Lots of issues but almost no communication this PTS

Thecompton73 · May 2023

There are a range of issues which beg for communication yet besides patch notes the only post by a dev regarding anything to do with bugs or balance on the PTS has been to assure people filleting fish automatically has the same chance of perfect roe as individually does.
No response to any of the feedback on Arcanist. Nothing about Power of the Light being bugged in Cyro. Nothing about why a 5% boost to only class abilities for casting a specific skill is considered on par with an unnamed 10% passive boost on all damage for slotting one or easy access to Major Berserk on useful abilities. No response to detect pots revealing NB's further than they even render, a change with no patch notes to boot.
I'm sure there are many other pressing issues that people want more info about that will be called out in responses. There seemed to be much better back and forth last PTS, why so stingy with responses this time around?

DrNukenstein · May 2023

As an example, the main change that got some explanation was plaguebreak being taken out of PVE. The explanation for it came down to "no fun allowed"

That didn't seem to go over well, so I think they are working on a better answer than "no fun allowed" for:

-frenzied momentum and spectral cloak getting a cumbersome limitation added
-detect pots 100m range
-token/insignificant changes to templars and necromancers who really are hurting
-storm master being taken out of pvp (it's not that big of a deal, it's only kind of good sometimes)

Soarora · May 2023

This is normal for PTS. Every other week is the big update with balance changes, with small bug fixed in between. They just switched this week and next week. Wait and see what next week brings then can complain about what was missed.

Edit: As for actual forum comments, Ive noticed the quietness too. I hope they’re busy doing helpful things for us.

Thecompton73 · May 2023

Soarora wrote: »

This is normal for PTS. Every other week is the big update with balance changes, with small bug fixed in between. They just switched this week and next week. Wait and see what next week brings then can complain about what was missed.

Edit: As for actual forum comments, Ive noticed the quietness too. I hope they’re busy doing helpful things for us.

I'm not concerned with lack of changes this week as I saw that they were doing balance next week. However last PTS we saw at least acknowledgements of many concerns, this time they've become sneakier than a NB when no one has a 100m detect pot.

Elsonso · May 2023

Things have been strangely quiet in the last weeks.

TechMaybeHic · May 2023

Things have been quiet here in general. Not just from ZOS. Feels like a mutual lack of interest more than contentment

Thecompton73 · May 2023

TechMaybeHic wrote: »

Things have been quiet here in general. Not just from ZOS. Feels like a mutual lack of interest more than contentment

Players have had enough interest to fill five pages of Arcanist feedback, four pages on the changes to Detect Pot range, three pages on U38 Warden, and four pages of feedback on the state of Templars.

Dev replies in all four threads stand at zero.

I do feel a certain sense of resignation from players though. Perhaps because the communication started off really well last PTS and then seemed to really taper off, which made people feel more shut out than before?

Elsonso · May 2023

Thecompton73 wrote: »

TechMaybeHic wrote: »

Things have been quiet here in general. Not just from ZOS. Feels like a mutual lack of interest more than contentment

Players have had enough interest to fill five pages of Arcanist feedback, four pages on the changes to Detect Pot range, three pages on U38 Warden, and four pages of feedback on the state of Templars.

Dev replies in all four threads stand at zero.

I do feel a certain sense of resignation from players though. Perhaps because the communication started off really well last PTS and then seemed to really taper off, which made people feel more shut out than before?

On the part of the players... keep in mind that Redfall and Star Wars came out. Even if they have no intention of leaving ESO, some players will pause to play those games. Besides, ZOS generated all their hype at the beginning of the month, so now they are in hibernation until June.

Zodiarkslayer · May 2023

It's the quiet before the storm. 😳

Turtle_Bot · May 2023

The communication has been rather lacking this patch cycle. It's a real shame because it was such an improvement from their usual mantra that I'm fairly certain it got quite a few players to at least consider sticking around for a patch to see if this new direction of improved communication and community engagement was going to be the new norm.

I hope @ZOS_Kevin, @ZOS_GinaBruno, @ZOS_BrianWheeler and @ZOS_MattFiror know that their communication from last PTS cycle was greatly appreciated by the vast majority, even if it may not have seemed like it due to how many issues needed addressing, how passionate many players are about their class, and response to some of the lack of (or unsatisfactory) answers provided to the messengers by the team.

It's a rough task to communicate why things need to be adjusted (especially when they get nerfed), but as long as the reason is explained well, most everyone will accept it and move on, looking forward to a new way to adjust and play and perhaps a more positive change will come the following patch.

The answers we got last cycle may not have been to our liking, and caused a lot of frustration among the players, but it was awesome to finally get some answers to our questions and many hoped it would continue. It felt like there was a chance to understand the direction the game was heading and the reasons for heading in that direction.

Unfortunately, this cycle it seems like we've just reverted back to the usual and that's a shame.

RevJJ · May 2023

Perhaps it’s quiet because many players have drawn the conclusion that feedback is rarely taken into account and ZOS just releases whatever broken stuff they decide to release.

Marto · May 2023

A new class is a big thing to add to ESO. It's not surprising that ZOS needs extra time to parse through all the feedback and testing, internally propose one or more changes for internal testing, and then release them for public testing.

The devs aren't just twiddling their thumbs. They are currently testing and trying out things that might make it into Week 3 of the PTS.

It's hard (if not impossible) to communicate before you take a decision.

ADarklore · May 2023

Might even get a bit slower for awhile now that Hogwarts Legacy has launched on previous gen consoles starting today.

BlueRaven · May 2023

The whole vibe I am getting from Necrom feels off. The scenery looks great and the writing is fine, but actual game mechanics/structure wise it all feels a bit off stride.

I can’t help but feel there must be something else going on.

I am really worried about this chapter.

Ragnarok0130 · May 2023

I'm not surprised since I've lost count of the number of times that ZoS has vowed to Akatosh that they'd improve the communication and feedback cycle and then returned to not communicating with the community at all.

Elsonso · May 2023

Ragnarok0130 wrote: »

I'm not surprised since I've lost count of the number of times that ZoS has vowed to Akatosh that they'd improve the communication and feedback cycle and then returned to not communicating with the community at all.

Since they built and installed ZOS_Kevin, things have been much better. Not sure what is happening in the last couple of weeks, since the ESO Celebration. Busy? Needs recharge? OS Upgrade? The portents are unclear.

CameraBeardThePirate · May 2023

The lack of communication on the Backlash/PvP issue is inexcusable. The skill is functionally broken in PvP - it literally isn't working as intended, and hasn't been for over a patch now, with not as much as a "hey we're looking into this" from the devs. Really makes it seem like they care.

gariondavey · May 2023

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

The lack of communication on the Backlash/PvP issue is inexcusable. The skill is functionally broken in PvP - it literally isn't working as intended, and hasn't been for over a patch now, with not as much as a "hey we're looking into this" from the devs. Really makes it seem like they care.

Pretty sure u35 was when they ruined it

StarOfElyon · May 2023

Thecompton73 wrote: »

There are a range of issues which beg for communication yet besides patch notes the only post by a dev regarding anything to do with bugs or balance on the PTS has been to assure people filleting fish automatically has the same chance of perfect roe as individually does.
No response to any of the feedback on Arcanist. Nothing about Power of the Light being bugged in Cyro. Nothing about why a 5% boost to only class abilities for casting a specific skill is considered on par with an unnamed 10% passive boost on all damage for slotting one or easy access to Major Berserk on useful abilities. No response to detect pots revealing NB's further than they even render, a change with no patch notes to boot.
I'm sure there are many other pressing issues that people want more info about that will be called out in responses. There seemed to be much better back and forth last PTS, why so stingy with responses this time around?

Lower your expectations even lower than lower.

Redguards can't get any decent passives, just actives. Their cost reduction and stamina return are way too weak to be as narrow and as niche as they are.

BahometZ · May 2023

There's an ominous vibe and nothing about Necrom to get hype about. New class looks swing and a miss.

ADarklore · May 2023

BahometZ wrote: »

There's an ominous vibe and nothing about Necrom to get hype about. New class looks swing and a miss.

Sorry, but I completely disagree. There is a LOT to get hyped about IMO. Awesome new class that's very different from other classes, two new companions, and a crafted set that boosts companions. Let alone the new Fate Scryer costume, which is one of the best costumes I've seen in a long time.

SimonThesis · May 2023

BahometZ wrote: »

There's an ominous vibe and nothing about Necrom to get hype about. New class looks swing and a miss.

Don't listen to what you've heard about the class try it and build it yourself. Its actually outdpsing any other class rn.

ADarklore · May 2023

SimonThesis wrote: »

BahometZ wrote: »

There's an ominous vibe and nothing about Necrom to get hype about. New class looks swing and a miss.

Don't listen to what you've heard about the class try it and build it yourself. Its actually outdpsing any other class rn.

Um, exactly WHERE have you heard this? Even Deltia says that PVE wise it's in an OK position, about middle-road, whereas in PVP it's lagging behind by a lot.

BahometZ · May 2023

I find companions utterly unappealing and useless.

ADarklore · May 2023

BahometZ wrote: »

I find companions utterly unappealing and useless.

Well then, don't use them. But clearly a huge portion of the ESO player base does enjoy companions and doesn't find them useless in the slightest.