I've thought about this issue too, and I agree so much. I've also met lots of frustrated and overwhelmed players, because there are so many systems and storylines etc.
And I'm going to suggest something based on what I would need if I started this massive game now, and of course also based on the new players I've talked to.

Ideally this should all be worked into a beginner play area like the original coldharbour tutorial, or even an extra tutorial right after that one. Where new players can play into it, instead of reading walls of text.
It could be an area one can return to to go through thibgs again maybe. Or just a railroad explanation taking people by the hand past different game systems. Like show the guild trader system by putting a dummy trader there and showing how to list (I've explained this system to way too many new players and wish they didn't just rely on luck in meeting helpful players).
Put a dummy stable that also mentions if you have a mount to enable in your collection. And a bag merchant so people know they exist, and mention that after the tutorial these are in major cities with this icon on map.
There could also be mention and a showing of companion and maybe even antiquoties. I know there are other kinda sort'a tutorials for these things, but a beginner doesn't necessarily understand going to solitude and starting it, even when the first lead is found and the info pops up. I think it'd be more accesible to show it in a limited tutorial area.

But if that's too much to make, it would be great if there was a thorough in game tutorial, that pops up asking if you want in when you make new character, but after you get out of the initial tiny tutorial area.
Just of the top of my head, here are a few things itsay something like.
Eso is a big game and there is lots of different stuff to do. But here are a few steps to get you started nicely.

-Something on mounts.

-Something on crafting and if you like crafting go here to lesrn about it.

- Something on craft resources.

-Somehting on selling to vendor/player and how to tell the difference, eg. don't vendor creaft resources maybe.

- Maybe somehting on game economy and guild traders (just mention it and say it exists, I've met too many new players that don't even know of guild traders even after weeks of play), and no matter if you want to be a part of it or not, gold will get you a lot of nice stuff lile inventory, mounts and gear, so information should at least be given.

- Something on where to upgrade inventory space and that you have a bank that can also be upgraded and hold stuff.

- Maybe somehting on where to start your questing if you want to do it chronologically, and suggesting the original main questline + starter zones, mention that guild lines can be done in parallel without the stories stopping making sense.

-Not sure, but maybe let a companion info pop up (if tutorial/info mode is enabled), at a certain level, like lvl 30, and only if the account has actual access to them please. But just show where to go to get one, and mention that they exist and can help fight when you are playing solo

-There is also a help section if you press '?'. It's like a small game wiki, but these are the first things you probably need to know about.

Or they could even display a url to an external content creator that has great beginner guides, or make an easily overviewed one themselves to link to. There's already lots of beginner guides on yt and if ypu search for them. But I think the game.directing people to really good concise starter guides could help the ones that just give up finding the right guide in the guide jungle there is, where many of the ones that first pop up are outdated.

I'm sure there are plenty of things I've forgotten, especially how to master the combat system.
The way I suggest these things sure sound dumbed down, but it really is a huge game, and I've met many players who got overwhelmed with seing all those vet players zooming about, and being in such a huge world after the first tutorial. I've also met several people who had bought the game after hearing good things, and they liked playing, but quit fast, and then came back a while (like weeks or months) after pulling themselves together and finding intro guides on yt or google. Many games have tutorials that are a bit boring, and lots of info crammed in a tutorial is also tirering sometimes, but it seems to me that people know it will help them to learn about it before plunging face first in the deep end. And I honestly found the coldharbour tutorial.quite nice back when I started in beta - it's not something I feel like repeating, but I would appreciate more info in it or an extension now that the game is so much bigger.

Wow, wall of text. Sorry about not being brief and concise, I lose track when typing on my bloody phone, and this is something I feel strongly about because new players is so important for the games continuing succes and therefore content and updates for us all. Also, it's nice when a game doesn't start out frustrating players too much

NeeScrolls wrote: »

ceiron wrote: »

But i constantly hear players saying they are unaware of where to look.

Quite simply, just tell them to look here--> https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/categories/player-guides

But it shouldn't be on the forums, there should be a "new player's guide" on the main website. Lots of other MMO's do it, I don't see why ESO can't have one, especially with how long the games been out.

We were all new players once. There was no guides like there is now when the game launched. But we all learned and got experience and manage to do endgame content. Why now all of a sudden new players need tutorials. It's an mmo. Which means interacting, socializing, playing together and figuring things out is big part of the game. So join some guilds, make friends and have fun.

There is some stuff available in-game: Menu > Help > Guides
Besides that, all can easily be found via search engine if you just use the key words "eso *whatever I'm looking for*"

Kusto wrote: »

We were all new players once. There was no guides like there is now when the game launched. But we all learned and got experience and manage to do endgame content. Why now all of a sudden new players need tutorials. It's an mmo. Which means interacting, socializing, playing together and figuring things out is big part of the game. So join some guilds, make friends and have fun.

The game has grown massively since launch. I came in about 6 months after console launch, before One Tamriel. I was able to play linearly through the main story and faction questlines, then the other two faction questlines. Organically introduced to Mages and Fighters guilds and Undaunted during that journey. Organically introduced to crafting dailies during that journey. And then linearly played through each new DLC and chapter as they released. Which led to learning about zone WB and delve dailies, which didn't exist in base game. Learned about jewelry crafting when Summerset dropped. Learned about antiquities when Greymoor dropped. Learned about Companions when Blackwood dropped. Now will have a card game to learn when High Isle drops.

I got all of those updates in order and in a non-overwhelming manner because I had completed the prior content and now had something new to do/learn.

A new player starting now? Has no clue where to go to experience the storylines in any remotely linear/makes-sense fashion past the tutorial because the moment you pick whatever random map you decide to from the tutorial zone, you are instantly bombarded with a ton of quest givers. From Stuga to everyone else chasing you down. My best friend joined recently in the past year and immediately ran into a full quest log problem from it all and felt entirely overwhelmed. I had to help her understand what she could ignore, drop, save for later and pick back up, etc. Had to explain about crafting dailies and how they're beneficial, but oh wait, you need to remember to pick them up in Alinor so you can get jewelry crafting, too, since you can't get it anywhere else. Had to explain about dailies, oh, but they aren't on certain maps because of the difference between base game and later added content. Had to explain about antiquities because "what's this gold lead thing I just got?" Had to explain about Companions.

I mean, I get it. If I joined brand new right now today, I would probably end up spending more time Googling "WTF do I do/where to start?" than actually playing the game. That's the nature of a growing MMO, sure, but the in-game guides aren't great and having so many quest starters hurl themselves at you is, frankly, confusing and overwhelming to anyone who isn't a grizzled veteran running a new toon who understands they can ignore Stuga et. al. and the world won't end.

We have a pretty good in-game help explaining many basic aspects of the game, I'm sure many even experienced players could learn some new information there. I think this direction should be developed because it is the most convenient for players to use.

Why not add new sections explaining the suggested order of completing story lines etc.?

Maybe the already existing sections should be expanded with additional information such as how to build a proper Damage Dealer, Tank or Healer, what to pay attention to, what stats will be helpful for a given build. How to do weaving etc.