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[Column] Elder Scrolls Online: Storyline vs Content
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
Now that we have a release date for Imperial City and according to Matt Firor, Wrothgar isn’t far off either (early 2016), I want to pose a question to the community. This question is one that I’m still debating over and can’t come to an actual decision on where I stand, or where I should stand.
Read more of Ryan Getchell's Elder Scrolls Online: Storyline vs Content.
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Comments
"That’s the difference between ESO and other games. Even its fluff content has purpose, has meaning. You’re not just doing it to reach higher levels. You’re doing it because you enjoy the adventure."
I don't consider it fluff in the slightest.
So far these people have treated their community perfectly in my book especially when comparing their title to other games. Their so calls fluff additions to the game actually have storylines of their own so that's how they are making it work, it's content and storyline at the same time.
Stories are great.... fully voice acted stories are better... But at the end of the day, they are just the setting... the background for what I'm there to do which is adventure.
So far ESO has been great at introducing things with major updates we couldn't do before: Craglorn, raids, justice system, champion points, Imperial City, Tel Var stone PVP risk system...
For me it's those new additions and changes that are the meat and potatoes of the game that keep it interesting.
I like stories and I think ESO has some of the best ones in the business but it's the exploring, killing and advancing that I look forward to.
“Microtransactions? In a single player role-playing game? Are you nuts?”
― CD PROJEKT RED
It's not an either or situation. Storyline progression falls under content. Perhaps you mean, to what degree does story effect content?
In SWTOR I only played as long as I did because of the storylines. In GW2 I still have my favorite quests because of the story they tell and even replay the quest from time to time just to experience the again. In ESO it did add to enhance content and sometimes I really wanted to know what the outcome of a story would be. Nothings 100%, sometimes I do click through just to be done with the quest if it doesn't get my attention. The story puts the RPG in MMORPG without it you're just leveling or just grinding.
"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
-Content without a good storyline progression is a boring chore.
-A good storyline without content for the player to go through said story is a good book.
Put both together and you have a great game. I still dont understand why people still want to accept one or the other. It has to be both.
Don't kid yourself, enjoying it or not, the ultimate goal is to level. As for story and other mom's, sorry but lotro dose it better IMO. ESO is on rails just like every other themepark mmo.
As I said, it's pretty bland when you compare it to a proper story mmo like lotro.
Oh wait I forgot the senseless pvp which is as bad as lotto IMO.
Pointless and repeatative, difference with lotto is it's not pretending to be half PVP
I know mmorpg.com need to promote the new content to get paid but, reply!
Eso has a great Mix of both. Deep lore, great stories, and lots of content. I want to see each DLC bring new systems and content, and continue to progress the storyline. Looks like IC will be introducing some new story lines as well.
I really can't go back to pure sandboxes which don't offer any sort of guided experience through stories which really help to establish cultures and lore.
I also can't go back to pure story driven MMOs like LOTRO and SWTOR where the combat & character building (among many other game systems) is so out dated, slow, tab target, cookie cutter builds, poor customization, etc.
ESO currently offers the most customization of character builds and diversity of ways to play in a lore rich story based world with countless game systems to explore and enjoy. Best on the market.
Lol. Maybe your ultimate goal. For me it's about the Journey, not the Destination. LOTRO is a "proper story MMO "? If you mean bland excuses for fetch quests under the guise of content written by Tolkien....no. Not even then.
Some of the worst quests in any MMO. I prefer to read the books than play the game. Usually get a few pages in while waiting on the global cool down between attacks while playing.
The ultimate goal is to level? No, this may be the case for some, but it is very far from the truth generalising and saying it is the case for all. Very far.
Like most things, there ideally will be a balance, between new content and that content being story driven.
I definitely burnt out on storylines in MMOs. I've simply played too many RPGs and read too many fantasy books to be able to stomach bad writing and bland storylines. Unfortunately that 99% of MMO quests.
You hold SW:TOR class storylines up as an example of good storylines?!?! This really confuses me. Having played through all the storylines on rebel side I have to say the writing was pretty bad, the humour terrible, but the storylines themselves were just generic as hell. Plot twists were extremely predictable.
LOTRO is the only MMO I've played that had acceptable storylines, but even then most were still generic crap. The epic books from volume 1 (before first expansion) told a great story with some decent twists and interesting takes on how you interacted with the main LotR storyline. There were also a few interesting questlines in some of the later zones.
I often feel, though, that LotROs questlines only ever struck a chord because you were forced to read the quest text. With no map / pointers to guide you to missions at launch, you had to read all quest text to be able to complete a quest which meant, by necessity, reading the storylines. In most other MMOs, the map will guide you straight to the quest area and so you end up skipping dialogue once you've realised its crap. For example, I really tried hard to get into SW:TORs questing, forcing myself to listen to all dialogue, but by level 27 I just couldn't take it any more so started skipping everything except class quests.
Ultimate goal is to level? so you're ok with throwing hundreds of hours into just clicking a button to get to endgame, 'cause that's what it sounds like?
ESO might be on rails, but so was every amazing book i ever read - it's a fine way to tell a story, and ESO opens up possibilities to tell your own just fine while reading, and once you're done with the book. I see no problem there.
For all the faults it has, ESO is a great "read".
The only thing that kept me in the game until lvl 50 was the story. I think it's what the game does best. Their very poor attempt at PVP and game mechanics (animation cancellation, really?) in the end drove me away.
They could have done both, but like so many other games they only did one part well and failed badly at the other, imo. I think they should keep the great story telling going, it won't ever bring me back, but it may keep those who enjoy story driven sp games happy.
I'm not an IT Specialist, Game Developer, or Clairvoyant in real life, but like others on here, I play one on the internet.
I absolutely loved ESO and it's beautiful world and voice acted stories kept me emerged for a long time, I also feel it has the most potential for further development than any current MMORPG and I still log in from time to time, but....
The lack of small scale instanced PvP and the insane Vet lvl grind eventually drove me away. Here’s why….
In PvP, at Vet lvl if your not Vet 14 with decent gear, you are gimped. So you want (some might say even need) to get to Vet 14 ASAP in order to have a truly enjoyable PvP experience. Unfortunately this forces you to PvE grind the Vet lvl's and gear.
Also sometimes I just wanna log in, play a few PvP battles, kill/heal/tank some peeps and feel satisfied... ESO's PvP is too immersive in general and lacks this experience.
They seem fine with instanced PvE (dungeons) yet refuse to implement instanced PvP (arena/battlegrounds/etc.)
It saddens me TBH.
1) More story. Focus on immersion. Deepen the side quests.
2) Keep fixing bugs & "features" that prevent opportunities to group. But no kludges. Focus on immersion.
Re levelling, bear in mind there is no rush to get to v14, progression is on diminishing returns after that and gear is capped and avail to all. Of you are desperate to get to v14, grab an xp scroll and find your favourite grind area - you can easily grind 1 vet level per hour.
My advice though is enjoy the levelling through silver and gold and have wvw to look forward to for your long term benefit. the extra benefit of this approach is that you will mac crafting and gain an extra bunch of skill points on way.
rpg/mmorg history: Dun Darach>Bloodwych>Bards Tale 1-3>Eye of the beholder > Might and Magic 2,3,5 > FFVII> Baldur's Gate 1, 2 > Planescape Torment >Morrowind > WOW > oblivion > LOTR > Guild Wars (1900hrs elementalist) Vanguard. > GW2(1000 elementalist), Wildstar
Now playing GW2, AOW 3, ESO, LOTR, Elite D