Returning player after.. 5(?) years away. Thoughts.

ImmortalCX · March 11

It's nice to see this old favorite with fresh eyes. I have 2500 hours according to steam, I have three max level characters. My CP level is 700-something.

The last purchased chapter was Greymoor, and I really loved that expansion, especially the underground section that gave the game a new feel.

But when you return to the game you are faced with a number of challenges:
- Respend all the CP points
- Rebuy all the skills
- Nothing I had set up before even works. I have to relearn rotation and skills to adapt to all the changes over five years.
- Need to find and install add ons. (Which ones were they?)
- No guild or guild trader.
- My G9 monitor is super ultrawide, but I can't choose ultrawide with a browser/discord screen to the side. (Why?) It seems like its all or nothing.
- Text looks wonky and small (can it be made bigger?)
- What should I even be doing?

I got the idea to play again because I picked up one of the chapter expansions a couple years ago during a sale and never played. So there is some content I haven't seen. I also want to farm some antiquities because I like that system. Maybe put together a solo build for Archive....

But I feel like I have to relearn the whole game. And after walking through my home for a few minutes, I just log out and don't have the gumption to play.

So how can I rekindle my desire to play? Should I be reading the ESO build sites for a new build idea? Join a guild? What are the carrots? What should I be doing?

SwimsWithMemes · March 11

I returned after a hiatus from 2017 (pre Summerset).

I had some of the same problems as you. What I did first was work out what character I wanted to play - new? existing? previous main? Then find an adequate build.

Subsequently I wanted to get some Antiquities going also! I ended up doing the Western Skyrim/Markarth questline in its entirety. Now it's back to dungeoning, gearing up.

Honestly if one task is repetitive there's probably an entire new system to get involved with (scribing, companions, a card game??, sticker book collection, return to Cyrodiil/IC, finding a suitable guild in your time slot )

colossalvoids · March 11

First of all you can scale chat window text and whole UI in the settings, better start with exploring the menu from top to bottom as there are new options since lost probably and you might not remember old ones that well.

As to rekindling try activities you liked before and see if those are still fit. Get a guild or two from a guild finder tool, there's a filter for them to fit your preferences. Personally for me it's a social game so getting into communities you're interested in is the way.

Also builds and content creators wise it's really not much left so be careful to not look up something that was already dated years ago or made with AI help/editor that didn't played the game themselves in years.

Sarannah · March 11

If you haven't played for a long while, best is to make a new character and relearn the game from scratch. Eventually you will be able to circle back to your old characters and 'fix' them to be up-to-date. (Note: Outdated gear and stats are still very functional, this is one of the main selling points for ESO in my opinion)

This is what I did after being gone for 3+ years. At some point the game clicks with you again, and you can re-visit the older characters and will know what to do with them.

The beauty about ESO is that you can do anything you want. This is also why starting a new character may be best, you can see where to start and where you left your older characters.

Working on your gear stickerbook may be a good place to start, so that when the game clicks with you again, you will be able to make any gear you want for the build(s) you want.

PS: This is assuming you have free character slots.
PPS: Do not worry about making mistakes, you can easily change stats/skills/gear/CP's/outfits. It does cost a bit of gold to do so, but it isn't much.

Lexifer452 · March 11

I just came back myself just yesterday lol. I quit playing ESO shortly after Elseweyr released. Got the urge once again and reinstalled. Had enough crowns leftover from the last time I had eso plus that I was able to buy the Arcanist class at least.

I simply started a new character and decided I was going to play at my own pace. I'm not trying to get sweaty into trials and group endgame content this time around. I've always been a solo player for the most part though.

Anyway, it's a bit daunting. There have been so many updates and expansions and dlc since I last played. So much to catch up on. Too much, really.

I definitely get what you're saying about getting in-game, only to be overwhelmed and have the desire to play just dissipate at the thought of it all.

I've overcome that feeling by just playing. I started that new toon and have been playing through the main questline at a less-than-hyperspeed pace and that's worked for me. Not worrying about gear and the metal and all of that. Just doing what I want to do and not having to worry about optimizing and playing with people. I may start grouping again if I stick with ESO for a significant amount of time but it's too early to tell. So far I'm enjoying myself though. Just discovering the newest class I've never played and playing the game more like Skyrim than an mmo has kept me interested in continuing.

Once I'm max level and ready to transfer gear from my bank/alts, we'll see what happens. Lol. It is hard to not simply fall back into my old way of playing ESO. That is what made me quit in the end the last time though so hopefully history doesn't repeat itself this time around.

Not sure how helpful this will be to you. I seem to have rambled on quite a bit. Frankly I found this post by searching Google for "ESO returning player after 5 years not playing" and your post came right up. Saw it was recent and just wanted to reply as I'm in a similar position myself. Anyway, sorry if this reply isn't of any use to you.

ZOS_Kevin · March 11

Thanks for the feedback here, @ImmortalCX. We are going to pass this on to some of our teams who are working on making the returning player experience a bit better. We have some things in the works for this, but your feedback here is very helpful.

Also thanks to those who have chimed in so far to offer help and feedback to ImmortalCX. Your feedback on how you tackle returning to Tamriel is also very helpful.

ImmortalCX · March 11

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback here, @ImmortalCX. We are going to pass this on to some of our teams who are working on making the returning player experience a bit better. We have some things in the works for this, but your feedback here is very helpful.

Also thanks to those who have chimed in so far to offer help and feedback to ImmortalCX. Your feedback on how you tackle returning to Tamriel is also very helpful.

I think the biggest issue is that my characters have been stripped of all their CP and skill settings. The skills have been removed from the bar. There is nothing to even remind my of how I had it set up.

Afaict, those old skills still exist, and the old CP categories still exist. Why do they need to be reset to zero?

If they were set up as before, at least my muscle memory would take over and I could keep playing. The reset to all my characters is the big problem that needs fixing. When you jump back in to ESO and you need to reset your skills, that means you have to research and make informed decisions, when all you really want to do is pick up where you left off. Its hard to make those decisions when you have been away from the game so long.

Tandor · March 11

Welcome back. I would definitely start a new character and not worry about allocating CPs at this stage, just relearn the early stages by yourself and not rely on checking external builds and other guides. It's those that will overwhelm you, rather than simply exploring and levelling up as you go. You'll soon remember more and learn new things so that you're comfortable playing the game again.

Of course, the one thing that may be critical to your getting back into the game is the one thing you haven't told us, namely the reason you left in the first place.

Orbital78 · March 11

But when you return to the game you are faced with a number of challenges:
- Respend all the CP points
- Rebuy all the skills

There have been major changes to CP/Skills and so players didn't have to pay to respec, they had just given full resets to allow us to do it for free.

- Nothing I had set up before even works. I have to relearn rotation and skills to adapt to all the changes over five years.

Find your favorite content creator/build maker, I suggest SkinnyCheeks: https://www.skinnycheeks.gg/

- Need to find and install add ons. (Which ones were they?)

Minion is your friend, some of your old addons would have been discontinued or made irrelevant today.

- No guild or guild trader.

You went inactive for years... the guild finder is still viable.

- My G9 monitor is super ultrawide, but I can't choose ultrawide with a browser/discord screen to the side. (Why?) It seems like its all or nothing.
- Text looks wonky and small (can it be made bigger?)

I use ultrawide as well, but I like borderless full screen.

- What should I even be doing?

Whatever trips your trigger. Do what you enjoy.

twisttop138 · March 11

It's funny to see so many of us returning players in this thread. Nice too. I left around the time of Greymoor, bought but never played. My wife stayed playing so we kept buying the chapters for my account. I'm glad I did. I really feel you on not knowing where to begin sometimes. It can be daunting with so much to do. It's been 2 months for me now, I'm going to echo a lot of others, I found starting a new character was helpful to relearn what I forgot. I got my arcanist to 50 and then went from there. Like you, antiquities were a draw for me. I got my scrying to 10 while doing over land stuff, daily dungeons and battlegrounds. I'm slowly relearning old characters. I also got the itch to raid this time around. I came to this game originally to take a break from raiding. I joined a couple great guilds and it's been a blast. Doing trials and dungeons now fills up a lot of my couple hours a night of play time. While you may not be into that, getting a guild is also something I recommend. Anyway, hope to see you out there.

allochthons · March 11

I really like @Sarannah 's advice.

If you were a console player, I would recommend getting to know the Armorer station. Every character gets two free slots. If you have an empty armorer slot, you can always use it to reset all your skills, passives and CP for free, without having to use a scroll or a shrine. It makes experimenting much easier.

I don't know what the PC/Add-on equiv is.

The armorer station is free in the crown store, and one can be placed in each house. The associated assistant is quite expensive, though. 5K crowns, I think? They do go on sale, though.

Xarc · March 11

Welcome back

I think the best thing to do when returning after long time like that is : make a new character, dont rush, learn new things slowly. Take your time and enjoy ESO in 2025

WolfStar07 · March 11

ImmortalCX wrote: »

show previous quotes

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback here, @ImmortalCX. We are going to pass this on to some of our teams who are working on making the returning player experience a bit better. We have some things in the works for this, but your feedback here is very helpful.

Also thanks to those who have chimed in so far to offer help and feedback to ImmortalCX. Your feedback on how you tackle returning to Tamriel is also very helpful.

I think the biggest issue is that my characters have been stripped of all their CP and skill settings. The skills have been removed from the bar. There is nothing to even remind my of how I had it set up.

Afaict, those old skills still exist, and the old CP categories still exist. Why do they need to be reset to zero?

If they were set up as before, at least my muscle memory would take over and I could keep playing. The reset to all my characters is the big problem that needs fixing. When you jump back in to ESO and you need to reset your skills, that means you have to research and make informed decisions, when all you really want to do is pick up where you left off. Its hard to make those decisions when you have been away from the game so long.

In 5 years, many skills and CP were changed significantly enough that at times it was fairer to refund them and let people choose what they want. The day you posted this had a significant CP change. In 5 years, you would be needing to research the skills anyway because you could not jump back in where you left off.

Sarannah · March 11

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback here, @ImmortalCX. We are going to pass this on to some of our teams who are working on making the returning player experience a bit better. We have some things in the works for this, but your feedback here is very helpful.

Also thanks to those who have chimed in so far to offer help and feedback to ImmortalCX. Your feedback on how you tackle returning to Tamriel is also very helpful.

Have started a new character myself recently, and there were some things that bothered me. Maybe bring these under attention as well, to help new players along:
1: The coldharbour tutorial does not let you have more weapons and armor types. In the newer tutorials you could pick up everything and try/unlock all skilllines. This is missing in the current tutorial. (suggest adding these to the cadwell area)
2: The coldharbour tutorial needs more monsters in the cadwell area. So players can get familiar with the game and it's combat somewhat, before exiting the tutorial.
3: The coldharbour tutorial is almost completely missing urns and crates. During all the newer tutorials I was able to gather a handful of lockpicks and some basic crafting materials(rarely a design or recipe when lucky). These are basic supplies for the player to have.
4: The level up rewards need to grant a weapon choice every 5 levels. There are times where my character was 15-20 levels above my current weapon level, basically doing very low damage. For a new player this may be a terrible experience, especially without all the other gameknowledge which I did have.

Just some points to think about.

tibbz2020b14_ESO · April 6

ImmortalCX wrote: »

It's nice to see this old favorite with fresh eyes. I have 2500 hours according to steam, I have three max level characters. My CP level is 700-something.

The last purchased chapter was Greymoor, and I really loved that expansion, especially the underground section that gave the game a new feel.

But when you return to the game you are faced with a number of challenges:
- Respend all the CP points
- Rebuy all the skills
- Nothing I had set up before even works. I have to relearn rotation and skills to adapt to all the changes over five years.
- Need to find and install add ons. (Which ones were they?)
- No guild or guild trader.
- My G9 monitor is super ultrawide, but I can't choose ultrawide with a browser/discord screen to the side. (Why?) It seems like its all or nothing.
- Text looks wonky and small (can it be made bigger?)
- What should I even be doing?

I got the idea to play again because I picked up one of the chapter expansions a couple years ago during a sale and never played. So there is some content I haven't seen. I also want to farm some antiquities because I like that system. Maybe put together a solo build for Archive....

But I feel like I have to relearn the whole game. And after walking through my home for a few minutes, I just log out and don't have the gumption to play.

So how can I rekindle my desire to play? Should I be reading the ESO build sites for a new build idea? Join a guild? What are the carrots? What should I be doing?

I'm right there with you... reinstalled 2 days ago after a good 2-3 years and roughly the same amount of expacs since last playing. It has been BRUTAL, I haven't even left the area I logged back into simply trying to figure out how to get my character back to an even somewhat recognizable point from where I left off. I don't know know what the path to Square 1 looks like any more because nothing is familiar.

Add ons (which I realize are all 3rd party) are all off the UI frame so I don't even know which ones I'm trying to adjust. I've checked so many basic class guides for the modern sorceror, but I either have outdated equipment or no access to the skills relevant to the newer guilds (Psijic for example). I have 0 time or desire to start a character from scratch, recollecting skyshards, lorebooks, wayshrines... I'd like to play the character I spent 450 hours developing. Needless to say, my motivation to try to return to this game is minimal after this experience.

TaSheen · April 6

I wonder if the "bareness" of your characters (all of you returning after so long I mean) is due to the "cold storage" setup they put in place a while back (couple or three years now maybe?) Anyone on long hiatus supposedly had their accounts moved into that cold storage "server" (assuming that's what it was, a separate server space), and while I've never yet been gone, so I don't know for sure, I just wonder if part of the cold storage system would be unequipping/resetting.

tibbz2020b14_ESO · April 6

TaSheen wrote: »

I wonder if the "bareness" of your characters (all of you returning after so long I mean) is due to the "cold storage" setup they put in place a while back (couple or three years now maybe?) Anyone on long hiatus supposedly had their accounts moved into that cold storage "server" (assuming that's what it was, a separate server space), and while I've never yet been gone, so I don't know for sure, I just wonder if part of the cold storage system would be unequipping/resetting.

Its definitely possible and would make sense for them to do that. I don't blame that logic if that's the case, but there needs to be a lets call it "Returning player guide" maybe along the lines of a quest in game that introduces all the updates since that player last logged in. If the cold storage server has a backlog of what skills were at the time vs what they are now or have been replaced with, having a feature that says "this is what it was" and "this is what it is now" would be hugely beneficial. For me at least, it would tell me what purpose it served in my kit and rotation originally and how this new skill either serves a similar or different purpose now.

Sarannah · April 6

tibbz2020b14_ESO wrote: »

show previous quotes

ImmortalCX wrote: »

It's nice to see this old favorite with fresh eyes. I have 2500 hours according to steam, I have three max level characters. My CP level is 700-something.

The last purchased chapter was Greymoor, and I really loved that expansion, especially the underground section that gave the game a new feel.

But when you return to the game you are faced with a number of challenges:
- Respend all the CP points
- Rebuy all the skills
- Nothing I had set up before even works. I have to relearn rotation and skills to adapt to all the changes over five years.
- Need to find and install add ons. (Which ones were they?)
- No guild or guild trader.
- My G9 monitor is super ultrawide, but I can't choose ultrawide with a browser/discord screen to the side. (Why?) It seems like its all or nothing.
- Text looks wonky and small (can it be made bigger?)
- What should I even be doing?

I got the idea to play again because I picked up one of the chapter expansions a couple years ago during a sale and never played. So there is some content I haven't seen. I also want to farm some antiquities because I like that system. Maybe put together a solo build for Archive....

But I feel like I have to relearn the whole game. And after walking through my home for a few minutes, I just log out and don't have the gumption to play.

So how can I rekindle my desire to play? Should I be reading the ESO build sites for a new build idea? Join a guild? What are the carrots? What should I be doing?

I'm right there with you... reinstalled 2 days ago after a good 2-3 years and roughly the same amount of expacs since last playing. It has been BRUTAL, I haven't even left the area I logged back into simply trying to figure out how to get my character back to an even somewhat recognizable point from where I left off. I don't know know what the path to Square 1 looks like any more because nothing is familiar.

Add ons (which I realize are all 3rd party) are all off the UI frame so I don't even know which ones I'm trying to adjust. I've checked so many basic class guides for the modern sorceror, but I either have outdated equipment or no access to the skills relevant to the newer guilds (Psijic for example). I have 0 time or desire to start a character from scratch, recollecting skyshards, lorebooks, wayshrines... I'd like to play the character I spent 450 hours developing. Needless to say, my motivation to try to return to this game is minimal after this experience.

Well, if you really want to stay on the character you are on and he is already equipped: Check your gear to see what resources you use and what type of character it is(dps/tank/healer), and then adjust the stats/skills/champion points to complement that type of build. You can always change things again if needed. Only costs a small amount of gold(the shrines to do so are next to the grahtwood wayshrine, inside the tree).
To get re-acquainted with the game again: Pick any expansion or zone your character has not started yet, then port to the main wayshrine there. Start questing, and see what game knowledge you pick up again. Picking up some skillpoints in the process as well, for when you know how to find and unlock the new skilllines you were talking about. Take it from there and continue your journey. (suggestion: southern elsweyr's questline is relatively short, and you would unlock the ancient dragonguard crafting stations if you do not already have them)

Add-ons is a whole different story. Either keep their settings the way you already had them, or remove them all and see which ones you may want again. Reinstalling them one by one.

karthrag_inak · April 6

Thoughts? Khajiit thinks that 5 years is a long time, and he is impressed you could find your way back.

Lots of strategic 'markers', yes? That's how this one remembers his way.

TaSheen · April 6

tibbz2020b14_ESO wrote: »

show previous quotes

TaSheen wrote: »

I wonder if the "bareness" of your characters (all of you returning after so long I mean) is due to the "cold storage" setup they put in place a while back (couple or three years now maybe?) Anyone on long hiatus supposedly had their accounts moved into that cold storage "server" (assuming that's what it was, a separate server space), and while I've never yet been gone, so I don't know for sure, I just wonder if part of the cold storage system would be unequipping/resetting.

Its definitely possible and would make sense for them to do that. I don't blame that logic if that's the case, but there needs to be a lets call it "Returning player guide" maybe along the lines of a quest in game that introduces all the updates since that player last logged in. If the cold storage server has a backlog of what skills were at the time vs what they are now or have been replaced with, having a feature that says "this is what it was" and "this is what it is now" would be hugely beneficial. For me at least, it would tell me what purpose it served in my kit and rotation originally and how this new skill either serves a similar or different purpose now.

I think that would be a really great idea! @ZOS_Kevin, could you pass that along to whichever team would be involved? Thanks!

ImmortalCX · April 6

tibbz2020b14_ESO wrote: »

show previous quotes

ImmortalCX wrote: »

It's nice to see this old favorite with fresh eyes. I have 2500 hours according to steam, I have three max level characters. My CP level is 700-something.

The last purchased chapter was Greymoor, and I really loved that expansion, especially the underground section that gave the game a new feel.

But when you return to the game you are faced with a number of challenges:
- Respend all the CP points
- Rebuy all the skills
- Nothing I had set up before even works. I have to relearn rotation and skills to adapt to all the changes over five years.
- Need to find and install add ons. (Which ones were they?)
- No guild or guild trader.
- My G9 monitor is super ultrawide, but I can't choose ultrawide with a browser/discord screen to the side. (Why?) It seems like its all or nothing.
- Text looks wonky and small (can it be made bigger?)
- What should I even be doing?

I got the idea to play again because I picked up one of the chapter expansions a couple years ago during a sale and never played. So there is some content I haven't seen. I also want to farm some antiquities because I like that system. Maybe put together a solo build for Archive....

But I feel like I have to relearn the whole game. And after walking through my home for a few minutes, I just log out and don't have the gumption to play.

So how can I rekindle my desire to play? Should I be reading the ESO build sites for a new build idea? Join a guild? What are the carrots? What should I be doing?

I'm right there with you... reinstalled 2 days ago after a good 2-3 years and roughly the same amount of expacs since last playing. It has been BRUTAL, I haven't even left the area I logged back into simply trying to figure out how to get my character back to an even somewhat recognizable point from where I left off. I don't know know what the path to Square 1 looks like any more because nothing is familiar.

Add ons (which I realize are all 3rd party) are all off the UI frame so I don't even know which ones I'm trying to adjust. I've checked so many basic class guides for the modern sorceror, but I either have outdated equipment or no access to the skills relevant to the newer guilds (Psijic for example). I have 0 time or desire to start a character from scratch, recollecting skyshards, lorebooks, wayshrines... I'd like to play the character I spent 450 hours developing. Needless to say, my motivation to try to return to this game is minimal after this experience.

I eventually got me ESO legs back. I'm using some unoptimal combination of skills and old gear. Just farming and collecting motifs. Collected some mythic antiquities. Building my stack of gold. Haven't done any hard content and it has been three weeks.

I think next week I will experiment with new skills and try to farm VMA for the weapon. Maybe try a one bar build with the Oakensoul ring I farmed. But I'm really just playing to pass the time and collect things.

What I didn't realize when returning was how many empty slots in my stickerbook and styles.

tibbz2020b14_ESO · April 6

@Sarannah Thanks for the reply! Its not so much the quests or content, sorry If I was misleading in that regard. I could easily start back with content that has been there since Day 1 to get back in the groove. Its more so being lost in the new skill naming, fixes, functions, and knowing whether or not they work together. I'll never be that "BiS" guy or strictly following the meta, but after spending the better part of a couple hours after logging back in and perusing the class, weapon, armor, guild, etc skills... I have no idea what I had originally had slotted, or how I had would get back to some semblance of what I had even if those old skills don't exist anymore, or were patched/fixed, or if the new skills are cohesive with some of the old skills that are still around. Having that old framework to guide me through the new would be so useful so I could delve back into the content, something like "Old Skill Name" -> "New Skill Name" (Recommended), if locked then (Locked: See "NPC" in "City" to start questline for unlock). Something like that. Maybe allow the skill to be used as long as it is within the questline needed to unlock it, I for one would beeline to finish that quest. Its all bygones at this point, but that would be on my wishlist for the ideal returning player introduction.

ImmortalCX · April 7

tibbz2020b14_ESO wrote: »

@Sarannah Thanks for the reply! Its not so much the quests or content, sorry If I was misleading in that regard. I could easily start back with content that has been there since Day 1 to get back in the groove. Its more so being lost in the new skill naming, fixes, functions, and knowing whether or not they work together. I'll never be that "BiS" guy or strictly following the meta, but after spending the better part of a couple hours after logging back in and perusing the class, weapon, armor, guild, etc skills... I have no idea what I had originally had slotted, or how I had would get back to some semblance of what I had even if those old skills don't exist anymore, or were patched/fixed, or if the new skills are cohesive with some of the old skills that are still around. Having that old framework to guide me through the new would be so useful so I could delve back into the content, something like "Old Skill Name" -> "New Skill Name" (Recommended), if locked then (Locked: See "NPC" in "City" to start questline for unlock). Something like that. Maybe allow the skill to be used as long as it is within the questline needed to unlock it, I for one would beeline to finish that quest. Its all bygones at this point, but that would be on my wishlist for the ideal returning player introduction.

This was my sentiment exactly. If they kept skills slotted at least you could pick up where you left off.

Unless they removed a skill, I don't see a hard reason they could not do this. Maybe use a scalpel here instead of a sword.

CoffinCuddles · April 7

Personally what I did after returning to ESO after a couple year hiatus (and an entire platform switch) was..
1. I made a New Character
2. With new character, I attempted to play in content chronological order by release (I found a few guides/flow charts of this.) for the sake of time, I only did Main quests + a couple sides because I was trying to finish before the newest chapter released which I did with a couple months to spare.
3. Joined a couple guilds, of which one had their own website that had a recommended list of Add-ons! (Walks the uncharted)
4. Looked at build videos, Guides and websites for build examples and then continued on my own path after getting a general idea before theory crafting.
5. Started to watch ESO streamers and Youtube videos for all other non-build specific things

AusarViled · April 7

As a returning player myself who also played in Greymore expansion, some things that really help, that I will also be doing.

(1): DO NOT start with your old alts. I was doing crafting, research, and companion gear on that alt, and it was way to overwhelming. Start a new alt character.

(2): Primarily focus on questing, and doing your daily dungeons on a character (ideally base game dungeons since you can get carried easily - to build up your Champion points, ideally pick a healer since those are easy, and require little skill just use healing abilities and heavy attack to get back mana). Try to see what others are doing, and maybe copy it.

(3): start with base game zones and play through them at your own pace. ESO like SWTOR is mostly played for the story. You will not remember what happened in the base stories, since our brains forget 90% of what we learn. Just use it to enjoy yourself, once you are bored go to Battle grounds. [where I am at in process]

(4): farm up some currency and trade the currency for crowns from a reputable trader. Use it to buy some of the DLC zones - specifically ring of the pale order (Hot) - or get ESO Plus and buy the zones.

(5): get back to the companion system, or scribbing, and get your monster sets to solo end game content.

(6) play a month, and go to the next MMO, and repeat the process in 5 years. How most of us play MMOS now.

tibbz2020b14_ESO · April 7

It seems like a lot of emphasis is being put on the gameplay and new content. I don't think that's what OP and myself find most daunting. Its picking up where we left off with our character, equipment, classes. What used to be there before isn't any longer or has changed to a varying degree, which of course is to be expected of popular mmos. Update, polish, buff, nerf - standard stuff. In the case of OP, having come back after 5 years there is going to be more unrecognizable than recognizable and will likely take a significant amount of time of catching up on updates over those years for every added equipment set, every update to a skill, champion points, passives; the character and class portion of the game prevalent to how he used to play. Having only the knowledge of what you did back then, and no path or guideline to how those translate to the current game prevents you from even playing the game.

I understand the sentiment of creating a fresh character, but for me personally, I'm not going to roll a new sorcerer as a guinea pig to reset my old one. It just doesn't make sense. My thought coming back was, "I'd love to play a mmo again, ESO was a ton of fun and I'll pop back in and scratch the itch for however long its lasts." I'd expect having some knowledge coming back after 450hrs, but it its all brand new. Thats something I don't typically expect of mmos, at least not to this degree (Maybe I'm just getting old lol).

Currently, I have 8 tabs open for various class guides for sorcerers, equipment to look out for, skill options that I've never heard of as a returning player and some of which are locked entirely. I have an end game character, so I'd like to do end game content even if its the old stuff that I remember the most, but I can't because I'm locked out of certain new skills or the equipment I have now is no longer the most viable. I won't wing it and potentially cause issues for an instance party, so I'm going to keep reading into these guides periodically until I can (hopefully) form a baseline build that is similar to what I had before.

Sarannah · April 7

Well, ZOS has done a lot of updates in 5 years. Which means skills, stats, and CP's were reset multiple times in that time period.

ZOS has kind of solved the issue you guys are having, by implementing the armory a few years ago. The armory allows you to save and restore builds you are/were using. So even through updates, some of the armory builds you create could work still. Depending on the updates the game went through. But the armory is only a few years old, so this advice won't help you out specifically. Sorry.

To get to the armory, go to any house and place the armory station(free, can also buy the armory merchant from the crown store). This station allows you to save and restore entire builds, you can even name these builds. So you would always know what the build was. The armory saves your: Stats, skills, gear, CP's, affliction(werewolf/vampire), mundus boon, and outfit.

cyberjanet · April 7

Lexifer452 wrote: »

Anyway, it's a bit daunting. There have been so many updates and expansions and dlc since I last played. So much to catch up on. Too much, really.

Even though I haven't taken any time off the game in ten years, I find it a bit daunting. I can't keep up. Things change so fast. By the time I get the medusa fire staff I wanted, I've forgotten why I wanted it. The skill that did one thing yesterday suddenly does something completely different today. Even the armour specs change, but with over 600 armour sets now, I have no idea how anyone can catch up. My builds are all waaaaay out of date. But at least I can solo Fungal Grotto 1, with what little I have.

Jestir · April 7

So I have been an on and off player for 8 years now and if I take a decently long break I will always start a new character, even if there is 0 chance I will keep them long term, to get a feel for the game again while I read/watch videos on how the meta has changed at other times

Once I feel like I know what I "need" then I will go back to my old "main" and try to get what I need. Luckily with how the game works several year old sets are still very effective

Pillars of Nirn, Orders Wrath, Deadly Strikes, Crimson Oath Rive, Slimecraw, Maw of the Inferno, Spell Power cure, ECT ECT ECT. Trials sets while power crept still have their dedicated minor buff which will allow them to be good enough until new trial gear is obtained. Some of the best PvP gear in the game is old crafted sets like Wretched Vitality and Mechanical Acuity. There hasn't been a new arena since what 2020? And for better or worse at this point only 1, maybe 2, of the sets from the Infinite Archive are worth obtaining.

The "new" cp system seems complicated with tons of choice but a few minutes of research into it will always show that only a few of the "slottables" are even worth looking at

I suppose skill choice can be a bit hard to wrap your head around if you still thinking in a pre-hybridization headspace but in reality hybridization has further simplified ability choice as many skills just aren't worth using over others

And I could keep rabbling on and on but it shouldn't be too hard to get back into the swing of things it's just the "where do I start?" Part that is usually my issue at least and that is usually answered by what kind of content you want to take part in.

frogthroat · April 7

This actually sounds like a good thing to me.

The game changes little by little, keeping it interesting, and if you are gone from the game for a long time you see it as a whole new game. This is a good thing. If this game would be the same as it was 5 years ago, I doubt many people would be playing it any more. Once you have done it all you are done. Why would you continue playing? The game would have to rely on new players only. With constant changes it keeps it interesting to veteran players, too.

All these resets are there so you don't need to pay to reset after they have significantly changed the game. Good thing is whatever your build used to be, it will still work in questing, overland content and all normal content. The newest veteran content might be a struggle but if you've had a break for years you might want to re-familiarise yourself with the game before heading to Lep Seclusa HM anyway.

Creating a new character is a great suggestion people said in this thread. With the knowledge gained with the new character, it becomes easier to "fix" the old characters.

We have been discussing why the change in light attack distance and why the proc condition has been changed to player only in some set and why this thing was nerfed, and complained why some buff is now op - this here shows all those changes accumulate. So much so that the older returning players barely recognise the game. Good. It keeps the game fresh. Makes my complaints about changing a line of crit to a line of pen seem so insignificant now.

Shara_Wynn · April 7

Given that after a set number of years, it sounds like you have no clue what you are doing, honestly I cannot see how "muscle memory" is going to save you lol.

It might be an idea just to start a new character from scratch (if you truly have forgotten everything). Otherwise, just read what the skills say when you hover over them in the skill trees, or just go out and kill some creatures and see what each one does.

For CP points, again just read what they say and decide what suits your class - based on what skills you use - or just Google for a guide to whatever build you want (yes some might be a bit out of date but they are still useful for new and returning players who have forgotten everything).

The game is complicated, it has a lot of different facets and a lot has changed since Greymoor.

For Addons and your UI, yes I can see how that might be disconcerting. Maybe you should just disable all of them, then go and watch a YouTube video about best Addons 2025 to see which ones are still any good.

The game has changed a lot in five years. That is a good thing, not a bad thing. I just joined the game three years ago as a brand new player and yes it was overwhelming, but I didn't expect anything else from a game which has a lot of content. It really wasn't such a big deal to just do a little research and learn the game as I went along.