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Leads: Sucking the fun out of this game since inception.

DigiAngel
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Yea yea I know...this is just another leads gripe in a SEA of leads gripes. I realize that leads keep people logging in and keeps them in the game longer which in turn makes the game look good and a higher probability of spending money, but MAN....doing the same thing over and over again for hours and hours...just seems like there could be a better way at this point. That it all.
  • uniqpy
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    Isnt this all systems in MMO’s? Did you play before curated loot?😂 There has to be a grind somewhere. NGL leads are far more forgiving than Pre Curated loot times.
  • Mesite
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    I don't mind, but I only do the leads I find on the way, I don't go seeking them, other than when I wanted the oakensoul ring.

    I did extra scrying to get to the level I needed to do gold leads.

    On my account with no chapters or DLCs it's relaxing - I just ignore them and I guess they time out.

    Edited by Mesite on March 3, 2024 9:47PM
  • Castagere
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    All MMOs have their grind systems which I refuse to play.
  • SeaGtGruff
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    I almost never grind for leads. I tried it a few times but now I just find leads without looking for them, am pleasantly surprised when I get one, and let my found leads sit unexcavated for weeks. About two or three times a week I check my available leads and excavate any that will expire in 14 days or less. That way I always have a few available leads on hand for whenever there's an endeavor to excavate a certain number of antiquities.
    I've fought mudcrabs more fearsome than me!
  • Czeri
    Czeri
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    I do hate the rng on the motif chapters leads. I'm stuck with one left to complete the collections in Blackwood, the Reach, and the High Isle. Here's hoping the chapter leads will show up to buy from the Infinite Archive merchant...

    When a source only gives one lead, though, I've found it not that bad. The important thing to remember is to only go farm if you already had a lead drop on this particular alt load. I use the cheap base zone treasure maps to test it - if I get the ancestral motif when I dig up a map, then I go for the dungeons/trials/bosses whose leads I still need. Or dig up the more expensive treasure maps. It works like a charm.
    Edited by Czeri on March 3, 2024 10:05PM
  • Alinhbo_Tyaka
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    I don't grind leads. If I pick one up while playing I'll treat it like I do treasure maps and surveys and go do it while waiting for dungeon finder or during relaxation time. I learned a long time ago that collecting everything in the game was just an effort in frustration and futility and as a result stopped grinding for items.
  • TaSheen
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    I don't fine scrying and excavation grindy. But I don't actively "pursue" leads other than oakensoul, because I needed 6 of them - 1 each, 3 accounts, both PC NA and EU.

    It's a lot more fun than archaeology was in WoW. I find it fun, relaxing, much happier with this system than combat for instance....
    ______________________________________________________

    "But even in books, the heroes make mistakes, and there isn't always a happy ending." Mercedes Lackey, Into the West

    PC NA, PC EU (non steam)- four accounts, many alts....
  • Hapexamendios
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    I'm not actively pursuing any leads right now and it's been very nice.
  • Sakiri
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    Only ones that sucked for me are dungeon lead for kilt and the pub dungeon and wb ones for velothi amulet.
  • ItsNotLiving
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    I have no issue with the lead system as it requires players to do things they would probably do anyway through just playing the game. My problem with it is that if I do said activity I should get the lead not a chance at it. I don’t know anyone who would run a public dungeon multiple times just playing the game.
  • Dalsinthus
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    I think they'd be more fun if the drop rate was increased, particularly for activities like dungeons and trials. I've had a few that took well over 10 runs of a dungeon to get the drop and some over 20. After a handful of runs of a dlc dungeon that I already have 100% of the achievements and sticker book for, I tend to get annoyed with the system.

    Linking things to treasure maps is also an awful approach.
  • Araneae6537
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    I don’t have an issue with antiquity leads other than the following particulars:

    1) Leads behind something longer or more difficult, like defeating a DLC WB or incursion or completing a dungeon or trial, should have an increasing likelihood of dropping each time until you get it, then reset, for at least the first lead, but ideally for three copies of the lead so players can complete the codex.

    2) The dual RNG of leads in treasure chests should be in the minority of leads. And just like companions don’t gate anything not having to do with companions, ToT should not gate anything not having to do with ToT. No music box leads! Alternatively, leads could be made available from several specific sources or activities.

    I am glad for the addition of leads available from the Infinite Archive but wish that the selection each week was greater, and I do hope that it won’t just be fragments that are ever offered (I want leads for motifs and the Telvanni book of mushrooms)!

    (Edited for clarity.)
    Edited by Araneae6537 on March 4, 2024 7:23PM
  • Sakiri
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    I have no issue with the lead system as it requires players to do things they would probably do anyway through just playing the game. My problem with it is that if I do said activity I should get the lead not a chance at it. I don’t know anyone who would run a public dungeon multiple times just playing the game.

    I level companions in them and farm drops.
  • BretonMage
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    Either they've increased the drop rate of leads, or leads follow the "watched kettle never boils" law of physics, because I haven't really been looking for any leads but I keep getting them. Which, in case there is any doubt, is great.
  • Mesite
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    I keep getting leads for Galen but I don't have that DLC. That's strange.
  • SeaGtGruff
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    I don’t know anyone who would run a public dungeon multiple times just playing the game.

    A lot of players run public dungeons multiple times. Some of them might be grinding for leads, but I don't think all of them are, because players were doing it long before Antiquities were added to the game. Some might be grinding for fragments of a collectible. Some might be grinding for gear. Some might be grinding for XP. And some might just be having fun. Different reasons for different players.
    I've fought mudcrabs more fearsome than me!
  • NettleCarrier
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    I *still* need the Sunspire lead after all this time. I have fully collected perfected and regular gear, I do not need to run this trial for anything except the lead. It's very frustrating to have to get a trial together to farm something that just isn't going to drop for me anyway.
    GM of Gold Coast Corsairs - PCNA
  • Juju_beans
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    I totally ignore them. Haven't even tried scrying at all. There's still plenty enough stuff for me to do.
  • XSTRONG
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    I wish you could preview the item when you found a lead to see if its worth scrying for. I got alot of leads but I rarley do them.
  • barney2525
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    I don't search for specific leads. I just do them when they pop because most of them are pretty cool items.

    I do Make the time to grind my antiquities up to 5 on Arteum. That way I can dig up purple leads when I happen to get one.

    :#
  • Oblivion_Protocol
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    In all honesty, I’m fine with all the leads except the ones that show up in treasure chests. Whoever came up with that idea should be given a stern talking to.
  • Sepultura_13
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    DigiAngel wrote: »
    Yea yea I know...this is just another leads gripe in a SEA of leads gripes. I realize that leads keep people logging in and keeps them in the game longer which in turn makes the game look good and a higher probability of spending money, but MAN....doing the same thing over and over again for hours and hours...just seems like there could be a better way at this point. That it all.

    I stopped worrying about leads when I saw people with the Ebon Wolf mount within hours of it becoming available.
    When add-ons are needed to complete something, there's no point in it. I have plenty to do in-game without being directed/forced to use add-ons.

    Paying for ESO+ was bad enough without others demanding that I pay them for their hack-codes which give unfair advantage to those who use said hacks.

    Some of us aren't into cheating. Not sure why that's a bad thing? B)
  • Araneae6537
    Araneae6537
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    DigiAngel wrote: »
    Yea yea I know...this is just another leads gripe in a SEA of leads gripes. I realize that leads keep people logging in and keeps them in the game longer which in turn makes the game look good and a higher probability of spending money, but MAN....doing the same thing over and over again for hours and hours...just seems like there could be a better way at this point. That it all.

    I stopped worrying about leads when I saw people with the Ebon Wolf mount within hours of it becoming available.
    When add-ons are needed to complete something, there's no point in it. I have plenty to do in-game without being directed/forced to use add-ons.

    Paying for ESO+ was bad enough without others demanding that I pay them for their hack-codes which give unfair advantage to those who use said hacks.

    Some of us aren't into cheating. Not sure why that's a bad thing? B)

    I don’t think there are any add-ons that help you get leads/antiquities. I think there’s an add-on that will keep track of timers, remind you if you have a leas soon to expire or something, but that’s a non-issue if you’re actively hunting for something.

    (Edit: typo)
    Edited by Araneae6537 on March 7, 2024 5:42AM
  • Arizona_Steve
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    I do think (after doing 50+ volcanic vents and still not getting the Oakensoul lead) that there should be a maximum number of attempts at which point the lead is given, to offset a bad RNG run.
    Wannabe Thalmor - Altmer MagSorc
  • TaSheen
    TaSheen
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    I do think (after doing 50+ volcanic vents and still not getting the Oakensoul lead) that there should be a maximum number of attempts at which point the lead is given, to offset a bad RNG run.

    Yeah.... I was really lucky on my 3 accounts on PC NA - didn't take long on any of the leads for oak (I didn't mess with it for a while - untli the "feeding frenzy" was over). And 2 accounts on PC EU were pretty quick on it all too. But the last one on EU.... it wasn't the vents, it was the crab WB in Stormhaven.... I spent about 6 months off and on (there's only so much of that sort of thing I can stand....) before the lead dropped.
    ______________________________________________________

    "But even in books, the heroes make mistakes, and there isn't always a happy ending." Mercedes Lackey, Into the West

    PC NA, PC EU (non steam)- four accounts, many alts....
  • Sakiri
    Sakiri
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    I got all my oakensoul leads pretty quickly. Only took a few attempts for all but the vent one, vents took about an hour or so.
  • Elvenheart
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    Czeri wrote: »
    When a source only gives one lead, though, I've found it not that bad. The important thing to remember is to only go farm if you already had a lead drop on this particular alt load. I use the cheap base zone treasure maps to test it - if I get the ancestral motif when I dig up a map, then I go for the dungeons/trials/bosses whose leads I still need. Or dig up the more expensive treasure maps. It works like a charm.

    Im not quite getting what this means. 🤪
  • Kite42
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    SeaGtGruff wrote: »
    I don’t know anyone who would run a public dungeon multiple times just playing the game.

    A lot of players run public dungeons multiple times. Some of them might be grinding for leads, but I don't think all of them are, because players were doing it long before Antiquities were added to the game. Some might be grinding for fragments of a collectible. Some might be grinding for gear. Some might be grinding for XP. And some might just be having fun. Different reasons for different players.
    My name's Kite, and I'm an altoholic. I run them multiple times for the skillpoint and shard.
  • Czeri
    Czeri
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    Elvenheart wrote: »
    Czeri wrote: »
    When a source only gives one lead, though, I've found it not that bad. The important thing to remember is to only go farm if you already had a lead drop on this particular alt load. I use the cheap base zone treasure maps to test it - if I get the ancestral motif when I dig up a map, then I go for the dungeons/trials/bosses whose leads I still need. Or dig up the more expensive treasure maps. It works like a charm.

    Im not quite getting what this means. 🤪

    Whether you'll be getting leads on not is decided as you load a character. So check first on a cheap treasure map if that particular load gives leads before farming leads that require more effort.
  • Rkindaleft
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    SeaGtGruff wrote: »
    I don’t know anyone who would run a public dungeon multiple times just playing the game.

    A lot of players run public dungeons multiple times. Some of them might be grinding for leads, but I don't think all of them are, because players were doing it long before Antiquities were added to the game. Some might be grinding for fragments of a collectible. Some might be grinding for gear. Some might be grinding for XP. And some might just be having fun. Different reasons for different players.

    Yes, I go to Crimson Cove in Malabal Tor every time I need to level a skill on a new character. All the main rooms are small enough that you can pull all groups of adds together without them getting out of their range and you kill 20+ enemies at a time.

    I remember when Harpooner's Wading Kilt was the meta mythic on release and this was before they buffed the drop rate, there were literally thousands of players farming Shadowfen for hours and hours and sometimes there was multiple people per water node. All MMOs have a grind system.

    Edited by Rkindaleft on March 7, 2024 12:38AM
    Runeblades enjoyer https://youtube.com/@rkindaleft
    I only DD in wizard elf game cuz I like seeing big number
    Tick Tock Tormentor | Saintly Savior | Gryphon Heart | Godslayer | Kyne's Wrath | Planesbreaker | Swashbuckler Supreme | Mindmender | Unstoppable
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