The Elder Scrolls Online Beta

[ROFLBRYCE]

D:


SO jealous right now!

[Trunks]

Well after playing in the stress test, it's pretty much set in stone that I'm going to be wasting my life away on it once it comes out. Though it definitely tested my stress levels, the first hour was all loading screens and the game not doing what it was supposed to do. Once I got out of the tutorial, which should have taken 10 minutes instead of an hour with 3 game restarts, the game was really smooth. I was actually running 60 FPS with 100+ people in the same room as me with everything on max.

Some things a little different from most MMO's, you have the option of joining 5 guilds at a time. Meaning you can have a guild with your friends, PvP, PvE, ect all at the same time.

The Combat system is interactive, you can charge up for Power attacks which have the potential of knocking down your opponent, block attacks if you have a shield which also interrupts casting spells, but they all require stanima. You can also dash in any direction to dodge your opponents attacks. So PvP is going to be awesome in this game.

atm, they only have 3 races all under 1 faction, but it looks like they have 3 factions, with 3 races each. Each race has about 4-6 classes to pick from.

All I can think of right now, I feel like I didn't get to do a lot lol, 3 hours wasn't enough especially when an hour of it was trying not to punch my computer screen. After the little tutorial thing, I was surprised how everything ran really smooth with no lag, not sure how many stress testers were on, but the room was filled with people. Which was kind of funny, because we got every to do /dance which made me laugh pretty hard. Game definitely has the potential to be really awesome though. I couldn't really find anything I was upset with yet.

[Mizel]

So, you mentioned one or two things that were different from most other MMO's (the ability to be in multiple guilds, power attacks).... I mean, besides those small things, is there anything else about it that makes it worthwhile/different?

I'm curious because I feel like in order for any new MMO to make it to big at this point (and to keep my interest), it's going to need something drastically different to keep people interested and playing.

[Trunks]

Well I mentioned like 5 things, but yeah I only got to level 4, so I didn't see much. I mean it's still an MMO, it's not going to be a whole not different from WoW or other RPG's. If it was, it wouldn't really be much of an MMO. It's the small things that count IMO. Everything about it is just small changes from other MMO's, what big things could they add?

For me when enjoying an MMO, it's more about the atmosphere than anything else. The game has to be based of good Lore to keep me entertained during quest and leveling. Apart from leveling I enjoy a game that requires a good amount of skill to be good at during the end game. Not one where anyone can do it without much practice which is what WoW turned into. With interactive combat, I feel this game will require a lot more skill than WoW, especially end game.

But every time a new games comes out, people always say "It's the same as before" Or "it's the same as (insert game here)." Call of Duty for example, everyone wants some huge change that's going to make the game totally different. What more can they add, it's an Online Shooter, there is nothing to make BIG changes with. You have a map, weapons, perks and kill streaks. Not a lot you can add to the game from there.

It annoys me when people want this huge changes to a game, when huge changes aren't possible.

I enjoyed the game, the lore was pretty strong in the beginning, don't know if it slows down later. It's like other elder scroll games, where you have the main quest as well as many side quest to choose from. Combat system is enough to keep you entertained for a while, either grinding or questing, I was still having fun when the beta shut down. Only thing more I could hope for is good PvP, fun late game and not a craphole community like WoW has turned into.

[ROFLBRYCE]

Was it a similar gameplay to the other Elder Scrolls games, just in an MMO? Or does it take the MMO 3rd person angle with the hotbars approach?

[Mizel]

I don't think anyone is looking for HUGE changes. I mean obviously there aren't a ton of HUGE changes that they can make, but they can make enough small changes to make the game unique. And you're right about the little things counting - which is exactly what I meant when I asked "Is it different than every other MMO?". What I mean is, are there enough *little* things to make it not the typical boring quest and grind MMO? Because those small things are what will get me, personally, to play.

Thinking about it, it's kind of annoying that people have the mentality nowadays that "companies can't add/change things to make the games different." Those said people are generally the same ones that are perfectly okay paying for what is essentially the exact same games over and over..... and over and over again. The problem is that companies don't make changes, or try to create a unique game, because they know people will buy the games regardless. But to me, even the smallest of changes are what set games apart from others. Look at Rift for example. They did something as small and simple as add rifts and amazing skill tree/customer characterization options to the game. Or look at Neverwinter- you can create your own quests/dungeons in the game for others to play. That's all they needed to do to set it aside from other generic MMOs and make it at least a little more interesting. So no, they wouldn't need to do something HUGE but it really, really wouldn't be hard for them to do something different that no other MMO's have done.

That being said, I got my beta invite today. Guess I can judge for myself! :P

[Trunks]

I don't think anyone is looking for HUGE changes. I mean obviously there aren't a ton of HUGE changes that they can make, but they can make enough small changes to make the game unique. And you're right about the little things counting - which is exactly what I meant when I asked "Is it different than every other MMO?". What I mean is, are there enough *little* things to make it not the typical boring quest and grind MMO? Because those small things are what will get me, personally, to play.

Thinking about it, it's kind of annoying that people have the mentality nowadays that "companies can't add/change things to make the games different." Those said people are generally the same ones that are perfectly okay paying for what is essentially the exact same games over and over..... and over and over again. The problem is that companies don't make changes, or try to create a unique game, because they know people will buy the games regardless. But to me, even the smallest of changes are what set games apart from others. Look at Rift for example. They did something as small and simple as add rifts and amazing skill tree/customer characterization options to the game. Or look at Neverwinter- you can create your own quests/dungeons in the game for others to play. That's all they needed to do to set it aside from other generic MMOs and make it at least a little more interesting. So no, they wouldn't need to do something HUGE but it really, really wouldn't be hard for them to do something different that no other MMO's have done.

That being said, I got my beta invite today. Guess I can judge for myself! :P

I didn't really see anything in the game that makes a huge difference like netherwinter or Rift, then again I only got to level 4 so it could still be there. Combat system as well as the skill tree are pretty different, instead of having just class skills for you talent tree, you gave a skill tree for each weapon as well. Such as 2handed, Staff, Bow and sword and shield. Other than that and things I mentioned above, I can't think of anything else that is different. IMO it does feel like I'm playing an Elder Scrolls game and just some random MMO, so that's what was important to me. I personally wanted the Elder Scrolls feel and I'm glad they managed to keep it when transferring for to online play.

Was it a similar gameplay to the other Elder Scrolls games, just in an MMO? Or does it take the MMO 3rd person angle with the hotbars approach?

It really didn't have to many hotbars, but I didn't go into the options to look for them. They have quick slots for potions, you hold Q and move the mouse in 10 directions to pick potion or whatever you're doing. Then they only had 5 slots for abilities. So I'd say it's more similar to other elder scroll games than the average MMO.

Wish I could screen shot, but your email is kinda all over the background, so if you SS, then it also tell them who leaked information, which probably means no more beta invited for you.

[Trunks]

They've sent another wave of beta invites, got my 3rd invite now so far

[Mizel]

Same here, and yet once again I won't be around for it. Damn

[Trunks]

Yeah same here, I work both Friday and Saturday. So I won't get a huge amount of time or any farther than the last time I played since they keep resetting servers. Hopefully they have new factions or something, maybe somewhere different to start so I can experience something new.