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Tales of Tribute – Good idea, bad execution
PunkAben
✭✭✭
I want to address the current state of Tales of Tribute, especially in relation to achievements and long-term engagement.
Right now, the system feels more frustrating than rewarding.
1. Time investment is completely out of proportion
Matches regularly take 20–40 minutes, sometimes longer.
Many achievements require dozens of matches or very specific outcomes.
This results in:
Hours of gameplay for minimal progress
A system that punishes players’ time rather than respecting it
2. RNG undermines progression
Tales of Tribute is heavily influenced by randomness:
Tavern cards
Card draw
Patron availability
This makes achievement hunting unreliable and often dependent on luck rather than skill.
Players can make correct decisions and still make no progress.
3. Losing feels like wasted time
In most ESO systems, you still gain something when you fail.
In Tales of Tribute:
A 30-minute loss = zero meaningful progress
This is one of the most demotivating aspects of the system.
4. Achievements are poorly designed
Many achievements:
Require very specific conditions
Depend on RNG
Take too long to complete
They feel less like challenges and more like endurance tests.
5. Matches are too slow for the type of content
Tales of Tribute is positioned as a side activity, yet:
Matches are long
There is no way to speed them up
This creates a mismatch between the system’s role and its time demand.
6. Not aligned with core ESO gameplay
ESO is an action MMO.
Tales of Tribute is a slow-paced card game.
That contrast makes it feel disconnected from the rest of the game, especially when tied to achievements and rewards.
7. Frustration outweighs enjoyment
While the system has potential, the current experience leads to:
Burnout
Avoidance of the content
Players engaging only for rewards, not enjoyment
Suggested improvements
Reduce match length or add faster modes
Ensure partial progress even on losses
Rework achievements to reduce RNG dependency
Improve reward structure relative to time invested
Conclusion
Tales of Tribute is not inherently bad, but in its current form it:
Wastes player time
Relies too heavily on RNG
Makes achievement hunting frustrating rather than engaging
This system needs adjustments if it is meant to be a long-term part of ESO.
It toke me 3 month to make Card Conjurer and Memories of the Spearhead time I could have used for some better.
Right now, the system feels more frustrating than rewarding.
1. Time investment is completely out of proportion
Matches regularly take 20–40 minutes, sometimes longer.
Many achievements require dozens of matches or very specific outcomes.
This results in:
Hours of gameplay for minimal progress
A system that punishes players’ time rather than respecting it
2. RNG undermines progression
Tales of Tribute is heavily influenced by randomness:
Tavern cards
Card draw
Patron availability
This makes achievement hunting unreliable and often dependent on luck rather than skill.
Players can make correct decisions and still make no progress.
3. Losing feels like wasted time
In most ESO systems, you still gain something when you fail.
In Tales of Tribute:
A 30-minute loss = zero meaningful progress
This is one of the most demotivating aspects of the system.
4. Achievements are poorly designed
Many achievements:
Require very specific conditions
Depend on RNG
Take too long to complete
They feel less like challenges and more like endurance tests.
5. Matches are too slow for the type of content
Tales of Tribute is positioned as a side activity, yet:
Matches are long
There is no way to speed them up
This creates a mismatch between the system’s role and its time demand.
6. Not aligned with core ESO gameplay
ESO is an action MMO.
Tales of Tribute is a slow-paced card game.
That contrast makes it feel disconnected from the rest of the game, especially when tied to achievements and rewards.
7. Frustration outweighs enjoyment
While the system has potential, the current experience leads to:
Burnout
Avoidance of the content
Players engaging only for rewards, not enjoyment
Suggested improvements
Reduce match length or add faster modes
Ensure partial progress even on losses
Rework achievements to reduce RNG dependency
Improve reward structure relative to time invested
Conclusion
Tales of Tribute is not inherently bad, but in its current form it:
Wastes player time
Relies too heavily on RNG
Makes achievement hunting frustrating rather than engaging
This system needs adjustments if it is meant to be a long-term part of ESO.
It toke me 3 month to make Card Conjurer and Memories of the Spearhead time I could have used for some better.
The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do.The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do.
Ted Nelson.
Ted Nelson.
3
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Munkfist✭✭✭✭That's why they're Achievements, you're taking the time to earn them.
Once you're comfortable with the game and mechanics, even a rather poor rng game only takes ~6-7 minutes, with a decent hand taking as little as 2 minutes. A lot of that comes down to playstyle, also.
I love how the game plays and was implemented, as well as the achievements that go along with it.
I agree that the pvp side of the game is very much rng based, one good or bad draw at the start and it can be a blowout in for either side.@Munkfist PC-NA
The Devoted Torchbugs
Antiquarian's Alpine Gallery Guildhall - Feel free to use!
If your guild needs a crafthall, please feel free to reach out!0 -
BXR_Lonestar✭✭✭✭✭
✭For the ToT quest, they need to either do a better job of teaching you how to play, or they need to make the NPC lose on purpose, just so I can get rid of this quest. I absolutely hate ToT, and it bothers me that I can't complete this one quest, and I see a hollow carrot here and there related to it.2 -
PunkAben✭✭✭NPC can't play at all the really sucks.
For Memories of the Spearhead you need fragments and the problem is this fragments drop rarely.
Better loot better chance, so beat 3 people for best daily rewards... 40-50 boxes and no fragments.
The drop rate is to low and it toke me more than 1000 games to get all the fragments, in a game I find more than boring.
The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do.The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do.
Ted Nelson.0 -
Malyore✭✭✭✭✭
✭I wish they made it a physical card game on top of what we have. ToT was my first game of this genre and I was pleasantly surprised to see I was pretty good at it (at least against NPCs) which made it fun.
I don't like that it's locked digitally into a different videogame though. I'd like to be able to carry a bit more of TES into the real world and introduce it to some buddies.0 -
Northwold✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭I agree with a lot of this specifically in player v player matches. They can take an insanely long time and you frequently come across players who deliberately run down the clock to try to force you to concede out of frustration. But, then, hell is other people...Edited by Northwold on April 3, 2026 3:12PM0 -
Solvar✭✭I made the decision for myself that I'm just not going to go for those various ToT achievements, largely for reasons the OP said (length of time, randomness, and if I'm playing ESO, I want to be out adventuring).
I feel like ToT could be a mobile game, perhaps linked to your ESO account, as other than some card drops, there really isn't much that requires it to be within ESO. While it being a mobile game doesn't really change the characteristics, it does give an option to do something when not able to play ESO (not at computer) and might be something to do in that case.
1 -
Personofsecrets✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭✭The time to complete a match is based on your play. Play faster.Rest in Peace:
The Dragonknight
2014-2025
This commemoration is for the class that has constantly been plundered and dismantled by designers for no obvious reason while other classes continue to have coherent skill lines and feel both powerful and cool.2 -
tsaescishoeshiner✭✭✭✭✭
✭✭✭How are your matches taking 20-40 minutes? Mine are more like 8-12. I do think they could speed up the UI a bit and focus on making choices individually quicker (certain patrons greatly increase the number of considerations for each decision).PC-NA
in-game: @tsaescishoeshiner0 -
dcrush✭✭✭✭✭
✭The drop rate for the Memories of the Spearhead fragments has been called out many times. ZOS has ignored it so far.
I’m more than 1000 WINS and ten months of playing ToT on one account in and I’m still only at 9/10 fragments.1 -
PunkAben✭✭✭tsaescishoeshiner wrote: »How are your matches taking 20-40 minutes? Mine are more like 8-12. I do think they could speed up the UI a bit and focus on making choices individually quicker (certain patrons greatly increase the number of considerations for each decision).
I wonder too and it's definitely not me who's wasting time.
Some players must read all the cards every time or what happens to them.
Some may think others will just stop if they delay the time or maybe they have nothing better to do than let the time pass.The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do.The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do.
Ted Nelson.0