Camera View Obstruction Detection - Why Can't You See Anything?

skeletorz_ESO · May 2014

I wasn't exactly sure what to title this thread as every other MMO I've played didn't have a constant load of junk in the way of the camera every time you go down a tunnel or hallway. I mean, wtf? Whose idea was it to put things in the way all over the place so you can't see your character or anything else around it? And why doesn't the camera zoom up past whatever is obstructing your view? It would be okay if this were only in safe areas or something, put all the trees and bushes and crap in the way you want to there. But it isn't. It's all over the place, especially in zones you do tons of fighting, or down tunnels in dungeons.

Shouldn't the camera just move forward a little to keep this tree from getting in the way? Or even better yet, make the tree transparent if it is obstructing my view.

Here, I'm going down a tunnel and all of the sudden some tree branches obstruct my view of the entire scene. Where did everything go?

Move the camera a little to the left and there I am! Now, wouldn't it be better if the camera auto-detects this stuff to always keep my toon in view? How am I supposed to fight with stuff constantly blocking the camera?

More of the same.

Zenimax, you made an MMO. This is the kind of game where we need to be able to see all over the battlefield to tell what's going on. We have to be able to see the ground/floor around us to be able to tell when the boss is about to do an aoe. We need to be able to see our other group members to know what's going on with them. First person view just doesn't cut it. Third person view constantly obstructed with a bunch of crap in the way doesn't either. Sometimes less is more. Whoever thought putting a bunch of stuff in the way of the camera was a good idea needs to be ridiculed out of the gaming industry. This aggravates me a lot.

Please post whether you agree or not.

BobZul · May 2014

What I love is, when your followers (NPCs) get between you and every interactable.

"Oh, you was going to loot that corpse? Would be a shame, if I'd just stand right on top of it. Maybe you'd like to talk to me instead?"

Epona222 · May 2014

Completely agree with the OP. There's even a pillar in the bank in Daggerfall that makes the camera go wonky and makes it difficult to target and interact with the banker if you stand too close to it.

sarbonn · May 2014

Yep, this drives me batty sometimes.

skeletorz_ESO · May 2014

I know, right? Got billed for 3 months a couple days ago. This isn't fixed by the time that runs out, I won't be resubscribing. It's just sloppy. Why play a game I can't see?

skeletorz_ESO · May 2014

Look, I know that the most awesome topics don't get as much attention because there is no one arguing against it (as is the case here) due to the idea being so irrefutable. I mean, who doesn't want to be able to see their character and the fights, right?

But if this thread doesn't receive enough attention, then the devs won't pay as much attention either. So... if you agree with this, please say so here, even if it's just a simple thumbs up or yay or something.

Even a few trolls would be nice, if for nothing else but bumping the thread up.

isengrimb16_ESO · May 2014

This is pretty much exactly why I play in first person; I have a much easier time knowing what I'm doing than if I have to deal with total obstructions. Better to not be able to see behind me (and try to pick up on visual/audio cues) than not to see anything at all.

skeletorz_ESO · May 2014

Exactly. They're forcing players into playing in first-person mode even though it is tactically inferior. You need to be able to see the floor and the players around you, something that is only possible in third-person, zoomed out a ways. If they had designed the game to give cues to you even while in first person, that would be one thing, but they didn't. The game is clearly designed from a third-person perspective.

This is an MMO. Forcing players into first-person just because that's how ES single player games are played is a great way to bleed subs. On single player games, you don't need to see the floor or other players. I understand how much better it looks from a role-play perspective in first person. I play the single player games in first-person as well, I get that. But this isn't a single player game.

The fix for this is not complicated, just make it so that when you are in third-person, any non-solid scenery object between your character and the camera becomes transparent. Solid objects are already okay because the camera moves forward around them.

isengrimb16_ESO · May 2014

Something to let me know that something snuck up behind me and is attacking me while I'm dealing with the one(s) I see/know about would be nice. I generally don't know something else is there until the first one(s) is/are dead. When things come close though, I hit Lotus Fan and then Draining Shot; that and Swallow Soul saves my butt. Usually.

Vaaco · May 2014

I to would like the changes specified to be implemented.

Audigy · May 2014

I play first and third person, that said third person as a melee is really difficult to handle and I almost always play in first when I tank.

Not sure how people manage without, maybe they are using a controller

but with mouse and keyboard I always go first person and get along fine. The red zones I can ID quite fine, but everything is so huge in first person

With my ranged char its the other way around, playing in third outweighs the first

I like that we can decide what we want, not every MMO offers that service to its players.

That objects and players can get in our way is true, I sometimes have teeth blocking my view it looks like someone has only a half head when I enter a door or an instance ... ähm ya not going into detail here due the kiddies not in bed yet

but you know what I mean

Sometimes there is also a box or a tree

quite some funny situations that I had there so far.

It would be nice if we could tweak the first and third view a bit further to our liking, like camera angles and stuff.

Until then I will keep feeling like I am tanking a giant, even if its just a bug

Moonraker · May 2014

Just adjust the zoom so you are closer to the character and avoid the obstacles usually provides decent view again or switch to FP view. It's usually only in tunnels etc. with low objects. I'm always adjusting my zoom depending on situation which seems part of the decisions a player makes for combat or gathering etc.

FOV adjustment should be available soon which will help.

isengrimb16_ESO · May 2014

@Audigy - I'm the opposite. I mostly try to kill at range, and run around a lot, so I find melee first person harder; while I might miss things behind me, at least I can see the telegraphs and such.

Funny thing is, I tried the Wildstar beta this morning, and I'm having a hard time adjusting back to third person (even though I played WoW for years). First person is out of the question; a chua's eyes are only about 14 inches off the floor. Now I know how my cat feels. :P

skeletorz_ESO · May 2014

Moonraker wrote: »

Just adjust the zoom so you are closer to the character and avoid the obstacles usually provides decent view again or switch to FP view. It's usually only in tunnels etc. with low objects. I'm always adjusting my zoom depending on situation which seems part of the decisions a player makes for combat or gathering etc.

FOV adjustment should be available soon which will help.

Sure, but I really shouldn't have to keep adjusting my zoom all the time, even during fights. The game should have a system for this.

skeletorz_ESO · May 2014

isengrimb16_ESO wrote: »

@Audigy - I'm the opposite. I mostly try to kill at range, and run around a lot, so I find melee first person harder; while I might miss things behind me, at least I can see the telegraphs and such.

Which might be okay if all you ever do is play solo.

When in a group, you need to be able to see the other players, and the boss mechanics involve needing to be able to see large swaths of the ground to watch for AoE's.

skeletorz_ESO · May 2014

See the rug back there on the wall?

The camera actually goes behind the rug on the wall when I turn it back in that direction! Unbelievable! This is some seriously sloppy world building.

skeletorz_ESO · July 2014

Okay. I took a break. Not much seems to have changed.

26 days left on my account. Tick-tock, ZOS. Fix this or I will not be resubscribing.

Laws · January 15

I see 10 years later ZOS still hasn't chimed in on this and its still annoying AF.

ZOS_Hadeostry · January 15

Greetings,

We've closed this thread given its age and it was last active 10 years ago. If you wish to continue discussing this topic please create a new thread. Thank you for your understanding.