Will the Writhing Wall Event make Part 1 story obsolete?

Sheridan · August 4

The Writhing Wall Event that arrive in Q4 is presented as a "world-changing event". I assume that it will be dedicated to tearing down the wall that divides Solstice, or at least making it passable (I think that even the visual changes are implied). In doing so, will it change the content of Western Solstice? I haven't started the story arc yet (so please no spoilers if possible), but surely most of it acknowledges the presence of a mysterious (and impassable) wall concealing half of the island and the attempts to breach it? Many NPC lines in Sunport mention it, it's one of quest names of the main quest chain, etc. All this will somehow be replaced or adjusted after the event? Or will Part 1 and Part 2 continue to exist independently?

I am wondering if I should hurry to complete Part 1 before the event or risk losing some content that will be gone forever. There are no precedents to guide me in this matter, because since Lower Craglorn / Upper Craglorn, there were no updates that expand the existing zone, and even then the story wasn't focused on a divide itself and there was no global "world-changing event". Other "second parts" since then arrived in a form of a separate zones and does not affect each other.

AzuraFan · August 10

Can't say whether it will make some content obsolete, but I don't think the part 1 story will be as coherent, especially the ending, once the wall comes down. Not unless they make changes to part 1, especially some of the dialogue in the final quest.

If you care about immersion, I'd finish the part 1 story before the event. Though given all the incoherency across the zones now with stories, it probably doesn't matter.

SkaiFaith · August 10

I'm expecting the wall to remain present for characters that have not yet completed part 1 story quests, even after the big event to tear it down will be happened.

Probably they'll be able to reach the other side if teleporting to a player that's there but they will not be able to pass through the wall freely unless they'll have completed the specific quest to tear it down, which will likely become available as a single player quest after the big event will be concluded.

They already said content won't feel outdated because they've thought about making it coherent. These worries were expressed during the Livestream they showcased Solstice zone.

AzuraFan · August 10

SkaiFaith wrote: »

I'm expecting the wall to remain present for characters that have not yet completed part 1 story quests, even after the big event to tear it down will be happened.

Probably they'll be able to reach the other side if teleporting to a player that's there but they will not be able to pass through the wall freely unless they'll have completed the specific quest to tear it down, which will likely become available as a single player quest after the big event will be concluded.

They already said content won't feel outdated because they've thought about making it coherent. These worries were expressed during the Livestream they showcased Solstice zone.

Ah, that would work. Easier than updating a ton of dialogue. I guess they'll just update something in the last quest so players have another way to breach the wall.

Djennku · August 10

They did mention plans for this. How itll turn out we do not know at this time.

Danikat · August 10

This was my big concern when the new release schedule was announced. I have multiple characters, all at different points in the story and rushing them all through the first part of the story now doesn't sound any better than playing a broken version later on.

ZOS said at the time they have a plan for this, but we don't know what that is and considering there are still dialogue problems and other anomalies as a result of One Tamriel and Morrowind which they never seem inclined to fix I'm concerned the solution will be to assure us that both parts of the Solstice story are functionally playable and all the items, XP etc. can still be earned and simply ignore any problems with the story.

IMO the ideal solution would be to use the phasing system which already exists to control what a character sees based on their progress in the story, so until you complete the quest chain you see the wall in place and can't pass through it (but can teleport to someone on the other side if you need to get there without doing the story). Ideally that will included adding a quest version of the event so you don't just skip straight from "Oh no, this impassable wall is blocking 1/2 the island!" to "Wow thanks for getting rid of that wall!" without the character actually doing anything.

katanagirl1 · August 10

Danikat wrote: »

This was my big concern when the new release schedule was announced. I have multiple characters, all at different points in the story and rushing them all through the first part of the story now doesn't sound any better than playing a broken version later on.

ZOS said at the time they have a plan for this, but we don't know what that is and considering there are still dialogue problems and other anomalies as a result of One Tamriel and Morrowind which they never seem inclined to fix I'm concerned the solution will be to assure us that both parts of the Solstice story are functionally playable and all the items, XP etc. can still be earned and simply ignore any problems with the story.

IMO the ideal solution would be to use the phasing system which already exists to control what a character sees based on their progress in the story, so until you complete the quest chain you see the wall in place and can't pass through it (but can teleport to someone on the other side if you need to get there without doing the story). Ideally that will included adding a quest version of the event so you don't just skip straight from "Oh no, this impassable wall is blocking 1/2 the island!" to "Wow thanks for getting rid of that wall!" without the character actually doing anything.

Yeah I don’t know if that is how they plan to do it, or if you have to be online and there at the very time the event is supposed to happen or you miss out. That is why I am a little concerned. This is something new they are doing.

zaria · August 10

SkaiFaith wrote: »

I'm expecting the wall to remain present for characters that have not yet completed part 1 story quests, even after the big event to tear it down will be happened.

Probably they'll be able to reach the other side if teleporting to a player that's there but they will not be able to pass through the wall freely unless they'll have completed the specific quest to tear it down, which will likely become available as a single player quest after the big event will be concluded.

They already said content won't feel outdated because they've thought about making it coherent. These worries were expressed during the Livestream they showcased Solstice zone.

More likely you can pass trough but not do the main quest. A bit like you can port to some in northern Coldharbor to dig up the void crystals to level Excavation for the treasure chest buff, you can do side quests but not the main one.

bmnoble · August 10

I am assuming the giant wall will work the same way that giant statue did on High isle, where it remains until you progress the story on the individual character.

Or they just leave it and have the only breach be in a cave out of visual sight, that acts the same way gates to other zones do and they split the zone like they did for Northern and Southern Elsweyr.