[Megathread] Elder Scrolls Online

[Eldryth]

For me, faction pride will be enough for AvA- I want to see someone from my side on the throne! However, there will also be many AvA specific skills to be unlocked, and probably gear as well. So even if there isn't a gear grind, there will be rewards.

[wombinator04]

FOR DAGGERFALL! Us Bretons are the master race obviously.

[OrcsRLame]

Because playing the game should be fun by itself? I'm all for cosmetic rewards and titles and nonsense, but I'm kinda blown away at the notion that activities need a reward in order to be fun >.>

I actually think it's more of a turn off for me when pvp has rewards. If that makes any sense.

I played Halo 2 for years. Had over 30k kills just in ranked playlists, thousands of games. I also played Gears of War pretty hardcore as well, getting over 7k kills. In both of those games you really didn't get rewards for playing, other than rank in Halo 2. I've given many other multiplayer games a fair chance, but I haven't been able to get into any of the "grinding" multiplayer games like CoD or even wow's pvp. Even if the game is fun, there's just something about the mindset that I get into where the game becomes all about points and it just stops being fun.

Maybe I'm extremely weird, but it's like I start playing the game only for useless things like levels or points or whatever, then I think to myself, what's the damn point, playing the game is about the experience, not grinding. Then suddenly I just can't seem to give a fuck about the game. Like I said, I'm weird.

[GennGreymane]

FOR DAGGERFALL! Us Bretons are the master race obviously.

my fav npc in skyrim is a breton... all hail king belethor!

[Valeron]

honestly I find most of the races rather boring (elder scrolls in general, not just ESO)

only ones I rather like are the Argonians and the Khajiit

[Flaks]

Because playing the game should be fun by itself? I'm all for cosmetic rewards and titles and nonsense, but I'm kinda blown away at the notion that activities need a reward in order to be fun >.>

It really is astonishing but if you've seen the trend, barely any big titles focus on making you feel accomplished/have fun for just playing the game. Every single game has some leveling system or some sort incorporated for god knows what reason.

Also, WoW PvP is a true abomination. Blizzard goes out of its way to promote unfair play because apparently it gives you a "visceral feel with a living world where anyone can come at any moment to kill you" which basically translates to: "oh you're leveling in a zone with a total of 20 different players even with CRZ? Well too bad we allow level 90s to swoop down and kill you a million times with no repercussions and make the game so overall abysmal that your own max level allies probably won't come and help you".

my fav npc in skyrim is a breton... all hail king belethor!

Yes...yes indeed...

And.

Do come back...

honestly I find most of the races rather boring (elder scrolls in general, not just ESO)

only ones I rather like are the Argonians and the Khajiit

Ma'iiq. Such a boss. I think he's the oldest humanoid non-divine character in the Elder Scrolls series.

[Nerevar]

Ma'iiq. Such a boss. I think he's the oldest humanoid non-divine character in the Elder Scrolls series.

"M'aiq's father was also called M'aiq. As was M'aiq's father's father. At least, that's what he said. But then again, you can never trust a liar."
But he's a divine for sure, nobody just knows it yet

[OrcsRLame]

"M'aiq's father was also called M'aiq. As was M'aiq's father's father. At least, that's what he said. But then again, you can never trust a liar."
But he's a divine for sure, nobody just knows it yet

Wouldn't surprise me if he was Anu in the flesh. ^_^

Or perhaps Magnus. He disappeared a few eras ago. Maybe wherever he went, he became so crazy that he thinks he's a Khajiit. This is now my head canon...

[Loaf Lord]

I hope skooma is in the game. Don't you dare exclude skooma, you filthy devs!

[Fencers]

but its still good to have a reward, I would rather it just be some cosmetic armor or mount or something than better gear.
Im going to use call of duty as an example, because its the best I've got right now, but once people reach max level on there and unlocked everything, they usually prestige, because its boring sitting at max level with nothing to unlock and it's cool to show off your new shiny title thing. Things can get pretty stale if there's no reward.

Cosmetic rewards are cool and all. But what you are describing is a failure of gameplay engagement.

Particularly when it comes to PVP. Where the entire allure in a genuine sense is the "good game, well played".

Don't misunderstand me, there is nothing incorrect in giving out rewards to players [cosmetic or otherwise]. Though the idea, ideal, of the concept is exactly as I stated earlier: The enjoyment of beating opponents by skill alone in an environment that promotes equity.

Even in asymmetrical systems like Starcraft 2 or Magic the Gathering this is so.

[mvaliz]

I'm just SUPER glad they announced that you CAN actually explore the whole world on one character.

For those that don't know: at level 50, you can enter special opposite faction-locked zones that allow you to do their quests with your faction, albeit all things are now leveled up to level 50+. They haven't revealed the storyline reason/explanation for this - but they said there will be one. Though they admit it's chiefly designed for Elder Scroll fans who prefer PVE exploration and free-world roaming and progress on one character via that means.

This ALONE already pleases me - knowing they're actually listening to the player base! ^_^

---------- Post added 2013-03-21 at 04:37 PM ----------

While I'm not that keen on PVP, I'm at LEAST glad they're taking the opposite approach from WoW today and giving special choke points and sabotage elements for us stealthers who like to do things behind enemy lines enjoyment that do NOT require direct PVP engagement.

I still smile that one of my favorite BGs in WoW was Strand of the Ancients. I smile because the majority HATE that one, but IMO it's really the only true battleground where I can actively stealth behind enemy lines and perform sabotage situations that doesn't involve direct PVP contact. NO battleground effectively allows me that kind of control and variety...

[Chickat]

I'm just SUPER glad they announced that you CAN actually explore the whole world on one character.

For those that don't know: at level 50, you can enter special opposite faction-locked zones that allow you to do their quests with your faction, albeit all things are now leveled up to level 50+. They haven't revealed the storyline reason/explanation for this - but they said there will be one. Though they admit it's chiefly designed for Elder Scroll fans who prefer PVE exploration and free-world roaming and progress on one character via that means.

This ALONE already pleases me - knowing they're actually listening to the player base! ^_^

---------- Post added 2013-03-21 at 04:37 PM ----------

While I'm not that keen on PVP, I'm at LEAST glad they're taking the opposite approach from WoW today and giving special choke points and sabotage elements for us stealthers who like to do things behind enemy lines enjoyment that do NOT require direct PVP engagement.

I still smile that one of my favorite BGs in WoW was Strand of the Ancients. I smile because the majority HATE that one, but IMO it's really the only true battleground where I can actively stealth behind enemy lines and perform sabotage situations that doesn't involve direct PVP contact. NO battleground effectively allows me that kind of control and variety...

Are you sure thats right? I took from that, that you will be able to quest in your other factions race zones, but not the other factions zones.

Also I love SotA. How exactly are you able to play the way you want in that bg though? The whole goal is to slow siege vehicles and delay the other team as much as possible.

[OrcsRLame]

Are you sure thats right? I took from that, that you will be able to quest in your other factions race zones, but not the other factions zones.

Also I love SotA. How exactly are you able to play the way you want in that bg though? The whole goal is to slow siege vehicles and delay the other team as much as possible.

What's the difference?

[RoninaThorstone]

Are you sure thats right? I took from that, that you will be able to quest in your other factions race zones, but not the other factions zones.

I think he has it right.
As i was explained to me, when you finish your factions main story you unlock the next factions main story which scales to level 50 (hard mode so like level 51/52ish), then when you beat that you unlock the third faction which is also scaled to 50 and even harder (so like 53/54).
And apparently the loot also scales. So fighting solo bosses at the end of like a chapter might drop like raid quality loot! Solo content!

[Chickat]

I think he has it right.
As i was explained to me, when you finish your factions main story you unlock the next factions main story which scales to level 50 (hard mode so like level 51/52ish), then when you beat that you unlock the third faction which is also scaled to 50 and even harder (so like 53/54).
And apparently the loot also scales. So fighting solo bosses at the end of like a chapter might drop like raid quality loot! Solo content!

Its confusing. There are 3 factions, each faction with 3 races. Each faction has 3 playable huge zones and after you level to 50 you can go to the other 2 zones of your faction. You cant however visit the other 6 zones of the game. That is how i took it, though i do hope I am wrong.

[mvaliz]

Until everyone starts theorycrafting and optimizing everything and then complaining about a lack of variety.

This game needs to focus heavily on immersion to ensure it doesn't go the way of WoW.

That's actually one thing I love about ES:O - in this video interview, one of the devs said it - all that stupid number-crunching BS is going to be GONE from ES:O:

(3:30 minute mark)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD-t_GvYBv4

"We're making an RPG... we want a solid RPG experience... We want this to feel like a modern RPG... which means "not a bunch of numbers, not crazy calculated DPS and not a ton of UI telling you how to play the game"

"being effective in battle can be communicated in better ways than having numbers floating over your head"

"Numbers are not Elder Scrolls"

[vizzle]

Its confusing. There are 3 factions, each faction with 3 races. Each faction has 3 playable huge zones and after you level to 50 you can go to the other 2 zones of your faction. You cant however visit the other 6 zones of the game. That is how i took it, though i do hope I am wrong.

You're confusing it. Stop confusing it. Go back a page or two and read the exact quote.

You can play through every zone on a single character, regardless of faction. There’s a reason why few MMOs bother with three factions nowadays – it’s a vast amount of content to create, particularly when you’re only likely to see a third of it. TESO’s solution is clever. You’ll level from 1-50 and do your personal story with your chosen faction, then when you’re finished you can pick a second faction to play through in what amounts to a new game plus. Zones and encounters are buffed to 50 and loot updated accordingly. Then, when you finish that you’ll be able to play through the final faction in an even tougher mode. You’ll still only be able to group and socialise with members of your own faction, but it means you don’t have to pick what race you play based solely on what zones you want to adventure in. Your Breton will get to wander around Skyrim.

TL;DR

You can play through every zone on a single character, regardless of faction.

[Flaks]

You're confusing it. Stop confusing it. Go back a page or two and read the exact quote.



TL;DR

Wait what?! That's surprising, confusing but seemingly good news. I don't quite understand how it works. So you level your Breton to max in the 3 zones of the Daggerfall covenant. Once you hit level 50 another factions' zones are now open to your breton and you can level through them but only players of your own faction will be visible for you there.

[Throren]

Wait what?! That's surprising, confusing but seemingly good news. I don't quite understand how it works. So you level your Breton to max in the 3 zones of the Daggerfall covenant. Once you hit level 50 another factions' zones are now open to your breton and you can level through them but only players of your own faction will be visible for you there.

Yup that is pretty much exactly how it works, and when you are finished that faction's zones you move to the 3rd and final faction.

[Woakerio]

I'm assuming the quests in enemy faction territory will be unique and not just enemy quests? That would be sad...