I'm an ESO beta tester; ask me anything

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Seanu Reaves

The Shogun of Gaming
I know the non-combat portions of the game will come naturally for me, but if applicable, how would you categorize the translation of your single player combat experience to fighting in ESO? Did it require a complete purging of your single player habits and techniques, or was being accomplished in PvE single player an advantage when taking on ESO's mechanics? How much of the single player combat method exists in ESO, or is ESO combat success based more on skills obtained in another MMO such as Battlefield or Call of Duty?

Sorry about the length - just want to see where my entry point might be. Nothing worse than walking in from 18 years of never truly knowing what the underdog in a fight is like and becoming chum a foot from the welcome mat.


I personally wouldn't call either shooter an MMO, but that is nitpicking.

The control scheme they have in place is as close to an TES game as they could do, so for the most part it transitioned pretty easily. Now PvP was not up when I had my runs in TESO, but I can guess that it will just be a faster paced style of the PvE system. I mean if you could give a specific single player habit I could be more specific. But I want to say that assides from the more "MMO-style" fast travel system the way you quest in single player should be how you quest in TESO.

Now Hardcore Roleplayers may find issue with trying to "Eat, Sleep, realistic healing" and all that self imposed challenge, but will find other ways to really get in character.

I hope I answered your question well enough, if not please let me know what part (if not the whole thing) I missed. :D
 

ShenziSixaxis

Article Writer
Agreed that ESO's combat is not quite MMO styled; it's similar to TES in general, especially Skyrim, but at the same time it was dumbed down greatly to the point that it's confusing because you're learning a new combat style. This is mainly an issue with magic, though.


I haven't done anything in Cyrodil yet, nor have I found any good videos showing what it is, but from what I can tell it's a number of things depending on what you're doing, be that defending walls or objectives or attacking enemy players.
 

SaveVsBedWet

Well-Known Member
I personally wouldn't call either shooter an MMO, but that is nitpicking.

The control scheme they have in place is as close to an TES game as they could do, so for the most part it transitioned pretty easily. Now PvP was not up when I had my runs in TESO, but I can guess that it will just be a faster paced style of the PvE system. I mean if you could give a specific single player habit I could be more specific. But I want to say that assides from the more "MMO-style" fast travel system the way you quest in single player should be how you quest in TESO.

Now Hardcore Roleplayers may find issue with trying to "Eat, Sleep, realistic healing" and all that self imposed challenge, but will find other ways to really get in character.

I hope I answered your question well enough, if not please let me know what part (if not the whole thing) I missed. :D

Well yeah actually you're right - wrong term for it, but on antibiotics late at night and thick headed, anything online where I stand to be a newb fighting an 18 hour a day expert camping outside the welcome tent becomes an "MMO" to me, lol.

Thanks a lot for this info though. I just didn't want to have to find out nothing works the same in terms of controls or that strategic fighting has been ditched in favor of UT-style jumping around and manic button mashing. I excel at that in UT, but nobody has to switch armament or ready spells while fighting in CTF-November, if you get my meaning. And from what I've heard of how fast health drops off from even a single hit in combat I want to be ready!
 

SaveVsBedWet

Well-Known Member
Agreed that ESO's combat is not quite MMO styled; it's similar to TES in general, especially Skyrim, but at the same time it was dumbed down greatly to the point that it's confusing because you're learning a new combat style. This is mainly an issue with magic, though.


I haven't done anything in Cyrodil yet, nor have I found any good videos showing what it is, but from what I can tell it's a number of things depending on what you're doing, be that defending walls or objectives or attacking enemy players.

Thanks! I am actually looking forward to the first time Dr. D'Irsei gets to improve someone's dental work with a catapult boulder. Don't you know it lets her get through the tough stuff like extractions in a fraction the time? Teeth pop out like magic.
 

ZeroDragon

Bring me my broadsword, and clear understanding.
Just having a food break from ESO, but I have to say ..... I just met Maiq the Liar. :)
 

Mi-Ilu Yahaz

Active Member
Thought this might be fun to do now that the NDA has been lifted. c:

Feel free to ask me anything about the game. The only thing that is off limits right now is the main theme that was changed with the last beta and the screenshots I have as I am still not 100% sure that I can share them.


OOOOOOOOOOO! I've been beta testing the last two times! Now we gets to show videos and pictures now. Trying to post mine but the album keeps saying the server is glitching... oh well. See ya in the beta maybe.
 

ZeroDragon

Bring me my broadsword, and clear understanding.
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ShenziSixaxis

Article Writer
Third time playing the beta. Already tired of the intro level, and I hope the full game gives you the option to skip it.


I was tired of it and the starting areas on my second go. The Wailing Prison is just boring and a bad (IMO) starting level when you consider that it's Molag Bal's domain, and he just... lets a riot start??? And the starting areas are awful because you're forced to complete nearly all, if not 100% all, the quests to move on. So if one glitches... oh, ho, enjoy that.
 

ZeroDragon

Bring me my broadsword, and clear understanding.
So the big question for you recurring Beta testers...

Are you going to purchase the game??

For the first time, I've asked myself the same question. This is my 3rd beta and have only experienced 1 technical problem. It also plays and looks better. But I am having to ask myself if I can really put in the time to develop the my character. I'm not able to play for hours on end like I did years ago, life is getting in the way of my gaming.

I made the mistake of not leveling up enough or raising enough coin early on, and some of the elements of quests can prove a bit overly challenging if there isn't someone else around doing the same part. I'm fine with creatures up to 2 or 3 levels higher than me when they attack one at a time, but 3 and 4 which are only 1 level below are getting irritating. Joining a guild, or arranging friends playing at the same time is possible at times, but I don't know if that is enough for me.

So in answer to your question, and for the first time, possibly not. Though if I could give it the time it needs, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. I still might, it's so tempting to go back and start again, like I should have when I realised my mistake.
 

Janus3003

Skyrim Marriage Counselor
So the big question for you recurring Beta testers...

Are you going to purchase the game??

Nope. I can't justify paying a monthly fee. I have a hard time staying active in MMOs, and TESO is no different for me. I'll wait until it goes free to play.

Besides, I'm much more interested in EverQuest.
 

SaveVsBedWet

Well-Known Member
I'm enjoying the play in the beta session actually. Really raging in most battles, because it is like was reported earlier in the thread, very similar to single player ES. I guess I'm still finding my way through things though because:

1. I get into a lot of trouble trying to switch weapons mid-fight. I usually have an axe in on hand and a mace in the other, but I can't figure out how to switch out either weapon directly without first switching to one of my two handed weapons to clear both slots, then rearming one hand at a time. It's getting me beat up. You can't right click weapons and change them directly, can't quick slot them, and can't actually dual wield as in the single player game either. My dual wield is a "combat spell" that does a 3 strike dual wielded combination. I have a 4 move spell too.

2. When radius effects from enemies come up, I can see the radius and roll out of range. But I don't see that indicator (and I guess I might need to) when fighting hand to hand with someone and for some reason, I still get hit by two handed weapons every time despite dodge rolling and ending up 8 feet away from the enemy.

3. It sort of sucks that even in a minimal amount of armor, and carrying nothing major except a few one handed weapons and a bow, I cannot outrun any NPC, no matter what they are encumbered by. When you combine that with point 1 above, and consider how long it takes to switch to a healing staff because I don't have a spell, it gets tedious. Oh and while we're at it? Why am I able to get a spell healing others for 42 points before I get a spell I can use to heal myself?

4. Add to point 3 that action doesn't pause while you are in a menu, like it does in the single player game. So while you are fumbling around trying to figure out quick slots, or trying to get to your potions to heal, you are being beaten up. This has happened to me several times, and is virtually guaranteed in fights with multiple assailants.

5. Oh, and the quick slot thing? Non-intuitive. At best.

The good? I've only crashed one time, on Friday night. There have been no stutters, no hangups, no real artifacts, except for one goblin on a bridge who I wasted 3 arrows on because he wasn't really there - just a glitched sprite. The graphics look surprisingly good for lowest common denominator as well - very impressed by that.

Also would have liked to have seen siege warfare during the beta. I know they'd like to take all the time they can getting it right and likely don't want opinions spoiling things, good or bad, but that seems like an important enough part of the game to want to get acclimated to as soon as possible.
 

ZeroDragon

Bring me my broadsword, and clear understanding.
I'm enjoying the play in the beta session actually. Really raging in most battles, because it is like was reported earlier in the thread, very similar to single player ES. I guess I'm still finding my way through things though because:

1. I get into a lot of trouble trying to switch weapons mid-fight. I usually have an axe in on hand and a mace in the other, but I can't figure out how to switch out either weapon directly without first switching to one of my two handed weapons to clear both slots, then rearming one hand at a time. It's getting me beat up. You can't right click weapons and change them directly, can't quick slot them, and can't actually dual wield as in the single player game either. My dual wield is a "combat spell" that does a 3 strike dual wielded combination. I have a 4 move spell too.

2. When radius effects from enemies come up, I can see the radius and roll out of range. But I don't see that indicator (and I guess I might need to) when fighting hand to hand with someone and for some reason, I still get hit by two handed weapons every time despite dodge rolling and ending up 8 feet away from the enemy.

3. It sort of sucks that even in a minimal amount of armor, and carrying nothing major except a few one handed weapons and a bow, I cannot outrun any NPC, no matter what they are encumbered by. When you combine that with point 1 above, and consider how long it takes to switch to a healing staff because I don't have a spell, it gets tedious. Oh and while we're at it? Why am I able to get a spell healing others for 42 points before I get a spell I can use to heal myself?

4. Add to point 3 that action doesn't pause while you are in a menu, like it does in the single player game. So while you are fumbling around trying to figure out quick slots, or trying to get to your potions to heal, you are being beaten up. This has happened to me several times, and is virtually guaranteed in fights with multiple assailants.

5. Oh, and the quick slot thing? Non-intuitive. At best.

The good? I've only crashed one time, on Friday night. There have been no stutters, no hangups, no real artifacts, except for one goblin on a bridge who I wasted 3 arrows on because he wasn't really there - just a glitched sprite. The graphics look surprisingly good for lowest common denominator as well - very impressed by that.

Also would have liked to have seen siege warfare during the beta. I know they'd like to take all the time they can getting it right and likely don't want opinions spoiling things, good or bad, but that seems like an important enough part of the game to want to get acclimated to as soon as possible.

Similar for me:

1. I did manage to dual wield axe and sword. It was a bit random so I had to make the decision before entering combat.

2. Agree, I thought I was getting hit by another opponent I wasn't aware of.

3. It takes a lot to outrun an NPC, I think the only one I managed to escape when I had to was a bull netch when I was far enough away from his bettys. I wouldn't mind, but I was only passing by and not attacking.

4. I kind of like that the action doesn't stop, even though I found out the hard way trying to switch weapons. It's more appropriate role playing, but I need more practice.

5. Agree, but will probably make sense with more experience and options.

Irritating for me:

Hoping it's only because it's the beta, but I had major problems crossing the map without coming into something or multiple somethings that were able to kick my ass. Many quests happening in a confined area. Let me deal with one or two issues before running into three and four. Maybe I was just in the wrong area, but it was irritating at times when I was down to little coin and not able to use the wayshrines.

The good for me this time:

Graphics seem better than previous betas.

Armour degrades with use. Another thing I found out the hard way - how did I die with only a couple of hits ? Check inventory and discover my armour is at 0%. Oops.

Oh yeah - and I keep saying it, but I met M'aiq the Liar.


I feel some perseverance and much patience will be beeded should I play the game when it is released.
 

SaveVsBedWet

Well-Known Member
[quote="SaveVsBedWet, post:
1. I did manage to dual wield axe and sword. It was a bit random so I had to make the decision before entering combat.

I read your whole thing and must say, glad it wasn't just me who came away with my same impressions. On this one here though. You were able to dual wield without a "spell" being bought that makes you do a combo move? Were you a Redguard and got to do that because of a race bonus or was it something else? Perhaps mine was a spell because Dr. D'Irsei is a Breton?

Also, are you saying you were actually able to swing right and left hands independently at will like the single player game? How when there aren't independent keyboard or mouse mappings for each hand?

Did you figure out a way to directly change the weapon in a particular hand, or to put the weapon you want in a particular hand mid-fight? A goblin gave me a beating while I tried to cycle my old poor quality axe for a better axe of the same material but couldn't do it until finally grabbing a two handed maul which cleared both hand slots and then re-arming the two axes I wanted in order, right hand and then left hand. That's really going to be tough with 70+ people on the screen and any number of them noticing that your character is either standing stock still in the middle of battle or constantly having weapons appear and disappear.
 

ShenziSixaxis

Article Writer
So the big question for you recurring Beta testers...

Are you going to purchase the game??

If/When it's F2P. In no way is ESO worth 100 dollars a year to me. I know why the fee is there and all that BS, but y'know, the game just isn't fun enough for that, nor is it clunk-less enough. For 15 bucks, I could buy an indie game that I enjoy more that is better polished and probably looks better.


Gopher did a video on his thoughts and I mostly agree, but here's a copy+paste of my comment on his video:
Might I recommend a Skype group? I know TS is good and everything but I don't think anyone needs to ask for you to buy/rent a TS server for the guild if you do play ESO a whole lot.

As for your thoughts on ESO, I... think I agree? You're definitely more positive about the game than I feel about it, but generally yeah I think I agree. I had quite a lot of fun this weekend with the beta since I had a level 6 character to continue with, but the amount of time it takes to level and progress out of the hugely restricted starting areas was not fun. It also wasn't fun to try and navigate some parts of the UI or downright frustrating.
-
The graphical part of the game is also very uninspired and bland looking to me, and downright bad in some places with pixelated textures ( http://i.imgur.com/ZqxJSsV.pngwhat an ugly horse!) with a splash of cartoony, yet the game is very resource hungry despite that. I did also try reducing the game from full HD to 1600x900, but there is also an issue with the resolution not changing, and the windowed mode being... very awkward. It acts like a normal program window, not a game window. I did notice that the lower/lowest settings did give me a huge FPS, but IMO with a 680M I should have far, far, far better FPS than roughly 30 with every setting as high as it'll go (save view distance; I left that completely untouched). Extremely unfortunate and if it is indeed that way due to beta, they should have worked to fix that for this one as it didn't have an NDA attached to it so everyone was free to show the world. Paak.

EDIT: I also greatly agree that the races look awful and the character creation does not feel very TES-y or like I can create a truly unique character.
Animations in this game are acceptable, but cartoony as well, which goes against the general feel of TES, which IMO is "realistic but magical".

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be buying and subscribing to ESO, even if I were to play with my girlfriend and/or you and the minions. IMO it just isn't fun enough to justify spending 100 USD a year; I do understand the need for them to get money, but unfortunately it's not worth it for me.

I did speak with some other players on Saturday about ESO doing WOW's style of subscribing where it's free to place up until level 10 or something, and we felt that was a good idea. I especially think it's a good idea so that there's no real obligation for people to TRY ESO.

I'm also very nervous about ESO's launch. I noticed an abundance of server problems this beta that I've never ever ever ever had with the other ones I've been in, and this was my fourth, so I'm nervous that it's going to go terribly. I guess we will see.​
 

ZeroDragon

Bring me my broadsword, and clear understanding.
[quote="SaveVsBedWet, post:
1. I did manage to dual wield axe and sword. It was a bit random so I had to make the decision before entering combat.

I read your whole thing and must say, glad it wasn't just me who came away with my same impressions. On this one here though. You were able to dual wield without a "spell" being bought that makes you do a combo move? Were you a Redguard and got to do that because of a race bonus or was it something else? Perhaps mine was a spell because Dr. D'Irsei is a Breton?

Also, are you saying you were actually able to swing right and left hands independently at will like the single player game? How when there aren't independent keyboard or mouse mappings for each hand?

Did you figure out a way to directly change the weapon in a particular hand, or to put the weapon you want in a particular hand mid-fight? A goblin gave me a beating while I tried to cycle my old poor quality axe for a better axe of the same material but couldn't do it until finally grabbing a two handed maul which cleared both hand slots and then re-arming the two axes I wanted in order, right hand and then left hand. That's really going to be tough with 70+ people on the screen and any number of them noticing that your character is either standing stock still in the middle of battle or constantly having weapons appear and disappear.

I was a Nord, but binding a weapon in each hand was a bit of a lottery for me. Thinking about it, I selected dual wield in the skill line when I was exploring the menus and got the twin slashes spell which is instantaneous. But it was still a pain getting a single handed weapon in each hand.

Changing mid-fight always went badly for me. So I stopped trying.
 

Rimfaxe96

Well-Known Member
The horse thing is fine for me; I don't mind working for 'personal achievements'.

Watched the video of someone who died in PvP combat, died and had to respawn like half the map across in his home keep or something like that. The guy also mentioned that someone told him you could set up tents near the battlefield so you can avoid this; is that true?
I don't mind dealing with consequences of bad gameplay, but having to run across a map of that size is a bit too punishing for my taste. :confused:

1. I get into a lot of trouble trying to switch weapons mid-fight.

Hm, are you new to MMOs? Currently playing a game in which you can switch equipment during a race (and not the type of races with straight tracks only) and while it is hard, it's not impossible. To be honest I'd rather prepare myself before the battle though, just in case I end up not getting the chance of even opening the menu. ;)
 

ShenziSixaxis

Article Writer
I have no idea. I decided to do some stuff before I tried PVP one night and the server crashed so I said to hell with it and played something else before going to bed and the beta ended up ending a little while after I got out of bed. If I hadn't taken a shower that night I might have had half an hour to try PVP? Definitely not enough time IMO.

I'm doubtful there'll be another ESO beta, but if there is we'll probably still have the characters so I'll definitely try it next time. You know, assuming the game's stability doesn't get worse. o_O
 

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