The Crown Store has reached critical levels of immersion breakage

ZOS_Kevin · August 4

Vonnegut2506 wrote: »

Is there ever going to be an option to shut off the annoying visual clutter, lightshows, and explosion noises on our end?

Can’t speak to “ever” on this request. Always something that can be considered in the future. There is nothing planned at this point in time.

Aliyavana · August 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all,

Wanted to follow up here. The goal is always to provided a balance of more grounded yet cool items and more fun/ fantastical items as well.

We have taken note and shared feedback when some items may push that balance a bit far, like our 4-sword horse friend. (I find this mount fun, but totally understand it can be super jarring.)

However, the item selections are meant to give you the player tools to be creative and have fun. Sometimes player choice will lead to a dancing Molag Bal, as jarring as that can be. But between the Crown Store items, in-game items and in-game event items, there are plenty of choices to make a more grounded experience for yourself and for others if they so choose. Some may go down the route of Sheogorath for a more maddening experience, but they should have the option to do so as well.

All that being said, happy to take any additional feedback to the team for their consideration. Is there a style or kind of cosmetic we have made in the past that you would like us to lean more into?

Thanks for any feedback give here. And please be mindful when submitting feedback that you remember community guidelines.

I really appreciate that the Loremaster does leave flavor text for an in-universe explanation for why things exist.

As for feedback, ZOS once ran a Tailored In Tamriel campaign where all the races got various costumes split into lower class, middle class, and high class. Id like to see another Tailored in Tamriel campaign for more costumes.

ON-concept-Nobles%27_Fashionable_Attire.jpg

ON-concept-Nobles%27_Fashionable_Attire.jpg

ON-concept-Nobles%27_Fashionable_Attire_05.jpg

I love the video yall did on real world inspirations which I linked here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqp-Univuyg

Sparklezz42 · August 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all,

Wanted to follow up here. The goal is always to provided a balance of more grounded yet cool items and more fun/ fantastical items as well.

We have taken note and shared feedback when some items may push that balance a bit far, like our 4-sword horse friend. (I find this mount fun, but totally understand it can be super jarring.)

However, the item selections are meant to give you the player tools to be creative and have fun. Sometimes player choice will lead to a dancing Molag Bal, as jarring as that can be. But between the Crown Store items, in-game items and in-game event items, there are plenty of choices to make a more grounded experience for yourself and for others if they so choose. Some may go down the route of Sheogorath for a more maddening experience, but they should have the option to do so as well.

All that being said, happy to take any additional feedback to the team for their consideration. Is there a style or kind of cosmetic we have made in the past that you would like us to lean more into?

Thanks for any feedback give here. And please be mindful when submitting feedback that you remember community guidelines.

Thank you for this

In my humble opinion, I love all the variety and fun things we can do. It allows those of us that don't lean too heavy into lore to still enjoy the game and have fun. I'm not someone who is super lore heavy, or even immersion seeking, and I hope people would see this point of view as well.

RedJohn_COF · August 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all,

Wanted to follow up here. The goal is always to provided a balance of more grounded yet cool items and more fun/ fantastical items as well.

We have taken note and shared feedback when some items may push that balance a bit far, like our 4-sword horse friend. (I find this mount fun, but totally understand it can be super jarring.)

However, the item selections are meant to give you the player tools to be creative and have fun. Sometimes player choice will lead to a dancing Molag Bal, as jarring as that can be. But between the Crown Store items, in-game items and in-game event items, there are plenty of choices to make a more grounded experience for yourself and for others if they so choose. Some may go down the route of Sheogorath for a more maddening experience, but they should have the option to do so as well.

All that being said, happy to take any additional feedback to the team for their consideration. Is there a style or kind of cosmetic we have made in the past that you would like us to lean more into?

Thanks for any feedback give here. And please be mindful when submitting feedback that you remember community guidelines.

Just recently I was thinking it would be great to have like a toggle to hide all those flashy mounts and instead give people rather like something traditional. It can also visually a bit overwhelming especially when many people get together.

A similar option for like costmetics wouldn't hurt either.

That way everyone gets what they want, and have an option for their preference in ESO.

Aashiana · August 4

I too am astonished at how persistent the carnival animations are proving to be. All I can think is that a significant part of the player base loves them and they're not the ones that would take the time to comment on the forums...

For me, the horse with the Swords just made me think of Hel Ra - it's not any weirder than that boss. I was dying to make a Hel Ra raid where everyone has to come on that horse...

ArchMikem · August 4

Gegensmith wrote: »

[snip]

Do you enjoy being as insulting as possible within the confines of civility?
[edited to remove quote]

LINCARD1000 · August 4

While I'm not particularly into flamboyant or flowery outfit styles myself, I still enjoy seeing the creativity players come up with when they mix'n'match various costumes, skins and personalities to personalise their characters.

Have at it, you beautiful flower encrusted dancing Molag Bal's :-)

And even with my more subdued tastes, I still bought into those Carnival crates big time and enjoy adding to the chaos with my dancing Molag Bal tank :-P

I'd much rather have all the options available for us to customise our characters, than be forced into a very narrow range of conservative looking setups. But that said, I absolutely respect and understand the OP's viewpoint in this thread, and those others who find it all distracting/annoying. Respect, friends.

Sparklezz42 · August 4

Aashiana wrote: »

I too am astonished at how persistent the carnival animations are proving to be. All I can think is that a significant part of the player base loves them and they're not the ones that would take the time to comment on the forums...

For me, the horse with the Swords just made me think of Hel Ra - it's not any weirder than that boss. I was dying to make a Hel Ra raid where everyone has to come on that horse...

I admit, I spend more than I'd like to admit on crown crates. The Carnivale crates were the ones I spent the MOST on. I absolutely loved everything in them. And I'm absolutely one of those flashy dancers with the goofy costume!! No shame!!

EldarOfSuburbia · August 4

Yudo wrote: »

Anyone remember this?

Personally the dancer personality where people wiggle non stop is kind of odd...like what is wrong with them.

This was so ridiculous I had to buy it as soon as I could, and it is still equipped to this day and will remain so forever. Will be getting a mammoth, too.

Grizzbeorn · August 4

ArchMikem wrote: »

Gegensmith wrote: »

[snip]

Do you enjoy being as insulting as possible within the confines of civility?

I think that kind of response was incited by the categorization of things that some of you don't personally like.
People might find their choices being defined as "cancer" to be insulting, yes?
[edited to remove quote]

Toxien · August 4

I love the cosmetics. I love that I can dress my characters in badass or fun or sexy ways. I love I can make an outfit that is really lore friendly for when doing quests. And then be random and chill when trader running and crafting. I think there is so much fun stuff in the game. I only think sometimes people's mounts are a bit loud. But that only bothers me when I am in questing mode and listening to dialog when all of Coldharbour descends on me because a person doing the same quest has much more money than I could ever dream off - to use on crowncrates. Let the people wanting flashy mounts have flashy mounts. I prefer that ESO keeps things that cost crowns more or less cosmetics and nothing of real importance. Imagine you had to pay to win. I find what ESO offers for free, and available to all is really generous.

And if you want a fully "strict lore immersive" game, go play Skyrim or oblivion with no mods where you can play solo and do what you want there.

In a multiplayer game there is many different styles and wants and expressions. So that should be expected that flashy things will attract an audience, for the community is there for it.

And slay Molag bal, sway them hips in mournhold as I go look up bits of furniture to build an espresso machine in my house.

spartaxoxo · August 4

My brother cracked up so hard at dancing Molag Bal that he messaged me immediately about it. So, I hopped in to game and saw for myself. I thought it was a little funny but mostly because of how great he found it. To each his own.

tomofhyrule · August 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all,

Wanted to follow up here. The goal is always to provided a balance of more grounded yet cool items and more fun/ fantastical items as well.

We have taken note and shared feedback when some items may push that balance a bit far, like our 4-sword horse friend. (I find this mount fun, but totally understand it can be super jarring.)

However, the item selections are meant to give you the player tools to be creative and have fun. Sometimes player choice will lead to a dancing Molag Bal, as jarring as that can be. But between the Crown Store items, in-game items and in-game event items, there are plenty of choices to make a more grounded experience for yourself and for others if they so choose. Some may go down the route of Sheogorath for a more maddening experience, but they should have the option to do so as well.

All that being said, happy to take any additional feedback to the team for their consideration. Is there a style or kind of cosmetic we have made in the past that you would like us to lean more into?

Thanks for any feedback give here. And please be mindful when submitting feedback that you remember community guidelines.

Thanks Kevin.

I do enjoy having more grounded things sometimes, but I also sometimes want to have a little fun. I'm really lore-focused though, so I will usually find a way to jump though hoops to explain my more out-there choices
(like how I have pages of researched lore-based backstory on how one of my characters can be a minotaur, as soon as ESO drops a new Class with which I can make a new character...)

But I will say that there does seem to be a dearth of more grounded costumes in the game. It seems we haven't gotten any more "standard fantasy" clothing in ages, and most of what we have is from the basegame with the lower resolution textures. It would be nice to see a few more basic costumes come in like the dress that many female bards have worn since Leyawiin.

I'm also really wanting to see things like Oblivion's Blue Velvet dress, since that's probably the best looking gown in all TES games.
I'm not even opposed to things that are more polymorph-esque. My biggest cosmetic item wish for ESO is a Skill Style for the werewolf transformation that essentially swaps the model of the wolf for a brown werebear the same way that these polymorphs can replace a humanoid model. The animations would be fine, just a different look and maybe different sounds. I'd pay so much for my werebear character to finally look right.

Araneae6537 · August 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all,

Wanted to follow up here. The goal is always to provided a balance of more grounded yet cool items and more fun/ fantastical items as well.

We have taken note and shared feedback when some items may push that balance a bit far, like our 4-sword horse friend. (I find this mount fun, but totally understand it can be super jarring.)

However, the item selections are meant to give you the player tools to be creative and have fun. Sometimes player choice will lead to a dancing Molag Bal, as jarring as that can be. But between the Crown Store items, in-game items and in-game event items, there are plenty of choices to make a more grounded experience for yourself and for others if they so choose. Some may go down the route of Sheogorath for a more maddening experience, but they should have the option to do so as well.

All that being said, happy to take any additional feedback to the team for their consideration. Is there a style or kind of cosmetic we have made in the past that you would like us to lean more into?

Thanks for any feedback give here. And please be mindful when submitting feedback that you remember community guidelines.

This is a difficult balance to strike and what one player finds cool/fun, another will find immersion breaking or annoying. I usually prefer aesthetics more grounded in the world of Tamriel (the Nenalata horse is absolutely my favorite apex mount) but have fun at times with effects that should send the guards and/or populace running (my necromancers on their reanimated horses)!

If I were setting the limits, they would be on:

Visual effects — let players ride magical beasts of the most whimsical or fearsome nature, but I’d draw a hard line at having them summoned by tornadoes and meteors as this is just obnoxious to other players. Same with recalls — the Coldharbour recall is kind of terrible, sorry. I mostly tune it out now, but that’s kind of too bad since the sound used to mean something in game.

On that note, cheapening effects and characters — such as the Coldharbour recall and Molag Bal polymorph and mini is something I also would have liked to have seen avoided. Something that is clearly a costume of something is one thing, or if it’s generic like a daedra or dremora, etc., but the main villain?

I realize that what’s been released can’t fairly be taken back, of course, but I hope to see more subtle cosmetics, recalls, skill styles, and personalities too (the Deadlands Firewalker is the bomb and one of the main ones I use besides Brassy Assassin and Tevinter Magister as most of the others look exaggerated or goofy to me).

DoofusMax · August 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Vonnegut2506 wrote: »

Is there ever going to be an option to shut off the annoying visual clutter, lightshows, and explosion noises on our end?

Can’t speak to “ever” on this request. Always something that can be considered in the future. There is nothing planned at this point in time.

Then might I ask that it be taken under consideration? Between glowy gear, glowy adornments, fantastical "look at me" beasts, set/skill procs, and skill stylings, it's turning into a bit of a visual mess.

Araneae6537 · August 4

Chili_Pepper wrote: »

2018...Tamriel Hero looks like

2025...

Honestly, I think those are both awesome!

Several of my characters have their practical adventuring gear and then something fine or flamboyant or just fun!

Araneae6537 · August 4

Vonnegut2506 wrote: »

Is there ever going to be an option to shut off the annoying visual clutter, lightshows, and explosion noises on our end?

Honestly, I just want to be able to turn off the flickering lightning!

Sure, I find the meteoric tornado mounts obnoxious but they are there and gone. While rain is atmospheric, flickering lights are a migraine trigger for me so I have to change characters or zones depending on how sensitive I am that day.

randconfig · August 4

Aashiana wrote: »

I too am astonished at how persistent the carnival animations are proving to be. All I can think is that a significant part of the player base loves them and they're not the ones that would take the time to comment on the forums...

For me, the horse with the Swords just made me think of Hel Ra - it's not any weirder than that boss. I was dying to make a Hel Ra raid where everyone has to come on that horse...

I loved the carnival animations. It's one of the rare times I bought crowns to buy crates lol. And they're not immersion breaking, even in a medieval setting, people would dance and entertain. Seeing Molag Bal in town is a bit out there, but then we see NPCs shapeshift/polymorph all the time too, sometimes to entertain as well. So a dancing Molag Bal just sounds like a theatrical event for entertainment/mocking the prince.

NotaDaedraWorshipper · August 4

Playing the game has become more and more difficult for me over the years, because of how the game has gone more and more extreme with FX effects left and right, sudden sounds, flashbang lights etc. Like why does a skin need to explode into existence? Why does a weapon need to make a bang and flash every time someone swap it? Why do mounts need to explode into existence with the power of a meteor? Why does every skill need to be laser beams and giant bright flashes?

For years I had no problem playing the game, but the latest years it has become more and more difficult because the game is simply causing me extreme discomfort, pain and nausea with all of this. It's not fun playing when something can happen at any time and regularly do that will cause me eye pain or headaches.

Erickson9610 · August 5

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all,

Wanted to follow up here. The goal is always to provided a balance of more grounded yet cool items and more fun/ fantastical items as well.

We have taken note and shared feedback when some items may push that balance a bit far, like our 4-sword horse friend. (I find this mount fun, but totally understand it can be super jarring.)

However, the item selections are meant to give you the player tools to be creative and have fun. Sometimes player choice will lead to a dancing Molag Bal, as jarring as that can be. But between the Crown Store items, in-game items and in-game event items, there are plenty of choices to make a more grounded experience for yourself and for others if they so choose. Some may go down the route of Sheogorath for a more maddening experience, but they should have the option to do so as well.

All that being said, happy to take any additional feedback to the team for their consideration. Is there a style or kind of cosmetic we have made in the past that you would like us to lean more into?

Thanks for any feedback give here. And please be mindful when submitting feedback that you remember community guidelines.

It's really important to me that Werewolf gets some cosmetics, too. The Verdant Green Skill Styles for Roar and Infectious Claws are a start, but I don't really want to use either because the original skill VFX looks good (and Roar, Verdant Green just looks like bile).

I can really only see Werewolf getting cosmetics via Skill Styling, but you can easily mimic other cosmetic types with Werewolf Transformation Skill Styles:

Head/Body Markings — retain the fur color but apply additional graphics to the werewolf model like scars, bloodstains, or tattoos
Skins — change the fur color to something else for all morphs, or (alternatively) choose a color and make lighter and darker variants for Pack Leader and Werewolf Berserker, respectively
Polymorphs — change the model itself, such as to the existing skeletal/undead werewolf models, to an adjusted version of the Werewolf Behemoth model, or to another werebeast like a werebear
Costumes — retain the original look of the werewolf, but add clothing or armor on top of them

What I do want to see is a Skill Style for Werewolf Transformation that lets you look like this:

...with an associated Outfit for the human form you can wear so your appearance is consistent between forms.

What I don't want to see is unnatural fur colors as Werewolf Transformation Skill Styles. It's okay if makes your werewolf look like a spirit (like the Totem of Brotherhood in TES V: Skyrim which summoned red spectral werewolves to aid you) but I don't want to imagine a werewolf dyeing their fur. There's a demographic for that, which I'm sure will spend a lot of money for such fur colors — but I am not part of that demographic.

ESO_Nightingale · August 5

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Hi all,

Wanted to follow up here. The goal is always to provided a balance of more grounded yet cool items and more fun/ fantastical items as well.

We have taken note and shared feedback when some items may push that balance a bit far, like our 4-sword horse friend. (I find this mount fun, but totally understand it can be super jarring.)

However, the item selections are meant to give you the player tools to be creative and have fun. Sometimes player choice will lead to a dancing Molag Bal, as jarring as that can be. But between the Crown Store items, in-game items and in-game event items, there are plenty of choices to make a more grounded experience for yourself and for others if they so choose. Some may go down the route of Sheogorath for a more maddening experience, but they should have the option to do so as well.

All that being said, happy to take any additional feedback to the team for their consideration. Is there a style or kind of cosmetic we have made in the past that you would like us to lean more into?

Thanks for any feedback give here. And please be mindful when submitting feedback that you remember community guidelines.

More frost stuff please I'm actually a frost whale

Eclipse318 · August 5

If I could pick just one thing to get rid of, it's the winged twilight FLAPFLAP pets always in my face everywhere I go. I got so excited when I heard they were going to let us turn off other peoples' pets in crowded areas -- but apparently inside a bank or wayshrine is not a "crowded area." They're still everywhere.

I have a visual processing disorder that makes it literally impossible for me to read text when I've got a bunch of animation going on, such as ads on a web page -- FLAPFLAPFLAPFLAP behind a text box definitely falls into this category. Sometimes the wings are right up against my face and I can't see anything but FLAPFLAPFLAP. For the love of the Eight, please fix this!

Attorneyatlawl · August 5

I'd like to be able to hide skill styles, disguises/polymorphs/etc, and transmogs from different armor types. Back in 2014, you could tell part of someone's build by their armor type and race in Cyrodiil. Now it's a clown show where anyone can be anything including multiclassing, which removed the last vestiges of skill from visually identifying your foe's skills and what they might whip out on you.

The wildest mounts got back then was a horse made of ice. I'm never giving up my early subscriber tiger though

.

I always thought that being able to use the goblin or skeleton polymorphs in PvP to reduce your hit box and be harder to see was an exploit originally.

16BitForestCat · August 5

Chili_Pepper wrote: »

2018...Tamriel Hero looks like
[image snip to preserve scrolling fingers]

2025...

We got what we deserve...

I have screenshots of the second person (RadagastTheRainbow) in that outfit at the 2025 Pride Parade in June. It was a wonderful visual way to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community!

Re: "we got what we deserve:" Do we deserve happy rainbow people showing their Pride regardless of the season? Heckin' yes, we absolutely do!

Artim_X · August 5

Sheogorath up to his usual tricks! Do not believe his lies!

alakeyfox · August 5

I never agree with opinions like that. There's not a single game in the universe that can go on for over a decade and release interesting cosmetics without breaking out of the chains of "immersion". How many more edgy black&gray dark knight larping outfits are you going to buy? Not to mention, times change, what used to be popular and desirable is now vintage at best, usually flat out boring. And what's popular now will inevitably become boring in the future, that's just how it goes.

The above screenshots of a goofy ahh edgy knight "chad" vs a guy in a pride outfit just screams homophobia, one of your real issues with "immersion", and that's why companies tend not to take any of you seriously. If you are allergic to colour and style feel free not to use the cosmetics you so despise, crazy I know.

Personally, not only do I want more outlandish cosmetics, but I pretty much won't be buying anything else from the crown store. For me to justify spending real money on cosmetics it has to be absolutely fantastic, 11/10, animated, unique and with a pony Pegasus to boot. I wanna ride Mehrunes into town if that's ever on offer. Give me an army of those sword wielding horses in Cyrodiil, that'd look so cool. Otherwise, there's so much choice in game already, especially if you consider dyes. Same reason why I passed up on the recent discounts on a merchant and a disassembler. Why would I want a boring humanoid when I can wait for a crow, a cat or a dwemer spider?

Asikoo · August 5

Chili_Pepper wrote: »

"...
2025...

We got what we deserve...

ESO has completely lost all sense of identity, not just with its classes, but with everything in the game. If you don't agree with me, then explain how this "fits" within the Elder Scrolls universe.

spartaxoxo · August 5

Asikoo wrote: »

Chili_Pepper wrote: »

"...
2025...

We got what we deserve...

ESO has completely lost all sense of identity, not just with its classes, but with everything in the game. If you don't agree with me, then explain how this "fits" within the Elder Scrolls universe.

Looks like a performer to me. How does someone dressed like Elmo fit into the real world? I agree the color combo selection don't fit even that though. This person is clearly referencing outside material.

But the whole thing in more neutral colors and stick him on a stage and he'd fit in.

It's an example of someone combining lore stuff in a unique way to make not lore stuff. It's not sold like that and all the individual pieces fit in fine

Mathius_Mordred · August 5

darkriketz wrote: »

ArchMikem wrote: »

It's of my unprofessional opinion that the Crown Store cosmetics have begun to reach critical levels of immersion breakage.

I ran into a dancing Molag Bal, in the middle of town.

I think my enduring limit is a little lower than yours, I barely understand why I see Molag Bals at all.
It's a daedric prince, a major opponent of the main storyline, it would like playing SWTOR and crossing path with dozens of Darth Vader cause "look at the new skin it's so cool".
Which makes me remember that in SWTOR (I barely played it cause I didn't liked the style and I'm not a SW fan anyway, only a prelogy fan), during character creation, some names are forbidden to the players. How many "members of the Great Houses of Morrowind" have I seen while playing ? Telvanni, Hlaalu and Redoran shouldn't be allowed names for played characters.

What will it be next time, Daedric Princes skins ? Will I cross my beloved Lady Azura wherever I go ? If yes, I think I'll stop loving her really quickly.

[snip]

From the silent era to the digital age, satire has remained a powerful tool for artists to deconstruct and demystify figures of immense power and malevolence. By transforming these individuals into objects of laughter, they not only entertain but also challenge the fear and authority they once commanded. So seeing a player character lampooning the evil of Molag Bal is quite appropriate; there is no reason to think that Satire wouldn't exist in Tamriel.

[edited for inappropriate content]

colossalvoids · August 5

Agree here. Luckily yet we have an option to remain closer to the "lore-friendly" ourselves, at least. Glad that a couple of people expressed their love for the carnival crates, meridian horses etc. here but overall feedback I've gathered all around was extremely negative at best so hopefully we're getting back to usual Tamriel bit more instead of that "highly imaginative", um, selections of recent years. Some are borderline causing health related issues with sudden flash-bang like effects and disruptive sounds in a mid of a city squares, not on the battlefield. Especially when those flamboyant players do explicitly, repeatedly use those animations for tens of minutes chasing others or camping on banker spots like they do in Vivec.