Concerns About ESO’s Future Direction and Solo Player Experience

Athory · May 4

Thank you for the reply. I genuinely believe this topic matters for all ESO players.
But I need to be completely direct about the issues:

1) “We wanted to try something different.”
Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”
That is not innovation, that is exclusion.
And it’s simply wrong.

2) “This was not to alienate solo players, but to add a new way to play.”
ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.
Yet they were still used to “feed” this new experiment.
That is wrong.

3) “We are an Elder Scrolls game, but also an MMO.”
ESO has been both since day one.
So why is the core experience for casual/solo players suddenly being changed now?
This shift is unnecessary and wrong.

4) “Some event content will encourage group play.”
If this means new Trials, new Dungeons, new Arenas, or new modes with multiple difficulty options, great.
Players will absolutely welcome that.
But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.
And that is wrong.

5) “There are players who come for solo content and players who come for group content.”
Correct, and this has been true since launch.
Nothing about the playerbase has changed.
So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?
That is wrong.

6) “Players asked for renewed gameplay variety and challenge.”
Thank you for listening players.
Challenge and variety are good.
But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.
That is not what players asked for.
And it’s wrong.

7) “We will have content throughout the year for both solo and group play.”
Good. That is how ESO should be.

Well… we both know this is coming, so…

8) “The team is looking at adjustments for the current and next Night Market.”
Let’s be honest: we both know what will happen.
The zone will eventually be made easier so solo\casual players can enter, not because it respects them, but because Hardcore players finish everything quickly, get bored, and leave.
Then the remaining playerbase has no one to group with, and the zone must be “normalized” so it stays populated.
This cycle is predictable, and it is disrespectful to solo players.

No hard feelings, @ZOS_Kevin, Team ask for feedback, and the only way I can give it is by being 100% direct and honest.

EDIT:
Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

Nemesis7884 · May 4

BloodstainedFay wrote: »

As someone who primarily plays alone, doing all sorts of content from story to ToT to Cyro PvP to crafting & furnishing. It is actually crazy to me to see that a game which is 90% soloable, essentially braindead easy singleplayer content is getting so much, and I mean so much, backlash for adding a single piece of challenging group content (for FREE!)- especially when they've also announced solo modes for group dungeons (adding yet another avenue for solo players to enjoy themselves!)

The Night Market ain't pushing y'all out, but sometimes it seems like solo players want everyone else gone.

i am not sure the backlash is "so much"; i think this is highly skewed and I bet zos analytics show a ton of engagement with the nm because the market is crazy full with groups...

Its just that in such a forum a very loud minority can make it seem like they represent 90% of the opinion even if its only 10...

you can see that very good when you compare with something like reddit where threads get weighted based on momentum and the result in general is a way more positive vibe and also way more positive topics about night market than negative ones because of the difference in engagement...

Katheriah · May 4

Nemesis7884 wrote: »

i am not sure the backlash is "so much"; i think this is highly skewed and I bet zos analytics show a ton of engagement with the nm because the market is crazy full with groups...

Its just that in such a forum a very loud minority can make it seem like they represent 90% of the opinion even if its only 10...

I do hope that ZOS looks at actual ingame engagement and not just at forum screamers. Half of my guildies in 2 big/full guilds are in NM constantly. It's crazy popular.

Please ZOS, don't listen to the people that want to get rewards for steamrolling over mobs with mismatched gear and no food/pots.

CameraBeardThePirate · May 4

Athory wrote: »

TheMightyRevan wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. I genuinely believe this topic matters for all ESO players.
But I need to be completely direct about the issues:

1) “We wanted to try something different.”
Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”
That is not innovation, that is exclusion.
And it’s simply wrong.

2) “This was not to alienate solo players, but to add a new way to play.”
ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.
Yet they were still used to “feed” this new experiment.
That is wrong.

3) “We are an Elder Scrolls game, but also an MMO.”
ESO has been both since day one.
So why is the core experience for casual/solo players suddenly being changed now?
This shift is unnecessary and wrong.

4) “Some event content will encourage group play.”
If this means new Trials, new Dungeons, new Arenas, or new modes with multiple difficulty options, great.
Players will absolutely welcome that.
But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.
And that is wrong.

5) “There are players who come for solo content and players who come for group content.”
Correct, and this has been true since launch.
Nothing about the playerbase has changed.
So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?
That is wrong.

6) “Players asked for renewed gameplay variety and challenge.”
Thank you for listening players.
Challenge and variety are good.
But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.
That is not what players asked for.
And it’s wrong.

7) “We will have content throughout the year for both solo and group play.”
Good. That is how ESO should be.

Well… we both know this is coming, so…

8) “The team is looking at adjustments for the current and next Night Market.”
Let’s be honest: we both know what will happen.
The zone will eventually be made easier so solo\casual players can enter, not because it respects them, but because Hardcore players finish everything quickly, get bored, and leave.
Then the remaining playerbase has no one to group with, and the zone must be “normalized” so it stays populated.
This cycle is predictable, and it is disrespectful to solo players.

No hard feelings, @ZOS_Kevin, Team ask for feedback, and the only way I can give it is by being 100% direct and honest.

EDIT:
Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

[snip]

[snip]

Pot meet kettle.

All your "arguments" have been that the new content is excluding solo players, which is being disingenuous at best.

In reality, this content isn't "excluding" anyone. There are no requirements, no hard Champ Point limits, no required group size.

You are excluding yourself by not wanting to engage with the content.

This is not "hard-core only" content. If it was, I wouldn't be having a blast playing with my "noob" cousin that hasn't played ESO since Summerset.
[edited to remove quote]

DeathandDebauchery · May 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?

Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?

To answer the core questions asked:

Q: Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?
A: No.

Q:Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?
A: No.

Just following up here generally. We hear the feedback from solo players about the Night Market content. We want to follow up with just few things.

We have no intention of pushing solo players out of the game. However, we started this year off by noting that we were going to try some new things. Night Market is one of them. While we always provide group players with trials, we also wanted to try something different. This was not to alienate solo players, but rather to add a new way to play. That being said, we do hear the feedback and have passed that on our teams for future consideration, especially for when Night Market comes back later in the year. Remember, part of the ethos of this event is to add to it over time.

As several have noted in this thread as well, we have a roadmap that is publicly available. The point of the roadmap is to showcase the content we have coming throughout the year. As is noted on the roadmap and current PTS testing, we have plenty of solo friendly content as well. Thieves Guild and Sheogorath Questlines, Favors system, Rumors system, Two Solo Dungeons, Sage's Vault, and the list can keep going. And that is all on top of existing content. We also understand that not every piece of content will be for everyone, and that is okay.

We know this may come off as a contentious statement, but it does bare repeating. While we are an Elder Scrolls game, we are also an MMO. Storytelling and the heart of solo adventure will always be an important part of ESO. However, some of our event/ event zone content will be focused on encouraging group play. It is the nature of the genre. Additionally, we know just like there are players who come for solo content, there are also players who come for group content and challenging group content. So we want to make sure we are providing new things for them as well.

We'll close with this. Last year, we saw many threads throughout the year asking us to address content and find new ways of renewing the gameplay experience, both in variety and challenge. We are in the first passes of this now with items like Night Market going live. But we will have content throughout the year to address both solo and group play within the community. The feedback is helpful to steer us on the right track. So thanks to everyone, both solo players and group players, who have given their constructive feedback regarding the Night Market. The team is taking a look at what can be done during this current running and what can be adjusted for the next run of the Night Market.

@ZOS_Kevin - I just really want to shout-out this statement and the willingness here to "let yourselves cook" - I think the tweaks from PTS were sufficient and I really do think Night Market is well balanced minus the Skirmishes being a TOUCH too long.

I plan to write a longer more detailed post in the future, but my guild is a 500 person guild on PC-NA. Our guild is called <Chill Vibes> and is VERY casual/social focused. It's solo players that largely like to group up for socialization, not content. We don't run Vet Trials or Vet Dungeons.

I provide all this context to say that this has been by far the most i've ever seen my guild engage with an event /despite/ it's difficulty. We have had 4+ 12 man groups running the Night Market every day. It is the most engaged that I have seen the guild in a Elder Scrolls event and it is the best event I have seen for socialization and engagement.

While I have a lot of feedback to write about some of the implementation (key's getting deleted each time and requiring 6 ardents and 3 dungeons just to do the Trial again? Not casual friendly) - the guildies LOVE the difficulty and the fact that it requires /socialization/ to do content.

In an era where MMO's are trending toward "Solo+" experiences (see SW:TOR) seeing content that significantly encourages Group Finder activity (which is largely dead outside of night market and trials) is /really/ lovely.

As a casual who lead a guild of casuals, please don't tweak down the difficulty too much or make this /too/ solo-friendly. This is actually making ESO feel like an MMO and really harkens back to the feeling of Darkness Falls in Dark Age of Camelot, which was one of my personal favorite zones.

So, not every solo/casual player hates this, just want to throw that out there against the sea of negativity.

TheMightyRevan · May 4

Athory wrote: »

TheMightyRevan wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

TheMightyRevan wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. I genuinely believe this topic matters for all ESO players.
But I need to be completely direct about the issues:

1) “We wanted to try something different.”
Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”
That is not innovation, that is exclusion.
And it’s simply wrong.

2) “This was not to alienate solo players, but to add a new way to play.”
ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.
Yet they were still used to “feed” this new experiment.
That is wrong.

3) “We are an Elder Scrolls game, but also an MMO.”
ESO has been both since day one.
So why is the core experience for casual/solo players suddenly being changed now?
This shift is unnecessary and wrong.

4) “Some event content will encourage group play.”
If this means new Trials, new Dungeons, new Arenas, or new modes with multiple difficulty options, great.
Players will absolutely welcome that.
But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.
And that is wrong.

5) “There are players who come for solo content and players who come for group content.”
Correct, and this has been true since launch.
Nothing about the playerbase has changed.
So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?
That is wrong.

6) “Players asked for renewed gameplay variety and challenge.”
Thank you for listening players.
Challenge and variety are good.
But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.
That is not what players asked for.
And it’s wrong.

7) “We will have content throughout the year for both solo and group play.”
Good. That is how ESO should be.

Well… we both know this is coming, so…

8) “The team is looking at adjustments for the current and next Night Market.”
Let’s be honest: we both know what will happen.
The zone will eventually be made easier so solo\casual players can enter, not because it respects them, but because Hardcore players finish everything quickly, get bored, and leave.
Then the remaining playerbase has no one to group with, and the zone must be “normalized” so it stays populated.
This cycle is predictable, and it is disrespectful to solo players.

No hard feelings, @ZOS_Kevin, Team ask for feedback, and the only way I can give it is by being 100% direct and honest.

EDIT:
Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

[snip]

[snip]

[snip]

[snip]

i have glanced over the NM videos in that youtube channel that you have linked under your posts, and i can immediatly see 100 things you could do better to actually solo the NM, your build and gameplay are very poor at best. That is the problem with your solo experience.
[edited to remove quote]

Athory · May 4

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Pot meet kettle.

All your "arguments" have been that the new content is excluding solo players, which is being disingenuous at best.

In reality, this content isn't "excluding" anyone. There are no requirements, no hard Champ Point limits, no required group size.

You are excluding yourself by not wanting to engage with the content.

This is not "hard-core only" content. If it was, I wouldn't be having a blast playing with my "noob" cousin that hasn't played ESO since Summerset.

You’re 100% wrong. I play the game every day, and every time I join… trials\dungeons. xD
Because the objectives there are the same for everyone: finish, get loot.

I refuse to “feed” your [snip] market just to make things easier for "you" by grouping with "you".
You like it? You like HardCore? That’s your problem, solve it yourself.

I’m perfectly happy not feeling like I’m being used. Very happy, actually.

Cominfordatoothbrush · May 4

Athory wrote: »

So… are solo players excluded?

✔ From the core gameplay loop? Yes. The entire progression loop — bosses → keys → Gilded → Ordeal — is group‑only.
✔ From the rewards? Yes, indirectly. You can earn Favor solo, but at a tiny fraction of the speed and with massive difficulty spikes.
✔ From the intended experience? Absolutely. The zone is literally described as a “group‑focused PvE world”

- As many other players had repeated to you, the night market up to and including most of the bosses are soloable if you build for it. You don't even need difficult to gear to obtain. If you'd still rather complain than attempt to figure out what those people are doing different, at this point that's on you
-
- which rewards are you excluded from?

- well duh, if the intended experience is group pve, then anything else is not the intended way to play it. So if group content is not your way to play, there is like 99% of the rest of the game that's not group content. Do you complain that you haven't been able to solo even normal lucent citadel? It has a mechanic that forces the group to split and coordinate burn rate! Oh no! Guess I better quit ESO now. But if you haven't complained about the presence of trials, how exactly is NM different?

CameraBeardThePirate · May 4

Athory wrote: »

CameraBeardThePirate wrote: »

Pot meet kettle.

All your "arguments" have been that the new content is excluding solo players, which is being disingenuous at best.

In reality, this content isn't "excluding" anyone. There are no requirements, no hard Champ Point limits, no required group size.

You are excluding yourself by not wanting to engage with the content.

This is not "hard-core only" content. If it was, I wouldn't be having a blast playing with my "noob" cousin that hasn't played ESO since Summerset.

You’re 100% wrong. I play the game every day, and every time I join… trials\dungeons. xD
Because the objectives there are the same for everyone: finish, get loot.

I refuse to “feed” your [snip] market just to make things easier for "you" by grouping with "you".
You like it? You like HardCore? That’s your problem, solve it yourself.

I’m perfectly happy not feeling like I’m being used. Very happy, actually.

What are you even talking about at this point lmao

Everyone has the same objective in NM: kill stuff, earn favor.

haleysarahw · May 4

DeathandDebauchery wrote: »

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?

Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?

To answer the core questions asked:

Q: Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?
A: No.

Q:Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?
A: No.

Just following up here generally. We hear the feedback from solo players about the Night Market content. We want to follow up with just few things.

We have no intention of pushing solo players out of the game. However, we started this year off by noting that we were going to try some new things. Night Market is one of them. While we always provide group players with trials, we also wanted to try something different. This was not to alienate solo players, but rather to add a new way to play. That being said, we do hear the feedback and have passed that on our teams for future consideration, especially for when Night Market comes back later in the year. Remember, part of the ethos of this event is to add to it over time.

As several have noted in this thread as well, we have a roadmap that is publicly available. The point of the roadmap is to showcase the content we have coming throughout the year. As is noted on the roadmap and current PTS testing, we have plenty of solo friendly content as well. Thieves Guild and Sheogorath Questlines, Favors system, Rumors system, Two Solo Dungeons, Sage's Vault, and the list can keep going. And that is all on top of existing content. We also understand that not every piece of content will be for everyone, and that is okay.

We know this may come off as a contentious statement, but it does bare repeating. While we are an Elder Scrolls game, we are also an MMO. Storytelling and the heart of solo adventure will always be an important part of ESO. However, some of our event/ event zone content will be focused on encouraging group play. It is the nature of the genre. Additionally, we know just like there are players who come for solo content, there are also players who come for group content and challenging group content. So we want to make sure we are providing new things for them as well.

We'll close with this. Last year, we saw many threads throughout the year asking us to address content and find new ways of renewing the gameplay experience, both in variety and challenge. We are in the first passes of this now with items like Night Market going live. But we will have content throughout the year to address both solo and group play within the community. The feedback is helpful to steer us on the right track. So thanks to everyone, both solo players and group players, who have given their constructive feedback regarding the Night Market. The team is taking a look at what can be done during this current running and what can be adjusted for the next run of the Night Market.

@ZOS_Kevin - I just really want to shout-out this statement and the willingness here to "let yourselves cook" - I think the tweaks from PTS were sufficient and I really do think Night Market is well balanced minus the Skirmishes being a TOUCH too long.

I plan to write a longer more detailed post in the future, but my guild is a 500 person guild on PC-NA. Our guild is called <Chill Vibes> and is VERY casual/social focused. It's solo players that largely like to group up for socialization, not content. We don't run Vet Trials or Vet Dungeons.

I provide all this context to say that this has been by far the most i've ever seen my guild engage with an event /despite/ it's difficulty. We have had 4+ 12 man groups running the Night Market every day. It is the most engaged that I have seen the guild in a Elder Scrolls event and it is the best event I have seen for socialization and engagement.

While I have a lot of feedback to write about some of the implementation (key's getting deleted each time and requiring 6 ardents and 3 dungeons just to do the Trial again? Not casual friendly) - the guildies LOVE the difficulty and the fact that it requires /socialization/ to do content.

In an era where MMO's are trending toward "Solo+" experiences (see SW:TOR) seeing content that significantly encourages Group Finder activity (which is largely dead outside of night market and trials) is /really/ lovely.

As a casual who lead a guild of casuals, please don't tweak down the difficulty too much or make this /too/ solo-friendly. This is actually making ESO feel like an MMO and really harkens back to the feeling of Darkness Falls in Dark Age of Camelot, which was one of my personal favorite zones.

So, not every solo/casual player hates this, just want to throw that out there against the sea of negativity.

I just wanted to say I've seen your guild tabbard running around with a smaller group of friends and it's been great killing bosses with you! Phenomenal take and I couldn't agree more.

Prophet_of_Malacath · May 4

Athory wrote: »

Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”

You weren't excluded - you're excluding yourself. Much of the content can be soloed.

You might be more interested in watching streamers play the game, since you seem to just want to watch the content without earning it.

Athory wrote: »

ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.

It is a pity you have such revulsion at joining in comradery with others, that you seem to confuse an MMO with a single-player game.

Athory wrote: »

ESO has been both since day one.

Correct! It is an MMO set in the TES setting. Being a TES game doesn't exclude multi-player, guilds, teamwork.

Athory wrote: »

But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.

There's no Hardmode/Vet in the Night Market. It's comparable to a sort of freeform Trial (easier actually since we have the liberty to run around, explore, escape).

Athory wrote: »

So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?

It hasn't, this just isn't solo content. You seem to think group-content is mandated to take a specific shape.

Athory wrote: »

But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.

Incorrect.

You can sneak past many mob squads and/or run & self-heal.
Each zone has different mini-games, different layouts, different challenges.
I think I like it better than Trials - it's a breath of fresh air to see such an amazingly diverse group zone.

Athory wrote: »

The zone will eventually be made easier so solo\casual players can enter, not because it respects them, but because Hardcore players finish everything quickly, get bored, and leave. Then the remaining playerbase has no one to group with, and the zone must be “normalized” so it stays populated. This cycle is predictable, and it is disrespectful to solo players.

There's a strange entitlement here - but it's a group zone, not a single-player zone. And if you have so much disdain for group-content - then why does it sound you want anyone to group with?

It's just like Trials or Vet Dungeons - designed to encourage group play. Even the recipe fragments are faction-locked (meaning you need to trade with rival factions if you want to unlock it sooner). The Opulent Ordeal trial is especially group-oriented, as you carry the torch to other teams (you can't solo it). The 3 "Dungeon" Bosses are also group-oriented (their mechanics often need another player to liberate you).

It's all teamwork.

Athory wrote: »

Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

What does this even mean? lmao

End-game players do normal content all the time. A better comparison would be PVP (which should also get PVP-specific content, they're like 2% of all the zones).

The response you've gotten from others should make clear that you're being hyperbolic. The Night Market is great.

Psyphiman · May 4

I’m seeing a lot of people who were averse to the Night Market being won over. The tide of negativity is turning and people are having fun.

The first time I set foot in the Night Market it was a shock to my system. I died faster than a A’likir Dolmen daedra. But I made adjustments and am having a blast. I followed a group today for a few minutes while they killed bosses and unlocked a few relic pieces. I never even had to join the group or interact with anyone. Objectively, the event is really not too difficult. Give it a second chance and you might have fun too.

CaptainRele · May 4

This is an absurd and entitled overreaction to the standard q1 group content release cycle, but I can see there is no getting through to you. ZOS has been very transparent about everything else they are planning to release this year that is aimed at solo players and you have chosen to not seek out that information before venting on the forums.

Asking for a normal difficulty version of night market to be more friendly to solo players is also ignorant to the fact that many normal difficulty instances are not solo friendly either by design. This is not a flaw.

You play an mmo that has catered for a very long time to militant solo players. God forbid the multiplayer aspect be important.

Ratzkifal · May 4

@ZOS_Kevin I want to chime in as someone who predominantly plays this game solo, the Night Market the way it is now is exactly what's been missing from this game.
It is difficult, yes. Nigh-impossible to solo even. And that's a good thing.
This is good MMO content right here. It's a reason for people to group up. It's a reason for guilds (other than social and trading guilds) to exist.
If everything in this game is so easy it can be soloed, there is no point to this game being an online multiplayer.
Would a single-player TES game with optional coop be cool? Yes, of course.
But ESO was made to be an MMO, not a RPG with optional co-op. There is no point in trying to undo that decision now by limiting ourselves to having only soloable content.

There is plenty of solo content in this game already. The people that are complaining are only complaining because not all content is solo player content. It's the same people that selfishly advocate for the removal of PvP so solo questing in Cyrodiil can happen and the same people that in the past have cheered for nerfs targetting the perceived "elite" that in hindsight only made the game more difficult for the average player.
Fun is subjective and people are trying to pass off their subjective enjoyment (or lack thereof) as objective feedback concerning the health of the game. That's not the same.

I also want to point out that my time in the Night Market has, to me at least, brought back memories of Imperial City's glory days. Content that you can grind, that you want to grind yet isn't "a grind". Something you and your guild can spend hours and hours doing, not because you feel pressured to do it, but because you want to and because it feels worth it.
I've been helping out in groups as tank to help people tackle the Skirmishes, the keys, etc, because "it's too difficult". This is the stuff that brings people together. It's all of us together against the challenging content. And then you win.
That's the fun.

Should the Night Market not return beyond the three initial runs, some of the learnings from it could definitely be applied to revive Imperial City somewhat. The core loop present in the Night Market is something crucial which Imperial City has been lacking.

IviRo · May 4

Athory wrote: »

Point 1

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/home

THIS IS ESO
Go anywhere, do anything, and play your way in The Elder Scrolls Online, the award-winning online RPG set in the Elder Scrolls universe.

Point 2

The Night Market - Event Zone - The Elder Scrolls Online

So… are solo players excluded?

✔ From the core gameplay loop? Yes. The entire progression loop — bosses → keys → Gilded → Ordeal — is group‑only.
✔ From the rewards? Yes, indirectly. You can earn Favor solo, but at a tiny fraction of the speed and with massive difficulty spikes.
✔ From the intended experience? Absolutely. The zone is literally described as a “group‑focused PvE world”

The uncomfortable truth
ESO has always had:
normal dungeons

normal trials

normal arenas

normal world bosses

normal story content

Night Market breaks that 10‑year rule.

There is no normal mode.
No scaling.
No solo‑friendly version.
No alternative path.
If you don’t group, you simply cannot participate in the main loop.
This is why so many players, especially casuals, solo mains, and accessibility‑focused players, feel pushed out.

yes: solo players are excluded

So how do these two things fit together?
They don’t. It’s like saying: You can play your way…except here, where you must play our way.

Night Market is the first time ESO has:
no normal mode

no solo‑friendly version

no scaling

no alternative path

no accessibility options

no “play your way” philosophy

It’s a hardcore‑only event zone inside a game that advertises freedom.

4. Why this contradiction exists
Because: Marketing wants ESO to stay “play your way” They can’t change the slogan. It’s the identity of the franchise.
IT'S WRONG!

To be honest, ever since the beta test, I’ve always been annoyed by people whose only argument was that ‘it’s The Elder Scrolls’, ignoring everything else—what an MMO actually is, and so on. Please do take the time to learn what an MMO is in the first place, and how it differs from single-player games where you can do whatever you like. [snip]
[edited for flaming]

TFPAcer · May 4

Athory wrote: »

You’re 100% wrong. I play the game every day, and every time I join… trials\dungeons. xD
Because the objectives there are the same for everyone: finish, get loot.

I refuse to “feed” your [snip] market just to make things easier for "you" by grouping with "you".
You like it? You like HardCore? That’s your problem, solve it yourself.

I’m perfectly happy not feeling like I’m being used. Very happy, actually.

if you play every day, have done at least one trial, and think the night market is "hardcore", this is 100% a skill issue on your part

Athory · May 4

Mattymoo92 wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

TheMightyRevan wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. I genuinely believe this topic matters for all ESO players.
But I need to be completely direct about the issues:

1) “We wanted to try something different.”
Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”
That is not innovation, that is exclusion.
And it’s simply wrong.

2) “This was not to alienate solo players, but to add a new way to play.”
ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.
Yet they were still used to “feed” this new experiment.
That is wrong.

3) “We are an Elder Scrolls game, but also an MMO.”
ESO has been both since day one.
So why is the core experience for casual/solo players suddenly being changed now?
This shift is unnecessary and wrong.

4) “Some event content will encourage group play.”
If this means new Trials, new Dungeons, new Arenas, or new modes with multiple difficulty options, great.
Players will absolutely welcome that.
But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.
And that is wrong.

5) “There are players who come for solo content and players who come for group content.”
Correct, and this has been true since launch.
Nothing about the playerbase has changed.
So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?
That is wrong.

6) “Players asked for renewed gameplay variety and challenge.”
Thank you for listening players.
Challenge and variety are good.
But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.
That is not what players asked for.
And it’s wrong.

7) “We will have content throughout the year for both solo and group play.”
Good. That is how ESO should be.

Well… we both know this is coming, so…

8) “The team is looking at adjustments for the current and next Night Market.”
Let’s be honest: we both know what will happen.
The zone will eventually be made easier so solo\casual players can enter, not because it respects them, but because Hardcore players finish everything quickly, get bored, and leave.
Then the remaining playerbase has no one to group with, and the zone must be “normalized” so it stays populated.
This cycle is predictable, and it is disrespectful to solo players.

No hard feelings, @ZOS_Kevin, Team ask for feedback, and the only way I can give it is by being 100% direct and honest.

EDIT:
Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

[snip]

[snip]

[snip]

Could I do better? Wth, of course I can do better. I’m pretty sure I can craft anything.
But you completely missed the whole point of this fight again.
I don’t care at all about Hardcore‑only difficulty options — I don't like it, But I can handle them.
The question is: what about the other solo/casual players?

[edited to remove quote]

TFPAcer · May 4

Athory wrote: »

Mattymoo92 wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

TheMightyRevan wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. I genuinely believe this topic matters for all ESO players.
But I need to be completely direct about the issues:

1) “We wanted to try something different.”
Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”
That is not innovation, that is exclusion.
And it’s simply wrong.

2) “This was not to alienate solo players, but to add a new way to play.”
ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.
Yet they were still used to “feed” this new experiment.
That is wrong.

3) “We are an Elder Scrolls game, but also an MMO.”
ESO has been both since day one.
So why is the core experience for casual/solo players suddenly being changed now?
This shift is unnecessary and wrong.

4) “Some event content will encourage group play.”
If this means new Trials, new Dungeons, new Arenas, or new modes with multiple difficulty options, great.
Players will absolutely welcome that.
But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.
And that is wrong.

5) “There are players who come for solo content and players who come for group content.”
Correct, and this has been true since launch.
Nothing about the playerbase has changed.
So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?
That is wrong.

6) “Players asked for renewed gameplay variety and challenge.”
Thank you for listening players.
Challenge and variety are good.
But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.
That is not what players asked for.
And it’s wrong.

7) “We will have content throughout the year for both solo and group play.”
Good. That is how ESO should be.

Well… we both know this is coming, so…

8) “The team is looking at adjustments for the current and next Night Market.”
Let’s be honest: we both know what will happen.
The zone will eventually be made easier so solo\casual players can enter, not because it respects them, but because Hardcore players finish everything quickly, get bored, and leave.
Then the remaining playerbase has no one to group with, and the zone must be “normalized” so it stays populated.
This cycle is predictable, and it is disrespectful to solo players.

No hard feelings, @ZOS_Kevin, Team ask for feedback, and the only way I can give it is by being 100% direct and honest.

EDIT:
Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

[snip]

[snip]

[snip]

Could I do better? Wth, of course I can do better. I’m pretty sure I can craft anything.
But you completely missed the whole point of this fight again.
I don’t care at all about Hardcore‑only difficulty options — I don't like it, But I can handle them.
The question is: what about the other solo/casual players?

you made this whole thread to complain about the "hardcore-only" difficulty of the night market, but now suddenly actually you can handle it fine and claim to be thinking of the "other solo/casual players"
if you can complete the content solo why are you feeling excluded?
[edited to remove quote]

nightbringer1993 · May 4

Right now what pushed me out is that the necromancer class is destroyed, and that to solo with that class right now is just too hard due to all the damage and sustain nerfs we have had.

Unfortunately ZOS decided to refresh necromancer last so I am being pushed away because of it. And before people tells me to play another class, I will tell them no, and that I prefer to leave the game than witnessing other classes getting stronger while mine is destroyed.

Necro has their gameplay, class identity and competitiveness destroyed, and therefore the game is getting unplayable for me. Compare soloing the night market with DK or other classes. Necro is far bellow.

Necromancer needs to be refreshed this year, not winter 2027!

Soarora · May 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?

Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?

To answer the core questions asked:

Q: Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?
A: No.

Q:Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?
A: No.

Just following up here generally. We hear the feedback from solo players about the Night Market content. We want to follow up with just few things.

We have no intention of pushing solo players out of the game. However, we started this year off by noting that we were going to try some new things. Night Market is one of them. While we always provide group players with trials, we also wanted to try something different. This was not to alienate solo players, but rather to add a new way to play. That being said, we do hear the feedback and have passed that on our teams for future consideration, especially for when Night Market comes back later in the year. Remember, part of the ethos of this event is to add to it over time.

As several have noted in this thread as well, we have a roadmap that is publicly available. The point of the roadmap is to showcase the content we have coming throughout the year. As is noted on the roadmap and current PTS testing, we have plenty of solo friendly content as well. Thieves Guild and Sheogorath Questlines, Favors system, Rumors system, Two Solo Dungeons, Sage's Vault, and the list can keep going. And that is all on top of existing content. We also understand that not every piece of content will be for everyone, and that is okay.

We know this may come off as a contentious statement, but it does bare repeating. While we are an Elder Scrolls game, we are also an MMO. Storytelling and the heart of solo adventure will always be an important part of ESO. However, some of our event/ event zone content will be focused on encouraging group play. It is the nature of the genre. Additionally, we know just like there are players who come for solo content, there are also players who come for group content and challenging group content. So we want to make sure we are providing new things for them as well.

We'll close with this. Last year, we saw many threads throughout the year asking us to address content and find new ways of renewing the gameplay experience, both in variety and challenge. We are in the first passes of this now with items like Night Market going live. But we will have content throughout the year to address both solo and group play within the community. The feedback is helpful to steer us on the right track. So thanks to everyone, both solo players and group players, who have given their constructive feedback regarding the Night Market. The team is taking a look at what can be done during this current running and what can be adjusted for the next run of the Night Market.

Thank you Kevin, we love you Kevin!!!

I’m really glad to hear ZOS wants to give group players content focused on them, rather than everything having to be for everyone (before people call me a gatekeeper, I say this because if all content is for everyone, it’ll never be anything but easy and boring once you’ve progressed far enough since the difficulty has to be averaged). I do want to touch on “while we always provide group players with trials” just to be clear— dungeons and trials are both group PvE endgame activities but the communities are a venn diagram, not a circle. Even in the overlap, in my experience people lean more towards one content or the other.

Night Market does in a way feel like a love letter to the dungeon community and for that I am grateful. Some say it was a bad move to reuse existing mechanics but for me, that’s the one part of IA I like— seeing dungeon mechanics and bosses in a different context. It’s different to me than you guys taking that razor fire line mechanic from dread cellar, putting it in dreadsail trash, and then putting it in oathsworn pit…

I do hope you guys are still thinking about the pts feedback for hard modes though, I’ll post in the feedback thread after I’ve done the dungeons but I’ve been hearing from guildies that they’re boringly easy.

Anyway, after hearing that the content is for groups and will continue to have groups as its focus… I think I don’t want a normal version of Night Market actually… I said in the feedback thread that some of the trash enemies could use some nerfing, and I still stand by that, but we need content like Night Market (and dungeon challenger rewards!) to push and pull people out of their comfort zone to TRY content that they thought they’d never be good enough for/never would like/etc. Maybe they’ll still not like it… but maybe they’ll realize they enjoy it (I HATED pvp… until I killed someone!). Without these draws, midgame will continue to die (I hear it’s pretty dead already). Without midgame, endgame will wither out eventually from people leaving but not enough replacing (I dropped my guild from challengers and tris to veterans, challengers, and tris because the guild was dying, though there were other things at play, our reputation as an elite guild seemed to be one of the two big problems). Hearing someone say they tried their first trial because of Night Market… people joining groups for the first time… and my experience of players from mid game to scorepush all fighting one boss together… I think Night Market as it is is important for the health of the game past casual play.

Prophet_of_Malacath · May 4

Athory wrote: »

I don’t care at all about Hardcore‑only difficulty options — I don't like it, But I can handle them.
The question is: what about the other solo/casual players?

They get help from randos or guild.

Like, you're seriously not absorbing, this is THE BEST INTRODUCTION TO GROUP CONTENT they've had in a while.

People get nervous with Dungeons.
Some folks don't even try Trials.

The Night Market has large chunks that can be soloed.

Stealth builds work. I can run around perma-invis.
Mobs de-aggro. You slap on a self-heal & can often get away from most things.
Tools offer escapes - the grapple, the lantern, the fan have all let me escape mobs.
Spawn points inside have jump-pads (meaning you can jump to safety).
Races can be soloed
Puzzles are non-combat
Both give buffs to help you out. I got an AoE damage flame the other day that let me melt mobs.

You can run around without a group & just throw caltrops when a group is killing mobs. Get credit with no group!

But it begs to ask, why do you want to kill the bosses, given that they drop keys to Dungeon & Trial tier content. It specifically funnels you to group content. It rewards teamwork. It rewards sharing.

My guilds are all engaging with it - from casual RP to Trial-guilds - because it's such a wonderful low-stress group mode. Someone quits early for the night? No biggie, its not a Trial. Someone wants to join late? All cool, we got 2 groups going.

It is group content that welcomes casual players to learn and grow.

licenturion · May 4

From reading some of these threads I keep feeling that everyone has a different definition of what a solo player actually is.

- Is it someone who only plays alone and never interacts with others directly or indirectly and runs off when there is already someone doing a dolmen, delve or world boss.

- Is it someone who only plays alone but joins other people organically in the world when others are doing a world boss or incursion.

- Is it someone who only who only plays alone but uses the dungeon and group finder to find others to play but doesn’t not interact and treats other group members as NPCs ( this is what I am)

- Is it people who only solo group content like dungeons in veteran or hard mode.

I see the line between all those types of players is very blurry.

AScarlato · May 4

Prophet_of_Malacath wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

I don’t care at all about Hardcore‑only difficulty options — I don't like it, But I can handle them.
The question is: what about the other solo/casual players?

They get help from randos or guild.

Like, you're seriously not absorbing, this is THE BEST INTRODUCTION TO GROUP CONTENT they've had in a while.

People get nervous with Dungeons.
Some folks don't even try Trials.

The NM Trial was the first trial I ever stepped foot in, and I haven't really done Vet Dungeons either. It can be a lot of pressure for the typical solo/RPer to do hard content with only 4 people, or even 12 if everyone matters to a great degree.

Night Market's zergy nature made it easy to jump in but not be the sole point of failure for a group of people. Also everyone is learning and dying together, and it was a great sense of community without being blamed/yelled at or the toxicity that can sometimes come up in other content.

People can join and easily be carried if at least half the group is decent, and slowly get used to harder content on their own terms.

It was Night Market that inspired me to do my very first trial and it opened my eyes up to some possibility now.

cloverpatch · May 4

Athory wrote: »

Thank you for the reply. I genuinely believe this topic matters for all ESO players.
But I need to be completely direct about the issues:

1) “We wanted to try something different.”
Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”
That is not innovation, that is exclusion.
And it’s simply wrong.

2) “This was not to alienate solo players, but to add a new way to play.”
ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.
Yet they were still used to “feed” this new experiment.
That is wrong.

3) “We are an Elder Scrolls game, but also an MMO.”
ESO has been both since day one.
So why is the core experience for casual/solo players suddenly being changed now?
This shift is unnecessary and wrong.
4) “Some event content will encourage group play.”
If this means new Trials, new Dungeons, new Arenas, or new modes with multiple difficulty options, great.
Players will absolutely welcome that.
But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.
And that is wrong.

5) “There are players who come for solo content and players who come for group content.”
Correct, and this has been true since launch.
Nothing about the playerbase has changed.
So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?
That is wrong.

6) “Players asked for renewed gameplay variety and challenge.”
Thank you for listening players.
Challenge and variety are good.
But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.
That is not what players asked for.
And it’s wrong.

7) “We will have content throughout the year for both solo and group play.”
Good. That is how ESO should be.

Well… we both know this is coming, so…

8) “The team is looking at adjustments for the current and next Night Market.”
Let’s be honest: we both know what will happen.
The zone will eventually be made easier so solo\casual players can enter, not because it respects them, but because Hardcore players finish everything quickly, get bored, and leave.
Then the remaining playerbase has no one to group with, and the zone must be “normalized” so it stays populated.
This cycle is predictable, and it is disrespectful to solo players.

No hard feelings, @ZOS_Kevin, Team ask for feedback, and the only way I can give it is by being 100% direct and honest.

EDIT:
Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

[snip]

I am genuinely a bit confused though and can't find in all of your drivel how exactly the Night Market changes the core experience for solo players? If you are unwilling to join a group, go do something you can solo - Same as how you would simply not partake in Whitestrake's Mayhem if you don't like PvP, or skip out on trials because you can't solo those either. Also, making hardcore players fuel for casual content??? Most already do casual content, and you don't see them saying fishing needs a HM on the forums because it's too easy.
[edited for trolling]

MachineGod · May 4

Athory wrote: »

1) “We wanted to try something different.”
Excluding casual/solo players from participating should never be an “experiment.”
That is not innovation, that is exclusion.
And it’s simply wrong.

Saying something is wrong does not make it "wrong" and is not an argument.

So by definition what you quoted is innovation. There is no exclusion here. Players are free to enter the zone and try the experience and they are not locked out of this free content in any way. There is a supporting group finder category as well as the zone chat to allow co-ordination from players. You don't even have to join a group. There are also power ups available to players around the zone.

Athory wrote: »

2) “This was not to alienate solo players, but to add a new way to play.”
ZoS team knows better than anyone that casual/solo players will never engage with hardcore‑only difficulty.
Yet they were still used to “feed” this new experiment.
That is wrong.

Saying something is wrong does not make it "wrong" and is not an argument.

Who is being used here exactly? Are you implying people, real people, are nothing more than tools? That is degrading. The very people you are attempting to "champion" are reduced to nothing more than a tool which you attempt to use to push a false narrative.

Athory wrote: »

3) “We are an Elder Scrolls game, but also an MMO.”
ESO has been both since day one.
So why is the core experience for casual/solo players suddenly being changed now?
This shift is unnecessary and wrong.

Saying something is wrong does not make it "wrong" and is not an argument.

Is it being changed? They have full solo dungeons being developed right now with a brand new experience for an overland story zone all with a questing and unique style for people to be engaged with a story. Again this is an attempt at pushing a narrative that does not exist. ESO was and still is both. Kevin's reply perfectly highlights that. If you are not willing to take ZOS at their word then why would you give feedback to something you fundamentally think is not going to happen anyway? That is a waste for both parties.

Athory wrote: »

4) “Some event content will encourage group play.”
If this means new Trials, new Dungeons, new Arenas, or new modes with multiple difficulty options, great.
Players will absolutely welcome that.
But if the only option is Hardmode‑only, then it’s not “encouraging” group play, it’s forcing it.
And that is wrong.

Saying something is wrong does not make it "wrong" and is not an argument.

There is no "Hardmode-only" content currently. Every dungeon has a set difficulty with options. Overland has a base difficulty. This new system has a set base difficulty that happens to be somewhat higher. This does encourage it. They have grouping options and you are advised that this is something players should do as well. Even in the "teams" such as thousand eyes encourages the fact that this is a team effort. Are you saying all the in game hints, ZOS comments and information they put out is wrong? Did you read it?

Athory wrote: »

5) “There are players who come for solo content and players who come for group content.”
Correct, and this has been true since launch.
Nothing about the playerbase has changed.
So why is the design philosophy suddenly shifting away from solo accessibility?
That is wrong.

Saying something is wrong does not make it "wrong" and is not an argument.

Again the design philosophy is not shifting and is another attempt to create a narrative that does not exsist. In fact this is effectively misinformation and/or conspiracy. I would be careful about making such statement and its a reportable offense. This is not reality.

Athory wrote: »

6) “Players asked for renewed gameplay variety and challenge.”
Thank you for listening players.
Challenge and variety are good.
But the Night Market does not offer variety or optional challenge, it offers Hardcore‑only gameplay.
That is not what players asked for.
And it’s wrong.

Saying something is wrong does not make it "wrong" and is not an argument.

Once again by its very definition this is a renewed way to play that is not present anywhere in the game currently. This was the first attempt by ZOS. They can't get everything right. The night market is a completely different way to play. It is a completely different challenge. That is factual. What you claim as "hardcore-only" is subjective. An opinion. You attempt to speak for other players in claiming that is is not what they asked for and push that as a fact? To quote you back to yourself "It's wrong".

Athory wrote: »

[EDIT:
Next time ZOS decides to use casual players as fuel for hardcore content, then at least balance it out, make hardcore players serve as fuel to support normal content as well. Casual and new players would absolutely love to see that kind of fairness.

Overall you come off as someone who is attempting to co-op people and use them as the very tools you claim that ZOS is trying to do with them. You attempt to push blatant misinformation as fact. You can't take ZOS at their word which means your whole argument for providing feedback is moot because you believe it's already a part of a preexisting cycle and this whole argument boiled down to you saying "this is wrong". Ironically becoming the whole problem with your "argument"

ESO_player123 · May 4

I'm not a member of any guild, so I've never done anything in an organized group. I do only pugs (GF or DGF) when necessary, and I'm nowhere near endgame community. That said, I've been spending most of my time in NM and I like it (though I do share many concerns outlined in the feedback such as mob density/respawn time/lack of drops/weird overland set drops etc.). I do not share the concerns outlined in this thread though. I see a lot of solo content on the roadmap that I'm looking forward to.

EthanolMuffins · May 4

licenturion wrote: »

From reading some of these threads I keep feeling that everyone has a different definition of what a solo player actually is.

- Is it someone who only plays alone and never interacts with others directly or indirectly and runs off when there is already someone doing a dolmen, delve or world boss.

- Is it someone who only plays alone but joins other people organically in the world when others are doing a world boss or incursion.

- Is it someone who only who only plays alone but uses the dungeon and group finder to find others to play but doesn’t not interact and treats other group members as NPCs ( this is what I am)

- Is it people who only solo group content like dungeons in veteran or hard mode.

I see the line between all those types of players is very blurry.

I feel like for most people it is considered those who play solely alone and dont engage in any group content, after that I think it turns into a casual player who touches on various parts of the game. But yeah the semantics of it are interesting to discuss.

Prophet_of_Malacath · May 4

AScarlato wrote: »

It was Night Market that inspired me to do my very first trial and it opened my eyes up to some possibility now.

If you ever worry about DPS, just rez people who die, you'll be a tank/healers favorite DPS in a heartbeat. A DPS resurrecting other players ensures the Tank & Healer can keep doing their jobs.

I've seen plenty of "strong" groups wiped because the DPS are so busy DPSing, they let their friends lay dead at their feet.
I've seen plenty of "mid" groups recover because the lowbie ran around helping people back up. YOU ARE VALUABLE.

If you want a relatively short-and-easy trial, go for Cloudrest or Asylum Sanctorium - both are short, have minimal trash mobs. Cloudrest has good gear, AS has some nice weapons.

If you're super shy, start with DPS - you're 1 out of 8, people can overlook a newer/weaker member.

But if you want to be bold, TANK - high-level folks still appreciate even a lower-level tank, they're NEEDED. A group with a Tank is a group that will fill up fast - and no one is going to argue with the person keeping them alive.

I wish you joyous, glorious adventures!

AScarlato · May 4

Prophet_of_Malacath wrote: »

AScarlato wrote: »

It was Night Market that inspired me to do my very first trial and it opened my eyes up to some possibility now.

If you ever worry about DPS, just rez people who die, you'll be a tank/healers favorite DPS in a heartbeat. A DPS resurrecting other players ensures the Tank & Healer can keep doing their jobs.
I've seen plenty of "strong" groups wiped because the DPS are so busy DPSing, they let their friends lay dead at their feet.

I've seen plenty of "mid" groups recover because the lowbie ran around helping people back up. YOU ARE VALUABLE.

If you want a relatively short-and-easy trial, go for Cloudrest or Asylum Sanctorium - both are short, have minimal trash mobs. Cloudrest has good gear, AS has some nice weapons.

If you're super shy, start with DPS - you're 1 out of 8, people can overlook a newer/weaker member.

But if you want to be bold, TANK - high-level folks still appreciate even a lower-level tank, they're NEEDED. A group with a Tank is a group that will fill up fast - and no one is going to argue with the person keeping them alive.

I wish you joyous, glorious adventures!

I main healers in MMOs and I completely agree that I love when DPS help Rez. Nothing feels worse than stopping to rez someone and others dying since I can't spam my heals/shields. It's great advice.

I have followed other advice here and have Spell Power Cure, Powerful Assault, the monster set that gives armor every second, use Ball for resource restore, the Heal that gives armor and DPS boost (Combat Prayer), and I also bring Major and Minor armor decrease as a warden with Shalks which helps for adds as a tank can have a hard time applying it to everything. I also cast a DK skill through multiclassing for another DPS buff.

I don't usually have time to do much DPS so I'm very much buff and heal focused. Some prefer to add more DPS to the group personally but by the time I get all my buffs and debuffs up I don't usually have time.

Freelancer_ESO · May 4

ZOS_Kevin wrote: »

Athory wrote: »

Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?

Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?

To answer the core questions asked:

Q: Does ZoS have plans to turn ESO into something like a Dark Souls-style game?
A: No.

Q:Do they have any plan to push solo players out of the game?
A: No.

Just following up here generally. We hear the feedback from solo players about the Night Market content. We want to follow up with just few things.

We have no intention of pushing solo players out of the game. However, we started this year off by noting that we were going to try some new things. Night Market is one of them. While we always provide group players with trials, we also wanted to try something different. This was not to alienate solo players, but rather to add a new way to play. That being said, we do hear the feedback and have passed that on our teams for future consideration, especially for when Night Market comes back later in the year. Remember, part of the ethos of this event is to add to it over time.

As several have noted in this thread as well, we have a roadmap that is publicly available. The point of the roadmap is to showcase the content we have coming throughout the year. As is noted on the roadmap and current PTS testing, we have plenty of solo friendly content as well. Thieves Guild and Sheogorath Questlines, Favors system, Rumors system, Two Solo Dungeons, Sage's Vault, and the list can keep going. And that is all on top of existing content. We also understand that not every piece of content will be for everyone, and that is okay.

We know this may come off as a contentious statement, but it does bare repeating. While we are an Elder Scrolls game, we are also an MMO. Storytelling and the heart of solo adventure will always be an important part of ESO. However, some of our event/ event zone content will be focused on encouraging group play. It is the nature of the genre. Additionally, we know just like there are players who come for solo content, there are also players who come for group content and challenging group content. So we want to make sure we are providing new things for them as well.

We'll close with this. Last year, we saw many threads throughout the year asking us to address content and find new ways of renewing the gameplay experience, both in variety and challenge. We are in the first passes of this now with items like Night Market going live. But we will have content throughout the year to address both solo and group play within the community. The feedback is helpful to steer us on the right track. So thanks to everyone, both solo players and group players, who have given their constructive feedback regarding the Night Market. The team is taking a look at what can be done during this current running and what can be adjusted for the next run of the Night Market.

I would note that the optics of the NM aren't exactly helped by some of the other yearly developments.

People would probably be a bit more accepting of a more challenging new zone if it wasn't happening during a year when no regular difficulty zone was being implemented. That kinda makes it look like the challenging zone came at the cost of developing a regular zone.

One of the other new features this year is the ability to adjust the difficulty. Realistically speaking, one could likely have employed said functionality with the Night Market. Start the Night Market off with just the highest difficulty available for the first three weeks or so and then after three week allow players to select the difficulty they want to play on with the Favor gain being reduced with lower difficulties. Since the content is instanced pretty small you could have people separated by difficulty selection. (One of the common complaints from people about the new difficulty options is that players will be put in with players on other difficulty levels who will blow everything up. If doing it that way isn't too hard on the servers during the event, ZOS could potentially test having a small amount of zones each week be separately instanced to a specific difficulty. )