Account Wide Achievements - First World Problem?

Horace-Wimp · July 4

I hate them. Ti be crystal clear - HATE! They completely destroy any "love" i might have for ESO. They are a terrible idea that should NEVER have added to the game.

I'm an old school gamer. When I play an MMO I always have a main character that spend the overwhelming majority of my playtime playing. I do EVERY thing on that toon. I'll have alts but I really don't care about them and oftentimes delete them because I get tired of looking at them.

But in ESO every character a player creates is treated as just one small part of the main character - THE PLAYER - instead of it's own separate individual stand alone toon. This aggravates me to no end. If I do something for the first time in game I WANT to it on my main character ONLY.

Which brings me to my current complaint. Two weeks ago I sprung for another month of ESO+ and in that time I have tried REPEATEDLY to run all the DLC dungeons that I only have access to because of my active ESO+ with my main character. I have spent days - DAYS! - direct queuing for them in the dungeon group finder and have only gotten four. FOUR out of more than 25 DLC dungeons that I have never run before - never even SEEN before. And I was in queue for HOURS before any of the four popped.

Meanwhile, on my alts, when I queue for a random normal dungeon I get these DLC dungeons EVERY ******* DAY! Every day for two weeks! WTH! My alts barely have any skill points and use crappy purple gear. They struggle in the base game dungeons yet somehow they get the more challenging DLC dungeons EVERY DAY!?! This is just plain stupid. So, naturally I immediately quit those dungeons and leave because if I am going to do them FOR THE FIRST TIME it will be with my main toon, NOT an alt. But every day when I queue for a random normal dungeon with my main I always get base game dungeons - never a DLC dungeon.

So, the problem I see myself faced with is as long as I have an active ESO+ it seems like I am only going to running my daily random normal on my main since my alts get dungeons my main has never done and never gets. Which has rendered my alts useless (I basically only run daily random normal dungeons on them for the extra Champion Points.) I could keep my alts and them start using them again once my ESO+ expires OR! I could just delete them now and never have to worry about Account Wide Achievements again, especially now that subclassing is a thing.

If any of what I've written makes any sense to you, what option appeals to you most? Keep my alts until ESO+ expires? Delete them now and never worry about AWA ever again? Or continue to spend hours every day trying to direct queue for these DLC dungeons hoping that I might get the remaining 20+ done before I lose access to them? I'm just going nuts here trying to understand how the algorithm keeps doing this. It seems like a sick joke, like entering a 1983 Cheverolet Chevette in an F1 Grand Prix race.

SMH.

Soarora · July 4

Honestly, since you're doing them on normal, I'd suggest throwing on a targeted burst heal (and maybe a heal over time like echoing vigor) and queueing as healer. Individual queues take quite a while even as a tank at times.

tsaescishoeshiner · July 4

Do you have guildmates or friends who can queue for the dungeons with you? Or if you only want normal mode achievements, can you learn how to solo the soloable ones? Otherwise, you just need to make a tank if you have a free armory slot on your main.

I hope you're able to clear this content the way you want, but I don't think is a problem with the game itself, but the restrictions of a perfectionist mindset.

I get wanting to have the achievements under one character name, but with the new class achievements, you already can't do that unless you delete your character and remake it as a different class.

When AWA launched, I wanted certain achievements under certain character names, but messed up the order that I logged in, so they're wrong forever. I've since forgotten about it and don't even remember which achievements they were.

Separately, one way to enjoy alts is to make custom milestone journals for them. Like make it to Arc X solo, or deathless Maelstrom run without Mythic items, etc. No one can take that away.

licenturion · July 4

That is the beauty of AWA. You don't need to do these dungeons on your weak alts because once you acquire a new gear piece with a character it gets added to the collection sticker book and can be reconstructed with your main character whenever you like.

Also you can multiselect specific dungeons if you want a specific one to do the quest for the skill point.

No idea why your queue times are so long though. I am on PC EU and as DPS my queue usually pops between 3 to 8 minutes, even at midnight.

I do get that AWA is a love or hate feature. I love this, since I also play a bunch of other games too. And with AWA and subclassing I finally have the tools to make 1 character that gets to be maxed in everything.

Abelon · July 4

I feel like I am probably stupid, but what does the "problem" have to do with AWA really? You could just as well have said the same thing when achievements were per character only. "I don't want the first achievement for the dungeon to pop on my alt, the first achievement always goes to my main!" or something. This is very self imposed. In the end, these "achievements" in this form, are nothing but a log of the actual achievements, that are the actions you do. The log is just a way to record these things, and the way of recording them is now account wide. That doesn't actually change the actions and the fact that you clear different things on different characters. You can still RP your characters however you want, they still enter a dungeon or location for the first time. So what if the ingame log doesn't reflect that. Make your own log. Get yourself a notebook with a pretty cover and record your achievements there, in a form of your choosing... The possibilities are endless.

As for the solution. You don't want the achievement to pop on your alt... Then don't run the dungeon on the alt. As you already do. Focus on your main and ensure they run the dungeons first. Find some people to help you out. Change the role to healer or tank. Not sure why you'd need to delete anyone. You can just not run specifically dungeons on them and run everything else. Or you could just not play them until you get all the dungeon stuff on your main. But why delete?

HatchetHaro · July 4

This whole thing sounds like a "join a guild and find someone to play with" issue.

AzuraFan · July 4

Horace-Wimp wrote: »

But every day when I queue for a random normal dungeon with my main I always get base game dungeons - never a DLC dungeon.

If you want to run specific dungeons, don't queue for the random. Queue for the specific dungeon(s) - you can specify more than one when you queue.

I did the Undaunted DLC achievement (100/100 pledges) by queueing for the specific pledge dungeon every day. I'm DPS, and the queue usually popped for me within 25 mins.

But I think your problem is that you're queuing for the random. If you want to do a DLC dungeon, queue for that DLC dungeon only.

ETA: Queuing for a specific dungeon isn't like doing a random, so you don't get transmutes and all that. But if your goal is to have your main do the dungeon first, then this is the way to go. You can always run the random after.

Horace-Wimp · July 4

AzuraFan wrote: »

...If you want to run specific dungeons, don't queue for the random. Queue for the specific dungeon(s) - you can specify more than one when you queue...

Obviously you didn't read everything I wrote. That or I wrote it so poorly you weren't able to understand it.

As I stated in my OP THAT is where the problem is. I spent HOURS every day for two weeks DIRECT queuing for the more than 25 DLC dungeons and ONLY four of them popped. And Those four that did pop I had to wait HOURS in queue. This was on my main character , the ONLY character I enjoy playing and do any actual improvement.

Meanwhile, on my alts when I queue for a daily random normal dungeon just to get some extra Champion Points they ALWAYS get DLC dungeons right off the top. I have had to re-queue multiple times just to get a nase game dungeon with them. As stated, my alts are poorly geared and barely have any skill points and struggle in base game dungeons whereas my main powers through most normal content.

It just seems really stupid to me that the algorithm constantly and consistently does this: ALWAYS gives my main base game dungeons when running daily random normal dungeons and ALWAYS give my alts DLC dungeons when it should be the other way around. It's maddening. Thus, why I included "First World Problem?" in the title.

I noticed a few other people seem to agree with my post, in whole or in part I cannot say, and it may very well be the 'perfectionist' slant I have. But if AWA wasn't a thing then it wouldn't matter so much to me. My alts could do content first and get the cheevie and that would still allow my main to get the cheevie, too. It's just stupid to me that all cheevies go to the account instead of the character.

And why isn't it the same for Companions? My main has collected several companions but whenever I try to access them with an alt I am directed to do the questlines all over again? **** no! They were boring and tedious the first time, I sure as **** am not doing them again and again.

I've been giving this problem more and more thought and as of this writing I am leaning heavily toward deleting all of my alts just to put it to rest. The only reason I haven't deleted them yet is the idea of using them just for added storage. But that only matters if I plan on continuing to play ESO with any regularity in future. Another question that I need to answer.

AzuraFan · July 4

Horace-Wimp wrote: »

AzuraFan wrote: »

...If you want to run specific dungeons, don't queue for the random. Queue for the specific dungeon(s) - you can specify more than one when you queue...

Obviously you didn't read everything I wrote. That or I wrote it so poorly you weren't able to understand it.

As I stated in my OP THAT is where the problem is. I spent HOURS every day for two weeks DIRECT queuing for the more than 25 DLC dungeons and ONLY four of them popped. And Those four that did pop I had to wait HOURS in queue. This was on my main character , the ONLY character I enjoy playing and do any actual improvement.

Well, your post was all over the place. In one place you're queuing for a specific dungeon, in another you're doing randoms. That aside, what server are you on? I'm a DPS that was queueing for specific DLC dungeons in off-hours, and I never had to wait hours. I did it for months, queuing for a SINGLE DLC dungeon every day.

Perhaps try what I did - queue for the DLC dungeon that's the daily pledge. There will be quite a few people queuing for that dungeon, so it could reduce your queue times.

As for AwA, I don't like it either, but ranting about it won't solve your problem of trying to get dungeons done first with your main.

Cooperharley · July 4

Horace-Wimp wrote: »

I hate them. Ti be crystal clear - HATE! They completely destroy any "love" i might have for ESO. They are a terrible idea that should NEVER have added to the game.

I'm an old school gamer. When I play an MMO I always have a main character that spend the overwhelming majority of my playtime playing. I do EVERY thing on that toon. I'll have alts but I really don't care about them and oftentimes delete them because I get tired of looking at them.

But in ESO every character a player creates is treated as just one small part of the main character - THE PLAYER - instead of it's own separate individual stand alone toon. This aggravates me to no end. If I do something for the first time in game I WANT to it on my main character ONLY.

Which brings me to my current complaint. Two weeks ago I sprung for another month of ESO+ and in that time I have tried REPEATEDLY to run all the DLC dungeons that I only have access to because of my active ESO+ with my main character. I have spent days - DAYS! - direct queuing for them in the dungeon group finder and have only gotten four. FOUR out of more than 25 DLC dungeons that I have never run before - never even SEEN before. And I was in queue for HOURS before any of the four popped.

Meanwhile, on my alts, when I queue for a random normal dungeon I get these DLC dungeons EVERY ******* DAY! Every day for two weeks! WTH! My alts barely have any skill points and use crappy purple gear. They struggle in the base game dungeons yet somehow they get the more challenging DLC dungeons EVERY DAY!?! This is just plain stupid. So, naturally I immediately quit those dungeons and leave because if I am going to do them FOR THE FIRST TIME it will be with my main toon, NOT an alt. But every day when I queue for a random normal dungeon with my main I always get base game dungeons - never a DLC dungeon.

So, the problem I see myself faced with is as long as I have an active ESO+ it seems like I am only going to running my daily random normal on my main since my alts get dungeons my main has never done and never gets. Which has rendered my alts useless (I basically only run daily random normal dungeons on them for the extra Champion Points.) I could keep my alts and them start using them again once my ESO+ expires OR! I could just delete them now and never have to worry about Account Wide Achievements again, especially now that subclassing is a thing.

If any of what I've written makes any sense to you, what option appeals to you most? Keep my alts until ESO+ expires? Delete them now and never worry about AWA ever again? Or continue to spend hours every day trying to direct queue for these DLC dungeons hoping that I might get the remaining 20+ done before I lose access to them? I'm just going nuts here trying to understand how the algorithm keeps doing this. It seems like a sick joke, like entering a 1983 Cheverolet Chevette in an F1 Grand Prix race.

SMH.

I love them

Abelon · July 4

Horace-Wimp wrote: »

AzuraFan wrote: »

...If you want to run specific dungeons, don't queue for the random. Queue for the specific dungeon(s) - you can specify more than one when you queue...

Obviously you didn't read everything I wrote. That or I wrote it so poorly you weren't able to understand it.

As I stated in my OP THAT is where the problem is. I spent HOURS every day for two weeks DIRECT queuing for the more than 25 DLC dungeons and ONLY four of them popped. And Those four that did pop I had to wait HOURS in queue. This was on my main character , the ONLY character I enjoy playing and do any actual improvement.

Meanwhile, on my alts when I queue for a daily random normal dungeon just to get some extra Champion Points they ALWAYS get DLC dungeons right off the top. I have had to re-queue multiple times just to get a nase game dungeon with them. As stated, my alts are poorly geared and barely have any skill points and struggle in base game dungeons whereas my main powers through most normal content.

It just seems really stupid to me that the algorithm constantly and consistently does this: ALWAYS gives my main base game dungeons when running daily random normal dungeons and ALWAYS give my alts DLC dungeons when it should be the other way around. It's maddening. Thus, why I included "First World Problem?" in the title.

I noticed a few other people seem to agree with my post, in whole or in part I cannot say, and it may very well be the 'perfectionist' slant I have. But if AWA wasn't a thing then it wouldn't matter so much to me. My alts could do content first and get the cheevie and that would still allow my main to get the cheevie, too. It's just stupid to me that all cheevies go to the account instead of the character.

And why isn't it the same for Companions? My main has collected several companions but whenever I try to access them with an alt I am directed to do the questlines all over again? **** no! They were boring and tedious the first time, I sure as **** am not doing them again and again.

I've been giving this problem more and more thought and as of this writing I am leaning heavily toward deleting all of my alts just to put it to rest. The only reason I haven't deleted them yet is the idea of using them just for added storage. But that only matters if I plan on continuing to play ESO with any regularity in future. Another question that I need to answer.

I still don't understand what you're deleting your alts for. Whatsoever. That's the issue, the post is all over the place. You bring up different problems and then completely unrelated solutions. Deleting your alts won't increase the likelihood of a specific dlc dungeon popping on your main when you do random dungeons. You understand that, right? Neither is there some sort of "algorithm" which you keep on mentioning, that would decide which dungeons your main gets and which your alts does. You queue random dungeons, you are put in a queue with other people trying to do dungeons, all with their appropriate roles selected. You get the FIRST dungeon the system manages to throw a party together for, taking into consideration unlocked dungeons, roles, etc. That's it. Don't want random dungeons, don't queue for random dungeons. Don't want alts to possibly get into the wrong dungeon, DOUBLE DON'T queue for those dungeons with the alts.

Find a guild, or just find someone in chat, switch the role to make queues go faster, on your MAIN and select the SPECIFIC dungeon. Everybody here already told you those things, but you ignore that. We heard you when you said it takes a long time. But we already proposed solutions for that. Find someone to help, find a role that makes the queue go faster. But nobody proposes deleting alts. As that changes nothing. Nothing at all about your problem.

And still none of this has anything to do with AWA. You are complaining about queue times. That's your problem. Not AWA. When you're looking for a solution to a specific problem, it's not helpful to throw a bunch of unrelated problems into the pot and then get confused over what you are trying to solve.

valenwood_vegan · July 4

Yeah there's way too much to unpack here, but trying my best to focus on the problem presented, I'd also suggest maybe looking for a guild or something to find people to run some of these dungeons with. Or if that's not a suitable option, focus on the DLC pledge each day to increase the chance of other people running it.

Relying on random strangers to just happen to be doing the particular thing that one needs, at the right time, can be frustrating.

The train left the station a long time ago with AwA. This isn't related to dungeon queue times.

If you don't like having alts, don't have alts. Or use them for storage and don't play with them. Or ignore them. This isn't related to dungeon queue times.

sarahthes · July 4

Try queuing for the pledge dlc dungeon, and slot echoing vigor plus a class heal and queue as healer. Best way to get a fast queue.

katanagirl1 · July 5

If you want to queue for a specific dungeon, make sure it is the Undaunted pledge for the day. Otherwise you will wait forever for a group.

magnusthorek · July 5

IMHO, account-wide achievements aren't necessarily bad, they just were implemented the wrong way.

Mentioning the character who completed an achievement first, without even showing on-screen the same achievement as completed for other characters, even if for visual sakes, was wrong.

Sharing motifs-related achievement across all characters without letting them all ACTUALLY craft every style “the player” knows, was wrong. I, for example, STILL haven't finished the dro-m'Athra style on my nowadays' main because my 10-years ago main had it first (and she will never see her name on the achievement even when I loot/buy the last page I need).

Not to mention that giving out Character Titles for all characters even though “the player” only got them with one character/class/role, is often VERY misleading.

Desiato · July 5

I don't think this is working the way you think it is.

Think about it logically. If there are no character achievements for dungeons, why would each of your characters have different dungeon rng?

It's just the luck of the draw.

Right now there is a huge focus on grinding Subclassed skill lines. The result is a disproportionate number of base game dungeons. There is a method some players use to ensure they get these when grinding random dungeons.

At different times, the group finder is skewed towards DLC dungeons when more players are grinding gear.

You help your chances by learning a new role. I bet you don't want to do this. That's understandable. But you're not playing a single player game, so you have to meet other players halfway.

Because tanks are demand, when you choose the specific dungeons as a tank *you* want using the dungeon finder, the group will be filled by players choosing the random option.

Since you know what dungeons you want to play, you can search google to find a mechanics guide so you know what to expect.

I made this choice last year and it was easy. Tanking and healing normal dungeons is really easy. You can fundamentally use your DD build. You don't need 30k+ health to tank a normal. If you can block heavies and stay out of red, 25k is fine. I usually go with 20k.

For tanking use Jewels of Misrule as your food, equip an ice staff or one hand/shield, slot a taunt like inner fire or destructive clench when using an ice staff, and make sure you have a self heal and a source of major resolve.

For healing, do the same except slot a restoration staff back bar, slot regen, healing ward and combat prayer. Keep the regen up on everyone and you won't need to heal very often in a normal. Learn to keep your teammates health bar in the corner of your eye while you contribute dps to the group. Normal dungeons are easy.

You can also lean into scribing.

Or don't do these things and be patient because you instead chose the path of least resistance.

mdjessup4906 · July 5

Awa doesn't make you get random dungeons you've never been in, thats just rng. Has nothing to do with stickerbook either, id think.

I do wish there was a way to track which character did what that isnt a self-made spreadsheet. Show every character thats done the thing, not just the first.

TX12001rwb17_ESO · July 6

You're the one achieving it though not your characters, achievements are not an in-universe thing.

Varana · July 6

But because ESO lacks even the most basic character journal functionality, achievements are the closest we can get. They are (or rather, were) a record of "this character did this, it is part of their story now".

Also, I can do some achievement with some characters but others definitely not. It's not as if characters don't matter.

Mesite · July 6

The game will be there for years yet. It's a long term game. Save up for the DLCs over the next few years and do the dungeons when you eventually own them and in the meantime do other things on your main.

Alternatively, during the next sale, buy another account and have your alts on that account, keeping your main account for your main.

Tandor · July 6

TX12001rwb17_ESO wrote: »

You're the one achieving it though not your characters, achievements are not an in-universe thing.

But if you've done it with your arcanist, that doesn't mean you've done it with your warden. When you complete a quest the character gets the experience, not all the other characters on the account. There's a clear argument that it should be the same for achievements, quite apart from the argument for tracking individual character progression.

Horace-Wimp · July 9

DEFINITELY A FIRST WORLD PROBLEM.

This may come as a surprise but I was pretty upset when I wrote my post. It was just plain maddening to understand how when queuing for random dungeons that my main character that has tons of Skill Points and decent yellow gear I NEVER get a DLC dungeon yet somehow on ALL my alts which have barely any Skill Points and use crappy purple gear I ALWAYS get DLC dungeons. Just plain madness.

But I've had a chance to calm down (nerd) and accept that the algorithm is borked somehow to return these results. I decided to quit playing for a few days and wash my hands of the game and that seems to be the best solution for me. NOT you - ME.

I appreciate the feedback from those of you that actually read my post and somehow understood exactly what I meant. It can NOT have been easy which makes your efforts all the more appreciated. I accept that AWA are here to stay and that's just the way it's going to be.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their Summer. Stay safe and happy hunting!

Cardhwion · July 9

Horace-Wimp wrote: »

DEFINITELY A FIRST WORLD PROBLEM.

This may come as a surprise but I was pretty upset when I wrote my post. It was just plain maddening to understand how when queuing for random dungeons that my main character that has tons of Skill Points and decent yellow gear I NEVER get a DLC dungeon yet somehow on ALL my alts which have barely any Skill Points and use crappy purple gear I ALWAYS get DLC dungeons. Just plain madness.

But I've had a chance to calm down (nerd) and accept that the algorithm is borked somehow to return these results. I decided to quit playing for a few days and wash my hands of the game and that seems to be the best solution for me. NOT you - ME.

I appreciate the feedback from those of you that actually read my post and somehow understood exactly what I meant. It can NOT have been easy which makes your efforts all the more appreciated. I accept that AWA are here to stay and that's just the way it's going to be.

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their Summer. Stay safe and happy hunting!

Maybe give your poor alts some better gear? Craft a few decent sets, reconstruct some stuff... get them going.

Cooperharley · July 9

Some people like it, some don’t. When introducing something potentially controversial, just make it optional.

whitecrow · July 9

If I played my alts, it would really bother me. Why take away the onscreen notification? How does it make anything better? Does it ease server load?