Did this game become any more group friendly?

dreamer05

I played it when it first came out, and I really enjoyed the way they did the classes and skills.  I also enjoyed the world.  The only real reason I quit was the total lack of grouping.  Sure I had done a few dungeon runs with groups, which were really fun!  But other than that I kept hearing there was no grouping until end game really.  Has this changed at all?

Entinerint

The fastest way to level is with a partner.

However, main story instances (which happen every 5 levels) are STILL single player only.

Same with Fighter's and Mage's Guilds.

That being said...the best thing to do is save all three of those for as late in the game as you can and anyway, so you should be at least VR1 before you start them.

dreamer05

That's frustrating.  I hate to be one of those people, but this game would be amazing if they actually promoted grouping.  I didn't play any Elder Scrolls/Morrowind games long-term because the world felt so empty playing by yourself.  I wish they would fix this since it's supposed to be a MMORPG.

Gestankfaust

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

Brenics

I love the game, hate how devs are making it, more so with PVP, like they are clueless. Won't even get into how bugs from beta are still there, broken group finder (it has gotten a little better but not by much). 

But am starting to think Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen  will be the game to play. It has the Elder Scrolls look and hoping it has the feel of it also. 

People are hoping this free play weekend is going to bring a lot more people in (it might but once they see the bugs pvp issues and lag) I don't expect a lot of them to stay. You can start doing pvp at level 10. But I already know a lot of players already playing have got their keys for this weekend. Myself included. 

Tokken

I would say no. it is not group friendly at all.  At least the phasing issue is better.  

Margrave

Still loving it. It's become my mmorpg of choice. Love my Dark Elf Nightblade Vampire.

Wizardry

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

It doesn't mean it by definition but if your not offering grouping why are you offering a mmorpg and not just a single player game?
Why PRETEND to be building a game around the mmorpg title when all your doing is adding a login screen to a single player game?Obvious reason is  $$$$ you don't gain anymore money from a single player game without a login screen.So their greed to use a login screen on a 99% single player game,does not impress me.

I am exactly in the same boat as the OP,i bought every game in the series and never felt motivated to finish any and likely because yes it is boring to game alone.

To put it in perspective,i at times have way more fun in fps's because i am interacting with more people than a mmorpg does.

Angry Joe sums this game up best.Yes it is not quite the same game anymore but this is the 100 dollar game they were selling you.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov3B26h12C4

Gretelda

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

they imply grouping, doesn't mean you need to do it to enjoy the game and you can try soloing as much as possible but to get the full experience it is a necessity. also MMORPG genre directly refers to role playing, but you can enjoy the game without doing it.

just like playing a borderlands game is really fun with friends but can be enjoyed alone as well.

i am sure TESO is improved by now, but back then before it was out the beta kinda disappointed me and one of the reasons was all the barriers against grouping. it was funny cause i am more of a solo person (i like grouping too though but with my friends mostly. was planning to bring them to TESO) but i actually ran into a friend in the game and that's when i noticed all the barriers.

Gestankfaust

Wizardry said:

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

It doesn't mean it by definition but if your not offering grouping why are you offering a mmorpg and not just a single player game?
Why PRETEND to be building a game around the mmorpg title when all your doing is adding a login screen to a single player game?Obvious reason is  $$$$ you don't gain anymore money from a single player game without a login screen.So their greed to use a login screen on a 99% single player game,does not impress me.

I am exactly in the same boat as the OP,i bought every game in the series and never felt motivated to finish any and likely because yes it is boring to game alone.

To put it in perspective,i at times have way more fun in fps's because i am interacting with more people than a mmorpg does.

Angry Joe sums this game up best.Yes it is not quite the same game anymore but this is the 100 dollar game they were selling you.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov3B26h12C4

Gretelda said:

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

they imply grouping, doesn't mean you need to do it to enjoy the game and you can try soloing as much as possible but to get the full experience it is a necessity. also MMORPG genre directly refers to role playing, but you can enjoy the game without doing it.

just like playing a borderlands game is really fun with friends but can be enjoyed alone as well.

i am sure TESO is improved by now, but back then before it was out the beta kinda disappointed me and one of the reasons was all the barriers against grouping. it was funny cause i am more of a solo person, but i actually ran into a friend and that's when i noticed all the barriers.

They do NOT imply grouping. They imply nothing. You do as you wish. It's a living world. Both of your responses make me cringe. Because people don't join you, it's not an MMORPG? Well get people to join you or shut the hell up. It's up to the player to group or solo...that IS the definition of sandbox isn't it?

Viper482

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

You do realize that ESO has several mechanics that make it anti-group right? MMORPG used to mean you actually interacted with other players in a virtual world, you did not simply exist in it with them. So while you are annoyed at his post, yours annoys me. Plenty of single player games out there for your kind.

Frankly your whole attitude in this thread sucks. You should be more open to others points of view. I did not see one person here imply there should be "forced" grouping.

Gestankfaust

Viper482 said:

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

You do realize that ESO has several mechanics that make it anti-group right? MMORPG used to mean you actually interacted with other players in a virtual world, you did not simply exist in it with them. So while you are annoyed at his post, yours annoys me. Plenty of single player games out there for your kind.

Frankly your whole attitude in this thread sucks. You should be more open to others points of view. I did not see one person here imply there should be "forced" grouping.

No I don't. More BS about the game. There is no anti group but what YOU create.

I interact with TONS of players there.

Frankly your attitude with anyone that disagrees with you get labeled as "sucks". I have been with the ESO community since beta. Same story...different day is all I see.

Viper482

Gestankfaust said:

Viper482 said:

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

You do realize that ESO has several mechanics that make it anti-group right? MMORPG used to mean you actually interacted with other players in a virtual world, you did not simply exist in it with them. So while you are annoyed at his post, yours annoys me. Plenty of single player games out there for your kind.

Frankly your whole attitude in this thread sucks. You should be more open to others points of view. I did not see one person here imply there should be "forced" grouping.

No I don't. More BS about the game. There is no anti group but what YOU create.

I interact with TONS of players there.

Frankly your attitude with anyone that disagrees with you get labeled as "sucks". I have been with the ESO community since beta. Same story...different day is all I see.

Well aren't you just satisfied with yourself. It is not about your opinion, it is the attitude with which you present it that sucks. I can deal with differing opinions all day. Look up the word "tact". Rock on bro.

Gretelda

Gestankfaust said:

Wizardry said:

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

It doesn't mean it by definition but if your not offering grouping why are you offering a mmorpg and not just a single player game?
Why PRETEND to be building a game around the mmorpg title when all your doing is adding a login screen to a single player game?Obvious reason is  $$$$ you don't gain anymore money from a single player game without a login screen.So their greed to use a login screen on a 99% single player game,does not impress me.

I am exactly in the same boat as the OP,i bought every game in the series and never felt motivated to finish any and likely because yes it is boring to game alone.

To put it in perspective,i at times have way more fun in fps's because i am interacting with more people than a mmorpg does.

Angry Joe sums this game up best.Yes it is not quite the same game anymore but this is the 100 dollar game they were selling you.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov3B26h12C4

Gretelda said:

Gestankfaust said:

MMORPG doesn't mean grouping....for one (not arguing...but)

Grouping is up to you really. Annoys me when I see posts about forced grouping. That's a gate for people that don't want to group. If you want to group....GROUP!

they imply grouping, doesn't mean you need to do it to enjoy the game and you can try soloing as much as possible but to get the full experience it is a necessity. also MMORPG genre directly refers to role playing, but you can enjoy the game without doing it.

just like playing a borderlands game is really fun with friends but can be enjoyed alone as well.

i am sure TESO is improved by now, but back then before it was out the beta kinda disappointed me and one of the reasons was all the barriers against grouping. it was funny cause i am more of a solo person, but i actually ran into a friend and that's when i noticed all the barriers.

They do NOT imply grouping. They imply nothing. You do as you wish. It's a living world. Both of your responses make me cringe. Because people don't join you, it's not an MMORPG? Well get people to join you or shut the hell up. It's up to the player to group or solo...that IS the definition of sandbox isn't it?

who said anything about people not joining? it's more like that we can't do some contents as a group cause the game is/was anti grouping in comparison to some others. (maybe they fixed that by now, i only tested beta). as for MMORPGs not implying grouping, as i said, you can still enjoy the game on your own, but you can't have access to all the new content on your own unless TESO doesn't offer any group-only content or you wait long enough till you can solo group content if possible.

also TESO is not a sandbox, and even if it was, it would be an MMO sandbox and the most famous MMO sandbox is Eve which heavily relies on grouping with others. you can try soloing, yet you can't have full access to everything if you only solo.

all in all you got some other responses that also imply what i am saying and based on your replies i doubt there is any point to continue this any further. if you don't want to believe what we are saying then good for you.

Horusra

Eve is the most famous sandbox to whom?  A couple people on this forum or you mean the wide world, cause the numbers subbed to Eve differ.

Eve rarely requires "grouping".  It does require other players for the market.  Many people I know that still play the game spend hours solo mining, exploring, pvp, or missioning (if that is a word).  They only spend a portion of their time in real groups doing one activity together.

Gretelda

Horusra said:

Eve is the most famous sandbox to whom?  A couple people on this forum or you mean the wide world, cause the numbers subbed to Eve differ.

to many and the numbers subbed to Eve exactly shows why it is the most famous one but you are welcome to believe whatever you want.

Horusra

Gretelda said:

Horusra said:

Eve is the most famous sandbox to whom?  A couple people on this forum or you mean the wide world, cause the numbers subbed to Eve differ.

to many and the numbers subbed to Eve exactly shows why it is the most famous one but you are welcome to believe whatever you want.

As are you to believe what you have stated, but infamy is not the same as famous.

Mardukk

I just hate the infinite quest grind.  Running errands for NPCs gets so damn old.  I have no idea how people tolerate this game.  A virtual world is a large dangerous place with freedom.  Actually GW2 has done a fairly good job of at least fooling people into thinking they have freedom.  ESO doesn't even try.

The game is still mainly a solo quest grinder.  Grouping and freedom, to do something other than errand running for NPCs, is discouraged.

Horusra

Mardukk said:

I just hate the infinite quest grind.  Running errands for NPCs gets so damn old.  I have no idea how people tolerate this game.  A virtual world is a large dangerous place with freedom.  Actually GW2 has done a fairly good job of at least fooling people into thinking they have freedom.  ESO doesn't even try.

The game is still mainly a solo quest grinder.  Grouping and freedom, to do something other than errand running for NPCs, is discouraged.

I completely disagree with the part about GW2.  That game made me feel I had a hook in my nose leading me around the map.  I find the illusion better in ESO, but I think it has more to do with your general opinion of the games.  I can not stand GW2 and find it boring, but ESO I liked going around each sides missions and exploring the map.  I did not see the mission grind cause I felt like I was finding stuff much like all of Bethesda's other games.

Iselin

If you group for solo questing my question to you is why?

How is this themepark, focused primarily on solo questing from 1 to endgame like they all are, any less group friendly than the other ones?

Don't like solo quest based themeparks? Don't play them. There are plenty of other MMOs out there where you just park yourself somewhere and repeatedly queue for instances... WOW, Neverwinter... Don't like that either and want to play the games of old? Most of those are also still going... go play EQ, DAoC...

Besides, you guys are just moaning about the generic themepark PVE part of the game. Want to group? Go spend time in Cyrodiil. It's all about grouping there.

Nanfoodle

Iselin said:

If you group for solo questing my question to you is why?

How is this themepark, focused primarily on solo questing from 1 to endgame like they all are, any less group friendly than the other ones?

Don't like solo quest based themeparks? Don't play them. There are plenty of other MMOs out there where you just park yourself somewhere and repeatedly queue for instances... WOW, Neverwinter... Don't like that either and want to play the games of old? Most of those are also still going... go play EQ, DAoC...

Besides, you guys are just moaning about the generic themepark PVE part of the game. Want to group? Go spend time in Cyrodiil. It's all about grouping there.

Thing is there are many MMOs that let you team all content even solo. Some MMOs even scale the solo content to make it even more fun. SWToR did an awesome job at that. I was a huge supporter of ESO till I played it. I play ALL content teamed and being forced to play solo does not work for me and my friends. With my wife being disabled, forcing her to play solo added a level that made the game unplayable for her. 

Forced solo content IMO makes games like these, not really MMOs. IMO ESO is a MOG. Most people run around leveling solo. Get to the RvR style PvP and run around in zergs not teaming, just running with the pack. You can play most of the game that way and the 10-20% you dont need to again IMO does not make it a MMO. This trains the community to think in a way that does not foster team play. Most gamers dont even think of their spec on how it impacts a group. Only whats needed so I can do what I need. 

If grouping is a big part of why you MMO, ESO is not the MMO you are looking for. What it does, it does great. But it FAILS greatly in the community and teaming front. Not saying that there is not pockets of good people playing together, Im talking as a whole and compared to other MMOs.

jomargue

Game is laggy as hell. Who cares about anything else when you are suffering lag spikes constantly? Stay away from this one

Iselin

Nanfoodle said:

Iselin said:

If you group for solo questing my question to you is why?

How is this themepark, focused primarily on solo questing from 1 to endgame like they all are, any less group friendly than the other ones?

Don't like solo quest based themeparks? Don't play them. There are plenty of other MMOs out there where you just park yourself somewhere and repeatedly queue for instances... WOW, Neverwinter... Don't like that either and want to play the games of old? Most of those are also still going... go play EQ, DAoC...

Besides, you guys are just moaning about the generic themepark PVE part of the game. Want to group? Go spend time in Cyrodiil. It's all about grouping there.

Thing is there are many MMOs that let you team all content even solo. Some MMOs even scale the solo content to make it even more fun. SWToR did an awesome job at that. I was a huge supporter of ESO till I played it. I play ALL content teamed and being forced to play solo does not work for me and my friends. With my wife being disabled, forcing her to play solo added a level that made the game unplayable for her. 

Forced solo content IMO makes games like these, not really MMOs. IMO ESO is a MOG. Most people run around leveling solo. Get to the RvR style PvP and run around in zergs not teaming, just running with the pack. You can play most of the game that way and the 10-20% you dont need to again IMO does not make it a MMO. This trains the community to think in a way that does not foster team play. Most gamers dont even think of their spec on how it impacts a group. Only whats needed so I can do what I need. 

If grouping is a big part of why you MMO, ESO is not the MMO you are looking for. What it does, it does great. But it FAILS greatly in the community and teaming front. Not saying that there is not pockets of good people playing together, Im talking as a whole and compared to other MMOs.

I understand what you're saying and I would love to see an MMO that is designed prinarily around group play. But that ship sailed a long time ago.

Solo content is designed for solo play and is balanced that way... in all MMOs. I personally don't enjoy grouping for solo content as it trivializes any challenge and I suspect I'm with the majority of MMO players in that respect. 

You have every right to judge a game on how much or how little legitimate group content it has. But knocking solo content on the basis of how group friendly the solo content is just seems unreasonable and silly to me. It may not meet your special needs or desires but it's solo content after all.

And re: ESO's PVP... you obviously didn't play it enough to know much about it. You can run with the zerg if that's what you want to do. This is no different than any RvR game ever made or that will ever be made: there is safety in numbers and if the game has the possibility of forming raid-sized groups, some will play it that way. But a lot of us don't and can spend hours grouped with just 2 or 3 others on TS having a great time and a lot of success.

Sixpax

I love ESO, but it isn't really group friendly at all.  The only content people are actually looking to group up for are the daily pledge dungeons (which people just want to rush through) and the world bosses in Orsinium (which take about 5m each to do).  Everything else you're basically on your own.  Heck even the "public" dungeons, which are supposed be for groups, are all done solo.

It's a shame too because games like GW2 and Rift do a really good job of promoting groups without resorting to forced grouping.

Xiaoki

Sixpax said:

I love ESO, but it isn't really group friendly at all.  The only content people are actually looking to group up for are the daily pledge dungeons (which people just want to rush through) and the world bosses in Orsinium (which take about 5m each to do).  Everything else you're basically on your own.  Heck even the "public" dungeons, which are supposed be for groups, are all done solo.

It's a shame too because games like GW2 and Rift do a really good job of promoting groups without resorting to forced grouping.

Its funny that you mention pledges because that is definitely 1 area in which ESO has become less group friendly.

Since they changed the group finder to scale people up you have level 20 and Veteran rank 16 people being grouped together.

This becomes a problem with the Silver pledges. The Veteran rank 16 will kick anyone thats not high Veteran rank so they can rush through the dungeon and finish the Silver pledge.

Depending on the dungeon they will also kick tanks. Tanks do less damage which will slow down the run.

SlyLoK

I think ESO has a nice balance of solo and group content. Though that isnt to say that the normal content couldnt be harder.