subarctic wrote: »

Relatively speaking, I don’t mind grinding for new gear actually. Gives you something to do in ESO. Main problem with ESO is lack of new maps. No new large-scale battle map since 2014…

Second problem is lack of a good reward system. Too many cool items have been monetized. Inflation IRL will hit the crown store, hopefully.

Third problem is very boring overland enemies with no challenging mechanics.

Fourthly: a better progress system is needed. More vet dungeons should become soloable for average gamers like myself when one gets higher CP. Each time you reach 500 new CP, the reward can be that you’ll be able to solo a new vet dungeon without having the elite skills of famous ESO streamers.

ESO needs something brand new, like flying mounts and aerial battle.

I agree that ESO could do with an additional game-related activity rather than another game irrelevance like ToT, but those particular suggestions don't appeal to me in the slightest and would require a complete engine redesign. Something as "simple" as a new class or race would doubtless be a major draw and easier to implement - unless, of course, we accept the explanation that every change to the game these days is intended primarily to resolve performance/data issues.

Tandor wrote: »

I agree that ESO could do with an additional game-related activity rather than another game irrelevance like ToT, but those particular suggestions don't appeal to me in the slightest and would require a complete engine redesign. Something as "simple" as a new class or race would doubtless be a major draw and easier to implement - unless, of course, we accept the explanation that every change to the game these days is intended primarily to resolve performance/data issues.

They can't balance six existing classes, even after making them the same cake, just with different graphic effects.

Also, I think the class system failed and become redundant.

This biggest issue, imo, is that PvP and PvE aren't separated enough. Nerfs that need to happen for PvP sake also effect the PvE builds.

PvP is something that needs to be constantly balanced to make it as fair as possible, but, whilst doing that, you're also messing with the balance of PvE too much.

If they were able to split what abilities do in both PvE and PvP, the balancing and drastic changes would be a lot less. But, something like this would require a whole lot of coding (I'd safely say that the ESO playerbase would welcome this instead of new content, if it meant the game would be better in the long run).

.

subarctic wrote: »

Fourthly: a better progress system is needed. More vet dungeons should become soloable for average gamers like myself when one gets higher CP. Each time you reach 500 new CP, the reward can be that you’ll be able to solo a new vet dungeon without having the elite skills of famous ESO streamers.

The issue here is the rank/level/CP actually mean very little overall regarding power and ability to solo dungeons and do harder content - CP helps but it's not like a single player game power progression. True power comes from class and skill proficiency and using a good build. That's why you can see a CP 800 DPS doing relatively little damage because he hasn't gotten his rotation down and his build dialed in (if he's using one) but an end game player can roll a level 20 toon and still nuke things in dungeons because it's dialed in even at level 20.

barney2525 wrote: »

So the game Changed somewhat. It became, in Some respects, a bit more challenging. Isn't that Exactly what players have been clamoring for?? Too much content was not challenging enough ?? Well, they got what the wanted and now players want to quit ??

Not really.

What people want to be "more challenging" is not what has been impacted by this patch's changes.

The content that has been affected is top end super-sweaty VHM trial rewards and people trying to break into veteran content for the first time (especially people with more limited playtime)..

The first group are more likely to have the resources and time to adapt, the second group not so much, they're the ones that are going to get discouraged.

Hi all,

I am a ESO veteran player on PC EU and I have been playing since launch with very few breaks.
Here is my take on the state of ESO and the path it has taken in recent years.

Introduction:

Eso used to be a highly social game with a focalisation on grouped/playable content, but over time it has taken a direction which influences players to buy rather pricey content and play for hours in hopes of getting a desired object that will give them a 'silly' advantage in the virtual world. (Silly -> sometimes over the top, not realistic, anti-gaming)

When the game first began we had a limited choice of sets to use and we didn't have to think about it that much, to be honest. We were more involved in the content itself, how to play our class, the well being of our groups and how to pass the desired raid.

As time went past we noticed the slow but sure pace of more sets...to the point where nowadays if you enter a house with attune-able sets, it will take you a fair while to find what you are looking for and keep in mind that literally half the sets proposed aren't even used because each patch rolls certain sets back (crafted or not) and we are pushed into the new DLC.

Too much marketing and distractions:

Nowadays it feels like groups are only searching for sets and builds which they are seeing on streamer websites. Streamers these days don't feel like regular players, they don't seem particularly interested and resemble publicity agents trying to sell you builds via their platforms and I think a lot of players are starting to realise this.

Gina, you won a marketing award and probably shouldn't have told us about it, honestly. It only reflects what your job here is (No bash, just the truth in a calm manner)

Zos made 'sub committees' like a lot of corporations do to keep 'people busy'. I saw this in the form of the class representatives back in the day and this aspect of the community has gone as far as I know.

Sets bugged on delivery:

Some of us (I'll speak for myself) feel that these 'bugs' on set deployments are intentional and are pushed forward to create a bit of drama, visibility or even to bring back certain players who enjoy 'broken' builds. I can personally say that if true, this method of operation is detrimental especially if you, the producer, have had prior warnings, doubts and call outs from community members testing, playing and of course some paying for your product.

Performance and lack of innovation:

PVP:

There are many good videos from lesser known streamers who speak about the community issues in video and voiced commentaries. These videos mostly concern the player vs player realm of the game of course, as there are more fans of this content that one would think.

PVE Raids:

- Some raids were closed back in the day instead of being fixed in a timely manner (VAS)
- Sound bugs, boss bugs, latency bugs (having to reset the raid) and then as years went past -> crashes. I couldn't do a raid without one or many members just crashing in mid explantation or during a fight (This just takes my motivation down 10% each crash)
- The community for raiding is rather small, closed circuit and focuses on the 'issues' I stated above -> Meta chasing, dps chasing, not very social any more and they seem rather 'grumpy' as a whole.

Summary:

I think the mark was missed when too many hopes were put into to 'paid assets' and less was put into the human factor of your player base. We've been an extremely patient player base, a fan based community revolving around the Elder Scrolls Online, but I will say what perhaps many think: The game has become Farmville, has strong P2W vibes recently and is underperforming in relation to ping/latency/fps yet you are still asking us to pay full price and continue a not so attractive grind cycle. Many of us (with recent decisions, deployments and lack of responsibility) feel like ESO is running at 10% efficiency capacity, as if it was abandoned.

(Please don't snip or censor, I believe I wrote a correct post)

Auldwulfe wrote: »

Well, you DO like crafting motifs, and you DO like having some of the style pages that are gated behind those raids."I'll buy them via the guild stores".... which works until no one is running them, to gain those motifs and styles, and they are not being sold anymore.

Not everyone cares about motifs and style pages. I learn the ones I find on one character but otherwise don't care about them. I did buy a motif once for Honor Guard Epaulets because they are a much less offensive shoulder that blends in well with a lot of outfits, but that is the only one.

The case as I see it is that regardless of how many people feel done wrongly by the devs and want to quit there are just as many if not more people that either aren't paying attention or don't care and will continue playing regardless. This is why nothing will ever change and the devs will continue to do whatever they want irrespective of how the player base feels about it.

LikiLoki wrote: »

Pelanora wrote: »

Microsoft has a head of gaming reporting direct to the CEO of Microsoft. I imagine games don't lose large volumes of players under his watch, without intervention (if indeed that is happening).

So I imagine if the roadmap implementation for 2022 and first half of 2023 doesn't look to be turning things around on numbers (if indeed that is needed) there will be questions asked.

The problems with the game began to accumulate only because Microsoft bought it. When the new owner began to introduce his own standards and management scheme, breaking the good traditions that we recall from a series of games of the elder scrolls

nonsense th game has been broken since day 1.

SPR_of_HA_community wrote: »

Auldwulfe wrote: »

One thing I have noticed is the huge numbers of strawmen used in arguments here --- as I noted earlier, it isn't the whole game quitting -- most middle people probably haven't even noticed a lot of the differences, as, at most, it's only a second or so longer to take something down..... and a LOT of people would probably put that down to "I'm having an off day"..... until it's just normal.

This is WHY I posted the numbers of my 3 guilds --- one is a mixed guild --- with multiple chapters, and we are seeing a couple of the chapters being consolidated down into others .... we are losing the top end raiders and guys that led dungeons and taught others to do them.

My second guild, mostly RP and sales, has only seen a 2 to 3% drop, although we are seeing changes in the sales market ... which implies that a number of the Upper end people are dropping --- I tend to sell potions, and the sales of my upper end detects, etc are slowing considerably.

My third guild is mostly group dungeon runs, and went from 331 members to 26, as of last night.

We are losing players, but it's in specific areas --- upper end, and dungeon group players.

And again, as I noted earlier... that can hurt the game in the long run..... without the experience and advice, new players are going to be walking into places like Dreadsail Reef, not knowing it's a trial type dungeon... because no one talks about it anymore, and these players will get smacked around like a toddler in a mosh pit. At which point, if they go looking for a group to try and run it, they may find that there isn't one available.

That's where this issue can truly hurt, because once you hit the point where you NEED to do those trials, and bigger raids to continue to build... you may not find the people you need to work with, and it because a solid gate you can't pass.

Auldwulfe

About 55% players do quests and are not interested in group content. Any changes in balance will not effect them - even if delete all sets and skills )

20-30% players play based on vision of some different streamers.
15% players of more exp players play own builds and base their opinion on - do they like changes or not.
5% of players are clan leaders/those who update builds/streamers - a lot of them can not leave even if some of them want.

So lose of META players is predictable based on most popular views. Lose of players that are exp and do not care about such thing - is not so predictable.

Do not know information about PVP players - but i think it is based of how unkillable builds are and how it lugs in pvp.

Where did those figures come from out of curiosity? I would have thought it would be more like the typical >=90% casual that primarily quest and do open world activities like crafting/farming etc and <=10% dedicated to mastering end game PVP and PVE. The problem with ESO is that just like any other MMORPG there is finite open world content, and whereas in other games the end game is much more casual friendly, ESO its not because of the various technical and design issues. The good news is there a couple hundreds of hours open world game play, more if you alt. The bad news is if you don't alt then there is a point where the game will just not appeal to casuals anymore, and after 8 years i would suspect the casual world is trending downwards as they reach the end of desirable content.