PVE Cyrodiil?

JustMeAgain · June 2022

Before anyone jumps at me with reasons why not, I know this has been discussed ad nauseam, and I do agree with many of the reasons given in the past for why we can't have one. I'm not suggesting to take away the core PVP zone of the game; that would be foolish. After all, the three banners war and conflict for the ruby throne is central to the events that shape the world of ESO.

However, hear me out on this one, please, I do think there is a good foundation to do something quite different here. Vanus Galerion is a rival to Manimarco—what if he devised a plan to transport the vestige into the past, before the events of the 5 companions leading up to the planemeld, as a ploy to avoid it happening at all. Vanus may not be the type to mess around with such things, but extreme crises require extreme solutions (hence the duration of time spent wrestling with the idea since first encountering the vestige; perhaps even considering the anomaly that the vestige is, is the only way this could work safely). That would at least allow for some of pre-alliance war Cyrodiil to be explorable in a time bubble of sorts, and gives the opportunity for some really interesting story telling unique to what we've seen in each chapter so far. Obviously what happened has to happen, so, what if the vestige's attempts to stop Manimarco actually make it easier and enable his plan? What if the entire plan itself was, in truth, orchestrated by Molag Bal in the future as a paradox, existence of the vestige included, starting with the manipulation of Vanus (timey-wimey wibbly wobbly)? Checkmate, by the god of schemes, right?

Anyway, just a thought. Won't happen, but it's nice to imagine.

HonestLoverr · June 2022

Give us a fully fleshed-out alternative to Cyrodiil and PvEers can have it. Its messed up anyways.

robwolf666 · June 2022

Personally I think it would be a good thing to remove pvp Cyrodiil/IC from the core game and make it completely separate with it's own game/server(s). Then the C/IC in the core game made into pve areas. So the two can have teams exclusive to each.

Destai · June 2022

It makes more sense to just conclude the Three Banners War, IMO, but I agree - open it up to PVE players. There's so much potential there in terms of world-building - all the political intrigue around rebuilding various parts of Cyrodiil.

And while I think it'd be a good thing, I worry for the technical nightmare it'd be. Think of all the achievements, etc. that would have to be accounted for.

EdmondDontes · June 2022

JustMeAgain wrote: »

Before anyone jumps at me with reasons why not, I know this has been discussed ad nauseam, and I do agree with many of the reasons given in the past for why we can't have one. I'm not suggesting to take away the core PVP zone of the game; that would be foolish. After all, the three banners war and conflict for the ruby throne is central to the events that shape the world of ESO.

However, hear me out on this one, please, I do think there is a good foundation to do something quite different here. Vanus Galerion is a rival to Manimarco—what if he devised a plan to transport the vestige into the past, before the events of the 5 companions leading up to the planemeld, as a ploy to avoid it happening at all. Vanus may not be the type to mess around with such things, but extreme crises require extreme solutions (hence the duration of time spent wrestling with the idea since first encountering the vestige; perhaps even considering the anomaly that the vestige is, is the only way this could work safely). That would at least allow for some of pre-alliance war Cyrodiil to be explorable in a time bubble of sorts, and gives the opportunity for some really interesting story telling unique to what we've seen in each chapter so far. Obviously what happened has to happen, so, what if the vestige's attempts to stop Manimarco actually make it easier and enable his plan? What if the entire plan itself was, in truth, orchestrated by Molag Bal in the future as a paradox, existence of the vestige included, starting with the manipulation of Vanus (timey-wimey wibbly wobbly)? Checkmate, by the god of schemes, right?

Anyway, just a thought. Won't happen, but it's nice to imagine.

Sure. Right after PvP for everything not cyrodiil.

These "suggestions" are just toxic from people who already have almost every part of the game PvE but it's just not enough for them. They want to make the entire game PvE only. It's just toxic.

You've already got 95% of the game PvE, why isn't that enough?

xDeusEJRx · June 2022

But then zos can't monetize cyrodiil cause it's a free zone and they don't do free dlc's until at least 5 years after they came out like Morrowind. Sorry don't think that's happening, they can't market a free zone and they sure as heck aren't gonna make entirely new content for free

Mascen · June 2022

EdmondDontes wrote: »

JustMeAgain wrote: »

Before anyone jumps at me with reasons why not, I know this has been discussed ad nauseam, and I do agree with many of the reasons given in the past for why we can't have one. I'm not suggesting to take away the core PVP zone of the game; that would be foolish. After all, the three banners war and conflict for the ruby throne is central to the events that shape the world of ESO.

However, hear me out on this one, please, I do think there is a good foundation to do something quite different here. Vanus Galerion is a rival to Manimarco—what if he devised a plan to transport the vestige into the past, before the events of the 5 companions leading up to the planemeld, as a ploy to avoid it happening at all. Vanus may not be the type to mess around with such things, but extreme crises require extreme solutions (hence the duration of time spent wrestling with the idea since first encountering the vestige; perhaps even considering the anomaly that the vestige is, is the only way this could work safely). That would at least allow for some of pre-alliance war Cyrodiil to be explorable in a time bubble of sorts, and gives the opportunity for some really interesting story telling unique to what we've seen in each chapter so far. Obviously what happened has to happen, so, what if the vestige's attempts to stop Manimarco actually make it easier and enable his plan? What if the entire plan itself was, in truth, orchestrated by Molag Bal in the future as a paradox, existence of the vestige included, starting with the manipulation of Vanus (timey-wimey wibbly wobbly)? Checkmate, by the god of schemes, right?

Anyway, just a thought. Won't happen, but it's nice to imagine.

Sure. Right after PvP for everything not cyrodiil.

These "suggestions" are just toxic from people who already have almost every part of the game PvE but it's just not enough for them. They want to make the entire game PvE only. It's just toxic.

You've already got 95% of the game PvE, why isn't that enough?

Agreed, and some people really just like Cyrodiil because of Oblivion nostalgia same as Hafingaar/The Reach and Vvardenfell for Skyrim and Morrowind players respectively. But we've already gotten Anvil/Kvatch in the Gold Coast, Blackwood gave us Leyawiin, and ZOS hinted at a Skingrad expansion in conversation wirh Lyris Titanborn.

Honestly though I think its just people want Chorrol or Cheydinhal for Colovian and Nibenay DLCs.

Arunei · June 2022

EdmondDontes wrote: »

JustMeAgain wrote: »

Before anyone jumps at me with reasons why not, I know this has been discussed ad nauseam, and I do agree with many of the reasons given in the past for why we can't have one. I'm not suggesting to take away the core PVP zone of the game; that would be foolish. After all, the three banners war and conflict for the ruby throne is central to the events that shape the world of ESO.

However, hear me out on this one, please, I do think there is a good foundation to do something quite different here. Vanus Galerion is a rival to Manimarco—what if he devised a plan to transport the vestige into the past, before the events of the 5 companions leading up to the planemeld, as a ploy to avoid it happening at all. Vanus may not be the type to mess around with such things, but extreme crises require extreme solutions (hence the duration of time spent wrestling with the idea since first encountering the vestige; perhaps even considering the anomaly that the vestige is, is the only way this could work safely). That would at least allow for some of pre-alliance war Cyrodiil to be explorable in a time bubble of sorts, and gives the opportunity for some really interesting story telling unique to what we've seen in each chapter so far. Obviously what happened has to happen, so, what if the vestige's attempts to stop Manimarco actually make it easier and enable his plan? What if the entire plan itself was, in truth, orchestrated by Molag Bal in the future as a paradox, existence of the vestige included, starting with the manipulation of Vanus (timey-wimey wibbly wobbly)? Checkmate, by the god of schemes, right?

Anyway, just a thought. Won't happen, but it's nice to imagine.

Sure. Right after PvP for everything not cyrodiil.

These "suggestions" are just toxic from people who already have almost every part of the game PvE but it's just not enough for them. They want to make the entire game PvE only. It's just toxic.

You've already got 95% of the game PvE, why isn't that enough?

I think people use the term "toxic" a bit too liberally these days.

What would it matter anyway? The people who enjoy PvP would still go to the PvP version of Cyro. Seems a lot of PvPers don't like having PvEers in Cyro if the attitude during Midyear is any indication. Or is it you want PvEers around just to gank or zerg them?

Just about everyone I see asking for a PvE version of Cyro has seemed okay with "no AP no TV no PvP-related rewards" thing because most people wanting it just want to be able to do the PvE portion without worrying about getting curbstomped and spending X amount of time running from whichever Keep is closest.

And no, I'm not saying Cyro should be made PvE and PvP booted from the game. I know there are people who say that and while I'm not a fan of PvP, I don't agree that it should be removed completely just because of people who don't like it.

Browiseth · June 2022

i would love this just because giving more players the option to check out cyrodiil/imperial city's pve content would be really good in my books, but...

well, i think the reality is that cyrodiil itself just isn't a very interesting or enjoyable pve location. it's a whole lot of empty space with some repeatable daily quests at the corners of the map + some skyshards to find. imperial city is much more tightly designed in that regard, and i've always wanted a pve only IC just because the pve there is so good.

expanding on cyrodiil's pve to coincide with a pve only campaign sounds nice, and yea it'd be pretty cool, but then i guess i'd just rather have an entirely new zone instead.

JustMeAgain · June 2022

EdmondDontes wrote: »

JustMeAgain wrote: »

Before anyone jumps at me with reasons why not, I know this has been discussed ad nauseam, and I do agree with many of the reasons given in the past for why we can't have one. I'm not suggesting to take away the core PVP zone of the game; that would be foolish. After all, the three banners war and conflict for the ruby throne is central to the events that shape the world of ESO.

However, hear me out on this one, please, I do think there is a good foundation to do something quite different here. Vanus Galerion is a rival to Manimarco—what if he devised a plan to transport the vestige into the past, before the events of the 5 companions leading up to the planemeld, as a ploy to avoid it happening at all. Vanus may not be the type to mess around with such things, but extreme crises require extreme solutions (hence the duration of time spent wrestling with the idea since first encountering the vestige; perhaps even considering the anomaly that the vestige is, is the only way this could work safely). That would at least allow for some of pre-alliance war Cyrodiil to be explorable in a time bubble of sorts, and gives the opportunity for some really interesting story telling unique to what we've seen in each chapter so far. Obviously what happened has to happen, so, what if the vestige's attempts to stop Manimarco actually make it easier and enable his plan? What if the entire plan itself was, in truth, orchestrated by Molag Bal in the future as a paradox, existence of the vestige included, starting with the manipulation of Vanus (timey-wimey wibbly wobbly)? Checkmate, by the god of schemes, right?

Anyway, just a thought. Won't happen, but it's nice to imagine.

Sure. Right after PvP for everything not cyrodiil.

These "suggestions" are just toxic from people who already have almost every part of the game PvE but it's just not enough for them. They want to make the entire game PvE only. It's just toxic.

You've already got 95% of the game PvE, why isn't that enough?

The irony here is palpable. I'm guessing you only read the title and quoted the body of my post for dramatic effect, because you certainly can't have read it if you're so weirdly offended. What exactly in my suggestion is toxic? Where was my attack on you? Or on PVP as a thing? What am I saying to take away from you exactly? Why the defensive kneejerk?

You know what, if there was a pvp version of every zone, that would be fine with me. But that's not what I was saying, is it? That's a different thread and whole other topic, completely unrelated to this one. Actually, you should start that conversation (there are plenty of reasons for the war to leak over into other zones, it's a good idea, well done for a decent suggestion to add more pvp). Personally, I've always liked the idea of PVP skirmishes in the border regions, which would be more fun and interesting an approach to "pvp everything" , which is quite bland and just won't work for the ESO population. 🤷‍♂️ But again, different topic...

I'm simply suggesting some new story content using existing assets that doesn't touch or impact on the PVP side of stuff at all, chill out.

Hoghorn · June 2022

no thanks to any time travel/au expac, would not buy. some sort of pve version of cyrodiil fine as long as it doesn't mess with the pvp setup.

Oreyn_Bearclaw · June 2022

A for effort.

End of the day, the best reason to keep certain zones as PVP focused with exclusive rewards is to encourage players to give it a go. It's certainly not for everyone, but this is mostly a non issue. Most campaigns are one bar across the board the vast majority of the time. It's just not that hard to explore cyrodiil without needing to PVP. Perhaps build for a little speed, stealth or tankiness. If you die, it's just a game. You don't even have to pay repair costs.

Also, I hate to break it to people, but Cyrodiil is mostly a big empty map. Take away the fighting, and it is just not all that interesting.

JustMeAgain · June 2022

Hoghorn wrote: »

no thanks to any time travel/au expac, would not buy. some sort of pve version of cyrodiil fine as long as it doesn't mess with the pvp setup.

The time travel is just a suggestion for how to achieve the second part of your comment. The truth is there are many ways to achieve it that don't have to remove anything from the game.

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

It's just not that hard to explore cyrodiil without needing to PVP.

Not the point of my post.

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

I hate to break it to people, but Cyrodiil is mostly a big empty map. Take away the fighting, and it is just not all that interesting.

It's only a mostly empty map because of the PVP requirement and original vision for hundreds of players to be fighting across vast battlefields. A true PVE map wouldn't have that restriction because of different requirements. What I'm suggesting isn't a clone of the existing Cyrodiil with PVP removed, but a story driven PVE expansion that takes place in a separate version of Cyrodiil dedicated to PVE overland play, maybe even some heartland trial (?). That map doesn't have to be empty at all.

phantasmalD · June 2022

JustMeAgain wrote: »

some of pre-alliance war Cyrodiil to be explorable in a time bubble of sorts

It would be just a mad-libs version of current Cyrodiil; the woes of the imperials didn't start or end with the Alliance war, Cyrodiil has been a war-torn province since the fall of the Second Empire in 2E 430. Warlords coming and going, establishing their temporary empires/kingdoms.
And it's pretty much going to remain this way until Talos manages to unite Tamriel in 2E 864.

Most of the PvE quests in Cyrodiil already don't have much to do with the Alliance war, they're usually just centered on solving local problems, like taking down a goblin chief or delving into a local cave.

Sure, maybe there wouldn't be Dark Anchors all over the place. Maybe Bruma wasn't half-destroyed. But it likely still wouldn't be a peaceful, prosperous country buzzing with life.

Arunei · June 2022

Oreyn_Bearclaw wrote: »

A for effort.

End of the day, the best reason to keep certain zones as PVP focused with exclusive rewards is to encourage players to give it a go. It's certainly not for everyone, but this is mostly a non issue. Most campaigns are one bar across the board the vast majority of the time. It's just not that hard to explore cyrodiil without needing to PVP. Perhaps build for a little speed, stealth or tankiness. If you die, it's just a game. You don't even have to pay repair costs.

Also, I hate to break it to people, but Cyrodiil is mostly a big empty map. Take away the fighting, and it is just not all that interesting.

It's not about it just being a game, which I'm sure we all know. The frustration comes from people who gank you while you're just trying to do a delve or grab a lorebook or whatever and then having to run from whatever Keep is closest. And I can tell you that even in times when the enemy factions are at one bar, there are plenty of times where the whole map is still one color, which means the closest Keep might be clear across the other side of the map.

As for your last point, it's not taking away fighting. Like I said people who PvP would still go to the PvP version for fights. The only thing that wouldn't be there would be questing PvPers. I don't really think it's much of a fight to beat someone who isn't there for fighting and dies in two attacks.

kargen27 · June 2022

I don't really see the point. Creating an earlier version of Cyrodiil would be the same amount of work as creating a new zone. There is plenty of Tamriel left that we haven't seen yet. New content can bring those places to us and Cyrodiil can stay as is.

dem0n1k · June 2022

Time travel !?!? Akatosh isn't gonna be happy about that! LOL

The mighty Vanus Galerion, Arch-Mage & apparently Time Lord, sends the vestige back through time to, you know, grab a lorebook or 2, maybe clear a delve without getting ganked.

Wolfpaw · June 2022

No thank you, not interested. Resources better spent somewhere else.

Hapexamendios · June 2022

Want PVE Cyrodiil? Play Oblivion. Would like an updated version of that myself.

MrGarlic · June 2022

Or how about a 'Truce-Week' where once every 3-6 months Zos gives us a separate Cyrodiil instance (which they can do,) where PvP is not allowed in either Cyro or Imperial city, thereby allowing PvErs to complete quests, dolmens, delves, skyshards, lorebooks etc, without other players killing them. (No AP.)

Maybe follow that up with a midyear mayhem event for a week to compensate.

That way, everyone is a winner.

I mean I love Cyro, but there is a storyline in Imp City that I just haven't been able to complete due to being killed everytime I try.

Didgerion · June 2022

JustMeAgain wrote: »

Before anyone jumps at me with reasons why not, I know this has been discussed ad nauseam, and I do agree with many of the reasons given in the past for why we can't have one. I'm not suggesting to take away the core PVP zone of the game; that would be foolish. After all, the three banners war and conflict for the ruby throne is central to the events that shape the world of ESO.

However, hear me out on this one, please, I do think there is a good foundation to do something quite different here. Vanus Galerion is a rival to Manimarco—what if he devised a plan to transport the vestige into the past, before the events of the 5 companions leading up to the planemeld, as a ploy to avoid it happening at all. Vanus may not be the type to mess around with such things, but extreme crises require extreme solutions (hence the duration of time spent wrestling with the idea since first encountering the vestige; perhaps even considering the anomaly that the vestige is, is the only way this could work safely). That would at least allow for some of pre-alliance war Cyrodiil to be explorable in a time bubble of sorts, and gives the opportunity for some really interesting story telling unique to what we've seen in each chapter so far. Obviously what happened has to happen, so, what if the vestige's attempts to stop Manimarco actually make it easier and enable his plan? What if the entire plan itself was, in truth, orchestrated by Molag Bal in the future as a paradox, existence of the vestige included, starting with the manipulation of Vanus (timey-wimey wibbly wobbly)? Checkmate, by the god of schemes, right?

Anyway, just a thought. Won't happen, but it's nice to imagine.

Going to the past is a dangerous business!
You can watch "Back to the future" if you don't believe me.

Jaraal · June 2022

PvE Cyrodiil would be fine as long there are no skyshards, quest rewards, gear, or other things that people currently have to risk PvP to obtain. You wanna ride around vast empty spaces looking at the scenery, be my guest. Otherwise, no. Or at least make ALL the zones in the game PvP, and then let’s talk.

Jamie_Aubrey · June 2022

\FIX PCP Cyrodiil before you give people a PVE version

Aardappelboom · June 2022

The war is baked into the entire story and all zones, quests and everything in between, there's no way ZOS can conclude or even "advance" time (which is suggested a couple of times above) at this time without breaking a ton of content. (and I frankly love the way the entire game is set up, including how the war and the three factions play into the main story.

I fully agree with OP, that a time warp or something similar could allow Cyro to become PVE explorable. There's enough lore to allow for some kind of time gimmick.

Rowjoh · June 2022

yeah, and ZoS can create another OP mythic item, place a small handful of safeboxes in each of the 3 PVP towns and hide the leads in those.

colossalvoids · June 2022

People asking in a comments to remove PvP version of it or make some "nonpvp days" could be ignored obviously, but an idea for a Cyrodiil chapter was tossed around already, would be an interesting idea for sure making it pre-war or even after. Like the story wise it was put to an end whilst current Cyro is accessible as always more like a "memory of fights there were" lorewise. Obviously those two zones would have zero connection, PvP currencies etc. is a PvP thingie to stay as is so there's nothing to discuss really, treat like like an ordinary new chapter or couple.

World building is at a better shape and form so it would be a nice opportunity after bigger part of the map got filled in.

RevJJ · June 2022

I always see this accusation that pvpers gank pve-ers in Cyro during events, camping quest spots, etc.

PSA - The people who do that are almost always PVErs who normally never set foot in Cyro. People who regularly pvp usually have no interest in farming PVErs because there is no challenge. If you’re in the event and an enemy player is camping a quest spot - call it out in zone chat. Plenty of times someone will be happy to help you get rid of them.

Supreme_Atromancer · June 2022

I don't think even think you'd need to do any time shenanagans- a highly detailed, visually upgraded PvE instance of Cyrodiil, or even part of it, with 3BW action happening in the background and acted out by NPCs would be just fine, right?

Alternatively, add me to the list of people who would be more than happy if the narrative got pushed forward and the 3BW were to be finally ended. We'll soon be approaching 9 real world years of the same story. The interregnum was described as a period of rapidly forming and breaking alliances. As a PvPer, I think lets have some new teams, new maps, anything to break out of the status quo.

drzycki_ESO · June 2022

The time would be better spent making a pvp area (Cyrodiil) better for pvp-ers than for pve-ers

Artim_X · June 2022

I think the opposite should occur. PvP Cyrodiil/Imperial City is in a time bubble that you can pop into via campaigns, while PvE Cyrodiil is new content that takes place after the war with Imperial City being fully restored due to being freed of daedric influence. In this way the story moves forward and new content (quests, bosses, storyline, etc.) is given to the players, while PvP content is still available to all.

Rogue_WolfESO · June 2022

Feel free to come to cyrodiil and explore the open world! There are lots of opportunities to rebuild destroyed things already! You can easily travel to keeps and resources owned by your alliance and conduct most usefull repairs! Your alliance needs more that do this exact thing! Only one catch, I get to kill you if you're not my alliance brother/sister! It's win-win and tons of fun!