Do you think the seals of endeavor system is effective/enjoyable?

Gray_howling_parrot · January 2023

If yes, explain why. If no, explain how you would change the system altogether OR what you would replace it with.

fleetingyouth_ESO · January 2023

Yes

I don't ever look to see what the endeavors are but I usually get most when I play just from normal gameplay.

I also don't suffer from FOMO, after playing dozens of MMO's over the years, I don't feel the need to log into the game just to collect more virtual items that will eventually disappear.

Is the system effective? Since its main and real purpose is to circumvent foreign gambling laws when it comes to crown crates then I'd say it is.

spartaxoxo · January 2023

Yes

Yes. I have gotten some nice items without having to spend and most of them aren't much effort. It's nice when the ones that are more effort align with what I was going to do anyway, e.g randomly getting a seal when I was already doing a dungeon.

The only time I was really put off is when the week of Christmas. That was pretty terrible.

TaSheen · January 2023

Other (*sigh*) - I do the ones that are easy. And I don't spend them much (just like I don't buy stuff from the CS). So my opinion is I do the ones I like (harvest resources, dig up antiquities, eat, drink, pop ults - and I absolutely refuse to do the ones that require killing however many of whatever, doing trials, dungeons, WBs (you MUST be joking....)

VaranisArano · January 2023

I think it's effective in its intent, which is primarily to address political concerns about loot boxes in the gaming industry by providing a fig leaf of "but players can totally, eventually earn these items through in game activities" justication for continuing stuff like Crown Crates.

merpins · January 2023

No

No and no.

It's a system designed to keep you playing the game, not to earn you anything for free. It's a psychological tactic that can trick you into spending more time with the game because you'd be missing out in the future if you didn't play regularly. It exploits your brain by having you think you can reach a goal, but making the goal take so long to reach, with goals that phase in and out, that you think "I can't get the item I want this time, but I could if I spend." The more you play the game, the more likely you're to spend money on it.
It takes 6-9 months of regularly playing to get enough seals to afford a radiant apex mount. One radiant apex mount. With a system that phases out stuff in the shop every 2-4 months, you can't have enough seals to buy anything you want if you start from 0. And there are 3-5 radiant apex mounts at any given time, so you'd be hard pressed to earn any of them in the first place. I play semi-regularly, and I barely have 6k seals despite being a pretty regular player since the game came out. I only stopped playing recently, since U35.

Seals of Endeavor are part of the bigger problem system, and that's loot boxes. I along with many other people, in ESO and out of this community, have gone into great GREAT detail as to why loot boxes are bad for games. Bottom line, they're immoral but great sources of income for companies, so much so that companies would be missing out if they didn't include these micro-transaction tactics in their games. It's normal, but it's also slowly but surely getting banned in countries all over the world. Eventually, these practices will get outlawed in countries that give most of the income, thus ZoS and other companies that employ these tactics would have the most to lose for these systems to be outlawed. They NEED to start thinking about alternatives and probably pushing those alternatives well in advance to save face for the backlash that will come when it starts to get traction on being banned in the western world.

My Suggestion;

Have you ever played WoW? It has some micro transactions, but the majority of the cosmetics you can get in game--- the kind that you'd have to buy from the cash shop or purchase crown crates if you were to get them in ESO--- are available for free. You have to do content, grind killing monsters in zones or even just specific types of monsters, do certain tasks, PLAY THE GAME. Remember what I said earlier about Seals of Endeavor? They're a system in place to make you play the game more so you're more likely to spend money on the game. My suggestion is do the WoW example. Get rid of crown crates and seals. Scatter crown crate items throughout the game, you get them from killing bosses and mobs with a % chance drop rate, you get them from exploring, doing achievements (some hard and some easy), and you get them by playing the game.

This game severely lacks REAL retention holding systems. Housing is basically it for end game. If they implement it the WoW way, they could make Radiant Apex Mounts hard achievement based mounts, as well as during events. Then, put the mounts that were event-exclusive mounts in the cash shop to purchase if you missed the event. The retention holding effects of the suggestion would mean more people would play the game more regularly, more people would come back to the game whenever there is a new update, since there'd be a lot of new cosmetics to earn, and more people means more money to be made on the subscription, new paid DLC, and the cash shop.

And here's an opinion that might be kinda meh, but... If they do everything else that I suggested, they could (and should) also add a battle pass. Make one or two really cool radiant apex mounts a season, put them at the middle and the end of the paid battle pass along with some other cool cosmetics and other rewards, and make it 20 bucks a season (3 months or so). Further increasing retention. Then, at the end of a season, put the cosmetics in a store like the Empressario, and put the apex mounts in the cash shop.

TaSheen · January 2023

Nope, no battle pass for me. Ugh. I don't need stuff like that to keep me playing a game I enjoy.

[I played WoW from 2006 to 2013 - including grinding some of the worst rep grinds in any world. I left it without a backward look or any regrets.]

SilverBride · January 2023

Yes

I've gotten several thing with seals that I otherwise wouldn't have, and for very little effort.

ArchangelIsraphel · January 2023

Yes

I like them. I find them simple to obtain, and it doesn't take much at all to get them. I actually enjoy doing them, and tuck them away to spend on one or two things I'd really like to have. None of the activities are ever anything that wouldn't be normal for me to do in a day. Weeklies can be completed easily for me, especially when they align with events. I've done them pretty much every day since the system came out, and they're just a nice little side activity.

I like that they are flexible too. If I miss them one day, oh well, there will be more tomorrow.

I don't ever feel pressured by loot crates in any case. If I like something and can't get it, I'll just hold on to my Seals until the crate rolls around again. Nothing the endeavors get me is anything I have to have, but it's been lovely getting that one pet or outfit that catches my eye.

LannStone · January 2023

Yes

I like having little goals that add up - it's not a grind for me because I feel perfectly fine skipping them if they don't interest me

FeedbackOnly · January 2023

Yes

I am about to login just for it. So it works

Artheiron · January 2023

Yes

Having an option is nice. Never say no to stuff that make the game rewarding to play.

peacenote · January 2023

Yes

I generally like the system. I am not a fan of when they increase the requirements or make an endeavor we've seen regularly suddenly more restrictive. But overall I like that the option is there, I like that many truly do work with whatever I happen to he doing, and and they are something of a "to-do" if I need one on a day that I'm playing. And each individual one doesn't award so many seals that I feel obligated to play every day to get them.

TaSheen wrote: »

Other (*sigh*) - I do the ones that are easy. And I don't spend them much (just like I don't buy stuff from the CS). So my opinion is I do the ones I like (harvest resources, dig up antiquities, eat, drink, pop ults - and I absolutely refuse to do the ones that require killing however many of whatever, doing trials, dungeons, WBs (you MUST be joking....)

Lol. I like a lot of the ones you refuse to do, especially kill x of whatever. I personally don't like the crime ones or the PvP ones because those take me longer. Also I don't always have an antiquity ready to go, let alone multiple, so to me those take too much time. I guess they did a good job covering different activities, too.

WhiteCoatSyndrome · January 2023

Yes

Effective yes. Enjoyable…well it’s less repetitive than most daily quests.

Cazador · January 2023

Yes

They're not particularly obtrusive if you don't pay attention to them and simple if you do. Plus it essentially rewards regular things with your choice of things you may otherwise need to pay a ton of money for.

Dojohoda · January 2023

Yes

Yes, I appreciate having the option get the endeavors and let them pile up or spend them. I'm glad they are not capped. (If they are capped, I haven't reach it, so I could be wrong).

Syldras · January 2023

I do them sometimes (unless it's something I dislike or which takes a lot of time I don't have or don't want to spend for this) and have already bought a few nice things using the seals. I'm still critical about the concept though, because of this:

VaranisArano wrote: »

I think it's effective in its intent, which is primarily to address political concerns about loot boxes in the gaming industry by providing a fig leaf of "but players can totally, eventually earn these items through in game activities" justication for continuing stuff like Crown Crates.

Yamenstein · January 2023

No

Just a means for ZoS to keep their profits and bypass any laws. Good on them for prioritising them sales. So works out.

For players - no. It’s useless and you don’t gain anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if it drives more sales on crown store because people see that it’s easier to just pay money.

At least they are fairly straight forward.

Agenericname · January 2023

I dont pay much, if any, attention to them. I just play. If it coincides with them, great. If not, great. I check the balance every few weeks/months.

Its not a yes or a no, its more like apathy.

Amottica · January 2023

Yes

The question is really two very different questions that are not related. Something can be very effective but not enjoyable and vice versa.

Without question, the system is effective for its purpose. Some may want it to be more effective, but that is not the question. Others may not be interested in it, but that does not take away from the systems effectiveness as intended.

Regarding enjoyment, that varies based on how interested someone is in doing the tasks assigned that day . Myself, I do them if it is something I care to do. But, like with anything else in the game, I play my game. I do not let the game play me. I keep control.

katanagirl1 · January 2023

Yes

I don’t buy crates so I’m happy getting stuff this way.

However, I don’t like the non-linear scale of seals where they cost way more for cheaper items.

colossalvoids · January 2023

Yes

It's effective going around regulations and pretty effective for players willing to get (radiant) apex rewards doing just gameplay stuff daily. It's enjoyable enough when I have enough time for the day, good thing to have goals to "work" towards again even if that's for about couple of minutes.

jtm1018 · January 2023

Yes

Enjoyable, yes.

Rewarding, yes.

Still waiting for the bloody wolf mount that I want.

DarcyMardin · January 2023

Yes

I have always refused to buy crates, so I like the endeavors system. I think they should give more seals, though, especially on the days when you only get ten per endeavor. It should always be at least 15 or 20. The amount of time it takes to save up enough for anything good is far too long.

BretonMage · January 2023

Yes

Love it. It's relatively low effort so it's easy to do, with low but consistent reward so there's less FOMO. I think it's one of the best systems they've introduced in recent years.

XSTRONG · January 2023

Yes

Yes i got up to 16000 a few days ago and purchased a apex mount the blue horse dont remember name right now.

colossalvoids · January 2023

Yes

BretonMage wrote: »

Love it. It's relatively low effort so it's easy to do, with low but consistent reward so there's less FOMO. I think it's one of the best systems they've introduced in recent years.

Actually didn't though about it but indeed there's no fear of missing out nowadays due to this system in place, have like 20k+ and already used it once so it's plenty since release of the system.

Nightowl_74 · January 2023

Yes

I like them. Sometimes I check to see what there is to do and a lot of the time I don't bother and just get whichever ones happen to go with what I'm doing, if any. Eventually I'll spend some but I don't think I have yet, unless it was something small that I forgot about.

Danikat · January 2023

Yes

I don't like the principle behind it and the fact that token gestures like this; making a show of allowing players to eventually earn some of the items in loot boxes, may help keep loot boxes around and unregulated and keep the pressure on players to buy them instead. I'd much prefer them to get rid of loot boxes all together and just have items either for direct sale in the crown store or obtainable in-game.

But on a personal level, as someone who never has and never will buy crown crates and never found that a particularly difficult decision because nothing in them is tempting enough to justify gambling for it I've enjoyed doing the endeavours more than I expected to when it was first introduced. I don't do them every day and even on days when I'm online I don't always do 3. I look at what's available, compare it to what I want to do that day and pick ones which fit or which can be done quickly alongside what I'm doing. For example if I'm doing the daily crafting writs that day I might make a couple of extra items for an endeavour.

It means I'm playing some of my less used alts more often, and occasionally doing things I tend to forget about like battlegrounds, but if nothing on the list appeals to me I don't feel any pressure to do them, just like I don't do daily quests most of the time.

Snamyap · January 2023

I'm neutral on the system. They only implemented it to circumvent gambling laws in certain countries. But I like going out of my way a bit and do things I usually no longer do, like sacrements for instance. Bought a few thingies so far, will reach 16000 for the first time this week but no big fan of bright neon disco mounts. Guess I'll have to wait for a darker, gothic style one, probably that one shadow senche, no idea how long till that one comes again though.

agelonestar · January 2023

Yes

Generally yes I do.

I'd like to see more variety in how you earn Seals, but that's a minor gripe.

I would like to see Seals earned via played time, however. There are days when I want to do what I want to do, not chase after a specific quest or achievement just because that's what's on the list today. I might be online for several hours. I kinda think that should count for something, maybe a certain number of seals per hour of playtime, something like that?

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Do you think the seals of endeavor system is effective/enjoyable?

Do you think the seals of endeavor system is effective/enjoyable? 187 votes