NA PC BWB second attempt

April 21, 2016, 2:41 pm

≫ Next: ALL MOTIFS UPDATED LIST

≪ Previous: GvG time!!!!!!!! Game modes and details!!!

$

0

0

Shall we try this again boys and girls?

---

ALL MOTIFS UPDATED LIST

April 16, 2016, 2:57 am

≫ Next: Is it normal for it to be the same?

≪ Previous: NA PC BWB second attempt

$

0

0

******* IF you have access to PTS, please get some nice pics of the Light, Medium and Heavy armors for the Dark Brotherhood (diamond-shaped shoulders), Assassin's League (smooth shoulders), and Akatosh (New Imperial) styles! There may be another motif as well within the PTS which I may have not listed, such as a possible Minotaur style. I would very much appreciate if any PTS tester could take the time to clearly screenshot these pictures and send them to me. Best format would look like the pic from Motif 18: Akaviri. Thank you!

---

I decided to lay out all of the styles seen in ESO by their respective Motif Numbers. Some motifs are not numbered. This list will be updated whenever new information is available! (Specifically armors)

---

Motif 1. Altmer Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Almalexia's Mercy
• Apprentice Garb
• Robes of Destruction Mastery
• Syrabane's Grip
Medium:
• Ward of Cyrodiil
• Savior's Hide
Heavy:
None

Motif 2. Dunmer Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Magicka Furnace
• Prayer Shawl
Medium:
None
Heavy:
• Armor of Truth
• Dreugh King Slayer
• Thunderous Plate Mail

Motif 3. Bosmer Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Stendarr's Embrace
• Shadow Dancer's Raiment
Medium:
• Archer's Mind
• Ranger's Gait
• Darkstride
Heavy:
• Knightmare

Motif 4. Nord Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
• Fiord's Legacy
• Kyne's Kiss
• Kyne's flight
Heavy:
• Akatosh's Blessed Amror
• Akaviri Dragonguard
• Crest of Cyrodiil
• Nikulas' Heavy Armor
Variable
• Alessian Order

Motif 5. Breton Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Noble Duelist's Strikes
• Arch-Mage
• Light of Cyrodiil
• Silks of the Sun
• Undaunted Unweaver
• Vestments of the Warlock
Medium:
• Oblivion's Edge
• Undaunted Infiltrator
• Crusader
Heavy:
• Beckoning Steel
• Storm Knight's Plate
Variable
• Undaunted Bastion

Motif 6. Redguard Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Adroitness
• Elegance
• Desert Rose
Medium:
• Morag Tong
• Twin Sisters
Heavy:
• Durok's Bane
• Ice Furnace
• Sergeant's Mail

Motif 7. Khajiit Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Robes of Alteration Mastery
Medium:
• Shrouded Armor
Heavy:
• Soulshine

Motif 8. Orc Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Sanctuary
Medium:
• Sentry
Heavy:
• Armor of the Construct
• Brute
• Footman's Fortune
• Juggernaut

Motif 9. Argonian Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Necropotence
Medium:
• Shadow Walker
• Viper's Sting
• Skirmisher's Bite
• Nightshade
Heavy:
• Elf Bane
• Affliction

Motif 10. Imperial Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 11. Ancient Elf Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Healer's Habit
• Robes of Onslaught
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 12. Barbaric Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
• Armor of Rage

Motif 13. Primal Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
• Barkskin
• Hawk's Eye
• Hide of the Werewolf
Heavy:
None

Motif 14. Daedric Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Burning Spellweave
Medium:
• Sunderflame
• Night Mothers Embrace
Heavy:
• Embershield

Motif 15. Dwemer Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 16. Glass Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 17. Xivkyn Craftable (all armors available as costumes)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Spell Power Cure
• Scathing Mage
• Overwhelming Surge
• Combat Physician
Medium:
• Toxic Defiance
• Shock Master
• Sheer Venom
• Essence Thief
Heavy:
• Brands of Imperium
• Tormentor
• Leeching Plate
• Jolting Arms

Motif 18. Akaviri Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Buffer of the Swift
• Robes of Transmutation (only Akaviri when purchased from Cyrodiil weekly vendor for 200K AP/100K gold a piece)
• Vicious Death (only Akaviri when purchased from Cyrodiil weekly vendor for 200K AP/100K gold a piece)
Medium:
• Shield of the Valiant
• Marksman's Crest (only Akaviri when purchased from Cyrodiil weekly vendor for 200K AP/100K gold a piece)
• Leki's Focus (only Akaviri when purchased from Cyrodiil weekly vendor for 200K AP/100K gold a piece)
Heavy:
• Bastion of the Heartland
• Fasalla's Guile (only Akaviri when purchased from Cyrodiil weekly vendor for 200K AP/100K gold a piece)
• Warrior's Fury (only Akaviri when purchased from Cyrodiil weekly vendor for 200K AP/100K gold a piece)

Motif 19. Mercenary Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 20. Yokudan Not-Craftable (will be in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Martial Knowledge
• Infallible Aether
Medium:
• Way of Air
Heavy:
• Way of Fire

Motif 21. Ancient Orc Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 22. Trinimac Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Trinimac's Valor
Medium:
• Para Bellum
Heavy:
• Glorious Defender

Motif 23. Malacath Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Elemental Succession
Medium:
• Hunt Leader
Heavy:
• Mark of the Pariah

Motif 24. Outlaw Craftable (light armor available as a costume)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 25. Aldmeri Dominion Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Meritorious Service
• Phoenix
Medium:
• Powerful Assault
• Shield Breaker
Heavy:
• Black Rose
• Reactive Armor

Motif 26. Daggerfall Covenant Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Meritorious Service
• Phoenix
Medium:
• Powerful Assault
• Shield Breaker
Heavy:
• Black Rose
• Reactive Armor

Motif 27. Ebonheart Pact Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Meritorious Service
• Phoenix
Medium:
• Powerful Assault
• Shield Breaker
Heavy:
• Black Rose
• Reactive Armor

Motif 28. Ra Gada Not-Craftable

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None
Variable
• Serpent's Spirit

Motif 29. Soul-Shriven Craftable (all armors available as costumes)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 30. Morag Tong Not-Craftable (will become craftable in the future) (not in game yet)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif 31. Skinchanger Not-Craftable (will become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
Hircine's Veneer
Heavy:
None

Motif 32. Abah's Watch Not-Craftable (will become craftable when Dark Brotherhood launches) (light armor available as an outift)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Robes of Transmutation
• Vicious Death
Medium:
• Marksman's Crest
• Leki's Focus
Heavy:
• Fasalla's Guile
• Warrior's Fury

Motif 33. Thieves Guild Not-Craftable (will become craftable when Dark Brotherhood launches)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None
Variable:
• Bahraha's Curse

Motif 34. - Assassins League - Not-Craftable (will become craftable when Dark Brotherhood launches)

Sets in this style:

Light:
•
•
•
•
Medium:
•
•
•
•
Heavy:
•
•
•
•

Motif 35. Dro-m'Athra, known as Dromothra Not-Craftable (will become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Twilight's Remedy
• Moondancer
Medium:
• Roar of Alkosh
Heavy:
• Lunar Bastion

Motif 36 Ebony Not-Craftable (will become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
• Ebon Armory
• Ravager

Motif 37 Draugr Not-Craftable (will become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Prisoner's Rags
Medium:
• Stygian
Heavy:
• Draugr's Heritage

Motif ? Dark Brotherhood Not-Craftable (will become craftable when Dark Brotherhood releases)

Sets in this style:

Light:
•
•
•
•
Medium:
•
•
•
•
Heavy:
•
•
•
•

Motif ? Worm Cult Not-Craftable (might become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Curse Eater
• Robes of the Necromancer
• Worm's Raiment
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif ? Ashlander Not-Craftable (might become craftable in the future) (all armors available as costumes)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
• Coat of the Red Mountain
Heavy:
None

Motif ? Aetherial Not-Craftable (might become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Wise Mage
Medium:
• Quick Serpent
Heavy:
• Immortal Warrior

Motif ? Kothringi Not-Craftable (might become craftable in the future) (not in game yet)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif ? Dark Seducer Not-Craftable (will not become craftable in the future) (can be worn as costume)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif ? Golden Saint Not-Craftable (will not become craftable in the future) (can be worn as costume)

Sets in this style:

Light:
None
Medium:
None
Heavy:
• Unassailable
• Lord's Mail

Motif ? Lich Not-Craftable (will not become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Shroud of the Lich
Medium:
None
Heavy:
None

Motif ? Akatosh Not-Craftable (may become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
•
•
•
•
Medium:
•
•
•
•
Heavy:
•
•
•
•

Motif ? Reach Winter Not-Craftable (will not become craftable in the future)

Sets in this style:

Light:
• Winterborn
Medium:
• Briarheart
Heavy:
• Permafrost

---

Is it normal for it to be the same?

May 22, 2016, 2:42 pm

≫ Next: PvP - What Class do You Main?

≪ Previous: ALL MOTIFS UPDATED LIST

$

0

0

I have refined 30 glass style motif scraps in total and it's been glass swords every single time. Can you only get one page per char or something, or do i just have really bad luck?

PvP - What Class do You Main?

May 21, 2016, 4:36 am

≫ Next: What will you do with your Magicka Sorcerer when Dark Brotherhood goes live?

≪ Previous: Is it normal for it to be the same?

$

0

0

What class do you currently main for PvP? I know many of you main a few classes equally but just do your best to pick 1 for your vote. I would really like to see the vote total reach 400

What will you do with your Magicka Sorcerer when Dark Brotherhood goes live?

May 22, 2016, 4:00 am

≫ Next: Fix (some) of your crashes in PvP

≪ Previous: PvP - What Class do You Main?

$

0

0

The new patch brings some very significant nerfs to Magicka Sorcerers, especially in terms of their survivability, by reducing the duration of Hardened Ward and the healing we can get from Surge. At the same time, it brings no improvements to the rest of our skills to balance out these nerfs. It doesn't change the Magicka Sorcerer meta for PvE. And with no buffs to DPS, Sorcerer will still lag behind as the least effective class in terms of sustained DPS, over-relying on the accumulation of ultimate for Overload. The only positive change for Magicka Sorcerers is that now the resistance of our pets is no longer bugged, so they will be a bit harder to kill. But then again, the nerf in the duration of our shields will affect pets' survivability as well, and with pets being a toggle it is very unlikey that new effective pet builds will ever be viable. It still seems unclear whether ZOS has any ground concept in mind behind the development of the class.

On the other hand, some positive changes have been introduced with regard to Stamina Sorcerers, which still have very few class stamina abilities, but now can rely on some very good passives for stamina gameplay, and will probably become excellent in terms of AoE DPS.

So, what will you do with your Magicka Sorcerer when the patch goes live, especially if you have been playing it as your main toon?

Fix (some) of your crashes in PvP

May 22, 2016, 3:21 pm

≫ Next: Who Else Is Racing to CP 160?

≪ Previous: What will you do with your Magicka Sorcerer when Dark Brotherhood goes live?

$

0

0

Many of my fellow PvPers crash out in big battles (everyone freezes but you, then you get kicked to the login screen).

THERE IS A FIX.

I posted this over at https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/226764 but I don't know how many may have seen it, so I'm re-adding it here for visibility. This absolutely worked for me in all but the biggest battles at Chalman.

Who Else Is Racing to CP 160?

May 22, 2016, 11:48 am

≫ Next: I need to get to v16!

≪ Previous: Fix (some) of your crashes in PvP

$

0

0

And how much farther do you have to go?

Im currently at CP 145 and hope to be at CP 155 by the end of tomorrow.

I need to get to v16!

May 22, 2016, 2:17 pm

≫ Next: Is dawnbreaker dodgeable now that it's physical damage?

≪ Previous: Who Else Is Racing to CP 160?

$

0

0

I need to get to v16 before DB. I'm halfway through v14 right now...what's the quickest way to level up??

I have all DLC and some XP scrolls at my disposal, but outside of dungeons I mainly solo and never PvP. Please help!

---

Is dawnbreaker dodgeable now that it's physical damage?

May 22, 2016, 12:02 pm

≫ Next: My PTS sorcerer experience in Maelstrom Arena: Surge & Shields

≪ Previous: I need to get to v16!

$

0

0

See topic!

My PTS sorcerer experience in Maelstrom Arena: Surge & Shields

May 16, 2016, 9:54 am

≫ Next: Official Feedback Thread for Poison-Making

≪ Previous: Is dawnbreaker dodgeable now that it's physical damage?

$

0

0

******UPDATED******

TL;DR - The PTS Surge offer less healing per second than what's on Live and no burst heals. Couple with the lower duration on shields, I found net nerf to sorcerers problematic because in my estimation sorcerers were not superior to other classes. In my estimation, the surge heals are inadequate compared to self-healing capacity of other class. Most importantly, I did not have fun playing my sorcerer on the PTS. I believe ZoS should offer both versions of Surge, PTS and Live, as morphs and allow sorcerers to choose which one they prefer.

********

I am heavily editing the OP to incorporate more data and observations made on a completed PTS Maelstrom run that I did after writing it. Originally, I described the DB surge as "completely inadequate." I would amend that now to just "inadequate." In my OP, I spent considerable time describing the shortcomings of the Galerion's Revenge, which I used on my first attempt. For the sake of concision, I will condense my analysis of that set to a paragraph and then proceed to what matters most here.

I want to emphasize that I don't blame ZoS for being hesitant to take our feedback as much as we would like them since we rarely actually play the PTS; they might want to see how the DB changes perform in gameplay situations as opposed to the theorycrafting and mathematical formulas we throw at them. So I hopped into Vet Maelstrom Arena to play in a competitive setting with the new Sorcerer changes. I am on NA and thus stuck using ZoS's templates, but in my estimation 300 CPs are more than enough to get the most important passives down and the job done.

******Galerion's Revenge******

To put it simply, I got Rekt using this.

It's a nice idea put way too impractical.


How often do you actually get six basic attacks in on an opponent? Very few. Even in a purely single target setting like I use in vMA, adds die long before they get hit with six basic attacks (typically they only get hit with 2 or 3). And the burst is underwhelming:



4K. Without battlespirit.

Here is a parse against what should be an ideal target: a boss.



These results speak for themselves. This set is very poor performer compared to similar themed mechanics such as the NB skill Relentless Focus and the new Viper set. I honestly think this set needs a redesign. ZoS really ought to do something

******

I then tried the arena a second time with my usual Julianos set-up and, after more than three miserable hours, managed to beat it. I have the Flawless Conqueror achievement. I know what I am doing. On Live, it takes me a little more than an hour to do this. The difference was night and day. In my estimation, a few extra small percentages I lost from my Live champion points was not responsible for me dying so much. Rather it was due to the changes to the sorcerer on the PTS.

******Hardened Ward******

Precasting this and having it up by default, what I initially tried to do, is going to be a huge magicka drain. I eventually stopped doing this and used the shield as mostly a reactionary means to use only when I was in trouble. This, of course, was responsible for a number of annoying one shots and other assorted deaths such as this, what I haven't seen in a long, long time:



That being said, while the shorter duration was inconvenient, I would not place a lion's share of the responsibility for those two extra hours on the Hardened Ward nerf. I would agree with those who contend this is a "L2P" issue. With more a bit more tactical adeptness in using them and a noticeably expenditure of magicka, sorcerers can replicate most of the benefit they derive from shields in content like vMA. Potentially, if the sorcerer knows the content well enough to cast it immediately before incoming spike damage. Hardened Ward cannot always be "on." Until that foresight is acquired, sorcerers are now basically templars without Puncturing Sweeps ... and Purifying Ritual, Major Mending, and Breath of Life.

I could live with the nerf to duration ... if I got something in return. I didn't. What "tank" or survival abilities do sorcerer have - and need - now that they are just like every other class in that they no longer have a long duration shield? Streak? The only skill in the game the user is penalized for spamming? A "second" shield? Not buying this is a huge advantage since other classes can simply recast their own once it is busted. And ... what exactly? Rune prison? The toolkit for vMA looks rather bare for sorcerers when I think of what the other three classes can do. As it is right now ... how many top sorcerer tanks are out there clearing Vet MOL?

I don't quite buy the many statements that have been floated around on these PTS forums that sorcerers are "ruined" for PvE because in grouped instances, sorcerers don't need shields, heals, and all that other stuff because they have group-mates whose actual function is to provide that stuff. And quite frankly, the default open world difficulty of this game is anything but difficult. It is more accurate to say when the sorcerer is forced to rely on its own tools for survival it is (now) lacking. And it certainly is less enjoyable. Mostly due to the last major change to sorcerers in this PTS that I find the most dubious...

******Surge******

What is the purpose of the surge ability? It's a legitimate question. Because if the answer to that question is: "allow sorcerers to passively heal/sustain themselves and do DPS at the same time (ala NB funnel health, templar puncturing sweeps, DK inhale, etc.)," then it has failed in that function ever since the 1.6 patch. The IC patch made this ability better by reducing the cooldown time and extending the duration such that it could sort of work - provided a wounded sorcerer had a large shield up (hardened ward) and surge allowed for a burst heal.

Now with a six second ward and working with just a flat modest heal, sorcerers are going to have to rethink their strategy for doing vMA and staying alive on their own in general. And this isn't the "fun" rethinking as in I can't wait to test some new exciting things. Rather it is akin to getting dumped by a underwear model and then going on a blind date with someone with a "nice personality."

This is gone:


Maybe non-sorcerers are saying good riddance. I am not sure why they think it is OK for their heals to scale off the damage they do and not sorcerers, but whatever, they are entitled to their own opinion. I'm also not exactly sure what I as a sorcerer am supposed to do using this ultimate that does not allow me to use a restoration staff. I repeat the question: if we are going to take this away from the sorcerer's tool kit, what is replacing it? Are sorcerers really expected to take a specific morph of a pet that must be on all three bars (even though it is not a toggle) and keep it alive through all vMA's one-shot mechanics?

And it's not Overload specific. Look at this:


Two things going on here. A crystal frag proc heal served as the sorcerer's burst heal. This cannot happen anymore. Also look at the top few lines, when I received a surge heal from a weaved heavy attack (for more than the flat amount on the PTS) and from the crushing shock that hit afterward. Because of the global cooldown of one second being put into the PTS, the ability to proc multiple heals within a second will also be gone. So not only are sorcerers losing burst healing, they are losing instances of healing period.

Zenimax changed three crucial components to Surge. On Live, the heal is scaled off damage so the harder you hit the higher the heal. On the PTS, it is a flat value. On Live, Surge has a internal cooldown, but it is a fraction of a second and thus allows for Sorcerers to gain a rapid succession of heals. On the PTS, it's limited to one per second. On Live, Surge only procs on direct damage, i.e., no DoTs. On the PTS, DoT can proc heals. In short, theoretically easier to get a steady stream of modest heals to compensate for the loss of occasional big bursts on heal.

In practice, less healing overall and the lack of burst heals compelled me to fundamentally change my build and play-style so I would not die when at low health.

Here are three parses on bosses comparing Healing on Live to that of the PTS.

Live Lamia Queen:


PTS Lamia Queen:


Live's healing is greater even though I'm not using mutagen.

Live Argonian Behemoth:


PTS Argonian Behemoth:


Again, inferior healing even with Mutagen.

Live Valkyn Tephra:


PTS Valkyn Tephra:


Surge Heals Per Second are less than half what I'm getting from Live:

Here are the results comparing all the Surge heals from each boss fight (except the last as my parse was only from the last 30 seconds). HPS = Heals Per Second

Boss 1:

• PTS: 914 HPS. 2,708 Avg. 3,275 Max.
• Live: 1,665 HPS. 4,940 Avg. 11,592 Max. 82% HPS increase.

Boss 2:

• PTS: 1,319 HPS. 2,946 Avg. 3,275 Max.
• Live: 1,831 HPS. 5,138 Avg. 16,693 Max. 39% HPS increase.

Boss 3:

• PTS: 1,039 HPS. 2,797 Avg. 3,275 Max.
• Live: 1,726 HPS. 5,421 Avg. 11,458 Max. 66% HPS increase.

Boss 4:

• PTS: 1,191 HPS. 2,733 Avg. 3,275 Max.
• Live: 2,069 HPs. 4,914 Avg. 16,126 Max. 73% HPS increase.

Boss 5:

• PTS: 1,243 HPS. 2,872 Avg. 3,275 Max.
• Live: 1,681 HPS. 3,732 Avg. 11,592 Max. 35% HPS increase.

Boss 6:

• PTS: 1,285 HPS. 2,843 Avg. 3,275 Max
• Live: 1,440 HPS. 3,414 Avg. 11,512 Max. 12% HPS increase.

Boss 7:

• PTS: 914 HPS. 2,849 Avg. 4,092 Max.
• Live: 2,127 HPS. 4,528 Avg. 11,263 Max. 133% HPS increase.

Boss 8:

• PTS: 1,206 HPS. 2,902 Avg. 3,275 Max.
• Live: 2,545 HPS. 4,794 Avg. 17,467 Max. 111% HPS increase.

Those results are consistent across the board. Something else to keep in mind. In order to maximize the PTS Surge, it is going to be necessary to alter you build to include DoTs (which sorcerers are bad at), which means taking away from your few non toggle skills you actually do want to run. Coupled with the restoration staff I felt compelled to use (so no dual swords) and another slot for Mutugen) meant I was devoting a noticeably more amount of time, resources, and opportunity costs just to self sustain myself. If the results were comparable to Live, I could better accept this but my sorcerer was in every way worse: more magicka and casts used to sustain myself and still the healing wasn't as good, which amounted less time DPSing a target on a build that already made sacrifices to its damage output. On Live, the fight against the Argonian Behemoth lasted 2 minutes, 40 seconds and on the PTS the same fight took 3 minutes, 35 seconds..

No doubt Zenimax's goal for surge was consistency and, looking at my chart it is difficult to argue that it was not successful in this respect. But at what cost? Yes, on the PTS I could count on roughly 1100 HPS, but on Live even if my healing fluctuated, it was always superior. Significantly I can get that better healing on a build that I actually wanted to run, that I felt complemented the way I want to play. I didn't feel forced to take a particular skill or use a specific weapon.

Something else to consider. It would be logical to speculate that the sorcerer's Overload ultimate is artificially inflating the amount of healing Surge is doing on Live. I do not think that is necessary true. Here is my parse against Maxus the Many in which I did nothing but Overload him:

Here is the DPS:


And the Heals:


2,158 HPS. 4,089 Avg. 13,527 Max. These numbers are outright superior to every single parse (which I was heavily using Overload) except boss 8, which I would say is inflated because I used the Power Sigil and spent 30 seconds standing still nuking down targets that could not fight back.

And if you are not a sorcerer and are under the belief that the current Surge is too strong, I suggest you take a closer look at your own self-healing capacity. I'm not going to even get into templars who are for all intents and purposes invulnerable when spamming Sweeps against multiple targets. Even Dragonknights, which are noted for their tankiness and ability to shrug off damage - outright avoid it with Reflective Scales - is better suited to DPS and self heal than sorcerers.



That's 3K HPS from skills that DPS+heal in a fight where I spent a lot of time idling waiting for the boss to stop swimming underwater. And I did not even use major mending, which DKs have easy access to.

The belabored point being made here is the PTS change to surge offers nowhere near the amount of healing and sustain potential as does the one on Live. In conjunction with the reduction of shield duration, a sorcerer trying to rely on this ability to sustain themselves in a competitive situation without the aid of other players is going to be a frustrating change.

******Why I don't Like the PTS Surge******

I do not think ZoS intended surge to be nerfed. I think the change was motivated with the aim of provide a more reliable, steady stream of healing since ZoS removed the big bursts and allowed small DoTs to proc the moderate healing the skill provides. In theory the sorcerer could still receive healing while doing something else besides attacking, such as reapplying their shields (which they will have to do a lot next patch).

Here are the problems I have.

• How was this flat number determined? Flat numbers are bad because they are not related to the organic numbers generated by the game. Look at the other heal+DPS skills in the game, they are connected to each other so that way the heals always keep pace even though with every patch, the damage numbers people pull off increase. If you believe ZoS will spend the time to adjust the surge amount, go ask Dragonknights about their experience with the Dragon's Blood ability.
• Sorcerer damage is direct and all about burst. The changes to surge skill are completely counter-intuitive to how sorcerers are played. Great, DoTs proc the heal. Now, where are the Sorcerer's DoTs? The alleged "it's a DoT just with all the damage at the end skill" Daedric Curse? That skill that is no longer modified by thaumaturge (which is supposed to increase DoT damage)? That same skill that would only proc surge once even though it lasts for more than three seconds? Lightning Flood which many enemies in vMA (and all PvP opponents) will move out of? The Burning status effect we can rarely get because of the changes to how destruction staffs work? The unproductive 200 cost ultimate Storm Atronach? I would much prefer the surge skill to modify those damage skills I actually use.
• Exactly what is the sorcerer supposed to do when low on health? Surge is basically at best mutagen ... without the burst heal at low health. If I wanted this sort of heal option ... why wouldn't I just use mutagen? Why was it necessary to rework a skill that, for its flaws, still kind of worked? OK, I get it, carry around a restoration staff like every other class. Fine. If I am forced to use a restoration staff to sustain myself in the first place, I ask again: What is the purpose of the surge ability? If a sorcerer is at low health in vMA with the Overload skill active, they are going to die because a possible 2K heal per second will not outpace the incoming damage and thus will force a sorc to keep reapplying hardened ward.

I will agree and indeed have been saying since 1.6 that a double stacking long-duration shields scaling off magicka was broken for sorcerers. But the solution is not to give every class a strong shield. And if it is deemed necessary to put an end to the 24-7-365 hardened warded sorcerer, fine, but the class needs something to replace the durability that is being taken away. Without precasted shields, a sorcerer will in essence have to play like a templar or DK and use Hardened Ward as a reactive means to enemy threats. Except: sorcerers do not have Major Mending, Purifying Ritual, Breath of Life, Inhale, Reflective Scales, Burning Embers, or Puncturing Sweeps - all excellent sustain skills that are effective enough to keep these classes alive without a precasted shield. The only skill sorcerers have that I would put in that category is Daedric Mines. If using a precasted shield is impractical, I am going to elect to play a class that has been designed to play without one. ZoS has taketh, but not giveth.

I am not saying that a sorcerer can no longer compete in ESO or that the class is dead. I am saying that the changes to shields + surge represent a net nerf to the class, one that in my estimation was not justified because I do not believe that sorcerers are superior to NBs, Templars, and DKs. I did finished vMA of the PTS sorcerer so it can be done, but I found myself having to use skills and make accommodations to the arbitrary mechanics of surge (flat number, 1 second cooldown, no burst), soemthing that is in my opinion bad game design. In short, it is still possible to play a sorcerer, but in an instance where it must rely on its own for self-sustain, I found the experience frustrating and not fun. Thus, when the DB patch is released, I will opt to play a class that is better designed to so.

******Counterpoints and What I think ZoS should do******

Other players have followed my example and have done vMA on the PTS. Some of them disagree with my analysis and pointed out that there are advantages to the new surge model and that it, in fact, made some fights easier in their estimation. I'm not going to debate them on this matter because playing ESO is in my estimation more about having a comfort level with your build and adopting your play-style to it. The new surge may very well be better suited for how they play. It would be folly for me to insist otherwise.

All I can say is that I have the Flawless Conqueror achievement so I'm not exactly a noob with the sorcerer and in my perspective, the difficulty spike was noticeable for me. I was not hard headed and ran my Live build. I used a restoration staff to supplement the live heals, ensured I had multiple DoTs active to ensure Surge heals were on cooldown, eventually switched the harness magicka to allay the greater resource drain, and adapted a more conservative approach. I did not find it fun. In my view, this was not a parallel or horizontal change, that is, having the same relative level of effectiveness by using different abilities and strategies.

I personally find sorcerers to be a deeply flawed class, the most so of the four IMHO, something that Overloading bosses and shield stacking in PvP have masked. I have just as much play-time on my templar and DK to have a grasp of the survivability and self-sustain of classes that do not have a pre-casted 20K hardened ward and in my estimation the PTS sorcerer is far enough beneath them to be overly frustrating. For PvP, since I can still shield stack and drop Negates, I think I will be fine since I already use a restoration staff there. But PvE? It was boring enough to have my DPS be dependent on toggles and a specific ultimate. If I have to rely on my own for sustain and heals, I'll pass when the DB launches.

Now, that is my opinion. It doesn't necessarily mean it is correct and it most certainly should not be forced upon those who believe differently. So, what I think ZoS should do is provide both versions of Surge in the DB update. Why do both have to have the same function? We shouldn't have to debate and fight which is preferable, just let us players choose the one that we feel complements our build better. So this is how I would rework this skill:

• Have the base skill Surge offer both Major Brutality and Major Sorcery. I never thought it made any sense for the base version to offer just Major Brutality. Doing so is overly restrictive and limits precisely this sort of opportunity to allow us the option of picking the type of self-healing that we prefer. Critical Strikes still heal for 40%.
• Morph 1: The PTS version. It restores a flat value of health based on your Weapon or Spell Critical whichever is higher. It will also proc on any Critical Strike instead of only direct damage, but can only restore health once every second.
• Morph 2: The Live version. It provides healing based on a percentage of damage inflicted by Critical Strikes, excepting damage over time effects. It has a cooldown of 100 milliseconds

Such a change would allow all sorcerers now have the choice as to what morph they prefer, rather than have it be imposed on them by ZoS, me, or anyone else who has strong opinions regarding this topic.

Official Feedback Thread for Poison-Making

April 25, 2016, 11:23 am

≫ Next: VMA stage 5 boss round bug

≪ Previous: My PTS sorcerer experience in Maelstrom Arena: Surge & Shields

$

0

0

This is the official feedback thread for Poison-Making. Specific feedback that the team is looking for includes the following:

• Were you able to successfully and easily find the reagents required for poisons?
• Did you make any poisons? How did that experience feel overall?
• If you used poisons, did it feel satisfying?
• When an active weapon is out of charge and poison (or just broken), you’ll see an indicator appear.
  • Did you find the iconography to be clear and noticeable?
  • Are there any other indicators that you feel would be helpful?
• Do you have any other general feedback?

VMA stage 5 boss round bug

May 22, 2016, 12:56 pm

≫ Next: Why do you do Veteran difficulty content (MSA, 4 man dungeons, trials)

≪ Previous: Official Feedback Thread for Poison-Making

$

0

0

Currently if a troll spawns as the boss is breaking the second platform, the troll will continue to run to the already destroyed platform and break it a second time spawning a second nereid from the same platform. It is nearly impossible to recover from this as the boss stands in front of the troll while he breaks it at the angle you are required to hit it from on the final platform.

Why do you do Veteran difficulty content (MSA, 4 man dungeons, trials)

May 21, 2016, 2:28 am

≫ Next: Time for Radiant Destruction to be nerfed

≪ Previous: VMA stage 5 boss round bug

$

0

0

Just wanting to find out why people do Veteran difficulty content. I'm often questioning myself of why do I want to do it, why not just stick to normal level. So wanted to see why other do it.

Time for Radiant Destruction to be nerfed

May 16, 2016, 4:06 pm

≫ Next: @ZOS, are you still planning to nerf IC wandering bosses in the districts and sewers?

≪ Previous: Why do you do Veteran difficulty content (MSA, 4 man dungeons, trials)

$

0

0

If moves like teleport strike and death stroke are going to be nerfed, then radiant destruction is more than overdue.

@ZOS, are you still planning to nerf IC wandering bosses in the districts and sewers?

May 21, 2016, 10:52 pm

≫ Next: Which Campaign does EP actually participate in? Xbox NA Server

≪ Previous: Time for Radiant Destruction to be nerfed

$

0

0

I can 2 man every district boss and solo half of them, and I can solo all of the flag bosses in the sewers.

Buffs pls. I give u a !

---

Which Campaign does EP actually participate in? Xbox NA Server

May 22, 2016, 12:15 pm

≫ Next: lol it's really laughable and sad

≪ Previous: @ZOS, are you still planning to nerf IC wandering bosses in the districts and sewers?

$

0

0

It is so frustrating trying to be a solo player in EP there are zero zergs and no coordinated groups in any of the multiple campaigns. I have played in Skull, Chillrend, Skeleton Key, Thornblade, Haderus, and Scourge and they are all over run by AD. So either all the EP have went to one campaign or they are all spread out getting wiped instead of coordinating with one another to stop the annoying AD zerging in every damn campaign.

lol it's really laughable and sad

May 21, 2016, 9:31 pm

≫ Next: Game rating make it okay for filth, rage, and hate in zone chat?

≪ Previous: Which Campaign does EP actually participate in? Xbox NA Server

$

0

0

I know it is customary for AD and DC to team up against EP. I've seen them discuss it in the forums. I've seen them agree to it. I've seen them carry it out on the battlefield while they fight EP together side-by-side. Yet, I'm looking at the score and EP is still winning the campaign. I am proud of EP. You've been standing fast in the face of overwhelming odds and do it with class.

EP, you've been working together better than ever. A few short months ago, EP was at each other's throats in zone chat. A night never went by without people lashing out at each other. Now, even when things get bad you still work together. Any trolls quickly shut down as when they pop up, you do very well at ignoring them better. We all know that some come over from other factions in order to stir up trouble to weaken us. I'm glad that we no longer fall for it. You save your fights for the battlefield and have reduced the other two factions to having to work together to try and win where they cannot do it alone.

I recently told an exploiter from AD who had exploited into a keep to steal a scroll without sieging this, "If you have to cheat or exploit to win, you still suck." We have seen this to be true as two factions crash down on us. Tonight at Chalman, it was another example. DC crashing down on one side and AD on the other because they cannot succeed without each other. This happens nightly these days.

Hence, my Discussion Title. It IS laughable and it IS sad. Clearly, EP you are leaps and bounds above and stronger with the teamwork and great relationships you have built between guilds! Keep up the good work!!!!

BEER HATS ALL AROUND!!!

Earthe

Game rating make it okay for filth, rage, and hate in zone chat?

May 22, 2016, 11:53 am

≫ Next: Who actually wants those poisons?

≪ Previous: lol it's really laughable and sad

$

0

0

So the games rating is M 17+, but I have yet to find any content in the game relating to f****** anyones wife/daughter/mother, no NPC's call another NPC or player a pice of s***/moron/idiot/etc, there are no explicit NPC converstations/quests/or any dev related content relating to vile and explicit sex acts directed to another NPC or the player, there is ZERO content in the game that would turn a casual player away or ask themselves if this is the game I want to invest my money or time into. Players use the games rating as one of many excuses to act in disturbing ways alot. The community and zone chat has become a place that the majority of the earth would find disgusting, juvenile, hateful, and COMPLETELY unacceptable behavior. I'm 33 and like to cut up, joke, drink once in a while, and have an intimate relationship with my wife that stays between us or gets talked about in the proper settings, but the community and zone chat in this game has devolved into something that truly makes me sad for societies everywhere. People have taken the anonymity that the internet provides and used it to engage activity that they wouldn't be active with in a real world setting.

It is a fantasy game and everyone is different in their beliefs and morals, but as humans most people are inclined to be follower, so when one person sees these things they will in the majority of cases engage in the same behavior. From talking about being "h****" and wanting to "bend another player over and f*** them in their a** until they bleed" or project their self loathing and ineptitude towards another player buy calling them a moron, stupid newb, and many more names/phrases that I'm not going to waste my time to list. When as a society in any part of the world did it become acceptable for people to act like this and treat people this way? I play a lot and have been a proud and loyal PAYING sub since the July after the game launched and have witnessed this games community go from one that i'd let my 14 year old daughter interact with to one that I would expect to see on ***/hate sites and sites you would only find if you cruise the deep web. The most popular responses that I get when asking a player why they think this is okay behavior I get is "F*** off, n***/f*****/etc, "It's an MMO, dumb ass", and "welcome to the internet, Gramps". Do you know how many players this turns away or alienates themselves from the community? I used to be very active in helping new players, guilds, PvP, and PvE, but now my zone/say/yell/emote chat stays disabled and I farm or PvE solo 99% of my time in Tamriel and believe me it's a lot of time. If not for my love of the ES series and the game content that ZOS has created I would have dropped my sub a year ago and moved on to something else.

I guess my whole point to this thread is asking the community to stop for a second and ask themselves what kind of person they want to be (internet anonymity or not) and if this is the way people should act online or in the real world. As technology becomes more and more the worlds means of communication/entertainment I see peoples social skills declining at an alarming rate. It is a fantasy game, it is the internet, it is rated M, but c'mon everyone. I'm not asking for the land of the fluffy happy love bears and a hug fest, but I am asking for a community that isn't toxic, isn't filled with hate, doesn't want to make others feel like sh**, doesn't project their sexual desires and deviancy towards the entire zone or world in general. When anyone one of us logs out you should log off feeling good (unless you wipe in a dungeon or in Cyro, in which a little salt is understandable) because you played a game that you injoy as that's what games are for and not log off feeling low/lonely/hurt/offended/shocked due to someone else having a bad day, projecting their BS, or perverse desires to all those that don't choose to see it or didn't do anything to you to pull your aggro. I would also ask ZOS if there is anything that they would do to help this problem or if they even acknowledge that there is one. Reporting players does nothing and asking a player does nothing other than make it worse and entice a mob of chat trolls to join in and pack BULLY another player. I'm just tired of it and I miss being a part of the community and the social part of ESO that made it fun. Now I'm a loner and I rarely if at all partake in any group content. It's not a pitty party for me, but it's a call for a friendlier community that welcomes the masses that choose to act like grown productive honorable members of a society that is fading. It would be good for the success and longevity of a great game and ALL of the current community that both partakes in bad behavior and the ones that don't. IT"S A WIN WIN for ZOS and everyone else, folks.

Who actually wants those poisons?

May 22, 2016, 3:13 pm

≫ Next: Name Change

≪ Previous: Game rating make it okay for filth, rage, and hate in zone chat?

$

0

0

Name Change

May 22, 2016, 3:38 pm

≫ Next: Add to consoles plz

≪ Previous: Who actually wants those poisons?

$

0

0

Will this be here when DB hits?