Do you feel The Elder Scrolls spirit while playing ESO?

Kng_Ayumayuma · November 2022

Do you feel The Elder Scrolls spirit while playing ESO?

I need both hands to play the game. So, no. I don't.
Wait! That was a metaphor... wasn't it? Is my face red!

xXCJsniperXx7 · November 2022

I don't think it does. But that might be from ESO being an MMO instead of single player RPG. One of the issues I have seen though is continuity.

If you play Oblivion everyone recognizes you as the Champion of Cyrodiil or like the Oblivion gates all stopping at the end.

But, in ESO you can go outside Davons Watch do the ghost quest, complete it and five years later the ghosts and barricades are still there. Or like with the Plane meld. You beat the main story end the plane meld, but dolmens are still there and the White Gold Tower still has one on it Cyrodiil.

Lore is the only connection I see, gameplay, visuals, music, these don't feel the same to me. Only Bethesda really knows how to make a TES game.

Destai · November 2022

No, I don’t, especially in the last few years. It’s not to say I don’t enjoy it, but I think it’s fundamentally a different game. NPCs routines are too shallow, there’s too many unusable doors, and too much monetization.

Parasaurolophus · November 2022

xXCJsniperXx7 wrote: »

Lore is the only connection I see, gameplay, visuals, music, these don't feel the same to me. Only Bethesda really knows how to make a TES game.

That's pretty much the same. ESO tries to be brighter, more "sellable", more "pop". It is strongly felt.

SkaiFaith · November 2022

When I started ESO in Bleakrock Isle in 2017 I felt a strong TES spirit everywhere aside from "spectacular outfits" that felt missing.
Personally, what kinda kills it to me is... Radiant Apex mounts spawning here and there with super flashy animations.
I love fashion in this game, and I appreciate the fact they add styles and costumes and seeing them on players. I also like Indriks and Frost Atronach mounts for what matters, but when Greymoor mounts came out they were too much for me, seeing harrowstorm red thunders everywhere... And since then the trend has continued with horses with flying fishes around and similar stuff.
I'm not saying they are not cool, in fact they are, but I lose so much in uniqueness and I can't imagine how a new player feels... So broke XD
"Vestige, you are the hero that will save the world multiple times!"
- are you sure, old man? That guy over there seems pretty much cooler than me and my slave outfit, I would bet on him, ya know...

Parasaurolophus · December 2022

Also, I forgot to mention one thing that is also bad for my immersion. These are events that replicate real Western holidays. Halloween, Christmas, even St. Patrick's Day, Independence Day, and Easter, we have matching items in the Crown Store. Please don't misunderstand me, I love all these holidays and I think that these days there should be some kind of relevant events. But how can you do without pumpkins and Christmas trees? We've never seen it in the series before and now it looks out of place in eso. In a sense, again, Tamriel has always been valued for a certain originality and otherness.

Tensar · December 2022

I am surprised to see peaple disliking the atmosphere of the game more and more after Summerset. Personally I started to dislike this new "spirit" since the release of Summerset, but the story was interesting at least.

Today I think TESO is not a good TES game anymore and not a good MMO too.

Parasaurolophus · December 2022

Recent video made me laugh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxfLnYlT5ts&t=0s&ab_channel=VivaLaDirtLeague

Parasaurolophus · December 2022

Tensar wrote: »

I am surprised to see peaple disliking the atmosphere of the game more and more after Summerset. Personally I started to dislike this new "spirit" since the release of Summerset, but the story was interesting at least.

Today I think TESO is not a good TES game anymore and not a good MMO too.

Disagree. Elsweyr was very good. Although the plot of the chapter upset me a little.

amig186 · December 2022

Parasaurolophus wrote: »

Also, I forgot to mention one thing that is also bad for my immersion. These are events that replicate real Western holidays. Halloween, Christmas, even St. Patrick's Day, Independence Day, and Easter, we have matching items in the Crown Store. Please don't misunderstand me, I love all these holidays and I think that these days there should be some kind of relevant events. But how can you do without pumpkins and Christmas trees? We've never seen it in the series before and now it looks out of place in eso. In a sense, again, Tamriel has always been valued for a certain originality and otherness.

Most of those holidays, including New Life and the Witches Festival, were already present in TES II Daggerfall, and if it wasn't for the graphical limitations of the game there most likely would have been the appropriate trees and pumpkins. On the other hand, Daggerfall is so vastly different in style from what came after it that feeling the TES spirit probably depends on which TES you compare it to. I can't say I really felt it in this year's zones though, they were painfully generic.

Also, regarding the armour styles. Not all of them are great, obviously, but I think ESO nailed many of the racial styles and I would much rather have ESO style high elf armour in TES 6 than that disgusting 'elven armour' from Oblivion and Skyrim which is the ugliest suit I've ever seen in a video game. Honestly, I don't think Zos has worse concept artists than Bethesda, the mainline games had their share of awful weapon and armour designs, and the only problem is that ESO has so many styles at this point that they are probably running out of creative ideas.

Syldras · December 2022

amig186 wrote: »

I would much rather have ESO style high elf armour in TES 6 than that disgusting 'elven armour' from Oblivion and Skyrim which is the ugliest suit I've ever seen in a video game.

Which are all different variants of the bird theme (that already existed in Ayleid armour), which also shows in ESO with the Divine Proecution and Ancestral High Elf styles. I like some variants more than others, but at least they're all conclusive lore-wise.

LukosCreyden · December 2022

Very much so. I have played Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim and also Legends and Blades. I also read the books. Looking to play some of the older games at some point. So far though, ESO feels like the definitive Elder Scrolls experience.
It has tons to explore and do, it expands upon under-appreciated races, it expands on lore and creates some fantastic new stuff. The combat is objectively better than the single player games.

Also the Mer are not hideous monstrosities (morrowind Dunmer looked cool tho).

Of course, we cannot have all the things the single player games have, for balance reasons. For example, no rushibg to grab an OP Daedric aftifact or other unique item. I feel that antiquities and monster sets make for nice substitutes though.

I personally think that the TG and DB quest lines in ESO are the best iterations, maybe with Oblivion's DB being close if not potentially better than ESO, depending on my mood.

Also, as a nice bonus, ESO's world feels more authentic and alive, due to there always being other players roaming around.

I could ramble about this alllll day. If you want me to expand further on this, let me know.

amig186 · December 2022

Syldras wrote: »

amig186 wrote: »

I would much rather have ESO style high elf armour in TES 6 than that disgusting 'elven armour' from Oblivion and Skyrim which is the ugliest suit I've ever seen in a video game.

Which are all different variants of the bird theme (that already existed in Ayleid armour), which also shows in ESO with the Divine Proecution and Ancestral High Elf styles. I like some variants more than others, but at least they're all conclusive lore-wise.

Well kind of, yes. I think the Skyrim one overdoes it. The ones in ESO have distinctly avian motifs but also manage to look elegant and practical. The ancestral one is not my favourite, but the regular one and Divine Prosecution are spot on. And the Dominion one from Cyrodiil, too, minus maybe the helmets.

Parasaurolophus · December 2022

amig186 wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

amig186 wrote: »

I would much rather have ESO style high elf armour in TES 6 than that disgusting 'elven armour' from Oblivion and Skyrim which is the ugliest suit I've ever seen in a video game.

Which are all different variants of the bird theme (that already existed in Ayleid armour), which also shows in ESO with the Divine Proecution and Ancestral High Elf styles. I like some variants more than others, but at least they're all conclusive lore-wise.

Well kind of, yes. I think the Skyrim one overdoes it. The ones in ESO have distinctly avian motifs but also manage to look elegant and practical. The ancestral one is not my favourite, but the regular one and Divine Prosecution are spot on. And the Dominion one from Cyrodiil, too, minus maybe the helmets.

Honestly, I don't understand why you don't like it. On the contrary, I would like to have the elven style from Skyrim. Especially in Skyrim, those armors looked so...alien? As if the truth is from other distant fairy lands.

amig186 · December 2022

Parasaurolophus wrote: »

amig186 wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

amig186 wrote: »

I would much rather have ESO style high elf armour in TES 6 than that disgusting 'elven armour' from Oblivion and Skyrim which is the ugliest suit I've ever seen in a video game.

Which are all different variants of the bird theme (that already existed in Ayleid armour), which also shows in ESO with the Divine Proecution and Ancestral High Elf styles. I like some variants more than others, but at least they're all conclusive lore-wise.

Well kind of, yes. I think the Skyrim one overdoes it. The ones in ESO have distinctly avian motifs but also manage to look elegant and practical. The ancestral one is not my favourite, but the regular one and Divine Prosecution are spot on. And the Dominion one from Cyrodiil, too, minus maybe the helmets.

Honestly, I don't understand why you don't like it. On the contrary, I would like to have the elven style from Skyrim. Especially in Skyrim, those armors looked so...alien? As if the truth is from other distant fairy lands.

A matter of preference, but I think it tries so hard to look 'alien' that it just ends up looking ridiculous. There is an illustration in TES Legends that uses the ESO style (here) and I would say these guys look a lot more imposing than they would be if they were dressed up like 2-legged golden-green chickens. I guess I just prefer the old portrayal of the high elves before they became big green men in Morrowind.

Quackery · December 2022

No, because I find myself doing many other things on the side while playing. I never do that with single player games, they don't lose my focus.

Clyde_BlueSnake · December 2022

As someone played all the main series games, the other spinoffs like Battlespire, Redguard, & Blades. Also as someone been playing ESO since 2015, I say,

yes.

ESO does got that TES spirit despite it different way of gameplay but it's there.

BretonMage · December 2022

Quethrosar wrote: »

game needs name police.

I've seen a disappointing increase in nonsensical names recently, and it's been the one surprising thing that I find immersion-killing for me, much more than battle bras and glowing purple mounts. A lot of the OTT visuals that ZOS designs can be semi-believed, after all, when you think about magic, Aetherius, Oblivion and what not. But a nonsensical name really does take me out of the universe.

fizzylu · December 2022

BretonMage wrote: »

Quethrosar wrote: »

game needs name police.

I've seen a disappointing increase in nonsensical names recently, and it's been the one surprising thing that I find immersion-killing for me, much more than battle bras and glowing purple mounts. A lot of the OTT visuals that ZOS designs can be semi-believed, after all, when you think about magic, Aetherius, Oblivion and what not. But a nonsensical name really does take me out of the universe.

haha makes one wonder if this has to do with the recent discussion about TOS-breaking names

BlueRaven · December 2022

I agree with basically everything you said.

I think the combat is what pulls me out the most though.

I don’t like shooting an arrow in the sky and then hundreds start raining down.

I miss the fun “thunk” of an arrow hitting a target from a stealthy archer.

And (not combat related) I miss shops and npcs being on an in game timer.

Eso is fun, but the immersive-ness of the stand alone games are so good.

BretonMage · December 2022

fizzylu wrote: »

BretonMage wrote: »

Quethrosar wrote: »

game needs name police.

I've seen a disappointing increase in nonsensical names recently, and it's been the one surprising thing that I find immersion-killing for me, much more than battle bras and glowing purple mounts. A lot of the OTT visuals that ZOS designs can be semi-believed, after all, when you think about magic, Aetherius, Oblivion and what not. But a nonsensical name really does take me out of the universe.

haha makes one wonder if this has to do with the recent discussion about TOS-breaking names

I'd rather see "Rasum-Tar" (to use their own example from the thread) than "14789265939" or "xbdxzgtszm" tbh.

Fata1moose · December 2022

For me it’s still somewhat lacking in this department and I hope with the shift in content releases they can add more systems to help move closer to the mainline games.

NPC radiant schedules: NPCs currently do not have schedules that sees them eat, sleep, go to bed, etc. they don’t really interact with one another or have personalities. Also there are no kids. Improving upon this would make for a more immersive world.
Companions are lacking compared to mainline games, they do not have an inventory to help carry things, no marriage and they do not exist in the open world after their quest is done. It would be neat to see Mirri have her own house in Balmora or see Isobel at her parents house.
Mounted combat would be a neat addition that could add a whole new dimension to the game.
I like the skills in combat but light and heavy attacks could convey more impact like they do in Skyrim. Bows would feel better with new animations, arrows that actually impact enemies and stick into the environment. Sound design would help a lot too. *Everything* in this game is a woosh sound, we need more metal on metal, wood impacts, etc to make the game sound better and more contextualized. Also magic has flame and ice finishers why can’t melee combat get beheadings (with a toggle for those that don’t want gore of course).

Syldras · December 2022

Fata1moose wrote: »

NPC radiant schedules: NPCs currently do not have schedules that sees them eat, sleep, go to bed, etc. they don’t really interact with one another or have personalities.

I'd love to see them having a real schedule, but they do interact with one another sometimes. For example, there are a few npcs walking around in Davon's Watch that will start a conversation if they meet at some point. This could be expanded, of course.

Fata1moose wrote: »

It would be neat to see Mirri have her own house in Balmora or see Isobel at her parents house.

When finishing Isobel's companion quest line (the complete one after her disposition has reached maximum) I went back to her parents house with her, because I was curious if her parents would have some special dialogue about that. Sadly I had to realize that they were gone. They really seem only to be there during that one quest where you have to talk to them. I really don't understand why they remove them after that. It doesn't seem neccessary to me.

Four_Fingers · December 2022

Feels more like older ES games spirit to me, Skyrim felt less like the true Elder Scrolls to me.

aipex8_ESO · December 2022

Dragonlord573 wrote: »

No honestly. I feel it in the original game and the triad arc, but the chapters and DLC? Been feeling it less and less each quarter.

To me it's just the opposite. As a long time Skyrim player and modder, the base game felt very nonTES like when I played it back during beta/launch. You were forced to be the vestige, and were forced to play through the zones in a specific order, etc. I quit shortly after hitting 50 and went back to Skyrim. Came back years later when the Western Skyrim chapters came out and I felt right at home. So much more freedom in the game and I can make any kind of character and give them any kind of story I want.

As far as immersion with other players, I just imagine that the IRL me can see through the TES multiverse and see all the different iterations at once, while my characters just see themselves. I just ignore other players lol.

As far as the original post about 1st person vs 3rd person, etc. None of that matters, game mechanics and art are going to change over time. For me it's the setting and story that make it TES.

DMuehlhausen · December 2022

It seems like you are expressing your need to play a new single player TES game. This game isn't that.

Billium813 · December 2022

There are a couple things that remove me from what I feel as the "Elder Scrolls Spirit". For me, it's all about the emersion and tactile feeling.

Wayshrines - the pervasiveness of Wayshrine travel removes that vale of emersion for me. I would personally like LESS wayshrines per area. Having the ability to fast travel at all times... it just pulls me out of the content. I like instanced content more for this reason.
UI - The sheer amount of UI elements on the screen quickly pulls me out of the emersion of the game. I have personally bound the "Toggle UI" setting in controls and often turn off the UI for dungeons. Would be nice if NPC text still showed up tho!
Number of players - I like seeing other players and NPCs walking around. It makes the world feel realistic and full! However, seeing packs of Assistants and Pets running around really ruins the feel for me.
Game Speed - Also part of the "number of players" point, the speed that mounts can move (fully upgraded) kind of speeds up the game for me. It's nice for players that want to get where they are going, but you skip over lots of small design decisions AND I worry that it influences designers to skimp more on the content in-between. Ik it may not be popular, but I like moving a bit slower when questing (not sprinting).

Syldras · December 2022

Billium813 wrote: »

There are a couple things that remove me from what I feel as the "Elder Scrolls Spirit". For me, it's all about the emersion and tactile feeling.
Wayshrines - the pervasiveness of Wayshrine travel removes that vale of emersion for me. I would personally like LESS wayshrines per area. Having the ability to fast travel at all times... it just pulls me out of the content.

TES3 Morrowind was the only TES game that didn't have instant fast travel through map. All others had it. And in ESO it's still your choice whether to use it or not.

Billium813 · December 2022

Syldras wrote: »

Billium813 wrote: »

There are a couple things that remove me from what I feel as the "Elder Scrolls Spirit". For me, it's all about the emersion and tactile feeling.
Wayshrines - the pervasiveness of Wayshrine travel removes that vale of emersion for me. I would personally like LESS wayshrines per area. Having the ability to fast travel at all times... it just pulls me out of the content.

TES3 Morrowind was the only TES game that didn't have instant fast travel through map. All others had it. And in ESO it's still your choice whether to use it or not.

I mean, in all TES games it's your choice whether to use fast travel or not... I'm just saying that I tend to not use it in my TES playthroughs and for me, it's an emersion element.

In ESO, the game is too big to not use Wayshrines and it could be argued that the environment is designed FOR fast travel. There are wayshrines every 5ft and not just fast travel to cities (which would be better imo). The game WANTS you to travel 5ft up the road with a Wayshrine or leave a delve by porting out (more recent design).

Syldras · December 2022

Billium813 wrote: »

In ESO, the game is too big to not use Wayshrines and it could be argued that the environment is designed FOR fast travel. There are wayshrines every 5ft and not just fast travel to cities (which would be better imo). The game WANTS you to travel 5ft up the road with a Wayshrine or leave a delve by porting out (more recent design).

As someone who walks and travels by mount a lot (and uses siltstriders on Vvardenfell and sometimes boats to other countries just for fun - btw it's worse for my immersion that these services don't cost anything, not even a few gold coins), I've gotten the impression that actually the map of each region isn't even that big. If you want to travel from Murkmire to Eastmarch, it will take a while, yes, but crossing one single region by horse takes only between 5 and 10 minutes, I think. It's been a while, but I've tried that with Stonefalls and Auridon once. Somehow the wayshrines even seem to make the maps seem bigger than they actually are, because you get the impression you've just teleported to who knows where although you could have just walked there in 2 minutes.

That said, having the wayshrines is no bad option, in my opinion. There are people who just want to fastly travel from dungeon to dungeon or doing crafting surveys and writs and such, who would complain if they were forced to walk sometimes longer distances to reach their destination. If I enjoy wandering around and exploring, I don't have to use them. So everyone can decide for themselves. And I don't have the impression that the maps lack detail because most people are fasttravelling anyway either. There's so many detail everywhere, small camps in the wilderness, animals that somehow interact with the world (deer brushing their antlers against trees, nix oxens cleaning eachother), random encounters,... I think the landscapes are built with very much care to detail.