ESO Writing Team: Please...stop it.

Rohamad_Ali · December 4

Spot on assessment.

xbluerosesx · December 4

PrinceShroob wrote: »

It's odd that you'd call "and stuff" millennial, given that, just off the top of my head, the phrase shows up in Merrily We Roll Along ("We'll have Bernstein play next on / The Bechstein piano— / And Auden read poems and stuff") written by the celebrated Stephen Sondheim for a show that premiered in 1981. I even did some brief research and there's examples of the phrase being used back to at least the 16th century. The phrase tends to show up in Online (yes, and in the base game from back in 2014), but even Arena had "I cook and stuff" as a possible greeting for a chef.

I really, truly do not care a whit about vernacular, since this ain't period, pals--it's a medieval aesthetic but not literally medieval. If vernacular breaks your immersion maybe your impression of what's immersive is infinitesimal.

"duuuuurrr the writing was always like this. leave the billion dollar company alone!!!!111 how dare you demand quality in the writing, don't ask questions just consoom the eso cringeslop then get excited for next season!!!1111"

it's okay you spacebar through quests but the rest of us who can read don't want to be reading Forspoken tier dialogue

MasterSpatula · December 5

On a related topic, the SHEER NUMBER OF TYPOS that made it through to Live in the dialogue transcriptions is disheartening. I know ZOS/Bethesda/Zenimax/Microsoft currently has a mania for cutting jobs despite being spectacularly profitable, but copy editors actually matter. They keep you from looking unprofessional.

xbluerosesx · December 5

I'll never complain about AI writing again if they get rid of this

ZOS_Icy · December 5

Greetings,

We have recently removed some unnecessary back and forth in addition to some off-topic posts from this thread. This is a reminder to keep the discussion civil and constructive. Please keep our Community Rules in mind moving forward.

The Elder Scrolls Online Team

NotaDaedraWorshipper · December 5

Is it really millenial writers doing this? Always feel like millenials are blamed for everything, especially since many I see complain about writing like this are millenials. Myself included. Like they can't have more bad writers than other generations. All must have good and bad writers.

mdjessup4906 · December 6

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Is it really millenial writers doing this? Always feel like millenials are blamed for everything, especially since many I see complain about writing like this are millenials. Myself included. Like they can't have more bad writers than other generations. All must have good and bad writers.

I find it both funny and sad how many people my age and even younger are all "back in my day...". Or "xyz gen" whatever. Why does humanity have such short memories.

Syldras · 12:50AM

cyclonus11 wrote: »

Is this the first time "laid" was used in this context in the Elder Scrolls franchise? I can't remember.

Since I'm not a native English speaker, I have a question. This guy on the screenshot above shows up as a random encounter several times and asks you different questions, depending on how far you've progressed the main questline. To describe it in a spoiler-free way: After you've finished the whole story, he'll question you about the big final fight. If you say you're that hero he'll reply that he's met several individuals who have claimed the same. And:
"Am I the target of some sort of joke, or is everyone on this island just that desperate for clout?"
Didn't that meaning of the word just come up a few years ago online (along with YOLO, rizz and whatnot)? If so, why would a middle-aged playwright in a pseudo-medieval world, or specifically in Tamriel, talk like this?

spartaxoxo · 1:01AM

Syldras wrote: »

cyclonus11 wrote: »

Is this the first time "laid" was used in this context in the Elder Scrolls franchise? I can't remember.

Since I'm not a native English speaker, I have a question. This guy on the screenshot above shows up as a random encounter several times and asks you different questions, depending on how far you've progressed the main questline. To describe it in a spoiler-free way: After you've finished the whole story, he'll question you about the big final fight. If you say you're that hero he'll reply that he's met several individuals who have claimed the same. And:
"Am I the target of some sort of joke, or is everyone on this island just that desperate for clout?"
Didn't that meaning of the word just come up a few years ago online (along with YOLO, rizz and whatnot)? If so, why would a middle-aged playwright in a pseudo-medieval world, or specifically in Tamriel, talk like this?

No. Clout has had a recent resurgence and is used a bit differently. But it's definitely way older than that.

The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang suggests it was in New York, citing an 1868 letter Walt Whitman received from his brother, Thomas Jefferson Whitman, about some Brooklyn guys who “always think they are going to be deprived of office and ‘clout.’” But it’s curious that the term barely surfaced at all for another eighty years.

Really one of those everything old becomes new again but slightly different things.

ArchMikem · 1:07AM

NotaDaedraWorshipper wrote: »

Is it really millenial writers doing this? Always feel like millenials are blamed for everything, especially since many I see complain about writing like this are millenials. Myself included. Like they can't have more bad writers than other generations. All must have good and bad writers.

Go on Youtube and watch any number of the Minecrafter channels and most of them will be Teens to early 20 somethings (so Gen Z mostly) and they talk EXACTLY like,

xbluerosesx wrote: »

I'll never complain about AI writing again if they get rid of this

So I don't know what's really happening. Millennials trying to write characters that sound like Gen Z, or Zoomers fresh into the work force writing Characters based on themselves.

Syldras · 1:17AM

spartaxoxo wrote: »

No. Clout has had a recent resurgence and is used a bit differently. But it's definitely way older than that.

The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang suggests it was in New York, citing an 1868 letter Walt Whitman received from his brother, Thomas Jefferson Whitman, about some Brooklyn guys who “always think they are going to be deprived of office and ‘clout.’” But it’s curious that the term barely surfaced at all for another eighty years.

Really one of those everything old becomes new again but slightly different things.

An older dictionary of mine gives 3 different meanings: a hit/blow (physical), political power, a piece of cloth used in archery. That character doesn't seem to mean "political power" though, but uses it the way it's all over Youtube right now, where it's basically a synonyme for "fame" (or more like "attention"). I've never seen it being used like that before (well, until it came up online few years ago), that's why I was asking.

LootAllTheStuff · 1:37AM

Syldras wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

No. Clout has had a recent resurgence and is used a bit differently. But it's definitely way older than that.

The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang suggests it was in New York, citing an 1868 letter Walt Whitman received from his brother, Thomas Jefferson Whitman, about some Brooklyn guys who “always think they are going to be deprived of office and ‘clout.’” But it’s curious that the term barely surfaced at all for another eighty years.

Really one of those everything old becomes new again but slightly different things.

An older dictionary of mine gives 3 different meanings: a hit/blow (physical), political power, a piece of cloth used in archery. That character doesn't seem to mean "political power" though, but uses it the way it's all over Youtube right now, where it's basically a synonyme for "fame" (or more like "attention"). I've never seen it being used like that before (well, until it came up online few years ago), that's why I was asking.

In SE London in the 60s/70s, clout could be used of political power, but it was also used in the sense of someone having influence or being able to sway opinion generally. And also physical clout, of course - sometimes the latter was a necessary precursor to the former, if you get my drift.

spartaxoxo · 1:46AM

Syldras wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

No. Clout has had a recent resurgence and is used a bit differently. But it's definitely way older than that.

The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang suggests it was in New York, citing an 1868 letter Walt Whitman received from his brother, Thomas Jefferson Whitman, about some Brooklyn guys who “always think they are going to be deprived of office and ‘clout.’” But it’s curious that the term barely surfaced at all for another eighty years.

Really one of those everything old becomes new again but slightly different things.

An older dictionary of mine gives 3 different meanings: a hit/blow (physical), political power, a piece of cloth used in archery. That character doesn't seem to mean "political power" though, but uses it the way it's all over Youtube right now, where it's basically a synonyme for "fame" (or more like "attention"). I've never seen it being used like that before (well, until it came up online few years ago), that's why I was asking.

Political power was a meaning but it was often used about influence in general for as long as I can remember. This could be from fame, fortune, political power, etc. If you had the ability to influence your community/trade/etc, then you had clout. It was a short hop from there to people who had attention, even if it's just 15 minutes, in more recent use.

Alinhbo_Tyaka · 3:22AM

LootAllTheStuff wrote: »

Syldras wrote: »

spartaxoxo wrote: »

No. Clout has had a recent resurgence and is used a bit differently. But it's definitely way older than that.

The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang suggests it was in New York, citing an 1868 letter Walt Whitman received from his brother, Thomas Jefferson Whitman, about some Brooklyn guys who “always think they are going to be deprived of office and ‘clout.’” But it’s curious that the term barely surfaced at all for another eighty years.

Really one of those everything old becomes new again but slightly different things.

An older dictionary of mine gives 3 different meanings: a hit/blow (physical), political power, a piece of cloth used in archery. That character doesn't seem to mean "political power" though, but uses it the way it's all over Youtube right now, where it's basically a synonyme for "fame" (or more like "attention"). I've never seen it being used like that before (well, until it came up online few years ago), that's why I was asking.

In SE London in the 60s/70s, clout could be used of political power, but it was also used in the sense of someone having influence or being able to sway opinion generally. And also physical clout, of course - sometimes the latter was a necessary precursor to the former, if you get my drift.

Clout's use during that time frame here in the States was primarily for someone with influence or who had the ear of those in power. Thinking back its use was not uncommon but I don't recall it really being used by the time the 1980's rolled around.

emilyhyoyeon · 11:33AM

Honestly, especially based off the overall quality in recent ESO years, I just don't believe clout was used by that writer for that NPC for any other reason than its popularity recently. If it weren't I'd be shocked

LalMirchi · 4:33PM

Apollosipod wrote: »

I'm currently playing through eastern Solstice and I am struggling due to the writing decisions this team has made. At one point you actually have our character make the comment "How did the assault go? I was busy rescuing prisoners and stuff."

Am I the only one that really hates this? I don't find it clever or funny. It's just immersion breaking. Why can't any of the dialogue be written like it's not an episode of a sitcom?

Why are clickbait threads still viable?

Miragent · 5:55PM

Tanlorin after completing a Harrowstorm: "And this is why I don't date witches."
Me: And this is why in this date and age (2E 582), Tanlorin, with that language you're going away to guard a certain veil with HR managers from Black Gem Foundry in the room, never to be seen in Tamriel again.

Elvenheart · 7:07PM

liliub17_ESO wrote: »

Gabriel_H wrote: »

The average age of an MMO player is 26 with 25% of players being teenagers. Most formal definitions of "young adult" are 25 and under.

Age demographics can vary, but in the EU about 17% of the population is aged 15 to 29 - a larger bracket than just "teenagers".

So if 25% of teenagers are playing MMOs but make up less than 17% of the population, then yes in fact MMOs are favoured by young gamers more so than older ones.

Ye gods, this makes me feel like an antiquity.

We’re called “legacy players.” I know this because I’ve worked for the same hotel chain since the late 1980s and recently found out that the corporation that owns the Hotel chain calls us “legacy general managers.” 😂 hello

Frayton · 7:49PM

Apollosipod wrote: »

I'm currently playing through eastern Solstice and I am struggling due to the writing decisions this team has made. At one point you actually have our character make the comment "How did the assault go? I was busy rescuing prisoners and stuff."

Am I the only one that really hates this? I don't find it clever or funny. It's just immersion breaking. Why can't any of the dialogue be written like it's not an episode of a sitcom?

"... and stuff."

That made me literally lol, not bc it's funny but bc it's so out of place with the ESO theme lol.

Soarora · 8:01PM

Here and there humor and silliness is fine but I really do wish ZOS took itself more seriously. I want deep, emotional stories that touch on dark topics and expand the lore in beneficial ways. Most players of ESO are in their mid twenties or over, as far as anecdotal evidence goes. We don’t need childish things, we can handle adult topics if ZOS handles the topics like an adult would.

spartaxoxo · 8:26PM

I don't even think that there was too many jokes in the writing. I just think that too much of that humor is relying on sass and modern references. Elder Scrolls has always had these and should always have these. But not in this constant way from regular NPCs.

Also there's just a lot of inattention to detail. Is Solstice isolated or is it not? Was the Stirk Fellowship well funded or barely a concern?

edward_frigidhands · 8:33PM

Apollosipod wrote: »

I'm currently playing through eastern Solstice and I am struggling due to the writing decisions this team has made. At one point you actually have our character make the comment "How did the assault go? I was busy rescuing prisoners and stuff."

Am I the only one that really hates this? I don't find it clever or funny. It's just immersion breaking. Why can't any of the dialogue be written like it's not an episode of a sitcom?

A literal writing crime in terms of ES lore and proof that this stuff isn't being proofread and policed by leadership.