Is it too soon to pronounce Scribing dead?

El_Borracho · April 2025

With Subclassing, I think its safe to say that Scribing's days are numbered. There are only so many slots on a bar. There are only so many Scribed skills that were useful to begin with, but now that you can pick and choose from other classes, why Scribe when you can slot something far more powerful from another class?

Scribing is either going to have to come up with stronger options or its dead.

Erickson9610 · April 2025

Scribed abilities for Class skill lines would be a good start. Of course, the Werewolf skill line has no Scribing abilities yet, so werewolves still can't use the system yet.

sarahthes · April 2025

El_Borracho wrote: »

With Subclassing, I think its safe to say that Scribing's days are numbered. There are only so many slots on a bar. There are only so many Scribed skills that were useful to begin with, but now that you can pick and choose from other classes, why Scribe when you can slot something far more powerful from another class?

Scribing is either going to have to come up with stronger options or its dead.

Everyone's gonna be an arc base class or a necro base class for banner. Banner will still get used (unless they nerf it).

Lumsdenml · April 2025

Maybe, maybe not, but you can still only have 3 skill lines. Might be room in there for a scribing skill...

El_Borracho · April 2025

Lumsdenml wrote: »

Maybe, maybe not, but you can still only have 3 skill lines. Might be room in there for a scribing skill...

The one scribing skill I was thinking of was the Contingency heal, but that is getting nerfed because it was OP (It was.) Banner was another, as @sarahthes pointed out. But most of the damage skills are discount versions of class skills that were mean to be an option for classes that didn't have access to something they wanted. Now, you can just go get the class skill you want and not have to deal with Traveling Knife or Wield Soul.

Orbital78 · April 2025

Scribing could use some work/buffs, but I think some things like banner will always be useful. Contingency is really powerful in PVP as well.

Stx · April 2025

Scribing is separate from and really isn’t impacted by subclassing at all. You can still scribe custom abilities that fill a needed role in your kit.

I hope they continue to add to and support scribing with new abilities and script options.

Diminish · April 2025

Can't wait until every dd is a arc+dk. Even though ZOS claims the opposite, for anything other than casual play, choice has been completely removed from the game.

CoronHR · April 2025

it was sort of dead on arrival, except for support skills. they totally messed that up. so many skills are just horrible

LadyGP · April 2025

I wouldn't mind seeing it phased out. I'm sure it's having a huge impact on calculations on the servers.

Elsonso · April 2025

I don't see how scribing and subclasses are mutually exclusive. Seems to me that someone can scribe a subclass skill, but maybe ZOS blocks that. ¯\(ツ)/¯

That said, while I know some people like scribing, in the larger picture, I also think it was 'dead' on arrival.

AngryNecro · April 2025

El_Borracho wrote: »

With Subclassing, I think its safe to say that Scribing's days are numbered. There are only so many slots on a bar. There are only so many Scribed skills that were useful to begin with, but now that you can pick and choose from other classes, why Scribe when you can slot something far more powerful from another class?

Scribing is either going to have to come up with stronger options or its dead.

No. I've already come up with builds for the subclasses that need scribing. If you take 3 DD branches, you will have problems with sustain and in many cases you need scribing. Moreover, branches can be taken for one active skill and passiv, or only because for passiv.

But I hope scribing will develop in the same way. And then Wield Soul one of best range spam attak to all class.

sarahthes · April 2025

El_Borracho wrote: »

Lumsdenml wrote: »

Maybe, maybe not, but you can still only have 3 skill lines. Might be room in there for a scribing skill...

The one scribing skill I was thinking of was the Contingency heal, but that is getting nerfed because it was OP (It was.) Banner was another, as @sarahthes pointed out. But most of the damage skills are discount versions of class skills that were mean to be an option for classes that didn't have access to something they wanted. Now, you can just go get the class skill you want and not have to deal with Traveling Knife or Wield Soul.

Except traveling knife has 2 unique buffs (the martial damage one and the status one) that are used in most organized raid comps.

Also I will expect to see leashing soul used even more, and a lot of groups are using elemental explosion to proc aoe minor brittle also.

wolfie1.0. · April 2025

El_Borracho wrote: »

With Subclassing, I think its safe to say that Scribing's days are numbered. There are only so many slots on a bar. There are only so many Scribed skills that were useful to begin with, but now that you can pick and choose from other classes, why Scribe when you can slot something far more powerful from another class?

Scribing is either going to have to come up with stronger options or its dead.

You assume no class skill balancing

Also, inorder to gain subclass you have to give up one of your class skills.

You have to take all of the skills in a skill line. If I'm a sorc and I want cloak from night blade I have take the entire shadow line.

So it's not entirely what you want from a class line

randconfig · April 2025

What do you mean?? Scribing is awesome and subclassing will only synergize with it.

randconfig · April 2025

CoronHR wrote: »

it was sort of dead on arrival, except for support skills. they totally messed that up. so many skills are just horrible

My only complaint is that class mastery script doesn't make the ability count as a "class ability" for class passives.

Otherwise, I think it's been an incredible system and really fun for PvE and PvP. I've found a use for every spell on multiple different builds.

Especially fun to have knockback focus script on elemental explosion ready to slot when queueing for battlegrounds in case it's capture the relic. It's so effective at breaking up ball groups sitting on their relic, allowing your allies to pick them off.

AngryNecro · April 2025

randconfig wrote: »

My only complaint is that class mastery script doesn't make the ability count as a "class ability" for class passives.

Otherwise, I think it's been an incredible system and really fun for PvE and PvP. I've found a use for every spell on multiple different builds.

Especially fun to have knockback focus script on elemental explosion ready to slot when queueing for battlegrounds in case it's capture the relic. It's so effective at breaking up ball groups sitting on their relic, allowing your allies to pick them off.

which line would the class mastery work for?

Speaking of class mastery, that's a good question. Will it be possible to change it with subclasses?

Ragnarok0130 · April 2025

Erickson9610 wrote: »

Scribed abilities for Class skill lines would be a good start. Of course, the Werewolf skill line has no Scribing abilities yet, so werewolves still can't use the system yet.

This is what I initially thought scribing would be, to take class skills and tweak them. I would have loved that iteration compared to what we got where you can't even use the armory system to get different morphs for different play styles.

Erickson9610 · April 2025

AngryNecro wrote: »

randconfig wrote: »

My only complaint is that class mastery script doesn't make the ability count as a "class ability" for class passives.

Otherwise, I think it's been an incredible system and really fun for PvE and PvP. I've found a use for every spell on multiple different builds.

Especially fun to have knockback focus script on elemental explosion ready to slot when queueing for battlegrounds in case it's capture the relic. It's so effective at breaking up ball groups sitting on their relic, allowing your allies to pick them off.

which line would the class mastery work for?

Speaking of class mastery, that's a good question. Will it be possible to change it with subclasses?

ZOS said on stream that Class Mastery is always tied to your original Class. The same goes for Class Sets from the Infinite Archive.

Finedaible · April 2025

There's so much that could be added to Scribing that I don't think it is going anywhere. I just hope it doesn't take them forever to expand on the available grimoires; I was surprised they didn't announce any new ones.

If anything it was kinda shocking to see sub-classing coming so soon right on the heels of Scribing.

xylena_lazarow · April 2025

El_Borracho wrote: »

With Subclassing, I think its safe to say that Scribing's days are numbered.

Not when I can slam 3 damage trees knowing Scribing can fill in the defense and buffs I'm missing.

darvaria · April 2025

All these new abilities and NO extra room on skill bar. I went back to mostly playing an oaken Warden.

Too many options ... when there are already more than enough skills to fill bars. An extra skill slot for scribing AND one for subclassing might peak my interest. Rn, I have enough skills.

Hmmm ... is scribing dead? I only use for completing endeavors. I had one skill (repelling explosion) for ball groups but it seems worthless now ... somehow less effective so I don't bother. Easier to just move away.

AlterBlika · April 2025

Some scribing skills surely suck (or it's me who hasn't managed to find a good use for them) but some are pretty useful. Stamina purge and deflection of any direct attack come to mind - as I remember there are no classes that provide such utility. These two were a game changer for me tbh, plus I could finally replace clunky trap in my rotation.

tsaescishoeshiner · April 2025

Subclasses will make Scribing more relevant for certain builds. For example, did you swap out your class skill lines to have all DPS or all healer skills? You might have lost your self-heal, your major/minor buffs, or your spammable.

For PvP, the two combined can give players lots of access to extra buffs and stacking mitigation effects. Or combo cheese like using Fissure, Ulfsild's Contingency, and then Fossilize. Enjoy the burst lol

xylena_lazarow · April 2025

Base Warden for the class script charm stun will still see play in PvP, as will base Sorc for the class script that makes Shocking Soul the highest damage direct spammable in PvP.

Grizzbeorn · April 2025

I have yet to move beyond the first two Scribing quests (what are there, six? I can't even remember).
I haven't done the other quests yet because none of the scribed skills have caught my eye.
The only thing that did percolate some interest was Styling, but I haven't done the quest to unlock it yet.

So for me, Scribing never escaped its egg-case.

Imperial_Archmage · April 2025

Oh I don’t think it’s too soon at all, in fact it was pretty much DoA and little more than a Chapter gimmick. They’ve clearly completely abandoned it and seem to have no plans for any future updates to the system aside from dropping more skill recolors via the crown store or achievements if they’re feeling generous, lol.

xylena_lazarow · April 2025

Imperial_Archmage wrote: »

Oh I don’t think it’s too soon at all, in fact it was pretty much DoA and little more than a Chapter gimmick. They’ve clearly completely abandoned it

Not at all, they've been gradually adding more elements and affixes, Scribing has had a huge impact on PvP, and discovering the Banner Arcanist DD has me actually trying PvE again.

Cooperharley · April 2025

I still will use scribing on my tank quite a bit personally. Really enjoy the chains and shield throw for taunt. On my solo dps though? Yea I won't use it. I think scribing just needs to be continually iterated upon and it'll get better

SilverBride · April 2025

Scribing has never been a thing for me. I did collect everything on all my characters but not to scribe with. I just like collecting things. And I did finally scribe one skill just to use for endeavors that say defeat so many enemies using scribed skills. But Scribing was never alive for me in the first place.

Tandor · April 2025

I love the scribing questline, and am still doing it on additional characters. I haven't really had any interest in scribing beyond that, however.