What do 99% of players actually do?

Sheridan · May 5

Antiquities, Housing, Achievements, Lore Library, Tales of Tribute, Events, Endeavors, Collectibles, Infinite Archive, friends. Even between new chapters each year (which take ALOT more than 5-6 evenings to complete for me) all this can warrant years of relaxed play without ever touching veteran PvE and PvP.

ColonelDogmeat · May 5

I mentor lowbies. Feels good to give back to community.

twisttop138 · May 5

What an interesting topic. The answers are as varied as I expected. For myself I have loved questing, stealing, collecting and furnishing houses. I came to this game many years ago burnt out by raiding. I took a break from ESO for a few years and just recently returned about 4 months ago. Since I've been back Ive thrown myself into raiding, vet and hm dungeons and learning tanking and healing. This has reinvigorated the game for me. I've joined amazing guilds and became an officer in one. I have a blast playing and my wife plays as well. I find fulfillment participating in a guild that teaches what they've learned to the amazing casual players, bringing them into their first trials and recently a vet non craglorn trial. I think there's room for everyone here and I would love to see more casual players come into trials. I've been with many in for their first time and they're amazed that it's nothing like they thought of heard. You just need a good guild.

Edit for a sentence that didn't make sense and to add this: this is why I kinda chuckle when I see an argument that starts with X type of player is only 1% of the player base so they should really be listening to Y player. Look at all these players who do so many different things. It would be hard to fit them into a specific niche.

wolfie1.0. · May 5

It's been ten years and thousands of hours and I still don't know....

Sometimes it's been the intense combat of pvp, bgs, trials, dungeons.

Others it's been farming and gold hunting.

Sometimes it's questing and grinding.

Then there's the relaxing nature of decorating houses and fishing

Or the tedious nature of helping run guilds..

And lastly, sometimes I just log in and listen to the music and sounds of the rain until I fall asleep.

licenturion · May 5

For players that joined the past years there is loads of stuff to catch up on.

Levelling companions for the passives, events, pursuits, tribute, filling the sticker book, getting motifs, farming leads and antiquities, daily endeavours, finishing my house, trials etc. I don’t care about pvp in this game, nor do i care for veteran content.

I play usually daily an hour or two so for years and still have massive stuff to catch up on. I (and lots of others probably) also play still a lot of other games like Rivals, Overwatch, Diablo city builders and big time consuming RPGs as well and ESO fills the blanks.

Cooperharley · May 5

Achievements are what keeps me playing - both PSN trophies & in-game achievements. Collecting stuff was a passion of mine in WoW, but being that you can just purchase most things in ESO (mounts and pets namely), collecting stuff hasn't been as fun as it normally would be, but i do love filling out the stickerbook! Would love for a new interface for motifs and such to make collection more appealing.

SkaiFaith · May 5

I would guess "99% of players" play Skyrim in ESO.
Skyrim is a single player title worth what, at most couple hundreds hours for a "sweaty MMO player"? Still there are people with thousands of hours in it: doing what?
Those same players try ESO and the amount of content is a gazillion times bigger than Skyrim, so they will be happy for 20 years easily, even without ever touching PvP or Trials or even missing all the timely events.

That's my assumption, on which I base my opinion that most players don't care and have no idea of what veteran players fight for on the forums, being it combat, systems or whatnot.
Players gonna play.

wolfie1.0. · May 5

SkaiFaith wrote: »

I would guess "99% of players" play Skyrim in ESO.
Skyrim is a single player title worth what, at most couple hundreds hours for a "sweaty MMO player"? Still there are people with thousands of hours in it: doing what?
Those same players try ESO and the amount of content is a gazillion times bigger than Skyrim, so they will be happy for 20 years easily, even without ever touching PvP or Trials or even missing all the timely events.

That's my assumption, on which I base my opinion that most players don't care and have no idea of what veteran players fight for on the forums, being it combat, systems or whatnot.
Players gonna play.

To be fair, sometimes I play oblivion in eso.

illutian · May 5

When I get back into ESO, I live in Cyrodill.

JemadarofCaerSalis · May 5

For me, it depends on what I feel like doing.

Sometimes I feel like doing antiquities, sometimes I feel like chasing sticker books, sometimes I feel like going after achievements.

Sometimes all I feel like doing is logging on and getting the daily and logging back off.

If there is an event, then I will do what I can of that.

theoverseer · May 5

Crafting writs, endeavours, events and very little else. Can't think of the last time I did a zone mission, even though there are several DLCs I have yet to clear.

Elsonso · May 5

Obviously, the "99%" aren't doing any one thing. I debate whether there actually is a 99%, to be honest. We can probably roll the 1% in with them and head out for beers.

JemadarofCaerSalis · May 5

Elsonso wrote: »

Obviously, the "99%" aren't doing any one thing. I debate whether there actually is a 99%, to be honest. We can probably roll the 1% in with them and head out for beers.

Yeah, I have the feeling that the 'majority' of players, just play the game, doing whatever strikes their fancy that particular day. (and even then, 'majority' doesn't mean 99%, could just mean 50.6% of players)

If you seriously want to break it down, then it would probably be something like '10% of the players do housing', '11% do daily writs and quests', '9% are trying to fill their stickerbooks' and so on.

But, I also don't think it breaks down cleanly, so some of that 11% that do daily writs and quests are also counted in among the 9% that do the stickerbook. The players that do housing might also like going around and killing WBs and chasing antiquities.

MasterSpatula · May 5

Post-Jubliee? Surveys. Except for guild trial nights on Friday, I honestly think I've done nothing but surveys for two weeks.

Elsonso · May 5

JemadarofCaerSalis wrote: »

Elsonso wrote: »

Obviously, the "99%" aren't doing any one thing. I debate whether there actually is a 99%, to be honest. We can probably roll the 1% in with them and head out for beers.

Yeah, I have the feeling that the 'majority' of players, just play the game, doing whatever strikes their fancy that particular day. (and even then, 'majority' doesn't mean 99%, could just mean 50.6% of players)

If you seriously want to break it down, then it would probably be something like '10% of the players do housing', '11% do daily writs and quests', '9% are trying to fill their stickerbooks' and so on.

But, I also don't think it breaks down cleanly, so some of that 11% that do daily writs and quests are also counted in among the 9% that do the stickerbook. The players that do housing might also like going around and killing WBs and chasing antiquities.

Yeah... the problem I have with "10% do housing" and "11% do daily quests" is that after we total up everything, we are probably sitting at 200% of the players doing stuff in the game. Maybe more.

This is an incredibly diverse game, as far as activities go, driven by a rather unusual mix of players.

Tandor · May 5

twisttop138 wrote: »

Edit for a sentence that didn't make sense and to add this: this is why I kinda chuckle when I see an argument that starts with X type of player is only 1% of the player base so they should really be listening to Y player. Look at all these players who do so many different things. It would be hard to fit them into a specific niche.

To be fair, I don't think people really say that those who do trials are only 1% of the playerbase, rather that trials are only 1% of the game's activities, a point they make in arguing with the notion (if and when it is made) that game balance should weigh in favour of trials. This would, I suspect, be borne out by the data logs in terms of how many players are actively in a trial at any one time compared to those doing other things. Of course we shall never know for sure as those data logs will not be revealed

!

I also recall from other games that there is a general perception that those who do trials - whether as their main, only. or occasional activity - are usually about 10% of a game's playerbase, but where that comes from exactly I've no idea. I'd certainly believe the notion that it is a very niche activity given the breadth of most MMOs' activities.

ImmortalCX · May 5

Parasaurolophus wrote: »

I often see people on forums say that veteran PvE content and PvP only interest a tiny portion of the player base. But that raises a real question for me—how are people playing this game then?

Every new chapter or DLC, I usually finish in about 5–6 evenings at a relaxed pace. After that, I might go for some overland achievements, if I feel like it. Then the game turns back into a crafting writ simulator, with occasional raid progression and very rare dungeon runs. I honestly have no idea what else there is to do in this game.

Housing kept me entertained for a while, but after decorating a couple of homes, that was enough. So what’s next? I know thousands of people play this game daily, and only a small minority are clearing hard mode DLC dungeons.

The Account-Wide Achievements system gave me some insight—apparently, a lot of players just recolor all the POIs on the map to white for each of their characters. Some even do fishing and Black Market Mogul on multiple accounts.

Is that really true? Like… is repainting the map white actually endgame for many players?

What I’m getting at is this: the game badly needs new types of activities. The current Golden Pursuits event shows very clearly that it's nearly impossible to create interesting objectives, because most existing activities are either outdated or overly complex. In the end, it all turns into annoying grind.

The game is best played at the end of the day when you are exhausted.

If you apply your fully awake brain to it, try to min/max and rationalize everything, it doesn't make sense.

It is a time sink that is a step above watching television.

spartaxoxo · May 5

I would assume the majority of players are casuals who treat it like a TES game. Their goal isn't to fill out the map. It's to make a guy that works with their idea e.g. this character is a Khajiit sneak thief with a bow, and then they do the quests they feel makes the most sense for that character. Wash, rinse, repeat. Most of these people aren't even in guilds or doing group content. They don't play a lot. They certainly don't post here.

katanagirl1 · May 5

Everybody is different. The hubby is working on doing all of the quests on a second character but I don't do that anymore.

I've been working in getting those 30 battlemaster tokens for the warbear mount, plus daily crafting, endeavors, golden pursuit, and Cyrodiil.

TaSheen · May 5

Until just recently, I played around 7 hours a day, 7 days a week etc etc. I had 4 accounts paid annually, and around 70 girls spread across them. They are all "people" to me, and what I played depended on the girl in question. It was all questing and overland (with occasional delves, usually for events) and the quests I did would depend on which girl I played, and where she was in her "life" in ESO.

DreamyLu · May 6

I have one main toon and play with it only (my 2 alts are by now covered with dust). I mainly wander in explorable based on mood of the moment, farming resources on my way. Aside of that, I'm trading and I do the daily crafting quests. That's my main activities.

Sporadically, I do some housing and when I'm tired, I fish. I don't touch rest of game content apart from a quest or a delve once in a blue moon.

Tariq9898 · May 6

I am what you would call an “endgame solo player.”

I do the hardest endgame solo content in the game such as vet Vateshran and vet Maelstrom. I have Spirit Slayer and Flawless Conqueror. I’m also a serious quester.. earning titles such as Tamriel Hero. Yet, I also chase meta gear and even perfected gear.

I DO follow the meta to an extent. My build is a weird combination of meta and roleplay. So it’s good enough for DLC vet dungeons and my roleplay needs.

So my play-style is a weird combination of treating the game like an MMO and single player.

DigiAngel · May 6

Leveling CP currently by:

10 characters all doing random daily dungeon (6 tanks, 3 healers, 1 dd)
3 characters all doing random daily BG (3 of the tanks above, armory swapped to PvP builds)
Endeavors

Then I usually play something else.

JaxontheUnfortunate · May 6

Really only play eso these days for guild events and daily writs otherwise I am on other games.

LootAllTheStuff · May 6

spartaxoxo wrote: »

I would assume the majority of players are casuals who treat it like a TES game. Their goal isn't to fill out the map. It's to make a guy that works with their idea e.g. this character is a Khajiit sneak thief with a bow, and then they do the quests they feel makes the most sense for that character. Wash, rinse, repeat. Most of these people aren't even in guilds or doing group content. They don't play a lot. They certainly don't post here.

I resemble the "play it like Skyrim" mode, but I do indeed work to fill out the map. I want the story! Also, I find whacking things with swords (digital ones) quite therapeutic. I play daily, and I post here. So I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule?

SilverBride · May 6

LootAllTheStuff wrote: »

I resemble the "play it like Skyrim" mode, but I do indeed work to fill out the map. I want the story! Also, I find whacking things with swords (digital ones) quite therapeutic. I play daily, and I post here. So I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule?

I'm the same way.

Syldras · May 6

LootAllTheStuff wrote: »

I resemble the "play it like Skyrim" mode, but I do indeed work to fill out the map. I want the story! Also, I find whacking things with swords (digital ones) quite therapeutic. I play daily, and I post here. So I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule?

Nah, there are a lot of forum people with that playstyle. I alone can think of 5, and I'm sure there are more. You especially find them in the more roleplaying-themed subforums like lore, community creations or fiction and roleplay.

spartaxoxo · May 6

LootAllTheStuff wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

I would assume the majority of players are casuals who treat it like a TES game. Their goal isn't to fill out the map. It's to make a guy that works with their idea e.g. this character is a Khajiit sneak thief with a bow, and then they do the quests they feel makes the most sense for that character. Wash, rinse, repeat. Most of these people aren't even in guilds or doing group content. They don't play a lot. They certainly don't post here.

I resemble the "play it like Skyrim" mode, but I do indeed work to fill out the map. I want the story! Also, I find whacking things with swords (digital ones) quite therapeutic. I play daily, and I post here. So I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule?

Yeah. There's always some on a forum. But in general forums in any video game tends to skew towards power users. This isn't a reference to skill like if we were talking about gameplay. I mean users who are more invested in the game than others, regardless of the type of content the game has and player uses.

So, you being the fill out the map type would be more investment than other Skyrim-like players, for example. One data point you can use to see what I mean is the percentage of players who get the trophies on PSN/Xbox for filling out the map. It's pretty low, even with the caveat that all games have somewhat lower than you'd think PSN trophy data because they count anyone who boots the game up as a player.

LootAllTheStuff · May 6

spartaxoxo wrote: »

LootAllTheStuff wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

I would assume the majority of players are casuals who treat it like a TES game. Their goal isn't to fill out the map. It's to make a guy that works with their idea e.g. this character is a Khajiit sneak thief with a bow, and then they do the quests they feel makes the most sense for that character. Wash, rinse, repeat. Most of these people aren't even in guilds or doing group content. They don't play a lot. They certainly don't post here.

I resemble the "play it like Skyrim" mode, but I do indeed work to fill out the map. I want the story! Also, I find whacking things with swords (digital ones) quite therapeutic. I play daily, and I post here. So I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule?

Yeah. There's always some on a forum. But in general forums in any video game tends to skew towards power users. This isn't a reference to skill like if we were talking about gameplay. I mean users who are more invested in the game than others, regardless of the type of content the game has and player uses.

So, you being the fill out the map type would be more investment than other Skyrim-like players, for example. One data point you can use to see what I mean is the percentage of players who get the trophies on PSN/Xbox for filling out the map. It's pretty low, even with the caveat that all games have somewhat lower than you'd think PSN trophy data because they count anyone who boots the game up as a player.

You got me curious, so I'm just looking at the XBox achievements right now. I seem to have a lot that are in the "<1% of players have this achievement" category! Fighters Guild main quest is 4.05% completion, Mage's guild is 3.08%, main story is 4.26%, and Alliance Recruit 7.37%. Like a lot of games, completion rates on the main story seem to drop off exponentially - for Chapter 1 it's >40%! Curiously, twice as many players have successfully fled from a guard as become an Alliance Recruit...

soelslaev · May 6

Things I do in order of most time spent:

Cyrodiil PvP
Questing
Imperial City PvP
Imperial City PvE
Imperial Sewers PvE
Crafting of some kind (dailies, surveys, new pvp build experiment)
Battlegrounds
Cyrodiil PvE
Imperial Sewers PvP
The puzzle game thing with scrying and digging
Housing

Things I rarely do in order of things I do the least:

Trials
Fishing
That card game
Dungeons