Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

I started playing the game after One Tamriel and the dynamic leveling, so I never experienced the zones having their own levels of crafting materials. But I have played/do play games where there are distinct levels for areas, and that includes the crafting materials, and there are pros and cons for both systems.

Indeed. I've been around back when the level of crafting materials was bound to a specific zone. It was a little impractical when my first character's crafting level was already higher than the zone he was questing in, as that meant a certain shortage of material. But then again, if one played several characters and one had already played through one faction completely, it wasn't a problem anymore, as that character could do the collecting for all other characters. Or more precisely you could collect materials of all levels (regardless of whether you had a character on that specific crafting level at that moment or not) just through one character, by just visiting the corresponding zones - and I often did so along the way when my main was going for achievements or collecting treasures from treasure maps and similar.

Since the update, if you don't have a character on a specific crafting level, there's no way to collect materials of that level anymore, which is also not ideal (at least not if one's someone who likes to create alt charactes once in a while - there's no way to pile up different material levels beforehand for that character now; apart from buying them through guild merchants, of course). Another thing, though I'm not sure if most people remember that anymore, is that changing the system also impaired the visuals a bit. It's a minor thing, sure, but I had the impression that the materials were often visually designed so they fit well into the zone/landscape they'd show up in.

You do get a smattering of lower-level materials in the daily crafting boxes, so there is at least a method of getting them. I have so many materials of all levels stockpiled in my crafting bag, I don't pay much attention to what comes out of those boxes every day, so I can't say how helpful that actually is for people.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

When it comes to provisioning and alchemy, which are the two biggest culprits of "it can be found anywhere," I somehow doubt that having regional specific ingredients would go over well with crafters. It would make the world seem more realistic, yes, but I don't think that's enough of a trade-off for limiting people's ability to craft more freely.

Would it make a big difference if characters can now travel anywhere freely? I don't know. Honestly, by now I have more cooking ingredients in my crafting bag than I'll ever need anyway.

While a character can travel anywhere freely, if someone is trying to complete a provisioning daily quest in Stonefalls, and they need a provisioning item that can only be found in the southern half of Bangkorai, it would be a bit of an inconvenience to travel all the way there just to find it. Not impossible, but probably not worth the time. I'm in the same situation as you: so many stacks of all ingredients (well, except for mudcrab chitin!) that I never have to think about gathering specific ones.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

Clockwork parts showing up outside of Clockwork is a bit messier, but I suppose I would just assume it was down to player characters taking the stuff and selling it on the outside, since we can clearly travel to and fro.

The thing is that narration-wise, all those other player characters showing up in CWC shouldn't even exist. It's still supposed to be a very rare opportunity to visit the city - and our player character, the great hero, is of course one of these exceptions - , but not a normal thing for random people to just visit CWC how ever they like. Sure, other player characters are seen by us in the game, because it's an MMO, but the story officially also says there's just one Vestige, for example, not thousands of them. "Realistically" we shouldn't even see other people being able to use wayshrines for travel, because we are the Vestige, and there's only one - but, well, it happens because it's a multiplayer game.

Which makes me wonder now if there was any way to make the player character's "special hero" status feel more unique, despite it being a multiplayer game? Be it through specific writing, or perhaps visuals that are limited to the player character (that everyone might see for their own Vestige, but not on player characters of other people), or any other means? Something that emphasizes that one's character is The Hero, and not just one of thousands of player characters that are also playing the very same story.

I know our characters are meant to be the only Vestige in the story, but since quest givers for world bosses, dungeons, and raids often tell us to "gather friends" and various lore accounts reference "a group of heroes" I figured that canonically more people than just our characters got in to, and back out of, Clockwork.

I'm not sure I'd want more attention called to the fact that my character is The Hero. Some of my characters aren't heroes at all, and it'd be strange for them to be lauded as such more so than npcs already do. But could they come up with something to do that? Probably. Would people like it? Mixed bag, I'm sure. Maybe they could give characters a special glow effect that only the player would see, so other players wouldn't see it on your character, but you would, and npcs would. Then they could sell customizable glow colors, even glitter, and...yes, I'm joking about the glow.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

Well, I don't know from experience, but I thought that if they saw you murder an npc, they came after you. Or that if you get caught stealing near a guard, they start attacking. I see them attacking players regularly enough, but not having been there when it started, I can't say for certain what the inciting incident might be. Regardless, they aren't there for our benefit.

Well, okay, they do aid npcs who fall victim to a crime committed by the player character, but that's the only exception. They never aid the player character when the player character gets attacked, and I'm not sure what they'd do if an npc would be attacked by an enemy npc (I think them intervening if a player character attacks an innocent npc could be directly linked to the player character being involved - as a programmed part of the game's justice system - instead of reacting to the npc receiving damage).

However they're programmed or whatever gets them to trigger their defenses, they clearly aren't there to help us. The guards are not our friends. That's why I never feel guilt for pickpocketing from them.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

It's not so much that I care for that island as that I don't want filthy Worm Cultists despoiling Nirn. You know how the old saying goes: Give 'em an island, and then they'll want a continent. Besides, haven't the Argonian tribes who live there already suffered enough from colonizers?

In Death, finally everyone will be equal Everyone will dance, without exception.



Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basler_Totentanz

Well, except for the dog - the dog will remain alive

I love that image! Especially the detail of the skeleton cutting the dog free. The dog seems to be reacting like a dog would: friendly and curious, not very concerned. "Hey, Mr. Skeleton!"

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

It honestly sounds like a word or two got left out somewhere, because "I am again," doesn't really make much sense in English, either. Nor does it sound like something Mannimarco would say.

Mannimarco says - and does - many strange things.

Oh, that's rich, that is: claiming he's got no pride. Don't believe him! He's just trying to con you!

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

Eh, but maybe Wormblood's brain didn't have all the words stored in it that Mannimarco was accustomed to, so he had to make do with what he had.

Maybe Wormblood was a lich after all, and his brain was already half-rotten! (Now imagine a necromantic corpse restauration ritual failing and the brought-back soul getting stuck in a body suffering from brainrot - it's a real risk, considering how many idiot cultists there are! Then again, that misfortunate individual could probably integrate into society just fine.)

But honestly, that leads to other interesting questions. If Wormblood was a lich, and Mannimarco's soul was banished back to Coldharbor, what would happen to Wormblood's body then? Would it be dead? Would it be physically restored/resurrected by the typical lich powers and Wormblood's soul could return to it? Or would it remain an empty, soul- and mindless, but living vessel? Sounds like an interesting thing to keep, and I don't mean only for a curiosity collection, but as something a Telvanni might want to study

Is there anyting a Telvanni wouldn't want to study? On the question of Wormblood being a lich already, we never did get an answer to that, did we? It was hinted at in his 'meet the character' article, I think, and then of course he could insta-rez in game, which seems to point to lich. So why couldn't his soul come back to whatever was left of his body after Mannimarco was knocked out of it? Well, let me know the results of your study on it! If that, is, you're even allowed to share such knowledge with a non-Telvanni.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

Gameplay trailers like that always do include bits of the playable story in them, unlike the CGI trailers we used to get for the chapters. The High Isle trailer, for example, had that showdown between the three heroes and the Ascendant Lord, but the actual in-game confrontation with him was nothing like that. So we'd know we were heading for a confrontation with the guy, but not exactly how it would play out. Those trailers were more about the gist of the story than showing actual elements of it.

Even the gameplay trailers often show things rearranged - think of the Mannimarco resurrection ritual. Though I do think this might really sometimes come down to changes of concept while developing the story. Who knows.

In any way, I think it's a pity there are no cgi trailers anymore, since I know many people really enjoyed them. I, personally, wasn't a big fan of them (never liked how the elves looked nothing like TES mer mostly, and I found many of them too action-focused with too little substance in terms of narrative content), but I think they did interest and hype a lot of people, and that had a value by itself.

In general trailers do show things out of sequence (thinking mostly of movie trailers here), so the cgi trailers weren't trailers in that sense. Well, I think they aren't even called trailers, really: cinematics, more like. Anyway, I do like the cgi trailers for what they are. Although I'm aware people don't like the way the elves look in them, I think overall the cinematics are visually quite stunning. The ones for Vvardenfell and Summerset had voiceover to them, giving them a little more narrative punch, but after that I think they did away with any voiceover. I wonder if we ever will get any of those types of trailers again.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

Agreed! I wonder if the author is to be found anywhere in game. Hopefully not hanging out in the IC sewers with those other two rival authors!

I read those new mount lorebooks now. I appreciate that they were added, and also found them entertaining to read (though of course I personally would have enjoyed even more in-depth explanations for these creatures and their genesis, and generally longer texts with more info; but that's just me). The number was a little lower than I had expected, but, okay, it makes sense, considering how many of those mounts fall into the feline category, so those all got the same lorebook, logically.

More information and longer lore books are always a treat, but I think the length of these fit with what they were meant to be: a short synopsis on the various mounts of the world, written by someone whose overarching life goal is to ride each type of mount at least once. I did like the one where he was chatting up a Telvanni about the kagouti and guar, but then the Telvanni got real close-lipped when he started asking about Vvardvarks and such. Oh, you Telvanni!

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

I know our characters are meant to be the only Vestige in the story, but since quest givers for world bosses, dungeons, and raids often tell us to "gather friends" and various lore accounts reference "a group of heroes" I figured that canonically more people than just our characters got in to, and back out of, Clockwork.

I know that I didn't bring friends to CWC

I did! That is, my husband and I both took our characters in at the same time the first time I ever went there. Everyone else went in solo. I just figured Divayth Fyr was busy ferrying people over. He probably was working on the idea that since he couldn't be sure a single person would succeed, he may as well bring in a hundred or more.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

I'm not sure I'd want more attention called to the fact that my character is The Hero. Some of my characters aren't heroes at all, and it'd be strange for them to be lauded as such more so than npcs already do. But could they come up with something to do that? Probably. Would people like it? Mixed bag, I'm sure.

I didn't think of npc adressing us as "hero" all the time (I personally don't like that word much, either, as it doesn't really fit most of my characters). More like recognizing our special status or bringing it up in dialogue somehow, when it makes sense story-wise. Whether we like it, or not, our character is a special being according to the story, but strangely, it barely plays a role in many situations.

Oh, I agree there could be more done to recognize our characters for their status. It's like how no one on Solstice seemed to know we were with the Stirk Fellowship, to the point where I actually began to doubt I even was. Same with being an Eye of the Queen. You are officially made one in the base game Aldmeri Dominion main quest, but then at some point people stop remembering that--I mean other Eyes of the Queen, since I doubt the common populace is meant to know. So if, in dialogue options, it was mentioned where it made sense, that would be nice. Same goes for other parts of our character's journey that would be known. I think that would also enhance alt gameplay, especially if you don't do all the same things on every character. Like for my main guy, who has done everything, the dialogue could be written to show that his reputation precedes him and the npc has no doubt he can get the job done. For some of my alts, who have barely scratched the surface of being heroes, the dialogue could be written to show that the quest giver has some doubts, and wouldn't ask except they really need some help, and might even wonder if the character is even up to the task. Often times npcs will say, "You look like you can handle yourself in a fight," and for some of my characters I think, "Based on what? The fact that I have a staff? That could be a walking stick, for all you know!"

Or...was that not the kind of thing you were thinking about? Also, I have no idea how easy or not it might be to write npc dialogue like that--the technical aspect of it, that is, where they recognize your character's previous accomplishments.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

Maybe they could give characters a special glow effect that only the player would see, so other players wouldn't see it on your character, but you would, and npcs would. Then they could sell customizable glow colors, even glitter, and...yes, I'm joking about the glow.

It would make sense the other way round: Removing glitter and glow from everyone else, since they're only commoners

Haha, true! Well, maybe someday, after ZOS implements each and every toggle people ask for.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

However they're programmed or whatever gets them to trigger their defenses, they clearly aren't there to help us. The guards are not our friends. That's why I never feel guilt for pickpocketing from them.

But what to do with all those bounty sheet furnishings?

Set up your own mercenary contract-killing business, of course!

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

Oh, that's rich, that is: claiming he's got no pride. Don't believe him! He's just trying to con you!

I'm not sure if anyone believed him, but... he was charming, so I gave him the Totem nonetheless. If there's ever a Daggerfall remake, can it be modernized to include romance, please? Who would not love to romance this lich, or the other lich, or an Orc noble, or perhaps Emperor Uriel Septim VII (somehow he must have fathered his illegitimate son, no?)

Syldras and Mannimarco, sitting in a tree... (actually, don't know if you're familiar with that childhood rhyme/taunt). As to the quest you reference, I do think it's funny he stuck the message in your mouth. Probably to keep you from screaming at the sight of him. Or his minion--I don't imagine he delivered it personally.

I can't recall any rpg I've ever played where you could romance "the villain." (I know Mannimarco wasn't "the villain" in Daggerfall--not referring specifically to him here.) That would be different, wouldn't it? Unless it wouldn't, and it was done long ago in a game I never played. But honestly, I do enjoy romance in the single player rpgs I've played, and I think the only drawback is the choices are often too limited. So I hope you one day do get your lich romance story!

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

On the question of Wormblood being a lich already, we never did get an answer to that, did we? It was hinted at in his 'meet the character' article, I think, and then of course he could insta-rez in game, which seems to point to lich.

Another possible hint are those glowy eyes he sometimes has, which also look like there's some flow of necrotic energy going on, but it's also unclear if that actually has a meaning, or if it's only employed because someone thought it looks "cool".

Perhaps it was that old, tired "rule of cool" getting in the way of lore again. I would hope not, though.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

So why couldn't his soul come back to whatever was left of his body after Mannimarco was knocked out of it? Well, let me know the results of your study on it! If that, is, you're even allowed to share such knowledge with a non-Telvanni.

Maybe a soul once expelled can't return into its former body? We don't even know where it ended up, or if it was completely destroyed (not sure if that's even possible). I would have wished to see some lore on that! Well, ideally I'd like to see Wormblood return somehow (be it as a disembodied spirit or soul lingering somewhere), just to learn a bit more on the metaphysics of the Mundus. Also, introducing him as a one-time character who barely says or does a thing feels like a waste.

It really does feel like a waste. I thought there was a lot of interesting character potential there, and also family lore for Mannimarco, which is a thing I have often wondered about. Then the lore about lichdom, or necromancy, or the way souls work. So much I would love to know about! I know Raz was pretty confident that Wormblood was destroyed but, come on, what does Raz really know about such things? As much as I like him, he's not the character I would really go to for answers about such subject matter. So...maybe Wormblood does still exist somewhere and waits in the character vaults at ZOS, to perhaps be brought back someday.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

In general trailers do show things out of sequence (thinking mostly of movie trailers here), so the cgi trailers weren't trailers in that sense. Well, I think they aren't even called trailers, really: cinematics, more like. Anyway, I do like the cgi trailers for what they are. Although I'm aware people don't like the way the elves look in them, I think overall the cinematics are visually quite stunning. The ones for Vvardenfell and Summerset had voiceover to them, giving them a little more narrative punch, but after that I think they did away with any voiceover. I wonder if we ever will get any of those types of trailers again.

I honestly don't think so. Even if we ever get a chapter (or chapter-like content) again, it's not a selling point anymore, so why advertise it?

Then again, of course, what to even advertise ESO with now? If there's an interest to attract new players, what to attract them with? People don't join a game just for the promise to be able to buy some fancy cosmetics, do they?

I wouldn't think so, but cosmetics are a huge draw for people already in the game. I think to advertise ESO to new players, they would emphasize the amount of content already existing as well as that new content is free going forward. Or they could put out more things like the "you belong" style of trailer, or those commercials they made showing regular people getting pulled into the fantasy of Nirn. Then when those people get hooked, they start showing them the fancy clothes and mounts.

Syldras wrote: »

metheglyn wrote: »

More information and longer lore books are always a treat, but I think the length of these fit with what they were meant to be: a short synopsis on the various mounts of the world, written by someone whose overarching life goal is to ride each type of mount at least once. I did like the one where he was chatting up a Telvanni about the kagouti and guar, but then the Telvanni got real close-lipped when he started asking about Vvardvarks and such. Oh, you Telvanni!

I told you that riding Vvardvarks are a very valuable secret

Everything you Telvanni know falls under the category of "very valuable secret." You're all just really very bad at sharing.