The ability to change characters on the fly should be added

nb_rich · February 2023

In a lot of mmo’s now adays especially new ones, you are given the ability to change your character up on the spot, eso needs the same.

This can be helpful in all situations weather you are a solo player, pve player or pvp player. For example if im on my new character I created and need to craft it some new training gear I have to log out, log back in to the alternate character, go to the crafting location to craft the gear then run back to the bank and switch back. This is way to unnecessary lol. Even times when people ask for help getting something crafted, if im not on the right character I can not help them.

Also for situations like forming a trial, if its a random trial group we all know it takes forever sometimes to find two tanks, instead of sitting down doing nothing I should be able to easily switch to my new character and work on grinding it while we wait, instead everyone just sits there and by the time we find two tanks people are m.i.a or end up leaving because they just sat there doing nothing and it took to long. Also for situations when people have alternate characters the can benefit the team at least they can switch on the fly.

I can go on and on about how this can be more beneficial then a downside but curious to hear what you all think.

Syldras · February 2023

As long as it's optional, I wouldn't mind. I normally park my characters at certain places before logging out for a reason. Wouldn't want them to be at a completely different place when I log in again.

everseeing_njpreub18_ESO · February 2023

Legit question.

I may be missing something, right now i can log off and back on in less than a minute, how can "speeding" this up be needed?

Even in your crafting descriptions (whether for you or someone whose asking), you log off 1, log on 1, go to stations, transfer item. If you could "insta-log" your new character you still have to go to the crafting location and transfer the item back to the character you want to have it.

You mean like having multiple characters "logged in" so you can start a group with 1 while playing another?

Faster load times, sure, but that's a system issue as much as on there end. I found that out when i play at home compared to my work computer which was just replaced with a better system and a SSD. The game loads 5x faster on this new computer, so it isn't all internets/ZOS's fault there.

Danikat · February 2023

nb_rich wrote: »

This can be helpful in all situations weather you are a solo player, pve player or pvp player. For example if im on my new character I created and need to craft it some new training gear I have to log out, log back in to the alternate character, go to the crafting location to craft the gear then run back to the bank and switch back. This is way to unnecessary lol. Even times when people ask for help getting something crafted, if im not on the right character I can not help them.

Can you clarify specifically how your suggestion would simplify this process, as I'm not sure I understand.

It sounds like you're saying you want to switch from one character to the other without going through the character select screen, but that would still require all the other steps you listed: going to the crafting station, going to the bank to drop off gear then going to the bank to collect it on the character it's intended for. It doesn't seem like that would make much difference.

Are you instead suggesting that the character you switch to would be moved to the same location? That their inventories would be shared, or swapped so you don't need to use the bank to transfer items?

It sounds like the idea could have a lot of downsides in certain situations (like characters being pulled into the wrong location when you swap to them) but I'm not sure how many of those would actually be an issue and how many are me misunderstanding what you're suggesting.

Thee_Cheshire_Cat · February 2023

i think the OP means swapping characters like swapping action bars/weapons.

Entirely against the idea personally. But as mentioned, if it was optional... different folks, different strokes. As a role-player, i'd avoid it like the plague.

fizl101 · February 2023

I have no opinion on whether it is a good idea or not (beyond I wouldn't want my characters to spontaneously be moved to where my last character was) , however I suspect there is alot of data that is loaded and unloaded during those logouts and logins so it is unlikely to speed up significantly

NettleCarrier · February 2023

I'd just like the ability that existed in older MMOs like Everquest where you could type "/camp [character]" and it would log you off and start loading the next character.

To switch characters for me takes about 6-7 minutes, and I understand that the majority of this time is caused by loading addons - this is my choice and one I make knowing that. However, I think it's a little silly that the game must unload my addons and load them in when I select the next character. It'd be nice if I could switch from one character to the next and keep those things loaded to speed it up - then I might play my alts again!

nb_rich · February 2023

Syldras wrote: »

As long as it's optional, I wouldn't mind. I normally park my characters at certain places before logging out for a reason. Wouldn't want them to be at a completely different place when I log in again.

I do the same thing lol. Any character im not playing on is sitting in front a bank

nb_rich · February 2023

Thee_Cheshire_Cat wrote: »

i think the OP means swapping characters like swapping action bars/weapons.

Entirely against the idea personally. But as mentioned, if it was optional... different folks, different strokes. As a role-player, i'd avoid it like the plague.

Yeah this is how i mean it swapping character like action bars, its quicker and more convenient

ADarklore · February 2023

NettleCarrier wrote: »

I'd just like the ability that existed in older MMOs like Everquest where you could type "/camp [character]" and it would log you off and start loading the next character.

To switch characters for me takes about 6-7 minutes, and I understand that the majority of this time is caused by loading addons - this is my choice and one I make knowing that. However, I think it's a little silly that the game must unload my addons and load them in when I select the next character. It'd be nice if I could switch from one character to the next and keep those things loaded to speed it up - then I might play my alts again!

Well, Addons are 'not supported by ZOS' so it doesn't surprise me that they require some unloading/loading considering it's not a seamless interaction within the game. I also can't help but feel that you probably wouldn't invest a lot of time in alts anyway if the small inconvenience of logging off/on bothers you... which if you were genuinely invested in your alts you wouldn't be playing them each for just a few minutes and logging out and in.

Just last night I had to log into my crafter to craft gear, log out and into my character that I had near merchants to buy upgrade material, log out and into crafter, upgrade gear. Log out and in to character I wanted the gear piece on. NONE OF THAT bothered me- and I also have a lot of addons that load. But I've never seen 6-7 minutes of loading time... more like 10/s to log out, about 10-20/s to log in, then 10/s of addon load time.

TaSheen · February 2023

ADarklore wrote: »

NettleCarrier wrote: »

I'd just like the ability that existed in older MMOs like Everquest where you could type "/camp [character]" and it would log you off and start loading the next character.

To switch characters for me takes about 6-7 minutes, and I understand that the majority of this time is caused by loading addons - this is my choice and one I make knowing that. However, I think it's a little silly that the game must unload my addons and load them in when I select the next character. It'd be nice if I could switch from one character to the next and keep those things loaded to speed it up - then I might play my alts again!

Well, Addons are 'not supported by ZOS' so it doesn't surprise me that they require some unloading/loading considering it's not a seamless interaction within the game. I also can't help but feel that you probably wouldn't invest a lot of time in alts anyway if the small inconvenience of logging off/on bothers you... which if you were genuinely invested in your alts you wouldn't be playing them each for just a few minutes and logging out and in.

Just last night I had to log into my crafter to craft gear, log out and into my character that I had near merchants to buy upgrade material, log out and into crafter, upgrade gear. Log out and in to character I wanted the gear piece on. NONE OF THAT bothered me- and I also have a lot of addons that load. But I've never seen 6-7 minutes of loading time... more like 10/s to log out, about 10-20/s to log in, then 10/s of addon load time.

I haven't either - and I don't even have "real" broadband, just satellite. I can swap from one to another in about 90 seconds.

Oreyn_Bearclaw · February 2023

I think they could in theory improve a few aspects surrounding the need to swap toons, but there would need to be restrictions.

Sure it would be nice when the queue is long to be able to hop from one toon to another in PVP without needing to requeue. It would be nice when forming a group to be able to swap to another role, without worrying about passing lead, dropping group or getting re-invited.

It would be a really bad idea to allow it mid trial/arena run unless it removed you from the leaderboard and trifecta status. You certainly wouldnt want it to be something that you could do while in combat.

Robvenom · February 2023

Horrible idea.

SilverBride · February 2023

I see a huge potential for bugs and crashes if this was implemented.

opalcity · February 2023

Oh like Genshin Impact? No thank you.

ZOS_Kevin · February 2023

Hi all, just wanted to follow up here since we've followed up in a few other threads about class change tokens. Currently, we do not have any plans on implementing class changes tokens. There are a number of technical challenges with implementing them, and it would take a significant amount of time to solve these challenges efficiently and safely.

We know this isn't the desired feedback, but wanted to make sure we made our current stance clear on this.

NettleCarrier · February 2023

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to follow up here since we've followed up in a few other threads about class change tokens. Currently, we do not have any plans on implementing class changes tokens. There are a number of technical challenges with implementing them, and it would take a significant amount of time to solve these challenges efficiently and safely.

We know this isn't the desired feedback, but wanted to make sure we made our current stance clear on this.

It's not even an answer to the question... Unless I'm just missing something?

SpacemanSpiff1 · February 2023

NettleCarrier wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to follow up here since we've followed up in a few other threads about class change tokens. Currently, we do not have any plans on implementing class changes tokens. There are a number of technical challenges with implementing them, and it would take a significant amount of time to solve these challenges efficiently and safely.

We know this isn't the desired feedback, but wanted to make sure we made our current stance clear on this.

It's not even an answer to the question... Unless I'm just missing something?

effectively: it's not happening any time soon

NettleCarrier · February 2023

ADarklore wrote: »

NettleCarrier wrote: »

I'd just like the ability that existed in older MMOs like Everquest where you could type "/camp [character]" and it would log you off and start loading the next character.

To switch characters for me takes about 6-7 minutes, and I understand that the majority of this time is caused by loading addons - this is my choice and one I make knowing that. However, I think it's a little silly that the game must unload my addons and load them in when I select the next character. It'd be nice if I could switch from one character to the next and keep those things loaded to speed it up - then I might play my alts again!

Well, Addons are 'not supported by ZOS' so it doesn't surprise me that they require some unloading/loading considering it's not a seamless interaction within the game. I also can't help but feel that you probably wouldn't invest a lot of time in alts anyway if the small inconvenience of logging off/on bothers you... which if you were genuinely invested in your alts you wouldn't be playing them each for just a few minutes and logging out and in.

Just last night I had to log into my crafter to craft gear, log out and into my character that I had near merchants to buy upgrade material, log out and into crafter, upgrade gear. Log out and in to character I wanted the gear piece on. NONE OF THAT bothered me- and I also have a lot of addons that load. But I've never seen 6-7 minutes of loading time... more like 10/s to log out, about 10-20/s to log in, then 10/s of addon load time.

I feel like I take this risk every time I even mention the word "addon" and then my whole post is thrown out as "unsupported". I get it - but I am heavily invested in my alts. They have been max level for years, maxed crafting, and some degree of meta setup even if those setups are occasionally outdated. I used to do crafting writs every day for basic income, until I mastered other ways of making money. I'd still continue to do crafting if it was a little faster to do so when I use the same addons on each character and that is the extent of my feedback. I didn't need to be otherwise attacked for how I do things.

Destai · February 2023

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to follow up here since we've followed up in a few other threads about class change tokens. Currently, we do not have any plans on implementing class changes tokens. There are a number of technical challenges with implementing them, and it would take a significant amount of time to solve these challenges efficiently and safely.

We know this isn't the desired feedback, but wanted to make sure we made our current stance clear on this.

Thanks Kevin! It's good to get definitive word on this.

Tandor · February 2023

NettleCarrier wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to follow up here since we've followed up in a few other threads about class change tokens. Currently, we do not have any plans on implementing class changes tokens. There are a number of technical challenges with implementing them, and it would take a significant amount of time to solve these challenges efficiently and safely.

We know this isn't the desired feedback, but wanted to make sure we made our current stance clear on this.

It's not even an answer to the question... Unless I'm just missing something?

No indeed, but I'm delighted that remains their position!

@ZOS_Kevin Perhaps you could also nail another old chestnut please and give an authoritative statement on the request for server/platform transfers? Such as here:-

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/626309/this-game-so-badly-needs-to-allow-account-transfer-between-pc-xbox-and-ps/p1

ZOS_Kevin · February 2023

@NettleCarrier I definitely misread your suggestion. That's what I get for going from one class thread to another. Sorry about the confusion there.

Though it was probably fall in the same ballpark as the class change token, we can certainly provide your suggestion to the dev team.

Tandor · February 2023

SilverBride wrote: »

I see a huge potential for bugs and crashes if this was implemented.

Not to mention abuse. Duels, group finder, all sorts of ways in which you could start with one character then switch to another.

NettleCarrier · February 2023

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

@NettleCarrier I definitely misread your suggestion. That's what I get for going from one class thread to another. Sorry about the confusion there.

Though it was probably fall in the same ballpark as the class change token, we can certainly provide your suggestion to the dev team.

Thank you

karthrag_inak · February 2023

Would be fantastic if one could swap to another character without logging all the way out and then logging all the way back in.

Varana · February 2023

My characters are characters, not skins a "toon" wears and changes like their undies.

gabbo1928 · February 2023

Even if this isn't implemented as an on-the-fly change like the OP seems to suggest, I would be okay with fewer steps to load a different character. Like instead of logging out to character select, and picking another character to log in to, just choose "switch to Thiefy McThiefface" or whatever, and do something else for a couple of minutes while it swaps characters for you and bypasses the character select screen. It seems minor, but when you're doing daily writs on a dozen or more characters, that time adds up.

Idealy, I'd love a sequential "load next character" option mapped to a hot key, so I can craft, turn in, press it, repeat.

Obs1dian · February 2023

Though it's not quite the same as the OPs request, like @NettleCarrier I miss being able to use the /camp <charname> command to tell Character Select to just roll straight into the selected character. In ESO I sometimes hit Character select in 5-10 seconds, sometimes it takes 2-3 minutes, and if you leave it hanging for two minutes it logs you totally out.

In EQ2, /camp <charname> still took the same time, but it meant you could stretch, grab a drink, etc while the client was unloading and loading and be ready to go when you got back. It doesn't change the base loading mechanics, it just passes a token to pre-select at the character screen. (Yes, I recognize that still takes work on the part of the devs, but would be less complex than some of the other ideas to start with.)

nb_rich · February 2023

Tandor wrote: »

SilverBride wrote: »

I see a huge potential for bugs and crashes if this was implemented.

Not to mention abuse. Duels, group finder, all sorts of ways in which you could start with one character then switch to another.

The ability to change characters should only be available in overland not trials or pvp or dungeons. I should of maybe pointed that out in my idea but thought it would be pretty obvious

nb_rich · February 2023

karthrag_inak wrote: »

Would be fantastic if one could swap to another character without logging all the way out and then logging all the way back in.

Yeah this is pretty much where im getting at. I play on console so don’t know about any of these add ons people are talking about, but I do know it sucks always having to switch characters trying to complete different things in the game like daily dungeons for example.

Jacozilla · February 2023

SilverBride wrote: »

I see a huge potential for bugs and crashes if this was implemented.

Why do both ancient and brand new MMOs that allow direct logging to another character from whatever current char you are on not have bug/crash problems doing this then?

[snip]

Current gen MMO - Lost Ark - you click to open character select UI from within game, on current character - shows you UI with list of chars on that account. Click char to relog with and presto, game reloads with that selected character.

No, there is no magic porting or personal inventory sharing. Each char is unique and wherever you last logged out is where char logs in. But this direct char selection means no waiting to logout current char, load main intro char screen, then wait to login again.

Time for direct char select login is just the loading, like a reloadui command in eso. No wait time to exchange logging credentials bc you are already logged in, unloading current game,etc.

Ancient MMO like EQ2 also did this with the text commands, camp charname. Log directly from one char to another.

[snip]
[edited for bashing]