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[Column] Elder Scrolls Online: The Champion System - An Entirely New Game Design
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
Taking a game that has been in development for seven years, and within seven months of release completely changing the “end game progression” would be a hard thing to do. The amount of pride that would need to be swallowed is unfathomable. But that is something Zenimax has, and is, doing.
Read more of Ryan Getchell's Elder Scrolls Online: The Champion System - An Entirely New Game Design.
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Comments
wow!
between the upcoming solo content.
and this, i will def look forward to resubing! -they've come along way!
What the...
I am really surprised. that is one hell of a redesign. What made them do this so early in ESO life? is retention rate really that bad for ESO that they have to do such drastic changes?
I've only recently re-subbed and I'm miles away from 50 but this a great move and I won't have to make a choice of grind, enemy faction quests or quit when I hit 50.
Very very refreshing that Zenimax has chosen to revamp something so major rather than just think "screw it - lets go FTP" - not that the sub numbers aren't already decent
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Their pattern to date suggests problems with launching new updates as I always see posts on fixing problems generated by last updates, posted by Zeni. This issue has not really been formally addressed such as greater testing of future content before release and retesting after fixes again before final release.
I really hope I'm wrong and they do more testing and follow the suggestions of their testers more. Cause I don't think their new code will be magically free from major problems. But perhaps because they have more experience now they've learned from the past rather than recreating it with a new look.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
I must admit, I like how he compares this system to every system even remotely like it, except for the one it's an exact copy of : D3's Veteran System XD
Otherwise, good stuff, might resub for it
I am really looking forward and cant wait for this update.
I enjoyed my journey from 1-50 but the veteran system was a big letdown.
I stay subbed to show my support for this move and my loyality for Bethesda/Zenimax and hope this update comes soon (dont think it will come this year)
S.C.I.F.I
<Sights, Clouded, In, False, Illusions>
The endgame at launch was a complete after thought. It was primarily going to be PvP based untill Craglorn was ready a couple of months after release.
They did the whole 50+/50++ in other factions areas because a lot of players didn't like the idea of not being able to explore the whole of Tamriel on one character.
They announced pve adventure zones waaaay before the game launched.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Help get Camelot Unchained made, a old-school MMORPG, with no hand holding!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/13861848/camelot-unchained
Oh yeah, Adventure Zones. Forgot the name. Craglorn was the first.
Vet levels had issues from day 1. Most players do not like it and because the game adds levels every major update to created a forever lengthening leveling path that cause many issues for both crafting and leveling alts.
ZoS is fixing this system before this game even reaches 12 months of age. Blizzard waits 2+ years to do the same. You are surprised this is occurring so soon because you are used to developers ignoring major design issues for years instead of months. Vet levels were a late development choice to extend the leveling path. It wasn't designed well and was affecting how new content was implemented.
You stay sassy!
How is a company working on e.g. DLC hoping that you will pay to try it any different from Zenimax working on this content and hoping you will pay to try it?
Or are you expecting them to roll out a 7 or 30 day free trial so you can try it for free?
All companies need to make money; to cover what they have spent and to fund new content. The question is what is the best way to get people to pay. And into the equation you have to factor in that the more people who play the game the less money they need per person.
It to easy to say "cash grab" - although I will agree that Blizzard has shown all the hallmarks of simply grabbing cash this past year.
Well either Blizzard can drop small content updates every couple of months or they can release one full expansion ( proper expansion and not DLC). I honestly, after my experince with games like GW2 would very much prefer a full expansion and gladly wait for a year.
While the combat is still lackluster, and a bit too slow for my tastes I am looking forward to seeing how these changes create a better game. I'll prolly resub soon myself, when I finish Shadows of Mordor.
Sandbox means open world, non-linear gaming PERIOD!
Subscription Gaming, especially MMO gaming is a Cash grab bigger then the most P2W cash shop!
Bring Back Exploration and lengthy progression times. RPG's have always been about the Journey not the destination!!!
Some good news for this game for once. I like everything I read here except for the numbers increases. I have played WoW and anyone else that did can tell you the negatives of big numbers, and ultimately why Blizzard is doing their stat squish in WoD. They should simply tweak things a little, perhaps go to static numbers increases instead of percentages, with a level scaling effect so the same perk doesn't add +100 of something to a level 5 alt.
Either way, I might look at the game a second time, once this system sees full implementation. But some more content wouldn't hurt either, since without the mandatory grind of VR content, what else is there to do?
This is something we discussed at the Guild Summit. I have a future article about this very topic and what they are doing about it.
We know of two new zones, Murkwood (Argonian focus) and Orsinium (I believe is the name).
I don't think this move has anything to do with ESO's success or failure as everyone loves to talk about.
It is simply the team subscribers pay for improving the game based on the subscribers request. That is why I have been behind ESO since the beginning. A dedicated team listening to their customers. It was a rougher start than I'd like, but the way they are improving this game is certainly unique in my eyes.
Just another stack of proof that playing a game at release is kind of becoming a waste of time. I was thinking about trying ESO this winter finally but maybe I'll just wait until console release when the game is finally "finished" haha.
Games just get so much better after a year or so. I mean seriously... TSW, Diablo 3, FF14 and Age of Conan (maybe 3 years for those lol). Basically every game.
This is Diablo 3's paragon level almost down to a nutshell. You even must put one point into the first category before you can move onto the next category, like Defense and then Utility.
Now keeping that said it's a PERFECT change. I bought the Imperial Edition before launch day and loved the game... except the idea of hitting level cap. Knowing it would be a boring experience and with other games coming out I un-subbed. I love the Diablo 3 paragon system and it keeps me playing to this day, to hear ESO is doing something in an mmo setting with great voice acting and graphics that "I" enjoy. I'm going to sub again, even before the change takes place.
Thanks to Zenimax for doing something with us gamers in mind and making a change that must have required a lot of internal struggle and prideful thinking. I'll vote with my dollar and give it to em