was taken away from me as well.

Well, no, I’m also signed up to be an organ donor, so I still have that, huh?

SASChris · April 2022

priestnall.andrewrwb17_ESO wrote: »

Its a place I can feel I'm in control - where my actions matter. Rather than being a passenger - Its a chance to BE what I should be. It 's escapism and its a game and I love it.

Sometimes it can indeed be frustrating to think about how little control we have over certain things in our lives, but even at the lowest points we all still have the power to make positive choices and control what we can to work towards the best outcome we feel is possible, even if reaching that point can be very, very difficult at points.

SASChris · April 2022

LostHorizon1933 wrote: »

Back in 1975, my dad wrecked the car, and I’ve had spine problems the entire rest of my life. My most recent surgery was 2018.

When I’m playing the game, I don’t become the character in the sense of identifying with them. Something about using the controls and interacting with the virtual space on the screen causes me to not be in my own body. I become the character on screen in terms of kinesthetics and special orientation, to the point that if I’m trying to move on screen I can’t do things like stand up or walk in the real world.

However, while I’m in game, the pain goes away for a little bit.

And maybe ESO is the one chance that I have to be a hero, since that was taken away from me as well.

Well, no, I’m also signed up to be an organ donor, so I still have that, huh?

I cannot imagine what it must be to live with such issues, especially for so long. It is good to hear that you have something such as ESO to delve into though, at least for a little while. On occasion it can be quite nice to forget about one's issues and focus your attention on something or someone else - that way we don't let our issues overwhelm us and become even more substantial issues than they already are.

And while I may not be able to speak on what it must be like for you, I would still tell you to try not to be so down on yourself. Everyone has their own circumstances they must deal with and there is nothing to feel about with that, it's just life, and life - unfortunately - isn't too fair overall. No matter what, what matters most is that we all get along at our own pace and take it as fast or slow as we feel we can/need to. Doing well or doing your best with the hand you are dealt is about all that can really be asked of someone in my eyes.

priestnall.andrewrwb17_ESO · April 2022

Get busy living or get busy dying. Its one or zero.

Onomog · April 2022

For me, it has been a way for me and my partner to play together in an Elder Scrolls setting together. Since Skyrim is not co-op, this was the best option. We don't have the time investment that a lot of you have (we've only been playing for the last year), but it has been fun. What draws us is the setting and the lore and the ability to roleplay together.

I have to say that this last update with the changes to AwA and all the technical issues has impacted the enjoyment we were getting out of the game. We're still committed to the new chapter, but I can't say with certainty we'll stay beyond that if things don't improve.

duagloth · April 2022

a knockoff brand name truck stop, a purgatory if you will, until the metaphoric highway exit with a better run tourist trap.

FluffyReachWitch · April 2022

ESO started as a way for me and my partner to spend time together when we were still long distance. We bought the game in late 2014; both of us were interested in the setting of TES after playing Skyrim, and we were looking for another MMO after playing tons of SWTOR.

Being able to adventure together is what we like best about the game, and the game taking place in a setting we enjoy is a nice bonus. Over time it also became a nice way to unwind, and a retreat from hardships in our lives. Some days we would gather resources or run normal dungeons while processing stuff like layoffs and health scares. When I was in the process of getting an autoimmune condition diagnosed, it took my mind off the crushing fatigue and my seemingly daedra-possessed joints. Or, at least it did when I mustered the strength to sit at my desk. My illness is under control now, and that makes it much easier to game.

These days we don’t play ESO nearly as much as we used to. Part of it is the natural life cycle of gaming; we’ve been here for years so we’ve seen just about everything, and all there is to do is wait for High Isle. And of course we have other hobbies. The other part is that we’re not that happy with the current focus on extrinsic motivation when it comes to logging in and participating in holiday events.

When TESVI launches we’ll probably spend tons of time there, especially if Bethesda adds anything resembling a multiplayer or LAN component. That said, I hope ESO sticks around in some form or another, because I would still want to explore the continent and revisit the original main quest and alliance stories once in a while.